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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.

  • Outdoor Venture unveils new retail concept

    Outdoor Venture unveils new retail concept

    Despite COVID-19 restrictions, there is plenty to do outdoors and plenty to do in Scouting. The Chief Cornplanter Council of the BSA and Chapman State Park are sponsoring a Cub Scout Outdoor Venture from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday. The event is intended to give families a feel for the kinds of activities Scouts participate in, District Executive Jim Shaw said. And, “we’re trying to show people you can still do things outdoors.

    Chapman Dam is such a great asset. It’s amazing how beautiful it is and how many different things they can do.”

    “We’ll have a treasure hunt geocache,” he said. “Knot-tying, tree identification nature hike, archery, boating, fishing, and field games like capture-the-flag and tug-o-war.”

    The Martz Observatory is providing a solar scope. There is a special filter on the telescope that will allow visitors to look directly at the magnified sun. Most of the events will be ongoing from 2 to 6, but some, like geocaching and the guided hikes, will follow a schedule.

    “You can bring the whole family,” Shaw said. “Everybody’s welcome. No charge.”

    The registration area will be located in the pavilion nearest the spillway. Visitors should take the left turn at the park entrance, cross the bridge at the spillway, and turn into the first parking lot. There will be signs to help with navigation.

    Families are welcome to sign up youngsters for Scouting. Anyone who signs up will be entered into drawings for door prizes, Shaw said.

    Precautions against the spread of respiratory illness will be taken, according to Shaw. Masks will be available for those who do not bring them. Social distancing will be maintained. Hand sanitizer will be available at each station and Scouts and volunteers will wipe down equipment between each use.

  • China’s Miniso makes it’s Parisian debut

    China’s Miniso makes it’s Parisian debut

    MINISO, the Japanese-inspired lifestyle product retailer, opened its inaugural outlet in Paris today. The first store to open in Europe since the company’s successful listing on the New York Stock Exchange earlier this month, it signals continued global expansion for the brand as retail rebounds in Europe.

    Two more store openings are planned in France for this year, and MINISO aims to open additional locations in 2021. The retailer offers around 2,000 creative and low-priced goods ranging from creative home necessities, health and beauty products, fashion accessories and stylish gifts to office supplies, boutique package decorations, digital accessories, as well as food and seasonal products.

    Luxury bargains for fashion-forward consumers

    Shoppers in the chic District 8 now have the choice to purchase sleek goods without worrying about the price tag. Located on 58 Rue de la Chaussée-d’Antin, MINISO’s new store is within walking distance of Paris’ luxury stores, and offers more than 80% of its well-designed, quality products priced at under 10 euros.

    Before officially bringing its international aesthetic to the global fashion capital, MINISO first caught Parisians’ attention by debuting 40 original products at the Manson & Objet Fair last September. Almost exactly one year later, the brand was introduced to the French market by seasoned retail businessman Jonathan Siboni, the President of Luxurynsight.

    “Following much anticipation, I am thrilled to bring MINISO to French consumers. MINISO was a love-at-first-sight story for me at the Maison & Objet Fair last year,” said Siboni. “From the start, Ye Guofu’s vision has been generous and consistent, with an accent on customer experience. We have solid evidence that only being a visionary in retail can lead to also becoming a giant in digital. I was set on bringing this popular brand to the French market the moment I saw their stylish yet affordable products together with their advanced store management, and even more so determined after visiting dozens of MINISO stories throughout Europe.”

    MINISO, too, shares that excitement and eagerly looks forward to bringing its successful brand to France.

    “For MINISO, the French market is one of the most important and influential markets in Europe and across the world. Through our close collaboration with Mr Siboni and his team, we plan to open two other stores in Paris by the end of this year, said Edward Zhu, MINISO regional director. “We are confident that French consumers will increasingly fall in love with the thousands of affordable, quality products that MINISO has to offer.

