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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.

  • Inside Swarovski’s first Asian flagship store, at Shanghai

    Inside Swarovski’s first Asian flagship store, at Shanghai

    Swarovski has just opened its first Asian flagship store in HK Plaza, Shanghai. On the heels of the brand opening its Instant Wonder pop-up boutiques in 27 key locations around the world earlier this year, the Shanghai flagship will welcome customers into Swarovski’s world on a more permanent basis.

    “Throughout the journey of our transformation, we have been working towards a moment like this,” notes CEO Michele Molon, “The moment where guests can not only explore Swarovski products, but immerse themselves in our point of view, our personality, and the experience of intimately understanding the sense of joy and innovation from which each item is created.”

    As one of the key markets of Swarovski — and luxury as a whole — China, in particular the creative hub of Shanghai, feels like the natural place to open the brand’s first flagship in Asia. And this is no normal flagship. Creative Director Giovanna Engelbert sought to create in Wonderlab a place that transports customers into the imaginative world of Swarovski.

    Rooted in brand codes, colors, packaging, and heritage, the Swarovski Wonderlab does just that. “I am incredibly excited to unveil this beautiful space, inspired by the forward-moving landscape of China and her people. It’s the biggest, most ambitious store we’ve made, centimeter by centimeter thought through and brought into reality,” commented Englebert.

    Ambitious isn’t even half of it. Take in the metallic pink of the Wonder Room with a rotating central display and custom Swarovski Swan chairs or the Lucent stairwell which climbs to the Dream Room. Robotic arms nod to the innovation behind Swarovski’s developing offering, standing in stark contrast to the pastel pinks and mesmerizing crystals that define the rest of Wonderlab. The Swarovski Wonderlab is nothing short of a dreamscape in the heart of Shanghai.

    Swarovski’s Shanghai flagship opened on December 10, so be sure to visit for a taste of the future of retail if you’re in Shanghai.

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  • Babeeni’s hand-smocked clothing for children meets diverse tastes

    Babeeni’s hand-smocked clothing for children meets diverse tastes

    Babeeni Co., Ltd satisfies customers from different markets with its designs for dresses, swimwear for children, women and families.

    Established in 2007, Babeeni has been a reputable manufacturer and exporter of children’s clothing in Vietnam. It has a head office at 66 Viet Hung Street, Long Bien District, Hanoi and five factories totaling 150,000 square meters in Hai Duong and Lao Cai provinces.

    With 2,120 employees in hand-embroidery and sewing techniques, as well as advanced machines and production lines, Babeeni meets an annual capacity of around 3 million pieces of all types of clothing for children, women, men and families.

    Target markets mainly include the United States and Europe, along with the Middle East and Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.

    Babeeni‘s clothing products feature an exquisite style with traditional hand-embroidery, hand-smocked patterns and appliqued motifs to meet customer needs. The garments are made of new and high-quality fabric guaranteed to be safe, with cotton certificated from an American origin.

    Besides, Babeeni is capable of meeting custom requests for different types of materials, designs or patterns.

    With the wish for long-term cooperation, Babeeni has product return policy that is ready to give feedback or solutions for merchandiser of the purchaser. Babeeni also provides 24/7 sales, design consulting and logistics services to serve orders with reasonable prices, satisfactory quality and on-time delivery.

    Until now, Babeeni has attracted thousands of customers, most of whom have cooperated with the manufacturer for many years. The company aims to expand into more international markets.

    Duong Thi Phuong Hien (Marry Le) – CEO and founder of Babeen, shared her business philosophy: “Business is not for profit but for promoting happiness and beauty. When you buy Babeeni’s products, you are getting the best from our heart and passion in fashion.”

    If you want to start up your own clothing boutique and have any idea on clothing designs, contact via phone +84-823 776 668 (Whatsapp).

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  • Nike eyes recovery as Vietnam factories reopen

    Nike eyes recovery as Vietnam factories reopen

    Sportswear maker Nike is confident the resumption in production in Vietnam will boost the company’s future recovery.

