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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.

  • Malaysia’s Leather Avenue to expand across Asia

    Malaysia’s Leather Avenue to expand across Asia

    Malaysian leather goods and bags retailer Leather Avenue is planning a complete store redesign across its more than 30 outlets in Malaysia before it starts expanding across Asia.

    The new retail concept is currently on show at the firm’s 3000sqft “La Galleria” flagship located in The Curve, which opened last September. The store design is intended to give customers an experience akin to looking at pieces of art in an interactive gallery, inviting the viewer to not only see the product, but to touch and smell the leather. The immersive experience is designed to allow customers to observe the quality of the products first-hand, offering a retail experience distinct from online shopping.

    “We want to ensure Malaysians have access to premium quality leather goods, bags, and accessories without having to splurge on high-street brands,” said Leather Avenue executive director Stanny Chan. “Malaysians are typically not as brand conscious as other Asian consumers and are practical when it comes to purchasing leather goods that complement their fashion tastes without compromising on quality. That is precisely what we want our customers to experience premium quality fashion accessories.”

    While only one “La Galleria” store is currently in operation, the brand is intending to open more in the next two to three years. The firm currently has plans to expand into prime locations and stores to showcase more products.

    While expansion within Malaysia remains the company’s current trajectory, Chan told Inside Retail Asia in an exclusive interview that he sees the potential to take its ideas abroad. The firm hopes to expand regionally over the next two to three years, including to Singapore and Indonesia, before moving into Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines later on.

    Leather Avenue is concurrently expanding its owned brands – Charles Berkeley and Lushberry – overseas, where they are now available in China, Dubai, Italy, the UK, Japan, and several other countries.

    Chan says Leather Avenue is predominantly a retail company, and as a retailer, the challenge is to stay relevant.

    “This has been especially difficult in the age of e-commerce, where not only are you competing with other retail stores, but with online brands as well.

    “I believe you have to be agile, changing with the times and market rather than sticking to one business formula,” he said. “We previously focused solely on luggage and travel products, but we learned that our sales were not at the optimal level, so we expanded our line to include more lifestyle products. We are currently looking to reach out to a younger audience and attract them with products that are more funky and colorful, with modern and fashionable designs.”

    The main brands under Leather Avenue’s umbrella include Charles Berkeley, Esfolar, Cerruti 1881, Mendoza, The Bridge and Valentino Creations. The firm is also licensed to develop the Charles Berkeley and Esfolar brands in the territory.

    “This means that we have a free reign to design new products that cater to the local market,” said Chan. “With this type of license agreement, we have more control over the margins, product mix and brand positioning in the local market.”

    Leather Avenue is a family-owned company founded in 2010.

  • Pomelo to absorb Central Group’s Looksi

    Pomelo to absorb Central Group’s Looksi

    Online fashion label Pomelo has completed a deal with Thailand’s Central Group Looksi – previously Zalora – to absorb the online platform.

    Pomelo will add a variety of key international brands currently on Looksi to Pomelo’s app and website, including Adidas, Aldo, Havaianas, Topshop, Guess, Levi Jeans, and Nike.

    “Looksi has been serving Thai fashion e-commerce shoppers since its founding as Zalora in 2012,” said David Jou, CEO and co-founder of Pomelo. “This deal will accelerate Pomelo’s evolution to become a multi-brand fashion platform for fashion lovers all across Southeast Asia.”

    Central Group will remain committed to driving fashion and lifestyle omnichannel retail sales, said a spokesperson.

    As part of the deal, Looksi will no longer operate its app and website and instead join the Pomelo ecosystem. Looksi’s social-media channels will also transition to Pomelo.

    Pomelo previously raised a US$52 million Series C round last September to further its expansion plans across Southeast Asia.

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  • Crocs attracts A-listers as brand ambassadors

    Crocs attracts A-listers as brand ambassadors

    Casual footwear brand Crocs has added five new global ambassadors as it launches the fourth year of its Come As You Are global marketing campaign.

    Crocs’ lineup of famous faces now includes Suzu Hirose, Yang Mi, Zooey Deschanel, Sejeong and Priyanka Chopra. The global ambassadors for the Crocs brand this year are tasked with inspiring fans to feel comfortable in their own shoes.

    In addition to the global ambassadors, Crocs has also enlisted a diverse cast of models and influencers to bring more personal meaning to the brand message. The influencers and models will be featured in campaign photography and imagery that will be rolled out this year and will be encouraged to engage with fans through forums like social media.

