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Tag: clothes

  • Zara parent posts US$229m first-half loss during Covid-19

    Zara parent posts US$229m first-half loss during Covid-19

    Zara-owner Inditex posted a net loss of US$229 million during the six months to 31 July, after a successful second quarter largely helped mitigate a disastrous start to the year.

    The first three months suffered a $481 million loss due to the sudden impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, while the second quarter rebounded to a profit of $253 million.

    Online sales soared 74 percent during the same period, as with many businesses during the pandemic, as customers moved online while up to 87 percent of the business’ stores were closed.

    Inditex executive chairman Pablo Isla said he is pleased with the online result, and that it shows the importance of an integrated omnichannel strategy.

    “This is a cornerstone of our unique business model with three key pillars – flexibility, digital integration, and sustainability,” Isla said.

    “Day to day this combination is proving its solidness.”

    The third quarter has continued to see a return to normalcy, the business said. Online sales have continued growing sharply, while store sales are recovering. Sales from August 1 to September 6 are improving, however down 11 percent year on year.

    And a number of new omnichannel initiatives that launched in the first half will be furthered moving forward, such as a plan to shut down smaller stores and absorb them into larger format locations that lend themselves better to an integrated model.

    During the first half 72 stores were refurbished, 35 of which were store expansions.

    Last week the business launched ‘Store Mode’, which saw 25 of its stores across Spain offer new features to customers using the Zara app: Click & Go, Click & Find, and Click & Try.

    Click & Go allows a click and collect offer that will see a product ready to be picked up within 30 minutes, Click & Find allows customers to find garments in-store using a RFID-enabled store map, while Click & Try allows customers to book time in a fitting room to avoid waiting.

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  • H&M says it’s straightening its back from Covid-19

    H&M says it’s straightening its back from Covid-19

    Global fashion retailer H&M had warned its preliminary third-quarter results may well be below that of the previous corresponding period – but it beat profit forecasts and has recovered much faster than expected.

    The company’s pre-tax profit for the quarter to August 31 was US$227.3 million, well below the $570 million from the previous corresponding period. H&M attributed the success to selling more goods at full-price, combined with strong cost controls.

    “As a result of appreciated collections together with rapid and decisive actions, the H&M group’s recovery is better than expected,” the retailer said in a statement.

    For the period, H&M group’s net sales decreased by 16 percent in local currencies compared with the corresponding period last year.

    The company said the improving sales through the quarter reflected the Covid-19 situation: at the beginning of the quarter, about 900 of the group’s more than 5000 stores were temporarily closed. At the end of the quarter, the other stores had reopened and only about 200 stores remained temporarily closed.

    The final results for the third quarter will be published on October 1.

    Meanwhile, the company denied it had any ties with a Chinese yarn producer over accusations of “forced labor” that involves ethnic and religious minorities from China’s Xinjiang province, according to a report.

    The report stated the fashion retailer specified it didn’t work with any garment factories in the area and would no longer source cotton from Xinjiang, China’s largest cotton-growing region.

  • Dunhill opens new outlet in Macau

    Dunhill opens new outlet in Macau

    British luxury menswear label Dunhill has opened a new store at Wynn Palace in Macau.

    The Dunhill Wynn Palace opening is part of the brand’s expansion strategy in Asia, according to the company.

    The store features a contemporary yet elegant design with modern elements such as its signature marble, leather, and metal details.

    Inspired by the Dunhill’s 1950s South Rodeo Drive store, the Wynn Palace store’s facade features the brand’s logo under a grey marble background and floor-to-ceiling glass walls.

    The store also houses a walnut burl cabinet and table inspired by the original furniture from London’s Duke Street and Paris’ Rue de la Paix stores.

    The Dunhill store in Macau offers a selection of luxury menswear by creative director Mark Weston, including ready-to-wear, leather goods, and accessories.

  • 7-Eleven launches apparel range with Forever 21

    7-Eleven launches apparel range with Forever 21

    Forever 21 has teamed with 7-Eleven to launch a casual apparel range, featuring the US convenience chain’s famous logo and soft drinks.

    The US-released 7-Eleven apparel collection comprises 16 colorful pieces, including regular Tees and hoodies, representing the convenience-store chain’s summer drinks – Slurpee and Big Gulp.

