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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.

  • Ralph Lauren launches cafe in Pavilion KL

    Ralph Lauren launches cafe in Pavilion KL

    US luxury fashion label Ralph Lauren has launched a cafe in Malaysia, part of its plan to strengthen its presence in the Southeast Asia market.  The new coffee shop is located at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, right next to its fashion retail space. It provides both on-site and takeaway services and is adorned in Ralph Lauren’s signature white and green. Customers can purchase the brand’s exclusive blends, including Ralph’s Roast, Decaf, and Espresso, which are roasted and packaged in Phil

    The new coffee shop is located at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, right next to its fashion retail space. It provides both on-site and takeaway services and is adorned in Ralph Lauren’s signature white and green.

    Customers can purchase the brand’s exclusive blends, including Ralph’s Roast, Decaf, and Espresso, which are roasted and packaged in Philadelphia by La Colombe and use ethically cultivated beans from Central America, South America, and Africa.

    Ralph Lauren was established in 1967 and specializes in the creation, promotion, and sale of high-end lifestyle goods across five different categories, including clothing, home goods, fragrances, and hospitality.

    In 2014, Ralph Lauren launched its first coffee shop in New York City. Since then, it has expanded its network of coffee shops and Ralph’s Coffee trucks.

    Opening its first Asia outlet in Hong Kong in 2018, the company just opened a new store in the region in July, expanding its portfolio in Mainland China. Ralph Lauren also has operations in Japan and France.

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  • Swedish fashion label Filippa K launches into Mainland China

    Swedish fashion label Filippa K launches into Mainland China

    The online store features the brand’s new autumn/winter 22 collection, as well as the core women’s, men’s, active and loungewear collections.

    Creative Director Liisa Kessler’s first collection for Filippa K, the spring/summer 23 pre-collection, will be available from November.

    Filippa K’s CEO Rikard Frost said: “Scandinavian customers have loved Filippa K for many years, so I’m very excited to have introduced the brand to China this year. The house has a unique position within high-end fashion, offering a distinctly Scandinavian design perspective that’s rooted in sustainability. I hope the Chinese audience will appreciate this approach as much as we do.”

    Mei Chen, head of fashion and luxury in the UK, US and Northern Europe at Alibaba Group, said: “The Chinese market offers great potential for Scandinavian fashion brands, where there is a strong demand for timeless Scandinavian design and quality goods with a sustainability profile, qualities which Filippa K embodies. Connecting brands like Filippa K with over 1 billion consumers, Tmall continues to support businesses in their international growth strategy.”

    Filippa K was founded in 1993 by designer Filippa Knutsson. She stepped away from the creative director role in 2019 but remains as a shareholder.

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  • Uniqlo owner set for record annual profit, but all eyes on China showing

    Uniqlo owner set for record annual profit, but all eyes on China showing

    Japan’s Fast Retailing Co, owner of clothing brand Uniqlo, is expected to post a record annual profit on Thursday as the yen’s slump has boosted the value of its overseas sales even as soaring living costs dampen prospects for retailers.

    The company, Japan’s biggest retailer, has posted strong performances in North America and Europe in the first three quarters of the fiscal year that ended in August, but investors will look for signs of a recovery in China, its biggest foreign market with nearly 900 stores.

    Operating profit for the fiscal year is expected to rise nearly 17% to 291 billion yen ($1.99 billion), according to an average of 12 analyst estimates from Refinitiv. Fast Retailing has forecast 290 billion yen.

    That would exceed the previous profit record of 263 billion yen in the year ended in August 2019. For the fourth quarter, analysts expect a 7% drop in profit.

    The company, founded by Japan’s richest man, Tadashi Yanai, is a bellwether for global retailers operating in China, the world’s second-biggest economy but where sales and profits have been hurt by strict COVID-19 control measures.

    As its Chinese operations slumped, Fast Retailing has put increased focus on North America and expects to turn an annual profit in the region for the first time this year.

    But even in the United States and Europe, people are avoiding shopping for clothes, hurting sales at companies including H&M and prompting retailers to slash prices to clear inventory.

    “China is continuously failing to live up to the company’s expectations and the only factors holding Uniqlo’s share price from breaking down are the North America growth and the yen depreciation,” LightStream Research analyst Oshadhi Kumarasiri wrote in a report on the Smartkarma platform.

