Category: Fashion

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  • Nike gets local with new Nike Unite retail concept

    Nike gets local with new Nike Unite retail concept

    Adding to Nike House of Innovation, Nike Rise and Nike Live concepts, Nike introduces Nike Unite. Built to help locals connect more closely with sport, Nike Unite creates new in-and-out-of-store experiences, rooted in serving people the most valuable sport destination in their community.

    Read on for what to know about Nike’s latest retail concept.

    Nike Unite exists to serve and celebrate the people in each local community, and each store is designed to be a reflection of their heart and spirit. Consumers are welcomed by an in-store community wall highlighting the store team and local partnerships, and design elements throughout the space also look to tell the story of the community. From local landmarks to hometown athletes, the design allows the local residents to feel represented in the space.

    The products in each Nike Unite door are also reflective of what the community is interested in: locally curated, every-day essentials at the best price, matched with the newness of select seasonal offerings. Additionally, Nike Unite doors reflect Nike’s commitment to hiring people who live in the local community.

    In order to help protect the future of sport, sustainable offerings like reusable shopping bags are available at stores like Nike Unite – Namyangju, or at Nike Unite – East Kilbride, with takeback services like Nike Reuse-a-Shoe.

    Online or offline, Nike Unite doors deliver new ways to gear up and get moving together. Whether serving athletes in the digital spaces that speak to them, supporting local schools and nonprofits that give children more opportunity to stay active through Made to Play or participating in the Nike Community Ambassador program (which trains Nie store employees to be coaches), these measures allow Nike Unite doors to bring members closer to sport, and closer to one another.

    New Nike Unite stores are now open to the public in the following locations, with additional doors opening soon:

    Namyangju (South Korea)
    Portland, Ore. (United States)
    East New York (United States)
    San Antonio (United States)
    East Kilbride (UK)

    Coming Soon:
    South Chicago (United States)
    Atlanta (United States)
    Beijing – Jingliang (China)
    Beijing – Jingzang (China)

  • Suria KLCC revamps its food court

    Suria KLCC revamps its food court

    Suria KLCC in the heart of Kuala Lumpur has unveiled its newly refurbished food court, which was designed to adapt to the Covid-19 era.

    Incorporating the space formerly occupied by department store Parkson, the Signatures food court boosts seating to more than 1500 while still ensuring enough space to comply with physical distancing requirements.

    Dining options have also been expanded with 23 food court outlets, six kiosks and seven restaurants. The revamped food court is equipped with a 5G infrastructure, and sports device-charging sockets.

    “A lot of thought and effort went into improving Signatures to what it is now,” said Andrew Brien, CEO of Suria KLCC.

    “Nothing has been left to chance, from the standard operating procedures to ensure hygiene, all the way to aesthetics capable of satisfying new norms for a long time.”

  • Puma signs pop star Dua Lipa as ambassador for its womenswear range

    Puma signs pop star Dua Lipa as ambassador for its womenswear range

    The German sportswear giant announced today that it signed a multiyear deal with the singer-songwriter, who will be the face of its women’s business. Aside from boosting the profile of Puma’s women’s business unit, Lipa will work to “help inspire women around the world” through global campaigns and “important inclusive initiatives close to her heart.”

    “From performance rehearsals to hiking in the hills, it’s important to feel comfortable & look good. I’ve got so many ideas for the projects and campaigns I’ll be taking part in and look forward to bringing them all to life with my Puma family,” Lipa said in a statement.

    Aside from revealing the deal, Puma stated Lipa will star in its “She Moves Us” campaign, which was created to inspire women to achieve and connect through sport and culture.

    “We were drawn towards her creativity, passion, drive and the way in which she resonates with the young female consumer. But most importantly, we were moved by her authentic passion to close the gender gap and look forward to supporting her through several brand initiatives we have planned together. We think she embodies what today’s consumer is looking for in a role model,” Puma global director of brand and marketing Adam Petrick said in a statement.

    To kick off the partnership, Puma said it will be the presenting sponsors of Lipa’s “Studio 2054” virtual performance. Not only will the pop star and her dancers be in Puma head-to-toe, but the brand is also offering a limited amount of tickets for the performance at a discount to her fans.

