Premium brand Represent has been ramping up its launch programme of late and fresh from its womenswear debut and Selfridges pop-up, the company has now unveiled its biggest collection yet for its performance-wear label, 247.
Represent 247
It’s a good time to expand the scope of the label that was launched only in 2020. Performance labels across the price spectrum are seeing strong results, from premium names like Castore that continues to grow fast to mass-market offers such as M&S’s Goodmove and H&M’s Move that are among those retailers’ best-selling products.
Only this week, a new study from CACI also showed that gym membership in the UK is soaring and fitness brands are booming.
So what has Represent come up with? The fast-growing 247 has launched a 65-piece offer for SS25 with a ‘nature-inspired’ collection that includes popular 247 staples in seasonal colours, alongside new products that offer layering options for the colder months, such as the Lightweight Gilet and Running Quarter Zip.
Rivington Pike, a favourite hometown running destination of Represent founder and creative director George Heaton, forms the inspiration for several pieces within the collection — a concept that first featured in the Arc-2 Trainer, 247’s entry into performance footwear that launched in January.
Also important are the Realtree print, “building upon the success of” the recent sell-out ‘Represent x Realtree’ mainline collection. The trending camo print is seen on core training items such as the 2-in-1 Short and Hooded Training Jacket.
The collection also features a new colourway — bold ‘Speed Green’ — on key pieces, as well as introducing a new Motion design for the Oversized T-Shirt and Oversized Hoodie. Essential training accessories such as headwear, chest rigs, and gym bags complete the range.
The offer also features technical fabrics, seamless designs and features such as sweat-wicking and antibacterial treatments.
Urban Outfitters announced on Wednesday full-year sales increased 7.7% to a record $5.55 billion, on the back of double-digit growth sales in the fourth quarter.
Urban Outfitters
The Philadelphia-based company said retail segment sales increased 4.7%, with comparable retail segment sales increasing 3.4%, driven by mid single-digit positive growth in digital channel sales and low single-digit positive growth in retail store sales. By brand, comparable retail sales increased 8.9% at Free People and 7.7% at Anthropologie, but decreased 8.7% at Urban Outfitters.
Wholesale segment sales increased 15.5% driven by a 17.9% increase in Free People wholesale sales, thanks to an increase in sales to specialty customers and department stores. The increases were partially offset by a decrease in Urban Outfitters wholesale sales.
For the three months ending January 31, the company clocked a net income of $120.3 million and earnings per diluted share of $1.28. Meanwhile, annual net income was a record $402.5 million and earnings per diluted share were $4.26.
“We are pleased to announce record Q4 revenues and full-year profits,” said Richard. Hayne, chief executive officer, Urban Outfitters. “Our success was driven by strength across all three segments – retail, subscription and wholesale. We believe these results demonstrate the effectiveness of our strategic initiatives and give us confidence in Urban’s continued success.”
During the twelve months ended January 31, the company opened a total of 57 new retail locations including: 37 Free People stores (including 25 FP Movement stores), 13 Anthropologie stores and 7 Urban Outfitters stores. Comparatively, it closed 30 retail locations including: 14 Urban Outfitters stores, 11 Anthropologie stores and 5 Free People stores.
According to a press release, Primark, the low-cost fashion retailer, is strengthening its commitment to the circular economy and sustainability by introducing textile collection points in its stores across Spain this spring.
Primark to launch in-store second-hand clothing and textile collection in Spain this spring. – Primark
In parallel, the company is offering free repair workshops in several of its stores in Spain while expanding its textile collection program to extend the lifespan of garments, reduce waste, and contribute to a more circular fashion economy.
The collection points will be available in Spain this spring after being successfully implemented in the UK, Ireland, Austria, Portugal, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Customers will be able to drop off clothing, footwear, accessories, and home textiles—regardless of brand or condition—at designated collection points in stores.
The company’s collaboration with Yellow Octopus ensures that these items will be reused or recycled. All profits from the program will be donated to Unicef, which supports access to education, healthcare, clean water, and humanitarian aid for children in crisis situations.
Additionally, repair workshops are designed to teach essential sewing skills, such as replacing buttons, fixing zippers, and adding pockets, helping consumers extend the life of their garments.
After piloting this initiative in several European markets, Primark has already conducted over 400 repair workshops in France, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK, and Ireland, offering more than 7,000 free sessions to customers and employees. In Spain, workshops will take place in Madrid, Málaga, Zaragoza, and Barcelona before expanding to A Coruña, Bilbao, Madrid, Sant Cugat, Seville, and Valencia later this year.
Carlos Inácio, general manager of Primark Iberia, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to “making fashion more sustainable by helping customers extend the lifespan of their garments.”
He also added, “Through initiatives such as our repair workshops and textile collection program, we take steps towards a more circular approach to fashion. We believe that small changes—like learning how to mend a garment or recycling textiles responsibly—can make a big difference in reducing waste and building a more sustainable future.”
These initiatives fall under Primark Cares, the brand’s global sustainability strategy. Additionally, the retailer has committed to improving garment durability by 2025 and has introduced a durability framework developed in collaboration with environmental organization Hubbub and the University of Leeds School of Design.
Retail property giant British Land may have been focusing more heavily on retail parks in recent periods but it still has major flagship shopping centre sites in its portfolio and has just announced a raft of fashion signings for its prestigious Broadgate development in central London.
Broadgate – British Land
It said this week that it’s seen “a strong start to the year at Broadgate, further strengthening the campus’s retail offering”.
Major fashion brands Ralph Lauren, Mango, Luca Faloni, Hobbs and Whistles are taking space at Broadgate Central, which spans the ground and lower ground floors of 1 Broadgate and 100 Liverpool Street, linking Liverpool Street station to Finsbury Avenue Square
1 Broadgate will complete later this year with the building’s office space 96% pre-let. The wider campus continues to see strong office leasing activity and since the start of the calendar year, British Land has agreed terms or placed under offer 200,000 sq ft to businesses across a range of sectors.
What that means for retailers in that, as well as sizeable footfall passing through Liverpool Street station, there’s a massive pool of potential customers who’ll be working in the immediate vicinity on multiple days each week.
Overall, the company said Broadgate consistently attracts high footfall of over 29 million visitors a year, with retailers most recently seeing a 4.6% increase in sales year-on-year.
CEO Simon Carter said: “This is a strong start to the year for Broadgate. The demand we’ve seen for workspace across the campus is due to its excellent connectivity and unrivalled range of amenities, with businesses seeking high quality space within a well located, thriving environment. The fantastic additions to our retail offer at Broadgate Central will only enhance the campus’s appeal.”