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Category: Fashion

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Fashion news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Laura Ashley appoints IMG as licensing partner for China

    Laura Ashley appoints IMG as licensing partner for China

    Fashion and home-furnishings retailer Laura Ashley has appointed IMG to exclusively license the brand in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

    Home decor and furnishings will be the initial core focus for Laura Ashley’s entry into Mainland China with future extensions into women’s apparel, fashion accessories, and personal care – all product areas that the Laura Ashley brand has developed over the course of its history in the UK, Europe and the US.

    “We are delighted to have appointed IMG on an exclusive basis to help us develop our brand presence in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan,” said Laura Ashley COO Sean Anglim. “We look forward to working closely with IMG to build a strong and sustainable business in these territories over the years to come.”

    “The Laura Ashley brand is loved around the world for its quintessentially English heritage and romantic floral designs,” said IMG president of licensing Bruno Maglione. “China has long been the furniture production capital of the world for export, but now with urbanization and a growing middle class, expenditure in home furnishings and decor has become an increasing priority of the Chinese consumer. This is an ideal time for a brand like Laura Ashley to enter the market with its distinctive design aesthetic.”

    Increased purchasing power in China has led to the growth of the furniture market, according to the National Bureau of Statistics – total sales of furniture manufacturing enterprises grew 10 percent year-on-year to more than US$130 billion in 2017.

  • Fenty Beauty Hong Kong launches at Harvey Nichols

    Fenty Beauty Hong Kong launches at Harvey Nichols

    Singer Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty brand has launched at Harvey Nichols in Hong Kong as its first department store partner in Asia.

    Following the success of its exclusive launch at Harvey Nichols in the UK, the brand went on sale at Harvey Nichols locations Hong Kong – as well as its regional online store – on September 3.

    The brand made its Hong Kong debut at T Galleria by DFS last week.

    Following Rihanna’s mandate of “inclusivity”, Fenty Beauty offers “Beauty for All” artistry-quality products that are consciously inclusive of differing values and beliefs.

    “I created Fenty Beauty because I wanted to make a beauty brand that is inclusive for people everywhere,” said Rihanna. “I want everyone to feel beautiful, recognized and empowered, no matter their ethnicity, culture, skin tone or style.”

  • Generation Z behind demand for male makeup

    Generation Z behind demand for male makeup

    The cosmetics industry is paying close attention to a surge in interest in male makeup – being driven by generation Z.

    South Korean manufacturer and retailer AmorePacific has just launched its first male makeup brand, BeReady – 74 years after the company’s creation.

    According to a survey by the Consumer Trend Center at Seoul National University, three out of 10 men in generation Z reported using face makeup more than twice a week. Furthermore, more than half experimented with colored makeup in middle school.

    AmorePacific says it plans to introduce products specifically targeting generation Z men in rapid succession.

    Another South Korean cosmetics firm, Aekyung Industrial, which is currently focusing on expanding its beauty range, launched the Sneaky brand in March.

    Since most male consumers purchase cosmetics online, Aekyung opted for an online distribution network. Sunscreen and lip balm are currently the most popular products at the online store.

    The sales figure backs up the interest of generation Z men in makeup.

    Olive Young, a major health and beauty (H&B) chain store, has also launched sales of male cosmetics products. Sales of male tinted cosmetics rose 77 per cent in the first half of this year compared to last.

    That figure surpasses the 40 per cent annual growth rate of men’s makeup for the past three years.

    Sales of base products such as cushions for men and BB and CC cream are also on the rise, up 43 per cent in the first half from a year earlier.

    “Not only cushion products, but also men’s color lip balm and eyebrow products are particularly popular,” an Olive Young spokesperson said.

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  • Esprit unveils its future proof store design in Beijing

    Esprit unveils its future proof store design in Beijing

    Fashion label Esprit has unveiled a new concept store in Beijing as it continues its long journey of reinvention.

    “Our new store in Beijing is a showcase for the Esprit brand,” said Esprit Group CEO Anders Kristiansen. “With surprising and functional design details and bright and social spaces, we think this is a great expression of the spirit of Esprit.”

    Hong Kong-listed Esprit sees China as a key market in its bid to resurrect its brand reputation, sales and profitability: it wants to open 220 stores on the mainland by 2023 and as many as 80 elsewhere in Asia.

    The most remarkable feature of the Beijing store which opened last week is the huge prominent opaque brand name across the store’s glass street frontage. Inside the design has been described as a blend of “California cool”, bold graphics and bright colours. The store was designed by Ettore Sottsass.

