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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.

  • Bespoke Club celebrates new flagship store

    Bespoke Club celebrates new flagship store

    Tailoring brand The Bespoke Club has launched its flagship store at Suntec Boutique, hosting a celebration attended by VIP clients, celebrities and other special guests.

    The Bespoke Club specialises in bespoke suits and shirts. Club patrons have complete governance over style, cut and materials, with access to more than 5000 European fine fabrics, haberdashery and accessories.

    bespoke

    It takes up to 50 hours of manual work to create a bespoke garment. Rolling the lapel, felling the collar, setting the canvas and sewing the buttons are all done by hand at The Bespoke Club. Its new store offers the style of a Savile Row boutique, and includes a personal shopping suite for privacy and discretion.

    However, clients do not need to visit the store – The Bespoke Club offers a personalised tailoring service at the client’s home or office.

    A range of packages is available, and there are special rates for corporate partners. Also available at The Bespoke Club are accessories, leather goods and custom-made shoes.

    Meanwhile, at the opening party, brand ambassador Srikant Ramaswami gave the opening speech on the essence of bespoke, while Buro 24/7 Singapore editor Norman Tan gave a presentation on the art of fine tailoring. As guests mingled over canapés, wine and champagne, Tan hosted a tie-a-bowtie competition with prizes for participants.

    Srikant Ramaswami - The Bespoke Club

    Reflecting the colours of the brand, the venue was dressed in blue and white.

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  • PNJ sales slightly goes up

    PNJ sales slightly goes up

    Vietnam-based Phu Nhuan Jewelry (PNJ) has recorded US$178 million in sales and a pre-tax profit of VNĐ304.5 billion (US$13.65 million) in the first six months of this year.

    These are increases of 4 and 116 per cent respectively for the same period last year, says a PNJ official.

    During the period, the jewellery manufacturer also opened 13 stores, taking its total to 204 retail outlets, plus more than 3000 wholesalers, according to Viet Nam News.

    PNJ was named Employer of the Year in last year’s JNA Awards, which cover the international gemstone and jewellery sector.

    When PNJ restructured its jewellery workshop two years ago, a 35 per cent increase in productivity followed. It invested US$4.6 million to build a six-storey factory capable of producing four million units a year.

    PNJ launches about 20 jewellery collections a year.

  • Taiwan-based Shoemaker Set to Expand Factory in Indonesia

    Taiwan-based Shoemaker Set to Expand Factory in Indonesia

    A Taiwan-based sports shoes manufacturer has expressed its interest to expand its business in Indonesia. The company, who has had a factory in Tangerang since 1996 with 1,100 workers, will expand and is expected to absorb up to 10,000 workers.

    The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chairman Franky Sibarani has welcomed the planned expansion. “It’s very positive to help to create employment and optimize investment benefits in a bid to improve people’s welfare,” he said in an official statement as quoted by Bisnis.com, Tuesday, July 12, 2016.

    The BKPM chairman said that the company has picked Majalengka District as one of the possible location for its expansion. The company will expand its factory and also bring along some of its suppliers as part of its supply chain.

    Franky sees it as a positive move amid the government’s effort to make Indonesia as a supply chain hub of products being marketed in Southeast Asia and Asia.

    “We will certainly support labor intensive industries who have set their sight on Indonesia as their production base,” he explained.

    BKPM data shows that investment realization from Taiwan throughout 2015 stood at US$107.95 million, consisted of 275 projects and was ranked 15th in the list of countries investing in Indonesia. Meanwhile, in February 2016 that Taiwan’s outward investment to Indonesia was ranked seventh with a total investment of US$1.5 billion.

    Taiwan’s investment is expected to help achieve the target of 2016 investment realization of Rp594.8 trillion, particularly from foreign investment which is set at Rp386 trillion, or 65% of the targeted total investment realization.

  • ABFRL takes over Forever 21 India

    ABFRL takes over Forever 21 India

    Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL) will acquire US-based clothing brand Forever 21 India from existing local franchise partner Diana Retail.

    The Rs.175-crore (US$26 million) transaction involves a business transfer agreement, not share transfer, says ABFRL in a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange.

    The Forever 21 business will become part of ABFRL’s Madura Fashion & Lifestyle division.

