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Next

The Company was founded by Joseph Hepworth in Leeds in 1864 as a tailor under the name of Joseph Hepworth & Son.[1] The Company was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1948.

In 1982 the Company bought Kendall & Sons Ltd, a Leicester based rainwear and ladies fashion company from Combined English Stores, to redevelop their stores as a womenswear chain of shops. Terence Conran, the designer, was Chairman of Hepworth’s at this time and he recruited George Davies to create the unique NEXT concept using the Kendalls shops. The first stores were opened on 12 February 1982,[1] and by 1983 all 80 of Kendall’s stores had been converted by Davies to the NEXT brand.

In 1984, Davies became the Chief Executive of the group and launched Next for Men.[1] In 1985 the Company began to develop mini department stores selling women’s, men’s and children’s clothes as well as Next Interiors all under one roof.[1] In 1986 the name of the Company was changed to Next plc,[1] the Company moved its head office from Leeds to Leicester and the catalogue company Grattan was acquired.[1] The Company acquired Combined English Stores in 1987. In 1988 Davies then launched the up-market NEXT directory.[1]

In December 1988, Davies left the Company to work for Asda. Grattans was sold to Otto Versand in 1991.[1]

In Autumn 2009, Next launched an online catalogue for the United States at http://www.nextdirect.com, offering clothing, shoes and accessories for women, men and children.

Next also own the following businesses:

* Next Clearance which sell previous seasons stock at a lower price than the core Next stores.
* Lime which sells cheaper priced stock. The first branches opened in Oxford, Derby, Nottingham, Newbury, Glasgow, Douglas in the Isle of Man, Liverpool, Wigan and Llandudno in 2006. In November 2007 Lime opened in the MetroCentre, Gateshead. The Lime stores replace existing Next outlets which have since moved to larger premises nearby. Lime-branded items are also now stocked at larger Next Clearance stores. Lime was setup primarily as competition for low cost competitors such as Primark, Peacocks, Matalan and the clothing operations of supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s.[9] The Lime brand was discontinued in early 2008. Stores with long leases are being converted in temporary childrenswear or home stores. For example, the Lime Store in the MetroCentre, Gateshead opened as temporary childrenswear store before being converted into a Lipsy store. All Lime stores have now closed, the last one was on the Isle of Man.
* Ventura which is a call centre operator.[10]
* Next Sourcing which sources products.
* http://www.branddirectory.co.uk which sells top name brands aimed at fashionable youths.
* Lipsy – Women’s fashion retailer bought in 2008 for £17.4 million.

Next also offer various other services as well as clothes now. Examples of this are Next Flowers, Next Wine,Next Vision (Prescription Glasses), Next Photos and Next Bathrooms.
[edit] Stores
Next’s largest store in the Arndale Centre in Manchester.

Next have 448 stores located around the world. They are in locations such as the United Kingdom, Denmark,Iceland and Ireland as well as in other parts of the world such as Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras al Khaimah,Algeria,India, Pakistan and Kuwait and Hong Kong. The stores range in size and goods. While most stores feature mainly fashion, some also include homewares and furniture as well, classing the store as a department store.

All non UK and Ireland stores with the exception of Copenhagen, Denmark are franchises. One of the largest franchises is in Japan, operated by Xebio. There are currently 27 stores in Japan.
[edit] Largest stores

Currently the largest branch of Next is in the Arndale Centre in Manchester and Eastbourne. Scotland’s largest store opened on Aug 6th 2009 in the Bon Accord Shopping Centre in Aberdeen it is 54,000 square feet and sells womens, mens, childrens, home,maternity, petite, tall and a personal shoppers service. It is also the first store in the uk to fit childrens shoes

Next’s biggest store in the Republic of Ireland is located at the Westend Retail Park in Blanchardstown, Dublin. The store, which opened in October 2005, is 26,000 square feet and carry’s the full range of the Mens, Women’s, Children and Home collections.
[edit] United States

Next launched a US online catalogue in 2009 at http://www.nextdirect.com, offering clothing, accessories and shoes for women, men and children.

Amir Adnan

Amir Adnan is a popular Pakistani fashion label for men.

Amir Adnan is widely credited with re-introducing the sherwani into modern fashion, and known as Pakistan’s first international menswear label. Currently, Amir Adnan is the largest enterprise of designer clothing in Pakistan, and caters to an upper-class clientele. Among Amir Adnan’s clientele are Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Amir Adnan currently houses its flagship store in Karachi, with complimenting domestic stores in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, and Islamabad. International outlets include Dubai.