    International design influence

    In 2018, the company established the MINISO Design Academy (MDA) in order to create more high-quality products that skillfully blend creativity and practicality. As of this June 30, the MDA has teamed up with 25 external partners and 49 brilliant designers from Finland, Denmark, Norway, Spain and South Korea. Their work has won 28 renowned international design awards such as the iF, Red Dot and ‘K Design’. The company is also continuously searching for and cultivating young designers with its MINISO Design Day, participating in art fairs and holding design competitions.

    MINISO opened its first store in Guangzhou, China, in 2013. Following seven years of rapid growth, MINISO has now opened more than 4,200 stores in over 80 countries and regions, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Spain, UAE, India, and Mexico. Earlier this month, MINISO listed on the NYSE, becoming the fastest budget chain to go public.

  • Strong third quarter arrests LVMH’s sales decline for the year

    Strong third quarter arrests LVMH’s sales decline for the year

    Luxury items and liquor-retail group LVMH recorded a 21-per-cent decline in income throughout the first 9 months of this year in what it describes as a “very turbulent environment” in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The decline in sales – 30.3 billion euros – largely occurred throughout the first two quarters of the three, with the decline recovering to an extra modest 7 percent in the third quarter, largely pushed by rebounding sales of cognac, vogue, and leather-based items. This was particularly sturdy in the US and Asia.

    Liquor sales fell 15 percent over the 9 months and three percent over the third quarter, whereas sales of vogue and leather-based items, led by Louis Vuitton and Dior, have been down by 11 percent for the full 9 months however surged at a double-digit rate in the third quarter. 

    Covid-19 noticed the suspension of the worldwide journeys and the closure of the group’s shops and manufacturing websites in most nations over an interval of a number of months.

    Sales in its watches & jewelry division led by Tag Heuer, Bulgari and Chaumet, declined by 30 percent in the first 9 months, however, a rebound in China throughout the third quarter was inadequate to arrest a general decline of 14 percent for the full interval.

    LVMH’s selective retailing division skilled a 31-per-cent drop in sales throughout the 9 months. The beauty-retail chain Sephora demonstrated “good resilience during the health crisis,” in keeping with the firm regardless of the closure of virtually all its shops globally for almost two months earlier than sales improved in the third quarter.

    Strong online sales noticed Sephora develop market share throughout its major markets. However, DFS predictably noticed a big decline in its exercise in most locations because of the suspension of a worldwide journey.

  • BlackPink’s Lisa becomes M.A.C’s new global brand ambassador

    BlackPink’s Lisa becomes M.A.C’s new global brand ambassador

    MAC Cosmetics just announced its newest Global Brand Ambassador as none other than Lalisa Manoban, otherwise known as Lisa. You know the Thai rapper and dancer as 1/4 of the record-breaking K-pop group BLACKPINK, and her new beauty gig is not only exciting for Blinks, but it’s also the first time a female K-pop star will front an international MAC campaign.

    If you’re new to K-pop or BLACKPINK — first, check out the group’s Netflix documentary — you should know that Lisa is more than just a musical sensation and dancing queen; she’s also a fashion trendsetter who loves to experiment with makeup.

    When it comes to her personal beauty philosophy, the performing artist says she’s always loved MAC makeup, and she aligns with the brand’s focus on self-expression. “To me, beauty is confidence,” Lisa said. “I think beauty comes from one’s confident inner self and one’s attitude — makeup and styling are the cherries on top.”

    Whether she’s performing at Coachella, dancing in a Selena Gomez music video, or sitting front row at Fashion Week, Lisa always serves up a different look. However, in her real life, she favors low-key glam. “I usually enjoy natural makeup,” she tells us, adding that she has a delicate prescription for leveling up her look. “I like to start with a simple base and finish with slightly bolder lip color to add some vibrance. Especially for lip makeup, I like to make an ombré lip that naturally gradates by tapping from the center of my lips.”

