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.
Spotted on the catwalk: WGSN and Coloro’s Colour of the Year 2027, Luminous Blue
Luminous Blue, a “mysterious and eccentric” shade, was named WGSN and Coloro’s Colour of the Year for 2027 on April 29. The choice of the strong blue pigment reflects what the duo said was an increase in demand for colours that “provide a sensory link to tradition, culture and wisdom”, with this particular shade offering both versatility and...
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Wax London to enter US retail market with The Optimist residency
British menswear label Wax London is set to officially enter the US market through an exclusive residency with Los Angeles retailer The Optimist. The US retail debut marks the brand’s first physical presence in the region, where it had until now only been available via its online e-commerce platform. From May 8, Wax London will now take up...
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Amazon and Saks Fifth Avenue team up on luxury storefront
Marketplace giant Amazon has teamed up with US department store Saks Fifth Avenue on a new multi-brand storefront, featuring a curation of luxury fashion and beauty brands that will now be housed under ‘Luxury Stores at Amazon’. Through the new partnership, Amazon Fashion customers can now browse and shop a selection of women’s and men’s...
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Whistles names former Topshop design head as creative director
British fashion retailer Whistles has appointed Jacqui Markham to the newly created role of creative director. Markham, who will take on the position immediately, has been tasked with elevating the brand’s design direction and wider creative vision. Starting off in the industry as a designer at Oasis and Karen Millen, Markham went on to first...
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In Pictures: Dries Van Noten opens first New York store
Dries Van Noten has officially entered the US retail market. The Belgian fashion house has opened its first standalone store in New York City, building on its global presence. For the brand, which had already been present in the US at Saks Fifth Avenue stores, North America has long been a main global market. Thus, after inaugurating stores in...
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John Lewis, Decathlon and Tapestry join Ellen MacArthur’s Fashion ReModel project
A number of established brands and fashion groups have joined in the second cohort of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s The Fashion ReModel project. Among the new names are sportswear retailer Decathlon, British department store John Lewis and US luxury group Tapestry. Secondhand marketplace Ebay and Colombia textile manufacturer Crystal S.A.S...
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WGSN and Coloro name ‘Luminous Blue’ Colour of the Year 2027
“Both mysterious and eccentric” is how ‘Luminous Blue’ is described. The strong blue shade has been named Colour of the Year for 2027 by trend forecasting agency WGSN and its colour subsidiary Coloro, which simultaneously revealed their key colours for the SS27 season. According to WGSN’s senior colour strategist, Clare Smith, Luminous Blue...
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Jigsaw makes new leadership hires
British retailer Jigsaw has announced a slew of new appointments across its business as it continues on a path of UK and international expansion. Among the new faces is that of Tikki Godley, who has been named the company’s new managing director, according to Drapers, which initially reported the news. Godley, who will take up her new role...
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‘Autofocus’ eyewear brand Ixi secures 36.5 million dollars in funding
Ixi, a Finnish startup centred around ‘autofocus’ eyewear, has announced the closing of a Series A funding round amounting to 36.5 million dollars. The investment, led by London-based investment fund Plural, is intended to aid in the product development of Ixi Adaptive Eyewear, with the goal of establishing commercial operations. Additional...
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Gymshark hits record revenue in FY24, yet profit continues to fall
Sportswear retailer Gymshark welcomed a strong revenue growth for FY24, recording an increase of 9 percent per annum which amounted to 607.3 million pounds. While its “active trading stance” and “vibrancy of the brand” were cited to have aided in the uptick, such instances were unable to help profit, which continued on a downward trend. For the...
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