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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.

  • Puma says it has successfully converted sneakers into compost in pilot trial

    Puma says it has successfully converted sneakers into compost in pilot trial

    Sportswear company Puma has successfully produced compost from an experimental version of its classic suede sneaker, according to the results of its two-year-long Re:suede experiment.

    The experiment was the first program to launch as part of the company’s “Circular Lab”, an innovation hub led by innovation and design experts to create the future of the its circularity programs.

    The company created 500 pairs of experimental Re:suedes in 2021 using Zeology tanned suede, a TPE outsole, and hemp fibres during the experiment.

    Volunteers from Germany wore the shoes for six months to test their comfort and durability before being sent to a specially equipped industrial composting area operated by the Ortessa Group in the Netherlands.

    After being mixed with household waste and placed into a composting tunnel, the shoes were sprayed with leaching water from earlier composting that contained nutrients and naturally heated from the biological activity and controlled air circulation in the tunnel.

    The composting process took approximately 3.5 months, and the materials that were small enough (<10mm) to pass through a sieve were sold as Grade A compost for agricultural use in the Netherlands. The remaining materials were returned to the composting tunnel until they, too, had broken down to the desired level <10mm).

    “While the Re:suede could not be processed under the standard operating procedures for industrial composting, the shoes eventually turned into compost,” said Anne-Laure Descours, chief sourcing officer at Puma.

    “We will continue to innovate with our partners to determine the infrastructure and technologies needed to make the process viable for a commercial version of the Re: suede, including a takeback scheme, in 2024.”

    The company plans to share its insights in a detailed report so its peers and other interested stakeholders can learn from the experiment and apply the learnings to their initiatives.

    “We learned a lot during the Re:suede trial and how to streamline our industrial composting process to include items that need longer to turn into compost,” added Marthien van Eersel, manager of materials and innovations at Ortessa.

    As a result of feedback from volunteers who wore the Re:suedes for half a year, the company plans to enhance the overall fit of future versions of the shoes by using a new material pattern for the upper and the sock liner.

  • Chanel Korea fined for excessive collection of personal information

    Chanel Korea fined for excessive collection of personal information

    Chanel Korea has been fined for requesting names and contact numbers from waiting customers and their companions.

    The Personal Information Protection Commission announced on Thursday that it had decided to impose a fine of $2.761 on Chanel Korea for violating the Personal Information Protection Act during its 19th plenary meeting.

    Chanel Korea faced criticism for excessive collection of personal information when its boutique in a Seoul department store asked waiting customers and their companions for their names, contact numbers, birthdates, and addresses.

    Chanel Korea argued that it collected these details to prevent proxy purchasing since customers were only allowed to purchase a limited number of items. However, the company received widespread criticism, with people stating that it treated customers as potential criminals.

    The commission concluded that Chanel Korea’s actions violated the Personal Information Protection Act, and the measures taken went beyond the scope of their original purpose of managing waiting customers.

    Additionally, the commission noted that denying services to customers who refused to comply with personal information collection was also considered a violation of related laws.

    An official from the commission stated, “Businesses should collect the minimum personal information needed for their services. This case serves as a reminder that businesses must not refuse services to customers on the grounds that they refused to agree to the collection of personal information.”

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  • Worst is over for garment, footwear exports

    Garment and footwear exports have slumped from the beginning of this year but the drops slowed in recent months, signaling a slight recovery in the industries, experts said.

    Statistics of the General Department of Customs showed that the export of garments fell by 12.9% to US$27.7 billion in the first ten months of this year, and that of footwear by 18.3% to $16.4 billion.

    The October figures improved from the previous month, with footwear increasing 30.3% to US$1.7 billion. The garment shipments dropped only 0.1% month-on-month to $2.57 billion.

    According to Duong Thuy Linh, Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Cotton and Spinning Association (VCOSA), the difficulty was not unique to the garment and textile industry of Vietnam.

    Global exports dropped due to a decrease in global demand driven by geopolitical tensions, rising inflation in major markets such as the US and the EU, and tightened monetary policy in a number of countries. These moves forced global consumers to trim spending.

    Meanwhile, market requirements for sustainability standards were becoming more stringent, along with fierce competition from other exporters such as Bangladesh and Myanmar, resulting in fewer and smaller orders.

    Linh said that many textile companies were forced to narrow the production scale to 50-80% from the end of last year to the second quarter of this year. However, a slight recovery started from July with most producers resuming full capacity.

