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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.

  • French Connection brighter future

    French Connection brighter future

    UK fashion retailer French Connection has recorded another massive loss – which overshadowed a milestone improvement in underlying profit.

    For the full year to January 31, the company’s operating loss almost tripled, from £3.8 million (US$4.97 million) the previous year to £9.3 million ($12.2 million).

    However for the first time in seven years, French Connection’s achieved an underlying profit, a somewhat modest £100,000 which was a stark contrast to the previous year’s £2.1 million loss.

    In what the company described as a “tough” trading environment, sales fell 10.6 per cent overall, or by 6.8 per cent on a like-for-like basis, to £58.4 million.

    While figures were not released for the brand’s Hong Kong sales, the company said shipments to its partners there and in Australia reduced during the year.

    The company is continuing to close stores. During the last five years it has reduced its store count by more than half, and currently has 96 standalone stores and 195 franchised and licensed stores worldwide. Nine more are slated for closure this year.

    However, wholesale sales rose 10.3 per cent to £76.9 million in the UK, Europe and North America, which drove group revenue up by 0.2 per cent year on year to £135.3 million.

    “I am pleased that we have achieved our target of returning the group to underlying profitability this financial year,” said CEO Stephen Marks.

    ”This is only part of our overall journey, however it represents a significant achievement given the results over recent years.

    ”This has been achieved despite the ongoing difficult retail trading environment in the UK and is the result of the changes we have made in all areas of the business to adapt to the ever evolving markets in which we operate.

    ”While we still have a way to go to return the business to an appropriate level of profitability, I believe that we have made and continue to make significant progress.”

    GlobalData senior retail analyst Sofie Willmott said French Connection’s “more subtle brand handwriting fails to stand out” against more distinctive players such as Ted Baker, Reiss and Whistles, which all have a clear design direction.

    “To return to like-for-like growth, French Connection must give consumers a clear reason to shop with the brand by refining its range,” she said.

    “French Connection has got a hard slog ahead. As consumer confidence is expected to remain low this year, the retailer must better define its brand identity and point of difference to both convince a buyer it has future growth potential, and to attract shoppers back.”

    Marks said talks are continuing on a potential sale of French Connection.

  • Pomelo secures RedMart’s Jim Boland

    Pomelo secures RedMart’s Jim Boland

    Bangkok-headquartered omnichannel fashion company Pomelo has appointed Jim Boland, former RedMart CFO, as its new CFO.

    Boland has successfully led finance organisations in fast-growing e-commerce businesses for more than 19 years in leadership roles at Amazon, Dell and Alibaba-owned RedMart. His appointment will see him aiming to build up Pomelo’s financial infrastructure to drive profitability while enabling rapid growth across the region.

    “I am delighted to join this innovative company, which has designed a business model strategically suited to grow fast and profitably,” said Boland. “As a digitally native, vertically integrated omnichannel brand, Pomelo presents an exciting opportunity to leverage my past experience with vertical integration, retail, and e-commerce, especially during the critical scaling up phase.”

    With Boland’s new role as CFO, Pomelo’s co-founder and former CFO Casey Liang is transitioning to Pomelo’s growth team, which encompasses the performance-marketing and business-intelligence teams, a cross-functional unit that will work closely with other teams to accelerate customer acquisition and retention.

    “As we continue in this period of rapid expansion, I am excited to foster more coordination between our creative and technical teams to further accelerate our growth rate and help more customers to experience Pomelo’s unique value proposition,” said Liang.

    Pomelo’s CEO David Jou expressed excitement at the hire as the firm pursues building the “first global fast fashion brand out of Asia”.

  • Zoff Hong Kong eyewear chain boosting Convenience

    Zoff Hong Kong eyewear chain boosting Convenience

    Zoff Hong Kong may have only six stores for now, but the Japanese eyewear brand is proving a standout for local licensee Convenience Retail Asia.