    “Those too are now under threat, with a looming recession and Fed rate hikes failing to curb inflation,” he said.

    The yen slid to a fresh 24-year low against the dollar on Wednesday. Fast Retailing’s shares are up 18% in 2022, compared with an 8.5% drop in the benchmark Nikkei index.

    Yanai, who founded the company and owned about 21% of it as of February, and his family had a net worth of $23.6 billion as of May, according to Forbes.

    Seven & I Holdings, another Japanese retailer with a large U.S. footprint, raised its full-year profit forecastlast week, citing the weak yen and strong fuel sales at its convenience stores in North America.

  • Adidas puts partnership with Kanye West under review

    Adidas puts partnership with Kanye West under review

    Adidas says it is reviewing its Yeezy partnership with Kanye West days after he showed a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt design at Paris Fashion Week.

    The company did not mention the controversy but said “successful partnerships are rooted in mutual respect and shared values”. The rapper and fashion designer responded on Instagram, claiming the firm “stole” his designs. That post now appears to have been deleted.

    Adidas told the BBC it had made the decision to put the partnership under review after “repeated efforts to privately resolve the situation.” A spokesperson for the German sportswear company also said that the “Adidas Yeezy partnership is one of the most successful collaborations in our industry’s history.”

    In his Instagram post, Mr West also used a strong expletive, adding “I AM ADIDAS.”

    Earlier this week, he was criticised after he presented a collection at Paris Fashion Week that included T-shirts with the slogan “White Lives Matter”.

    The phrase Black Lives Matter, which represents opposition to racism and police brutality, was widely used after George Floyd, an unarmed black man, was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis in the summer of 2020.

    Vogue’s Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, who is global fashion editor-at-large at the fashion magazine, was among those who criticised West over the T-shirts, calling the move “hugely irresponsible.”

    In response, Mr West responded by lashing out at Ms Karefa-Johnson and posted photographs of her mocking her appearance to his 17.9 million followers.

    “She was personally targeted and bullied. It is unacceptable. Now, more than ever, voices like hers are needed and in a private meeting with Ye today she once again spoke her truth in a way she felt best, on her terms.”

    The almost decade-long partnership between Adidas and West has been strained for some time.

    At the centre of their collaboration is a hugely popular range of sneakers – known as Yeezy – which cost hundreds of dollars, with new releases often selling out within minutes.

    In June, he accused Adidas of making a shoe that looked similar to the distinctive Yeezy design, but was not part of their deal.

    Adidas said it will continue to co-manage the partnership while the review is under way.

    The announcement from Adidas comes less than a month after West’s lawyers sent a letter to fashion chain Gap to say he would no longer work with the firm.

    He accused Gap of failing to honour terms of the deal, including by failing to open standalone stores for his Yeezy fashion label.

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  • Valiram opens Indonesia’s first Salvatore Ferragamo store

    Valiram opens Indonesia’s first Salvatore Ferragamo store

    Valiram, the Malaysian retail group, has opened the first Salvatore Ferragamo store in Indonesia. Located in Plaza Indonesia, the store is part of Valiram’s growing international network of stores under multiple licensed brands, including Victoria’s Secret, Tumi, Bulgari and MLB.

    The Indonesian store offers a range of the brand’s premium handbags as well as shoes.

    Salvatore Ferragamo was founded in Florence in 1927 by its namesake fashion designer and offers high-end clothing, accessories, and footwear for men and women, along with fragrances, watches, and eyewear.

    In July, the fashion business unveiled a brand-new concept store in Soho, one of New York City’s most fashionable neighbourhoods, at 63 Greene Street. It is the luxury brand’s first foray into fusing an upscale retail environment with digital creativity and customisation.

    Valiram has retail stores and businesses throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, Macau, and Vietnam.

    The business, which runs more than 350 stores, boasts 200 brands spanning many different categories, including fashion and accessories, watches and jewelry, perfume and cosmetics, as well as confectionery and dining concepts.