    VCOSA forecasts that challenges will remain for the garment and textile industry of Vietnam as low consumption demand will persist in 2024.

    The association projected that the export value will be around $40 billion this year, a drop of 10% compared with the previous year.

    Linh emphasized that the worst is over, adding that with efforts of the government and businesses, as well as increased market demand during major year-end holidays, it is expected that the billion-dollar export industry will recover in the near future.

    According to VCOSA, the consumer price index (CPI) for 2023 estimated at 3.2-3.6% will help stabilize inflation, retain people’s income and avoid purse tightening. Lending rates have been reduced to support enterprises, it said, adding that GDP growth projected at 5% is also a great effort of the government to provide a stable environment for businesses so as to maintain production and overcome difficulties.

    Linh pointed out that Vietnam’s garment industry still had a competitive advantage in terms of labor cost. The industry also benefited from new-generation free trade agreements (FTAs) Vietnam signed with major markets.

    Although local producers face difficulties in meeting sustainability standards, there are good signals as several fiber producers meet international standards such as Global Recycle Standard, Oeko-Tex and BCI. They are switching to using organic cotton, natural fibers and renewable energy in production, she said.

    Economic expert Huynh Thanh Dien said that recent forecasts of big organizations like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank were better for global economic growth, laying the foundation for optimism about the recovery of consumption demand in major markets.

    He went on to say that new trends are emerging in a new economic cycle, thus enterprises are urged to be proactive in grasping these opportunities.

    Major markets such as the EU are strengthening the application of high requirements and standards on green and sustainable development, Dien said, adding that these are challenges but also opportunities for enterprises to make breakthroughs.

  • Fila records a 35 per cent decrease in revenue

    Fila records a 35 per cent decrease in revenue

    Fila’s parent company Fila Holdings reported overall earnings of US$766.97 million for the third quarter, for which the company credits its global five-year “Winning Together” strategy established last year.

    The group said its operating profit was $71.6 million, boosted by strong sales at subsidiary Acushnet.

    Acushnet’s quarterly revenue increased by 3.3 percent year-on-year to $602.84 million due to strong demand for Titleist golf balls, as well as strong sales of its newly launched Titleist golf clubs and a higher average selling price (ASP).

    Meanwhile, Fila reported $163.44 million in quarterly revenue, a 35.1 percent reduction year-on-year.

    Fila Holdings is paying out a special dividend for the second year in a row, despite the Fila brand’s strategic transition obstacles. The company’s long-term commitment to increasing shareholder value is an important component of its Winning Together strategy.

    “In the face of a challenging business environment, we are striving to improve shareholder value alog with profitability in our main business,” said Fila Holdings CFO Ho Yeon (Aaron) Lee. n

    “We recorded solid consolidated quarterly earnings based on the growth of Acushnet, while we remain committed to our long-term goals with the Fila brand.”

    Fila is enhancing its position as a representative tennis brand, the company said, by participating as an official sponsor in UTS Seoul. This new concept tennis event will be staged in Asia for the first time at the end of this month.

  • Chloe opens new boutique at Changi Airport

    Chloe opens new boutique at Changi Airport

    Chloe has partnered with Heinemann Asia Pacific to launch a new boutique in Changi Airport’s Terminal 2 transit area.

    The launch, which marks Chloe’s first entry into Changi Airport and Heinemann’s return to Changi after an eight-year absence, includes a wide selection of products ranging from leather goods to shoes and accessories, as well as the Fall – Winter 23 collection.

    According to the brand, the space is devoted to both Maison’s founder, Gaby Aghion, whose home of Egypt is mirrored in the warm desert palette, and to former creative director Gabriela Hearst – through earthy textured tones that remember her early years in Uruguay, South America.

    “We are delighted to be back at Changi Airport, as the retail partner of a brand as desired and as committed to their values as Chloé,” said Heinemann Asia Pacific CEO Marvin von Plato.

    Chloe collaborated with pre-loved clothes marketplace Vestiaire Collective and digital ID provider EON earlier this year to develop the Chloe Vertical, an innovative circular economy project with sustainability at its core.

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  • Gentle Monster opens its first Australian store

    Gentle Monster opens its first Australian store

    South Korean luxury eyewear brand Gentle Monster has entered the Australian domestic market with its first store opened inside David Jones’ Elizabeth Street, Sydney site.