    “Compared to ninety days ago, we are increasingly confident supply will normalize heading into fiscal 2023” as all factories in Vietnam were operational and production was at about 80 percent of what it was before the closures, finance chief Matthew Friend said.

    Social distancing in Vietnam, where more than half of Nike’s footwear and about a third of its apparel manufacturing occurs, in the July-September period caused the company to cancel production of roughly 130 million units.

    But as the government eased its social distancing regulations early October, its factories have reopened.

    The company forecasts growth to be in the lower single digits for the next quarter because of the continuing impact of lost production from pandemic-related disruptions in Vietnam where an average 18,000 new cases were recorded in the last seven days.

    Friend said Nike will continue to watch the Omicron variant to see what impacts it may bring to production.

    Demand for Nike’s goods continues to outpace supply. The previous quarter, Nike reported a 10-week delay in production because of a lockdown in Vietnam and said it expected flat revenue growth for the November quarter.

    Nike posted a revenue of $11.4 billion in the quarter ending Nov. 30, up 1 percent from the same period a year earlier. Analysts expected revenue of $11.2 billion.

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  • Skechers takes control of Philippines operation

    Skechers takes control of Philippines operation

    Skechers parent, The Comfort Technology Company, has transitioned the operations of the footwear brand in the Philippines from its third-party distributor, Trendworks International, to Skechers USA Philippines.

    The company said the move is to maximize the brand’s growth in the region. Trendworks International will continue to sell Skechers products through the end of this year.

    In addition, Skechers USA Philippines will expand the brand’s presence in the country, opening 10 to 12 additional concept stores during the first half of next year, including those in key department and specialty stores such as Planet Sports and The SM Store.

    “The Philippines has immense potential for Skechers, and with our dedicated team focused on growth and delivering the integrated capabilities of Skechers,” said David Weinberg, COO at Skechers USA. “We believe this step accelerates that potential.

    “With Skechers’ appealing lifestyle collections, groundbreaking comfort innovations and our corporate support, we believe the Philippines can become a key market for us in Southeast Asia.”

    According to Suzette Pasustento, country manager for Skechers USA Philippines, the company is currently under the first phase of re-establishing the brand in the market, including setting up new offices in Manila and opening a distribution centre. The company has also opened its first new store this month.

    “With this new dedicated approach, we will be able to reach more of the 100 million men, women and children in this country and offer them a wider selection of great Skechers products through expanded channels,” said  Pasustento.

    “In 2022, we will introduce new product categories, open more retail locations and expand our door count with new retailers, as well as launch a comprehensive marketing campaign.”

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  • Miniso to rebrand US stores as $10 N’ Under banner to attract Gen Z

    Miniso to rebrand US stores as $10 N’ Under banner to attract Gen Z

    As Chinese discount retailer Miniso opened its 5000th store this week, the company said it would rebrand all of its US stores $10 N’ Under.  The 5000th store is located in Boston, and was one of four US stores to open on the same day. In a statement, the company said its expansion in North America was among its fastest rollout internationally.

    While the company has built a presence in 100 markets since its 2013 debut, the bulk of its network is in Greater China. Expansion in other countries has seen mixed results, but the company says its US strategy of using the $10 N’Under banner is winning over Gen Z consumers.

    “The strong market response towards our $10 N’ Under stores validates our strategy to cater to Gen Z who place a premium on value: they want trendy, quality products at an affordable price,” said Andrew Xie, GM at Miniso North America.

    Existing US Miniso stores will be rebranded by the end of this month, by which time the retailer expects to have 100 stores operating across the country.

    Xie says store deco will be unique to certain US locations. “For instance, its SoHo pop-up in New York City features a wide variety of plush toys and pillows exuding warmth and comfort.”

    Elsewhere in the world, the company plans to continue to expand, but in the statement said it would “proactively respond to changes in different markets” suggesting it is aware its offer may not suit all regions. Outside China, it has stores in the UK, Italy, Spain, India, Mexico, Singapore, Vietnam and Australia, offering products ranging from homewares cosmetics, toys and food.

