Here is a small selections of my
favorite items from the Green Room!
click on the image to purchase
Thanks to ASOS!
Friday, 21 May 2010
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Accessorize Goes MEXICANA
This has got to be one of my favorite trends at the moment! I visited Mexico in the summer 0f 2007 and was truly blown away by the bright colours, textures and beautiful fabrics of the place. This trend captures Mexican beauty perfectly and in my next post I will be highlighting my favorite pieces from the collection. I just wish Accessorize was a bit more affordable, but with this collection it truly feels like wearing a piece of artwork!
Accessorize Goes Fairtrade
These totes are 100% faitrade and 100%
practical for shopping! so go get yourself one now!
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
New Look Profile.
Our CustomersMany people love New Look and with over 1000 stores providing fashion for women, men, teens and children, it is difficult to describe one single New Look customer. That said, this is one of our groups.
Bags of fashion - our female customer
Most of our women customers are keen shoppers. They love to bag a bargain and get a real thrill from finding that killer fashion item. They want clothes that are bang-on trend but that also fit their style and life.
Our Company
New Look has come a long way since our first store in Taunton in 1969. We now have over 1000 stores worldwide, in the UK and Republic of Ireland, Europe, the Middle East, Singapore, Russia and Poland. Last year alone 355 million customers visited New Look either online or in one of our stores.
Our brand is about delivering fashion excitement, newness and value. So we translate the latest trends from the catwalk, celebrities and the streets as fast as we can, providing our customers with fashion that is bang on trend - and great value to boot. We regularly win awards for our clothing and footwear and remain the number 1 retailer by volume for denim and dresses. New Look isn't just for the girls either - we are gaining market share in menswear. Our online business also continues to grow, with customers visiting New Look whenever and wherever it suits them - making us one of the most visited fashion websites in the UK.
We care about how we operate and are committed to ethical trading and animal welfare. We limit our impact on the planet by reducing the waste we send to landfill and using less energy.
New Look has come a long way since our first store in Taunton in 1969. We now have over 1000 stores worldwide, in the UK and Republic of Ireland, Europe, the Middle East, Singapore, Russia and Poland. Last year alone 355 million customers visited New Look either online or in one of our stores.
Our brand is about delivering fashion excitement, newness and value. So we translate the latest trends from the catwalk, celebrities and the streets as fast as we can, providing our customers with fashion that is bang on trend - and great value to boot. We regularly win awards for our clothing and footwear and remain the number 1 retailer by volume for denim and dresses. New Look isn't just for the girls either - we are gaining market share in menswear. Our online business also continues to grow, with customers visiting New Look whenever and wherever it suits them - making us one of the most visited fashion websites in the UK.
We care about how we operate and are committed to ethical trading and animal welfare. We limit our impact on the planet by reducing the waste we send to landfill and using less energy.
Our Brand
We're all looking for something new and exciting to wear but it can be hard to find what's just right for you - and at the right price.
This is where New Look comes in. Our brand pillars of fashion excitement, value and newness are at the heart of everything we do. We deliver irresistible fashion at brilliant prices which means more fashion excitement for our customers - more of those 'Wow! Look what I've just found' moments.
This means we can take on the competitors - with genuinely surprising prices and with fashion credentials that stand us apart from other value retailers.
We're all looking for something new and exciting to wear but it can be hard to find what's just right for you - and at the right price.
This is where New Look comes in. Our brand pillars of fashion excitement, value and newness are at the heart of everything we do. We deliver irresistible fashion at brilliant prices which means more fashion excitement for our customers - more of those 'Wow! Look what I've just found' moments.
This means we can take on the competitors - with genuinely surprising prices and with fashion credentials that stand us apart from other value retailers.
Our Values
From talking to our customers we have found there are three things that make New Look different.
- We are impatient. We love the fashion business so we always keep things new and fresh, giving customers plenty of reasons to keep coming back.
- We are confident. We try new things, we take big risks otherwise our business wouldn't have grown so fast with so many best sellers. We're also confident in our customers, we listen to them all the time and trust what they tell us.
- New Look is fun. Customers love the excitement and possibility of fashion which is why we are lively, friendly, optimistic with an unfailingly positive attitude to life.
