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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.

  • L’Oreal expands its beauty innovation program across North Asia

    L’Oreal expands its beauty innovation program across North Asia

    L’Oreal’s Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program (Big Bang) has expanded across its North Asia markets, including a recent launch in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

    Launched in Mainland China in 2020, the program aims to drive growth in the beauty industry through key partnerships with startups, fostering a culture of co-creation and co-development of innovative beauty products and experiences.

    For instance, L’Oreal Japan partnered with the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry last year to research skin and haircare technologies.

    Similarly, L’Oreal Korea has launched a dedicated digital tracking system following its collaboration with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups through an MOU at Viva Tech last year.

    This year, L’Oreal Taiwan has kicked off its Big Bang recruitment, focusing on a “Green Beauty Consumer Journey.” It has partnered with the Taipei Computer Association (TCA) to champion local sustainability innovations for a circular economy, eco-friendly design, and improved consumer engagement.

    Meanwhile, L’Oreal Hong Kong has introduced the city’s first open innovation accelerator, focusing on crafting immersive, multi-sensory experiences within brand spaces to enhance customer interactions.

    “As Big Bang takes root across North Asia, we promise to usher in a new era of beauty innovation,” said the company. “L’Oreal is proud to be at the forefront of this exciting evolution, solidifying its position as a beauty tech leader in the region and beyond.

    Since its launch, the Big Bang program has engaged over 2000 companies and brought more than 50 business projects to fruition.

  • French jeweller Fred opens first store in Malaysia

    French jeweller Fred opens first store in Malaysia

    French luxury jeweller Fred has opened its first outlet in Malaysia, selling its latest Pretty Woman necklaces.

    The store, located on the ground floor of Seibu The Exchange TRX, features a futuristic design with wide glass windows. The store is gold and white throughout, with blue display shelves in the centre.

    The venue offers a wide range of products including the new Pretty Woman Sunlight Message necklace, which features a hidden message that can only be seen by light.

    Founded by Fred Samuel in Paris in 1936, the company now has more than 50 stores worldwide and retail outlets in 30 countries. It was also the first jewellery brand acquired by LVMH in 1996.

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  • Hermes reopens Lee Gardens store in Causeway Bay

    Hermes reopens Lee Gardens store in Causeway Bay

    Hermes has reopened its expanded store at Lee Gardens in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.

    The store first opened in 1997 and is one of the luxury brand’s six stores in the metropolis.

    Hermes partnered with Parisian architecture agency RDAI for the expanded store’s design, which draws inspiration from nearby natural landscape.

    The expanded store now features three storeys, with its curves and ridges inspired by Hong Kong’s masonry wall trees and the interior showcasing metallic panels.

    A triptych of horses in motion by Japanese artist Ryu Mitarai is displayed at its three windows, which can be seen from the outside.

    The lower floor flaunts Hermes’ men’s and women’s ready-to-wear items, equestrian goods, home collection, and has two private rooms.

    A wooden cocoon on the first floor presents leather, watches, and jewellery metiers.

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  • Shein clothes found to contain high levels of toxic chemicals in Korean tests

    Shein clothes found to contain high levels of toxic chemicals in Korean tests

    Clothing purchased from Shein for scientific testing has been found to contain “significant quantities” of potentially dangerous chemicals.

    The investigation found that one pair of shoes contained 428 times the permitted levels of phthalates – the highest observed during the Seoul government tests – and three bags had amounts as high as 153 times the limit.

    Phthalate is a chemical compound used in the production of plastics that is thought to be hazardous to human health. The city has urged the Chinese e-commerce platform to stop selling the products.

    Shein responded that it takes product safety “very seriously” and that the firm has undertaken 400,000 chemical safety tests of products within the past year.

  • Tumi expands travel retail footprint in Asia

    Tumi expands travel retail footprint in Asia

    Travel accessories brand Tumi is expanding in Asia with a redesigned presence at major airports across the region.

    The stores at South Korea’s Incheon International Airport and Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport opened on earlier this month.

    The new 50sqm store at Incheon International Airport in Seoul contains a large-scale architectural facade. The approximately 19-foot-tall exterior, designed by CJ2 and local South Korean company Design Poom, features a T-icon pattern with 3D aluminium panels accented by a logo-inspired lighting effect.