    For obvious reasons, MAC is thrilled about Lisa joining the legacy cosmetics brand as its Global Ambassador. Describing her as an “unparalleled talent” with “bold, fashion-forward style,” the company couldn’t imagine a more perfect match. “Always confident and never one to shy away from risks, she embodies our commitment to celebrating individuality and self-expression above all else,” explained Senior Vice President and Global Creative Director, Drew Elliot. “We can’t wait for her fans to see what she has in store for them through our collaboration.”

    As for what we can expect, Lisa says that the partnership will pay homage to her fellow BLACKPINK members as well as the millions of Blinks who have supported the group over the years. “My BLACKPINK members and our fans are my driving forces,” she explains of her humble motivation to keep growing as an artist, both on and offstage. “Thank you for always being there for me through all the happiest and the saddest moments. I am truly grateful.”

  • The Rise of Global Fashion Apps

    The Rise of Global Fashion Apps

    The past year has seen massive changes in the way that fashion retail stores operate and how customers approach retail shopping. The usual routine of visiting shops and trying on clothes is losing popularity and is slowly being replaced by a digital alternative.

    When Apple said, “There’s an app for that” nearly a decade ago, even they couldn’t have predicted just how influential mobile apps would become in our day to day lives.

    Mobile app development has exploded in the last ten years, meaning that your average smartphone user now has access to a massive range of apps from a multitude of sports and health trackers, to a games library that features everything from tiny indie games to rapidfire games of KO Poker, to the seemingly impossible Human to Cat Translator.

    With global e-commerce on the rise, one area of app development which is seeing significant growth is fashion apps that let customer digitally try on clothes before buying them, amongst other features.

    Fashion, as a whole, is increasingly turning to digital opportunities to offset a drop in retail sales. Dominican fashion designer Oscar de la Renta recently announced a partnership with Amazon to design for its Luxury Stores experience. Armani, on the other hand, have opened a traveling pop-up store on China’s Hainan Island that allows customers a “sensorial and playful immersion” and the opportunity to make their own film clips.

    What Are Fashion Apps?

    Broadly, fashion apps can be split into three categories of experience; discovery apps, personal shopping apps, and multiple-merchant apps.

    Discovery Apps

    Discovery apps allow customers to emulate the experiences of browsing through multiple stores looking for inspiration. These apps often don’t include a sales function; instead, they are a form of interactive advertising and social media.

    Some discovery apps also allow the user to virtually try on clothes, using their phone camera and technology similar to Snapchat’s filters to make it look like they are wearing a particular outfit.

    Examples of discovery apps include ShopStyle, which works a little like a Pinterest board for fashion, and The Hunt, which allows users to hunt out second-hand fashion clothing items.

    Personal Shopping Apps

    Personal shopping apps do pretty much what they say on the tin, giving the user the same personalized shopping experience that they might enjoy in high-end retail stores but from the comfort of their own home.

    An excellent example of this kind of app is Lookiero. Lookiero allows a user to upload a picture and some personal specifications. They will then be sent five clothing items, chosen specifically for them, which they can try on at home and return if they don’t like.

    Multiple-Merchant Apps

    Multiple-merchant, or universal shopping cart apps, mean users don’t have to hop between multiple shopping apps or websites in order to get their fashion fix. They can use the app to browse the inventory of merchants and then purchase and checkout from a single cart.

    The largest and most well known of these apps is Lyst, which gives its users access to thousands of different stores in one place.

    What Do Fashion Apps Offer?

    Obviously, different fashion apps offer different experiences, ranging from enjoying the services of a personal shopper to spending the day going from shop to shop looking for some inspiration.

    Some apps may be as simple as creating a wish-list of fashion products from multiple vendors. In contrast, others offer more complex services, such as digital try-ons, either by using cameras or sending products to your home, and multi-vendor shopping.

     

    However, taken as a collective, fashion apps replace an in-person experience that people are moving away from by offering new and exciting digital services that customers can access and use from their own homes.

