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Tag: Alexander Wang

  • Second UNIQLO and alexander wang Collaboration Collection to Feature New AIRism Fabric

    Second UNIQLO and alexander wang Collaboration Collection to Feature New AIRism Fabric

    UNIQLO, the Japanese global apparel retailer, announces that it will begin rolling out a Spring/Summer 2019 collaboration collection with alexanderwang from Friday, April 12. The full collection will be available online and at Orchard Central Global Flagship Store, while selected items will be available in all stores. This second partnership with alexanderwang builds on the LifeWear commitment to making life better, bringing together the exceptional functionality of UNIQLO’s innovative AIRism fabric with alexanderwang’s sleek styling.

    Speaking ahead of the launch, Alexander Wang said, “Working with UNIQLO on the second season of the collaboration felt like there was a mutual understanding of not only aesthetics but of each other’s work ethic. It was easier coming together this time round to accomplish a similar goal from various touch-points. Innovation has always been at the forefront of our design and creative process, and functionality serves a huge purpose in the way our customers and I dress. Therefore, through the influence of innovation, technology and functionality, this special AIRism collection was born.”

    Keeping women comfortably stylish

    The collection adds new value to LifeWear by combining the year-round comfort of functional AIRism apparel with the signature alexanderwang look. Five of the 11 women’s items employ the sheerest-ever AIRism fabric, developed to feel like a “second skin.” During summer, women can enjoy camisoles and slips featuring a fabric so smooth, light and comfortable that they almost forget they are wearing them. Another fabric used in the women’s collection is a proprietary, new, seamless type of AIRism that is designed for both indoor and outdoor use. This new AIRism fabric is supportive but not constrictive, and is a perfect material for bras and even shorts to maintain comfort.

    First-ever cotton blend AIRism for men

    Men’s items include T-shirts and tank tops that incorporate a new fabric comprising a premium cotton finish and an AIRism interior. The fabric feels smooth and comfortable and is sufficiently thick so these innerwear items can also serve as regular outerwear. The men’s boxer briefs also use this fabric to enhance comfort on hot summer days. As seen in the previous season, the waistband is also adorned with the collaboration logo that wearers could casually show.

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  • The coolest men’s sneakers from Paris Fashion Week

    The coolest men’s sneakers from Paris Fashion Week

    Paris Fashion Week Men’s was not lacking in head-turning street-style looks this year. Attendees brought their sartorial A-game to take in new fall ’19 collections from the hottest designers. A guest paired trendy Off-White socks with shiny silver Maison Margiela sneakers that featured a chunky platform sole and an iridescent finish. Cuffed denim jeans highlighted the pairing perfectly.

    Elsewhere, a guest showed off J.W. Anderson’s new Converse collab sneakers, which feature a rubber jagged platform sole. The high-tops debuted on the catwalk at Anderson’s spring ’19 show.

    Meanwhile, Adidas x Alexander Wang Turnout Mint White runners caught our attention with its chunky midsole design, a mash-up inspired by several previous Adidas sneakers.

    The Nike x A-Cold-Wall Zoom Vomero +5, designed by Samuel Ross, undeniably stands out with its enlarged heel counter. The style, which dropped in November, blends retro and futuristic elements.

    Lastly, the oversized red and white contrast leather sneakers by Alexander McQueen, which Timothée Chalamet has worn on the red carpet, of course, made an appearance at fashion week.

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  • Jimmy Choo takes trademark action against Chu

    Jimmy Choo takes trademark action against Chu

    Jimmy Choo is taking a preemptive strike at some potential competition. Xianjie Zhu, a 19-year-old from Guangdong Province in China, goes by Jerry Chu at Central Saint Martins, where he’s a fashion student specialising in menswear.

    Last year, at the recommendation of his father, he applied to register his English name in Beijing in case he decided to use it to start a clothing line in the future. With two years left of school, Chu had not yet given starting a line any serious thought, he said.

    Last week, the footwear and accessories brand Jimmy Choo filed a request to invalidate Chu’s trademark, arguing that the similarities between the names Jimmy Choo and Jerry Chu would cause confusion in the market.

    The company cited previous trademarks it has successfully invalidated, for trademarks including Jenny Choo and Ray Choo.

    Susan Scafidi, founder and director of the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham University’s School of Law, said these disputes are common — so much so that she always urges young designers not to name their businesses after themselves.

    “Designers with common names in particular often have to engage in protracted legal disputes with companies who already own the same or similar names,” she said.

    But fashion consumers today are accustomed to distinguishing between namesake labels with similar names, such as Alexander Wang and Vera Wang, said Scafidi, and there is hope for independent designers.