    Gentle Monster David Jones features the brand’s signature kinetic art installation ‘Giant Head’, allowing visitors to “experience mysterious emotions through its indecipherable facial expressions which seem to penetrate the essence of the viewer”. Overseeing all Gentle Monster’s operations in Australia, Bluebell Group plans to open a flagship store next July.

    “This first opening in Sydney’s domestic market is a significant milestone for both the brand and Bluebell,” said Nelly Ngadiman, MD of Bluebell Southeast Asia & Australia. “It is a recognition of a close, successful partnership.

    “The brand’s uniqueness and disruptive nature in the fashion eyewear category enhances our teams’ commitment to retail excellence even further.”

    The launch is in partnership with retail brand operator Bluebell Group, following last year’s opening of Gentle Monster’s first travel retail airside space in the Southern Hemisphere at Sydney airport.

    Gentle Monster has recently expanded in Asia Pacific to further capitalize on the region’s growing luxury market. The eyewear brand opened its first store in the Philippines last month at Shangri-La The Fort in Bonifacio Global City, after entering Thailand with the first store opened in Bangkok’s EmQuartier earlier this year. The first Gentle Monster store in Malaysia is set to open at Kuala Lumpur’s luxury premise The Exchange TRX.

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  • Prada sales surge in nine months

    Prada sales surge in nine months

    Prada Group enjoyed higher net revenue in the first nine months of FY23, with Miu Miu delivering outstanding results, attributed to growing brand awareness and increasingly strong client relationships worldwide.

    The luxury retailer saw net revenue rise 17 percent year over year to US$3.53 billion in the nine months ended September 30.

    Retail sales of Prada brand jumped 13 percent, while Miu Miu surged 49 percent.

    “In the third quarter, Prada remained on a sound growth trajectory, driven by solid full-price like-for-like sales. Miu Miu continued to deliver a strong performance across all geographies and categories,” said Andrea Guerra, CEO at Prada Group.

    “In an uncertain geopolitical and economic backdrop that requires us to stay vigilant, we continue to see positive momentum in the business and strong excitement around our brands, positioning us well for Q4 and vis-à-vis our ambition to deliver solid, sustainable, and above-market growth in FY23.”

    The group’s retail sales soared 17 percent to $3.15 billion while wholesale sales inched 6 percent higher to $307.6 million. Royalties swelled 67 percent to US$77.2 million.

    Japan posted the highest retail sales growth across all geographies at 47 percent. Retail sales in Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East grew 21 percent, 17 percent, and 12 percent, respectively.

    The company experienced a slight decline of 1 percent in retail sales in the Americas.

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  • Sportswear label Anta opens outlet in Thailand

    Sportswear label Anta opens outlet in Thailand

    Chinese sportswear brands Anta has launched its first brick-and-mortar store in Thailand as part of its expansion plan in the Southeast Asia market.

    Located in Bangkok’s CentralWorld, the store covers an area 230sqm, embraces the Thai culture, and features designs in collaboration with local artists.

    Anta’s entry into Thailand marks the brand’s fourth expansion in the Southeast Asia market following the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore.

    “You will also see that this is the first store in Anta where we devised a social space for customers to try on shoes, and while doing so able to engage in a bit of co-creation on the sticker bomb on the floor – we have additional stickers also for you to be a part of the co-creation process, to add onto the sticker bomb,” the brand wrote on its official statement.

    With more than 30 years of operation, Anta has a portfolio of brands including Fila, Descente, Kolon Sport, Arc’teryx, Salomon, Wilson, Peak Performance, and Atomic.

    The company is reportedly planning to launch its brand Fila in Thailand before the end of this year, and Salomon, Wilson and Descente by next year.

  • TBH Skincare rolls out in 857 Coles stores

    TBH Skincare rolls out in 857 Coles stores

    TBH Skincare has partnered with Coles Supermarkets and will be stocked in 857 stores across Australia.

    The move follows the brand’s recent merger with fellow beauty company Boost Lab under the new umbrella, York Street Brands. Earning more than $6 million in annual turnover just three years after launch, TBH Skincare expects to bring in an estimated $20 million in combined revenue annually.

    “We have been in discussions with Coles for several months, and we couldn’t be more excited,” said Rachael Wilde, co-founder of TBH Skincare.

    “Seeing over 115,000 units leave our warehouse just for the first order and thinking of how many people that will reach is a dream come true.”

    TBH Skincare began as an e-commerce channel in 2020, launching with its Acne Hack Spot Treatment product. Since then, the brand has expanded its product range and stockists, with more than 1200 stores now carrying its products.

