In its results for the six months to 27 July, Next said: “It appears that international tastes in clothing are converging more rapidly.
“International media and global brands expose us to new ideas. They also make looks that might otherwise seem too radical more acceptable.”
Next said sales were highest in mainland Europe. Although it said: “There is a marked difference between different cultures and climates”, adding: “We tend to do much better in Northern Europe than Southern Europe”.
The fastest growing market was in the Americas, where sales jumped by 67%.
Next’s overseas sales were mainly made up of its own-branded goods but said fashion firms it has bought in recent years – including Friends Like These, Cath Kidston and Reiss – have also grown in popularity, making up 42% of online sales.
The company is planning to lift its overseas marketing spending from £24m to £41m.
In the UK, sales of its own-branded clothing fell by 0.9%, which it put down to a cooler summer than the previous year.
Overall, Next’s sales rose by 8% to £2.9bn while pre-tax profits increased by 7.1% to £452m.
The retailer lifted its full-year profit guidance by £15m to £995m.
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