Editors' Top Reads: News from John Lewis, Clarks and more...

Here are some of this week’s news and features highlights handpicked by TheIndustry.fashion team.

Clarks launches first-ever online marketplace with over 100 brands

This week saw heritage British footwear brand Clarks launch its first-ever online marketplace under the banner of ‘Brands Now at Clarks’.

There are now over 100 brands across womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, accessories and lifestyle products available on the website, in what the brand is calling “a significant milestone in Clarks’ growth strategy”.

Joe Ulloa, Vice President UK & EMEA at Clarks, said: “From the outset, it was essential that every brand partner reflected the values that have defined Clarks for over 200 years — premium quality, comfort and value.”

Taking a quick look at it, it’s fairly standard stuff. But while there are indeed full-price products from the likes of Cambridge Satchel and Apatchy London, there is also a lot of discounted gear - some quite heavily.

Brands with markdowns include the likes of Aquascutum, Armani Exchange, Belstaff, Parajumpers, Diesel, Colourful Standard, Fjällräven and Calvin Klein eyewear.

The thing is, it’s not exactly a premium-looking platform, and I don’t see how discounted products in April are a good look for so many premium brands.

Maybe, in order to get them up on the site early doors, Clarks agreed to help shift some old stock. But brand profiles can be easily damaged in the eyes of the customer, and it’s hardly peak summer sale time. A strange one.

Tom Bottomley, Contributing Editor.

The Interview: Amanda Wakeley is back - and she’s rethinking what ageless fashion looks like

What does stylish, ageless dressing actually look like? For designer Amanda Wakeley OBE, that question has become the starting point for her return to fashion.

After stepping away from running her namesake label in 2021, she is back with a tightly edited capsule collection for John Lewis - but this time around, she isn’t simply revisiting the past.

Instead, Wakeley is rethinking how she works – pivoting from the demands of running a full-scale business and focusing purely on design, while John Lewis handles production, sourcing and logistics.

The collection centres on elevated wardrobe staples crafted from silk, viscose and lace, alongside fluid tailoring. Key pieces include a bias-cut satin and lace slip dress (£395) and Amanda Wakeley’s signature ‘Air’ silk wrap shirt (£350).

The exclusive edit will be available in 10 John Lewis stores across the UK, as well as online, offering “price points that bridge designer and contemporary”.

Wakeley shares all the details in this interview.

Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.

Clothing prices fall despite rising inflation in March

In March, clothing prices in the UK actually deflated, despite rising inflation across other goods and services. In the UK, inflation rose to its highest level since December, driven by a sharp jump in diesel and petrol prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

Yet clothing and footwear saw downward pressure on inflation, with prices decreasing by 0.8% for the month, the lowest level since March 2021. Reportedly, this is due to heightened sales and discounting activity, with the British Retail Consortium adding that the fall in prices was due to intense market competition.

This deflation in prices across the industry marks a stark contrast to February’s inflation figures, when fashion prices saw notable upward pressure, with clothing and footwear costs rising 0.9% for the month - their highest level since March 2025 - after remaining flat in January.

Earlier this week, it warned that the war in the Middle East will “impact both our customers and our business” and said profits could fall this year as a result. Yet Tu Clothing delivered "strong" growth and outperformed the market, with sales rising 4.8%, driven by the strength of its spring/summer ranges, partially offset by unseasonal weather in the latter part of the period.

What the brand's CEO noted was that as shoppers were “even more focused on the cost of living” since the conflict started at the end of February, it was doubling down on its commitment to ensure customers were getting “the best possible value”.

With shoppers having to pay more for fuel and other items, creating value in the eyes of consumers has become a key priority for retailers. M&S Menswear Director Mitch Hughes previously noted this in an interview with TheIndustry.fashion. He noted that M&S was "able to pitch in an area where men are trading down from premium brands into Autograph, because we’re offering similar designs and style but with great value".

Camilla Rydzek, Senior News & Features Writer.