    “My mission has been to give consumers ease in access so they feel empowered, and now I feel like, as a brand, we can say that confidently,” said Wilde.

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  • Danish jewelry maker Pandora to build $163M crafting facility in Vietnam

    Danish jewelry maker Pandora to build $163M crafting facility in Vietnam

    Denmark’s Pandora will start work on a jewelry crafting facility in Vietnam in the first quarter next year at a cost of US$163 million.

    The facility, in the southern industrial hub of Binh Duong, is scheduled to become operational in 2026, Michael Zinck Jensen, project head of Pandora Production Holding in Binh Duong, told Deputy Minister of Construction Bui Xuan Dung Monday.

    It will come up in the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park and employ 7,000-9,000 workers.

    But it is having difficulty acquiring construction permits, and he expected the Ministry of Construction to speed up the process, Jensen said.

    Dung said he has tasked a unit with assisting the company to complete all paperwork.

    Pandora sells its jewelry in over 100 countries and reported revenues of $3.76 billion last year.

    It has 15 stores in Vietnam, mostly in malls in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

    Another Danish giant, Lego, began building a $1 billion toy factory in Binh Duong in the last quarter of last year.

    The first made-in-Vietnam Lego bricks are set to be launched in the second half of next year.

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  • Prada works with Amazon to nab Chinese counterfeiter

    Prada works with Amazon to nab Chinese counterfeiter

    Prada Group and other luxury retailers collaborated with Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU) to provide information to Chinese authorities, resulting in a case against a counterfeit items seller who pleaded guilty.

    “We are firmly committed to eradicating the sale of counterfeit goods to protect our brands and to ensure that our products meet the level of quality, craftsmanship and care that people expect from us,” said Francesca Secondari, general counsel and chief legal officer at Prada Group said.

    Amazon’s CCU detected the attempted counterfeiting back in 2021, followed by an investigation. Amazon provided the evidence to the relevant regional Chinese enforcement agency to lodge a criminal case against the accused.

    The defendant has been sentenced to three years in prison and obliged to pay a $25,000 fine.

    All the counterfeit products found in the defendant’s inventory will be destroyed and revenue from selling such items will be forfeited.

    “The guilty plea is a significant win for Amazon’s CCU, but more importantly it’s a win for all of those who share our commitment to tackling the industry-wide issue of counterfeiting,” said Kebharu Smith, director at Amazon’s CCU.

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  • Skechers granted an injunction against Dockers for alleged patent infringement

    Skechers granted an injunction against Dockers for alleged patent infringement

    In August, Skechers sued nonslip shoemaker Laforst Shoes over the alleged infringement of the slip-in-heel design. These shoe styles were the subject of high-profile Super Bowl ads earlier this year featuring Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg, and Skechers says it’s sold millions of pairs of the hands-free shoe.

    On October 5, the Düsseldorf Regional Court in Germany found that Dockers had infringed on one of Skechers’ heel pillow designs, per the Skechers release.

    In a news release on the ruling, Skechers President Michael Greenberg said the company would “continue to aggressively police and enforce” its proprietary rights for the sneaker design.

    “While the ruling can be appealed, we are very pleased that the German court in the first instance acknowledged Skechers’ rights and immediately stopped the sale of the offending shoe style throughout the European Union,” Greenberg said. “Skechers invests tremendous resources into product development to introduce fresh, unique, and exciting footwear to its customers year in and year out.

    While Skechers always prefers to compete in the marketplace rather than the courtroom, the Company has no choice but to seek legal recourse when competitors infringe on our intellectual property rights.”

    Skechers’ legal complaint against Laforst is ongoing, though court documents show the parties have engaged in settlement discussions. As of Sept. 26, a judge in the United States District Court Central District of California gave Skechers 30 days to finalize its settlement with Laforst.

    In April, Skechers settled a patent dispute with French luxury brand Hermès over its Massage Fit sole.

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  • The North Face PARKA Celebrates 50 Years of Exploration

    The North Face PARKA Celebrates 50 Years of Exploration

    The year 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of The North Face’s iconic PARKA, inviting explorers to revisit their adventures in the snow and enjoy the view from the summit.