    Last month, Thaddeus O’Neil, the surf-inspired menswear label, reached a settlement with surfwear brand O’Neill after more than four years of legal disputes between the two companies.

    Scafidi explained that a significant difference between those disputes and Jerry Chu’s situation is that in the US, trademarks must be used in commerce in order to be valid. Having an active business can also help demonstrate that a brand with a similar name is not producing similar products or “trademark squatting” in order to get a payout from a larger brand. Brands with global name recognition like Jimmy Choo are especially vigilant about trademark protection.

    “Jimmy Choo may well have assumed that the Jerry Chu registration was just another attempt to trade on the established Jimmy Choo name, since soundalike registrations are a particular problem in countries like China, whose primary writing system uses characters rather than letters,” said Scafidi.

    Chu and his lawyers will wait to see what the trademark committee decides, he said, hoping that the situation can be resolved quickly.

    The student posted the legal papers on Instagram this week, catching the attention of fashion’s social media watch dogs, Diet Prada, who echoed his frustration and spread the word.

    “I’m surprised so many people would care about me, an independent designer, a student,” he said.

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  • UNIQLO x ALEXANDER WANG Collection to be launced on November 9

    UNIQLO x ALEXANDER WANG Collection to be launced on November 9

    UNIQLO announced that it will launch the new UNIQLO and ALEXANDER WANG collaboration line in 20 countries and regions around the world on 9 November. In Singapore, the collection will first launch online at UNIQLO.com on 8 November and it will be available in stores from 9 November. The full range will be available at UNIQLO Orchard Central Global Flagship Store and through UNIQLO.com. Selected items will be available at all UNIQLO stores. The range takes the UNIQLO HEATTECH concept of enjoying light and fashionable dressing even in cold seasons and expresses it with new ideas, creating LifeWear that presents HEATTECH as more stylish wear.

    Two images from the launch campaign Warmth Reimagined depict products in an ice block. The metaphorical visual aims to express the thought that HEATTECH transcends the cold and is warm enough to melt away the ice it is encased in. The campaign speaks to the idea that, even though these items are technically ‘innerwear,’ they may be worn as ‘outerwear’ or as visible layers. There is no reason to hide these beautiful, warming garments. Hence Warmth Reimagined.

    The new collection of HEATTECH and HEATTECH Extra Warm items comprises fashionable innerwear with the original functionality of HEATTECH, allowing the wearer to be warm and stylish even in cold seasons. The silhouettes are sharp and slim overall, while the women’s tank top features a unique back design and can be styled with other pieces from the collection. HEATTECH underwear is available in both men’s and women’s lines for the first time. The men’s items include both briefs and boxers, while the women’s range has a bra and shorts. The waist is adorned with a logo, a design element for wearers to casually show.

    The collaboration line includes a range of colours from Alexander Wang’s classic black to neon green. The line also incorporates neo-futuristic elements and sporty styling, such as glossy rib materials reminiscent of 80s fashion. The visual presentation of the comfortable, bias weave fabric is another characteristic of this collection. The fabric itself uniquely changes with body movement, with V-shaped patterns appearing on the surface.

  • UNIQLO and Alexander Wang Collection Launched

    UNIQLO and Alexander Wang Collection Launched

    UNIQLO announced a new collaboration with top New York fashion designer Alexander Wang. The line brings Alexander Wang’s signature design and styling to UNIQLO’s HEATTECH functional apparel – LifeWear that has kept people warm and comfortable in winter since its debut in 2003.

    About the new collection, Alexander Wang said, “When I look into expanding into additional categories, I seek out partners that really can innovate the product we make and how our fans can access it. UNIQLO are the ideal partners for this collection of innerwear because we share an appreciation of functionality and utilitarianism, and I am thrilled our collaboration has resulted in developing a new HEATTECH line; the perfect place to pick up from where we left off ten years ago.”

    Yuki Katsuta, Group Senior Vice President of Fast Retailing and Head of UNIQLO R&D, commented, “Alexander first collaborated with UNIQLO ten years ago on the UNIQLO Designers Invitation Project. At the time he greatly impressed me with his ability to identify trends. I hope that consumers can enjoy this new dimension in HEATTECH, which takes our long-selling line beyond its innerwear origins by augmenting its functionality with Alexander’s inspiring design.”

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  • Joyce Boutique plunges into the red

    Joyce Boutique plunges into the red

    Listed fashion boutique operator Joyce Boutique says it will continue to take a cautious approach to business expansion and focus on consolidation of the Joyce multi-label business towards higher-productivity stores in the year ahead.