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  • Swiss watchmaker Jacob & Co launches its first store in Japan

    Swiss watchmaker Jacob & Co launches its first store in Japan

    Swiss luxury watchmaker, Jacob & Co, has landed in Japan, opening its first brick-and-mortar store in the bustling district of Ginza this month.  The opening ceremonies, scheduled to take place on October 13, will be attended by the brand’s chairman and founder Jacob Arabo.  Situated between Ginza Station and Shimbashi Station and spanning one floor, the Jacob & Co Ginza store adapts the brand’s signature store design concept in black and white. While the ceiling features L

    Situated between Ginza Station and Shimbashi Station and spanning one floor, the Jacob & Co Ginza store adapts the brand’s signature store design concept in black and white. While the ceiling features LED lighting with Jacob & Co’s geometric lines, a large LED monitor is stalled on the wall to display the brand’s latest campaign.

    The store will be home to Jacob & Co’s full collection of watches, including the brand’s signature ‘Five Time Zone Watch’, which simultaneously displays the time in five different countries.

    The launch is part of its international footprint expansion plan. CEO of Jacob & Co, Benjamin Arabov, earlier this year said the company was planning to double its international footprint in the coming years.

    Founded in 1986 by Jacob Arabo, Jacob & Co has a presence in 31 countries and regions, including South Korea, India, Mainland China, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore.

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  • Jim Thompson enters a new era with reimagined flagship in Bangkok

    Jim Thompson enters a new era with reimagined flagship in Bangkok

    Jim Thompson, Thailand’s iconic global lifestyle brand signals a new era with the opening of Bangkok’s must-visit landmark the Jim Thompson Heritage and Creative Quarter. Inclusive of the original Jim Thompson House Museum, it features a new “Museum About the Man”, a Home Furnishings Exhibition, a café and a new Iconic Store.

    Local and international visitors will get to soak in the rich history and stunning architecture of what was once the residence of Jim Thompson and explore the beauty of Thai culture, silk traditions and the Thai spirit of innovation as well as discover exhibitions about the life and work of the “Silk King”.

    Frank Cancelloni, Group CEO at Jim Thompson explains, “We are excited about this new chapter. This is not just any lifestyle brand; it was founded by an iconic man who revived the Thai silk industry. The project will be 100% completed by April 2023 with the opening of a restaurant, a bar and a multifunctional hall, all reflecting the spirit of Jim Thompson.”

    Jim Thompson House Museum

    Comprising of 6 teak houses sourced by Jim Thompson from all over Thailand, his residence also became home to an extensive collection of Southeast Asian art. After his disappearance in Malaysia in 1967, his home was carefully preserved and turned into a museum.

    Museum About the Man

    Drawn from the archives of The James H.W. Thompson Foundation, “The Man Himself” highlights the critical milestones in Thompson’s life, from his early years to the last day that he was seen. The exhibition also charts the journey of Jim Thompson fabrics from Vogue to Broadway and on to becoming Thailand’s only global lifestyle brand.

    Home Furnishing Exhibition

    ‘The Evolving World of Jim Thompson Textiles’ is an exhibition that unveils the story of the Thai Silk Company Limited and the prominent creative figures behind the company’s successes in the textile and fabric world after the mysterious disappearance of Jim Thompson in 1967.

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  • Esprit opens innovation hubs in New York and London

    Esprit opens innovation hubs in New York and London

    Esprit has announced London and New York as two new locations for its Futura innovation hubs. Futura is part of its digital strategy to “reinvent customer engagement experiences by turning data into insights, fuelling the brand’s global expansion matched to the fast-growing scale of digital change in today’s fashion retail landscape”.

    As part of its wider strategy, the brand has been moving key functions to strategic locations, “creating a truly global presence”. It said the two metropolises are global cities “with strong cultural influences and 24-hour connectivity. They will be heavily integrated and connected to the brand’s commitment to digital and creative innovation”.

    New York will be the global creative and design hub “to inspire forward thinking and bring contemporary concepts and talent to its new branding strategy”. This is intended to “solidify the ambition to rebrand one of the world’s most iconic companies. [It] will take the lead in Esprit’s rebranding venture”.

    Futura London will be the firm’s global customer experience innovation hub “to provide unique customer experiences for an avant-garde omnichannel connection to the Esprit universe”.

