Selfridges Set for Job Cuts, Citing Freeze on Tax-free Shopping in UK

LONDON – Selfridges is planning to cut 2 percent of headcount, or around 70 roles, in a challenging period for British retail. According to a memo seen by WWD, Selfridges’ chief executive officer Andrew Keith told staff the proposed job cuts pertained to “specific head office functions,” and that store team members were not affected.  The … Read more

Retailers Salute Dries Van Noten, Who’s Retiring After Four Decades

Retailers will have a hard time saying goodbye to Dries Van Noten, who told WWD of his plans to step down from the creative helm of his company later this year. They said they’ll miss the color, lightness of touch, and gardener’s love of florals that he brought to men’s and women’s fashion alike. Here, … Read more

Silk Fashion Brand Worme Introduces Made to Order

LONDON — In an oversaturated fashion market, smaller brands are repositioning themselves to better suit their customers and to keep their brands alive. Silk fashion brand Worme, founded by sisters Melissa and Hannah Collett, is introducing made to order as a new model to their business. “It’s the future for small businesses just in terms … Read more

Victoria Beckham Sees 2023 Sales, EBITDA Rise

LONDON — Victoria Beckham’s brand is getting hotter despite the chill winds blowing through luxury, said David Belhassen whose private equity firm NEO Investment Partners holds a significant minority stake in the business. Beckham’s brand, which will show the fall 2024 collection in Paris on Friday, reached a milestone in 2022, turning a modest profit … Read more

Paul Smith Foundation to Support Young Designers at Smithfield Market

LONDON — The Paul Smith Foundation is throwing its support behind a new hub dedicated to emerging design talent at Smithfield Market in London. The foundation has partnered with the Mayor of London’s office and Projekt, a work and events space provider, to create The Fashion Residency at Studio Smithfield, a three-year business, creative and marketing boot camp for … Read more

Pokémon’s Dragonite Is at Selfridges for Fendi, Frgmt Collaboration – WWD

LONDON — Selfridges has a few new friends in town that go by the name of Dratini, Dragonair and Dragonite. Fendi has staged a pop-up at the luxury department store to celebrate its brand collaboration with Hiroshi Fujiwara’s Fragment, which also includes a special collection with Pokémon celebrating the Year of the Dragon in 2024 … Read more

Central Retail Could Take Larger Slice of Selfridges Amid Signa Woes – WWD

LONDON — Central Retail will invest further in the British department store only if the conditions are right, the company said in a filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Central Retail is the publicly-traded division of Central Group, the majority owner of Selfridges, which it purchased two years ago alongside the troubled property giant … Read more

Signa’s Key Retail Property Division Files for Bankruptcy – WWD

LONDON — Another division of Rene Benko’s troubled Signa property empire has filed for insolvency following the collapse of the holding company last month. Signa Prime Selection AG, which has stakes in retailers including Selfridges, KaDeWe and Karsdadt, has filed for bankruptcy and submitted its restructuring plan to a Vienna court, according to a statement issued … Read more