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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.

  • Christian Louboutin opens doors in Macau

    Christian Louboutin opens doors in Macau

    Christian Louboutin has opened its first boutique in Macau, at the Shoppes at Four Seasons.

    Located on the second floor of the shopping center, the Christian Louboutin Macau boutique’s design was inspired by the founder’s neoclassical apartment in Paris.

    The boutique “looks like a living room where women do not feel like they are in a store but in the home of a friend who loves them and knows them well,” says Louboutin.

    The store’s facade features red ceramic tiles and a Christian Louboutin neon sign, reflecting Parisian architecture style, and carpet in the brand’s signature red.

    When entering the store, customers are welcomed by flower-painted walls designed by French artist Alexandre Poulaillon. A marble table stands in the center of the room, displaying the sneaker range.

    The second room houses two sofas specially designed by French artisan Jean-Roger, using eye-catching fabric and ceramic scones. Gold-textured brass around the arched mirrors contributes to the feel of a cozy boutique.

    The store’s “study” displays the men’s collection with a “made-to-measure ethical canvas” by French Manufacture Le Manach

    The Christian LouboutinMacau store offers a wide range of men’s and women’s footwear and accessories collections, including its latest Fall Winter 2020 Collection.

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  • Bata Malaysia donates 60,000 pairs of shoes

    Bata Malaysia donates 60,000 pairs of shoes

    As a global leader in shoes, Bata feels a special responsibility towards all its stakeholders including the communities in which it operates across countries and regions. This is why Bata commits to donate 1 million pairs of shoes to frontliners and their families globally; the front-liners fighting the Covid-19 with admirable courage and dedication every day. The donation will impact a number of countries, in Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia-Pacific and India.

    In Malaysia, Bata has committed to donate 60,000 pairs of Bata shoes to Polis DiRaja Malaysia in appreciation of their services to the country in facing this pandemic. The Malaysian police forces have been one of the pivotal services in combating the Covid19 pandemic in Malaysia. During the lockdown period from March 18th till May 4th, the police forces had been working in high gear in rain and shine to ensure that we, the general public adhere to the Movement Control order. It is their sacrifice that contributed to the containment of the spread of the Covid19 virus in Malaysia at large.

    Bata Malaysia is giving away 7,500 pairs of men’s shoes, 16,500 pairs of ladies shoes, 11,000 pairs of sports shoes, 14,000 pairs of children shoes and 11,000 pairs of school shoes in total with an estimated value of RM 3.6million (total 60,000pairs) to Polis Diraja Malaysia. “We are extremely grateful for their contribution to the nation, and now in return we hope that our donation of shoes will bring cheer to the police personnel and their families” said Ajay Ramachandran, Managing Director of Bata Malaysia.

    Receiving the Bata shoes on behalf of PDRM was The Inspector-General of Police Malaysia YDH KPN Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Panglima Abdul Hamid bin Bador, and The Deputy Inspector-General of Police Malaysia Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Pahlawan Mazlan Mansor.

  • McDonald’s makes swimwear from plastic straws

    McDonald’s makes swimwear from plastic straws

    McDonald’s has introduced a swimwear range made from plastic straws in Austria – and collaborated on a ‘saucy’ range of shoes with Adidas in India.

    The swimwear initiative started out as a solution to the problem of what to do with the waste plastic after McDonald’s Austria replaced all plastic straws in its restaurants and shake cups with recyclable paper.

    “We are pleased that this Austria-made, Europe-made and globally unique sustainability collection made from recycled material in our classic straw design accompanies us into a unique summer,” explained Benedikt Böcker, marketing director at McDonald’s Austria.

    Designed by Viennese label Poleit in collaboration with Studio Furore, the McDonald’s swimwear line consists of a swimsuit and a swim short, featuring the brand’s signature colors yellow and red.

    According to the company, the collection is made from certified seaqual fibre and plastic straws to ensure the swimwear quality – quick-drying and pleasant.

    “Implementing an upcycling project from the iconic ‘Mäcci straws’ McDonald’s straws and accompanying McDonald’s in another major step in plastic reduction was a very special order for us,” said Marie Pierer von Poleit.

    The McDonald’s sustainability strategy will reduce more than 90 tons of plastic annually, according to Nikolaus Piza, MD of McDonald’s Austria

    Getting saucy in India

    Meanwhile, McDonald’s has teamed with sportswear label Adidas to launch the ‘Sauce Pack’ sneaker collection in India. The collection’s design was inspired by famous basketball players’ playing style and McDonald’s sauce packaging.