Ethical Trading
Our commitment to ethical trading is central to how we operate. We value the people who make our products and continue to work with our suppliers to improve their working conditions.
Our commitment to ethical trading is central to how we operate. We value the people who make our products and continue to work with our suppliers to improve their working conditions.
What is ethical trading?
Ethical sourcing is about acting responsibly towards the people who make our products by supporting our suppliers in providing good quality jobs.
Our objectives
The New Look Group shares the same ethical objectives to:
- Be fair: to our customers, suppliers, employees and the people who make our products.
- Be a good neighbour to the world.
- Deliver value and ethical values to our customers.
- Continuously improve: our intention is to improve everything we can at every opportunity, however we recognise that we cannot solve all of the problems in our supply chain overnight. Where big changes are practical we want to make those changes and make them stick. Where that isn’t practical we always work to make little changes that will make a difference.
- Ensure that ethical trading is central to how we operate.
Why we do it
We believe in giving everyone involved in our supply chain an opportunity to live a decent life. We want our customers and our staff to feel good about New Look’s products and how they are sourced. We believe in raising the profile of what fashion retailers are doing in ethical trade.
How we work
We work with 100% of New Look’s supply chain to improve working conditions for the people who make our products. We ask all our suppliers to:
- Take ownership of any problems
- Work with us to tackle problems.
- Be open and honest with us.
- Sign up to New Look's Ethical Code of Conduct. We pilot projects in different countries to listen to the people in our supply chain and work to improve their jobs. This helps us understand what is good about the way we work with our people and what can be improved. We are a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative and collaborate with non governmental organisations (NGOs), trade unions and experts to make a bigger difference. Link to working together. We ensure all our internal teams are thinking ethically.
Our commitment to ethical trading is central to how we operate. We value the people who make our products and continue to work with our suppliers to improve their working conditions.
“New Look is at the forefront of developing innovative approaches to tackling some of the most urgent issues for workers, including raising wages and enabling workers to organise themselves. We support its efforts to start to tell the story of how it is putting its ethical trade principles into practice.” Dan Rees, ETI Director
Thanks to the New Look Group website.
Warehouse Profile.
VISION
Design for the high street
Creating a directional brand experience that is exciting, inspiring and personal to our customer. Our distinctive handwriting is... Styley, Confident, Sexy, Glamorous, Edgy, Clean, Individual.
OUR CULTURE
Our culture is positive, ambitious and focused and our teams are creative and have pride in the brand. The people that work at Warehouse are passionate and knowledgeable about fashion and reflect the personality of the brand
OUR CUSTOMER
She is...Passionate about fashion. Knowledgeable about trends. Appreciates design and quality. Body confident. Independent. Primarily 18-30 but Warehouse is about attitude not age. She loves… shopping, socialising, looking good, magazines, celebrity gossip and travel
HISTORY
The first Warehouse store opened it’s doors in London in 1976, with a vision of ‘design for the high street’ to make fashion accessible to all.
The concept which was the brainchild of Jeff Banks and Maurice and Michael Bennet also saw the launch in the early 1980’s of the innovative Warehouse Bymail catalogue, which had it’s pages graced by Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Stephanie Seymour and Andie McDowell
Through the years the brand has been within the Sears, Arcadia and Rubicon group’s. The over 300 strong chain now forms part of Aurora Fashions under Chief Executive Derek Lovelock.
The brands vision has remained and evolved over the 3 decades to ensure that it keeps its finger on the fashion pulse. The distinctive handwriting stays strong with a dedicated in-house design team creating looks that are right for our customer; whether that’s the season’s must have piece, her staple basics or something for her to WOW in. Through the years women including the fashion press, stylists and many a celebrity face have enjoyed wearing their favourite Warehouse numbers!
Warehouse imagery has been touched by many a fashion talent over the years, building a directional brand image both within the eyes of the industry and the customer. Yasmin Le Bon, Mandy Smith, Liberty Ross, Bianca Balti, Caroline Baker, Lucinda Chambers, Kate Phelan, Corrine Day and Jessica Miller, Charlotte Stockdale, Norman Parkinson, Steve Hiett, Peter Lindberg and most recently Ben Watts & Anouck Lepere to name but a few!STORES
Warehouse stores create an exciting shopping environment for our customer with a personal feel that is constantly injected with newness - keeping us one step ahead of the crowd.