    The athletic powerhouse has been busy in recent months adding to its ambassador roster. In September, Puma signed UFC champion Israel Adesanya and soccer star Neymar Jr. And in October, it added promising soon-to-be NBA rookie LaMelo Ball.

  • The History of Whoo to open luxury Korean beauty flagship store in Canada

    The History of Whoo to open luxury Korean beauty flagship store in Canada

    LG Household & Health Care proudly announces the opening of a first-of-its-kind, The history of Whoo luxury concept store in Canada. The history of Whoo is a best-selling, record-breaking, prestigious Korean skincare brand known worldwide and recognized for its impeccable quality, use of precious ingredients, and unique formulas once reserved for royalty and members of the Royal Court. Each precious formulation is preserved in distinctly luxurious packaging including flacons and vials inspired by the Korean cultural heritage.

    Customers at the new flagship Canadian store can expect the same level of luxury and attention to detail that The history of Whoo has become synonymous with. Upon entering the space, customers are welcomed as guests and invited to experience a truly immersive shopping experience; from elegant gold-plated fixtures to Gani marble floors, mirrored ceilings, and a dramatic custom-crafted chandelier, all culminating into an elegant showcase designed to envelop the senses in luxury and reflect the royal heritage of the brand.

    The new Canadian store will open its doors at 10:00 a.m. on November 20th at Cadillac Fairview Richmond Centre, British Columbia. The first 75 customers will receive a complimentary limited-edition cosmetic case filled with deluxe samples valued at over $100, with the purchase of $8 or more, while supplies last. To ensure a clean, safe, and comfortable environment, Cadillac Fairview Richmond Centre has put all necessary safety and social distancing measures into place.

    Inside the store, highly trained beauty consultants specialized in Korean skincare will offer shoppers personalized one-on-one consultations with customized recommendations from a selection of luxury brands, including:

    The history of Whoo – Launched in 2003, the most luxurious skincare brand from LG Household & Healthcare, Whoo harmoniously balances modern-day technology with Ancient Eastern medicinal principals to deliver the most prestigious traditions to the Empresses of today. The Chinese character “后” (Whoo) translates into Empress.

    For the first time, a brand has uncovered the beauty secrets of the Royal Court, incorporating their rare and delicate nutritious ingredients from Gongjindan – a traditional herbal recipe. Each ingredient originating from the finest sources around the world, carefully blended and perfectly balanced to achieve harmonious, healthy, and youthful-looking skin.

    Its flagship product – Bichup Self-Generating Anti-Aging Essence is an all-in-one secret recipe that increases skin moisturization and improves the appearance of wrinkles for smoother and more radiant skin. According to a Kantar Worldpanel Beauty Evaluation, this globally renowned product has been the best-selling anti-aging essence in South Korea for nine consecutive years1. Each year, the serum is released with intricately designed limited-edition packaging inspired by the Royal cultural heritage, making it one of the most highly anticipated and most valued qualities about Whoo.

    Su:m37 – a traditional Korean luxury brand that utilizes cutting edge fermentation technology to achieve highly functional skincare products. Known for its best-selling “Secret Essence,” created using Cyto-FermTM technology, a three-stage fermentation process, to create a natural and fermented water achieved by aging and fermenting a variety of 80 plants for an entire year. The antioxidant-rich, renewed Secret Essence improves skin elasticity and barrier function to enhance the skin’s own natural strength and resistance.

    O HUI – a luxury cosmetic brand based on the concept of skin science to harmonize the skin and address its condition through the use of cutting-edge biotechnology and natural botanicals. Its iconic Prime Advancer Ampoule Serum contains the brand’s proprietary Skin Core Enhancing technology to help protect the skin’s barrier and improve its resilience to environmental stressors such as pollution and seasonal changes.

  • Bossini tells landlords it close stores if rents not reduced

    Bossini tells landlords it close stores if rents not reduced

    Local clothing chain Bossini said it has suffered a loss of more than HK$367 million in its last financial year and warned that it may have to close some of its stores in the city unless landlords agree to provide more “reasonable” rent relief and reduction.

    The clothing chain’s reported loss is almost three times more than the loss it incurred in the previous fiscal year.