    The Sauce Pack collection has four sneaker models – Harden Vol.4, Dame 6,  T-Mac 1, and D Rose 10. Those models were named after four basketball players, James Harden, Damian Lillard, Tracy McGrady, and D-Rose.

  • Estee Lauder Singapore unveils new Ion Orchard store

    Estee Lauder Singapore unveils new Ion Orchard store

    Estee Lauder Singapore has reopened its store in the Ion Orchard shopping center with a completely new design. Located in the mall’s Basement Level 1, the Estee Lauder Ion Orchard store features a contemporary look, with blue navy wall and platinum elements.

    A digital screen is installed in front of the store, featuring images of the brand’s bestsellers, such as Advanced Night Repair or Pure Color Envy and Double Wear.

    “This new home offers a unique and elevated high-touch approach that has been paired with the latest innovations to meet our customers’ changing needs, to deliver the ultimate Estee Lauder experience,” said Christine Goh, brand GM of Estee Lauder Singapore.

    Storehouse’s interactive makeup ‘play tables’ for customers to engage while shopping.

    Customers can learn about Estee Lauder’s products by scanning QR codes or having exclusive one-on-one consultations. Personalized and gifting services are also available at the store.

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  • Marie France Van Damme launches online platform to support artisans

    Marie France Van Damme launches online platform to support artisans

    Hong Kong designer Marie France Van Damme has launched a new online lifestyle and e-commerce platform Curated by MF.

    The site is designed to support the designer’s personal network of boutique designers, businesses and craftspeople, listing globally sourced curated products and exclusive private label pieces.

    “In a time of health crisis and economic uncertainty, as small business owners, we have to support one another to weather the current downturn,” said Van Damme

    “I have been traveling the world for the past 40 years. On my journey, I have developed relationships with craftspeople from the Souks of Marrakesh, with traders in the bustling streets of Hong Kong and Bangkok, and with small business owners from around the globe. Let me introduce you to my very talented friends who share my passions. They work with the finest artisans, their creations are limited, beautiful, and are ethically sourced.”

    Curated by MF features pieces from L’Objet to Jay Ahr’s limited-edition collection of vintage hand-embroidered Vuitton and Hermes Birkin, Kelly and Constance handbags, among many other boutique items. Van Damme introduces a new designer, featuring a curated selection of their artisanal items, on a fortnightly basis. The snake at the top of this story is a US$10,000 necklace from Lotus Arts de Vivre.

    The designer is known for her globally influenced line of luxury resort, ready-to-wear, and swim garments.

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  • Next likely to become Victoria’s Secret UK partner

    Next likely to become Victoria’s Secret UK partner

    British multinational clothing retailer Next has been selected as the intended UK franchise partner for Victoria’s Secret by the brand’s administrators.

    A Next partnership would give Victoria’s Secret UK access to a sophisticated digital and delivery capacity and the chance to partner with Next’s property team to bolster expansion within the territory.

    The deal is currently awaiting confirmation pending the brand’s store landlords agreeing to key lease restructures, taking into account the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on sales. The firm has, however, secured an exclusivity agreement to take the brand that is guaranteed until the end of September. Some of the brand’s 25 stores in the UK could be permanently shuttered.

    Next currently holds apparel brands Abercrombie & Fitch, Boss and Under Armour within its portfolio. According to media reports in the UK, Next pipped department-store chain M&S to become the preferred franchise partner.

    Victoria’s Secret UK collapsed into administration last month. The US parent L Brands has launched a strategic review of the brand’s presence in China, which has already resulted in the closure of the Hong Kong flagship store. In the US, L Brands plans to close about 250 stores to right-size the business.

    Victoria’s Secret made operating losses of US$214 million in the year to 20 February.

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  • Chow Tai Fook finds sales respite as Mainland China gets back to business

    Chow Tai Fook finds sales respite as Mainland China gets back to business

    Hong Kong jeweler Chow Tai Fook says the reopening of retail stores in Mainland China eased the company’s sales decline in the June quarter.

    But the lack of tourists in Hong Kong and Macau decimated sales there.

    Same-store sales were down by 93.2 percent in Macau and 72.5 percent in Hong Kong. However, an “encouraging sequential improvement” saw the decline on the mainland capped at 11.2 percent.

    The group added a net 49 stores in Mainland China during the quarter, comprising 45 stores carrying its namesake brand, three So In Love stores and four Monologue shops. A net one each of T Mark, CTF Watch and Enzo stores closed. The company closed three stores in Hong Kong during the quarter.

