All about performance

One way in which M&S appeals to its customers is by staying at the forefront of innovation and performance in its clothing lines.

This year the company launched its exclusive men's "Stormwear" line, made with an innovative water- and stain-repellent, breathable fabric originally developed for the military.

It also developed a new fleece made from recycling plastic bottles into polyester, instead of using oil. This year it used 4.5 million plastic bottles to make fleece garments for retail sale and for a store uniform trial.

And other innovations? The company extended its use of some innovative materials that it introduced last year, including Insolia shoes, which work by moving weight back to the wearer's heel for better body alignment and balance, keeping legs comfortable.

It also expanded its use of "Real Cool Cotton" -- a trademarked fabric that keeps the wearer cool -- from men's undergarments to new categories including adult t-shirts and infant sleepwear.

In women's wear, the company applied the shaping technology of its "Magicwear," originally introduced in lingerie to provide invisible shape and support, to its new "Magic Dress" and "Magic Jeans."

And in hosiery, the company introduced ladder-resistant tights and hold-ups whose fabric is made from revolutionary new yams that join to form thousands of invisible mini-joints. This means that should a yarn break, rather than creating an unsightly ladder, the fabric forms a discreet hole.