    “The fourth iteration of the Come As You Are campaign is a proclamation to our fans: It’s time to stand up and stand out,” said Crocs chief marketing officer Terence Reilly. “Our new lineup of global brand ambassadors and ‘One-Of-A-Kinds’ ambassadors offers the perfect mix of star power and authentic representation to help CrocNation feel empowered and emboldened to own who they are.”

    Alongside the campaign, Crocs’ marketing efforts will focus on new, style-forward products as well as footwear comfort innovation.

    To help spread the word, Come As You Are will be seen through various digital, social, print, and in-store marketing materials with a global focus on countries including China, Japan, South Korea, the US, and Germany.

  • Costs cited as Gap cancels Old Navy spinoff plans

    Costs cited as Gap cancels Old Navy spinoff plans

    Gap has nixed plans to spin off its Old Navy subsidiary, saying that after further investigation the costs involved outweighed the benefits.

    “The plan to separate was rooted in our commitment to value creation from our portfolio of iconic brands,” said Robert Fisher, Gap Inc’s interim president and CEO. “While the objectives of the separation remain relevant, our board of directors has concluded that the cost and complexity of splitting into two companies, combined with softer business performance, limited our ability to create appropriate value from separation.

    “The work we’ve done to prepare for the spin shone a bright light on operational inefficiencies and areas for improvement,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the company is now searching for a new CEO to oversee the full portfolio of brands.

    Neil Fiske, president, and CEO of Gap brand who previously led Billabong before moving to Gap in 2018 has left without explanation. Last November, former long-term CEO Art Peck left Gap on the eve of the announcement of the Old Navy spinoff.

    Meanwhile, four of the company’s senior leaders have taken on additional responsibilities reporting to Fisher. Mark Breitbard, president and CEO at Banana Republic, will now lead Gap Inc’s specialty brands, including Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta, Janie and Jack, Intermix and Hill City; Sonia Syngal, president and CEO at Old Navy, will continue to lead that business; Teri List-Stoll, executive VP and CFO, will lead corporate operations related to finance, supply chain, technology, and real estate; and Julie Gruber, executive VP, global general counsel, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer, will lead corporate administrative functions including legal, corporate facilities and services, human resources and communications, loss prevention, sustainability, government affairs and foundation.

    Fisher said the company had “learned a lot” from the preparations to spin off Old Navy and intends to operate Gap Inc in “a more rigorous and transformational manner” in future in a way that empowers its growth brands, Old Navy and Athleta, and appropriately focuses on profitability for Banana Republic and Gap brand.

    “Our board is focused on supporting this work and appointing new leadership with the appropriate experience necessary to lead a portfolio of retail brands and to support our transformation efforts.”

    Meanwhile, as a result of better-than-anticipated promotional levels during the holiday period, particularly at Old Navy, the company now expects its adjusted the fiscal year 2019 earnings per share to be moderately above its previous guidance of $1.70 – $1.75.

    “We are working aggressively to stabilize and improve business results,” said List-Stoll. “We are committed to sharpen strategic focus, tailored operating strategies and operational discipline and accountability that can strengthen the health and profitability of our brands.”

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  • Stelux sales slump as network slims down

    Stelux sales slump as network slims down

    Stelux Holdings, parent of the City Chain watch retail business, says its sales in the December quarter were down 32.6 percent, or by HK$198.98 million (US$25.6 million).

    The company closed about 15 percent of its stores, primarily in Hong Kong, as social unrest continued throughout the city, affecting sales to both locals and visitors.

    While the company did not break out figures for Hong Kong, it said revenue for Greater China was down by 46.1 percent in the quarter, to $110.3 million. Sales in Southeast Asian stores, which comprise about 40 percent of the business, slipped by 2 percent.

    Total group sales were $650.5 million, compared with $895.8 million in the same quarter a year earlier.

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  • Sephora launches giant flagship store at Fahrenheit88, Malaysia

    Sephora launches giant flagship store at Fahrenheit88, Malaysia

    Sephora Malaysia has launched a new flagship store at Fahrenheit88 shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, the French beauty brand’s largest outlet in Southeast Asia.

    Located in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Sephora Fahrenheit88 occupies a 17,000sqft area, featuring more than 10,000 products from 100 brands.

