Articles by Rachel Douglass
Rachel has been with FashionUnited since mid-2021. Descending from the UK, she moved to the Netherlands in 2014 to attend Amsterdam Fashion Institute, where she studied a BA in International Fashion and Branding with a specialisation in Journalism.
At FashionUnited, Rachel covers daily news, from store openings to acquisitions, alongside which she focuses on research-based stories, interviews and on-the-ground event reporting. Her topics of interest include digital fashion, independent retail and current trends.
Victoria’s Secret ups defence against activist investor campaign
Lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret & Co. has upped efforts to defend its board and leadership strategy against activist investor Brett Blundy, who is continuing a campaign for greater influence over the business. The company filed a supplement to its proxy statement and issued a public letter to shareholders ahead of its June 11 annual meeting,...
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Primark opens Manhattan store amid broader US growth
Primark has opened a new flagship store in Manhattan’s Penn District, bringing its US store count to 40 locations across 13 states. This latest New York site is the most recent in a string of openings by the budget retailer, which of late has also launched stores in Florida, Illinois, and Texas. Located at Herald Square, this newest flagship...
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Six arrested in the UK over suspected sale of counterfeit goods on TikTok
London police have arrested six people suspected of distributing falsely trademarked goods over TikTok Shop amid a broader crackdown on counterfeiting in the UK. The operation was carried out by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at the City of London Police, which worked closely with industry partners to execute warrants in...
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Under Armour partners with Persona AI on humanoid robotics materials research
Sportswear giant Under Armour has entered a research and development collaboration with Persona AI to explore how advanced performance materials can support humanoid robots operating in industrial environments. The partnership will focus on robots designed for physically demanding and high-risk settings, including welding, heavy manufacturing,...
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Tapestry secures AI patent for decision-making platform Mira
Tapestry has been awarded a US patent for Mira, an internal AI platform designed to connect data across the business and support faster decision-making across its brands, including Coach and Kate Spade New York. The patent covers the core architecture of the platform and marks Tapestry’s first AI-related patent and second technology patent...
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Copyright trial begins: Shein accuses Temu of infringement on ‘industrial scale’
The two-week copyright trial between Shein and Temu kicked off in the UK’s High Court today, unveiling rising tensions over business rights between the online Chinese retail competitors. According to Reuters, Shein accused Temu of copyright infringement on an “industrial scale”, while Temu countered that Shein’s legal pursuit was merely an...
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Fairly Made to open New York office following appointment of North American head
Fairly Made, a French traceability platform, is venturing into the US with plans to open an office in New York and the appointment of a director for the North American region. Sydney Ellis confirmed her new position at Fairly Made on LinkedIn, where she said: “Over the past decade, I’ve worked at the intersection of sustainability and business...
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Amy Bircher Bruyn named chair of NCTO
The National Council of Textile Organisations (NCTO) has named Amy Bircher Bruyn as the new chair of the organisation. Bruyn currently serves as chief executive officer and founder of MMI Textiles, an industrial and custom textile supplier. She will be joined at the helm of NCTO by the organisation’s new vice chair, Jay Todd, the CEO and...
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CIFF appoints new co-director
A shift in leadership is underway at the Copenhagen International Fashion Fair (CIFF); Shane Baron has been promoted as the new co-director of the Danish trade event, emphasising a continued commitment to partners and community. Baron has been with CIFF for over three years, during which time he has demonstrated a level of dedication, structure,...
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Claras Materials launches in US to supply feedstock for textile recycling sector
Claras Materials LLC has launched in the US as a specialist supply chain business focused on post-consumer textile raw materials for the region’s growing fibre-to-fibre and chemical recycling markets. The North Carolina-based company said it aims to address ongoing supply challenges facing textile recyclers, particularly around securing...
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