    A strategic change to the store layout is the relocation of the cashier’s counter into the middle of the store, a move aimed at optimising the interaction between store staff and customers.

    “This forms a social hub that invites customers to stay, converse and relax and further experience the Esprit brand,” said a spokesperson.

    Across the whole store, the space is clean and uncluttered, putting the focus back on the product.

    “Open areas encourage exploration and give space to create stories around the collections,” the spokesperson said.

    While features of the store are likely to be rolled out across Esprit’s global markets, for now the company wants to assess the impact on sales and customer engagement to refine the model.

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  • Top young Hong Kong fashion designers revealed

    Top young Hong Kong fashion designers revealed

    This year’s top young Hong Kong fashion designers have been revealed, capping off the Centrestage festival.

    Three winners of the 2019 Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest (YDC) were chosen from a final pool of 16.

    Champion Wilson Yip received a monetary reward together with a one-month internship working in the studio of Japanese fashion designer Mihara Yasuhiro, sponsored by Sun Hing Knitting Factory.

    Yip’s prizewinning “Forgetful Still” was a whimsical collection inspired by the aesthetic of absentmindedness. Yip also took the Best Footwear Design Award.

    Designer Louis Chow was named first runner-up for his collection “Already But Not Yet”, while the award for second runner-up and new talent was given to Enzo Chan for his “Since 1996”.

    The judges assessed the top young Hong Kong fashion designers’ works based on creativity, originality, market potential, craftsmanship, use of fabrics and overall aesthetics, and offered expert feedback to each of the participants. VIP Judge Mihara Yasuhiro had particular praise for the winning piece, saying that Champion Wilson Yip “managed to paint fashion over the backdrop of everyday life, using elements of daily wear and injecting them with novelty and creativity”.

    The YDC has been organized by the HKTDC for more than four decades with the objective of nurturing and promoting young fashion talent. In 2012, to further promote the international visibility of local Hong Kong designers, the HKTDC launched fashionally.com, an online platform that showcases the work of local labels and talents to link them with global industry insiders and opportunities.

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  • I.T Apparels launches four outlets at K11 Musea

    I.T Apparels launches four outlets at K11 Musea

    I.T Apparels has opened stores at K11 Musea for four of its fashion labels – Zadig & Voltaire, Stone Island, Off-White and Palm Angels.

    The Zadig & Voltaire store is the brand’s fourth location in Hong Kong, with a design inspired by its Parisian store that opened last year, featuring concrete walls and a wooden-tone floor – with its F/W 2019 products for men and women showcased in a rough and textured steel display cabinet, creating a strong contrast between toughness and tenderness.

    Stone Island’s new 130sqm storehouses both the label’s Stone Island and Stone Island Shadow Project collections. The interior design follows the concept used for Stone Island stores created by Marc Buhre, an industrial designer from Heidelberg (Germany). Bush-hammered stone floors feature steel sections that offset the geometries embellishing the shaped ceiling. Hangers in the store are made of carbon and anodized aluminum bars, while furnishings and details are compressed in felt.

    Off-White c/o Virgil Abloh is opening its third store in the city at K11 Musea, one of the few shops within the mall that overlooks Victoria Harbour, visible through floor-to-ceiling windows. The store features warm and earthy tones and a large LED wall suspended on a light wooden wall at the entrance to display photos of the new series. Green velvet is used on the walls and ceiling of the display area of accessories and shoes – the same green is used for the cashier desk and curtain to convey a sense of humor.

    Palm Angels’ K11 Musea outlet was conceptualized by brand founder and creative director Francesco Ragazzi to resemble a white cube art gallery with elements that clash into non-codified mixtures. Characterized by the strong contrast between raw concrete brick walls protected by wavy glass partitions, the store features a classical marble flooring to effect a clash with ceiling-mounted LED screens. Palm Angels’ F/W 2019 collection will be heavily featured during the store launch, which summarises Francesco Ragazzi’s own story through chapters that mix but not necessarily match

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  • Jebsen Consumer opens first flagship Select store

    Jebsen Consumer opens first flagship Select store

    Jebsen Consumer has opened its first retail flagship Select store in Hong Kong. The new 3000sqft store is located in the new K11 Musea at Victoria Dockside in Tsim Sha Tsui. It features a minimalist and stylish store design with more than 1800 items of merchandise sourced from across the world.

    “This flagship store plays a significant part in our long-term development vision for the brand,” said J Select business director Gladys Leung. “We are very much looking forward to meeting our customers here at K11 Musea – a new landmark in Hong Kong where different shopping experiences are provided for customers to explore and discover their own lifestyle.”

