French Connection news and archive

YMC co-founder reacquires brand from French Connection

The co-founder of YMC–also known as You Must Create–has acquired a majority share in the British fashion brand from French Connection, reinstating his position as the main shareholder. Jimmy Collins, who also serves as YMC’s chief executive officer, founded the brand in 1995 alongside the late Fraser Moss, and established it as a unisex apparel...

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French Connection plans store openings amid new Very deal

French Connection is growing its reach both online and in the retail world. The British retailer has secured a new deal with e-commerce platform Very, on which it is set to launch as part of a continued UK expansion. The company is also preparing to open “four to five” stores by the end of 2024, adding to its current 19-strong retail network in...

Fashion

Item of the week: the striped shirt

What it is: A classic wardrobe staple that recurs season-after-season is that of the striped button-up shirt, a piece once reserved for the office but has evolved to become a significant part of the dailywear wardrobe. From pinstripes to pencil stripes, there is no end to the variations in this print. However, in SS24 collections, it was the...

Fashion

Item of the week: the oversized hoodie

What it is: When the standard hoodie just won’t cut it, an oversized iteration takes comfort and warmth to another level. Oversized fits have become more popular than ever in recent years, as the casualisation of fashion continues to take the reins in design. It has even seen haute couture designers take such cues on board, many displaying a new...

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French Connection Australia to rebrand as 'Unison'

Fashion brand French Connection Australia is relaunching as Unison to offer a “new evolution in Australian style”. In a statement, the Brandbank Group, which owns the distribution rights for the British fashion brand in the country, said that the Australian fashion label would “deliver effortless everyday style that captures the essence of...

Fashion

Item of the week: the check sweater

What it is: The check, or plaid, sweater is a staple item for the autumn/winter season, as evidenced by its prominent place on designer runways and in collections for the coming months. Check itself has a long, broad history, and has links to an array of notable fashion houses, namely that of Burberry, which has long integrated the famous...

Fashion

Item of the week: the lace dress

What it is: The lace dress is a style that transcends seasons and fashion trends, appearing in looks that can be linked to almost every aesthetic, from bohemia to formalwear to beachwear. While typically a trend that appears in the summer season, its prominence on the runway for autumn/winter 2023 has seen it take on new forms, in styles that...

Fashion

Item of the week: the grey sweater

What it is: While not exactly the most electrifying item of the week, the grey sweater reigned supreme on the runways of the autumn/winter 2023 season. Among the frills and florals, this minimalist pullover style was spotted throughout a vast number of collections, often paired with statement pieces and contrasting colourings that made it a...

Fashion

Item of the week: the slip dress

What it is: While initially made to be an item of underwear or sleepwear, the slip dress has taken on a new form in recent years as the rise of outerwear lingerie becomes a norm among trends. A slip dress refers to a dress that usually takes on the appearance of an underslip, typically complete with thin straps. The item can appear both as a...

Fashion

Item of the week: the plaid skirt

What it is: While the plaid skirt is most regularly linked to pop culture of the late 90s, its history is more complex than that. The pattern, also often known as ‘tartan’, descends from 18th century Scotland, where it was used by the Jacobite army, an anti-British group. Over time, however, the symbolism that comes with plaid has evolved over...

Fashion

French Connection signs footwear licence deal with Sante + Wade

High street retailer French Connection has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with premium and inclusive footwear brand Sante + Wade. The disruptive footwear label, founded by Shola Asante and Agnès Cushnie, will work with French Connection for one year to develop, manufacture and market its women’s footwear range within the UK and Europe....

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French Connection launches on-demand rental service

French Connection has launched its own rental website as the market for circular fashion continues to boom. The British high street retailer teamed up with rental-as-a-service provider Zoa Rental for the launch. The new site, called French Connection Rental, allows customers to rent over 100 SS22 styles, initially focusing on dresses, holiday...