    Next year it plans to expand its offer to attract Gen Z shoppers, adding scented products, plush toys, and “fun accessories”. “Miniso will localise its product portfolio based on market trends to meet local consumer needs,” said overseas VP Vincent Huang.

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  • L’Oreal buys US vegan brand Youth to the People

    L’Oreal buys US vegan brand Youth to the People

    L’Oreal has added American vegan skincare brand, Youth to the People, to its portfolio of skincare brands.

    Founded in 2015 by two cousins, Greg Gonzalez and Joe Cloyes, the brand is known for formulas that combine premium vegan blends of superfood extracts with science.

    “Its skincare expertise based on healthy, vegan, high-efficacy formulas make it a very strategic addition to L’Oreal Luxe,” said Cyril Chapuy, president of L’Oreal Luxe.

    “The brand’s core values and distinctive spirit reflected in its initiatives to amplify diverse voices, build a fairer world, and enhance consciousness of the planet will be further celebrated at L’Oreal not only because they are precious to us, but because they are very true to our own values.”

    The brand’s investors include Sandbridge Capital, Strand Equity and Carisa Janes. Its products are available across the US, Canada, Australia and selected European countries. The brand is expected to record more than US$50 million of sales this year.

    “We founded Youth to the People to continue our family’s legacy of making skincare and to inspire and represent our community,” said Cloyes and Gonzalez.

    “Joining the L’Oréal family gives us the opportunity to realize all the dreams of Youth to the People.”

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  • Adidas’s biggest brand centre in SEA launches at Sunway Pyramid

    Adidas’s biggest brand centre in SEA launches at Sunway Pyramid

    Adidas Malaysia has unveiled its largest brand center in Southeast Asia at Sunway Pyramid. Spanning 1575sqm and two stories, Adidas Sunway Pyramid worked with renowned Malaysian graphic designer, Valen Lim, to create localized experience zones in the store.  The brand incorporates Malaysian design elements, such as prominent local landmarks in the store interior, representing the Adidas Trefoil logo that mimics an authentic old-school local shop front. Adidas also collaborated with Sunway Pyramid.

    The brand incorporates Malaysian design elements, such as prominent local landmarks in the store interior, representing the Adidas Trefoil logo that mimics an authentic old-school local shop front. Adidas also collaborated with Sunway Pyramid to celebrate the launch with the medal of honor bestowed on Sunway Pyramid’s lion head.

    “The ongoing business expansion journey we are in is in line with our mission to be the best sports brand in Malaysia,” said Sharmin Photographer, country manager at Adidas Malaysia. “Despite the pandemic having been very tough for most of us, we emerge stronger as we continue to persevere with our consumer-first mindset.”

    The brand offers a range of sports performance and sports style products, together with an in-store customization zone.

    Meanwhile, the ‘sustainability zone’, designed to educate consumers on marine plastic pollution, is furnished with structures that are produced using reclaimed wood and recycled yarn to support our commitment.

    “The adidas Brand Center has been designed to meet the needs across all age groups and highlights the breadth and depth of the brand,” said Photographer.

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  • Pandora has no plans to join platforms like Amazon or Farfetch

    Pandora has no plans to join platforms like Amazon or Farfetch

    Jewelry maker Pandora would prefer to invest in physical stores or its own online sales platform rather than join large e-commerce marketplaces like Amazon or Farfetch, its chief executive said on Wednesday.

    “If you’re a small and unknown brand, marketplaces offer a great opportunity, because they provide you with an audience. I already have an audience,” CEO Alexander Lacik said during an interview.

    Pandora, the world’s largest jewelry maker by production capacity, has found a niche between cheaper accessories sold by the likes of H&M and more expensive jewelry like that of Tiffany & Co .

    “Eight out of ten women globally are aware of our brand, so I don’t need to make you aware of me. What I need to do is to show you what I’ve got, and I can to this much better if I have a direct relationship with my customer,” he said.

