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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.

  • Swarovski opens Crystal Studio concept store in KL, Malaysia

    Swarovski opens Crystal Studio concept store in KL, Malaysia

    Swarovski has launched Southeast Asia’s first Crystal Studio concept store, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Located in Mid Valley Megamall, the store offers interactive digital touchpoints throughout the store, including shop window screens and interactive tablets.

    Designed by Patricia Urquiola, the store concept “follows the last store redesign 10 years ago and heralds a new phase in Swarovski’s differentiated approach to the retail experience,” the company said.

    “The new Swarovski retail concept truly puts consumers at the center,” said Michele Molon, EVP omnichannel and commercial Oo/erations. “We are breaking the traditional distance between staff and customers, facilitating an interactive and continuous dialogue with them.”

    The store theme color is an incorporation of a warm color palette and Swarovski’s signature blue. Crystal Studio Malaysia houses a Crystal Bar, a station where customers can view new products with in-store experts.

    “Innovation, creativity, and the customer are at the core of this exciting new store concept,” said Robert Buchbauer, chairman and CEO, consumer goods business.

    “Before we started working on the aesthetics, we focused on functionality, with the ambition being to meet the digital demands of our consumers while offering them a unique and immersive brand and shopping experience,” he said.

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  • Arc’teryx Shanghai opens first global flagship

    Arc’teryx Shanghai opens first global flagship

    Performance apparel brand Arc’teryx has opened its first global flagship store in Shanghai, its largest store to date.

    Called the Arc’teryx Alpha Center, the store occupies an 8000sqft area, offering what the brand describes as an “experiential design and apparel from each of the brand’s performance, lifestyle, and Veilance collections”.

    “We wanted to create a shopping experience that was unique not only to our brand but also to our customers as well,” said Megan Cheesbrough, VP of Retail, Arc’teryx. “As a brand, we want to encourage everyone to enjoy the outdoors, and with this in mind, we’ve decided to bring the outdoors in by incorporating the concept of hut-to-hut touring into our store design.”

    The flagship features four different experiential huts. The Hardshell Hut is located at the store’s front, featuring a triangular kaleidoscope LED screen displaying views of the sweeping Canadian mountain landscape. The Gore-tex Hut features a “rain room,” allowing customers to try on and water-test the technical functions of Gore-tex products.

    While the Hardgoods Hut houses a selection of the brand’s hardgoods, the Brand Hut features a virtual reality module that changes seasonally, a community lounge, and an events board.

    “We want to create an unparalleled shopping experience at Arc’teryx Alpha Center, and one of the ways we could do this is to offer a selection of different products serving different purposes, all in one space,” said Cheesbrough. “Whether you’re looking for a pair of trail running shoes and a climbing harness, or an insulated hardshell and an urban-style coat, we want Arc’teryx to be available to everyone.”

    Arc’teryx operates 30 retail stores across China – 22 branded stores and seven factory outlets.

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  • Bossini results in freefall as Covid-19 hits the entire fashion industry

    Bossini results in freefall as Covid-19 hits the entire fashion industry

    Covid-19 has increased Hong Kong-listed apparel group Bossini’s loss attributable to shareholders by 174 percent from last year to US$48.85 million.

    Sales for the 12 months to June 30 hit $141 million, down by 27 percent, and gross margin fell to 49 percent, from 52 percent last year.

    “Since 2019 the economic environment of the core markets in which the group operates, comprising Hong Kong and Macau, Mainland China and Singapore, has been adversely affected by the Sino-US trade tensions, the local social incidents in Hong Kong and the global outbreak of Covid-19,” the business said.

    “Social distancing, lockdowns, curfews, and changing quarantines have created immense challenges for our retail operations. Moreover, major banks continue to tighten our credit facilities, and it is difficult to predict whether additional measures will  be implemented by the banking sector in the future.”