    It will renovate and expand the Joyce flagship store in Central and relocate the Shanghai Joyce flagship store to a bigger space within Plaza 66 to introduce a completely new look and unique shopping experience to customers.

    The move follows revelation of a HK$34.9 million half year loss for the company – a major turnaround from the $32.8 million profit in the same period last year.

    Sales slumped 10.9 per cent, and gross margin lost 3.5 percentage points, the company has reported to the stock exchange.

    “The persistent fall-off in customer spending on luxury goods in Hong Kong and Mainland China drove down the sales performance of the luxury retail market in the period. Depreciation of the euro and yen against the dollar and renminbi led to an increase in overseas shopping and online shopping for luxury goods and impacted on bricks-and-mortar local retailing.” the company said in its interim report.

    Joyce Boutique’s Hong Kong, turnover dropped by 10.3 per cent against the same period last year and accounted for 82.5 per cent of group turnover (2014: 81.9 per cent). Further impacted by declined gross margin and increased rental costs, the Hong Kong division incurred an operating loss of $12.6 million for the period (2014: a profit of $36.6 million).

    Mainland China turnover declined by 14.6 per cent versus the same period last year and operating results turned into a loss of $22.9 million from last year’s profit of $3.1 million, chiefly the result of a general decline in turnover and margin and an additional $7.6 million provision made for a loss making shop in Shanghai.

    Joyce Boutique inside

    The joint venture with Marni made a loss contribution of $1.0 million (2014: profit of HK$1.3 million) due to a drop in turnover and an increase in operating costs.

    “In view of the difficult trading environment, the group adopted a cautious shop strategy. While opening new shops for three potential brands as planned in the previous financial year (the first Hong Kong shop for Thom Browne at On Lan St, the first China shop for Sacai at Beijing Sanlitun and the first Macau shop for Alexander Wang at Galaxy Macau), the group closed certain non-performing shops to improve shop productivity,” the company reported.

    As well as the change in store focus and the renovation of the Hong Kong and Shanghai flagships, the company says it plans to further strengthen customer loyalty and drive sales from VIP customers through enhanced personal stylist services and the introduction of private customer mobile apps.

    Joyce Boutique says it expects the near term trading environment will remain “tough and challenging”.

    “Rental levels in prime shopping malls remain high relative to turnover. Online shopping and overseas shopping for luxury goods will continue to impact on bricks-and-mortar specialty retailing. In view of the challenges, the group will focus on driving cost efficiency and shop productivity, fashion editing and reducing business risks through taking cautious approach to business expansion and stock purchase planning.”

  • Sports fashion demand drives Stella sales

    Sports fashion demand drives Stella sales

    Shoe marketer Stella International has reported increased sales in the second quarter on the back of growing demand for sports fashion footwear.

    In the three months to September 30, consolidated revenue from its China retail business and its manufacturing operations amounted to US$569 million, up 4.3 per cent year on year. For the nine months to September 30, revenues totalled US$1.366 billion, an increase of 7.9 per cent.

    “Looking forward, the group expects orders for the group’s footwear products will pick up further towards the end of this year and the beginning of 2016, as its customers continue to expand their global presence and as demand for sports fashion footwear continues to grow,” the company said in a stock exchange filing.

    “Order levels will also be supported by greater efficiency and improved utilisation at the group’s production facilities in inland China and Southeast Asia.

    “The group cautiously expects shipment volumes to reach 58 million pairs by the end of 2015.”

    Stella produces shoes for brands including Clarks, Deckers, Ecco, Rockport, Timberland, Wolverine, Cole Haan, Guess, Jones Group, Kenneth Cole and Michael Kors. It also designs, develops and manufactures footwear for high-fashion brands including Alejandro Ingelmo, Alexander Wang, Armani, Bally, Balmain, Brian Atwood, Givenchy, Kenzo, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Marciano, Miu Miu, Paul Smith, Prada, Sigerson Morrison, Via Spiga and Y3.

    And taking advantage of its manufacturing expertise, the wide acceptance of Stella’s products by brand customers, the company has successfully expanded into the Chinese and global footwear retail market through its own brands Stella Luna, What For, JKJY by Stella and joint-venture brand, Pierre Balmain.

    Stella says it will continue to implement strict cost controls and efficiency improvement measures to preserve its profitability. This includes placing a renewed focus on leveraging its competitive strengths to pursue new promising product segments, such as sports fashion footwear.

    “The group also remains committed to building the long-term competitiveness of its retail business with the opening of new standalone stores and shops-in-shops in quality locations. It will also continue to boost its branding efforts in Europe to further grow the value of its brands among Chinese consumers.”

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