    The store is divided into different zones focused on beauty, gaming, and home enrichment, amongst others. Customers are given the opportunity to personally experience and engage with related products in each zone.

    In the beauty zone, a wide selection of “on-trend” skincare brands are available in addition to beauty devices from brands such as Ya-Man and Artistic & Co, as well as natural skincare brands such as Juvena from Switzerland and Algenist from the US. A skincare consulting area provides the chance to experience the beauty products on offer in privacy.

    The gaming zone showcases various high-technology products, allowing customers to try out gaming gear from brands such as Asus, Logitech, and Razer. A different zone has the largest Dyson shop-in-shop in Hong Kong.

    A statement from Jebsen Consumer said the firm will continue to expand its omnichannel presence with retail stores and e-commerce portals across Hong Kong and Mainland China.

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  • Superdry opens Queenstown store with huge range of winter gear

    Superdry opens Queenstown store with huge range of winter gear

    Sports fashion brand Superdry said its newly opened store in Queenstown offers the largest range of snow gear across the Tasman region.

    Superdry’s new 200sqm Aotearoa store, the second in New Zealand, is split in two levels offering men’s and women’s clothing and accessories.

    The Queenstown store also offers a selection of Superdry Snow, which features fashion-forward, technical alternatives to traditional snow gear.

    “Superdry Snow, introduced globally nearly six years ago, has been heralded as the perfect fashionable alternative to the traditionally generic adventure wear and has seen double-digit YOY sales growth globally,” the retailer stated.

    Martin Matthews, CEO of Brand Collective which holds the license for Superdry across Australia and New Zealand, said the adventure spirit that is synonymous with Queenstown and its alignment to their brand is what ultimately brought them to the area.

    “Superdry was the natural next step,” Matthews said.

    He added that while the brand has yet to confirm any additional sites in the country, New Zealand presents a significant opportunity for the brand, and there are broad plans to expand.

    Superdry opened its first store in the country in Auckland’s Queen Street shopping district last April.

    The 193sqm store is split into two levels, with the menswear department on the first level and a glass staircase leading consumers to the womenswear section on the second level. The store also offers the brand’s Superdry Snow collection.

  • Kathmandu Australia joins B Corp movement

    Kathmandu Australia joins B Corp movement

    Kathmandu on Tuesday announced it has become a certified B Corporation, making it the biggest B Corp in Australia and New Zealand.

    B Corps are for-profit businesses that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability.

    Started in the US in 2006 as a way to raise awareness of purpose-driven businesses by giving them a recognizable seal of approval, there are now more than 3000 B Corps worldwide, and more than 300 in Australia and New Zealand, which is the fastest-growing region per capita for B Corps.

    Local retailers with B Corp certification include Outland Denim, Etiko, Koala, GlamCorner, Bellroy, Flora & Fauna, KeepCup, Good Day Girl, Koskela, Arndsorf and Kester Black.

    The addition of Kathmandu to this list reflects a shift in the way many large companies view sustainability – no longer as a niche topic confined to the CSR team, but rather a core value that permeates every part of the business.

    “Sustainability is part of Kathmandu’s DNA  and is integral to our entire operation, from our supply chain to our materials and products and our operational footprint,” Xavier Simonet, Kathmandu’s CEO, said in a statement.

    To receive B Corp certification, organizations need to earn a certain number of points on the B Impact Assessment, an online tool that asks around 200 questions in five key areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers.

    The tool is administered by B Lab, a nonprofit with locations in 26 countries, which sets the global standards, awards B Corp certification and advocates for the adoption of ‘benefit company’ status at a state level.

    In the US and other countries, businesses can register as a ‘benefit company’, which means they are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on all stakeholders, such as employees, suppliers and the planet, not just shareholders. This locks in their purpose, no matter who owns or runs the company.

    Benefit companies currently have no legal status in Australia, though B Lab Australia and New Zealand is actively campaigning for an opt-in legal form to be introduced through a minor amendment to the Corporations Act.

    This issue will become more critical as publicly listed companies like Kathmandu join the B Corp movement.

    T2, which is owned by Unilever, is also in the process of becoming a B Corp, and B Lab Australia and New Zealand is taking the opportunity to encourage other big businesses to get on board.

    “Kathmandu’s announcement as New Zealand’s first B Corp-certified multinational retail business, and Australasia’s biggest B Corp, is a significant milestone for Australia, New Zealand and the wider B Corp movement,” Andrew Davies, CEO of B Lab Australia and New Zealand, said in a statement.