    The store at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok also greets customers with an illuminated exterior and a T-icon design.

    Both sites have sleek and modern interiors and offer a wide choice of products tailored to the demands of tourists.

    “With more launches coming soon at Soekarno–Hatto International Airport in Jakarta and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, which are also among the busiest in the region, travel retail will continue to be a key focus through thoughtfully planned and skilfully executed designs that bring customers into our world and speak to the way they travel today,” said Aris Maroulis, VP of Asia-Pacific and the Middle East at Tumi.

    The new store at Soekarno-Hatto International Airport is set to open late this month and will join the airport’s other duty-free shops and restaurants in Terminal 3. The location at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport will open in mid-June and will have a similar design.

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  • Puma to launch compostable shoes after a two-year pilot project

    Puma to launch compostable shoes after a two-year pilot project

    After two years of testing, sports giant Puma is ready to launch its compostable shoes dubbed Re:suede 2.0.

    Puma will create 500 pairs of the commercial version of the sneaker, which went online available for purchase on puma.com/eu and Zalando Plus this week. The commercial version was created to reflect the experiment’s findings and the volunteers’ feedback.

    Puma produced 500 special pairs of its Suede trainers using materials such as Zeology-tanned Suede – chosen for their propensity to degrade – as part of the project, which was completed late last year.

    Volunteers wore the Re:suede trainers for six months before returning them to Puma, where they were transformed into compost at Puma’s composting partner’s specially equipped industrial composting facility.

    “Re:suede 2.0 is an important step towards finding viable end-of-life solutions for our footwear,” said Anne-Laure Descours, Puma’s chief sourcing officer.

    “While we are excited about this progress, we will continue to innovate with our partners to determine the infrastructure needed for a scalable long-term solution, essential for achieving meaningful impact in waste reduction.”

    The Re:suede project and the polyester recycling programme Re:fibre were developed as part of Puma’s “Circular Lab,” an innovation hub directed by the company’s innovation and design professionals that aims to shape the company’s circularity programs for the future.

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  • Levi’s opens its largest store in Bangkok

    Levi’s opens its largest store in Bangkok

    Levi Strauss & Co has reopened its 364 sqm store at CentralWorld in Bangkok, marking the brand’s largest location in Thailand.

    Located on the second floor of Bangkok’s mall district Chidlom, the store is home to the country’s second Levi’s Tailor Shop, an alteration, restoration and customisation station helmed by skilled tailoring professionals.

    “Thailand is an important strategic market for Levi Strauss & Co within Southeast Asia, and Bangkok is one of the world’s most popular destinations for international tourists,” said Sameer Koul, general manager for Southeast Asia and country manager for Levi Strauss & Co in Thailand.

    “Levi’s CentralWorld store opens as our largest store in Southeast Asia to date, and represents our commitment to this dynamic market as we continue to build deeper direct connections with both local and international shoppers in Thailand,” he added.

    The expanded store also houses collections that collaborated with key cultural figures from Thai artists, even seasonal exclusives, displayed on the opening day in the Beacon Zone.

    Levi Strauss & Co reopened its Levi’s store in Japan’s Kyoto last month, which features the brand’s NextGen format designed to elevate the shopping experience.

  • Love, Bonito unveils new brand identity, revamped assortment strategy

    Love, Bonito unveils new brand identity, revamped assortment strategy

    Southeast Asian omnichannel fashion brand Love, Bonito has unveiled its new brand identity after 13 years of operation, introducing a change in its assortment strategy as part of the campaign.

    The brand’s name was redesigned with a cleaner font, while the clean bold logo was complemented by a heart-shaped monogram that was formed by the brand’s initials ‘LB’. While the brand is commonly known for its signature peach tone, the brand has expanded its colour palette with Bold Brown, Cool Pink and Heart Red.

    The company said its new image reflects the maturity and sophistication alongside its loyal community. The new look will be rolled out in physical stores in key markets such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Hong Kong, with the flagship in Tun Razak Exchange Mall being the first location to be fully rebranded. The brand will also shift to a sassier tone of voice.