    It said the economy of its core markets, such as Hong Kong, had been hampered by the Sino-US trade tensions, social unrest last year, and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic which affected local and tourist consumption in the SAR.

    It also laid the blame on the fact that several landlords have been unwilling to reduce rents despite the harsh business environment.

    “Social distancing, lockdowns, curfews and changing quarantine requirements have created immense challenges for our retail operations,” the company said on its outlook.

    “As the overall shop rental expenses remain at a very unreasonable level, we are renegotiating with landlords across all our core markets, particularly in Hong Kong and Macau, to seek rent relief and reduction.”

    “Where landlords are reluctant to respond reasonably to our requests, we will go ahead and close those shops.”

  • Printemps to close seven luxury stores in aftermatch of virus

    Printemps to close seven luxury stores in aftermatch of virus

    French division retailer chain Printemps, a magnet for overseas consumers looking for high-end items in Paris, will close some of its operations in France because it struggles to address the coronavirus pandemic, the CGT union stated.

    Retailers have been hit laborious by government-enforced lockdowns to curb the virus and people who rely upon vacationer flows have struggled to get well as a result of worldwide journey stays restricted.

    Printemps, which sells make-up and garments for high-end manufacturers like Burberry and Gucci, and is owned by Qatari buyers, is especially uncovered to vacationer flows, particularly at its Paris Haussmann flagship retailer.

    Four of the group’s 19 division stores underneath the “Printemps” banner will probably be shut down, together with one in the northern metropolis of Le Havre and in Strasbourg in the east of the nation, in accordance to the corporate’s discussions with unions, the CGT stated.

    One of the Printemps’ offshoots in a Paris mall has additionally been earmarked for closure, and three of the broader group’s sportswear Citadium stores will close.

    Some 450 jobs, or roughly 15 percent of all Printemps staff, at the moment are in danger, the CGT stated, together with store assistants and workers on the firm’s headquarters.

    Printemps couldn’t instantly be reached for remark. Le Monde newspaper quoted a spokeswoman who stated the measures have been geared toward stemming operational losses.

    Many French retailers have been already struggling earlier than the pandemic hit, due to transport strikes earlier this 12 months that hit footfall in stores, and a wave of anti-government protests final 12 months that compelled them to close on some weekends.

    They are additionally dealing with elevated competitors from on-line rivals.

    Luxury manufacturers have managed to offset some of the aches by means of their retailer networks abroad, together with within China, the place demand for high-end items stays robust.

    Printemps, based in 1865, is one of the oldest division stores in France together

  • L’Oreal turns to Google as coronavirus spurs virtual make-up shift

    L’Oreal turns to Google as coronavirus spurs virtual make-up shift

    Shoppers searching Google for cosmetics will be able to try them on virtually through a deal with L’Oreal, as the French group looks to make up for lost store sales caused by coronavirus lockdowns by expanding online.

    Maybelline maker L’Oreal, which returned to comparable sales growth in the third quarter when coronavirus restrictions eased, has sped up some of its web initiatives as a result of the pandemic, its digital chief Lubomira Rochet said.

    “There’s been an acceleration in all our partnerships due to COVID-19,” Rochet said in an online presentation on Thursday.

    The Google GOOGL.O partnership relies on technology designed by ModiFace, a Canadian augmented reality specialist acquired by L’Oreal in 2018, and will also extend to the U.S. group’s YouTube video sharing platform, Rochet said.

    People seeking lipsticks or eye shadows by L’Oreal brands, which include Lancome and Urban Decay, who come across their adverts on Google or YouTube can then try them online.

    YouTube is one of the go-to sites for cosmetics users who often seek out make-up tutorials online, or want to learn from others how to curl their hair.

    L’Oreal, which already had a ModiFace partnership with social media site Facebook FB.O, has seen the usage of virtual make-up tools rise fivefold during COVID-19 lockdowns this year, and the conversion rate from an advert to purchase was three times higher with the try-ons, Rochet said.

    Consumers used it to mimic hair dye colors in particular during coronavirus shutdowns, Rochet added.

    Many countries in Europe including France and Belgium have now re-entered lockdown, forcing beauty chains and hair salons to close, and hitting travel retail sales. Online sales of beauty products, especially in China, have made-up for part of the losses and Rochet expects half L’Oreal’s sales are likely to come from the web within the next three to seven years, up from around a quarter now.

