Global Vibes

Debenhams win
UNITED KINGDOM: Debenhams has beaten Marks & Spencer, Selfridges and John Lewis to be named best department store for the third year running in GMTV's 2008 High Street Fashion Awards. The win follows the brand's win as the second most popular store in Allegra Stategies' 'How women shop' annual survey. Other winners in the GMTV awards included Accessorize (best accessories), River Island (best jeans), Topman (best men's fashion), Topshop (best trendsetter) and Primark (best value).

Russian influence
RUSSIA: Sporting goods group Adidas has identified Russia as its most important European market after revealing sales in the country had grown by more than 50 per cent in the past year. A focus on key accounts and the expansion of mono-brand stores have been behind the success for both Adidas and its stablemate Reebok. At the end of 2007, the adidas Group operated more than 460 stores in Russia and is planning to take that number to more than 750 stores in 2008. Headquartered in Germany, the group has more than 33,000 employees and generated sales of €10.3 billion ($A16.7 billion) in 2007.

Textile show
UNITED STATES: Market Centre Management Company (MCMC) has announced it intends launching a new international textile show. MCMC, the management company of leading wholesale trade centres and trade events in the United States, said the new show - dubbed GlobalTex - will be held twice annually at the Los Angeles Convention Centre (LACC) with the first show April 21 - 23, 2009 and the following October 13 - 15, 2009. The show will offer buyers a complete market for sourcing including fabric, trimmings, supplies and technology. The global textile industry is expected to grow to $655 billion by 2010.

Court action
UNITED KINGDOM: The credit crunch is being blamed for an increase in the number of larger chains taking each other to court for design infringement. Next and Asda are locked in a legal battle over claims Britain's second-biggest supermarket chain has copied the fashion retailer's clothing designs. Next claims Asda's George business has infringed its design rights on five items of children's clothing. Other recent cases include Lacoste which sued Next for copying its Rotate shoe while Karen Millen, Whistles and Coast also sued Irish retailer Dunnes alleging it produced and sold "rip-off" copies of its designer garments.

Indian ask
INDIA: The textile apparel industry has urged the Indian government to constitute a task force to determine issues and problems being confronted by the industry. The group leading the charge claim exporters from other clothing and textile manufacturing countries are getting subsidies and export promotion packages from their respective state and federal governments whereas ever-rising cost of doing business in Pakistan has completely eroded profit margins, thereby reducing their share in the world market. The industry leaders primarily want the government to come forward and save them from rising cost of utilities and also to ensure their viability by giving them matching incentives and concessions as given by regional countries.