    The $12.3 billion company, headquartered in Copenhagen, has increased investment in e-commerce during the pandemic. It is present on China’s T-mall platform but not on large global platforms like Amazon or Farfetch.

    “Marketplaces always have to make a compromise for all the clients they are serving. I don’t have to compromise,” he said.

    Pandora’s more than 2,600 physical stores remain the core of its business and accounted for 62% of global sales between July and September.

    “Nearly two-thirds of my customers are men buying jewelry for their girlfriends, wives, grandmothers, or children. And we know that men buying jewelry need help,” he said.

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  • Bimba Y Lola opening in China

    Bimba Y Lola opening in China

    Spanish contemporary fashion label Bimba Y Lola is launching in China with a joint venture with ImagineX, Lane Crawford Joyce Group’s distribution and brand management arm.

    With a corporate office to be set up in Shanghai, the brand aims to establish a retail presence on Alibaba’s Tmall and Tencent’s WeChat, and physical pop-ups by 2022, to ramp up brand awareness and customer following.

    It will be followed by store rollouts, with plans to open 30 points of sale across 15 major cities in China, including Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Chongqing in the next five years.

    Founded in 2005, Bimba Y Lola targets fashion-forward Millennials and Generation Z with ready-to-wear, jewelry, and accessories. It operates more than 290 stores across 20 countries, including the U.K., France, Singapore, and South Korea.

    According to researchers at SEMrush, Bimba Y Lola’s website traffic saw some of the biggest surge pre-pandemic, outperforming traditional retail fashion leaders such as macys.com and online giant Amazon.

    Last month, Madonna’s daughter Lourdes Leon made her fashion campaign debut with the brand’s fall 2021 campaign, a jaunt through a digital landscape.

    Uxia Dominguez, founder and president of Bimba Y Lola, believes that in China, a market of strategic importance yet one that is unique and complex to navigate, ImagineX has the right channels to unlock the potential of the brand.

    Alice Wong, president of ImagineX, thinks that the brand will resonate well with “Chinese consumers, especially the Gen Zs and Millennials.”

    “They have an increasing appetite for international accessible-luxury and affordable brands with cutting edge design, which truly stands out from the crowd,” she added.

    ImagineX manages 25 brands, including Salvatore Ferragamo, Canada Goose, Ba&sh and Club Monaco, with 448 points of sale across 48 cities in the Greater China region.

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  • Uniqlo clothes plans to produce from recycled materials by 2030

    Uniqlo clothes plans to produce from recycled materials by 2030

    Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing says its clothes will be made of 50% recycled materials by 2030 as it works toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

    The goal was announced on Thursday along with other sustainability targets and follows an announcement in February that Fast Retailing is shooting for carbon neutrality by 2050.

    Currently, about 15% of the polyester the apparel maker uses comes from recycled PET bottles. The company says it will start with synthetic fibers such as rayon and nylon as it begins to raise its garments’ recycled materials ratio.

    Fast also articulated its carbon emissions reduction plan toward 2030. In its own operations, the company intends to reduce these emissions by 90% from 2019 levels.

    Improving energy efficiency at its stores will be key as the stores account for the majority of the company’s total emissions. Fast aims to emit 40% less from its roadside stores and 20% less from its stores inside malls.

    It will accelerate its stores’ switch from electricity to renewable energy sources. Currently, 64 Uniqlo stores in nine European countries run on renewable energy. All stores in North America and some in Southeast Asia will follow suit and complete the switch by the end of this fiscal year ending next August, the company said.

    Fast also aims to encourage companies along its supply chain to reduce their emissions. Among its raw material providers and sewing factories, it is shooting for a 20% cut in emissions by 2030, based on 2019 levels.

    It will consider granting financial support to help factories invest in facilities.

    The fashion industry is widely considered the world’s second most polluting industry.

    Fast Retailing Director Koji Yanai told reporters that the company will reduce waste by improving the accuracy of its production volume forecasts and by reforming its logistics operations. It expects these steps to help it sell out of what it makes.

