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Tag: Fashion

  • Esprit Holdings shares worth HK$900m given to sisters

    Esprit Holdings shares worth HK$900m given to sisters

    Former Esprit Holdings chairman Michael Ying Lee-yuen has transferred all 211.8 million shares he owned in the fashion group, worth HK$900 million (US$115 million), to his two daughters.

    Ying, the husband of former movie star Lin Ching-hsia, transferred the shares to the company Total Market, according to a Hong Kong stock exchange disclosure of interests filing.

    His daughters Claudine Lauren Ying, 29, and Eileen Ying, 20, each own half of Total Market. Neither daughter has previously owned Esprit shares, but the transactions makes them jointly the brand’s second-largest shareholder with a 10.97 per cent stake.

    Their 67-year-old father no longer owns any Esprit shares. He joined the fashion group in the 1970s and played a key role in building it into a global brand. He stepped down as head in 2006, and had sold most of his stake by 2010.

    Ying has a net worth of about US$2.4 billion, Forbes estimates.

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  • Claudie Pierlot sees Asia as ‘next growth vector’

    Claudie Pierlot sees Asia as ‘next growth vector’

    After consolidating its presence in Europe, fashion label Claudie Pierlot sees strong potential in Asia, particularly China.

    It is the smallest of the three labels owned by SMCP group, with Maje and Sandro already well established. Claudie Pierlot joined the group in 2009, and in the past three fiscal years has grown sales by nearly 30 per cent. It topped the €100 million revenue mark last year.

    Accounting for 16 per cent of the group’s total revenue of €786 million (US$933 million) last year, the label is expected to increase by yet another 30 per cent this year.

    Claudie Pierlot is opening between 20 and 30 retail outlets a year, half of them ‘corners’ and half monobrand stores, most directly owned. This rate of expansion has brought the label’s total network to 200.

    Claudie Pierlot GM Isabelle Allouch says the label is already growing in Asia given its style and accessible luxury positioning.

    After being acquired by Chinese group Shandong Ruyi, SMCP has a solid infrastructure in the region and is pushing hard to speed up brand development there. As a result, Claudie Pierlot has opened 10 stores in the past 12 months, in Hong Kong, Mainland China and South Korea.

    More stores are expected to follow in each of these countries on account of SMCP’s impending stock exchange listing. “The region is clearly our next major growth vector,” says Allouch.

    Claudie Pierlot was previously established in Japan, thanks to partnerships set up by its founder before the label was bought by SMCP. “We are entering countries one by one, so we will first concentrate on China. Japan will come later,” says Allouch.

    As well as working on its retail network, the label is also busy in the accessories category, which it wants to grow to become 10 per cent of the business. As well as footwear, it last month added a signature handbag to its product line.

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  • H&M invests in ‘new unique’ recycling technology

    H&M invests in ‘new unique’ recycling technology

    H&M Group has also invested in new unique recycling technology, after partnering with Swedish company re:newcell whose unique technology recycles used cotton, viscose and other cellulosic fibers into a new, more sustainable dissolving pulp.

    The pulp can be turned into new textile fibers and be fed into the textile production cycle.

    H&M said the partnership is another step towards H&Ms goal to use 100 per cent recycled or other sustainably sourced material by 2030.

    “Re:newcell´s technology has the potential to become a commercial and scalable solution for the industry and accelerate the journey from a linear fashion industry towards a circular one”, said Cecilia Brännsten, acting environmental sustainability manager and circular economy lead, at H&M group.

    Earlier this month, the fast fashion giant reported a quarterly earnings drop after reduced footfall in stores and increased competition in the fashion sector.

    Net profit for the three months to end-August, the third quarter of the retailer’s financial year, came in at 3.84 billion kronor ($470 million), a drop of 20 percent. Sales grew 4.6 percent to 51.23 billion kronor.

    The fast fashion giant recently  confirmed it will open its first Wellington store at Queensgate Shopping Centre in Lower Hutt on October 26.

    Queensgate will be the site of H&M’s third store in New Zealand and span 2,700sqm over two levels.

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  • Taco Bell x Forever 21 fashion collaboration launched

    Taco Bell x Forever 21 fashion collaboration launched

    Styles from fast-food chain Taco Bell’s first-ever fashion collaboration have been released in Forever 21 stores across the US and globally online.