    Born in 1973, The North Face PARKA Collection was created by professional expeditioners after they conducted tests during their excursions in the Brooks Range. In the past 50 years, the PARKA has accompanied explorers as they scaled high peaks and traversed treacherous glaciers, from exploring the Antarctic and reaching the summit of Everest to speeding down the world’s highest skiing descent and much more, becoming their most trusted companion when they need to “Face the North Face”. To celebrate the PARKA’s 50th anniversary, The North Face presents the new Hmlyn Parka and Triclimate Jacket, fusing cutting-edge technology and classic elements, and paying homage to the spirit of exploration.

    Located at the north side of Mount Everest, “the north face” has always been considered one of the toughest and most challenging mountain routes to conquer. With the determination to “Face The North Face”, we hope to encourage explorers to not only challenge themselves on steep mountains, but also to search within and spread their wings when faced with adversity. The North Face is continuously seeking breakthroughs in innovation, striving to create the best gear and accompany more explorers as they overcome their own “north face”.

    As one of The North Face’s most iconic and proven outdoor exploration items, the PARKA is created with meticulous craftsmanship to demonstrate excellent thermal and protective performance, helping countless explorers withstand even the harshest environments. The new 2023 The North Face Hmlyn Down Parka combines the know-how and technology of the past 50 years. Featuring lofty RDS approved 550-fill goose down, Windwall™️ materials with high windproof functions and a DWR water-repellent finish, the jacket provides the ultimate in functionality for explorers to unleash their potential. In a reinvention of the classic, the design features a collision of black and purple gradients that forms a fashionable silhouette, showcasing explorers’ tenacity and never-give-up spirit.

    In addition, The North Face Triclimate Jacket integrates essences of the brand’s most advanced technology. It adopts a recyclable GORE-TEX material with a water-repellent coating, allowing explorers to navigate the ever changing weather. The jacket also features an adjustable three-piece hood, which ensures a warm head and neck. The unique layering system lets explorers mix and match according to the weather. The outer jacket adopts a DWR water-resistant finish to achieve both windproof and waterproof. The 550-fill down feature on the inner jacket also provides explorers with the ultimate heat-retention. The jackets can be layered or worn separately, so explorers can adjust to severe weather conditions with ease. The Triclimate Jacket can provide maximum warmth for explorers in harsh outdoor circumstances, empowering them to push their limits

    Face the North Face, never stop exploring. Be it outdoor adventures or daily urban explorations, The North Face will accompany explorers’ every journey and capture their most memorable moments. The North Face PARKA Collection is now available at The North Face Concept Stores and Exploration Concept Store. The North Face will continue to adhere to the brand spirit of “Never Stop Exploring”, incorporating innovative design elements into classic designs and embarking on new adventures into the unknown.

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  • Uniqlo to open Rome flagship store at the Galleria Alberto Sordi

    Uniqlo to open Rome flagship store at the Galleria Alberto Sordi

    Uniqlo will open its first store in Rome’s Galleria Alberto Sordi on Via del Corso, a key boulevard in the city’s historical heart, in the spring of next year.

    The new store will feature clothing labels for women, men, and children and have a total sales floor area of more than 1300sqm divided across three floors. Following the opening of its first location in Milan’s Piazza Cordusio in September 2019, this will be Uniqlo’s second store in the country.

    “It is an honour for us to open in the capital of Italy, a city with such a strong cultural heritage, and increase our presence in the Italian market with a store in the Galleria Alberto Sordi, an important retail location that first opened 100 years ago,” said Mark Barnatovic, Uniqlo Italy COO.

    “We look forward to offering our Uniqlo LifeWear, apparel that is created from our Japanese values of quality, simplicity, and longevity and helps improve people’s daily lives, to Uniqlo fans and customers in Italy as well as visitors from abroad.”

    Uniqlo has also increased its presence in India, opening its first store in Mumbai in July, bringing the brand’s total store count in the nation to 11.

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  • Tahi seeks to expand into Australian market

    Tahi seeks to expand into Australian market

    New Zealand-based skincare oil brand Tahi is seeking to expand into the Australian market.

    Tahi’s products, which make use of plant extracts found in native New Zealand forests, are currently sold through stockists Blackbird Goods in Hastings, Infinite / Definite in Christchurch Central, and Wander & Sons in Dunedin.

    Tea and Tonic and Matakana also serve as stockists for the skincare brand.

    “I just researched what those plants had been used for in the past by Māori and others and why, and experimented with them myself – how they felt together, how they smelled together, and the mixture of different things that can benefit people’s skin,” said Jackie Lee, founder of Tahi.

    Lee added that she envisions collaborating with experts to develop blends on a more scientific level as she intends to expand the company’s footprint.

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