St. John Knits Inc.: The Irvine designer...

St. John Knits Inc.: The Irvine designer and manufacturer of women’s clothing and accessories reported a profit of $4 million, or 48 cents a share, for its latest fiscal quarter. That was up 43% from earnings of $2.8 million, or 34 cents a share, for the same period a year earlier. Sales for the quarter ended Jan. 29 increased 33%, to $36.3 million from $27.3 million.