HOPE AHEAD VIETNAM: The International Finance Corporation (IFC), an agency of the World Bank, has set up a new program aimed at helping apparel firms improve staff working conditions. The program, dubbed Better Work Vietnam, includes assessment against international labour standards and national labour law, customised advisory services for enterprises, and a range of training options for managers, supervisors and workers. The two-year program, introduced to the country with the support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), aims to benefit around 700,000 workers.
ZAPPOS SALE UNITED STATES: Amazon has bought US apparel and footwear website Zappos.com for around $US927 million ($A1.1 billion) in stock and cash. Ten-year-old Zappos, which stocks thousands of brands from Ugg to Clarks, has annual sales of around $US1 billion ($A1.2 billion). Under the terms of the agreement, the acquisition is expected to be complete by northern hemisphere autumn/winter 2009/10.
SPARKLY EYES AUSTRIA: Fashion jewellery brand Swarovski is set to expand its core offering to include a new range of eyewear. The Austrian-headquartered group has signed a five-year deal with Italian eyewear company Marcolin to produce and distribute a range of sunglasses and prescription frames under the Swarovski brand. The range is expected to launch worldwide in the northern hemisphere spring/summer 2011 through high-end specialist opticians, department stores and sunglass stores, as well as selected Swarovski boutiques.
SCANDAL ROCKS BRANDS AFRICA: US high street brands Levi’s and Gap have moved to avoid potential consumer boycotts of both brands after a Sunday Times investigation found an African factory supplying denim to the companies was illegally dumping chemical waste including needles, razors and harmful chemicals. Both apparel companies launched immediate investigations into the findings, with Gap going one step further by announcing it had put the factory concerned “on notice” to improve. Gap, which over recent times has nurtured a public image of strong green credentials, said it also intended convening a meeting of its suppliers to update policies and procedures as a result of the UK newspaper’s findings.