    ABFRL was formed after the consolidation of the branded apparel businesses of the Mumbai-based Aditya Birla Group, one of India’s largest conglomerates. It has a presence in 375 Indian cities.

    Forever 21 has a network of more than 700 stores worldwide.

    “With the acquisition of Forever 21, we aim to create a strong foothold in the womenswear business in the western-wear segment, which is growing at 20 per cent,” ABFRL MD Pranab Barua said in May when the company announced it would enter into a deal to acquire Forever 21’s online and offline rights for the Indian market.

    In March, it is reported that Flipkart’s online fashion store Myntra, which sells Forever 21 products, was seeking to take over management of the US brand’s India  brick-and-mortar stores.

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  • Banila Co moves into Malaysia

    Banila Co moves into Malaysia

    South Korean cosmetic manufacturer Banila Co has launched outlets in Malaysia, its fourth overseas market following China, Taiwan and the Philippines.

    Banila says its first cosmetics store in Malaysia opened in Mid Valley Mega Mall, the largest shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur, with its second store opening in Sunway Pyramid, also in the capital.

    Its first foray overseas was into China in 2009, where it now has about 160 shops. It also has a flagship store in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei.

    Celebrating its 10th anniversary last year, the brand aims to establish consumer awareness through outlets at shopping malls.

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  • Muji US to test suburbs

    Muji US to test suburbs

    Japanese lifestyle brand Muji US will take its message of minimalism to the suburbs when it opens in New Jersey’s largest mall, Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, next month.

    Its 8600 sqft (798 sqm) store, on the lower level of the mall, will be the first Muji store in the state. Muji has five stores in Manhattan, and some of its high-design housewares are sold at the Museum of Modern Art.

    Muji has 400 stores in Japan and more than 300 internationally, including 11 in the US. Muji’s first store outside of Japan opened in London in 1991, with its first US store opening in 2007.

    Founded in 1980, its original name, Mujirushi Ryohin, means “no brand, quality goods”. By “no brand,” Muji means no logos on its products.

    The company’s website offers a different view of marketing from that of the typical American retailer. “We do not make objects to entice responses of strong affinity like ‘This is what I really want’ or ‘I must have this,’” it says. Rather, it strives to trigger the response “This will do”, which it says expresses “conciliatory reasoning”.

    Muji USA president Asako Shimazaki says the vibrant setting of Garden State Plaza is a perfect location for the company to reach the New Jersey market and test its first store in a more suburban community.

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  • French sports equipment store Decathlon making big foray in Malaysia

    French sports equipment store Decathlon making big foray in Malaysia

    French sports equipment chain store, Decathlon, is embarking on an aggressive expansion in Malaysia by targeting to open up to 60 stores within the next decade. Decathlon Malaysia chief executive officer Tom Meng said the expansion was in line with the company’s global strategy to triple its stores worldwide to 3,000 in the next 10 years from 1,000 currently.

    “For the first three years in Malaysia, we will open 10 stores with at least five in the Klang Valley,” he told Bernama at the launch of the company’s maiden Malaysian store in Kuala Lumpur recently. He, however, declined to reveal the investment commitment for the expansion.

    Meng said the company would also expand to other locations nationwide with Penang and Johor among the targeted destinations. He said the company’s strategy in the country was to open large stand-alone stores with retail areas of up to 6,000 sq m and offering only in-house brands. “Currently, we have over 20 such in-house brands,” he added.

    On its first store, Meng said the outlet, classified as a “retailer flagship store”, covered an area of over 2,500 sq m and offers more than 95,000 apparel, equipment and footwear products at competitive prices.

    Established in 1976, Decathlon currently has a presence in over 30 countries and has a staff of 70,000 globally. Malaysia is the third country in Asean to house a Decathlon store after Singapore and Thailand.

  • Korean cosmetics makers fear losses from THAAD deployment

    Korean cosmetics makers fear losses from THAAD deployment

    South Korean retailers and cosmetics companies are closely watching China’s moves after Korea and the US decided to deploy an advance missile defense system in the country on July 8.

    Neighboring China lodged a swift protest against the decision announced in the morning which is expected to further heighten geopolitical risks.

