Fashion Industry discussion, review, analysis, news, and information

Well, you learn new things everyday.  I wasn't aware that there was such a thing as an "auction monitoring solution". Today I read via SYS-CON.com that H & M, a high fashion retailer, has hired MarkMonitor(R) to assist the company in tracking down individuals who use internet auction listings to sell counterfeited H & M products.  MarkMonitor's Auction Monitoring allows the company to get information about how their products are being sold and by whom. 

"Online auction sites, where the identity of the seller and authenticity of the product are unknown to the buyer, provide counterfeiters with a virtual channel for distributing their goods. MarkMonitor's automated system for finding and prioritizing illegal online selling activity takes the guess work out of tracking down suspect counterfeit listings and empowers companies to take action to protect their revenues and customers," said Mark Shull, CEO of MarkMonitor.

Check out Counterfeit Chic for more Knockoff News...

Levi Strauss & Co is undergoing scrutiny from privacy advocates because the clothing company has put RFID tags on inventory that was sent to stores in Mexico and the U.S.  The consumer advocates claim that it is an invasion of... Continue Reading

Well, it seems like I got my answer.... The rising gas prices doesn't seem to be curbing consumer spending. Perhaps the Diva's out there are carpooling to the mall... or they could be eating Ramen noodles everyday so that they... Continue Reading

Just a few news scoops and resources I came across today in my readings: On Monday Banana Republic will be making their April 24 runway show available for free at iTunes Stylehive - "Social bookmarking for the product and shopping... Continue Reading

Well, I told y'all that Gucci was on the mind... which has led me to stumble upon this interesting piece of news about Gucci via Fashion Wire Daily.... PPR, the owner of the Gucci Group, has announced a 7.9% increase... Continue Reading

The subject of fashionable uniforms seems to be a recurring topic in the news lately... First...Gucci employees aren't the only people getting uniform makeovers. Flight attendants of Delta Air Lines are now sporting "The Richard Tyler Collection for Delta".  Richard... Continue Reading

Well, it's about time someone realizes that plus size women spend money too!  It's been reported that from March 2005 to February 2006, sales of plus-size women's clothing rose about 7 percent to $19 billion.  The plus size market was... Continue Reading

Who knew that a bale of wool could cost so much?  The finest bale of wool of 11.7 micron was recently sold to the Italian fashion house, Loro Piana, for $63,000.  Loro Piana owns 83 stores worldwide and distributes luxury... Continue Reading

If there's one thing the fashion industry likes to do and knows how to do well - it's partying. This time it's the Swarovski brand (you know those bling-bling crystals!).  The company is hosting a runway show at the Rockefeller's... Continue Reading

M.A.C. makeup seems to be pretty busy these days.  There's been talk that Raquel Welch will be the new face for the makeup company and will be featured in an upcoming ad campaign that will be debuting in 2007.  Hmmm...... Continue Reading

The Guardian published an article today about the Spanish government launching a study that compares the clothing sizes of models and everyday women's real sizes.  They would like to see if the fashion industry is causing the increase in eating... Continue Reading

In the corporate world where fashion retailers are selling hundreds of thousands of units per week, a few cents difference in stock price can certainly make a difference, huh?  This question comes after reading an article about Charlotte Russe's loss... Continue Reading

I like Calvin Klein clothing, but have been a little tired of seeing their standard casual sportswear in product offerings.  I'm excited to find out that the company has entered a licensing agreement with G-III Apparel Group Ltd to distribute women's... Continue Reading

This is what Gilbert W. Harrison, the chairman of Financo, a New York investment bank that specializes in retail, said in an article published in The New York Times today.  Executives of Saks Fifth Avenue will be meeting today to... Continue Reading

An artist like me always appreciates the art on a Hermès scarf.  The smooth texture of silk combined with rich design and colors definitely makes any outfit go from drab to fab.  What if you could buy a Hermès scarf... Continue Reading

What company has more sales than H & M?  According to Business Week's Rachel Tiplady, the "Queen" of high fashion is a Spanish retailer named Inditex which owns over a hundred companies and is associated with textile design, manufacturing and... Continue Reading

Laura Ashley, famous for its floral prints in the home and apparel industries, has announced a 39% rise in annual profits and will be paying out a dividend to its shareholders for the first time in nine years.  The company... Continue Reading

On a recent shopping excursion at Fashion Valley Mall here in San Diego, I entered the Burberry Store to check out the latest spring fashions.  I oohed and ahhed over the scarves laid out in an array of colors.  A... Continue Reading

Chanel is making plans to open a 3,200 square foot store this summer in Moscow, Russia.  It will be the first Chanel boutique in the country - exciting for them! There is no set date for the opening.  The store... Continue Reading

First it was Melanie Griffith, and now it's Jessica Simpson.  This time it's a huge (I mean huge!) lawsuit.  The Tarrant Apparel Group has filed a lawsuit against Jessica Simpson because she supposedly signed a contract with them a couple years... Continue Reading