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Tag: asia

  • ‘Shoes: Pleasure and Pain’ ends Asia Tour in HK

    ‘Shoes: Pleasure and Pain’ ends Asia Tour in HK

    Pacific Place is delighted to be soon unveiling the critically-acclaimed V&A exhibition ‘Shoes: Pleasure and Pain’ in Hong Kong, taking place from 28 September to 28 October 2018.

    This Asia Debut Tour will see its finale at Pacific Place after successful showings across Swire Properties’ retail malls in Mainland China.

    The grand opening of the exhibition also kicks off a season of exceptional and exciting happenings to come in Pacific Place, following its recent launch of the brand refresh campaign ‘THIS IS THE PLACE’.

    ‘Shoes: Pleasure and Pain’ explores how shoes can cause both pain as well as pleasure for the wearer; and more importantly, how footwear choices reflect human and societal behaviour. Featuring over 140 pairs of shoes from around the globe and exhibits from as far back as 1st century BC, the exhibition demonstrates the different roles played by shoes across different cultures, occasions and histories. Exclusively featured in this Asia tour, co-curated by Swire Properties, are 14 pairs of shoes from leading actress and singer Karen Mok’s personal collection, which represent important milestones in her life and career.

    Alongside the exhibition, Pacific Place will bring a series of exciting activities to engage customers, including attractive instore shopping privileges and services, guided tours, workshops and many more.

    As a pioneer of innovative retail concepts in Hong Kong, Pacific Place continues to transform physical spaces into delightful immersive experiences that are ever more progressive.

    Bringing this world-class exhibition out of museum walls to a retail mall with free admission to the public, manifests Pacific Place’s dedication to elevating everyday moments through unique encounters of fashion, art and culture.

    ‘Shoes: Pleasure and Pain’ Explores the Power of Transformation
    This exhibition comprises of five sections:

    1. Transformation explores how shoes can transform our self-identities, the concept of shoes being empowering and how designs of modern-day, fairy-tale shoemakers magically transform the life of the wearer. Featured shoes include Cinderella’s slipper and David Beckham’s ‘Brooklyn’ football boots.

    2. Status examines how certain types of footwear began to denote specific social statuses across cultures, and hence dictate the way in which the wearer moves, how they are seen and even heard. Iconic designs by Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Roger Vivier for Christian Dior, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Vivienne Westwood, and shoes worn by Elton John and The Queen Mother are featured in this section.

    3. Seduction explores the mystery and secret of shoes from a more sensual aspect. Shoes on display represent an expression of desire, sexual empowerment or a source of pleasure.

    4. Creation leads a journey of shoes through design, sculpture and engineering both historically as well as those employing modern technological advances. Highlights in this section include exceptional designs by Zaha Hadid and shoe lasts of Princess Diana.

    5. Obsession explains how shoes are more than just commodity but also collectables to a designer shoe lover, trainer enthusiast or even a keen high-street consumer. Footwear obsessives do not acquire shoes as assets or investments, but for a fascination beyond measurable value.

    Helen Persson, curator of ‘Shoes: Pleasure and Pain’, said: “The exhibition demonstrates the transformative power of footwear; and how, more than any other aspect of dress, it has been used to express personality and capture identity. I believe this is a unique opportunity for audience to garner profound appreciations for art, fashion and footwear design.”

  • Chinese hotpot giant Haidilao preparing for Hong Kong IPO

    Chinese hotpot giant Haidilao preparing for Hong Kong IPO

    The Beijing-based firm, known for serving Sichuan-style spicy hotpot, is in the process of the pre-deal investor education (PDIE), during which analysts discuss the company’s valuation with potential investors.

    It will take orders from institutional investors today, according to people familiar with the matter. The IPO will be opened to retail investors on Wednesday.

    The hotpot company generated a first-half revenue of 7.3 billion yuan (US$1 billion) this year, up 54.4 per cent year on year, its listing prospectus showed. Net profit increased 17 per cent to 647 million yuan during the six month period.

    Funds raised from the IPO would be used to finance the company’s next three years of expansion, develop new technology and projects to enhance food safety and customer experience, as well as repay debt, it said.

