Latest news with #Barbour
Fashion Network
20 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
InSpecs says US demand softens but Europe improves
UK-based eyewear specialist InSpecs said on Tuesday that US sales are trailing last year's but Europe is beginning to pick up. In a stock exchange announcement, the company — which makes and markets its own brands as well as operating licenses for Barbour, Joseph, Radley, Superdry, Temperley, Viktor&Rolf and more — shared the news ahead of Tuesday's annual general meeting at which founder and chairman Robin Totterman will step down from his role. Totterman said: 'The uncertainty surrounding US tariffs is impacting group sales, which as of the end of May were behind the prior year. However, demand in Europe has begun to strengthen, and projects with major retailers in the US and Canada are progressing well.' The company is also conducting a strategic review of its Norville lens business and this is expected to conclude by the end of this month. Totterman added that 'the board continues to make good progress in its search for a new independent non-executive chair ("Chair") and a new chief financial officer'. And he added that 'despite the challenges faced since the start of the year, the group remains focused on improving operational efficiency and implementing cost-saving initiatives which are expected to accelerate in the second half, to mitigate these headwinds. We expect revenue for the full year 2025 to be broadly flat versus 2024, and our guidance on EBITDA remains unchanged'. Back in April, the company released its preliminary 2024 results and said that group revenue fell to £198.3 million from £203.3 million. At constant currency, though, it was only down to £203.2 million.
Fashion Network
21 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
InSpecs says US demand softens but Europe improves
UK-based eyewear specialist InSpecs said on Tuesday that US sales are trailing last year's but Europe is beginning to pick up. In a stock exchange announcement, the company — which makes and markets its own brands as well as operating licenses for Barbour, Joseph, Radley, Superdry, Temperley, Viktor&Rolf and more — shared the news ahead of Tuesday's annual general meeting at which founder and chairman Robin Totterman will step down from his role. Totterman said: 'The uncertainty surrounding US tariffs is impacting group sales, which as of the end of May were behind the prior year. However, demand in Europe has begun to strengthen, and projects with major retailers in the US and Canada are progressing well.' The company is also conducting a strategic review of its Norville lens business and this is expected to conclude by the end of this month. Totterman added that 'the board continues to make good progress in its search for a new independent non-executive chair ("Chair") and a new chief financial officer'. And he added that 'despite the challenges faced since the start of the year, the group remains focused on improving operational efficiency and implementing cost-saving initiatives which are expected to accelerate in the second half, to mitigate these headwinds. We expect revenue for the full year 2025 to be broadly flat versus 2024, and our guidance on EBITDA remains unchanged'. Back in April, the company released its preliminary 2024 results and said that group revenue fell to £198.3 million from £203.3 million. At constant currency, though, it was only down to £203.2 million.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Report: Slower economy doesn't dim downtown Austin's dynamism
Despite economic headwinds that have pushed office vacancies into double digits and slowed new development, downtown Austin hasn't lost its luster. That's the picture painted by the latest 'State of Downtown' report from the Downtown Austin Alliance, released last week. While slower, growth in the city's central business district is still being fueled by new developments and population growth, even as businesses adapt to changing market conditions, alliance officials said. Although downtown may be navigating a market correction, the area has "remained dynamic," said Whitney Knight, the alliance's board chair. "While new construction has slowed, this pause offers a chance to focus on quality over quantity, to activate what we've already built, and to lay the groundwork for what's next," Knight said. Still, downtown — bounded by Lady Bird Lake to the south, Interstate 35 to the