     

    By adapting to changing circumstances in the global retail environment, fashion apps allow both retailers and customers to stay connected and, to an extent, replace some of the experience of in-person shopping.

     

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  • Uniqlo opens massive store in Hamburg

    Uniqlo opens massive store in Hamburg

    Japan’s Fast Retailing Co. Ltd. opened Friday (October 9, 2020) its first Uniqlo store in Hamburg on Alter Wall adjacent to City Hall during festivities attended by Japanese Consul General Kikuko Kato and Astrid Nissen-Schmidt, Vice President of Hamburg’s Chamber of Commerce, and other guests. The new 1,750 square metre-store is spread out over four floors.

    The opening of the huge store in downtown Hamburg is an expression of the “belief in retail”, the daily Hamburger Abendblatt quoted Michelle Kronbergs, Head of Marketing and PR Germany at Uniqlo, as saying. Taku Morikawa, Chief Executive Officer of Uniqlo in Europe, stressed: “Hamburg is an impressive city known worldwide for its tolerance, culture and economic importance as a main European trading centre with its port. We are delighted to have found such an exceptional location for our first store in the heart of this great city.”

    The new fashion store, Uniqlo’s tenth in Germany, is located in the former premises of the Bucerius Kunst Forum. The brand highlights Japanese values of “simplicity, quality and durability”.  Since moving to Germany in 2014, Uniqlo has opened six stores in Berlin and one each in Stuttgart, Düsseldorf and Cologne. The company operates more than 2,200 stores in 25 countries.

    Uniqlo is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fast Retailing Co. Ltd, a leading international Japanese apparel retail group that designs, manufactures and sells eight major fashion labels. Fast Retailing achieved global turnover of more than USD 21.5 billion in 2019 making it one of the world’s largest clothing companies and Japan’s biggest fashion brand.

  • Vietnam fashion house Icon Denim to expand abroad

    Vietnam fashion house Icon Denim to expand abroad

    ICON DENIM Co., Ltd. officially launched its first store at 12-12 Bis Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

    ICON DENIM brand was established in 2017, with the desire to bring the brand fashion closer to Vietnamese men. After 2019, ICON DENIM opened 3 large Flagship stores (showrooms) located in the front of the central districts: such as the store at Cach Mang Thang Tam Street – the junction of Phu Dong near New World Hotel, store at Su Van Hanh street – the busiest entertainment street for young people, store at Le Van Sy – the biggest fashion street in the city. The floor square of Flagship stores is from 150m2 to more than 200m2 to create a spacious and comfortable shopping area for customers. Founders of ICON DENIM Mr.

    Over the past year, ICON DENIM has affirmed its brand position, as well as created its own core values for the Vietnamese fashion communities. Aiming at the mid-range segment, ICON DENIM focuses on the “real value” of products, targeting customers who tend to shop for brands whose product prices are equivalent to the actual quality of goods. The models are diverse and are always in tune with world fashion trends. The company has ambition to create “real value” products in designing beautiful, trendy and diversified products; create high-quality, durable to high-end products with reasonable prices and value for money. That is ICON DENIM’s strategy in branding in the branded fashion market.

    To keep up with market trends, ICON DENIM always researches trend reports and consumer behavior reports of the industry to better understand the fashion needs of customers and listen to customers’ opinions. Since then, ICON DENIM has adjusted and developed its products to follow the market demand. Therefore, each month, this brand launches about 80 to 100 designs that follow the world’s trends, corresponding to thousands of products ranging from shirts, pants, accessories etc.

    With many years of experiences in the fashion industry and having a unique view on the fashion market, Mr. Tran Dai Duong – CEO of ICON DENIM said that the company is determined to build a men’s fashion brand with much diversity and differences in Vietnam. “Our key message is “Restyle. Reborn “is also the mission of ICON DENIM now as well as in the future – not only to become the choice of young Vietnamese people but also to reach to the level of international fashion brands.”

