Growing up with a Westie dog, I always had a penchant for Radley. I know its logo is a Scottie, not a Westie, but try telling accessory-obsessed eight-year-old Chloé that. In the midst of the comings and goings of countless Creative Directors, Radley has jumped in the ring. Just as Jonathan Anderson transformed accessory brand Loewe into becoming renowned for its ready-to-wear fashion, is Soriano Iglesias poised to do the same at Radley? With its latest appointment, the brand is looking to add a spring back into its step and Iglesias, who has previously held accessory design roles at Loewe, Calvin Klein and Carolina Herrera, has been selected as the man to do it. He has already given Radley’s signature styles long-overdue updates from bags to eyewear, jewellery, and beyond. According to insiders, Soriano Iglesias’ bags are softer and of a higher quality than previous Radley designs. His first collection will be available to wholesale customers this week and is set to land on shop floors and home pages this August.
Trade show season is on! As always, the first major show out of the blocks is Pitti Uomo is the stunning surroundings of the Fortezza da Basso in Florence. Here, the world's leading menswear brands, buyers, designers and retailers (and the famous 'Pitti Peacocks') descend upon the historic Italian city to check out the latest offerings for the season ahead and to network, catch up and exchange ideas with peers and friends from the industry. Representing us on the show floor was the intrepid Eric Musgrave who kept me posted throughout the show on the mood music from exhibitors and attendees, and who also produced. Word has it that Pitti is now more or less back to pre-COVID levels when it comes to attendance and I was pleased to hear from Eric that UK brands and retailers were a huge presence. Understandably, there was concern among those present about the trading headwinds we face in 2025 (I could go into another rant about "that budget" but I am too exhausted at this stage) but what I loved was the sense of defiance and the understanding that if you want to do well (particularly in the challenging multi-brand market), you have to get out there, find interesting brands and offer your customers something special (and differentiated from the line-up at every branch of Flannels up and down the country).
It’s being coordinated by New West End Company, the business improvement district for London’s West End, but it is bringing in business representatives from cities across the UK, including London, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Leeds, Cardiff, Newcastle, and Edinburgh. The group will hold "summits" every quarter to share learnings and discuss solutions to common challenges faced by high streets across the country, from tackling retail crime and anti-social behaviour to planning laws and an unwieldy business rates system. Collectively, the high streets involved contribute £34.7 billion in GVA each year and welcome over 473 million visitors annually – acting as key drivers of growth and important economic anchors for local communities. So, the more important voices and leaders coming together to develop new ideas and solutions that will secure the future success of the nation’s flagship high streets, the better.