    Local cosmetics makers and duty-free shops are on alert as they worry about losing Chinese market and consumers who account for a growing portion of their revenues.

    Customers shop for cosmetics at a local duty-free shop.

    On the day, cosmetics stocks like LG Household & Health Care and AmorePacific plunged more than 4 percent.

    “The THAAD issue was a huge blow to Cosmetic stocks earlier this year and it happened again,” an official at a cosmetics company said.

    South Korea’s cosmetics exports to China doubled on-year to US$1.08 billion in 2015, which accounts for nearly 40 percent of global sales, according to the Korea International Trade Association. South Korea is the second-largest cosmetics exporter to China following France.

    “There hasn’t been an immediate impact so far as China hasn’t took any trade-related actions but we still have to keep an eye on the issue,” she said.

    If ties between the two countries weakens, China could tighten regulations on safety and tariff issues, experts said.

    Retail companies, which started to see a rebound in the number of Chinese tourists to Korea after a sharp drop due to the Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak hit the country last year, are in panic mode.

    “We are worried over the possible drop in the number of tourists coming here if political conflicts drag on for long,” said an official at a duty-free store in Seoul.

     

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  • Uniqlo Canada stores about to launch

    Uniqlo Canada stores about to launch

    Japanese lifestyle retailer Uniqlo Canada is close to opening its first two stores, in Toronto.

    Uniqlo Canada COO Yasuhiro Hayashi says the autumn collection to feature at the stores has special technology to provide warmth in Canada’s icy winter. The brand’s Heattech innerwear features moisture-wicking fabric that retains heat, and also has anti-odour properties.

    Women’s and men’s collections range from casual to dressy, including a variety of cashmere sweaters as well as lightweight down jackets and vests.

    Uniqlo’s first Canadian store will open in late September or early October at CF Toronto Eaton Centre. Between fashion retailers Nordstrom (opening on September 16) and H&M, which has had a major expansion, the Uniqlo store will cover about 28,000 sqft (2600 sqm) over two levels.

    Uniqlo’s second Canadian store will open at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in October, in a new $331 million 300,000 sqft wing anchored by Nordstrom. Uniqlo will occupy about 24,000 sqft over two levels and be a neighbour with fellow Japanese lifestyle retailer Muji.

    Hayashi says Uniqlo’s Canadian store expansion will be gradual, with the company seeking to create brand recognition before moving into new markets.

    Uniqlo’s Canadian broker, Jeff Berkowitz of Aurora Realty Consultants, says Toronto was picked as the brand’s introductory market, and he is now looking real-estate opportunities in western Canada.

    Retail consultancy HRD Advisory president Farla Efros says she thinks Uniqlo will be a big success in Canada as it fills a void in the retail landscape between upscale boutiques and fast-fashion.

    Meanwhile in Japan, Uniqlo’s same-store sales last month increased by 4.5 per cent year-on-year while own-store sales grew 4.7 per cent. Total sales, including online, rose 6 per cent. The company attributes the increases to higher temperatures this year.

  • Fosun International acquiring French brand IRO

    Fosun International acquiring French brand IRO

    Chinese fashion retailer Fosun International will reportedly acquire French apparel brand IRO.

    IRO’s founders, brothers Laurent and Arik Bitton, will retain a 40 per cent stake, while Fosun will acquire the 25 per cent shareholding of the Marciano family, founder of the Guess Group, along with the remaining shares, making it the major shareholder.

    The deal, worth about €130 million (US$143.533 million), has been confirmed by a Fosun spokesperson quoted in the Chinese media.

    IRO was founded in Paris in 2004, with a men’s clothing series being added in 2011. Its followers include supermodels and fashion bloggers like Kate Moss, Rosie Huntington, Gigi Hadid and Aimee Song.

    With annual sales of about €60 million, IRO has stores in Paris, New York, London and Rome – all up, seven outlets in France and 25 internationally, including four in the US. It also has more than 40 counters in high-end department stores.

    Fosun has diverse interests covering fashion and retailing, and also owns the French resort group Club Med. The company has invested in many overseas consumer brands, including Greek fashion brand group Folli Follie, American high-end women’s clothing brand St John, Italian high-end custom men’s clothing Caruso, and fashion lifestyle brand Tom Tailor.