    “The opening of Sephora Fahrenheit88 is a testament to our ongoing effort to make Sephora the ultimate place for our beauty community and strengthen Sephora’s position as the world’s leading beauty retailer,” said Valerie Foong, GM at Sephora Malaysia. “This flagship is the largest beauty playground and will be the ultimate one-stop beauty destination in this market.”

    To celebrate the opening Sephora Malaysia has unveiled eight more premium brands to its local range, including Bobbi Brown, La Mer, SK-II, Sulwhasoo, Aerin, Maison Margiela, Dunk Elephant and Tatcha

    The Sephora Malaysia flagship features in-store interactive kiosks, pictured below, where customers can discover the latest promotions as well as services and events in store, flick through the Sephora buying guide and rewards boutique catalog, and play an interactive game.

    Sephora Fahrenheit88 also offers two special services: a breakthrough skin analysis app Skincredible and a facial and lip treatment Perk Treatment by Hydrafacial & Perk Lips.

    The Sephora store is also home to the brand’s first Beauty Loft in Southeast Asia, where Gold-level members of its rewards program can redeem their rewards and points as well as using in-house personal beauty-shopper services and exclusive product-engraving service.

    Besides the retail area, Sephora Fahrenheit88 dedicates a whole floor to Sephora University, a Sephora Lounge for events, and a photography studio for beauty-brand takeovers to engage with the customers, influencers and KOLs.

    The president of Sephora Asia, Benjamin Vuchot, said a driving force behind the Sephora Fahrenheit88 store was to make sure it truly represents what the Sephora brand stands for – the largest beauty community and a heart for Sephora Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia.

  • New partner signed to manage Esprit Kids range

    New partner signed to manage Esprit Kids range

    Hong Kong-headquartered fashion brand Esprit has signed with Kids Fashion Group (KFG) to manage the firm’s design, production, and distribution of the Esprit Kids collection.

    The new contract follows the end of a five-year agreement with French childrenswear retailer Groupe Zannier, which has managed Esprit’s childrenswear brand since first signing in 2015.

    KFG’s first Esprit Kids collection under the new agreement is expected to be released to the market in around July this year. Customers will be able to purchase items from the collection at wholesalers, online and selected retail outlets.

    Kids Fashion Group has a significant distribution network throughout Europe and has a strong sales force in the German market.

    “Kids Fashion Group is a true children’s apparel expert with rich experience in designing and producing high-quality children’s apparel that transport great brand statements,” said Esprit in a statement.

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  • Luk Fook upbeat despite plans to trim Hong Kong store network

    Luk Fook upbeat despite plans to trim Hong Kong store network

    Hong Kong-headquartered Luk Fook group has followed its archrival Chow Tai Fook in revealing plans to shutter stores in the territory’s tourist areas – but it sees growth opportunities in Macau.

    “The group will reduce the number of shops in areas which are considerably impacted by the social incidents in Hong Kong, and search for opportunities for opening new shops in Macau market,” chairman Wai Sheung Wong advised shareholders in a stock exchange filing.

    However, unlike Chow Tai Fook, which plans to close about 15 stores in Hong Kong when leases come up for renewal from this coming April, Luk Fook still expects to achieve a net gain of three stores this financial year in Hong Kong and Macau.

    “Rental renewal depends very much on whether profit is expected for the relevant shop under new rental,” said Wong. “A single-digit drop in the rental renewal is predicted for the current financial year and a double-digit drop for the next financial year.”

    The continuing impact of the strong gold price, US-China trade war and social incidents in

    Hong Kong on market sentiment saw same-store sales for the jeweler fall by 25 percent during the December quarter. Same-store sales of gold products fell by 20 percent and of gem-set jewelry by 32 percent.

    On a positive note, the overall decline eased when compared to the previous quarter. Sales in Hong Kong and on the mainland fell by a lower rate than in the September quarter, while the Macau market returned to growth since October. Sales in Hong Kong and Macau fell by 27 percent, which the group attributed to a high gold price and a “substantial decline” in the number of visitors to Hong Kong contributed by the recent ongoing social activities.

    In the first two weeks of January, the same-store sales decline gradually narrowed in Hong Kong and there was continued growth momentum in Macau.

    Luk Fook has responded to falling sales by reducing staff, however this has been achieved by natural turnover without the need for a redundancy scheme.