    The year 2020 also witnessed ICON DENIM’s efforts to perfect the Manufacturing Process, from design, production to image and display of the store. ICON DENIM always had a methodical process and strict control. With all dedication, when entering to any stores of ICON DENIM, customers will feel the difference of trendy fashion designs, new top styles, exclusive and the sincerity and enthusiasm given from each employee.

    Through a year of challenges and opportunities, ICON DENIM has been striving every day to improve its position in the hearts of customers. In Vietnam, in 2021, the brand will continue to open 4-5 stores in Ho Chi Minh City, and also expand to Hai Phong, Hanoi. The brand is also preparing to set up the first base for development in potential Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore etc.

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  • H&M recycles old garments into new clothes

    H&M recycles old garments into new clothes

    Fast fashion chain H&M wants to turn discarded clothes into something new to wear again — within five hours. The Sweden-based retailer is about to start giving consumers at its Stockholm store the option to turn in used garments that it will then transform into one of three different clothing items.

    Once the program begins Monday, customers will be able to bring in a garment they don’t want, which will be cleaned and put into a machine called Looop. The machine will disassemble it, shredding it into fibers that are then used to create new clothing. The effort comes amid a rising volume of global clothing waste and growing concern over fast fashion’s contribution to it.

    H&M is unveiling a garment-to-garment recycling system called Looop at its store in Stockholm. The company said the recycling process, which can handle more than one garment at a time, doesn’t use water or chemicals and sometimes might need “sustainably sourced” raw materials added in, but it hopes to make “this share as small as possible.”

    The entire process takes about five hours and is visible to shoppers. For now, customers can choose one of three items to be made — a sweater, a baby blanket or a scarf for a fee of $11 to $16.

    “We are looking to expand the range available as we get to know Looop better,” the company said in an email.

    The Looop machine dissembles old clothing, shreds it, turns it into yarn, which then is used to make new clothing. H&M said the system is currently only available in Sweden, where H&M is based. It declined to reveal what future plans it may have to expand Looop, if any. While the Looop system could help spread awareness about clothing waste and recycling, for now, it lacks the scale to make any widespread impact on the volume of clothing waste generated annually.

    According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s website, 16.9 million tons of textile waste was generated in the United States in 2017, the latest data available. The recycling rate was just 15.2 percent, with 2.6 million tons recycled.

    “Fast fashion has had an impact on this because so much of the clothing is not well constructed or made with synthetic materials that can’t be easily recycled,” said Jackie King, executive director of the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association, a trade group for the textile recycling industry.

    H&M and other fast fashion sellers like Zara have taken some steps to curtail textile waste.

    In 2013, H&M launched a global garment collecting program in all of its stores and has set a goal of having all clothing sold in its stores be made from recycled or sustainably sourced materials by 2030. That figure currently stands at 57%, according to the company.

    Similarly, customers can drop off used clothing, footwear and accessories in more than 1,300 Zara stores. Last year, Zara announced that all of the cotton, linen and polyester used by the company will be organic, sustainably sourced or recycled by 2025.

    “One of the biggest drivers of clothing overconsumption are fast-fashion sellers,” said Deborah Drew, analyst and social impact lead with the global research non-profit World Resources Institute. “Large companies like H&M and Zara can have a really big, transformational impact on the industry and on consumers if they lead the way in facilitating change.”

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  • Carmaker Hyundai launches fashion collection from up-cycled waste

    Carmaker Hyundai launches fashion collection from up-cycled waste

    Hyundai Motor has announced the launch of its sustainable fashion collection – Re:Style 2020 – created by upcycling discarded automotive waste materials from manufacturing and scrapping processes.

    The company says it has taken a creative approach to sustainable fashion by converting auto waste into marketable products in collaboration with artists – Alighieri, E.L.V. DENIM, Public School, pushBUTTON, Richard Quinn, and Rosie Assoulin.

