Scottish Country Clothing - The House of Bruar. Fat Face prepares to expand across the Atlantic with first US store. When Anthony Thompson, the boss of fashion chain Fat Face, decided the time was right to expand across the Atlantic, he had to put in some serious research - including a road trip in a soft-top Mustang from New York to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Altogether he visited between 40 and 50 potential east coast locations including Boston, Newport and Portland, Maine. Some of them required half a dozen visits, he said, and he used planes, trains and even bicycle journeys to explore all the angles and ensure Fat Face gets its first venture outside the UK and Ireland right.
Ice-cream parlours are particularly instructive about locations, evidently. Thompson explained that eating homemade vanilla ices in seaside resorts along the US east coast helped him identify the Boston area as the location for the brand’s launch over the Atlantic this autumn. “It’s got to be homemade and come in big portions. Clothing retailer Fat Face plans £110m stock market float. 'Sexualised' Jack Wills catalogue advert is banned by advertising watchdog - BBC Newsbeat. Clothing firm Jack Wills pays pretty British students to party in glitziest resorts.
Imagine a job that's stand-out requirement is speaking with a British accent?
And partying. For a gang of British students being employed by UK clothing firm Jack Wills this summer on America's east coast, that was the very glamorous reality. The 18-24 brand, keen to show off 'British university life', handpicked a group of students from the UK to represent them as brand ambassadors in some of New England's wealthiest enclaves. Crew Clothing slips into the red following online investment. Crew Clothing eyes expansion after growing its sales 12pc. Crew Clothing, the British casual clothing retailer, is accelerating a store expansion programme after reporting a 12pc rise in sales last year.
Sales grew by £6.5m for the year ending 26 October 2014 to £59m while operating profits fell to £1.06m from £1.3m the year before, according to accounts at Companies House. Crew slid into the red, making a £106,828 loss compared to a £226,846 pre-tax profit in 2013. The company, which has 76 stores in the UK as well as concessions in department store chain John Lewis, said the fall in profits was related to investment in its online business. “The expectations of our customer are changing rapidly and therefore we continue to invest in the key areas of infrastructure in order to provide a high quality of service,” the company said. What your wellies say about you. Once championed by Lady Di (as she was then), a pair of green Hunters were the weekend uniform of Sloane Rangers, worn on the moors of Scotland and the damp turf of the Hurlingham club.
In step: the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer, wearing Hunters, in 1981 Photo: PHOTONEWS SCOTLAND/ REX FEATURES But their reputation as unpretentious, decent, well-made (if pricey) boots for the huntin’ shootin’ fishin’ set was damaged when, first, the company fell into administration and then the new owners desperately pushed its fashion credentials. So, Kate Moss was spotted wearing them twinned with silver hot pants at Glastonbury. Before long, the private-equity owners were selling gold versions, faux-crocodile wellies designed by Jimmy Choo and, at the end of last year, they opened a flagship store on Regent Street. Here, customers were invited to put on headphones “to listen to curated soundtracks that evoke experiences associated with product within the space”.
Hunters are no longer posh. Barbour: From farmers and fishermen to fashion royalty. Image copyright Rex Features/PA Celebrating its 120th year, Barbour's clothes have seemingly never been more fashionable.
But just how did a company whose brand was aimed at farmers, fishermen and the 'country set' become such a success story? "Whenever I see anybody of celebrity status in one of our jackets it's a buzz," says Helen Barbour, sat, cuppa in hand, in the rather grandly named Brand Room of the firm's South Shields headquarters. Framed pictures detailing key points from the company's past cover the walls, while gleaming glass cabinets showcase some of its familiar coats.
Then there is the huge dark wood table that appears to stretch into the distance. At the far end, hidden behind painted wooden shutters, lies the archive - a treasure trove of jackets and catalogues from years gone by which today's designers can raid for inspiration. Image copyright Barbour The transformation has been striking. "When she took over she worked in every single department," Helen says. Barbour workers to go on strike in dispute over pay and working hours.
A clothing firm which went from making jackets for fishermen to become a fashion brand worn by royalty is locked in a bitter dispute with its workers.
J Barbour and Sons Ltd - which makes the famous waxed jackets and Wellington boots loved by A-list celebrities - is facing strike action by more than 100 workers in the North East. Barbour.