    “While many of our Asian cultures have been known to be more conservative, we want the world to see who the multifaceted Asian women are in this 21st century,” said Dione Song, CEO of Love, Bonito. “By doing so, we too want to let Asian women know that it is perfectly alright to be unabashedly ourselves while keeping to our roots and heritage.

    “Our consistent double-digit year-on-year growth since 2020 has been an encouraging sign,” Song added. “The vision of being the go-to destination for Asian women is big, and we are just getting started.”

    Love, Bonito said it will reduce the number of styles produced by 60 percent, streamlining its assortment to three key lines: Signatures, Staples, and capsule collections.

    “Our assortment overhaul was born out of the desire to create a resilient business as we continuously widen our global footprint,” said Pat Achakulwisut, chief commercial officer at Love, Bonito. “We want to make smarter strategic investments across various business functions, from design, production, merchandising to supply chain as well as overall operations.”

    The campaign follows the brand’s expansion into the US and the Philippines last year. Love, Bonito ships to 20 countries worldwide.

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  • Indian jeweller makes Chicago debut

    Indian jeweller makes Chicago debut

    Tata Group’s jewellery brand Tanishq has increased its presence in Chicago by opening a store at 4300 East New York Street.

    The Chicago store will feature a specialised and exclusive workwear selection targeting the different demands of women on professional and casual occasions.

    Additionally, collections including Tales of Mystique and Rhythms of Rain feature worldwide and contemporary jewellery influenced by the cultural riches of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and Kerala.

    “Having already captured the imagination of the discerning consumer in New Jersey and Texas, Tanishq is excited to be entering another iconic American city with a diverse customer base who can now enjoy our unrivaled offering right at their doorstep,” said Kuruvilla Markose, CEO of Titan International Business.

    “Our stunning Chicago store plays a pivotal role in Tanishq’s global expansion, aiming to cater not only to the Indian diaspora but also to the broader American and international communities residing in the city, with an unrivalled offering of more than 2000 unique designs.”

    Tanishq, which had previously established a presence in New Jersey and Texas, now has 420 outlets in India and is expanding internationally into Dubai, the UAE, Qatar, Singapore, and the US.

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  • Hermes unveils expanded Kuala Lumpur store

    Hermes unveils expanded Kuala Lumpur store

    Hermes has opened an expanded store in The Gardens Mall in Kuala Lumpur, which first opened nearly a decade ago.

    The new store, designed by the architectural firm RDAI in Paris, was designed with a contemporary theme and includes elements of local culture and locally produced crafts.

    The store occupies a ground-floor space at Gardens Mall, with a facade assembled with bamboo and cane to reflect traditional, regional weaving techniques. More bamboo features inside along with textured batik print rugs and a lacquered wood backdrop.

    A perfume and beauty area is located on the left side, adjacent to a home goods display. A central lounge links the leather products and equestrian accessories displays with the jewellery area. At the back of the store, is the ready-to-wear zone with two fitting rooms clad in silk panelling.

    The collection of Émile Hermès, including Paul Fleury’s paintings, sits alongside the artworks of the French photographer Thierry Ardouin and the Polish illustrator Jan Bajtlik. A window showcase of hand-made puppets evokes the traditional Malaysian theatre “Wayang Kulit” with a modern turn to this year’s theme, “Spirit of the Faubourg.”

  • Hermes strengthens its presence in Japan with Azabudai Hills store

    Hermes strengthens its presence in Japan with Azabudai Hills store

    Luxury fashion house Hermes has boosted its presence in Tokyo with a new stand-alone store in Azabudai Hills.

    The store is located in a two-story building surrounded by parklands, gardens, and city lodgings. The brand said the venue sparkles like a lantern at night, and its vibrant interiors can be seen from the park during the day.

    The space has a semi-transparent glass front covered in exquisite washi paper, which artists hand-treated to produce a flowing look that transitions from opaque to translucent. The paper is backed with a layer of brilliant panelling inspired by haku, a traditional gold-leaf technique.

    The first entrance leads to the men’s space with leather goods, jewellery and watches, and equestrian collections. The second area features women’s silk alongside perfume and jewellery.

    The grand floor has two fitting rooms and a private salon. Another private area upstairs leads out onto a fragrant rooftop garden covered with trees, evoking the ancient rooftop garden on Paris’s Faubourg Saint-Honouré.