  • Indonesian beauty retailer Sociolla lands in Vietnam

    Indonesian beauty retailer Sociolla lands in Vietnam

    Beauty technology company Social Bella announced its first overseas expansion with the launch of the beauty e-commerce platform Sociolla in Vietnam.

    Demand from beauty enthusiasts in Vietnam was one of the company’s considerations, following a US$58 million funding from investors, such as Singaporean state investment fund Temasek and its private equity subsidiary Pavilion, alongside Singaporean venture capital firm Jungle Ventures.

    The beauty and self-care market in Vietnam has stayed robust and adaptive amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a website on cosmetics and the personal care industry. The beauty sector in Vietnam has seen rapid growth in online sales.

    Christopher Madiam, cofounder and president of Social Bella, said the company was excited to expand its market internationally. “As one of the fastest-growing beauty and self-care markets in Southeast Asia with a population of a digitally literate young generation, Vietnam bears a resemblance to Indonesia,” Christopher said in a statement. “We’re certain that Vietnam is the right country for our first international expansion.”

    John Rasjid, cofounder and CEO of Social Bella, said the company intended to provide access for Indonesian beauty brands to consumers abroad through the expansion. “We’ve witnessed how local beauty brands are getting innovative in releasing quality yet affordable products that can compete with international products,” John said. “With the expansion, we’re not only opening distribution access, but we’re also giving comprehensive support to ensure that their products receive a warm welcome in Vietnam. We are collaborating with a number of our local partners to support a holistic business growth plan in Vietnam.”

    ESQA is among the Indonesian brands Sociolla brings to Vietnam. Cindy Angelina, the cofounder of ESQA Cosmetics, said the firm was proud to be part of the expansion. “We’ve experienced significant growth since joining Sociolla in April 2017. Hopefully, this success will continue in Vietnam,” Cindy said.

    Established in 2015, Social Bella has several business units, including offline stores under the Sociolla brand, Beauty Journal, and Lilla by Sociolla. In July, the company appointed renowned Indonesian make-up artist Archangela Chelsea as the makeup director of Sociolla.

  • Hugo Boss on the look for China growth as it returns to profit

    Hugo Boss on the look for China growth as it returns to profit

    German fashion giant Hugo Boss returned to profitability in Q3, after having reported losses in Q2, and also said that it was focused on business recovery via digital channels and in China as pandemic-linked uncertainty continues.

    Overall, it’s quarterly revenue fell 24% on a currency-adjusted basis to €533 million, which was lower than analysts had expected. But its operating profit was €15 million and that managed to beat analyst predictions. However, it was still down from €83 million a year ago.

    The company’s digital and Chinese focus is perfectly understandable given that sales in mainland China rose 27% during the quarter and online sales saw a massive leap of 66% as the company opened 24 more markets to e-tail sales between June and August.

    “Supported by the accelerated consumer demand shift towards digital, sales on hugoboss.com and the group’s self-managed offerings on key partner websites recorded strong improvements in both traffic and conversion rates,” it said. The period from July to September marks the 12th consecutive quarter with “significant double-digit online sales growth” for the firm.

    And while physical stores remained challenged, the company was upbeat. With the vast majority of its own stores back in operation, the group’s own retail business recorded a “considerably more robust performance” compared to the first half of the year, with its own retail revenues down by ‘only’ 20%, currency-adjusted.

    But the quarter clearly wasn’t all about good news. While local demand in key markets picked up noticeably as compared to the previous quarter, sales to tourists continued to suffer from international travel restrictions.

    Sales dropped 21% in Europe despite encouraging signs of demand bouncing back in key markets such as the UK and France. The tourism downturn that has had such a big impact on many luxury companies obviously weighed heavily on Hugo Boss.

    And like other companies at all price levels, the group has been adjusting its offer to meet the new normal with a bigger focus on casual clothing that had already started before the pandemic hit. The company said that its more youth-focused Hugo label saw casualwear sales down only in mid-single-digits during the quarter.

