1st-Quarter Profit Up at St. John Knits

St. John Knits Inc., the Irvine designer and manufacturer of women’s clothing and accessories, said profit rose to nearly $2 million, or 24 cents a share, for its latest quarter. That was up from $512,000, or 6 cents a share, for the same period a year earlier. Sales for the company’s first fiscal quarter, which ended Jan. 31, were up 26% to $20.8 million from $16.5 million.