    The store, designed by the Parisian architecture firm RDAI, combines nature with Japanese architectural traditions.

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  • Naked Sundays expands globally with US retail launch

    Naked Sundays expands globally with US retail launch

    Australian suncare brand Naked Sundays has increased its global reach by launching its products in retail stores across the US.

    This expansion will be the first time consumers can purchase Naked Sundays products at storefront retail locations throughout the US, with 1030 stores stocking the brand, including Target and Urban Outfitters.

    The rollout into Target includes two of Naked Sunday’s best-selling products, SPF50+ Mist and SPF50 100 percent Mineral Primer, as well as two Target-exclusive products, the CabanaCreme SPF50 moisturizer, and CabanaClear SPF50 Clear Gel Serum.

    Meanwhile, the CabanaGlow SPF50 Bronze and Illuminating drops will also be available at target.com in early March.

    In addition, selected Naked Sundays products will be rolled out across 50 Urban Outfitters stores across America.

    Samantha Brett, founder and CEO of Naked Sundays, said the company aims to simplify skincare routines and allow consumers to easily add sun protection at every touch point of their beauty regime.

    “Our customers in the US have been begging for a way to try new products in stores, and now we are finally proud to be able to offer this through our retail partners,” said Brett.

    “This is a pivotal moment for our brand’s expansion into the US and globally, after constantly selling out online.”

  • Christian Dior postpones show in Hong Kong indefinitely

    Christian Dior postpones show in Hong Kong indefinitely

    French fashion label Christian Dior has postponed its planned mega fashion show in Hong Kong due to be held in March, the government said on Monday, without giving a reason for the decision.

    The event was widely anticipated by many in the luxury sector after a high profile show from Louis Vuitton helmed by singer Pharrell Williams last November, which was an attempt to put the Chinese city back on the luxury map and attract wealthy spenders.

    Dior did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment on why it postponed the show.

    “We have just received notification from the organiser that the event will be postponed. In fact, postponements of large-scale events often happen. We continue to welcome large-scale events to be held in Hong Kong,” the government said in an email.

    Hong Kong’s luxury retailers are adapting to fewer wealthy Chinese shoppers visiting the city and a shift towards tourists flocking to Instagram-coveted spots in trendy districts rather than splashing out on pricey branded gear.

    Before the pandemic, the Chinese special administrative region had bucked global trends of declining demand for multi-brand department stores and ultra-luxury brands largely due to its attractiveness to high-spending mainland visitors.

    But the rise of competing shopping hubs like China’s Hainan island, changing consumer preferences and a rise in online shopping have fundamentally changed demand for luxury goods in Hong Kong and are starting to reshape the city’s visitor economy, according to industry experts.

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  • Vietnamese fashion brand Yody launches first store in Thailand

    Vietnamese fashion brand Yody launches first store in Thailand

    Vietnamese fashion label Yody will launch its first store in Thailand, the brand’s first physical store abroad.

    The store will be located in an as yet unnamed large Bangkok shopping centre. Yody has already launched an online presence in Thailand and plans to launch in Malaysia in the future.

    Established in 2014, Yody currently has more than 270 stores across Vietnam, focusing on producing “high-quality fashion products and excellent services to customers”.

    The fashion retailer is currently hiring staff in Thailand, preparing for the launch.

    According to Yody’s website, the company has been pushing for worldwide growth since 2022, with plans to expand in the US as well, along with an e-commerce strategy through Amazon.

    Yody prioritises sustainable approaches above the fast-fashion trend. The company writes on its website that it uses S’Cafe fabric (made from coffee beans) as well as other materials such as Coolmax, Airycool, and Birdseye pique fabric.

  • Louis Vuitton launches chocolate store in Singapore

    Louis Vuitton launches chocolate store in Singapore

    Luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton has launched its first chocolate store outside France, in Singapore.

    The chocolates, offered at Marina Bay Sands’ Louis Vuitton Island Maison boutique, are inspired by award-winning pastry chef Maxime Frédéric and prepared with ingredients including hazelnuts harvested on his farm in Normandy.

    The store’s design features yellow as the main colour tone. It also offers chocolate-based cakes and pastries with LV’s monogram logos.

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