    The eco-friendly fashion collection features a variety of products such as jewelry, jumpsuits, working vests, bags, and various other clothing. For example, Alighieri created a collection of necklaces, chokers, and bracelets with repurposed car seatbelts, car glass, and foam materials. A work vest with pockets has been made using airbag materials by pushBUTTON. The collection also includes a tote bag made of seatbelt webbings, carpet fabrics, and foam, designed by Rosie Assoulin.

    The idea behind Hyundai’s ‘Re:Style 2020’ has been to make use of waste materials from the auto scrapping process that ultimately ends up in landfills. Though materials such as iron and nonferrous metals are currently recycled as part of the scrapping process, some other materials such as leather, glass, and airbags cannot be. It was these leftovers that were sent to the collaborative partners of the fashion collection.

    The sales of sustainable fashion products will begin on October 13 at London’s Selfridges pop-up store and Selfridges online store. Proceeds from the sales will go towards the British Fashion Council’s Institute of Positive Fashion.

    Hyundai says that by demonstrating that discarded resources can be reimagined into valuable products, the company aims to encourage other industries to see waste as a recreative opportunity. “(And) work collaboratively toward an environmentally accountable and economically efficient future,” says Wonhong Cho, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer of Hyundai Motor Company.

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  • Hong Kong jewellery veterans receive top JNA honours

    Hong Kong jewellery veterans receive top JNA honours

    Lawrence Ma and Kent Wong, longstanding pillars of the global jewelry industry, are the Recipients of JNA Awards 2020’s highest accolade – the Lifetime Achievement Award.

    Recognized for helping shape and transform not only Hong Kong’s jewelry industry but that of the global jewelry community, Ma and Wong dedicated their lives to finding new ways to create a richer, more sustainable, and forward-thinking jewelry sector. Their bold ambitions and vision went beyond simple profit-making; they endeavored to affect positive change within their organizations and the communities they serve through leadership and action.

    The JNA Awards’ spotlight will shine on Ma, Chief Executive Officer of Lee Heng Diamond Group, and Wong, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, during the much-anticipated virtual awards ceremony, which will be broadcast live at 8pm (Hong Kong time) on 27 October — the first day of the first edition of the three-day B2B virtual event, Jewellery & Gem Digital World (J&G Digital World).

    “Lawrence and Kent are both legendary figures who have thrived through the many ups and downs of the jewelry industry in the last four decades. They have undoubtedly achieved commercial success for their respective organizations, but what makes them truly stand out are their tremendous contributions to the growth and prosperity of Hong Kong’s jewelry industry, all of which have had a massive impact and influence on jewelry hubs around the world. It is indeed a great honor and privilege to celebrate their lifetime achievements by conferring them the highest accolade of the JNA Awards,” said Letitia Chow, Chairperson & Founder of JNA Awards at Informa Markets – Jewellery.

    Lawrence Ma

    Starting his career in the jewelry industry four decades ago, Ma founded MaBelle Jewelry in the early 1990s, a diamond jewelry brand that speaks to a broader market comprising largely of aspirational consumers. This initiative also marked a turning point in the long-term vibrancy of Hong Kong’s diamond jewelry retailing industry.

    A founding president and current chairman of the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong (DFHK), Ma was instrumental in the promotion and implementation of ground-breaking initiatives that fortified Hong Kong’s unique position as a global diamond and jewellery trading centre. He also led the charge in creating a culture of integrity and excellence in the city’s jewelry market, which to this day, remains the operational guidepost for every jewelry retailer in Hong Kong.

    Commenting on the award, Ma said, “I am overwhelmed and excited to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the JNA Awards this year. I have been very blessed and privileged to be surrounded by loving family members, brilliant mentors, capable and loyal colleagues, and partners, as well as genuine and caring friends. I appreciate the great contributions and achievements of all previous recipients of this honor and I am delighted to be one of them. I promise to keep on doing what I believe is vital in my life journey: To bring the best out of myself and of all the incredible people around me.”