    Haidilao, which owns 362 restaurants, has expanded its operations rapidly to cater to a growing middle class population whose consumption is considered an integral part of the country’s new economy sector.

    Recent volatility in the Hong Kong stock market, no thanks to the US-China trade war, currency turmoils in emerging markets and fear of further interest rate hikes, have dampened interest for new listings. This compared with the boom in the first eight months in which funds raised from IPOs totalled HK$187.6 billion (US$23.9 billion), representing a 161 per cent surge from the year-earlier period, according to data from the city’s stock exchange.

    By Friday’s market close, the 10 biggest IPOs in the past year – including China Tower, Xiaomi, ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance – all traded below their offer prices. The Hang Seng Index fell on Friday, posting a weekly loss of 3.3 per cent as a new round of US tariffs that could hit US$200 billion of Chinese goods looms.

    Other upcoming IPOs include investment bank China Renaissance, which aims to raise as much as US$400 million. It will begin its PDIE next week.

    Meituan Dianping, China’s largest on-demand online service platform, launched its offering this week in an attempt to raise US$4.4 billion. The stock is expected to start trading on September 20 on Hong Kong’s main board.

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  • Premium Apple reseller store EDigi opens in Vietnam

    Premium Apple reseller store EDigi opens in Vietnam

    Vietnam’s IPP Group has launched its first Apple premium reseller store EDigi, in Ho Chi Minh City.

    Located at 2 Cong Xa Paris, at the corner of Nguyen Du and Dong Khoi Streets, the 250sqm store is the first Apple’s one-stop shop in Vietnam. According to that, EDigi will provide products and warranty services for all Apple devices, including hand-carried ones.

    EDigi is also the first store in Vietnam to promise a maximum repair time of 48 hours, according to the group representative.

    IPP Group specialises in retail, travel retail, and F&B, offering brands including Rolex, Armani Exchange, Bally, Burger King and Domino’s Pizza in Vietnam.

    Its most recent deal was bringing Mothercare to Vietnam.

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  • Mulberry thinks big in South Korea with Seoul show

    Mulberry thinks big in South Korea with Seoul show

    Mulberry has set its sights firmly on Seoul and South Korea. After Tommy Hilfiger’s show in Shanghai, it is now the turn of the British luxury leather goods label to tread the catwalks in Asia.

    For four days, Mulberry will be staging a series of events in the South Korean capital, for its ‘Mulberry x Seoul’ operation. Top of the bill is a show scheduled on September 6 at 8 p.m. at the K Museum of Contemporary Art, which is broadcast live on Mulberry’s website and social media accounts.

    The show introduced the label’s ‘Eccentric Sensibility’ Autumn/Winter 2018-19 collection, with which creative director Johnny Coca seeks to explore “the mischievous, eccentric facet of British style.”

    Mulberry is keen for Koreans to discover its own brand of British eccentricity, “the by-product of a juxtaposition of historical and visual references.” The show will be followed by a gala evening organised by artist collective Studio Concrete and by renowned Seoul club Trunk, notably featuring star Korean DJ Peggy Gou.

    The public also enjoyed a comprehensive Mulberry experience, with events including British-themed cocktail parties, a selfie studio and films. For the occasion, the Museum of Contemporary Art will host a Mulberry pop-up store, with the chance to win gifts and, above all, one of the exclusive Small Harlow handbags from the latest collection – a limited edition of the model will be available in Korea for two weeks. In parallel, and until September 21, Seoul’s two 10 Corso Como concept stores will showcase a selection of Mulberry items from the new collection.

    “At a time when we are focusing on international expansion, this event will boost our distribution network in South Korea, which is already robust. We want to realise the brand’s potential in this crucial market, and to address more directly a generation that is young, curious and keen on digital tools,” said the CEO of Mulberry, Thierry Andretta, in a press release.

    Mulberry recently set up the Mulberry Korea joint-venture company with its long-standing South Korean partner SHK Holdings. The British label has a 60% stake in the company, which will manage its business in the country.