VISUAL MERCHANDISING
We deliver impactful, inspiring displays within both our windows and our stores. The use of full and half mannequins, visual props, directional brand graphics, bold logo usage and accessory displays entice our girl and enhance her shopping experience. Clarity of product is achieved by presenting our edited collections so they are easy to shop and help to educate the girl her on how to wear the seasons key looks.
OUR SERVICE
We strive to offer a personal service within our stores, and how our people look is crucial to achieving this.
I found no information on where their garments are sourced, or the trading standards?
Thanks to the Warehouse website.
Dorothy Perkins Profile.
"Accessible, aspirational and affordable. At Dorothy Perkins we deliver High Street fashion that is guaranteed to be feminine, sexy, wearable and confident. With over 570 stores nationwide, you'll find us on nearly every High Street. Alternatively you can shop from the comfort of your own home at dorothyperkins.co.uk. And because everyone's different we design for everyone - for women aged 20-50, offering sizes 8-22, tall, petite and maternity ranges. So you'll always find something to wear whatever the need or occasion!"
Fashion Focus The new spring collection is here with an African influence! Jeans and combats are worn with kaftans, ethnic tops and embroidered halter neck tops! Gorgeous!"
Burton a
nd Dorothy Perkins are two of the most established and prominent fashion retailers in the UK and with over 920 branches have a major presence on the high street. In addition to this is our ability to reach an even wider audience through online shopping, making us a dominant force in the UK's fashion retail industry.Individuals joining our teams in either Retail or Head Office will benefit from the many career opportunities that come with being a part of the Arcadia Group, which is one of the UK's largest retailers. With a clear business focus and impressive performances to date, the Arcadia Group is set to continue to develop and become the leading player on the high street.
The Arcadia Group is the UK's second largest retailer and the name behind some of the leading high street brands - Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Outfit, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Top Shop, Top Man and Wallis. Operating with over 2,000 stores nationwide, Arcadia employs over 24,000 people and has a leading Internet presence and growing international portfolio.
When customers buy our goods, we want them to be confident that they have been produced under acceptable conditions. That means the goods must have been produced:
- lawfully, through fair and honest dealing;
- without exploiting the people who made them;
- in decent working conditions; and
- without damaging the environment.
The Arcadia Group Code of Conduct applies to the manufacturer, or any other person involved in supplying goods to our companies. The code is designed to be fair, achievable and easy to check, and to promote the ongoing development of our suppliers.
The code is based on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and recommendations, and applies to all brands underneath the Arcadia Group umbrella.
Click here to download the Arcadia Group Responsibility Report 2009.
Click here to download the Arcadia Group Code Of Conduct.
Click here to see our ethical policy FAQs.
Click here to read our Code of Conduct Guidebook.
Thanks to the Dorothy Perkins Recruitement website for all the info
Primark Profile
Fashion at Primark .
"Style, quality and affordable prices all rolled into one at Primark. Go to a store near you for instant style at prices you can afford. And keep going back - we always have different styles for women, men, children and the home"
Primark, the discount clothing store, has withdrawn padded bikini tops aimed at girls as young as seven following criticism that the items were sexualising children. View the full article here
How can Primark have the lowest prices on the high street?
"We can afford to offer our customers low prices by utilising a number of cost saving strategies. We have no advertising costs. instead relying on our customers “doing the talking” about our products. Also, we buy and sell in bulk - Primark has 198 stores in Ireland, Spain, the United Kingdom, Holland, Spain, Germany and Portugal. Our buying power allows us to buy in bulk and we pass the cost savings back to the customer. And we keep our overheads low wherever we can. With state-of-the-art logistics systems our stores have up-to-the minute fashion, as soon as it reaches us."
"We can afford to offer our customers low prices by utilising a number of cost saving strategies. We have no advertising costs. instead relying on our customers “doing the talking” about our products. Also, we buy and sell in bulk - Primark has 198 stores in Ireland, Spain, the United Kingdom, Holland, Spain, Germany and Portugal. Our buying power allows us to buy in bulk and we pass the cost savings back to the customer. And we keep our overheads low wherever we can. With state-of-the-art logistics systems our stores have up-to-the minute fashion, as soon as it reaches us."