    Kent Wong

    Wong has devoted himself to the industry and company for over four decades, joined Chow Tai Fook in 1977 as an apprentice, and promoted to Managing Director in 2011. As the key advocator, he drives the evolution into an exciting, innovative, diversified, and trend-setting Group. Under his leadership, Chow Tai Fook being the first Hong Kong -based Jewellery group to open the first store in Mainland China in 1998 and further expanded its global presence, he successfully turned the business from a homegrown brand to a modern and progressive enterprise, now, with over 4,000 points of sale around the world.

    Indeed, his bold leadership style and open-minded tone not only made the Group’s transformation possible, also broke new and innovative grounds that benefited the industry and customer as a whole. In the 2000s, as an industry first, the Group is spearheading the digital revolution of the industry by enlisting patented Smart Tray with RFID, blockchain technology diamond grading report that serves as brilliant examples to win the customers’ trust.

    Wong is a courageous trailblazer who dedicated most of his life to the advancement of the jewelry industry. He serves as chairman of the Hong Kong Jewellers’ & Goldsmiths’ Association, chairman of the supervising committee of the Hong Kong & Kowloon Jewellers’ & Goldsmiths’ Employees’ Association Ltd, a permanent honorable president of the Kowloon Gold Silver and Jewel Merchants’ Staff Association and a board member of the World Diamond Council.

    “I am very honored and grateful to be the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you JNA Awards for this prestigious tribute. Having spent 43 years in an industry that I love, I am immensely proud and humbled to have not only witnessed the incredible developments within our industry but also to have worked alongside so many inspiring individuals in our community. Let us all continue to shine on and share the exquisite beauty and joy of jewelry to the world,” Wong said.

    The prestigious JNA Awards was launched by Informa Markets Jewellery in 2012. Serving as a benchmark of excellence, innovation, and best business practices in the jewelry industry, the Awards celebrates the achievements of exceptional individuals and companies whose actions have a far-reaching and positive impact on the global jewelry trade and society, regardless of their scale of operations, areas they serve and fields of expertise.

    JNA Awards 2020 is supported by Headline Partners Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Shanghai Diamond Exchange, and DANAT, alongside Honoured Partners KGK Group and Guangdong Land (Shenzhen) Limited.

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  • Lancome opens smart store at Lotte Duty Free

    Lancome opens smart store at Lotte Duty Free

    Lancome has introduced a smart store in partnership with Lotte Duty-Free, occupying a 520sqm space and featuring contactless digital experiences with AR and AI.

    The smart store also houses a selection of skincare and makeup products, including the Advanced Genifique serum.

    The Lancome x Lotte Duty-Free Smart Store in Seoul is a co-creation of a fully integrated physical and digital experience, and a re-imagination of the brand’s relationship with travelers through dynamic, beauty tech innovations, according to Emmanuel Goulin, MD at L’Oreal Travel Retail Asia Pacific.

    Lancome has introduced its first augmented-reality makeup service Modiface, allowing customers to try on beauty products via a virtual mirror from an iPad or by scanning QR codes. The store also houses a giant Advanced Genifique serum LED bottle, featuring personalized engraving service.

    “Lotte’s partnership with Lancome Travel Retail Asia Pacific was a natural one,” said Kap Lee, CEO at Lotte Duty Free. “Both organisations saw technology’s potential to offer the travel retail industry a solution for recovery and growth –– all while offering consumers exciting digital innovations as part of a reinvented travel retail experience.”

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  • H&M India sales face first profit decline ever

    H&M India sales face first profit decline ever

    Though H&M reported lower sales during the nine-month from December 2019-August 2020 loss, it returned to profitability in September as sales recovered in many of its markets. The brand’s sales decline narrowed to 5 percent year-on-year in September. Currently, 166 of its stores are closed, although a large number of stores have opened with local restrictions and limited opening hours.