    “Certification is open to all sizes of business, and we are seeing increasing interest from large corporations across the world, Kathmandu’s certification sends an important signal for other big businesses to follow in their lead.”

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  • Ecostore aims carbon neutrality by end of year

    Ecostore aims carbon neutrality by end of year

    Skincare brand Ecostore has announced it will be carbon neutral by the end of 2019, having offset 769 tonnes of carbon already through its carboNZero-certified manufacturing plant since 2010.

    The business now aims to offset all the carbon it generates across its Australia and New Zealand operations.

    “Businesses need to step up and recognize that they can and must be a force for good,” Ecostore managing director Pablo Kraus said.

    “Corporates have an incredible opportunity to pave the way for future generations. We must lead by example, empower others, act, make changes.”

    Ecostore general manager of supply chain Tony Morpeth said the business is currently investigating ways to reduce electricity, LPG and fuel use, water use during manufacturing and freight emissions from the transportation of goods.

    In order to achieve this, the retailer partnered with NZ environmental certification provider Enviro-Mark Solutions.

    “Taking action on climate change, by reducing carbon emissions, is one of the biggest challenges faced by business but rising to the challenge will identify opportunities and drive innovation,” Enviro-Mark Solutions chief executive Dr Ann Smith said.

    “With Ecostore’s ambitious plans to offset their impacts in the short term, and commitment to continual emissions reduction and environmental improvement for the long term, they are setting an excellent example for other organisations.”

    Kraus said the key to Ecostore’s success is its holistic approach – from how it chooses its partners and sources its materials to what it does about its products’ lifecycle.

    Ecostore was named New Zealand’s most authentic brand in the Brand Alpha 2019 Top 20 Most Authentic Brands report, graded on visibility, value, vitality, and virtue.

  • Timberland to plant 50 million trees in the next five years

    Timberland to plant 50 million trees in the next five years

    Global outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland has committed to planting 50 million trees around the world by 2025.

    The move builds on Timberland’s previous tree planting efforts; since 2001, the brand has planted more than 10 million trees worldwide.

    “At Timberland, we’re conscious of the impact our modern way of life has on the planet. And we believe as a global lifestyle brand, and as individuals, we have a responsibility to make it better,” said Timberland global brand president Jim Pisani. “Trees and green spaces help improve the quality of our planet as well as individual wellbeing. Our commitment to plant trees is a real, measurable way to act upon our belief that a greener future is a better future. We encourage people everywhere to join the movement by taking their own actions – small or large – to be heroes for nature.”

    To kick off its pledge, Timberland has launched its largest-ever global campaign, “Nature Needs Heroes,” calling on consumers around the world to join the movement by taking simple, small actions for a healthier planet. The campaign celebrates 12 eco-heroes who are making lasting, positive change for the environment and their communities. Each hero dons new styles from the fall 2019 collection, with city greenscapes as the backdrop.

    The campaign will come to life through media activations across print, digital, out of home, social media and PR. The brand will also engage the global community to be heroes for nature through a series of tree planting and greening events.

    To help realize its 50 million tree commitment, Timberland will partner with a range of organizations that support the environment through large-scale regreening and tree planting efforts. These organizations include the Smallholder Farmers Alliance, GreenNetwork, Tree Aid, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, Connect4Climate – World Bank Group, Justdiggit, Las Lagunas Ecological Park, Trees for the Future, American Forests and Treedom.

    Projects in year one will focus on Haiti, China, the Dominican Republic, the US, Tanzania and Mali – including support of the Great Green Wall, an African-led movement to grow an 8000km line of trees across the entire width of Africa to fight climate change, drought, famine, conflict, and migration.

    “We are thrilled to have Timberland join the Great Green Wall movement – an emerging new world wonder that promises to grow hope for millions of people in the face of the 21st century’s most urgent challenges,” said Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

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  • Le Saunda CEO resigns and on the search

    Le Saunda CEO resigns and on the search

    Le Saunda CEO Cheng Wang has resigned and will leave the company on October 16.

    According to a stock exchange filing, Cheng is leaving in order to pursue “his other personal affairs”. The Le Saunda CEO will also vacate his seat on the shoe retailer’s board.

    On the same date, another director, Marces Lee Tze Bun will also resign. The company said there was no matter with respect to either person’s departure that needed to be brought to the attention of the company’s shareholders.

    The statement coincided with a positive profit warning issued by the company.

    Based on unaudited management accounts, the company expects a consolidated profit attributable to shareholders for the first half-year of RMB 2 million (US$280,000), compared to a loss of RMB 9.585 million ($1.34 million) in the same period last year. The turnaround was due to improved sales Mainland China stores, reduced administrative expenses due to a restructuring of regional offices and the closure of underperforming stores across its network.