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  • Karl Lagerfeld opens first standalone store in Malaysia

    Karl Lagerfeld opens first standalone store in Malaysia

    Karl Lagerfeld has opened its first store in Malaysia, located at the Pavilion shopping center in Kuala Lumpur.

    The new store offers a wide range of the brand’s items including apparel for men and women and fashion accessories such as handbags, bucket hats, and runners.

    Karl Lagerfeld Malaysia’s first store features a modern design with floor-to-ceiling glass doors and wooden floors. Steel racks and colorful carpet are used inside the store.

    Karl Lagerfeld is sold through more than 100 mono-brand points of sale around the world, including flagships in Paris, New York, Moscow, London, Dubai, and Shanghai.

    The global online store on Karl.com reaches 96 countries.

  • Burberry bullish on Asian prospects as China and Korea slowly recover

    Burberry bullish on Asian prospects as China and Korea slowly recover

    Fashion label Burberry is optimistic about a post-Covid-19 recovery as sales began to return to normal in Asia during the June quarter.

    While same-store sales were down by 45 percent across the three months, June’s decline was 20 percent and the brand reported growth in both Mainland China and South Korea which was ahead of pre-Covid-19 levels, “albeit with some benefit from the repatriation of sales given travel restrictions,” the company said in a statement.

    Across Asia Pacific, sales were down 10 percent overall for the quarter but returned to growth in the month of June.

    “We expect it will take time to return to pre-crisis levels with the resumption of overseas travel,” said CEO Marco Gobbetti. “We are encouraged by the improving trends in all regions and the promising exit rate for June. We saw an excellent response to new product launches in recovering economies as well as online.”

    He said demand for leather goods was particularly strong in Mainland China and South Korea, bringing new, younger luxury customers to the brand, pushing full-price sales up at double-digit rates.

    In April, Burberry launched a campaign in China to promote its leather goods range, using a series of sustainable pop-up stores and using an augmented reality experience and releasing a limited-edition Pocket bag through fashion blogger Mr Bags’ WeChat account,

    “The reaction was exceptional with the limited edition bag selling out within a minute of becoming available and Pocket Bag styles overall selling out within three weeks of the campaign going live,” the company reported.

    Broader online sales at full price grew by a double-digit rate and the company is now planning a ‘social-retail store’ with Tencent which will open in Shenzhen this summer. The concept store will allow luxury customers to connect their social and online lives to their physical environments using Tencent technology.

    Gobbetti said the company believes it is “crucially important” to invest in the brand during the pandemic.

    “We will continue to embed flexibility into our plans to allow for investment into consumer-facing activities to drive growth where opportunities present.”

    At the end of June, the label had a network of 215 retail stores, 148 concessions, 54 outlets, and 45 franchise stores, excluding pop up stores.

    ‘Wise’ move to focus on Asia

    Emily Salter, retail analyst at GlobalData, said Burberry was wise to focus on rebounding economies like China, South Korea, and Japan, with the 10-per-cent drop in Asia-Pacific sales significantly less than the 75 percent in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. The latter region, she said, would likely be the most affected in the long term as tourist spending will take a long time to recover, and consumers will be less willing to buy luxury items.

    In the Americas, sales fell by 70 percent and while they improved in June, that trend is unlikely to hold as Covid-19 cases rise rapidly and state pause their reopening plans.

    Salter also praised Burberry’s digital proposition which outshone its rival luxury brands.

    “The retailer excels at using social media to engage with consumers, boosting loyalty among its young shoppers.

    “Though the future of experiential retail remains in doubt due to the impacts of Covid-19, the experience is likely to remain important among luxury shoppers, and will help cement brand identity and loyalty.”

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  • Iconix Brand Group seeks white knight investor

    Iconix Brand Group seeks white knight investor

    Iconix Brand Group is considering selling itself or combining it with another company as the firm broadens its search for a financial lifeline.

    The brand-licensing company says its board has authorized management and its advisers to study options including a sale, merger, debt and equity financings, or other alternatives to keep the firm afloat.

    New York-based Iconix owns, licenses and markets consumer brands across fashion and sports, including Candie’s and Ed Hardy. It’s been shedding certain assets to raise cash, including Starter China, which it agreed to sell for US$16 million in June.

    The company retained Ducera Partners as a financial adviser, together with law firm Dechert, its existing legal counsel, to assist in the review efforts. The plans are in addition to the company’s previously announced agreements to sell the rights to the Umbro and Starter brands in China, it said.

    Iconix shares soared 58 percent in after-market trading. The company said the Covid-19 pandemic had a “meaningful impact” on its performance and it was cutting costs to preserve liquidity, according to its first-quarter financial report. In March, the firm said there was “substantial doubt” that it could continue to operate and it could be forced to file for bankruptcy or liquidate without a waiver from lenders.