    The two partners are planning investments worth €5.22 million. Mulberry currently operates 18 retail outlets in South Korea, including concessions, outlet and duty-free stores and an e-tail site.

    In recent years, the luxury leather goods brand strengthened its presence in Asia by creating other joint-venture companies, in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. In the 2017-18 financial year, which closed on March 31, Mulberry generated a revenue of €192.61 million, up 1 percent, while its retail sales rose 3 percent, reaching €150 million.

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  • VN-Index sees highest gain in 2 months

    VN-Index sees highest gain in 2 months

    Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index closed up 1.52 percent on Tuesday, the highest in two months.

    It ended the day at 985.06, up 14.72 points.

    The HNX-Index on the Hanoi Stock Exchange and the UPCoM-Index for unlisted companies rose by 0.66 percent and 0.81 percent, respectively.

    The VN30-Index, representing the 30 largest stocks in terms of capitalization, also rose, reaching 958.91 points for a 1.65 percent gain.

    Several blue chips rose sharply, dairy giant Vinamilk (VNM) by 3.4 percent, PetroVietnam Gas (GAS) by 2.7 percent, Vietnam’s biggest private conglomerate Vingroup (VIC) by almost 2 percent, and budget carrier Vietjet Air (VJC) by 2.1 percent.

    Bank stocks joined in, with Vietcombank (VCB), BIDV (BID) and Vietinbank (CTG) all rising by 1.6-3.8 percent.

    ACB, HDBank (HDB), VPBank (VPB), and VIB also closed in the green.

    After crossing the 1, 200-point mark on April 9, the VN-Index slumped. In the second quarter it plunged 18.19 percent, making it the worst-performing market in the world.

    Since then, it has not hit four figures again, with the 1, 000 expected to be a major psychological resistance level.

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  • Lego China plans major expansion

    Lego China plans major expansion

    Lego China to accelerate its expansion following double-digit revenue growth in the first half of this year.

    The toy maker and retailer will open two new flagships in Beijing and Shanghai respectively within the next few months. Lego’s first mainland flagship launched at the Shanghai Disney Resort two years ago, and the company hopes to have 60 locations running before next year.

    Lego’s senior VP Jacob Kragh expressed significant optimism for the company’s potential in China, stating that there was “no limit” in what Chinese parents might be prepared to pay for educational toys.

    The move comes in the wake of Lego’s new video channel partnership with tech giant Tencent Holdings, which will release a game later in the year.

    Lego China’s growth has already exceeded that in both Europe and the US and is accordingly the focus for Lego’s immediate expansion.

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  • Céline changes name to ‘Celine’

    Céline changes name to ‘Celine’

    Céline is no more ‘Céline’. The French luxury house has lost its acute accent on the ‘e’ in its original name, rebranding as the simpler ‘Celine’.

    The new logo comes with a teaser shot of a look from the Paris label’s upcoming collection, which has been created with its new creative director Hedi Slimane at the design helm.

    Celine’s entire social media presence has been deleted and its Instagram has been left with just one image: a gold-coloured curtain, with the name “Celine” in black capital letters on a white background, the first ‘e’ with no acute accent.

    The LVMH group’s luxury label explained the newest look and logo, following Slimane’s appointment at the label in January, to head up womenswear, the future menswear line, haute couture and fragrances.

    “The new logo is inspired by the historic logo of the 1960s, featuring a modernist lettering dating back to the 1930s. The accent on the first ‘e’ is gone, signalling a focus on pared-down purity, as in the collections of the 1960s,” explained the label in the Instagram post.

    In the same week, Celine has unofficially enlisted Lady Gaga as brand ambassador. The pop star was snapped in the street modelling its first item designed by Hedi Slimane, a new handbag model.

    Celine’s first Hedi Slimane catwalk show is scheduled in Paris on the evening of Friday September 28.

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  • Takashimaya Bangkok is opening soon

    Takashimaya Bangkok is opening soon

    The long-awaited Takashimaya Bangkok department store will open in November.