    Victor Fung, chairman of the listed Fung Group affiliate, says Zoff Hong Kong has enjoyed “remarkable success” since CRA opened the first store in November 2017 at Cityplaza in Taikoo Shing. The five stores opened since are all in high-traffic locations popular with trendy young clientele, including one at Langham Place.

    Zoff’s business model is to offer customers a constantly refreshed range of frames to suit all styles, high quality frames at affordable prices and made onsite within a fast turnaround time. Fung says this is ideal for the new generation of consumers, always on the go.

    Zoff stores carry more than 2500 different frames and new items are introduced biweekly.

    The chain has also launched themed promotions, including a selection with popular actress and model Kiko Mizuhara and collections themed on Disney, Star Wars and Andy Warhol.

    CRA has invested heavily in brand advertising for the new chain, including outdoor advertising, prize promotions and joint marketing initiatives with other brands within the Fung Group.

    While CRA did not detail the chain’s financial performance, the company noted in its annual results that Zoff had contributed to both revenue and profit growth.

    “The group is proud to be the only licensee for the Zoff franchise in the world,” said Fung. “This fast-fashion eyewear chain, with its eye-catching blue-and-white branding, is highly regarded among Hong Kong’s young generation. Under the group’s guidance, Zoff has truly energised the Hong Kong eyewear market since entering in late 2017.”

    More Zoff stores are scheduled to open this calendar year.

    “The group remains bullish about the prospects for Zoff. Despite a number of competitors entering the market, our first-mover status and Hong Kongers’ affinity for the famous Zoff brand continue to drive healthy growth,” he said.

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  • H&M announces opening date of new Botany store

    H&M announces opening date of new Botany store

    H&M has announced the opening date of another bricks-and-mortar store in New Zealand, with the launch of Botany Town Centre location set for 2 May 2019.

    The retailer currently operates four stores in the country, with plans to open a 5th location at Tauranga Crossing on 4 April 2019, making the Botany store its 6th location.

    Last week, the fast fashion giant revealed there is already a 7th store in the works. It is set to open at Chartwell Shopping Centre this winter.

    The Botany Town Centre shop marks H&M’s third location in Auckland, following the opening of H&M at Sylvia Park Shopping Centre in October 2016 and Commercial Bay in 2018.

    Spanning approximately 2000sqm, the single-level store will showcase apparel and accessories for men, women, kids and baby.

    “We are thrilled to finally announce the opening date for our third Auckland store, and look forward to greeting our customers with an incredible fashion destination within a superb shopping centre” said Daniel Lattemann, country sales manager for H&M New Zealand.

    H&M entered the New Zealand market in 2016.

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  • David Jones plans board expansion

    David Jones plans board expansion

    David Jones’ South African parent company Woolworths Holdings has appointed two independent non-executive directors, David Kneale and Thembisa Skweyiya, effective March 11 2019.

    The business said it plans to add further non-executive directors moving forward.

    Skweyiya has previously held positions at Citigroup and Nedbank Capital, has been a non-executive director of Rothschild, and has risk, audit, social and ethics and sustainability committee experience at both public and private companies.

    Currently, Skweyiya serves as a non-executive director on the boards of Imperial Logistics Limited, Liberty Holdings Limited, Sumitomo Rubber South Africa Limited and Jonsson Workwear Limited.

    Kneale has over 40 years of local and international retail experience in senior leadership and executive roles, according the Woolworths Holdings, having previously been the chief executive of Clicks Group between 2006 and 2019.

    Kneale held senior retail positions at Boots plc, and served as the chief commercial officer and managing director of International Retail Development, as well as managing director at Waterstone’s Booksellers for approximately two years.

    The appointments are made as the group chief executive Ian Moir is stepping in to fill the shoes of departed David Jones boss David Thomas while the search for a replacement continues.

    Thomas had been in the position for almost 18 months, and resigned abruptly, citing personal reasons. He had been the target of an internal discrimination complaint last year, but was cleared of any wrongdoing in November 2018.

