Zoe Hu

After an 18-hour blackout, Boohoo Group-owned PrettyLittleThing revealed its website overhaul and refreshed logo design at 6pm today (3 March). The playful unicorn symbol has “matured into a sophisticated heritage-inspired” mark, while the logo in bubblegum pink has transitioned into shades of dusty pink, garnet and blush sand. It coincides with the launch of two new collections: PLT Label and New Beginnings. In an exclusive interview, PrettyLittleThing founder Umar Kamani, who returned to the business last September, told Drapers the brand is looking to reconnect with customers: “What made us so successful in the early days was we listened to what our customers wanted. “I think what happened with the brand for a couple of years is we stopped listening. And that’s where the brand lost its identity. In coming back, what I’ve tried to do is to clean everything up and redefine ourselves.” A loyal Manchester City fan, he likened the fashion retailer to its rival team: “We were a bit

Five years since Drapers started monitoring the gender make-up of retail boardrooms, the industry is slowly moving the dial on female representation. Currently, women make up 38% of board roles at UK listed fashion companies, which is consistent with the level in 2024 and up from 28% in 2020. It is worth noting that the pool of listed companies included in the research has shrunk over the past five years, from 21 to 12, as a result of delisting from the FTSE or Aim after takeovers or administrations. In the wider business world, the proportion of boardroom jobs held by women in the FTSE 350 reached 43% in 2025, the government-backed FTSE Women Leaders Review has shown. This is up from 24.5% in 2017, when the report was launched. We need to stop questioning whether women are ‘ready’ and start giving them the opportunities they’ve already earned Lemon Fuller, founder of lingerie brand Lemonade Dolls However, women continue to face barriers when it comes to top leadership roles. There are j

The two companies have signed a 12-year extension, with a multimillion-dollar royalty value. The partnership will give Brand Collective exclusive rights to the Superdry brand in Australia. The extended deal "paves the way for an exciting era of growth" as the pair aim to double revenues to $100m AUD (£50m) in the next five years, Superdry said. Brand Collective operates over 300 stores across Australia. Superdry joins its brand's portfolio, which includes Reebok, Review, Shoes & Sox, Clarks and Hush Puppies. Superdry CEO Julian Dunkerton said: "We have been working with Brand Collective for many years, and this extension illustrates the value we place on the trust, longevity and continuity of our relationship. Our ongoing partnership will continue to grow and strengthen the brand across Australia." Brand Collective CEO Dave Thomas added: "It’s great to see that Australians have embraced Superdry - we’re thrilled to continue this partnership, creating a positive future for the brand in our

Onofri joins Miu Miu from VF Corp-owned outerwear brand Napapijri where she held the role of managing director from 2023 to 2025. Prior to that, she spent 15 years at Swiss luxury fashion house Bally, most recently as chief commercial officer of global wholesale. Onofri will start her CEO role at Miu Miu on 26 February. She will succeed Benedetta Petruzzo, who left Miu Miu to join LVMH-owned Christian Dior as managing director in October 2024. Prada Group posted a 15% rise in net revenue to €3.8bn (£3.2bn) for the nine months to 30 September, led by a 97% increase in Miu Miu's retail sales. The group said its performance was driven by "strong brand identity, creative dynamism and sound execution". Read more: The luxury brands defying sector slowdown

Trump has imposed an additional 10% tariff on all Chinese products, which took effect last Tuesday (4 February). The president also suspended his decision to scrap the "de minimis" rules allowing packages of goods worth less than $800 (£645) to be imported into the US without customs duty.  It comes after the US postal service and other agencies struggled to comply with the new rule. As the tariff chaos begins, The Sunday Times reported that Next is considering establishing a US corporate entity to mitigate the impact. Next has been contacted for comment. Meanwhile, Superdry has reportedly stopped shipping China-made products directly to US consumers to avoid the 10% tariff. CEO Julian Dunkerton told The Sunday Times: "It [tariffs] just makes them unprofitable. We are also worried about shipments with products of mixed origins – like some being from China and some from Turkey — it just becomes a horrible mess. It adds complexity that wasn’t there before, but we will get to a solution." Read m