    In response, the business is working to reduce its costs by “streamlining business operations”, and reviewing inventory levels and its store portfolio in an effort to exit loss-making sectors. Bossini said its rental expenses are “very unreasonable”, that it will focus on renegotiating leases, and that should landlords be reluctant to drop rent it will close stores.

    Bossini’s new owner, Viva China Holdings, said it expects to continue facing headwinds in the short-term and that there isn’t enough information for it to form an optimistic opinion for the foreseeable future.

  • Zara parent posts US$229m first-half loss during Covid-19

    Zara parent posts US$229m first-half loss during Covid-19

    Zara-owner Inditex posted a net loss of US$229 million during the six months to 31 July, after a successful second quarter largely helped mitigate a disastrous start to the year.

    The first three months suffered a $481 million loss due to the sudden impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, while the second quarter rebounded to a profit of $253 million.

    Online sales soared 74 percent during the same period, as with many businesses during the pandemic, as customers moved online while up to 87 percent of the business’ stores were closed.

    Inditex executive chairman Pablo Isla said he is pleased with the online result, and that it shows the importance of an integrated omnichannel strategy.

    “This is a cornerstone of our unique business model with three key pillars – flexibility, digital integration, and sustainability,” Isla said.

    “Day to day this combination is proving its solidness.”

    The third quarter has continued to see a return to normalcy, the business said. Online sales have continued growing sharply, while store sales are recovering. Sales from August 1 to September 6 are improving, however down 11 percent year on year.

    And a number of new omnichannel initiatives that launched in the first half will be furthered moving forward, such as a plan to shut down smaller stores and absorb them into larger format locations that lend themselves better to an integrated model.

    During the first half 72 stores were refurbished, 35 of which were store expansions.

    Last week the business launched ‘Store Mode’, which saw 25 of its stores across Spain offer new features to customers using the Zara app: Click & Go, Click & Find, and Click & Try.

    Click & Go allows a click and collect offer that will see a product ready to be picked up within 30 minutes, Click & Find allows customers to find garments in-store using a RFID-enabled store map, while Click & Try allows customers to book time in a fitting room to avoid waiting.

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  • Forever New furthers international plans with new website

    Forever New furthers international plans with new website

    Australian fashion retailer Forever New has today relaunched its international website, servicing 19 countries including Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, the UK and parts of Europe.

    Customers will be redirected from the brand’s Australian site from today.

    “We are proud of Forever New’s ever-growing international presence and thrilled to be able to expand our offering to new countries via our international website,” Forever New MD Carolyn Mackenzie said.

    The website relaunch follows success in Europe online and in department stores such as Debenhams, House of Fraser and Fenwick, and the US, where it trades under the name Ever New in its own stand-alone stores and with concession partners.

    Earlier this year Mackenzie said the business started a global web ‘replatform’ project in 2018 to replace legacy systems, which were limiting the brand’s agility.

    “Systems were previously bolted on as we went along, and it didn’t give us the flexibility we needed to accelerate some of the new omnichannel experiences we could put in,” MacKenzie said.

    “Our new site is about taking Forever New to customers around the world, including Turkey, Germany, Ireland, and Portugal. The site will give us the ability to become truly omnichannel. That’s the strength of Forever New – with a good platform, you can bring things like True Fit and order-in-store to life and link digital and physical together. It becomes so much more powerful than having just one on their own.

    “If it’s as strong as our site in Australia, it’ll be really good for the business.”

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  • Prada reports China sales growing at a fast pace

    Prada reports China sales growing at a fast pace

    Sales of luxury Prada items in China have exceeded last year’s levels since the brand’s physical stores reopened following the coronavirus pandemic.

    The Chinese appetite for luxury items has rebounded strongly despite the impact of Covid-19, even as global sales are hit with a decline of 35 percent.

    “To date, the Prada Group’s sales in China have already largely exceeded the levels of 2019, showing double-digit growth since the beginning of the year,” said Prada CEO Patrizio Bertelli.

    Prada’s growth within China has exceeded more than 60 percent since March, with a sales record hit on August 25, this year’s Chinese Valentine’s Day.