What does Quality Assurance mean at Primark?
"Quality is paramount at Primark. Although we offer great value for money, this is never at the expense of our high quality standards. We rigorously test our products both independently and at production stages."
"Quality is paramount at Primark. Although we offer great value for money, this is never at the expense of our high quality standards. We rigorously test our products both independently and at production stages."
The Main Concern: Slave Labour.
"Many of the challenges we face in our supply chain cannot be solved by us alone, and so we work in partnership with NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations) and various multi-stakeholder initiatives to try and address the many shared problems.
Primark is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), an alliance of companies, trade unions and voluntary organisations working in partnership to improve the lives of people working in global supply chains.
We participate in several innovative projects and working groups at the ETI, including the ETI Homeworkers Group. We are also a member of the groundbreaking Indian National Homeworker Group, which the ETI supports.
We are also engaging more and more with key regional stakeholders, notably NGOs. For example, our new ethical trade manager in Bangladesh is tasked with developing our relationship with NUK, an NGO with trade union links. NUK have more than 20 years experience in addressing women’s rights and labour issues in the ready-made garment sector in Bangladesh. Through this partnership we are seeking to identify and address key issues around equal rights, opportunities for growth and career enhancement, as well as training needs within some of our key suppliers in Bangladesh. NUK's expertise in this area helps us provide employees and middle management at factories with more intensive support and training on ethical issues.
Read the interview with Mrs Shefali
In India we are working at grass roots level with an NGO called SAVE to help us understand and address some of the challenges faced by workers in the communities where our products are made. The project includes an extensive community survey to identify workers, families and children at risk, and provides a counselling service, workers’ helpline and other support services. Education forms a core part of this initiative and is essential for its sustainability. Workers receive training about their rights, including freedom of association, alongside learning about gender issues, basic health and personal development in sessions run by SAVE and supported by local unions.
In China we are working with ICO, a non-profit organisation, and are extending our work with other stakeholders. "
Primark is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), an alliance of companies, trade unions and voluntary organisations working in partnership to improve the lives of people working in global supply chains.
We participate in several innovative projects and working groups at the ETI, including the ETI Homeworkers Group. We are also a member of the groundbreaking Indian National Homeworker Group, which the ETI supports.We are also engaging more and more with key regional stakeholders, notably NGOs. For example, our new ethical trade manager in Bangladesh is tasked with developing our relationship with NUK, an NGO with trade union links. NUK have more than 20 years experience in addressing women’s rights and labour issues in the ready-made garment sector in Bangladesh. Through this partnership we are seeking to identify and address key issues around equal rights, opportunities for growth and career enhancement, as well as training needs within some of our key suppliers in Bangladesh. NUK's expertise in this area helps us provide employees and middle management at factories with more intensive support and training on ethical issues.
Read the interview with Mrs Shefali
In India we are working at grass roots level with an NGO called SAVE to help us understand and address some of the challenges faced by workers in the communities where our products are made. The project includes an extensive community survey to identify workers, families and children at risk, and provides a counselling service, workers’ helpline and other support services. Education forms a core part of this initiative and is essential for its sustainability. Workers receive training about their rights, including freedom of association, alongside learning about gender issues, basic health and personal development in sessions run by SAVE and supported by local unions.
In China we are working with ICO, a non-profit organisation, and are extending our work with other stakeholders. "
Values.
"Primark is a subsidiary company within the Associated British Foods group. We share ABF’s core values - taking care of our people, being good neighbours and fostering ethical business relationships. We also share the group’s overriding principles in relation to human rights, employment conditions, business practices, suppliers and other stakeholders.
As an international business with a global supply chain we accept that we have a responsibility to trade ethically. This includes ensuring that our suppliers live up to our values and behave as well towards their employees, as we do towards ours. With approximately 600 suppliers in over 16 countries, it is a huge challenge. We buy in very large volumes and aim to build long-term relationships with suppliers we can trust. Our business directly contributes to the employment of more than 700,000 workers across three continents."
