FuzeHub, US-based statewide centre for the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership, has announced it has awarded $15,000 in grant funding to Finger Lakes Textiles (FLT), an inclusive textile and knitting factory and a division of Mozaic, to help it expand and accelerate its manufacturing of face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.Pic: FuzeHub“Finger Lakes Textiles quickly pivoted to produce face masks to help keep people safe amid the coronavirus pandemic. It was an inspiring undertaki

Brands are not utilising the potential of regular brand audits enough. The luxury experience has to be at the centre of all activities. Consumers want to indulge in luxury, and they want to experience the extraordinary. But they do not want to do it at the expense of the environment," says Daniel Langer, CEO of Equite, which creates extreme value for brands.Pic: Shutterstock"Performance has to come first. And then brands need to connect performance to a higher purpose. This includes a

TM Lewin, the British menswear label, has decided to shut all its 66 stores thereby resulting in over 600 job losses.Image Courtesy: benharries.comAnd with this another iconic retailer has succumbed to the wrath of the deadly virus! TM Lewin will now be seen online only.Yesterday (30 June) saw the fashion labels’ private equity owner Torque Brands acquire TM Lewin’s digital business through a pre-packed deal.The deal, notably, does not include its 66 stores.While agreeing that the acquisition de

Thea Swedish multinational clothing-retail company, reported 50 per cent sales decline to SEK 28,664 million in second quarter (Q2) FY20 ended of May 31, 2020 compared to sales of SEK 57,474 million in same period prior year. However, online sales increased 36 per cent during Q2 FY20. Company incurred a loss of SEK 4,991 million in the quarter.Pic: H&M“At most around 80 per cent of our stores were closed in the second quarter and in those markets where stores were open, demand was significan

Dickson Concepts(International) Limited, a Hong Kong based luxury goods company, has reported 26.7 per cent sales decline to HK$ 2.93 billion (Hong Kong dollar) in fiscal year 2020, that ended on March 31, 2020 compared to sales of HK$ 4.00 billion in previous year. However, profit for the year increased to HK$ 645.82 million (FY19: HK$ 411.34 million).Gross profit during FY20 fell to HK$ 1.23 billion (HK$ 1.99 billion). Operating profit rose to HK$ 737.95 million ($463.86 million).Sales of fash

NEW YORK - Fashion brand Ralph Lauren has revealed new targets on greenhouse gas emissions and water stewardship in its 2020 Global Citizenship and Sustainability Report.The reportincludes the establishment of a science-based target for a 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gasemissions and a collaboration with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) toreduce water use by 20 per cent.President and CEO Patrice Louvet said: “The global COVID-19 pandemic and the acceleration of the movement to end racial injusti

Making an addition to the list of high fashion labels rethinking the fashion week model in the wake of COVID-19 is Burberry which has announced its own take on the presentations.Image Courtesy: wwd.comForgoing the conventional September runway show, Burberry’s Spring/Summer 2021 collection will be ‘an immersive show experience set in the British Outdoors’.A day before the beginning of the London Fashion Week, i.e., 17 September, the British luxury label will live stream the show for all who woul

As masks become the raving new essential in shoppers’ wardrobes, Fast Retailing-owned Uniqlo found itself swamped as consumers queued outside stores and crashed the official website to get their hands on the AIRism masks the day they were launched.Image Courtesy: asia.nikkei.comThe masks, made with breathable fabric used in the brand’s AIRism underwear collections, are being sold in packs of three for 990 yen or roughly US $ 9 with three sizes available.The huge response for the washable AIRism

The global trade of true hemp (raw or retted) has shown a considerable growth in 2019. Total trade grew 51.69 per cent from 2017 to 2019, according to data from TexPro. The global trade of true hemp was $17.46 million in 2017, which moved up to $26.49 million in 2019. The total trade of true hemp rose 21.95 per cent in 2019 over the previous year.Pic: ShutterstockFurther, the trade of true hemp is anticipated to grow to $50.03 million in 2022 with a rate of 88.90 per cent from 2019, according to

After facing serious troubles last year, Forever 21 is trying to re-enter UK and Europe through an online-only strategy.Image Courtesy: www.huffingtonpost.comThe company has started their e-commerce operation in the regions which will allow the retailer to overcome the current hurdle of social distancing that continues to plague the retail industry.The company has partnered with e-commerce company Global-e, which they had worked with in the past.It will be stocking all the international merchand