    The casual apparel maker will also collect more used clothes. Yanai said the company hopes to launch a collection service that utilizes the delivery personnel involved in bringing orders to customers’ doors. In Yanai’s vision, when a new jacket is delivered, the customer will be able to hand the driver an old jacket.

    Fast also plans to collaborate more with manufacturers in other industries, including carmakers and building material producers. It and material maker Toray will set up a research facility in 2022 that will specialize in the circulation of apparel and new material development.

    Other apparel brands are moving in the same direction. Patagonia, a U.S.-based maker of outdoor clothing, intends to make its garments with all recycled materials by 2025. Swedish fast-fashion giant Hennes & Mauritz has a 2030 goal for all of its clothing to be made of either recycled or sustainably sourced materials.

    Compared with other brands, Fast’s target is relatively lackluster. “We’re putting our customers first and presenting this as the maximum number our brand can commit to,” Yanai said. “We do not consider our target low.

    “From now on, people will evaluate what kind of responsibility each brand is trying to fulfill after selling clothes.”

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  • Prada sees second-hand fashion as opportunity, weighs partnerships

    Prada sees second-hand fashion as opportunity, weighs partnerships

    Italian fashion group Prada sees opportunity in the booming second-hand fashion sector which it can develop both in-house and through partnerships, marketing chief and heir designate Lorenzo Bertelli said.

    The market for pre-owned chic bags and clothes has surged over the last three years, driven by younger, more environmentally conscious shoppers looking for affordable high-end goods.

    It is expected to reach 33 billion euros ($37.2 billion) in size this year after growing by 65% between 2017 and 2021, according to consultancy Bain. This compares with 12% growth for brand new luxury goods.

    Some rival luxury companies are already exploring the sector. Earlier this year, French conglomerate Kering took a 5% stake in Vestiaire Collective, a leading platform for second-hand clothes and handbags. Kering’s star brand Gucci also formed a partnership with U.S.-based resale platform The RealReal last year.

    “Second hand is a strategy we have been investigating for more than a year,” Lorenzo Bertelli, the eldest son of co-Chief Executives Patrizio Bertelli and Miuccia Prada, and the future brand leader, said in an interview.

    “I cannot disclose too much but for sure second-hand is there. We will take it as an opportunity.

    “It can be a partnership with a player or it can be something more in-house, or both of them, a sort of hybrid solution like for e-commerce,” he said.

    The heir to Prada’s empire, who said he wants to keep the family-controlled group independent when he takes the reins in a few years, doesn’t seem fazed by the future challenges of the ever-changing luxury sector.

    “Rallying and sport, in general, taught me a lot. (It) teaches you to never give up and also a lot of humility, in the sense that you have to learn,” he said. “Sometimes sport is cruel when you want to measure yourself.”

  • Armani banning angora wool from next winter season

    Armani banning angora wool from next winter season

    The Italian luxury company joins a string of brands banning the extremely soft wool removed from live rabbits, under pressure from animal rights organizations and more environmentally conscious shoppers.

    Last month, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) announced that luxury e-commerce platform Farfetch would stop selling angora wool by April 2022.

    The organization launched a campaign years ago to ban angora wool, which is mainly produced in China, describing the techniques used to strip the fur from rabbits as cruel.

    Armani’s move marks another step towards sustainability after the group banned animal fur in 2016 and signed in 2019 the ‘Fashion Pact’ with other major industry players to address climate change, the company said in a statement.

  • Canada Goose under fresh fire in China over no-return policies

    Canada Goose under fresh fire in China over no-return policies

    China’s top consumer protection organization has warned Canada Goose Holdings Inc against “bullying” customers in China with its return policies, just three months after the winterwear brand was fined for false advertising.

    The premium down jacket manufacturer has been a hot topic on Chinese social media in recent days over its handling of a case involving a customer who wanted a refund of her purchases amounting to 11,400 yuan (US$1,790.17) after finding quality issues.

    She said she was told by Canada Goose that all products sold at its retail stores in mainland China were strictly non-refundable, according to her account which went viral online.