As an international business with a global supply chain we accept that we have a responsibility to trade ethically. This includes ensuring that our suppliers live up to our values and behave as well towards their employees, as we do towards ours. With approximately 600 suppliers in over 16 countries, it is a huge challenge. We buy in very large volumes and aim to build long-term relationships with suppliers we can trust. Our business directly contributes to the employment of more than 700,000 workers across three continents."
My View.
As I see it, Primark is the biggest competitor on the high street. It offers laughable value for very fashionable clothes you would pay twice the price for anywhere else. However I feel they are severely lacking in customer care and service, its justa bout trashing clothes when I go in there. The sexualisation of children in fashion has become an increasing worry for me as I often see young girls well under ten years old wearing heels when I pop into my local tescos. This kinda sight makes me want to shake the mum and yell "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU THINKING? DO YOU WANT HER TO HAVE NO SELF RESPECT?" but i just give a dirty look and grab my nme, before going home huffing and puffing about what a sick world we live in. i fear a lot of highstreet shops to encourage such trends (even the one i work in). I think we should have some sort of laws put in place to prevent heels being sold for children under.... 16! so new pms, got a deal? other than that, i do like primark and the way they have managed to turn their image around. i just wish they wernt so successfull.
Moss on film plus Topshop opens in Knightsbridge
By Carrie Gorman
Topsho
p Knightsbridge opens its doors tomorrow as the label's first luxurious and premium shopping destination.
Positioned directly opposite Harrods, the store stocks the very best edit of Topshop's Boutique, Unique, mainline, footwear and accessories collections. ELLEuk.com was given a private preview this morning before it opens to the public at 10am tomorrow - and we can reveal a slick experience full of the brand's best pieces.
A section dedicated to Meadham Kirchoff and Mark Fast's collaborations sits on floor one, as well as Kate Moss's latest range. The latter has been scaled down from six to just two collections per year and personal shoppers have been headhunted from Harvey Nichols and Selfridges to give a bespoke experience.
Nick Knight has filmed Miss Moss in action on the shoot for her latest collection. Watch her at work here. Always a joy to see the living legend in action.
Topsho
p Knightsbridge opens its doors tomorrow as the label's first luxurious and premium shopping destination.
Positioned directly opposite Harrods, the store stocks the very best edit of Topshop's Boutique, Unique, mainline, footwear and accessories collections. ELLEuk.com was given a private preview this morning before it opens to the public at 10am tomorrow - and we can reveal a slick experience full of the brand's best pieces.
A section dedicated to Meadham Kirchoff and Mark Fast's collaborations sits on floor one, as well as Kate Moss's latest range. The latter has been scaled down from six to just two collections per year and personal shoppers have been headhunted from Harvey Nichols and Selfridges to give a bespoke experience.
Nick Knight has filmed Miss Moss in action on the shoot for her latest collection. Watch her at work here. Always a joy to see the living legend in action.
Thanks to Elle, and Carrie Gorman, for the article
Topshop: Background Info
About Topshop
Topshop was established in 1964 and is part of Arcadia Group Ltd. Sir Philip Green became owner of Arcadia Group Ltd in 2002. Topshop is continually recognised as being an authority on womens clothing, having won several awards for design reputation and new services, and has a wide range of womens dresses, chunky shoes, maternity clothing, jackets and womens jeans. Topshop was the first fashion retailer to show on schedule at London Fashion Week in September 2005 and continues to grow its reputation for supporting exciting new talent.
Combining inspired design and affordability, Topshop's Mainline range is a one-stop shop for the seasonal wardrobe. Created by an in-house design team, the range of instant classics sits alongside the more specialist collections. With 40,000 pairs sold a week at the Oxford Street flagship store alone, jeans are undoubtedly one of the collection's most commercially successful items.
