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From margins to sell-through: Important figures used in the fashion industry

On this page you will find key figures used in the fashion industry to monitor and optimise performance, such as sell-through, margin, and turnover, among others. Retailers use numerical analyses to substantiate business decisions, such as making a purchasing plan and budget for the next fashion season. “We sometimes compare choices for budgets...

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What the fashion industry has to do with microplastics pollution (and everything you need to know about EU initiatives to tackle microplastics)

The European Commission has microplastics on its agenda. But what initiatives are there to tackle the release of microplastics and what measures are being put in place to reduce the impact of microplastics on the environment? FashionUnited lists them. As always, we start at the beginning: with what microplastics are, why there are concerns about...

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From omnichannel to shopping on social media: e-commerce (related) terms explained

On this page, you will find common or frequently used e-commerce terms (or words related to the topic of online shopping) and their meanings. You can choose to read the article from beginning to end or click on a term from the A-Z glossary to go directly to it. Glossary (A-Z) • Cross-border • Cross-channel • E-commerce • M-commerce / Mobile...

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Inside independent retail: What it takes to run a fashion store

There are various types of fashion stores. We use the term retailers to broadly refer to all those who sell clothing to consumers. Retailers include chains such as Scotch & Soda, H&M and Zara, as well as department stores such as John Lewis, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. However, the term retailers also refers to independent retailers -...

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Wholesale and retail explained: Definitions, examples, and pricing strategies

Entering the fashion industry and deciding on how to distribute your products can be complicated. What is retail and wholesale? Who uses them and why? What are retail and wholesale prices and why are they different? In this short background piece, FashionUnited dives into all the above and more. The difference between retail and wholesale 1....

News

From Levi Strauss to straight fit and stone washing: the history and evolution of jeans

October is denim month. Accordingly, FashionUnited wants to highlight the background story Jeans and denim: everything you need to know about jeans. Jeans have evolved into a versatile and fashionable item worn by people of all ages, and denim, the fabric they are made of, is an iconic material that has influenced fashion trends. Denim is known...

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Exploring physical retail: From pop-ups to multibrand and flagships

There are various types of physical stores, or so-called “brick and mortar” stores. For example, there are multibrand stores, monobrand stores, flagships, to name just a few. In this article, FashionUnited has created a list of all different types of physical stores, and what makes them special. You can choose to read the article from beginning...

News

Behind the seams: Unravelling the technical process of clothing production

The background article From fibre to garment: the technical 'make-up' of your clothing explores the process of transforming fibres and yarns into fabrics and eventually into finished garments. It gives an in-depth overview of how the garments sold in fashion stores are created, unravelling the fabric they are made of to arrive at yarns or fibres...

News

Production, fashion weeks and exclusivity: haute couture versus ready-to-wear fashion

The background article The contrast between haute couture and ready-to-wear analyses haute couture and ready-to-wear fashion and what makes the two so different. Haute couture is synonymous with exclusive craftsmanship, tailored for a select clientele seeking personalised luxury. In contrast, ready-to-wear fashion offers mass-produced designs...

Background |LONG READ

From fibre to garment: the technical 'make-up' of your clothing

In this background piece, we tell you all about the 'technical construction' of your garment. From fibre to garment. We start with the final product, your garment, and go back one step at a time. To the fabrics, the yarns and the fibres/raw materials. We also cover finishing processes. Content • Fabrics (+ finishing processes) • Yarns • Fibres...

BusinessFeatured

Common financial terms such as turnover and EBITDA explained

FashionUnited regularly reports on the financial performance of fashion companies, particularly when annual reports and half-year reports are published. These reports are also known as financial reports. Financial reports provide a detailed overview of a company's financial performance over a specific period, including information on revenue,...

News

Trends, consumers and marketing: What is the power of colour in fashion?

The background article The role of colour in fashion explains how colour plays a pivotal role in fashion. What is the exact role of these primary, secondary and tertiary colours in the fashion world and what is the power of colour contrasts? How is colour used in fashion? Fashion designers use colour in various ways, from being a source of...