  • Asia underpins stable and strong Estee Lauder result

    Asia underpins stable and strong Estee Lauder result

    Estee Lauder Cos reported better-than-expected quarterly results on Monday, as people confined to their homes bought more of its skincare products online and sales improved in its Asian markets. The M.A.C brand owner has ramped up investments in its online business and seen growth in demand for its skincare products as customers opted for serums and moisturizers instead of make-up items during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    “Before, online was mainly the destination of younger people. Now it’s for everyone. Everyone is online,” CEO Fabrizio Freda told analysts on a call.

    The company’s shares rose as much as 8.3 percent to a record high on Monday as online sales soared 40 percent in the first quarter.

    Its sales in the Asia-Pacific market rose 9 percent on the back of strong growth in South Korea, with demand at the company’s duty-free shops in China getting a boost from the government’s move to raise the annual tax-free shopping limit for tourists in the southern province of Hainan.

    Total sales at the company’s duty-free shops were flat year over year, after dropping roughly 30 percent in the previous quarter due to widespread restrictions on air travel.

    Total net sales fell 9 percent to $3.56 billion but exceeded analysts’ expectations of $3.46 billion, Refinitiv data showed.

    Estee forecast net sales to decline between 3 and 5 percent in the second quarter, compared with estimates of a near 5 percent decline.

  • LG Electronics starts eco-friendly clothing line with Net-A-Porter

    LG Electronics starts eco-friendly clothing line with Net-A-Porter

    LG Electronics has unveiled an eco-friendly clothing line in collaboration with British online fashion retailer Net-A-Porter as the South Korean tech giant pushes marketing for its clothing-care appliances.

    The appliance maker said it joined with the premium online fashion marketplace to launch a limited-edition range named LG X Net-A-Porter Sustainable Collection.

    The two partners cooperated with global fashion brands, including Le Kasha of France, Mara Hoffman of the US, and Bondi Born of Australia, to release 13 types of environmentally friendly apparel.

    LG Electronics said the launch of the new clothing line is part of its “Care for What You Wear” global campaign that aims to protect the environment by reducing fabric waste.

    It added that the clothes from the new brand can be easily managed through its clothing care appliances, including the Styler, LG’s steam closet that keeps clothes fresh and deodorized without dry cleaning.

  • Pomelo roams from fashion label to multi-brand environment

    Pomelo roams from fashion label to multi-brand environment

    Thai-based omnichannel fashion platform Pomelo has launched a redesigned version of its online platform which features multiple brands.

    Besides offering in-app exclusive live streaming, the new app houses more than 100 brands on its Thai version, including Vans, Converse, L’Occitane, and local brands such as Rally Movement and Matter Makers.

    But the company told Inside Retail Asia it will continue to design and release its own Pomelo range as well.

    Pomelo, which is building a footprint across Southeast Asia, plans to expand its expanded multibrand selection into other markets next year.

    The new app has a feature called Tap Try Buy, previously called Pomelo Pick Up, which allows customers to order items online through the app or website, select a store or partner location to try on their selected items, and only pay for only what they choose to keep. Tap Try Buy orders already make up almost half of the retailer’s online orders, a percentage that has grown during the Covid-19 crisis.

    Overseeing the new multi-brand direction is Alexandra Schonfrucht, newly appointed former Zalando and JD Sports executive, who is now Pomelo’s global head of third party brands.

    “We’re thrilled to welcome Alexandra to the Pomelo team as we enter this next phase of growth as a multi-brand platform,” said David Jou, CEO, and founder of Pomelo. “We’re continuing to build a diverse brand portfolio to provide the best omnichannel experience for our users.”

    The new app also incorporates Pomelo’s new branding elements including a refreshed logo.

  • Japanese Eyewear Brand Owndays expands India presence

    Japanese Eyewear Brand Owndays expands India presence

    Japanese eyewear brand OWNDAYS, one of the largest players in the fashion eyewear space, is now expanding its India footprint. The company announced the launch of a new store at Inorbit mall, Mumbai, others being in Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chandigarh.

    Currently, the company has a global presence of 350 stores spread across 12 countries including Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Cambodia. OWNDAYS’ India presence is in collaboration with GKB Opticals, which is a big name to reckon with in Indian Eyewear Industry already.

