Retail News CRM

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.

  • 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.

    Lees ook:

  • 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.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • 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.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • 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.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • 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.

    Lees ook:

  • 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.

    Lees ook:

  • 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.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Hermes beats rivals with record sales growth and net profit

    Hermes beats rivals with record sales growth and net profit

    French luxury house Hermes has reported a 16 percent growth in revenue to $14.46 billion for last year, with net profit surging 28 percent to $4.64 billion despite global demand for luxury goods slowing down.

    Sales in the fourth quarter ended December 30 reached $3.56 billion, up 13 percent.

    “These solid results reflect the strong desirability of our collections and the commitment and talent of the house’s women and men,” said Axel Dumas, executive chairman of Hermes.

    The group’s sales in America and Europe increased by 21 percent and 20 percent, respectively, and in Asia (excluding Japan), by 19 percent, with sales growth in all the region’s markets. Sales in Japan surged 26 percent.

    “In the medium-term, despite the economic, geopolitical, and monetary uncertainties around the world, the group confirms an ambitious goal for revenue growth at constant exchange rates,” the company said in a statement.

    Further reading, Gucci’s parent company, Kering Group, reported a revenue of $21 billion for last year, down 4 percent against 2022.

  • Pandora switches to 100 per cent recycled gold and silver

    Pandora switches to 100 per cent recycled gold and silver

    Pandora has shifted to using recycled silver and gold for all of its jewelry, a move it said will avoid significant greenhouse gas emissions.

    The new strategy aims to reduce 58,000 tons of carbon dioxide every year. According to the company, the carbon footprint of recycled silver is one-third compared to mined silver, while recycling gold emits less than 1 per cent of the carbon emissions from mining new gold.

    The target was previously set for 2025, but has been achieved early thanks to the strong commitment from the firm’s suppliers.

    Suppliers have had to switch their operations to only source materials that are certified recycled according to the Responsible Jewelry Council Chain of Custody.

    Pandora currently produces its jewelry with 97 per cent recycled silver and gold and is expected to increase to 100 per cent from this year’s second half.

    “Precious metals can be recycled forever without any loss of quality. Silver originally mined centuries ago is just as good as new, and improved recycling can significantly reduce the climate footprint of the jewelry industry,” said CEO Alexander Lacik.

    The Copenhagen-based company sells its products in more than 100 countries through more than 6500 points of sale, including some 2500 concept stores.

    Lees ook:

  • Uniqlo sues China rival Shein over viral bag copies

    Uniqlo sues China rival Shein over viral bag copies

    Japanese fashion giant Uniqlo said Tuesday that it is suing Chinese rival Shein over copycats of a massively popular crossbody pouch dubbed online the “Mary Poppins carryall.”

    Videos of fans praising its deceptively small size have gone viral on social media, with one clip on TikTok of a young woman unpacking numerous large items racking up more than a million views.

    The lawsuit filed in Japan against Shein Japan and two subsidiaries “demands the immediate cessation of sales of the imitation products, and compensation for damages incurred,” Uniqlo said in a statement.

    The nylon Round Mini Shoulder Bag, retailing for $19.90 in the United States, has reportedly become Uniqlo’s best-selling bag ever, repeatedly selling out.

    Shein, founded in 2008 in China and based in Singapore, has quickly conquered the global fast fashion market by catering to young customers through social media.

    Valued at $66 billion last year with revenues reportedly over $23 billion, the online retailer is eyeing a major initial public offering in New York potentially this year, the Wall Street Journal reported in November.

    The firm has been accused of exploiting unpaid labour, obscuring production processes and encouraging overconsumption as it faces the wrath of environmental and human rights activists.

    Last month, Chinese-owned online retailer Temu sued Shein in a US court, accusing it of “mafia-style” intimidation tactics to keep the upper hand in the local market.

    Shein Japan was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday.

  • Levi’s sets date for CEO transition

    Levi’s sets date for CEO transition

    Levi Strauss & Co has named Michelle Gass as president and CEO, effective January 29 next year, replacing Chip Bergh.

    Bergh is set to retire on April 26 next year. He has been elected to serve as executive vice chair of the board until his retirement date, after which he will transition to a senior advisor role until the end of fiscal FY24.

    “It has been an incredible privilege to lead this great company as CEO for the last 12 years. I want to especially thank my team, the board of directors and the family shareholders for all their support through the years,” said Bergh.

    “While I’ve known Michelle for more than a decade, my time working closely with her this past year has given me great confidence that her experience, track record of innovation and impact, and passion for the business will position the company for sustainable, profitable growth and significant shareholder and stakeholder value creation.”

    Gass has been the president of Levi Strauss & Co since January this year. Before that, she held senior positions at Kohl’s and Starbucks.

    “I am honored to be stepping in to lead this iconic brand and company, one that I have deeply admired and respected for many years. Levi’s is more than a denim icon; it’s part of our cultural fabric and an enduring symbol of quality, innovation and progress,” said Gass.

    “I am incredibly excited to lead our amazing team and to reali