    They join the existing Amsterdam hub that combines e-commerce and technological advancement. As the first physical hub, “it will lead in driving portfolio management innovation, creation of new ideas and pilots, enhancing and renewing the existing omnichannel business, and digital execution”.

    The company said the steps it’s taking are an important part of “turning the iconic brand into an omnichannel technology and data-driven fashion powerhouse”.

    The new hubs “aim to create transformative change in culture, mindset, and business process, discover new growth opportunities for Esprit, and improve innovation performance through a technology-driven approach that focuses on customer experience and embraces circularity”. This new structure “will also provide opportunities to enable staff to have more flexibility with increased international exposure”.

    CEO William Pak said: “Esprit is in the process of transforming into a truly global company with the creative minds and processes in key cities enabling consumers to be connected to the brand on a multi-dimensional level. This enables [it] to adapt to major challenges in fashion and the macro environment in order to propel into the future. Creating an exciting customer experience with smart design and a connection to the brand is an exciting path forward.”

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  • Berluti makes its Vietnam debut

    Berluti makes its Vietnam debut

    LVMH-owned Parisian shoemaker Berluti has expanded its footprint into Vietnam, opening its first store in Hanoi in partnership with local partner S&S Group.

    Located in the heart of Hoan Kiem district across from the famous Metropole Hotel, the Berluti Vietnam boutique follows the brand’s signature simple design dominated by wood and leather elements.

    After passing through the stripe pattern glass facade, customers are welcomed with a leather wall highlighting the brand’s ‘art of patina’ and a designed chandelier inspired by Vietnam’s tiered ‘rice ladder fields’.

    The store offers a full selection of Berluti’s men’s accessories, including shoes and leather goods.

    Founded in 1895 by Alessandro Berluti, the brand is known for its elegant craftsmanship and deep understanding of producing men’s footwear and accessories. Berluti has more than 60 boutiques across several markets, including South Korea, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan.

  • Reliance Retail in talks to secure rights for Sephora

    Reliance Retail in talks to secure rights for Sephora

    Reliance Retail, run by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd, is in advanced talks to get the rights for beauty retailer Sephora in India, the Mint newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the matter.

    Sephora’s operations will transfer from Arvind Fashions Ltd to Reliance Retail if an agreement is reached, according to the report. On Wednesday, Arvind Fashions’ shares on BSE rose 11% to Rs 327.55 apiece.

    Reliance, Arvind Fashions and Sephora did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

    Sephora, owned by French luxury goods group LVMH, has 25 stores in 13 cities in India with brands in categories such as cosmetics, fragrances, skincare, makeup and hair care, according to Arvind Fashions’ annual report for the financial year 2021-22.

    Reliance plans to build a portfolio of 50 to 60 grocery, household and personal care brands within six months and is hiring an army of distributors to take them to mom-and-pop stores and bigger retail outlets across the nation, sources had told Reuters in May.

    Earlier this year, Reliance had signed a long-term franchise deal with French fashion house Balenciaga and partnered with Gap Inc to sell the U.S. clothing retailer’s brands locally.

  • American Eagle and Forever 21 to make a return to Japan

    American Eagle and Forever 21 to make a return to Japan

    Forever 21 and American Eagle Outfitters Inc. are set to return to Japan after both U.S. fast-fashion brands exited the market in 2019, according to company announcements on Wednesday.

    Forever 21 will begin e-commerce sales next February and open a physical store in the spring, according to Japanese trading company Itochu Corp., which acquired domestic sales and licensing rights for the brand.

    Forever 21 was acquired in 2020 by New York-based Authentic Brands Group (ABG). Itochu said in August it was working with ABG to expand Eddie Bauer stores in Japan after that brand closed its last shop in the country in December 2021.

    American Eagle said separately it was returning to Japan with two flagship stores in the Tokyo neighborhoods of Shibuya and Ikebukuro in October. The brand had only been available online in Japan following the closure of its last physical stores in 2019.

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  • Gap eliminates 500 corporate jobs amid shrinking margins

    Gap eliminates 500 corporate jobs amid shrinking margins

    Gap Inc is eliminating about 500 corporate jobs, the apparel chain said on Tuesday, as it struggles to protect margins and battles weak sales of outdated clothes at brands including Old Navy.