Collaborations
Developing
some of history's most successful fashion collaborations has cemented Topshop's reputation as a brand that knows its market inside and out. Queen of textiles and long-time design partner to Ossie Clarke, Celia Birtwell's vintage-print dresses and blouses caused a sensation in 2006, selling out in three minutes. Four further successful collections have followed with a new collection launching for AW08. Kate Moss' collection has been equally phenomenal, as pieces encapsulating the icon's ever-changing sense of style have frequently sold out and become a hit worldwide. For summer 2008, Topshop also launched a new denim area with some of Los Angeles' most coveted brands.
thanks to Wikipedia and Topshop.com
Topshop was established in 1964 and is part of Arcadia Group Ltd. Sir Philip Green became owner of Arcadia Group Ltd in 2002. Topshop is continually recognised as being an authority on womens clothing, having won several awards for design reputation and new services, and has a wide range of womens dresses, chunky shoes, maternity clothing, jackets and womens jeans. Topshop was the first fashion retailer to show on schedule at London Fashion Week in September 2005 and continues to grow its reputation for supporting exciting new talent.
The Shopping Experience
Topshop is all about refusing to be pigeonholed, each customer is an individual and relies on the brand to deliver everything from basics to cutting-edge trends keeping Topshop (and its customers) ahead of the style game.
Combining inspired design and affordability, Topshop's Mainline range is a one-stop shop for the seasonal wardrobe. Created by an in-house design team, the range of instant classics sits alongside the more specialist collections. With 40,000 pairs sold a week at the Oxford Street flagship store alone, jeans are undoubtedly one of the collection's most commercially successful items.
Collaborations
Developing
some of history's most successful fashion collaborations has cemented Topshop's reputation as a brand that knows its market inside and out. Queen of textiles and long-time design partner to Ossie Clarke, Celia Birtwell's vintage-print dresses and blouses caused a sensation in 2006, selling out in three minutes. Four further successful collections have followed with a new collection launching for AW08. Kate Moss' collection has been equally phenomenal, as pieces encapsulating the icon's ever-changing sense of style have frequently sold out and become a hit worldwide. For summer 2008, Topshop also launched a new denim area with some of Los Angeles' most coveted brands.thanks to Wikipedia and Topshop.com
H&M Background info
Corporate responsibility
The company was established in Västerås, Sweden, in 1947 by Erling Persson though at the time it only sold women's clothing and was called Hennes, Swedish for "hers." In 1968, Persson acquired the premises and inventory of a Stockholm hunting equipment store named Mauritz Widforss. Included in the inventory was a supply of men's clothing, prompting Persson to expand into menswear. Accordingly, he renamed the store Hennes & Mauritz, later abbreviated to H&M. Erling's son Stefan became CEO in 1990 and Chairman of the Board in 1998. Today the majority of H&M's clothing is manufactured in Asia and Europe.[3]
In November 2004, selected H&M stores offered an exclusive collection by fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. The press reported large crowds and that the initial inventories in the larger cities were sold out within an hour,[8] although the clothes were still available in less fashion-sensitive areas until the company redistributed them to meet with demand.[9]
H&M’s busine
ss concept is to offer our customers fashion and quality at the best price. At H&M, quality is about more than making sure that our products meet or exceed our customers' expectations. It also means that they have to be manufactured under good conditions and that our customers must be satisfied with us as a company. Taking responsibility for how our operations affect people and the environment is also an essential prerequisite for H&M's continued profitability and growth. This section explains how we do that.
ss concept is to offer our customers fashion and quality at the best price. At H&M, quality is about more than making sure that our products meet or exceed our customers' expectations. It also means that they have to be manufactured under good conditions and that our customers must be satisfied with us as a company. Taking responsibility for how our operations affect people and the environment is also an essential prerequisite for H&M's continued profitability and growth. This section explains how we do that. History
The company was established in Västerås, Sweden, in 1947 by Erling Persson though at the time it only sold women's clothing and was called Hennes, Swedish for "hers." In 1968, Persson acquired the premises and inventory of a Stockholm hunting equipment store named Mauritz Widforss. Included in the inventory was a supply of men's clothing, prompting Persson to expand into menswear. Accordingly, he renamed the store Hennes & Mauritz, later abbreviated to H&M. Erling's son Stefan became CEO in 1990 and Chairman of the Board in 1998. Today the majority of H&M's clothing is manufactured in Asia and Europe.[3]
Collaborations
In November 2004, selected H&M stores offered an exclusive collection by fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. The press reported large crowds and that the initial inventories in the larger cities were sold out within an hour,[8] although the clothes were still available in less fashion-sensitive areas until the company redistributed them to meet with demand.[9]
In November 2005, the chain launched a collection by Stella McCartney and, in November 2006, by avant-garde Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf. H&M launched another collaboration with Madonna in March 2007, designed by the popstar.[10] In June 2007 the company worked with game developers Maxis to create a stuff pack for the latter's The Sims 2 computer game, H&M Fashion Stuff[11] In November 2007, the chain launched a collection by Italian designer Roberto Cavalli. It was reported that the clothing sold out very quickly. Also in 2007, another design with Kylie Minogue was launched in Shanghai, China.[7] In the fall of 2008 the Japanese company Comme des Garçons was selected as guest designer.