    As of December 31, the group had 1969 Lukfook shops, 45 Goldstyle shops, three Dear Q stores and three 3D-Gold shops operating on the mainland – 2020 in all.

    “Apart from actively seeking expansion opportunities in Macau, the group will also speed up expansion in Mainland, with the target of at least 300 net shop additions there for the 2020 financial year, most of which would be licensed shops at low-tier cities,” said Wong.

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  • Pomelo appoints Anders Heikenfeldt as CRO

    Pomelo appoints Anders Heikenfeldt as CRO

    Asian digital-fashion brand Pomelo has appointed Anders Heikenfeldt as Chief Retail Officer to lead the firm’s retail expansion plans across Southeast Asia.

    Formerly holding senior roles with lingerie chain 6ixty8ight in Hong Kong and with H&M, Heikenfeldt is now responsible for Pomelo’s retail division and is expected to further develop the brand’s omnichannel strategy, establishing seamless experiences across its retail network and online platform.

    Heikenfeldt has more than 10 years of experience in strategic development and refining strategies to enhance the retail experience across various fashion brands, and specializes in expansions into emerging markets.

    “Southeast Asia is an incredibly fast-growing, unique market with so much potential,” said  Anders Heikenfeldt. “I’m excited to be a part of this journey as we continue to expand Pomelo’s retail footprint across the region and provide customers with an innovative, omnichannel shopping experience.”

    Pomelo announced a $52 million Series C financing last September, in order to continue its expansion plans. The firm recently hired more than 200 new employees and is expanding in Thailand and Singapore, opening 10 new retail stores last year.

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  • Stelux sales slump as network trimmed

    Stelux sales slump as network trimmed

    Stelux Holdings, parent of the City Chain watch retail business, says its sales in the December quarter were down 32.6 percent, or by HK$198.98 million (US$25.6 million).

    The company closed about 15 percent of its stores, primarily in Hong Kong, as social unrest continued throughout the city, affecting sales to both locals and visitors.

    While the company did not break out figures for Hong Kong, it said revenue for Greater China was down by 46.1 percent in the quarter, to $110.3 million. Sales in Southeast Asian stores, which comprise about 40 percent of the business, slipped by 2 percent.

    Total group sales were $650.5 million, compared with $895.8 million in the same quarter a year earlier.

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  • Luxury streetwear label Opening Ceremony to close all stores

    Luxury streetwear label Opening Ceremony to close all stores

    Luxury retailer Opening Ceremony will shutter its entire store network this year.

    The store closures follow the brand’s sale to streetwear brands conglomerate New Guards Group. Boutiques in Japan, New York and Los Angeles will close down permanently as the firm transitions to become a brand only rather than a retail operator.

    “It’s incredibly emotional for us to announce today that we will be closing our Opening Ceremony retail locations sometime in 2020,” wrote founders Carol Lim and Humberto Leon on the brand’s social media page. “We’ve made a decision to focus on growing Opening Ceremony collection and brand with our new partners, New Guards Group, and expand the designs of Opening Ceremony. Our brand takes the beautiful spirit of experimentation, fun, and collaboration embodied in our stores and imbues this energy into the clothing we make.

    “We know our decision may surprise you, and it may be interpreted in many different ways. Ultimately, in this time of immense change in the way that people shop, we still believe in the power of passionate and unique retail. But we also believe in the necessity for change, reflection, and an opportunity to refresh.

    “We are stepping back from multi-brand retail, for a moment, so we can come back with an experience that is just as inspiring, filled with love and relevant for the years ahead as Opening Ceremony has been,” they said.

    Opening Ceremony stores previously carried multiple fashion brands and had a reputation as a somewhat offbeat industry player.

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  • Tiffany Flagship Next Door opens in New York

    Tiffany Flagship Next Door opens in New York

    Tiffany & Co has opened The Tiffany Flagship Next Door – a two-year pop-up store in New York City.

    Located at the adjacent 6 East 57th Street, the Flagship Next Door will serve as Tiffany’s New York City flagship store until the transformation of No 727 Fifth Avenue is complete next year.

    The store’s main floor features high jewellery and famous collections including Tiffany T, Tiffany Paper Flowers, Tiffany Victoria, Tiffany Keys, and Tiffany HardWear. The Tiffany Men’s Collections is presented on the second floor, while third floor displays love and engagement collections and the fourth floor offers homewares and accessories

    The Tiffany Flagship Next Door also features private selling rooms and a VIP salon, offering customers the same level of service that they were accustomed to in the original flagship store.