Opened today (31 January), the Oxford Street and Covent Garden stores stock the US brand's key product categories including dresses, shirting and tailoring. Its athleisure brand, Your Personal Best, which was first launched in 2022, will also be available. The two-floor Oxford Street location also features a private lounge with a personal fitting room, seating area and a checkout till. The new openings will take the brand's total number of UK stores to 10, which also include shops in Manchester's Trafford Centre, London's Battersea Power Station and Edinburgh's George Street. Scott Clarke-Bryan, managing director of EMEA at Abercrombie & Fitch, said: "Establishing an elevated presence at these iconic shopping destinations is a great way to engage with our customer as we continue to grow Abercrombie in London. "With these stores being pinnacle experiences in such famous shopping areas, we’re looking forward to showcasing our latest product offering and connecting with both new and existing

The brand sold more than 150,000 football shirts in the final weeks before Christmas. Formula One products were another stand-out performer: McLaren and Red Bull sales grew more than 20% year on year. Womenswear sales were up more than 30%, driven by its Zone performance leggings. The best-selling Castore items were the Apex training T-shirts and shorts, as customers geared up to hit the gym in the new year. The company said it reversed a trend seen in 2023, where shoppers favoured more lower priced products. Dubai Mall has remained its highest revenue generating store for the second consecutive year, as the brand continues to grow in the region and in other international markets. Despite the National Insurance tax increases, Castore remains "bullish" on the high street and plans to open five to 10 new stores in 2025, creating more than 30 new jobs. Tom Beahon, co-founder of Castore, said: "Our strategy will remain focussed on omnichannel, combining the best of digital, physical stores and third party r

The luxury brand has agreed a 10-year lease at 21 Hanover Square, a Grade II-listed building which will be redeveloped. Set to open in the coming months, the new shop marks the brand's first standalone store in the UK, building on its concessions in Liberty, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. Matt Peters, director in retail at Savills, which advised the landlord on the deal, said: "Dries Van Noten’s decision to establish a presence here further underscores the area’s growing appeal as a destination for luxury retail in London. "Hanover Square benefits from strong foot traffic, with its proximity to both Regent Street and Bond Street, making it an attractive location for retailers looking to reach a high-end customer base." Last year, designer Dries Van Noten left the eponymous label after almost four decades. Van Noten’s successor is yet to be named, with his studio of in-house designers temporarily taking over the creative direction until a full-time replacement is found. Read more: Po

The proposed job cuts are understood to involve staff across departments including buying, merchandising and HR.  River Island declined to comment or disclose how many jobs were at risk when contacted by Drapers. The redundancies come after River Island reportedly appointed financial advisory firm AlixPartners as it looks to reduce costs and improve profits. The high street retailer recorded a pre-tax loss of £32.3m in the year to 30 December 2023, compared with a profit of £7.5m in 2022. Sales dropped 15% to £701.5m in a "challenging trading environment". It attributed the loss to rising costs, online competition and the roll-out of new concept stores. The company employed 1,126 office staff as of December 2023, along with 1,252 retail employees.

King has been interim buying director at Liberty for the past 12 months. In her new role, she will be responsible for brand partnerships and customer experience across the business. Both buying and merchandising teams will now report directly into King. The retailer said her promotion marks a "significant step in Liberty’s vision to unify and strengthen its buying and merchandising functions". She previously worked as fashion director at Harrods from 2019 and 2022 and spent 13 years at Selfridges, most recently as womenswear buying and merchandising director between 2017 and 2019. Sarah Coonan, managing director of Liberty, said: "Over the past year, Lydia has demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise, making a significant impact on our buying team. "This appointment represents a strategic step forward for Liberty, as we continue to build our retail business, enhance our reputation as a key luxury partner, and cement our position as a thought leader in the industry."