    The retail industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, which forced store closures nationwide and prompted sharp declines in spending on discretionary goods. J.C. Penney, Neiman Marcus Group and J Crew Group all filed for bankruptcy in May. RTW Retailwinds, the parent company of New York & Co, filed for bankruptcy Monday.

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  • Swatch cuts 2400 jobs, speeds up Hong Kong store cull

    Swatch cuts 2400 jobs, speeds up Hong Kong store cull

    Swatch Group has cut about 2400 jobs, its biggest cull in at least three decades, and will trim its store network as the Swiss watchmaker recorded its first-ever loss.

    The maker of Omega and Longines timepieces said Tuesday it accelerated plans to shut stores definitively in Hong Kong as well as shops that sell its colorful namesake brand and CK. The loss came as sales in the six months through June plummeted 43 percent due to tot the impact of Covid-19.

    In a break with its strategy during previous crises such as the 2009 financial downturn, Swatch is leaning more on slashing jobs, a signal that this year is different. CEO Nick Hayek has said that during hard times, the problem with cutting jobs is it’s difficult to find qualified staff when the market rebounds.

    “Winston Churchill said ‘never waste a good crisis’, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do, especially in the second half of the year,” Hayek said in prepared video remarks.

    The stock was little changed in early trading, having dropped 28 percent this year.

    The CEO said Swatch expects a profit this year as countries ease lockdown measures that had led to shuttered shops and travel bans amid the coronavirus pandemic. The company’s first-half operating loss of US$347 million was twice as big as analysts expected. In the second half, Swatch plans to introduce new products, including a Tissot smartwatch.

    Swatch announced the end of its 22-year-old contract to sell Calvin Klein watches in October, and many of the closures were related to that decision, Hayek said. The company’s plastic namesake brand is also reducing its reliance on brick-and-mortar stores and will rely more on e-commerce.

    Swatch forecast that the industry will recover quickly as consumers catch up on shopping after lockdowns, as seen in China and Korea. The month of June already was profitable, thanks to pent-up demand in mainland China, where sales rose at a double-digit rate in May and June.

    Still, only about half of its employees in Switzerland have returned to work full-time. Some 6000 employees were on short-time work on average last week, while about 2500 were taking an unused vacation or reducing overtime, according to chief controlling officer Peter Steiger.

    The company had to shut up to 80 percent of its sales outlets around the world during lockdowns. Swatch closed 260 stores definitively and now has about 1800.

  • Harmay teams with Chinese designer Masha Ma

    Harmay teams with Chinese designer Masha Ma

    Chinese fashion retailer Harmay has entered into a collaboration with local designer Masha Ma.

    The new collection – a move to continue the expansion of the brand despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic – comprises T-shirts, pants and bags designed to express and contribute to the “beauty of life”.

    “Harmay was born in the golden age of China’s cosmetics and beauty retail industry,” said Harmay HK co-founder and GM Jason Ju, “and now we have grown and expanded to become a unique retail brand that pursues beauty and beautiful life.

    “Bringing consumers high-quality and innovative shopping experience and becoming a new benchmark for retail are goals we have been aiming for.”

    The brand has undergone continuous development since 2008, expanding both in terms of physical stores as well as online, where it serves an “experiential shopping journey”. The firm retails its own line of cosmetics and beauty products within China as well as products from international brands. It is an agency for more than 50 global brands and licenses more than 200 brands for distribution.

    Harmay operates stores in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Beijing, and plans to launch in Chengdu and another Shanghai location this year.

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  • Calvin Klein to bring footwear collections in house

    Calvin Klein to bring footwear collections in house

    US fashion house Calvin Klein is discontinuing its partnership with licensee Jimlar Corp to bring its footwear collections in-house for Asia and Europe.

    The brand, which is owned and operated by PVH Corp, has collaborated with Jimlar for a decade but will take over managing Calvin Klein footwear when Jimlar’s license expires at the end of this year.

    “Jimlar has been a best-in-class licensee for over 10 years and we’d like to thank them for contributing to the successful development of our footwear business,” said Calvin Klein’s president of global licensing John Van Glahn. “We … will continue the momentum by bringing the category in-house in Europe and Asia, leveraging PVH’s operations and expertise to take the business to the next level.”

    The new arrangement affects footwear lines under Calvin Klein Jeans, Calvin Klein and CK Calvin Klein. The footwear business will proceed from next year onwards under internal management, giving the firm greater control over development and design.