    The company is laying off staff and eliminating positions that are currently open across a range of departments, it said. The eliminated roles are mainly at its offices in San Francisco, New York and in Asia.

    Shares of the Banana Republic parent declined about 3 per cent in afternoon trade, taking the year-to-date decline to 48 per cent.

    Late last month, the company withdrew its annual forecasts due to an inventory glut and weak sales.

    Gap is in the middle of a CEO transition after Sonia Syngal stepped down earlier this year, and is currently led on an interim basis by Executive Chairman Bob Martin. The company had a workforce of about 97,000 employees as of Jan. 29, with around 9 per cent of employees working at its headquarters locations, according to a regulatory filing.

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  • Primark to stop sourcing from Myanmar after fresh probe

    Primark to stop sourcing from Myanmar after fresh probe

    UK fast fashion retailer Primark will make a “responsible exit” from the country following the Ethical Trade Initiative’s (ETI) latest report on human rights and responsible business conduct within the country.

    Primark described the situation in the country as “extremely concerning and very complex”, with international stakeholders holding differing views as to the best course of action for the garment sector.

    Last week, ETI urged companies involved in garment manufacture for export to reassess their presence in Myanmar as there has been “evidence of forced labour and exploitation at a sector level”, with evidence of workers facing long hours, low wages, unpaid overtime, and harassment.

    “This poses significant challenges to our ability to ensure the standards we require to protect the safety and rights of the people who make our clothes and products,” Primark said in a statement.

    The fashion retailer said its only option was to begin working towards a responsible exit from Myanmar. The company will work closely with its partners and stakeholders both there and internationally to make sure the exit follows the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

    “We will continue to monitor for compliance with our Code of Conduct as we work through this, and as an immediate priority, we are looking at what additional measures we can put in place to support workers in our supplier factories through this interim period,” the company said.

  • Furla appoints Giorgio Presca as its new CEO

    Furla appoints Giorgio Presca as its new CEO

    Italian luxury brand Furla has announced the appointment of Giorgio Presca as the group’s new chief executive officer, effective immediately.

    Presca will succeed COO Devis Bassetto, who temporarily held the position of CEO since April, following the exit of Mauro Sabatini.

    Presca joins the Bologna-based company with 30 years of fashion industry experience.

    He most recently served as CEO of Clarks, prior to which he held the same position at Golden Goose, Geox and Citizens of Humanity.

    Additionally, he has also worked in executive positions for a number of fashion brands such as Diesel and Levis.

    “I am delighted that Giorgio Presca joins Furla as CEO, he is a skilled leader with a strong ability in reinforcing global fashion brands and driving profitable and safe growth,” said Giovanna Furlanetto, president of Fondazione Furla, in a release.

    Furlanetto continued: “Mr Presca shares our values and our determination to establish Furla as a real democratic brand, the only Italian brand in its category. This appointment also stands to highlight my whole family’s willingness to continue with the full control of our business and lead it into the future.”

  • Cos launches its first store in Taiwan

    Cos launches its first store in Taiwan

    Swedish fashion brand Cos has expanded its store network into Taiwan, opening its first brick-and-mortar store at the Taipei 101 Shopping Center.The 700sqm flagship also marks Cos’ first concept store in the world. While Cos Taipei 101’s exterior features forest green, the interior is dominated by a warm neutral tone, delivering a cool and tranquil atmosphere.  Minimal design with organic textures and recycled elements was put in place, including bamboo furnishings, slate-shaped cashier cou

    Minimal design with organic textures and recycled elements was implemented, including bamboo furnishings, slate-shaped cashier counters, stone magnetic floors and aluminum display shelves. Meanwhile, the table surface is made from Richlite material, which is manufactured from recycled paper and phenolic resin.

    “Opening a store in Taipei is an exciting step,” said Petra Lerch, MD of Cos Asia Pacific. “We have been planning to enter this market for some time, and launching this new brick-and-mortar store is like the first place to connect with local customers.”

    Founded in 2007, H&M Group-owned fashion label entered Asia in 2012 in Hong Kong. Since then, Cos has gradually expanded its presence in the continent, launching in markets including China, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. The brand opened its first store in the Philippines last year. Cos currently operates more than 280 physical stores around the world.