east, Lamar Boulevard to the west and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the north — hasn't stopped growing. "Although office and residential vacancies increased this year, demand is still high for working and living downtown. There is more space to fill, but downtown's workforce and population are growing, and lower rates enable more people to find a place here. The hotel and retail markets enjoyed steady performance this year, although these are both navigating emerging economic challenges," the report said. "People are attracted to its diverse mix of events, arts and entertainment, recreation and industries and opportunities.' David Barbour, president and CEO of the Downtown Austin Alliance, who has lived and worked in downtown locations across the country, said the group will "double down on what makes downtown Austin great — its vibe, vitality and collaborative spirit," while continuing to "address issues that challenge its full potential: affordability, homelessness, safety and access." The Downtown Austin Alliance works with downtown property owners, residents, businesses, community organizations and government leaders to enhance the appeal of the central business district, which Mayor Kirk Watson called the city's "living room" more than two decades ago during his previous tenure as mayor. On Tuesday, Barbour was the keynote speaker at the alliance's "Future of Downtown" event held at the ACL Live at The Moody Theater downtown. 'Downtown is the cultural and economic heartbeat of our city,' Barbour said in a statement issued after the event. "This is a place where creativity thrives, businesses grow, and everyone is welcome. As we navigate major infrastructure projects, new development and population growth, our focus is on keeping downtown accessible, vibrant and open to all." The alliance has produced its "State of Downtown" report since 2019, tracking key data points on trends and economic indicators in sectors including downtown's office, hotel, residential and retail markets. Below are highlights, along with excerpts from the report elaborating on its findings. The office market vacancy rate downtown is nearly 22%, reflecting the continued work-from-home or hybrid work models post-COVID. In 2019, pre-pandemic, downtown's office vacancy rate was 3.9%, according to CoStar data the report cited. More: Austin's downtown commercial, office space seeing record vacancy rates. What comes next? "The office market continues to transform in response to companies' changing needs for space. Vacancy rates have risen over the past five years, and combined with rising inflation and interest rates, this has led to a halt in developers breaking ground on new office construction," the report said. "The era of tech giants dominating entire buildings is fading, opening opportunities for a wider range of businesses to access downtown's prime location. This diversification is a source of stability for downtown Austin." Downtown is home to 15,330 residents and 12,720 residential units. With more than 2,600 new residential units in the pipeline, increasing supply by about 28%, downtown's appeal as a vibrant urban neighborhood continues to grow. More: Demand for office space continues to struggle, while downtown Austin living in high demand "Although developers and owners have experienced some headwinds, added concessions like incentives and discounts have created an opportunity for a wider range of individuals and families to live downtown," the report said. Rental prices downtown remain above pre-pandemic levels but have dropped from their 2022 peaks due to a surge in new apartment supply driving competitive pricing. The apartment vacancy rate has increased to 12.7%, up from 9.7% in 2019. Higher capital and materials costs, along with decreased demand, have slowed new construction, but more than 1,400 units are expected to be completed in 2025, maintaining pressure on property owners to stay competitive. "Austin had the largest decline in median asking rent of 44 major U.S. metros analyzed by Redfin in January 2025," the report said. "The main driver of this decrease is that Austin has built new apartments at a far greater rate than other cities." Interest rate hikes over the past three years have cooled the housing market from the post-pandemic buying frenzy. Prices have softened slightly, and average days on market increased from 84 in 2023 to 123 in 2024. "The condo market has transitioned from a sellers' market