    The Japanese retailer’s seven-story shop will be a key anchor of the IconSiam shopping centre under construction on the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

    IconSiam says the store will have 36,000sqm of space, offering “an authentic Japanese experience with modern, playful and exciting twist”.

    Kenji Horiguchi, MD of Siam Takashimaya (Thailand) says the store will deliver a new experience to customers who like authentic Japanese items.

    “With an extensive selection of quality products to serve people of all ages, the store carries more than 500 brands, 180 of which are well-known Japanese brands and 80 new to Thailand,” he said.

    An entire floor is dedicated to Japanese food, including a supermarket selling high-quality ingredients and premium restaurants.

    “As a highlight of this floor, Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza, a local specialty shop, will excite shoppers with fresh produces, sweets and delicacies,” said Horiguchi. There is also a tourism booth located on this floor for the island of Hokkaido.

    Another floor of Takashimaya Bangkok will be devoted to beauty products and perfume along with beauty-related services. There will be floors for women’s and men’s clothing.

    The last floor provides kid’s products, home products and restaurants.

    “The department store, preserving a Japanese charm, has chic cafes on each floor for shoppers to take a break after the shopping spree,” said Horiguchi.

  • Tesco signs up Jamie Oliver for healthier eating drive

    Tesco signs up Jamie Oliver for healthier eating drive

    Tesco and Jamie Oliver have joined up to “help make healthier choices a little easier for customers”.

    In his first act for the UK retailer, the celebrity chef and restaurateur will front Tesco’s ‘helpful little swaps’ in store, where healthier alternatives offer reduced levels of sugar, salt and fat, as well as being cheaper for customers. A basket of ‘helpful little swaps’ will cost 12 per cent less than a regular basket.

    The Tesco and Jamie Oliver partnership has been forged in the wake of research by the grocer showing seven in 10 families want supermarkets to help them lead healthier lives and make healthier choices more affordable.

    Oliver said the survey results back up what he hears from his audience every single day: “Britain wants to know how to enjoy more of the good stuff, in easy fun and delicious ways. This makes this partnership one of the most exciting opportunities to actually get Britain eating and celebrating more of their five fruit and veges a day.

    “I’m going to work really hard to respond to the different seasons and what the customer is asking for, by creating exciting meals, shortcuts and tips that get people really fired up to cook. Tesco’s part is to make it easier and more affordable.”

    Alessandra Bellini, chief customer officer at Tesco, said: “Jamie’s passion and skill to inspire a nation to cook, coupled with our experience and reach in providing millions of customers and colleagues with healthy, quality, affordable ingredients will be a great combination to help people take simple steps to leading healthier lives. This is a natural step in our ongoing work to make healthier eating a little easier.”

    As part of the partnership, a series of healthier recipes and tips will be in store and online created for Tesco by Oliver. Many of the ingredients from the recipes will be reduced in price and placed together for convenience for customers – with a focus on British fruit and vegetables.

    Oliver said that during the past few years, under its new leadership, Tesco has consistently raised the bar when it comes to so many important initiatives: from food waste, to leading on industry reformulation and helping kids eat more fruit with its brilliant Free Fruit for Kids in-store program.

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  • Korean culture inspires Louis Vuitton

    Korean culture inspires Louis Vuitton

    Stylist Seo Young-hee has designed a special edition trunk for Louis Vuitton, influenced by Korea’s traditional marriage culture.

    Seo, who worked as a stylist for Vogue Korea before switching to work as an artistic director of fashion on a project basis, is known for combining Korean traditional crafts with modern fashion. She was inspired by the luxury brand’s “Volez Voguez Voyagez” exhibition in Seoul last year.

    At the exhibition, one of the brand’s signature trunks was decorated like a “hahm” using objects placed inside and outside it, Seo said. A hahm is a special box containing presents that is traditionally sent to a Korean bride’s house by the groom before the wedding.

    From last November, she discussed the project with a director from Louis Vuitton’s Special Order Trunk team. After a nearly yearlong project, a Wardrobe Trunk and a Cabinet Trunk were created.

    It is the first time that Louis Vuitton, known for its bespoke trunks for special occasions, has made a trunk influenced by Korean tradition.