    From June-August, net sales of the Swedish fashion retail giant fell by 16 percent in local currencies to SEK50.87 billion. Its gross profit for the quarter dropped to SEK24.85 billion from SEK31.81 billion in the prior year’s Q3it. This corresponds to a gross margin of 48.9 percent.

    Profit after financial items was SEK 2.36 billion. Excluding IFRS 16, profit after financial items plunged to SEK2.26 billion from SEK5 billion. The brand’s sales during the nine-month period were significantly affected by the COVID-19 situation. Its net sales fell to SEK134.48 billion from SEK171 billion a year ago as Q2 included the height of the pandemic.

    The company made a loss of SEK1.613 billion during the nine months and a net loss of SEK1.24 billion. Excluding IFRS 16, its loss was SEK1.847 billion, much worse that the profit of SEK11.98 billion a year earlier.

    The firm is on a recovery trajectory even though it’s far from business-as-usual as fashion sales remain challenged globally.

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  • Tse Sui Luen warns of loss due to Covid-19 outbreak

    Tse Sui Luen warns of loss due to Covid-19 outbreak

    Tse Sui Luen (TSL) has warned it will report a loss for the fiscal year, with sales hampered by a sluggish retail environment in greater China.

    The Hong Kong-based jeweler expects a loss of at least HKD 80 million ($10.3 million) for the year ending March 31, it said last week. That compares with a profit of HKD 54 million ($7 million) the previous year. The company based the projection on its performance during the first 11 months of the fiscal year.

    The slowdown, which began in July, is the result of a number of factors including the US-China trade war and prolonged social unrest in Hong Kong, TSL said. The COVID-19 outbreak has also impacted sales.

    “The coronavirus outbreak in January 2020 has taken a heavy toll on the retail industry, dealing a severe blow to the Hong Kong and mainland China economies,” the company noted. “The group’s turnover was [affected] further by the weakest overall sales in February 2020, the traditional peak season of the retail industry…which is expected to drop by approximately 88% year on year.”

    In an effort to cut costs, TSL has negotiated rent reductions with landlords, and plans to close some of its stores, it added.

    The company will publish its full-year results by the end of June.

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  • Uniqlo joins Zara, H&M in tackling waste problem

    Uniqlo joins Zara, H&M in tackling waste problem

    In an effort to help the homeless restart their lives, UNIQLO Malaysia recently launched a clothing corner at Kuala Lumpur’s Homeless Transit Centre (Pusat Transit Gelandangan KL), a government initiative to help those on the streets get back on their feet. With the help of the centre, those who seek jobs can access proper attire as they embark on their new lives

    The clothes include casual wear, sports attire, and workwear – all of which are donated by UNIQLO’s customers.

    Many praised the company for its initiative in restoring hope for those in need

    UNIQLO’s All-Product Recycling Initiative encourages customers to donate old clothing, which is then recycled into new products

    If the clothes are wearable, they will be donated to refugees, disaster victims, and the underprivileged.

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  • Berluti opens first Malaysian store in KL

    Berluti opens first Malaysian store in KL

    French men’s fashion house Berluti has opened Malaysia’s first store in Kuala Lumpur in partnership with Indonesian retail firm Time International.

    Located at Suria KLCC, the Berluti store occupies a 105sqm space, offering a selection of men’s shoes, leather goods, ready-to-wear and accessories.

    The store’s facade features a wooden-patterned wall and a display box showing the latest Berluti collection. The interior design uses a warm brown beige palette to highlight the masculinity elements.

    “The ‘full-grain’ club ambiance flawlessly complements the speakeasy reference of the Patina Wall, a genuine ode to Berluti’s savoir-faire,” the company said in a statement.

    “This store shows our commitment to build and expand the brand’s presence in Malaysia and celebrate the iconic French brand with our clients,” said Irwan Danny Mussry, president and CEO of Time International.

    The store also houses the Fall/Winter 2020 ready-to-wear and accessories collection and the Maison’s first patterned canvas collection designed by Artistic Director Kris Van Assche.

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