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

St. John Knits Inc.: The Irvine designer, manufacturer and marketer of women’s clothing and accessories said that net income for the first quarter ended Feb. 2 increased 30%, to $7.4 million, or 43 cents a share, from $5.7 million, or 35 cents a share, for the same period last year. Net income for last year’s first quarter included a nonrecurring workers’ compensation insurance refund of $183,000, or 1 cent a share. Sales rose 24%, to $56.2 million from $45.3 million.