    The trunks, decorated with traditional Korean fabric and embroidery, carry special ornaments related to the hahm tradition. The cabin size trunk was designed to be lower in height compared to other products, considering that hahm are usually carried on the back.

    “It was an unforgettable experience to visit a workshop in Asnieres, France, and talk about trunk-making with an artisan who worked with respect for and interest in Korean traditional culture,” Seo said.

    The limited edition hahm trunk can be custom ordered at local Louis Vuitton stores.

  • Guess Asia sales up on strong comps

    Guess Asia sales up on strong comps

    Guess Inc. announced on Wednesday that its total second-quarter sales lifted by double digits, pushed on by comparable sales growth in Europe and Asia.

    The Los Angeles-based company said total revenues increased 14% to $645.9 million with Asia recording the highest growth percentage in the quarter.

    Total revenues in the region lifted 32%, while comparable sales gained 17% while Europe revenues gained 22%. However, the Americas fell 2%, in retail terms, but lifted 5% in the wholesale segment, said Guess.

    Operating margins and net earnings for the period ending August 4, 2018, were pushed on by favourable currency exchanges. Indeed, net earnings rose 67.8 per cent from a year ago to $15.2m, or 31 cents a share.

    “I am pleased to report that our second quarter results finished above the high-end of our expectations for adjusted operating margin and adjusted earnings per share,” said Victor Herrero, Guess’s Chief Executive Officer, adding that he was “pleased by the momentum we are experiencing across the globe.”

    Looking ahead, the company plans to see positive comp growth across all of its regions, including a slight gain in the Americas. Elsewhere, comps in Asia and Europe are expected to grow in the low teens and mid-single digits, respectively.

    Finally, for the full fiscal year, Guess sees revenue climbing between 8.5% and 9.5%, marking an increase from its previous guidance for 7% to 8% growth, with adjusted earnings per share of $0.88 to $0.99.

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  • OnTheList launches in Singapore

    OnTheList launches in Singapore

    Hong Kong’s OnTheList flash-sale concept has launched in Singapore.

    The first OnTheList Singapore sale will run from September 19 to 22 in Ngee Ann City Tower B.

    It marks the first overseas foray by the independent, members-only flash-sale concept platform, founded in 2016 by French entrepreneurs, Delphine Lefay and Diego Dultzin Lacoste.

    OnTheList contracts to brands to move excess inventories in short-term sales, with discounts as high as 90 per cent. By selling to a pre-registered, members-only audience, the sales do not undermine those at mainstream stores, or clutter them with racks of off-price merchandise.

    Consumers enrol to attend sales online, with options of free access or a paid premium membership giving advance access to sales.  A separate website has been built for OnTheList Singapore.

    “When I was working in Hong Kong’s retail industry, there was an absence of options for distributors and brands to clear old inventory occupying valuable warehouse space,” explains Delphine Lefay. “To fill this gap, we founded OnTheList as an independent third-party platform and it was the first of its kind in Asia.

    “Through flash sales we hosted, we offered consumers access to premium products at attractive prices, and brands the opportunity to clear past-season items and connect with new customers,” she adds.

    Dultzin Lacoste says this method of clearing stock also promotes sustainability and minimises environmental impact within the retail industry, as old inventory does not go to waste.

    “OnTheList’s business model also gives brands the opportunity to reach out to a wider consumer database, engaging them through the flash sale platform as a first touch point.”

    In just two years, the business has gone from a few pop-up sales to over 150 flash sales and partnerships with over 250 premium brands, including Armani, Clarins, Diane Von Furstenberg, Ferragamo, Kenzo, Roberto Cavalli, and Ted Baker Le Creuset and Havaianas. In Hong Kong, OnTheList now has a permanent venue for its flash sales, but has grown so big it still needs short-term venues, often running multiple sales concurrently.

    OnTheList has now cleared more than 1 million items from its brand partners – and in one four-day sale last year it sold a pair of Havaianas every six seconds.

    OnTheList Singapore will launch with monthly pop-up sales, announcing participating brands just 10 days prior to the sale.