    “7-Eleven is a modern breathing brand, but also a nostalgic phenomenon for many,” said Joanna Choo, global creative director at Forever 21.

    “Forever 21 echoes this mindset by presenting a collaboration for its customers that pays homage to everyone’s favorite memory of being out, but staying close to home, heading out for a quick snack run with friends, and finding comfort in the little things.

    “During this time, it makes sense to create a capsule that’s about being cozy but stylist,” she said.

    Forever 21 has launched several promotions on Instagram and TikTok, including a dance challenge, poll, games, and sweepstakes. A Slurpee AR hologram in the Forever 21 app allows followers to take photos and share on social media.

    “When this year turned everyone’s summer plans on their head, including our free Slurpee drink birthday celebration, we were thrilled to add some sizzle to the summer through our collaboration with Forever 21,” said Marissa Jarratt, chief marketing officer and senior VP at 7-Eleven.”

    The Forever 21 x 7-Eleven collection is sold only online.

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  • Esprit set to post US$503 million loss

    Esprit set to post US$503 million loss

    Enfeebled clothing retailer Esprit has just advised shareholders it expects to post a loss of US$503.2 million when it releases its annual results late next month.

    With its European subsidiaries operating under a form of statutory administration and its shares trading for 12 cents each in Hong Kong today, many investors must by now be wondering if the chain has any reason to continue trading.

    The company said the loss was primarily attributable to the impact of Covid-19 which it blamed for a 24-per-cent decline in revenue from $1.66 billion last financial year to about $1.277 billion this year and another $310 million in impairments on trademarks, property, plant and equipment, provisions for store closures and severance payments.

    Falling sales and massive losses are not the company’s only worries right now. On July 8, Karen Lo of the family that founded Vitasoy called a special meeting of shareholders to vote on the immediate removal of Esprit’s CEO Anders Christian Kristiansen along with CFO and director, Dr Johannes Georg Schmidt-Schultes from the board.

    Lo’s investment vehicle North Point Talent Ltd had spent $17 million boosting its stake in the company from 4.93 percent to just under 13 percent, making it the single largest shareholder before it lodged the requisition. That was withdrawn on July 21 by which time North Point had built its stake to 20.1 percent.

    In an apparent compromise, the board appointed North Point nominees Marc Andreas Tschirner, Christin Chiu Su Yi and Wong Hung Wai as additional executive directors of the company and subsequently declared it had “strong confidence in the Group CEO and Group CFO as well as their management team”

    Earlier in July, Esprit said it would axe 1100 jobs, mostly in Europe, and close another 50 German stores under its court-protected administration process. The company had closed all its Asian by the end of June in an earlier round of cuts as it attempted to reverse years of losses driven by a long-standing inability to design clothes that appeal to its core customer base.

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  • Hong Kong leads ‘drastic’ drop in sales for Giordano

    Hong Kong leads ‘drastic’ drop in sales for Giordano

    A “drastic” drop in sales has led apparel retailer Giordano International to record a US$22.6 million loss in the six months to June, of which $13.2 million alone was attributable to its Hong Kong operations.

    The company said in a stock-exchange filing that post-June 30, sales have begun to recover, but while it continues to assess the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on its operations it is too soon to project its full-year performance.

    Last year’s first half saw the company report a net profit of $20.8 million.

    Group-wide sales fell by 44.4 percent for the half-year to $182 million, with the impact of Covid-19 beginning in January in Mainland China, leading to a ban on cross-border travel from Mainland China into Hong Kong and Macau.

    Non-cash provisions relating to Hong Kong accounting laws also contributed to the loss.

    Online sales surged 93.8 percent during the six months to $17.9 million, accounting for 9.8 percent of total group turnover, nearly double the share of the same period last year.

    Giordano’s chairman and CEO Peter Lau said the group will continue to focus on third-party online platforms for future growth.

    Giordano operated 2187 stores at the end of June.

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  • Uniqlo same-store sales up 4 percent in July on stay-at-home demand

    Uniqlo same-store sales up 4 percent in July on stay-at-home demand

    Casual fashion brand Uniqlo’s Japanese same-store sales rose 4 percent year on year in July as consumers stocked up on comfortable “stay at home” clothes amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, its owner, Fast Retailing Co, said.