    CK’s existing networks will be employed to manage the distribution of footwear.

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  • Tommy Hilfiger backs up BLM statement with US$15m plan to disrupt the fashion industry

    Tommy Hilfiger backs up BLM statement with US$15m plan to disrupt the fashion industry

    Global fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger has unveiled a comprehensive plan to address racial inequality within its own organization and the fashion industry more broadly. On Monday, the PVH-owned brand announced the launch of the People’s Place Program, a new initiative that aims to increase the representation of minority communities in fashion in three ways: partnerships, career support, and industry leadership.

    Going forward, Tommy Hilfiger has said it will focus on “purpose-led collaborations” and partnerships with organizations and creative peers working to advance the representation of Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) in the fashion industry.

    It has also committed to providing to information, physical materials, specialist advice, industry introductions, and other actions to increase access to fashion and creative career opportunities for minority communities.

    And it will support independent, industry-wide analyses of diversity, equity, and inclusion and develop and share a concrete action plan to create long-term change.

    The People’s Place Program will be funded with US$5 million annually for the next three years as an initial minimum commitment.

    The name is based on designer Tommy Hilfiger’s first store, the People’s Place, which opened in 1969 and was meant to be a space for people from all walks of life to come together to enjoy art, music, fashion and pop culture.

    The initiative follows a statement made by the brand’s namesake founder in response to the death of George Floyd in police custody in the US in May.

    “What is happening to Black communities in the US and around the world has no place in our society,” Hilfiger said. “The fact that it has continued to exist in our industry – overtly and systemically – is unacceptable.”

    “We are far behind where we should be in achieving diverse representation. It shouldn’t have taken us this long to acknowledge that, but we are determined and committed to changing it going forward,” he added.

    Many brands and businesses issued similar statements condemning racism as Black Lives Matter protests gained traction around the world throughout June. Many of those statements, however, were quickly criticized as virtue signaling, or cynical attempts to benefit from consumers’ desire to support the movement.

    But according to Tommy Hilfiger, the People’s Place Program is not just about good PR, as demonstrated by the governance structure the brand is building to oversee the program and ensure its success.

    This includes appointing senior leadership to direct the program
    and accelerate its growth internally and externally, and conducting regular reporting on its progress and impact to maintain transparency.

    It also helps that the brand has a long history of supporting diversity.

    Tommy Hilfiger claims to be the first fashion brand to collaborate with hip-hop artists in the 1990s, and in recent years, the brand launched an adaptive range, catering to people with special needs.

    Martijn Hagman, chief executive of Tommy Hilfiger’s global business and PVH Europe, said the company acknowledges that it hasn’t done enough, but it is determined to do better.

    “We are taking immediate action to ensure that BIPOC communities in the fashion industry feel represented, heard and equally welcome to their seat
    at the table,” he said in a statement.

    “The People’s Place journey starts now with a dedicated internal governance structure that will drive and report regularly on the long-term objectives of the platform. This is a firm commitment and first step in a long journey for what the People’s Place Program can achieve.”

    Through its foundation, PVH has donated US$100,000 to The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, which supports racial justice through
    advocacy, impact litigation, and education, and The National Urban League, a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment, equality and social justice.

    During the month of June, it also matched 100 percent of charitable donations made by the company’s associates globally to organizations supporting racial justice.

    PVH’s brand portfolio includes Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Izod, Van Heusen, Arrow, Warner’s, Olga and Geoffrey Beene. It employs more than 40,000 associates in over 40 countries and has US$9.9 billion in annual revenues.

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  • AmorePacific launches luxury brand Sulwhasoo into India

    AmorePacific launches luxury brand Sulwhasoo into India

    South Korea beauty giant AmorePacific has launched its luxury brand Sulwhasoo across India exclusively with Indian retailer Nykaa.

    “In recent years, Nykaa has led the South Korean beauty conversation in India, focusing on educating Indian customers on the novelty of the products and ingredients,” said Falguni Nayar, founder & CEO of Nykaa.

    Prior to Sulwhasoo, Amorepacific already introduced other brands in the country such as Innisfree, Laneige, and Etude.

    “I believe our customers in India are going to experience Sulwhasoo’s unique beauty solutions and to create more sophisticated and healthier skin care routines in the future,” said Michael Youngsoo Kim, Head of Amorepacific APAC RHQ.

    Sulwhasoo is Amorepacific’s signature luxury brand based on Korean ginseng.

    The Sulwhasoo India range will include the brand’s First Care Activating Serum and other lines such as Concentrated Ginseng Renewing line and Essential line.

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