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  • LF Beauty to exploit Asian beauty boom

    LF Beauty to exploit Asian beauty boom

    Li & Fung Group subsidiary LF Beauty is seeking to cash in on soaring demand for beauty products in Mainland China and wider Asia.

    China’s skincare and cosmetics market is projected by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to grow by an average annual rate of  of 12.8 per cent from this year through 2019 – considerably faster than the expected global rate of 6 per cent.

    “Asian beauty is now setting the pace for the world. China, South Korea, Japan as well as the entire Southeast Asian market, are very important for us. [That] represents about 4.5 billion in population,” said Gerard Raymond, president of LF Beauty, in an article published by China Daily.

    A large population base dominated by younger demographic distinguishes the Asian market from more mature western markets, he said.

    “The younger generation consumer knowledge and wealth is growing very fast. And they are very willing to try new and innovative things.”

    LF Beauty is partners with suppliers and retailers of product solutions including fragrances, skincare, color cosmetics, and in a one-stop-shop offer provides retailers with logistics support, merchandising systems and point-of-sale solutions.

    Raymond said in the China Daily report that “there never have been more opportunities for brands to stand out and keep pace with their consumers” than in the Asia region

    “It’s never been more challenging. In this competitive environment, we work to help many of the world’s best-loved brands to innovate, thrive and become market leaders,” he said.

    “We have seen that Chinese women now are very interested in beauty products from South Korea,” he said. “In this respect, we have already established a joint venture in South Korea, which allows us to transfer their knowledge to Chinese market directly and serve the demands of local consumers.”

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  • Adidas Group India plans shopping app

    Adidas Group India plans shopping app

    Sportshoe brand Adidas Group India is planning to launch a shopping app by December, primarily to drive customer engagement through content and loyalty programs, as well as boost online sales.

    It is a significant move as it indicates increasing fragmentation in online fashion shopping, as most brands do not have independent shopping apps, reports Live Mint.

    With its app, Adidas is aiming to strengthen its online presence as brands and offline retailers adopt omnichannel strategies to offer customers access to products across physical stores via their mobile phones and websites.

    “Our engagement with consumers does not end in incremental sales,” says Adidas Group India’s senior eCommerce director Abhishek Lal. “Shopping is just a small fraction. We are planning an app and rewards program to increase engagement with the brand.”

    Separate apps will be rolled out for Adidas and its subsidiary Reebok India.

    Adidas is currently available on online stores such as Amazon India, Flipkart and Myntra, and online channels contribute 10 to 15 per cent of the company’s overall sales, says Lal.

    Other brands are already building online stores to reduce their dependence on the likes of Amazon India and Myntra. Leading the way is Madura Garments with two online stores, Abof and Trendin. Its brands include Allen Solly, Louis Philippe and Peter England.

    By launching an app, Adidas is also trying to tap into social commerce by offering content and creating communities of fashion followers.

    “Social commerce is complementary to pure play eCommerce, and also the way forward for us,” says Lal. “There is no history of a single-brand app yet, so it is hard to assess what the outcome will be.”

    Adidas has also expanded its omnichannel presence since its launch early last year. Adidas plans to bring about 400 stores under the omni-channel loop by December. Those already involved in the strategy have had their revenue grow about 3 to 5 per cent.

    “There has been some impact on revenue because of omni-channel,” says Lal. “A lot of sales were lost because sizes were not available in stores. There was also a lot of cross-selling. We have a brand called Neo which is available only online, so a lot of people walked into the stores and bought Neo on the tab. That is an upsell opportunity.”

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  • Valentino Omotesando flagship opens

    Valentino Omotesando flagship opens

    Valentino Omotesando, the Italian fashion label’s first flagship store for Japan, has opened in Tokyo.

    Valentino Omotesando flagship 2

    It covers 467 sqm on two floors at the Omotesando Hills Mall in Aoyama, and its interior design follows the new codes formulated by the brand´s creative directors, David Architects of London, and Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierrepaolo Piccioli.

    Valentino Omotesando flagship 3

    Marble columns connect the two levels, while the facade has a sculptured terrazzo facade of pillars and glass walls.