    The rise in domestic same-store sales, including online purchases, followed a 26-per-cent jump in June, which came after a three-month slump when the coronavirus outbreak kept shoppers at home and tourists away.

    “Stay at home demand” lifted July sales, with items such as stretchy jogging pants and oversized T-shirts proving popular, the company said.

    Analysts have said Uniqlo’s focus on practical, everyday clothes rather than more on-trend fashion may help it weather the coronavirus downturn better than global peers.

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  • Jason Wu opens first store in Shanghai

    Jason Wu opens first store in Shanghai

    Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu has opened his first global flagship boutique in Shanghai, China.

    Located at IFC Mall, the flagship store features a sophisticated design created by architect Andre Mellone. The studio previously designed a Jason Wu shop-in-shop at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York and the Jason Wu fragrance bottle.

    The store facade features a floor-to-ceiling glass wall and a digital screen illustrating the brand’s name. Gold color and marble patterns are used liberally in the Jason Wu boutique’s design such as gold metal racks and frames, gold rose marble walls, and marble display tables.

    A black wooden table and a large carpet are placed at the store’s center.

    The Jason Wu Shanghai boutique houses a wide range of fashion items and fragrances.

    Jason Wu is known for designing dresses worn by former First Lady Michelle Obama on several occasions, including those worn during the first and second inauguration of her husband, President Barack Obama.

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  • Uniqlo goes local for Singapore’s National Day

    Uniqlo goes local for Singapore’s National Day

    Uniqlo Singapore has collaborated with local artists to celebrate the country’s 55th National Day on August 9. The Japanese apparel retailer has teamed with Singaporean embroidery patch designers, Pew Pew Patches, to give customers free iron-on transfers as a gift. Three designs featuring Sanrio’s characters will be exclusively launched by Uniqlo Singapore.

    The Sanrio patches giveaway promotion coincides with the launch of Uniqlo’s FW 2020 Sanrio characters UT Collection for women and girls, which starts on August 3.

    According to the company, one patch is redeemable per customer, with a minimum purchase of two original-priced UTs from the Sanrio character collections and US$44 spend.

    Tying in with the Singapore Food Festival, Uniqlo has also collaborated with the Singapore Tourism Board and local artist Mandy Kew to launch new food designs for its UTme! T-shirts.

    Mandy Kew has created eight designs featured on UTme! shirts, which will be included in the festival’s media packs. Themed ‘Food, With Passion’, the designs of local famous dishes consist of Laksa, Kaya Toast and Kopi, Kueh Salat, Mee Siam, Kueh Tutu, Roti Prata, Chicken Rice, and Nasi Lemak.

    “Mandy Kew carved out her niche by tapping into her passion for food to draw realistic (and yummy-looking) food using watercolors, resulting in a nostalgic look that will leave you craving for food,” the company said in a statement. “With her passion and in-depth knowledge of local food, and her unique realistic drawing style, she is a good and apt choice for this collaboration.”

    The UTme! booth is exclusively at the Uniqlo Orchard Central Flagship Store.

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  • Sundae Kids launches line focusing on gender equality

    Sundae Kids launches line focusing on gender equality

    Thailand’s illustrator couple, Sundae Kids, has launched a fashion line contributing to gender equality. The collection was designed from a unisex perspective, focusing on a streetwear look for both men and women comprising 19 clothing and accessory items, and is sold on an e-commerce shopping space called Open/End.

    “We wanted to use the designs to show ways to be authentic to your true self, as well as how good it feels to be authentic,” Sundae Kids said in a statement. “…this opportunity allowed us to broaden our scope to a more diverse reach, and the designs are envisioned to suit anyone of any gender.”

    Open/End is a platform designed for young artists to express their individual voices through graphics and craftsmanship. Sundae Kids line is the first Open/End’s collaboration.

    “Through this collaboration, we have worked closely with Sundae Kids to establish original stories through comics to raise awareness of gender equality,” Open/End said on its website.

    Sundae Kids is a couple based in Bangkok, Thailand, with more than 550,000 global fans. Kavin serves as the pair’s art director, and Pratchaya is an illustrator.