    Owndays will offer a range of around 1,500 styles from basic to functional, stylish, and fashionable eyewear for men and women starting at Rs. 2,990. With 24 brands under the parent company, Owndays offers eyewear for children, young adults, millennials, and the elderly.

    Established in Tokyo, Japan in 1989, Owndays Co., Ltd has redefined the world of optics by following Simple Pricing, Quick Servicing, and Value. With more than 1,500 designs of frames ranging from basic and functional, to stylish and fashion-forward.

    Owndays outlets have a list of a unique set of pointers to grab your interest:

    • State of the art Japanese eye testing equipment, that helps complete the process in almost half the time the regular testing process takes.
    • The company has a unique 20-minute process feature with over 2,000 lenses stocked in the store which allow glasses to be processed within 20 minutes after the eye check.
    • Pricing is simple and uncomplicated with price of best suitable lenses (minus customised ones) included with the frame

    Speaking on the launch Sanjay Malhotra Business Head – India, Owndays said, “We are thrilled to be opening yet another outlet in India as the demand for quality eyewear at affordable price is increasing considerably and our product has been loved by Indian customer’s youth and matured alike. The fact that we are even opening during the Covid environment shows that we are bullish about Indian market as we have been received exceptionally well in the country”.

    OWNDAYS Outlets in India:

    BANGALORE: Indiranagar & Phoneix Marketcity Mall

    CHENNAI: Palladium Mall

    HYDERABAD: Sarath City Capital Mall

    KOLKATA: South City Mall

    CHANDIGARH: Elante Mall

     

  • China sales rebounds for Ralph Lauren, after Covid-19

    China sales rebounds for Ralph Lauren, after Covid-19

    Luxury retailer Ralph Lauren says sales growth on the Chinese mainland returned to pre-Covid-19 rates in the second quarter, increasing by more than 30 percent year on year.

    However sales across greater Asia decreased 7 percent to US$237 million on a reported basis, with same-store sales down by 11 percent, and a 12-per-cent decline in brick-and-mortar store sales partly offset by a 32-per-cent increase in digital commerce.

    Globally, net revenue fell by 30 percent to $1.2 billion, with declines in all regions due to the impact of Covid-19 on consumer shopping behavior.

    But the company achieved a net income of $107 million, down from $182 million in the same period last year.

    Ralph Lauren, executive chairman, and chief creative officer said despite the tough time the world is experiencing he is optimistic the company can “take the great learnings and creativity that have emerged from this time to become even stronger”.

    He said the results reflected the strength of Ralph Lauren’s timeless brand “and the values that have always been our touchstone” are continuing to anchor the business through a time of change and uncertainty”.

    “Looking across the first half of the fiscal year, we continued our elevation journey while fast-tracking connected retail and our company-wide digital transformation,” said president and CEO Patrice Louvet. “We also began the hard but necessary work of simplifying our organizational and cost structures to position the company for future growth.

    “Looking ahead, we will continue to work proactively to deliver an elevated experience that inspires consumers around the world and creates value for all of our stakeholders,” concluded Louvet.

  • Le Saunda roams from profit to loss

    Le Saunda roams from profit to loss

    Chinese footwear retailer Le Saunda saw revenue and profit fall by more than 30 percent in the last six months as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the fashion industry.

    Revenue for the six months to August 31 fell to US$38.7 million, 30.8-per-cent lower than the same period last year, while gross profit fell 32.1 percent to $24.24 million.

    The impact of Covid-19, which severely hit Le Saunda’s main markets of Hong Kong, Mainland China and Macau, led to a $4.4 million overall loss.

    “Overall, during the first half of the financial year, the group changed from profitable to loss-making,” the business said.

    “The group made timely adjustments to its strategy to reduce daily expenses, including a 25-per-cent pay cut for all directors for a period of six months from March and … tapped into emerging Mini Programs and social-media marketing platforms to expand its online sales channels.”

    However, the business’ e-commerce revenue also took a significant hit, down 15.7 percent during the six months.

    And now, with the worst of the virus seemingly behind it, Le Saunda is looking to learn from the “new normal” that has developed – investing in the development of goods in the athleisure space, as customers become more health-conscious, as well as sales and marketing on social media to better leverage social commerce and reach a younger consumer base.