  • Kathmandu suffers a data breach, customers potentially exposed

    Kathmandu suffers a data breach, customers potentially exposed

    An unidentified third-party has breached Kathmandu’s website and potentially accessed customers’ personal information and payment details, the outdoor retailer revealed on Wednesday.

    The business was alerted to the breach, which took place between January 8 and February 12, 2019, through bank fraud monitoring.

    A Kathmandu spokesperson told that the business is currently investigating how many customers are affected by the breach, but that it remains an ongoing process.

    “Whilst the independent forensic investigation is ongoing, we are notifying customers and relevant authorities as soon as practicable,” Kathmandu chief executive Xavier Simonet said.

    “As a company, Kathmandu takes the privacy of customer data extremely seriously and we unreservedly apologise to any customers who many have been impacted.”

    The business has enlisted the help of external IT and cyber security experts to assist in investigating the circumstances, and to confirm which customers have been impacted.

    While the financial impact of the incident is still unclear, the dual-listed retailer saw its stock price fall to $2.31 per share after the announcement, though rebounded to $2.37 by the end of trade.

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  • Hypebeast Japan to launch with on-boarding of Akihiro Wajima, former Director of Farfetch Japan

    Hypebeast Japan to launch with on-boarding of Akihiro Wajima, former Director of Farfetch Japan

    Hypebeast Ltd. is pleased to announce the official launch of Hypebeast Japan Ltd., grounding its cultural influence in the region and marking another step in furthering expansion in Asia. The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Akihiro Wajima, former director of Farfetch Japan, as the new Managing Director of Hypebeast Japan Ltd., who will play an instrumental role in leading the Hypebeast Japan team to success and continue to push forward its market share. Japan is known for its impressive lens and unique take on expressing local and global culture. Hypebeast Japan, being one of Hypebeast’s flagship language sites, has been steadily building a distinctive editorial voice for its streetwear, music and lifestyle space in the country.

    “Japan is one of my favorite places in the world – it’s one of the top places globally for cultural opportunities, and possesses an inquisitive, progressive and ready audience to the types of activations, content curation, e-commerce services, and creative production which are indigenous to Hypebeast,” said Kevin Ma, CEO of Hypebeast Ltd. “We are ready to take our business in Japan to the next level. As a first step, we will focus on expanding local editorial coverage and content in Japan, which will help to connect its unique cultural voice to the rest of the world through our Hypebeast platform.”

    “I am pleased to lead Hypebeast Japan Ltd. and help the team to achieve a new level. Along with Kevin Ma and the team, I am sure we will achieve something exciting together and build a strong presence in Japan,” said Akihiro Wajima.

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  • Valextra Beijing flagship finally unveiled

    Valextra Beijing flagship finally unveiled

    Luxury leather good brand Valextra has opened a flagship store in Beijing.

    Valextra Beijing flagship 1

     

    Valextra-Beijing-flagship handbag close up

    The luxe label, which recently launched much-publicised spaces in Shanghai and Chengdu, has taken a unit at high-profile location Taikoo Li Sanlitun. The Valextra Beijing space at the open-air shopping mall features an expansive glass facade with a lofty ceiling, maximising on ambient daylight, and an interior design created by London-based Italian designer Martino Gamper.

    Valextra Beijing flagship 3

    To the right of the boutique, diamond-shaped wooden shelves display the brand’s first sneakers capsule collection, opposite a selection of small leather goods. Travel bags and suitcases are showcased on light blue terrazzo stands and plinth at the top level.

    The Valextra Beijing store also features a high-end rest area to the back with a plush green sofa and matching geometric-shaped coffee table.

    Valextra Beijing flagship 4

  • Indian fashion chain Reliance Trends to open over 2,000 stores

    Indian fashion chain Reliance Trends to open over 2,000 stores

    Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries will expand its low-cost fashion store network Reliance Trends to 2500 locations within five years.