    “We are expanding into Singapore because its retail market has many similarities with Hong Kong’s,” says Lefay.

    OnTheList Singapore also hopes to tap into the large tourism market, as tourism receipts in the city have reached record highs during the past two years.

    “As visitor arrivals from China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam have increased tremendously, it is an opportune time for OnTheList to attract high spenders from the region and to use Singapore as a launchpad for future expansion in Asia and beyond.”

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  • Pandora’s 2018 achievements

    Pandora’s 2018 achievements

    Environmental, social, and governance concerns are growing everyday and progressively taking a e prominent place in business decisions across all industries.

    The demand for investing strategies based on ESG, factors is being driven by women and millennials, who, by 2025, will make up three-quarters of the workforce.

    Morgan Stanley’s annual ESG rating of the fashion industry once again found Pandora ahead of the heard. Indeed, for the second year in a row, the Danish jewellery manufacturer and retailer ranked ahead of renowned companies such as Kering, Adidas, Nike, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Dior and Hermes.

    Source: Morgan Stanley

    Pandora is praised for their responsible purchasing of gold and silver and for excellent labour conditions.

    Trine Pondal, Pandora’s Head of Sustainability, renewed the company’s wish to make “jewellery as sustainable as possible, while also making sure that our employees all over the world enjoy good working conditions”.

    “We believe that our initiatives in this area not only benefit Pandora but also our suppliers and the rest of the jewellery industry”, he said.

    Pandora’s work in the ESG field has been made possible through close monitoring of the company’s process from manufacturing to distributing.

    As part of the company’s strategy to increase its own operated retail footprint in important markets, Pandora is taking back complete ownership of the brand in Greater China as it today signed an agreement with Carrera Corporation to acquire its Pandora store network in Taiwan on 1 January 2019.

    With the agreement, Pandora will add five concept stores and 14 shop-in-shops to its retail network giving the company complete ownership of the brand and distribution in Greater China (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan).

    Pandora will pay approximately HKD 120 million (DKK 100 million) in cash for the assets. The sell-out revenue in Taiwan was HKD 240 million in 2017.

    Kenneth Madsen, President of Asia Pacific in Pandora, believes “having complete ownership in Greater China will support Pandora’s growth and development strategy in the entire Asia Pacific region”.

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  • Hong Kong’s Kam’s Roast opens in Indonesia

    Hong Kong’s Kam’s Roast opens in Indonesia

    Hong Kong-based restaurant Kam’s Roast has now opened in Indonesia.

    The franchise, which also has branches in Singapore and the Philippines, has been recognised in the Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau for the past four years.

    Launching in Pantai Indah Kapuk – a neighbourhood in northern Jakarta – the eatery features local roasts garnished with sauces imported from Hong Kong.

    The website for the brand in its home territory – where it is known as Kam’s Roast Goose – describes the brand as a third-generation business originally launched in 1942 under the name Yung Kee Restaurant.

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  • AirAsia Malaysia completes IATA operational safety audit

    AirAsia Malaysia completes IATA operational safety audit

    AirAsia Malaysia has been officially recognised as an International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registered operator, following the completion of the IOSA audit.

    AirAsia Malaysia is the third airline within AirAsia Group to achieve IOSA accreditation, after AirAsia X Malaysia in 2014 and AirAsia Indonesia last month, it said in a statement today.

    AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat said this accreditation by a globally recognised safety benchmark demonstrates the airline commitment to safe and secure operations.

    “Safety is our top priority, and we will continue working hard to ensure we maintain the highest levels of operational integrity,” Riad added.

    Meanwhile, AirAsia Group head of safety Capt Ling Liong Tien said the group is targeting to have its remaining Asean short-haul airlines in the group undergo the IOSA audit by early next year.

    IOSA is an internationally recognised and accepted evaluation system designed to assess an airline’s operational management and control systems and is regarded by the industry as the global benchmark for safety management.

    The audit, conducted bienially, covers eight functional and operational areas: organisation and management system, flight operations, operational control and flight dispatch, aircraft engineering and maintenance, cabin operations, ground handling operations, cargo operations and security management.