    The firm’s projections suggest the trend will continue in the coming months, according to Bertelli.

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  • Alexander McQueen opens Tokyo flagship store

    Alexander McQueen opens Tokyo flagship store

    British fashion label Alexander McQueen has opened a flagship store at Omotesando, Tokyo.

    Located in the shopping complex Oak Omotesando, the store occupies a 253sqm space and spans two stories. The first floor houses women’s clothes and accessories while the second floor features apparel and accessories for men.

    The Alexander McQueen Omotesando concept is a result of the collaboration between creative director Sarah Burton and architect Smiljan Radic. The store exterior features glass floor-to-ceiling doors and windows with grey metal frames, allowing customers to see into the store from the outside. The interior uses woods such as oak or walnut as the main material, creating a warm ambiance.

    The storehouses four fitting rooms designed in a glass cylinder shape with butterfly-patterned curtains. The patterns were previously featured in the brand’s Fall/Winter 2018 and 2019 Collection.

  • Skechers opening more outlets in Singapore

    Skechers opening more outlets in Singapore

    Skechers Singapore has accelerated its expansion plan in the city despite the Covid-19 situation.

    Since July, the footwear brand has rolled out five new stores in the territory, taking its store count to 30, employing 40 additional staff to man them.

    While many retailers are struggling to remain commercially viable during the Covid-19 crisis, and some closing stores, Skechers’ is bucking the trend. One of the latest victims of Covid-19 in Singapore is fashion retailer Topshop which has announced it will quit all its physical stores in the city and move entirely online.

    “It is without a doubt (that) in the retail industry, it is quite challenging,” VP at Skechers Southeast Asia, Zann Lee, told Channel News Asia. “This is a good time for us to actually enter into a market with good locations.”

    Besides expanding its physical presence, the brand is also developing its own online store as shoppers are shifting to online shopping. Although opening its own e-commerce store may seem like a late response to Covid-19, Skechers is already selling its products online via third parties such as Shopee or Lazada.

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  • Topshop, Topman leaving Singapore

    Topshop, Topman leaving Singapore

    Topshop and Topman Singapore are to close its last store in VivoCity and move online this Thursday (September 17).

    Topshop and Topman brand manager Wing Tai Retail told The Straits Times that the brands will focus on an omnichannel retail strategy to suit consumer preferences, maintaining a presence on its own online store as well as on Zalora.

    Last week, the brands ran a ‘limited time’ sale promotion where customers could get one free item for every two bought at its VivoCity store, to help reduce stock levels. A sign displayed in the store said it is moving out on September 17.

    Topshop’s exit from Singapore follows the announcement of the closure of its 14,000sqft store in Hong Kong’s Central next month to move online, after seven years in the city.

    Topshop and Topman entered Singapore with the first store at Orchard Road in 2000. The brands are managed by Wing Tai Retail, which also manages other international brands including Adidas, G2000, Dorothy Perkins, and Uniqlo.

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  • Previous Starbucks executive taking over as Sephora CEO

    Previous Starbucks executive taking over as Sephora CEO

    LVMH has appointed ex Starbuck executive Martin Brok as president and CEO of Sephora. Brok will start his new role on Monday, succeeding Chris de la Puente. Chris will remain a member of the LVMH executive committee and “take on additional responsibilities at a later date.”

    Under Chris’ leadership, Sephora wholesales have tripled and achieved a strong omnichannel presence, according to the company.

    “The appointment of Martin Brok marks a new era for the company as a period of transformation begins for the beauty retail industry, in particular with the rise of online sales.”

    Brok had worked at Starbucks Corporation as president of Europe, the Middle East and Africa since 2016, after holding general management roles at Nike.

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  • Burberry launches global Animal Kingdom popups

    Burberry launches global Animal Kingdom popups

    Luxury fashion house Burberry is launching Animal Kingdom popups globally to celebrate its signature bags and accessories.