    Sales in Le Saunda’s self-owned stores (excluding e-commerce) were down by 6.5 percent in the second quarter, but same-store sales were up 17.5 percent, reflecting a streamlined store network. Online sales, however, plunged 28.4 percent.

    Le Saunda has shuttered 156 outlets between the end of the second quarter last year and August 31 this year, leaving its with 465 outlets in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. All but 56 of those are self-owned, as opposed to franchised.

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  • Global Vans shoe design competition kicks off

    Global Vans shoe design competition kicks off

    Sports shoe & apparel brand Vans is launching its interactive “Vans shoe customisation competition”, designed to inspire artists around the world.

    The Global Custom Culture competition aims to provide the means for self-expression through digital and canvas mediums unique to Vans. This is the inaugural year of the Vans shoe customization competition, encouraging artists from around the world to turn a pair of classic Vans shoes into their personal art piece.

    The contest will award three winners – one each from Asia Pacific, North America and Europe –  a US$25,000, and the designers will have their shoes produced and sold by Vans, experience a trip to the Vans design headquarters in Southern California, and have the opportunity to partner with Vans to donate $100,000 to a charity that will further enable creative communities.

    “Our goal through Vans Global Custom Culture is to create a platform that is accessible to everyone,” said Vans senior director of global brand marketing April Vitkus. “A barrier to creativity is having access to the tools needed to create something unique, and as a brand it’s our purpose and commitment to provide a range of platforms to empower and enable individuals.”

    The public will have the chance to vote for their favorite design submissions, helping determine the top 10 finalists from each geographic region, in early October. Once the top 10 have been selected, the Vans shoe customization competition finalists will receive a pair of Era shoes to apply a new design onto Vans’ literal canvas. The top 10 will be announced on December 5, where all the artist’s creations will be displayed online for a public vote.

    On December 19, Vans representatives from the design and marketing teams, as well as selected art ambassadors, will choose one grand prize winner in each region.

    Throughout the month of September, Vans will host creative workshops, as a way to participate and support competition participants in a collaborative environment.

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  • Zimmermann opens another US store

    Zimmermann opens another US store

    Australian designer brand Zimmermann has opened its 12th store in the US and its third in New York City with the launch of a new boutique on the Madison Avenue.

    The prestigious shopping street is home to the likes of Carolina Herrera, Christian Louboutin, Ralph Lauren, Valentino and other designer brands.

    The 160sqm store, which opened last week, was designed by Australian designer and architect Don McQualter of Studio McQualter to create the feeling of a local apartment, with each room in the heritage-listed 1940s building styled to frame the collection.

    The store includes a mix of vintage pieces, such as a 1960s Murano glass Italian chandelier and 1930s De Coene desk, with handmade floor and wall tiles and custom metalwork, light fixtures, display tables, millwork and virtual merchandising fixtures designed by Studio McQualter.

    The store is meant to be a physical embodiment of the Zimmermann brand, conveying a relaxed femininity, air of freshness and light and unyielding optimism.

    Co-founders Nicky and Simone Zimmermann celebrated the new Madison Avenue store and upcoming Spring 2020 collection by co-hosting an in-store cocktail event followed by an intimate dinner nearby at Flora Bar at the Met Breuer with VIPs and close friends of the brand.

    “New York is like a second home for us. I have spent a lot of time in the city over the years and we’ve always loved the energy Madison Avenue brings. We are excited to now be a part of the Uptown community,” Nicky Zimmermann, creative director and co-founder, said.

    The brand plans to open a second boutique in Florida in Palm Beach in November 2019.

  • Bossini issues revised loss warning

    Bossini issues revised loss warning

    Lifestyle apparel brand Bossini has warned shareholders its loss this year will blow out to about $139 million, citing Hong Kong’s rolling protests.

    That figure is higher than the $124 million it projected at the end of May after reviewing management accounts showing a loss of $92 million for the 10 months to April. It represents a five-fold increase from last year’s loss of $29 million.

    In May, Bossini chairwoman Bess Tsin said the final figure would depend on trading in May and June and yesterday she issued a “supplemental announcement” to the earlier profit warning.

    “The annual results recorded was slightly off track from what had been expected in the announcement because of the increase in the loss derived from the Hong Kong and Macau segment as a result of a further weakening in consumer sentiment and the adversity in business environment resulting from the social unrest in Hong Kong in the last month of this financial year.”

    The final result will be released within the next fortnight after an audit is completed.

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