    The chain currently has just 557 stores in 160 cites, and will target a presence in 140 more, involving deeper penetration into tier 3 and 4 cities.

    The planned expansion will involve an integration with the firm’s online activities and will serve as a gambit to seize a commanding market share of consumer spending against e-commerce competitors Amazon and Flipkart.

    The move follows recent restrictions on foreign investment into India that have at least temporarily disadvantaged the online giants. The new legislation bans online retailers from making exclusive contracts with vendors, among other restrictions.

    The Reliance Trends expansion is expected to help the firm boost its own labels in a territory that is home to the world’s largest population of millennial consumers.

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  • Le Saunda sales plunge with 30 per cent

    Le Saunda sales plunge with 30 per cent

    Le Saunda sales plunged 30 per cent in the fourth quarter as the embattled shoe retailer struggles to attract customers.

    According to a stock exchange filing, sales at Le Saunda’s self-owned stores fell by 29.9 per cent in the quarter, with same-store sales declining 17.4 per cent.

    That followed a cull of 161 stores over 12 months across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

    Sales by the group’s e-commerce business fell by 4.1 per cent, compared with the same period last year.

    Le Saunda has 526 stores remaining across its three markets, with 464 of them self-owned and 62 franchised on the mainland.

    The company said it expects the group to record a net loss attributable to shareholders for the 2018-19 financial year, primarily attributable to the decrease in sales, and a declining gross profit margin. Le Saunda did not give an estimate for the loss.

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  • UNIQLO to Launch UTs Celebrating Megahit Capcom Game Series Monster Hunter and Street Fighter

    UNIQLO to Launch UTs Celebrating Megahit Capcom Game Series Monster Hunter and Street Fighter

    UNIQLO, Japanese global apparel retailer, announces that it will launch a special UT (UNIQLO graphic T-shirts) collaboration collection that celebrates the megahit game series Monster Hunter™ and Street Fighter® from Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games. The Game by Street Fighter UT collection will begin rolling out at UNIQLO stores and through UNIQLO.com starting Monday, April 15. The Game by Monster Hunter UT collection will be available in Mid-June.

    Making its arcade debut in 1987, the Street Fighter game series is considered the progenitor of the fighting game boom that began in the 1990s. A new collection of unique UT designs celebrating the Street Fighter franchise highlights world warriors such as Ryu and Ken in various designs. Street Fighter®UTs include designs with controller button commands, as well as a pixel art rendition of a rare double K.O. from the game. Artwork from the latest Street Fighter title popular in the international esports scene, Street Fighter® V: Arcade Edition, features dramatic illustrations of the games’ iconic characters.

  • UNIQLO to Open its Second Largest Store in Singapore at Jewel Changi Airport

    UNIQLO to Open its Second Largest Store in Singapore at Jewel Changi Airport

    After opening its Global Flagship Store at Orchard Central in 2016, UNIQLO will welcome its second largest store in Singapore on 11 April 2019, as it sets foot in the iconic Jewel Changi Airport. Aspiring to showcase its LifeWear ethos to the world, UNIQLO aims to leverage Jewel – a choice lifestyle destination that will draw in both locals and visitors globally – to share its brand experience that champions Simple Made Better through constant innovation.

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  • PVH opens third Tommy Hilfiger store

    PVH opens third Tommy Hilfiger store

    US-based PVH Corporation opened its 13th full-price Tommy Hilfiger store in Australia on Friday, just days after the fashion brand held its Tommy Now runway event in Paris, featuring a collection designed in partnership with American actress and brand ambassador, Zendaya.

    The new store, located in Sydney’s Mosman suburb, showcases the TommyXZendaya collection and the brand’s Spring 2019 collection, in keeping with Tommy Hilfiger’s early adoption of the ‘see now, buy  now’ runway trend. Customers can also shop the brand’s denim collection and newly launched men’s and women’s sportswear collections.

