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.
Debenhams Group names Richard Vanoli as MD of Debenhams
Richard Vanoli has been named as the new managing director of the Debenhams brand, parent company Debenhams Group has confirmed. The appointment comes as Debenhams itself continues to lead a business-wide turnaround at the group, which had first acquired the retailer out of administration in 2021. Since then, Debenhams Group – formerly known as...
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Frasers Group increases exposure to Asos
Sports Direct’s parent company has increased its financial commitment to Asos. According to a regulatory filing, Frasers Group has purchased additional "sold put options", increasing its total exposure in the e-commerce company to 29.26 percent. Frasers currently holds 23.33 percent of direct shares, making it one of Asos' largest shareholders....
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H&M launches toolkit allowing brands to apply its System Map
H&M Foundation, the non-profit organisation of Swedish retailer H&M, is launching an open-access toolkit that allows brands, suppliers, policymakers, and investors to integrate the company’s System Map into their own business. Launched in 2024 by the H&M Foundation, the System Map serves as a visual framework of the full textile value chain,...
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Tomorrow Group acquired by Italian investor Progetto 11
London-based brand development firm Tomorrow Group has found a new owner in Progetto 11, the Italian holding company of e-tailer The Level Group. Andrea Ciccoli, co-founder of The Level Group, confirmed the news to WWD, stating that the deal would “ensure the operational continuity” of the fashion platform. While financial details were not...
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Yoox to rollout new visual identity in experiential-focused pivot
A year on from LuxExperience’s takeover of Yoox Net-a-porter (YNAP), changes are still being rolled out among the retailer’s off-price division, Yoox. In an interview with WWD, Yoox’s chief executive officer Mirko Nobili outlined his vision for the luxury e-tailer, which is due to embark on an experiential pivot under a new visual identity. The...
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Former CEO of Battersea Power Station launches whistleblowing case against firm
Don O’Sullivan, the former chief executive officer of Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC), has filed an unfair dismissal and whistleblowing claim against the London-based real estate firm and four of its senior Malaysian executives. O’Sullivan, who is being represented by John Hayes of Constantine Law and Stefan...
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New programme brings together African and UK designers for skills exchange
A new programme launched by the British Council is pushing to encourage skill sharing and sustainable creative partnerships between designers from African countries and the UK. Together with Paul Smith’s Foundation and Projekt, the ‘Create DNA x Studio Smithfield’ exchange programme, running from March 16 to 23 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has...
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Debenhams Group reportedly enacts redundancies in move to AI imagery
Debenhams Group has reportedly carried out a handful of redundancies as it expands the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across image creation. According to sources for Drapers, less than five redundancies have taken place to date within the studio department, which includes photography, hair and makeup, retouching, casting and production. The...
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WGSN and Coloro name ‘Radiant Earth’ Colour of the Year for 2028
Trend platform WGSN, together with its colour-dedicated sister company Coloro, has selected Radiant Earth as Colour of the Year for 2028. The choice reflects what the forecasting agencies say will be a new period “defined by inspired resilience and flourishing”. In this environment, consumers are expected to prioritise thriving over survival,...
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Mori expands US presence with Kidly by Mori launch
British baby and children’s wear brand Mori is venturing further into the US market through the regional launch of Kidly by Mori as part of its next phase of growth. The London-founded label has pitted the US as a key strategic growth market, with Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s already serving as stockists for the Mori brand itself, operating...
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