Each week, ragtrader.com.au handpicks global stories which can shape the way you think about the business of fashion. So what do you need to know right now?
Breaking new markets - digitally
Oroton and General Pants are among Australian fashion retailers pushing boundaries with international expansion plans this year. The two Australian icons detailed their plans at Ragtrader Live 2014, highlighting which markets are on the cards and why. But it's not just bricks and mortar expansion retailers can consider - Topshop has inked a digital deal to break into China.
Read the details here.
The battle for the active dollar
Activewear has become one of the most hotly contested categories in Australian fashion. While Lorna Jane fields offers for a potential $500 million sale and Puma plans to triple its spend in the local market, an even bigger battle is being waged on a global scale. And it's implications could soon be felt here. Adidas is planning its biggest ever advertising campaign next year to outpace its biggest ever rival, Nike.
Read the details here.
Denim does it tough
Australian designer denim brands Ksubi, Bettina Liano and 18th Amendment have all felt the brunt of liquidations. However, it seems the staple of any retail offer, jeans, is having a broader battle for the consumer dollar outside the domestic market.
Read the details here.
Bangladesh in focus
Last week, discount department store Target Australia joined sister brand Kmart in announcing a major supply chain transparency initiative. Both companies will progressively detail suppliers in offshore markets in a bid to address the repurcussions of Bangladesh's worst industrial disaster at Rana Plaza. They are not alone - power firm VF Corp has detailed a new turnaround plan, which includes $17 million in support.