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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.

  • 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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  • Uniqlo to open its 24th store in Australia early September

    Uniqlo to open its 24th store in Australia early September

    Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo will open a new store in the country at Bondi Junction this September, taking its store count in Australia to 24.

    The new store at Westfield Bondi Junction, which will span 1323sqm, will be the retailer’s ninth store in New South Wales.

    Uniqlo said this store will feature the biggest LED screen installation ever seen in the retailer’s Australian stores and will offer a full line-up of the brand’s LifeWear apparel for men, women, kids and babies.

    Kensuke Suwa, company chief operating officer, said since they’ve opened their first store in Australia in 2014, they have been able to consistently grow their retail footprint by leveraging their keen understanding of the local consumer and ensuring their products align with their needs.

    “We hope to keep the momentum going and look forward to making the brand even more accessible to Australians,” Suwa said.

    “We are excited by this milestone of bringing LifeWear from Tokyo to a truly iconic location in Australia and are looking forward to becoming a positive part of the Bondi community”

    This Uniqlo store is its eighth store with the Westfield Group, following Hurstville, Hornsby, Chatswood, Parramatta, Miranda, Chermside and Carousel.

  • Vitasoy family behind bid to oust Esprit management

    Vitasoy family behind bid to oust Esprit management

    Hong Kong-listed apparel retailer Esprit is facing a boardroom stoush seeking the immediate removal of CEO Anders Christian Kristiansen who is leading a restructuring of the long-ailing business.

    Trading in Esprit shares was suspended yesterday and this morning the company revealed that North Point Talent Ltd, now its largest shareholder with a nearly 13-per-cent stake, has sought an urgent extraordinary shareholder meeting to vote on the exit of Kristiansen and another director, Dr Johannes Georg Schmidt-Schultes.

    North Point is an investment vehicle of Karen Lo, a descendent of the family which founded the Vitasoy business.

    The move comes as North Point has boosted its holding in Esprit from 4.93 percent at a cost of US$17 million. After exceeding the 10-per-cent threshold, the investor has the right to call an extraordinary general meeting.

    The move reflects North Point’s lack of confidence in the current management team and a move to replace it with new leadership – and could signal a takeover bid is in the wind, despite Esprit’s European business effectively-being in bankruptcy protection.

    Last week Esprit revealed plans to axe 1200 jobs and close 50 stores in Germany under the court-protected administration process. The company had closed all of its stores in Asia by the end of last month in an earlier round of cuts as it attempts to reverse years of losses driven by a long-standing inability to design clothes that appeal to its core customer base.

    North Point is also seeking the appointment of Marc Andreas Tschirner, Christian Chiu, and Wai Wong as executive directors of the company with immediate effect.

    The precise reasoning behind the removals and appointments are detailed in a statement filed along with the meeting request, but these have not been made public as yet.

    “The board is looking into the allegations made by the requisitionist and will seek legal advice if necessary,” Esprit company secretary Ophelia Lo said in a stock-exchange filing.

    The trading halt was lifted this morning.

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  • Burberry realigns business units, names new ready-to-wear head

    Burberry realigns business units, names new ready-to-wear head

    Burberry is reorganizing its creative team as the luxury label welcomes back Adrian Ward-Rees to lead its ready-to-wear business.

    The British-based luxury retailer will set up three new business units – ready-to-wear, accessories, and shoes and says it plans to “pool expertise within them” to improve its focus on products and improve quality.

    “The changes we intend to make will ensure we have the right structures in place as we enter the next phase of our strategy,” said CEO Marco Gobbetti.

    Ward-Rees held the role of senior VP and MD of Dior Homme with Christian Dior for the last four years and previously worked at Hong Kong-headquartered Lane Crawford, along with a merchandising role with Burberry.

    He takes up the new role as senior VP ready-to-wear on July 20, based in London and reporting to Gobbetti.

    “I am delighted to welcome back Adrian to Burberry to lead our newly created Ready-to-Wear business unit,” said Gobbetti.

    “Embedding product specialization will enable us to elevate quality and increase our agility, further supporting the momentum we have built across our brand and product and setting us up for future success as markets begin to recover.”