    The pop-ups will feature large-scale sculptures of monkeys, gorillas, and birds of paradise inspired by “the power and symbolism of animals” according to the label’s chief creative officer Riccardo Tisci.

    The product range features exclusive editions of signature Burberry leather goods, including the Pocket Bag and the TB Bag with a distinctive clasp featuring his initials. The exclusive pieces also include silk scarves, card cases, and jewelry.

    To celebrate the launch, Burberry has teamed with Snapchat to introduce an in-store gamified experience. Users will experience Burberry’s Animal Kingdom world by scanning the Snapcodes embedded in the pop-ups.

    Burberry has also partnered with Wildlife Works to make the pop-ups carbon neutral.

    “Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, the initiative focuses on agroforestry, sustainable farming, and conservation techniques to relieve deforestation,” the company said in a statement.

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  • LVMH whitdrawing Tiffany deal

    LVMH whitdrawing Tiffany deal

    French luxury-goods group LVMH has dropped its plan to take over Tiffany & Co, prompting the  New York jeweler to announce it will file a lawsuit to enforce the deal.

    The US$16.2 billion takeovers was agreed to before the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic and the jeweler’s share price had dropped well below the price LVMH had agreed to pay.

    However, LVMH’s board is using geopolitical and taxation factors to defend its position with the board issuing a brief statement late Wednesday Asian time after a board meeting confirming it would “not be able to complete the acquisition of Tiffany & Co”.

    The statement referred to a letter from the French European and Foreign Affairs Minister which directed LVMH to “differ” (sic) – thought to mean defer – the acquisition until after January 6 next year in “reaction to the threat of taxes on French products by the US”.

    Tiffany & Co had earlier requested LVMH to extend the closing date for the deal from the current expiry date of November 24 to December 31.

    LVMH’s board, having taken legal advice from advisors to its teams, said it resolved to comply with the merger agreement signed by the two companies in November last year, which stipulated the November 2020 closing date.

    “As it stands, the Group LVMH will therefore not be able to complete the acquisition of Tiffany & Co.”

    Tiffany & Co meanwhile, is alleging that LVMH has deliberately stalled the takeover to force a renegotiation of the price.

    The company will file a lawsuit with the Delaware Court of Chancery Wednesday US time seeking to force LVMH to close the transaction by the November deadline.

    “Tiffany alleges that LVMH has delayed the EU regulatory process to avoid closing before a mandated deadline, and threatened to walk away from the takeover unless the price tag is reduced,” the FT reported, citing “people briefed about the matter”.

    The Tiffany & Co sale has been the subject of considerable ongoing speculation since the impact of Covid-19 on luxury retailing and international travel.

    At one point, analysts were speculating that LVMH might begin acquiring shares on the open market at a price lower than the company had agreed to pay under the merger agreement. However, after a board meeting in June, LVMH issued a statement reiterating it would not buy shares on the market and was sticking to the deal.

    Reuters reported back then, however, that LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault was exploring ways to reopen negotiations in an attempt to reduce the price.

    “While Arnault now has concerns about overpaying for Tiffany, he still believes in the deal’s strategic rationale, according to the sources,” reported Reuters. “Tiffany will give LVMH a bigger share of the lucrative US market and expand its offerings in jewelry, the fastest-growing sector in the luxury goods industry.”

  • Hermes re-opens renovated and extended retail space in Sendai

    Hermes re-opens renovated and extended retail space in Sendai

    Luxury Maison Hermes has unveiled its refurbished store in the Fujisaki Department Store in Sendai, Japan.

    “This reopening marks a new chapter for Hermes in this Northern city of Japan, where it has been present since 2004,” the company said in a statement.

    The store’s new design is inspired by Sendai’s natural environment – the city is known as “The City of Trees” – and the floor space has been expanded to 144sqm.

    The store’s facade features floor-to-ceiling glass windows and copper-colored steel, offering a clear view of the interior from the outside.

