• BOTTEGA TAPS FLORE: Bottega Veneta has named a new U.S. regional president. Gianluca Flore, who had been president of North America at Fendi for the past three years, will be based in the Italian company’s New York offices and report to Marco Bizzarri, president and chief executive of Bottega Veneta, the firm stated. Prior to his position at Fendi, Flore was with innerwear marketer La Perla, where he held multiple positions from 1997 to 1999. He was promoted that year to president of La Perla USA, and he remained at the company through 2004. A spokeswoman, who was reached Monday, said the two executives were unavailable for comment.
• PRIMARK PLEDGES IMPROVEMENT: Primark, the low-priced U.K. fast-fashion chain, said Thursday that it would help TNS Knitwear, one of its domestic suppliers that last week faced illegal labor claims, improve its employment and management practices. Primark had investigated TNS after reports appeared on the BBC’s “News at Ten” show and in The Observer newspaper last week, claiming that the factory employed illegal workers and paid them below the U.K.’s minimum wage. Primark concluded in a statement following its investigation that the factory may have paid casual workers low wages and that workers there could be working more than 48 hours a week. But the company said TNS had improved its procedures for obtaining workers’ right-to-work documentation, which shows they’re permitted to work in the U.K., and that TNS had promised to establish a working relationship with the local immigration office. “We are absolutely committed to ensuring that the factories who sell to us treat their workers fairly and equitably,” said a spokesman for Primark. “If TNS Knitwear cannot improve its standards…Primark reserves the right to refuse to place new contracts with this company.”