    State-backed media such as the Global Times newspaper later cited Canada Goose as denying that it had a no-refund policy and that all products sold at its retail stores in mainland China were refundable in line with Chinese laws. The company did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

    That has not failed to quell criticism of the brand.

    “No brand has any privileges in front of consumers,” the government-backed China Consumer Association (CCA) said in an opinion piece posted on its website on Thursday morning.

    “If you don’t do what you say, regard yourself as a big brand, behave arrogantly and in a superior way, adopt discriminatory policies, be condescending and bully customers, you will for sure lose the trust of consumers and be abandoned by the market,” the CCA said.

    Representatives of the brand were summoned for talks on Wednesday by the Shanghai Consumer Council to explain its refund policy in China.

    The dressing-down of Canada Goose comes as tension between China and Western countries has fuelled patriotism and driven some shoppers to turn to home-grown labels.

    Canada Goose was also fined 450,000 yuan in September in China for “misleading” consumers in its ads.

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  • Hiersun Group unveils stunning 3D store design

    Hiersun Group unveils stunning 3D store design

    Hiersun Group’s jewelry label, I Do, has unveiled the ‘Peaceful Elephant’ I Do Artist store in Wuhan, China, created by AntiStatics Architecture in collaboration with artist Yue Min Jun.

    Located on the Han-river shopping street, I Do Wuhan stands out from its surroundings with a stunning facade featuring a giant diamond structured elephant sculpture and a white wavy installation.

    “The elephant is a symbol of wisdom, strength, and unity,” the design studio said on Facebook. “In the bustling urban environment, we hope that the shape of an elephant within a weathered cave environment will bring people to a primitive and romantic atmosphere.”

    Located in the heart of the store is the world’s tallest 3D printed lattice metal sculpture using parametric design and digital fabrication. The 9-meter tall artwork features Minjun’s signature laughing figure sitting on an elephant’s back, spanning two floors through a central core.

    The 250sqm retail space is light and airy with what the designers describe as “fluid ribbons of robotically milled formwork continuously wrapping the space, and further enveloping the visitors within a warm embrace”. A cave-like space is carved out of the interiors wrapping the visitors in a continuously fluid environment and drawing people through the floor plan.

    Jewelry displays are designed with diamond crystal structures. The twisting staircase leads customers to the second floor, which houses a minibar and a VIP commission area.

  • Ebay secures focus on sneaker market with authenticator acquisition

    Ebay secures focus on sneaker market with authenticator acquisition

    eBay Inc. and Sneaker Con Digital have entered into a definitive agreement under which eBay has acquired Sneaker Con’s authentication business, a sneaker authenticator with operations in the U.S., U.K, Canada, Australia and Germany.

    The company said in a statement that this acquisition is an extension of the ongoing collaboration between eBay and Sneaker Con, which has been critical to powering eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee. The service, which eBay launched in October 2020, offers full vetting and verification of select sneakers bought on the marketplace by a team of Sneaker Con’s industry experts. In just over a year, more than 1.55 million sneakers have been authenticated globally on eBay.

    “We partnered with Sneaker Con to launch sneaker authentication on eBay last year because the team shared our passion for the category. The response to our authentication offering has been overwhelming, and this acquisition allows us to continue to transform eBay and bring a higher level of trust and confidence to every transaction,” said Jordan Sweetnam, SVP and general manager of eBay North America.

    The company added that eBay will continue to build upon its offerings to accommodate resale market trends and ensure a seamless user experience that provides the community with a trusted marketplace.

    “We respect eBay’s commitment to the sneaker culture and are honored that Sneaker Con’s authentication business will be incorporated into their platform,” added Brad Fried, the company’s co-founder.

    Conceived in 2009, Sneaker Con has cultivated a global community of sneaker enthusiasts through its industry-leading events, where people gather to buy, sell and trade sought-after footwear. Sneaker Con launched its authentication business in 2018 to complement the events business and provide authentication services to further support the sneaker community.

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