    Designed by Parisian architecture agency RDAI, the interior was divided into two open-plan spaces. At the entrance, the floor features mosaic tiles “in subdued Havana-and chocolate-brown hues, complete with iridescent cabochons”.

    Hermes Fujisaki offers a wide selection of products, including silk collections, fragrances, and fashion accessories. The collections for the home, featuring homeware and tableware, including the new Hermes Passifolia service, complete the displays in this initial area. The store also houses a VIP lounge for “enhanced privacy”.

    “While the entrance area is characterized by mineral, airy and bright accents, the second section creates a more muted atmosphere with carefully selected fabrics and carpets,” the company said.

    “This renovated address showcases the house’s craftsmanship and freedom of creation through its exceptional objects and the enhanced experience it offers its customers and new visitors

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  • Vietnamese, Argentinian designers top latest Redress Design Awards

    Vietnamese, Argentinian designers top latest Redress Design Awards

    Circular fashion environmental charity Redress has awarded two designers with collaboration prizes for their entries in the Redress Design Awards for 2020. The Redress Design Award 2020 Grand Final saw awards presented to menswear designer Le Ngoc Ha Thu from Vietnam and womenswear designer Juliana Garcia Bello of Argentina, who won design collaboration prizes with VF Corporation’s Timberland and upcycling brand The R Collective, respectively.

    A runner-up award was given to Sri Lankan designer Ruth Weerasinghe. The award for the best Hong Kong designer went to Grace Lant. The competition cycle, sponsored by local government body Create Hong Kong, has served to draw attention to the issue of waste in the fashion industry that has intensified under the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

    “Fashion’s waste crisis can’t be swept under the carpet any longer,” said Redress and The R Collective founder Christina Dean. “Covid-19’s retail and supply chain disruptions have stranded materials in warehouses, factories and stores globally. Now is the time to catalyze the circular economy – and this is Redress’ focus. The Redress Design Award has for 10 years educated designers about circular design. The industry must not waste the opportunities that Covid-19’s crisis is offering.”

    “The Redress Design Award has established as a recognized brand in the sustainable fashion design community over the past years by educating emerging fashion designers in order to drive growth towards a circular fashion system”, said Create Hong Kong head Victor Tsang.

    Over the past fortnight, 10 finalists in the competition were subjected to a tough series of virtual design and business challenges focused on real-life sustainability business cases.

    VF’s executive VP & group president Asia Pacific region and emerging brands Kevin Bailey, one of the judges, said the company’s collaboration with Redress over the past two years has connected it with talented, emerging designers “who are passionate about creating fashionable, compelling designs with environmental responsibility in mind”.

    “We are constantly inspired by their commitment to circular design and creativity. These are the future leaders who are going to help drive lasting and positive change throughout our global industry and we are proud to be part of their journey.”

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  • Maison Kitsune makes Thai debut at Bangkok’s EmQuartier

    Maison Kitsune makes Thai debut at Bangkok’s EmQuartier

    Maison Kitsune has opened Thailand’s first Kitsune boutique and cafe at EmQuartier shopping center in Bangkok. The boutique and cafe occupy a 145sqm area with two entrances. The store design is a fusion of Japanese and Parisian style.

    The boutique’s facade features three white arches, “creating an impression of the endless sky”. The brand’s latest collection is displayed behind the glass windows. Located in the middle of the entrance is the brand’s signature Fox.

    The store interior features brass frames and wooden elements in contrast with white walls and marble floors. Meanwhile, the Kitsune cafe wall features “ Japanese-inspired panels in varnished bamboo stalks, a nod to Thai traditional craftsmanship”. The cafe houses an outdoor area with four tables set up in front of the store.

    The cafe offers a variety of drinks to pair with sweet and savory treats. The Cafe Kitsune collection of tableware, ready-to-wear and accessories is also available to bring home.

    Maison Kitsune is a French-Japanese electronic music record label and fashion brand created in 2002 by Gildas Loaec, Masaya Kuroki and London-based company Abake.

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