For spring and summer 2009, the British designer Matthew Williamson created 2 exclusive ranges for H&M. The first being a collection of women's clothes released in selected stores. The second collecting saw Williamson branch into menswear for the first time. The 2nd collection also featured swimwear for men and women and was available in every H&M store worldwide.[12] From November 14 H&M released a limited edition diffusion collection with Jimmy Choo featuring shoes and handbags, ranging from £30 to £170 including a range of men's shoes.
The collection also included clothing designed by Choo for the first time, many garments made from suede and leather, and was available in 200 stores worldwide including London's Oxford Circus store.[13] Sonia Rykiel is the latest guest designer to collaborate with H&M, after having designed a ladies knitwear and lingerie range to be released in selected H&M stores on December 5, 2009.
Guardian article on H&M
Unsold H&M clothes found in rubbish bags as homeless face winter chill
Megastore at the centre of a storm of protest after New York graduate student discovers bags of cut up garments
Megastore at the centre of a storm of protest after New York graduate student discovers bags of cut up garments
The clothing megastore H&M has found itself at the centre of an angry protest after one of its leading outlets in Manhattan was accused of cutting up unsold garments and dumping them in rubbish bags on the street.
The claim that the global chain was destroying unused clothes in the middle of one of the bitterest winters and deepest recessions to have hit New York in many years led to an outpouring of angry comments on Twitter.
The company, based in Sweden, said it was looking into the incident and emphasised its commitment to community responsibility.
Rubbish bags full of pristine clothes were found by a graduate student of the City University of New York, who came across them one night as she walked to the subway.
The student, Cynthia Magnus, tracked them to the 34th Street H&M store, a popular venue for tourists and New Yorkers in the centre of Manhattan.Inside the bags were gloves with the fingers cut off, socks, patent leather shoes with the instep cut up, and warm men's jackets slashed across the body and arms. "It was a very frigid night, and there were bags upon bags of warm winter clothing not 50 feet away from where a homeless man slept on cardboard boxes," she said.
Shocked by what she had found, she took some of the bags home to Brooklyn and tried to salvage the clothes. She contacted H&M's Swedish headquarters complaining about the dumping, and when she received no reply took the story to the New York Times. She also exposed an alleged dumping exercise carried out by a contractor of America's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, on the neighbouring block.
According to the Coalition for the Homeless, the number of people sleeping rough in New York city has reached its highest level since the Great Depression of the 1930s. There are thought to be about 39,000 people who do not have a home, including more than 10,000 families and 16,500 children. Homelessness has been exacerbated by the economic downturn, which has pushed the number of families in receipt of food stamps in the city to record highs. A cold snap has also meant outdoor night temperatures in New York of -10C (14F). Paradoxically, five blocks away from the H&M store is a group called New York Cares, which mobilises support for the community by co-ordinating volunteers wanting to help homeless and poor families in the city. It holds an annual drive that distributes 70,000 secondhand winter coats to needy individuals.
The group points out that nine in 10 homeless adults need to replace their winter coat each year because they have no place to store it during the summer.
Nicole Christie, of H&M, said the company took responsibility for how its operations affected people and the environment across its 200 US stores and worldwide. She said garments not meeting quality thresholds were regularly given to aid groups, including the UNHCR and a branch of Gifts In Kind. Globally, last year, 500,000 clothing items were given away, she said. She said H&M was looking into the "isolated incident" reported.
Wal-Mart said it too was investigating.
Saturday, 15 May 2010
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