    The store is designed around a vaulted, escalator-flanked atrium and retains “a playful, fun look with a modernised attitude”, the company said in a statement. Inspired by the original store, the new store’s interior uses concrete and stainless steel as its main materials.

    Tiffany brand codes are displayed throughout the store, from wood paneling with Tiffany’s Flora and Fauna motif stenciled onto crates, to Tiffany’s signature Wheat Leaf motif reimagined as a ‘Color Block’ painted feature wall.

    “We have created something truly unique and visually dynamic with this space,” said Reed Krakoff, chief artistic officer at Tiffany & Co.

    Tiffany unveiled its transformation plans for its iconic New York City flagship store last year. The building is an architectural icon that has served as the cornerstone of Manhattan’s shopping district since 1940. The brand says the transformation of the New York flagship store marks a new chapter on Fifth Avenue and further interlaces the brand into the fabric of New York City.

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  • Burberry launches online game Ratberry before Chinese New Year

    Burberry launches online game Ratberry before Chinese New Year

    Burberry has launched an online game called Ratberry as part of its 2020 Lunar New Year campaign.

    The game builds on the popularity of B Bounce, the brand’s first online game launched in October last year. In the new game, Ratberry is the central character in a world inspired by the limited-edition Thomas Burberry Monogram motif, in honour of the Chinese Year of the Rat.

    Players bounce Ratberry upwards between platforms, aiming to get as high as possible, collecting gold coins and catching Chinese lanterns along the way.

    Burberry has also released Lunar New Year stickers on WeChat, featuring Ratberry and products from the dedicated Luna New Year capsule collection.

    Burberry has seen a growing appetite for gaming among younger consumers, particularly in China. As interactive digital content is increasingly becoming a source of inspiration, Ratberry is another opportunity for consumers to connect with the Burberry community online.

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  • Chow Tai Fook closing more Hong Kong stores

    Chow Tai Fook closing more Hong Kong stores

    Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group has revealed plans to shut about one in five of its Hong Kong stores, the majority of them in prime tourist areas.

    The closures will take effect when leases come up for renewal throughout this year, starting from April according to an emailed statement cited by Bloomberg.

    The move follows announcements by Prada and Louis Vuitton they will not renew their leases on stores in Russell Street and Times Square, respectively. Sasa International has previously said it would close up to 30 stores in Hong Kong.

    The network retrenchments follow rapidly declining retail sales in Hong Kong since June last year, especially in the luxury sector, due to ongoing demonstrations and protests in the streets which have spooked foreign visitors, and declining visitor numbers from tier-1 cities in Mainland China. Jewelers have been hit by volatile gold prices as well, sparked by geopolitical tensions and the Sino-US trade war.

    Chow Tai Fook has not specified exactly how many stores it will close, referring to “in the mid-teens” when asked.

    The stores are primarily located in areas popular with tourists, including Tsim Sha Tsui, Mongkok and Causeway Bay.

    Chow Tai Fook believes a trimmer store network will reduce overheads and improve margins after it experienced three consecutive quarters of declining same-store sales. In the three months to December 31, same-store sales fell 35 percent in value in Hong Kong and Macau and by 47 percent in volume.

    However on the mainland, sales rose 17 percent during the quarter, driven by the rapid expansion of the brand’s store network there; it added a net 279 stores. Same-store sales on the mainland rose by 2 percent.

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  • H&M launches Monki stores in the Philippines

    H&M launches Monki stores in the Philippines

    H&M Group is to launch Monki in the Philippines, the second Southeast Asian market for the Swedish fashion group’s diffusion brand.

    The first store for Monki in the Philippines will open later this year at SM Megamall in Manila and will be followed by a second at SM Mall of Asia.

    “Monki’s mission is to empower young women everywhere and help them feel good about themselves,” said Jennie Dahlin Hansson, MD at Monki. “We can’t wait to get to know a new market and welcome new customers to our global family.”

    Monki in the Philippines’ first store will be designed with glitter, mirrored walls and scallop detailing, in line with the brand’s format in Europe, according to a spokesperson.

    Founded in 2006 in Sweden, Monki joined the H&M group two years later. The company operates 127 stores across 19 countries and regions. The Philippines is the brand’s second destination in Southeast Asia after Malaysia.

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