to a buyers' market, and this trend is expected to continue as more units are delivered to the market," the report said. More: The Modern, a 56-story condo high-rise in downtown Austin, marks construction milestone Downtown's development pipeline has contracted over the past two years, a trend expected to continue throughout 2025. "Like other cities across the nation, Austin is experiencing the impact of larger macroeconomic forces such as increased interest rates and inflation. We have also experienced such a boom that a slowdown is an inevitable and healthy phase of sustainable growth," the report said. "This slowdown allows the market to absorb its recently built projects, ensuring buildings are fully utilized and contributing to the vibrancy of our urban core." Eight projects are due to wrap up this year, adding about 3.9 million square feet of space. Notable developments include the Republic office tower, which has attracted tenants, and the Waterline, which will be downtown's tallest tower and an iconic landmark alongside the Independent and Frost Bank Tower. In 2024, five projects totaling 1.11 million square feet were completed. At the end of March, 13 projects were under construction totaling 6.6 million square feet: 1.3 million in office space, 2.6 million in mixed-use, nearly 2 million in residential, and 653,500 in hotel space. These figures reflect a slowdown in private development while public infrastructure investment ramps up. Several major infrastructure and mobility projects are either under construction or breaking ground soon. These include I-35 Capital Express Central, Project Connect, Waterloo Greenway, Capitol Complex Project and the new Austin Convention Center. Convention Center Closed for demolition in April 2025, the Convention Center is set to reopen in late 2028 ahead of the 2029 spring festival season. The $1.6 billion project is funded by hotel occupancy tax and Convention Center revenue. Capitol ComplexPhase II will deliver 525,000 square feet of office space and complete the Capitol Mall, providing a continuous connection from the Capitol to the UT campus. Completion is anticipated in late 2026. Project Connect Phase I light rail will cover 9.8 miles in Austin with four key stations within the downtown footprint. Waterloo GreenwayPhase II will add nearly 1,550 new trees, 200,000 mature plants and 10 acres of seed mix. The job market downtown and citywide continues to be strong, the report said. The Austin metro area's unemployment rate fell slightly from 3.4% in January 2024 to 3.1% in January 2025, remaining below state and national levels. Despite layoffs at some large tech companies, downtown employment has grown steadily over the past four years and is now 14% higher than its early 2020 peak. Downtown's hotel occupancy rate is now 55.8%, down from 72.6% in 2019, according to CoStar figures. "Although the demand for downtown hotel space increased by 3.6% over the past year, the market is beginning to soften as the supply of new rooms begins to outpace demand," the report stated. "The Austin Convention Center closed in April 2025 for their 4-year reconstruction, and hotel operators are cautiously optimistic as conventions and large meetings move to area hotels." Retail occupancy rates have stayed steady over the last year, remaining above 97%, and tenant demand for downtown locations remains strong, the report said. Downtown's retail market bucked the general trend, with storefronts almost fully occupied at 97% — about the same level as before the pandemic, when the retail occupancy rate was 96.8%. "However, rising construction and labor costs have created a significant hurdle for some businesses to make the tenant improvements needed to enter the market," the report said. "This also puts financial pressure on landlords, who increasingly need to make concessions to close deals. Addressing these cost challenges would unlock even greater potential, allowing more businesses to follow their desire to be in the heart of Austin." Residents: 15,330 Employees: 131,833 Residential units: 12,720 Hotel rooms: 15,000+ Sq. ft. under construction: 6,632,922 Sq. ft. of planned space: 11,538,073 Source: U.S. Census Bureau; Downtown Austin Alliance This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Report: Despite challenges, downtown Austin hasn't lost its allure
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Ask the Style Doctors: ‘Which British fashion brands should I buy?'