1990 saw the evolution of men’s fashion in Pakistan when Amir Adnan, a business graduate by profession, stepped out to realize his own individual style, at the same time translating it to the demands of a frustrated market.
The need for a simple necktie took him to Italy where he trained and returned with an ingenious approach to reconstructing this basic accessory.
Suddenly ties were no longer boring or stereotyped in pakistani fashion; the image metamorphosizing from the severity of formalwear to the emancipation of the modern day man.
The new image of the tie spoke for a new era of menswear in Pakistan. Packed with insatiable desire to design, Amir Adnan the pakistani fashion designer was charged with an energy to revolutionize mind sets and stimulate the senses of the modern eastern man. In 1992 he designed his first range of italic jeans, conventional denims block printed with a hint of ethnicity, and launched them in America.

The juxtaposition of two seemingly heterogeneous cultures set the international market on fire, giving Amir Adnan his cue to venture up the same path. This path, relatively unknown at that time, had taken him from strength to strength to the international fame which he has achieved today. Adnan began researching the different dimensions of his newly found passion and in 1994, at a close friend’s wedding, realized that fashion to him would not be about modernizing culture but more about making one’s identity universally acceptable.

His mission was to revive the Sherwani, the traditional long coat, which was buried with the lords and maharajas of yesteryear. The modern day man had adopted the western three piece suit as the only acceptable vision of grooms wear and Amir Adnan had vowed to change that. He had the vision to see that it was our indigenous craft and attire which would help us make it to the international map of fashion.
Today, almost a decade later, Amir Adnan’s design philosophy has evolved clearly, marking itself permanently on the map. His is the largest enterprise of designer clothing in Pakistan, creating a retail and manufacturing structure that can rival an international competitor.
His new Brand funk asia has created new bounderies in innovation and style in pakistan fashion , he had shown how a simple kurti can be made extraordinary by careful application of embroidery.
he had recently been added to the list of pakistani bridal designer as well with his new bran funk asia.

Marks & Spencer

The company was founded by two people Michael Marks, a Polish immigrant from Slonim (now in Belarus)[citation needed]; he first opened a penny bazaar (Marks Penny Bazaar) in Hartlepool[citation needed], the port of his entry into England, selling imported toys and other goods from his native Poland. Marks then ventured to Stockton-on-Tees and eventually onto Leeds in 1884 as a single market stall. After Thomas Spencer, a clerk at one of his suppliers, joined the company in 1894 it was known as ‘Marks and Spencer’. The site of the first stall is marked with a green and gold commemorative clock in Leeds Kirkgate Market. One of the original Penny Bazaars – in the Grainger Market, Newcastle upon Tyne – remains open to this day, and is now the smallest M&S store in operation.[citation needed]

Marks and Spencer, known colloquially as “Marks and Sparks”, “Markies”, or “M&S”, made its reputation in the 20th century on a policy of only selling British-made goods (a policy eventually discontinued in 2002). It entered into long term relationships with British manufacturers, and sold clothes and food under the “St Michael” brand (trademark registered in 1928), a name which honours its co-founder Michael Marks. It also accepted the return of unwanted items, giving a full cash refund if the receipt was shown, no matter how long ago the product was purchased. It adopted a 90-day returns policy in 2005 but on 12 April 2009 the refund policy changed once again to 35 days. This is still the most generous refund period on the British high street.

Smart, stylish and professional: create the right impression with our wide range of careerwear. Whatever your corporate clothing requirements, our team can help you. You’re free to choose from any of our great value, stylish ranges, or you can focus on our specially selected range of formalwear. Our careerwear is made to Marks and Spencer’s exceptionally high standards, so you know that it will not only look good, it’ll last well too.

junaid jamshed

J. has been successful in introducing and popularizing formal and casual Pakistani wear for men specially.

The range of its exclusive products include formal kurtas, shalwar kameez, kurtis, hand woven kurtas and chappals for men and the entire wedding package for the groom including the traditional sherwanis, turbans and khussas made in exquisite cuts and highlighting the fine art of eastern embroidery.

J. offers an exclusive line for women as well. Naerang or the ‘colors for women’ is an impressive range of vibrant hand woven, block printed, screen printed and Lawn fabric printed in vivacious colours, as well as trendy kurtis and traditional abayas.

