Global Vibes

Vietnam runs second
ASIA: Vietnam's apparel industry is expected to overtake rivals India and Mexico to become the second largest apparel exporter to the US this year. According to figures from the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), Vietnam has the largest growth rate, 34 percent last year, among the top five apparel exporters to the US, respectively China, Mexico, India, Vietnam and Indonesia. AmCham predicts that if Vietnamese producers maintain their growth rate, they will gain $US6.1 billion ($A6.6 billion) in export earnings from the US by year-end, increasing the country's market share from 3.2 to 6.1 percent in the world's largest apparel market. Vietnam aims to gain $US9.5 billion ($A10.2 billion) from textile and apparel exports in 2008 compared to $US7.8 billion ($A8.4 billion) last year.

Irish cuts
IRELAND: Dublin-based department store Arnotts has announced it will shed nearly 600 jobs - but potentially create 5000 new ones - during the construction of its new store. The brand, which is relocating its fashion, cosmetics, accessories and homeware departments is undertaking a redevelopment of its Henry Street site and the surrounding Northern Quarter area. The construction phase will begin later this year and will be completed in 2012. During the construction phase 580 jobs in Arnotts will be cut back from the current level of around 950. However the building phase of the new Northern Quarter will create 1,000 construction jobs and the completed redevelopment will see the creation of around 5,000 jobs. Total staffing at Arnotts will grow to 1,200 when the new store in the Northern Quarter development opens.

Not Select enough
ENGLAND: Women's fashion store chain Select Retail has gone into administration, but half the 250 stores have already been sold to a management buy-out team, according to national broadcaster BBC. It is understood administrators UHY Hacker Young claimed the sale secured the full-time employment of about 1,000 members of staff with the remaining Select stores staying open in an attempt to find a buyer. The administrators said a number of potential suitors had already expressed an interest in the Hertfordshire-based company.

Mexx closure
THE NETHERLANDS: Liz Claiborne-owned subsidiary Mexx is to close down its retail operations in the UK. The Amsterdam-headquartered brand will continue to wholesale in the UK but will close its three stores in Edinburgh and London's Oxford Street and Covent Garden. It will also shut its 58 concessions in department stores House of Fraser and John Lewis by the end of July. Mexx's 15 factory outlets in the UK will continue to trade and the company will retain its main UK office in Dublin. The closures will affect about 300 jobs. Mexx is Liz Claiborne's biggest brand with around 6000 staff across 65 countries.

'Knockof' mall
UNITED STATES: Police have smashed a counterfeit "virtual mall" operating out of a collection of buildings in New York's Chinatown. The raid resulted in the seizure of more than $US1 million ($A1.6 million) in knockoff accessories and fragrances with brands including Prada, Fendi, Coach, Rolex, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Calvin Klein caught up the incident. The block was found to house 32 storefronts illegally selling fake goods. Investigators involved in undercover operations that began in January said they made purchases of counterfeit goods from as many as 56 separate vendors who had set up shop in the buildings.