In this advice series, Telegraph fashion experts Lisa Armstrong and Stephen Doig answer readers' what-to-wear dilemmas. This week, they advise on how the best British brands to shop now and the return of the waist. Dear Stephen, I'm increasingly keen that when shopping for clothes I help feed into our economy and secure jobs for UK craftspeople. So how can I make sure to buy British? – Charles Dear Charles, This is an issue that's become increasingly thorny in today's fashion landscape – like 'greenwashing', the practice of claiming to be eco-friendly while doing no such thing, there can be a fair amount of 'localwashing'. This means that a brand proudly claims to be ' Made in Britain ', but that involves some zips or finishing being applied in Blighty while the majority of the work is done elsewhere. If you're interested, it's a topic tackled nobly by Patrick Grant, the tailor and The Great British Sewing Bee judge in his book Less, which urges us to stop our over-consumption. Grant writes about companies who are swaggeringly British in their branding, but do little to support the local economies from which they sprang. Cotton pique polo, £120, Private White VC For instance, Aquascutum and Hunter are just two 'British' brands that don't make in the UK. Grant includes an excellent glossary of pieces that are genuinely 'Made in Britain' from start to finish, including his own initiative Community Clothing, which is excellent (great socks), as well as Barbour, Begg & Co, Margaret Howell, Private White VC and many others that produce in a way that feeds into the UK economy, creates jobs and safeguards skills. Ribbed cotton socks, £8.50, Community Clothing From my own experience, I've been lucky enough to visit many factories that are based in the UK: Sunspel in Northampton, for example, which makes expensive but very, very good T-shirts, as well as Johnstons of Elgin, Emma Willis shirts in Gloucestershire and the many shoemakers based in Northampton. One thing to note is that this is a more expensive way to buy clothes than ordering from a fast-fashion retailer, where the products will likely be pumped with plastics. But I'd rather buy less and better, and little items – like Rooska socks made by a local family-run company in Leicestershire – that aren't pricey considering they're properly made. – Stephen Dear Lisa, Is there any sign of the waist coming back anytime soon? All those empire lines make everyone look seven months pregnant. – Yvonne Dear Yvonne, You're in luck. The waist is emphatically back, on the catwalks, on the red carpets (think Demi Moore's series of drastically cinched-in gowns during this winter's award season, although she was far from the only one), and it's in the stores too. A good starting place is Jasper Conran, who has made a speciality of the shirt dress in various natural fabrics and weights (from £350). Bubble hem dress, £115, Cos Anthropologie is always worth a look. Cos has beautiful bubble-hem sleeveless dresses – that sounds weird, but they look subtly different in a not-too-artsy, sophisticated way and come in soft neutral shades, although you may not go for the 100 per cent recycled polyamide sell… in fact waisted dresses are everywhere. Nothing like the constricted gowns Moore et al wore, but more gentle and comfortable for a 16-hour stint. Separates are another route to stylish contouring. My eye is on a bubble skirt and matching top from M&S in a beautiful cherry red cotton that should hit the stores in a few weeks. – Lisa
7NEWS
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Aussies rushing to buy $99 Uniqlo jacket as an affordable dupe to designer Barbour coat
Don't get me wrong, I love designer brands as much as the next person. But instead of splashing cash, I'm busy hunting down the best dupes, made from high-quality materials that will last for seasons to come. That's when I discovered the Utility Short Blouson, buried deep into the men's section of Uniqlo, that looked incredibly similar to the best-selling jackets at British Heritage brand Barbour (minus the hefty price tags). Known for countryside wax coats loved by the royal family, Barbour's signature shapes have grown in popularity, especially as we head into the colder months, with hundreds of shoppers adding the recognisible collared jacket back into their wardrobe. Rather that forking out a few hundred dollars for the real deal, the similar Uniqlo style ticks all the boxes, without the triple digits. Complete with a corduroy collar, cuff details, multiple pockets and a checked lining, the Utility jacket comes in three different colours; black, brown or olive, and is the perfect length and shape to wear with a pair of jeans. The jacket has now gone viral on TikTok, with shoppers showcasing the endless way to wear it. So if you're in the market for a versatile jacket to wear from the office to evening drinks, consider it found. Best fashion deals of the week Click Frenzy Mayhem may be over, but there's still plenty of sales to shop across our favourite fashion brands, and we've been keeping an eye out for the best deals to shop. From May 21, New Balance is hosting an epic end of year sale with up to 40 per cent off select styles across its lifestyle and performance collections, making it the perfect opportunity to stock up on active essentials. Those on the hunt for a designer pair of sunnies without the hefty price tag, Sunglass Hut are offering up to 50 per cent off selected sunglasses, across popular brands like RayBan. Simply head into store between May 22 - June 17 to score a steal. The Iconic - The Outnet - Up to 65 per cent off Ganni. Uniqlo - Sportscraft - 25 per cent off jackets, denim and pants. Saba - 25 per cent off coats, jackets and knits.