J. has also been the first to launch a designer brand of perfumes for both men and women. The collection of mesmerizing fragrances consists of both attars and perfumes some of which go back over a century in their formulation technique.

energie

Energie was born in 1984 as the sign of a clothes shop and very soon became a collection trademark. Energie core business is certainly denim, a fabric that more than others allows experimentation and innovation, being the main subject of research. From the F/W 2001/2002 season, Energie means also a footwear line: Energie Footwear. http://www.energie.it

COLLECTION

The combining and breaking approaches are very evident in this product characterised by the “contamination” philosophy. Different materials are mixed to create an aesthetic and material clash that renders the garments full of grit and life. The washing and innovative processes carried out on denim, the key element of the Energie collection, highlight the fabric features as on canvas, but also give the garments the well-worn features and personality that have always characterised the Energie world. The footwear collection is following Energie’s strong brand identity of contrast materials and new exciting hybrids and style combinations. Energie continues in an experimental quest. This research studies new solutions where innovation and originality are the key points of the development, inspired by the heterogeneous world.

HIGHLIGHTS

In a world that is packed with denim, Energie has always focused on experimentation, the main company asset. It is the brand of change that aims at promoting its original commitments: research and continuous innovation. New fabrics, washes, treatments and initiatives, in addition to new cuts and innovative design, give the collection many different concepts and inspirations; hence the unique features and transgression of any garment, from the most basic to the highly fashionable ones.

It was created in 1984 as shop sign name for a clothing store and became soon afterwards a collection brand name. Its target group is composed of young men, who are careful and curious about what is going on around them, and like and choose Energie items because they can be used to help them create their own personal style, thus communicating a precise way of being. Denim is definitely the Core Business of the Energie brand, as this fabric allows more than any other to carry out experimentation and innovative interventions, which are the main activities of research on the brand. In a world that is packed with denim, Energie has always focused on experimentation, the main company asset. It is the brand of change that aims at promoting its original commitments:research and continuous innovation. New fabrics, washes, treatments and initiatives, in addition to new cuts and innovative design, give the collection many different concepts and inspirations; hence the unique features and transgression of any garment, from the most basic to the highly fashionable ones. Since the Fall/Winter Season 2001/2002 Energie has directly realized also its own footwear line Energie Footwear, throughout all the phases of design, development and production. This line ranges from sporty to casual footwear, up to the Fashion line; the latter was directly created from Energie’s Gold Line and pays particular attention to materials and design with vintage elements and innovative treatments.

Miss Sixty Jeans, A Brand with a Heart!

Miss Sixty is a line of clothing that is part of the Sixty Group brand of clothing. Sixty Group was first created in 1990 and then launched in 1991. The brand quickly gained international attention and established its first branch in the United States in 1992.

By 1993, Sixty Group was well-established enough that it actually acquired Murphy&Nye Brand. It took until 1999, however, before the Miss Sixty monobrand store was opened. The store, which opened in London, was quite the success.

In 2000, Miss Sixty took another step further into the fashion world by launching its own line of footwear. Then, the Miss Sixty eyewear line was launched in 2002, followed by a kids line of clothing in 2004.

The brand has continued to go strong in the past few years. In 2005, the brand partnered up with Coty to launch a new fragrance. During that same year, the brand also partnered with other companies to launch its own brand of jewelry and leather goods. The following year, Miss Sixty launched underwear and beachwear in partnership with CSP.

Today, the Miss Sixty brand is shown in the Guggenheim Museum in New York Ity in the United States. They also launched their first fashion show in New York in 2006. In all, the Sixty Group employs over 1,500 people and is highly respected within the world of fashion. The company is known for its quality and willingness to experiment with design, as well as its unique approach to fashion and its level of creativity. As such, the line of clothing has been described as having a strong identity and versatile personality that distinguishes it from other clothing lines.

CrossRoad

Crossroad is all about men and women wearing.

Leather Jacket Care
How To Care For Your Leather Jacket
Your leather jacket may be the bomb now, but just wait until you wear it awhile or someone spills a drink on it, or a pen leaks and your left with a stain. Here are some tips to help you keep your leather jacket looking cool.

Protect and Preserve
Because leather is a natural product, it will need periodic conditioning to protect it from drying out. Protect it with a conditioner designed specifically for the type of leather your jacket is made out of. However, you can expect some changes with wear. Leather will soften and the appearance will be altered as the leather ages adding to the overall beauty of your jacket.

A Routine Clean
It is especially important to clean your leather jacket before you notice an accumulation of dirt. Unfortunately, when dirt becomes readily visible, the stains are set in and may not be easily removed. Cleaning leather is simple. Use a mild detergent on a damp cloth to remove topical dirt. Be careful not to over-wet the leather and do not rinse after washing.

