​Thoughts of a long hot summer, or a weather-defying trend? Searches for men’s chino shorts are up fourfold year-on-year, according to John Lewis. Whatever the reason, it’s “shocked buyers” at the UK retailer.

Eurazeo announced that the supervisory board had decided on Monday to set up a new management board, appointed unanimously, consisting of two chairmen, Christophe Bavière and William Kadouch-Chassaing.

​Womenswear e-tailer Sosandar has become used to releasing good news, but on Monday it had the sad task of announcing that its non-executive chairman has died.

Kangol has a new — but familiar — owner. Bollman Hat Company has entered into an agreement to acquire 51% of the UK heritage/streetwear hat brand from Frasers Group for an undisclosed sum.

Fashion e-tail giant ASOS has joined non-profit organisation GoodWeave International, supporting its work to end child, forced and bonded labour in global supply chains.

​Eight weeks after M&Co went into administration, it has been bought by AK Retail, which also owns Yours Clothing, BadRhino, Long Tall Sally, Bump It Up Maternity and PixieGirl. The purchase price wasn’t disclosed.

​Freemans said on Friday that it had “a cracker of a Christmas” with sales in the eight weeks to the end of the year up as much as 23%. Its customer numbers also topped a million, which was up 65% from two years ago.

​Stamm has won the AW23 Zalando Sustainability Award at Copenhagen Fashion Week with the brand having demonstrated “impressive craftsmanship as well as deep understanding and execution of more sustainable practices".

​Footfall to UK retail destinations was up 12.5% in January, according to the latest BRC-Sensormatic IQ data. But while it rose, it was 2.6 percentage points down on December.

Amazon.com Inc on Thursday said its operating profit could fall to zero in the current quarter as savings from layoffs do not make up for the financial impact of consumers and cloud customers clamping down on spending. 

Two key investors have slashed their stakes in under-pressure online fashion retailer In The Style. The moves follow a warning in a trading update late last month, with In The Style admitting its losses will grow.

Fashion retailer PrettyLittleThing has signed a deal to open new London West End offices and showrooms. The Boohoo Group-owned brand is to take 4,375 sq ft space on Great Portland Street.

This past week in Paris, Brazil’s most important luxury retailer Iguatemi feted its rebound from the pandemic, as its CEO Cristina Betts explained its M&A plans and predicted double continued digit growth in 2023.

​There are big changes happening in John Lewis Partnership’s customer service capability, with the UK retail giant announcing new investment in its brands, data and technology “to give even more value to customers”.

Global fashion giant H&M is planning to shutter four of its regional UK stores, citing a “rapid change” in customer behaviour. Stores in Hartlepool, Maidenhead, Newport on the Isle of Wight and Burton are set to close.

The British Fashion Council has released its London Fashion Week schedule, taking place 17-21 February. Top billing goes to British luxury brand Burberry on Monday (20th) under the new creative direction of Daniel Lee.