    Valentino Omotesando flagship 7

    Valentino Omotesando flagship 4

    A feature of the opening is a special window installation featuring photos and videos by artist Mariporu, including personal material and introducing his Maripol, Little Red Riding Hood.

    Valentino Omotesando flagship 8

    Valentino Omotesando flagship 5

    Valentino Omotesando flagship 6

    Proceeds from the sales of a limited-edition canvas tote bag decorated with studs, priced at 15,000 yen (US$148), will be donated by Maison Valentino to help the victims of Kumamoto earthquake, three months ago.

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  • DFS Group Cambodia gala opening

    DFS Group Cambodia gala opening

    Luxury travel retailer DFS Group Cambodia has marked the opening of its first store, T Galleria by DFS, Angkor, with a gala event for more than 300 guests.

    DFS T-Galleria Angkor Cambodia

    In the resort town and provincial capital of Siem Reap, near the ancient temple of Angkor Wat, T Galleria by DFS, Angkor is the largest duty-free luxury department store in Cambodia. It offers travelers an integrated retail, hospitality and leisure experience with 170 brands across 86,000 sqft (7989 sqm).

    The opening celebration began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, after which traditional Cambodian Apsara hostesses led guests through the two-storey store for traditional cultural performances and demonstrations by Cambodian craftsmen.

    DFS T-Galleria Angkor Cambodia 3

    From DFS Group were chairman/CEO Philippe Schaus and co-founder Robert Miller, while special guests included Cambodia’s Senior Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth and Minister of Tourism Thong Khon.

    DFS Cambodia

    The store features a curated collection of Cambodian artisanal products designed and produced by more than 30 Cambodian artist workshops. At the event, Angkor Artwork, a Siem Reap design studio, demonstrated the art of lacquer work, while Golden Silk, one of the last fully integrated silk producers in the world, wove silk spun from Cambodian silk worms.

    DFS T-Galleria Angkor Cambodia 2

    Traditional Khmer motifs and carvings feature throughout the store, including a nearly 20m art installation suspended above the vaulted atrium.

    DFS T-Galleria Angkor Cambodia 1

    T Galleria by DFS Angkor also ranges more than 130 international brands including watches and jewellery from Bulgari, Cartier and Tiffany & Co and fashion from Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Fendi, Gucci and Saint Laurent. There are also more than 30 beauty and fragrance brands such as Cle de Peau Beaute, Dior, Estee Lauder and Giorgio Armani.

    DFS T-Galleria Angkor Cambodia 5

    The gala event also marked the official opening of the onsite restaurant, the first Crystal Jade outlet in Cambodia, serving traditional Chinese cuisine in a setting overlooking the gardens and reflecting pools outside.

    DFS T-Galleria Angkor Cambodia 6

    DFS T-Galleria Angkor Cambodia 8

    The event also provided a platform to officially announce the company’s sponsorship of several non-profit organisations focussed on helping underserved populations in Cambodia. Schaus presented a donation to Kuma Cambodia, which aims to reduce poverty through providing education, healthcare and nutrition to vulnerable youngsters, English and computer courses for teenagers, and workshops and guidance for parents and guardians.

  • 7 for All Mankind sold by VF Corporation

    7 for All Mankind sold by VF Corporation

    Hip denim lifestyle brand 7 for All Mankind has been sold along with two sister brands.

    VF Corporation says it has sold its Contemporary Brands businesses to Tel Aviv-based Delta Galil Industries.

    The other brands are Splendid and Ella Moss.

    VF chairman and CEO Eric Wiseman said the brands included in this transaction are leaders in their sectors, and have talented, passionate people who are motivated by serving the marketplace with distinctive apparel design and exceptional service.

    “Earlier this year we said that we are taking a focused and proactive look at the composition of our business portfolio to ensure that we are well positioned to maximise VF’s growth and return to our shareholders. This announcement illustrates that our work as active portfolio managers is progressing.”

    The transaction, which is expected to close in the third quarter of this year, is subject to various regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions that must be accomplished in order for a closing to occur. The selling price is US$120 million, subject to various working capital adjustments.

    VF Corporation owns a diversified portfolio of brands around the globe, including The North Face, Vans, Timberland, Wrangler, Lee and Nautica.

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