You can buy a combination leather cleaner and conditioner to help return moisture to the leather that is lost in the cleaning process.

Don’t Spill
If you do spill something on your leather jacket don’t panic! Simply wipe up the excess liquid with a soft cloth or sponge, being careful not to rub. If a spot needs special attention, a damp cloth or sponge soaked in lukewarm water and a mild detergent can be used. Dry the spot with a woolen cloth and wait until it is completely dry before you wear your coat again.

A Pen Problem
To remove an ink stain from your leather jacket, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and then rub it over the sport. Dry the area with a blow dryer. If the stain remains after drying, you may want to try using acetone-free nail polish remover. Rub a small amount of remover over the stain with a soft cloth. The stain should disappear almost instantly. Once the stain is removed, be sure to clean any traces of alcohol or remover.

Don’t Be Cruel
Never use harsh products such as cleaning solvents, stain removers, turpentine, shoe polish, saddle soap, furniture polish, oils, varnish, abrasive cleaners, or any other type of chemical solution on your leather.

Using these helpful tips will keep your leather jacket looking even better than the day you bought it!

Stoneage

Design philosophy

Stoneage is a brand identified by its progressive, cutting edge borderline funk that has been inspired by the growing need for an urban youth trend movement. We design with an edgy creativity while focusing on modern lines and sleek fits.
Each and every item out of our denim/casual-wear collection has been designed and tailored with the confident sassy young men and women of today in mind, bringing out their inner freedom.

Brand info

Stoneage is a part of Crescent Bahuman Ltd, one of the country’s leading denim exporters boasting a clientele as versatile as Levi’s®, Mustang, Bensherman and Xpress Ltd. In less than two years (the first branch opened its doors in March, 2006), Stoneage has become the leader in how denim trends are dictated in Lahore and Karachi (where we have four outlets) and we are further venturing into Islamabad, Multan, Sialkot and Faislabad. Stoneage is a one-of-its-kind brand as it has recruited the very best denim design talent in the country to lead the way in creating for the discerning masses, thus ensuring quality, exclusivity and accredited style.

Vision

As a premier authority on denim-wear in Pakistan, Stoneage has become an indisputable ringleader on how trends and fads are done in the blue. With over four already operating outlets in Pakistan, two under construction and three more ready to set trends ablaze by the upcoming season, it’s only a matter of time before the brand goes international. Stoneage will soon launch itself on a whole new level of foreign revival by branching out in bustling centers of all commercial and fashion related activities like Dubai, London and India within the next two years.

Mission statement

Whether inspired by punk rock, go-getting glam, funk or urban street culture, Stoneage aims to empower the young with a fashion statement to emancipate and liberate. Dressing up the cool and toning down the convention, Stoneage enhances a trend culture honed in on what the rebels of today crave: street smart threads on a whole new scale of attitude re-born.

Bench

Bench (usually branded as “Bench.” with a full stop) is a British clothing brand that is sold worldwide, including in Europe, Canada, USA and Australia. The company was founded in Manchester, Britain, and specialises in street wear.

History
The brand started in 1989 as a t-shirt brand, with designs influenced by BMX biking and skateboarding. Over the years, the brand expanded into other clothing garments. Owens Park and City Tower; which is used as a design on both their messenger bags and price tags.

Clothing

T-shirt featuring Bench. logoBench designs and markets its own products.While their t-shirts are their most popular product, Bench also manufactures jeans, jackets, hats, hooded tops, watches and jewellery. A common feature of Bench clothing is the conspicuous incorporation of the brand name – many t-shirts and jackets feature the word ‘Bench’ written in highly visible letters either across the chest or across the back of the collar.

Bench expanded into women’s wear in 1998. The range of jackets and tops had the same urban clothing style as the menswear.

In 2009 Bench became the official shirt sponsors of Morecambe Football Club. For the 09/10 season the Bench logo will feature on the front of the club’s final year at Christie Park commemorative home and away shirts.

Supply chain
Although the company sells through many retailers, they also have their own stores in Bluewater, Liverpool One (Liverpool), The Trafford Centre (Manchester), Meadowhall (Sheffield), Metro Centre, Portsmouth, Brighton, Leicester and a number of designer outlet centres in the UK, and Berlin and Toronto internationally. Additionally they have a further network of stores known as Westworld Retail Limited, which are the same as Bench stores except from trading under a different brand.