Fashion
M&S names key fashion, home and beauty exec from Primark
Published
September 17, 2025
M&S has a new commercial and operations director for fashion, home and beauty as the retail giant undergoes a “comprehensive restructuring” of its end-to-end operation.
Jon Rolls joins from Primark where his “deep expertise” in trading, operational efficiency, and large-scale transformations will be key for a new job that includes identifying commercial opportunities and improving operational efficiency across the supply chain.
The appointment marks Rolls’ return to M&S where he began his career as part of its graduate scheme. He later moved to New Look in 2006 where he served as head of Merchandising.
In 2011, he joined Primark, undertaking a series of senior merchandising roles. In 2019, he was appointed group director of Planning and Space, joining the retailer’s executive team.
M&S said the Rolls’ appointment “marks a significant step” in the ongoing transformation of M&S’s Fashion, Home & Beauty division.
He will report the department’s managing director John Lyttle (also ex-Primark) and will “lead the cross-business unit commercial planning, oversee the Outlets division, and drive the modernisation of systems across merchandising, forecasting, and range planning — enhancing collaboration between internal teams and supply partners”.
M&S is currently in the early stages of that “comprehensive restructuring” for its Fashion, Home & Beauty division. Key priorities include the rollout of a new merchandise and range management system, increased automation across the logistics network to support online growth, and strengthening the resilience and flexibility of the supply base.
Lyttle said his “experience in driving operational change and commercial growth in fast-paced retail environments will be invaluable as we reshape our supply chain for growth and build a more agile, customer-focused business.”
Copyright © 2025 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.
Published
November 5, 2025
SilkFred, the London-based e-fashion marketplace, is now in administration with Quantuma handling the process. The filing was flagged last month with the official notice being filed at Companies House on Tuesday.
Founder Emma Watkinson announced the news on Instagram, saying that “maybe this isn’t where the story ends and there’s a new chapter to be written. For now though, I’ll just say thank you”.
The 15-year-old business specialised in connecting womenswear designers and brands with consumers. It focused on occasionwear and one-of-a- kind fashion from independent brands.
And while its website is still accessible it’s not possible to shop there. The website had earlier been reported to be unavailable and it’s unclear whether the administrator will be continuing to run it while trying to find a buyer.
Rumours had been circulating of an impending demise and customers on social media had been talking about orders not being fulfilled and refunds not being processed.
The latest accounts the company had filed came last December and covered 2023. They detailed another year of pre-tax losses with the loss widening to just over £4 million. Gross customer orders and gross merchandise value had plummeted during the year with revenue down 46% to £11.18 million.
The administration filing underlines the difficulty of running a small independent business at present as costs rise and cash-strapped consumers search above all for the lowest prices. That was despite SilFred embracing new ways of shopping at an early stage with the company in mid-2023 having added a new AI shopping tool to help women discover tailored fashion recommendations.
Copyright © 2025 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.
The gross margin expanded 210 basis points (bps) to 40.2 per cent of net sales, up from 38.1 per cent last year, driven by full-price selling, selective price adjustments, and a favourable product and channel mix.
Rocky Brands, Inc has reported strong Q3 2025 results, with net sales up 7 per cent YoY to $122.5 million and gross margin improving 210 bps to 40.2 per cent.
Net income rose 36.6 per cent to $7.2 million, driven by strong brand demand and pricing strategies.
Debt declined 7.5 per cent YoY, while inventories increased 12.7 per cent to support future growth.
The income from operations rose 16.5 per cent to $11.7 million, while adjusted operating income grew to $12.4 million, or 10.1 per cent of sales. Net income surged 36.6 per cent to $7.2 million, or $0.96 per diluted share, compared to $5.3 million, or $0.7 per diluted share, a year ago. Adjusted net income climbed 33.4 per cent to $7.8 million, or $1.03 per diluted share, Rocky Brands said in a press release.
Interest expenses declined to $2.6 million from $3.3 million, aided by reduced debt levels and lower interest rates. Total debt decreased 7.5 per cent YoY, underscoring improved financial discipline.
Wholesale net sales increased 6.1 per cent to $89.1 million, supported by strong performance from XTRATUF, Georgia Boot, The Original Muck Boot Company, and Rocky. Retail sales grew 10.3 per cent to $29.5 million, reflecting sustained e-commerce momentum, while contract manufacturing improved 4.1 per cent to $3.9 million.
The gross margin expanded to $49.3 million, reflecting gains in both wholesale and retail divisions. Operating expenses rose to $37.6 million, or 30.6 per cent of sales, from $33.6 million, or 29.3 per cent, mainly due to higher logistics, selling, and marketing investments. Excluding acquisition-related amortisation, adjusted operating expenses were $36.8 million, or 30.1 per cent of sales.
Inventories rose 12.7 per cent YoY to $193.6 million, positioning the company to meet demand for the upcoming quarters.
“We delivered another quarter of solid results amidst a challenging operating environment,” said Jason Brooks, chairman, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Rocky Brands. “The improvement in our top line was led by XTRATUF, complemented by strong performances from Georgia Boot, The Original Muck Boot Company, and Rocky. Our price adjustments and sourcing diversification—including our facilities in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico—will help mitigate tariff pressures in the near term. We are confident our strong brand portfolio and agile supply chain will capture growth opportunities in 2026 and beyond.”
As of September 30, 2025, total assets stood at $494 million, compared to $475 million a year earlier. Shareholders’ equity increased to $246.1 million from $228.3 million in September 2024, driven by higher retained earnings, added the release.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
Tariff escalations have reshaped trade flows and forecasts, with lingering impacts expected into coming seasons. For 2025-26, global cotton area is projected at 30.4 million hectares, with yields averaging 835 kg per hectare—slightly above the decade average. Consumption will continue to be led by China (32 per cent), followed by India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Turkiye, together accounting for 76 per cent of global use, the ICAC said in a press release.
Global cotton lint output for 2025 is estimated at 25.4 million tonnes, steady from last season and exceeding consumption by 392,000 tonnes, ICAC has said.
World trade fell 7.4 per cent to 9.1 million tonnes due to a sharp 65 per cent drop in Chinese imports.
For 2025-26, area and yields remain stable, while Cotlook A Index is forecast between 62–91 cents per pound, with a midpoint of 74 cents.
Additionally, in the 2025-26 season, the top cotton lint producers are estimated to remain the same as last season, with slight changes in their world market share.
ICAC forecasts the Cotlook A Index for 2025-26 in the range of 62–91 cents per pound, with a midpoint of 74 cents, based on current supply and demand conditions.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)
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