    The store, which opened on International Women’s Day, also offers the brand’s IWD capsule collection, which features t-shirts and sweaters with inspirational slogans, such as: “Be the change” and “Powerful”. The brand is donating $1 from every style sold to the International Women’s Development Agency, a non-profit that works to advance women’s rights and gender equality in Asia Pacific.

    Spanning 130sqm, the store design reflects Tommy Hilfiger’s new global retail concept, which fuses the brand’s American heritage with clean, modern finishes and a bright, airy aesthetic. A high-resolution digital screen showcases the brand’s latest global campaigns for an immersive brand experience.

    The Mosman store is the third Tommy Hilfiger store to open in the past eight months in Australia, reflecting the parent company’s efforts to minimise its exposure to Myer and other struggling department stores by increasing its retail presence. The brand opened a store in Burwood, NSW, in June 2018 and in Perth, WA, in October. The brand also launched an online presence in Australia in September.

    In a presentation to investors in May 2018, PVH Brands Australia, a 50-50 joint venture between PVH and local apparel retailer Gazal Corporation, which held the licences for  Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Van Heusen in the local market, said it would open 34 stores across the brands in the coming years.

    Since then, PVH has announced an agreement to acquire Gazal. The closing, which is subject to shareholder, court and regulatory approvals, is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2019.

    Tommy Hilfiger operates 1800 stores in over 100 countries around the world.

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  • American Eagle expands Aerie lingerie brand

    American Eagle expands Aerie lingerie brand

    Global apparel retailer American Eagle is boosting its Aerie lingerie brand, with plans to open 60 to 75 stores this year.

    The strategy, which coincides with rival brand Victoria’s Secret’s declining sales and series of store closures, involves both standalone locations and side-by-sides with American Eagle, predominantly in Texas and California. The company currently operates 1055 stores.

    “Aerie is a game changer by staying at the forefront of body positivity and women’s empowerment,” said Aerie’s global brand president Jennifer Foyle. “Our new cast of role models are even more inspirational. They embrace the Aerie lifestyle and were chosen for their influential voices, unique stories and commitment to increase the power and empowering our community.”

    The firm reported US$431 million in earnings for the last financial quarter, a 1 per cent rise over the previous year’s figures. Its total net sales also rose 1 per cent to $1.24 billion.

    “Strong execution by the teams drove a record fourth quarter and fiscal 2018, as we reached a milestone of $4 billion in annual revenue with increased operating profit,” said American Eagle’s CEO and chairman Jay Schottenstein.

    “Eagle and Aerie continued to deliver consistent performance by combining product innovation and great merchandise with an improved customer experience across channels. As we head into 2019, we will continue to leverage the strength of our brands, selling channels and the team’s commitment to continually raising the bar for our customers. The strength of our balance sheet and free cash flow enables us to make important investments in our business to fuel market share gains, future growth and returns to our shareholders.”

  • Chloe’s brand new flagship opens in Seoul

    Chloe’s brand new flagship opens in Seoul

    French fashion house Chloe has opened a new flagship in Seoul.

    The new 386sqm two-story boutique in the luxury shopping district of Cheongdam features an eye-catching facade consisting of beige marble stones and the maison’s logo in brass.

    Chloe flagship - Seoul 1

    The first floor entrance ushers clients into the accessories and small leather goods section, while on the second floor the full collection is hung up on brass rails, sitting alongside footwear.

    Chloe flagship - Seoul 2

    Furnishings and decor are used to express the brand’s vocabulary, mirroring the maison’s flagship boutique on avenue Montaigne which contrasts a light femininity with robust architectural details and raw mineral materials.

    Chloe flagship - Seoul 3

     

    Chloe flagship - Seoul 4

    Tender curvilinear forms on the ceiling, floor and furniture echo the roundness of the letters in the Chloe logo, while a palette of white and powdery beige rose warmed by mustard and polished natural brass illuminate the space.

    Vintage designer furniture is found on the second floor, which includes a private VIP space.