    To launch the Taco Bell x Forever 21 collaboration, both brands invited their fans to a late-night runway show in downtown Los Angeles at which the models were Taco Bell super fans and influencers.

    A mural was created live during by event by artist Lefty Out There, and Taco Bell Feed the Beat artist Cheat Codes also performed.

    A Forever 21 pop-up boutique sold pieces from the collection while a Taco Bell truck dished out signature menu items paired with frozen treats.

    The limited-edition collection features vibrant prints and iconic graphics in the form of tops, bodysuits and cropped hoodies for women, plus for men a sweatshirt, hoodie and anorak jacket.

    In Asia, Taco Bell has stores in India, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines. It withdrew from Singapore nine years ago.

  • GuangYuYuan mixes medicine with fashion

    GuangYuYuan mixes medicine with fashion

    In a Paris Fashion Week first, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) brand, GuangYuYuan Chinese Herbal Medicine, has sponsored a runway show.

    With a history of nearly 500 years, it is the oldest TCM brand in China. GuangYuYuan board chairman Guo Jiaxue says the brand’s Paris Fashion Week campaign is all about connecting with younger consumers.

    “We are the oldest of the ‘big four’ TCM brands, so it’s easy to mistake us for being old fashioned. Today, we are reinterpreting our legacy with innovation and flair.”

    Its global debut in Paris was as a sponsor for fashion designer Liu Qing, also known as Big-King. It was also his first Paris runway show.

    Big-King typifies the young customer GuangYuYuan is seeking out. At the show, he revealed 10 modern looks using elements inspired by traditional Chinese motifs and themes. The event was attended by celebrities such Celina Jade, and representatives from top fashion houses including Gucci and Louis Vuitton.

    Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin presents GuangYuYuan Chairman Guo Jiaxue with an award for “Most Influential and Innovative International Brand” at the 2017 Select Fashion Awards

    The unusual collaboration between a TCM brand and fashion design was the brainchild of new hire Wang Xinyu, GM GuangYuYuan’s brand centre. Wang is leading the company through a marketing modernisation strategy. The runway show was co-organised with tech giant Tencent.

    Founded in 1541, GuangYuYuan was acquired by pharmaceutical conglomerate Xi’an Dongsheng Group in 2003, and in 2006 the Chinese Ministry of Commerce gave the brand its “Time-Honoured Brand” appellation. Two of GuangYuYuan’s oldest products have been declared to be part of China’s intangible cultural heritage, and their formulas have been named national secrets.

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  • Alfred Dunhill launches store in Beijing

    Alfred Dunhill launches store in Beijing

    British luxury goods brand Alfred Dunhill has opened a store in Beijing, at the SKP Shopping Center.

    Offering the brand’s complete range of products for men, the store features the new Dunhill retail design concept.

    Based in London, the brand specialises in ready-to-wear, custom and bespoke menswear, leather goods, and accessories. Alfred Dunhill is owned by the Richemont group.

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  • Céline opens in Sydney

    Céline opens in Sydney

    French maison Céline has opened its second Australian store in Sydney.

    Located on level four of Sydney’s Westfield Shopping Centre, the 186-square-metre store is designed with clean lines and pared-back simplicity, hallmarks of the brand’s creative director, Phoebe Philo.

    Raw materials such as onyx, fired terracotta, carved lime wood and industrial chipboard mix in with foliage, and bounce off black metal hanging rails, brought to life by a concrete floor in grey.

    A central sculpture wall divides each room, with bespoke furnishings – designed by Danish artist FOS – splattered throughout. Features include mirrors, a jewellery table, sunglasses and jewellery display casing, and a large seating area in ceramic and wood.
    The new Sydney flagship hosts Céline’s autumn/winter 2017 collection, as well as a range of ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories.

    The Sydney store is the brand’s 141st store globally. The first Australian flagship opened in Melbourne’s Chadstone shopping centre in 2016.

    Founded in 1945 by Céline Vipiana, the Paris house is today owned by global luxury conglomerate LVMH group.

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  • FirstCry talking with potential investors

    FirstCry talking with potential investors

    Indian online baby products retailer FirstCry is talking with potential investors, including Singapore government investment fund Temasek Holdings, to raise equity financing of about US$100 million (Rs665 crore).

    FirstCry owner Brainbees Solutions is ultimately seeking to raise $400-500 million, reports The Economic Times. The Pune-based company was estimated to be worth $300-350 million when it last raised capital 12 months ago.

    Two years ago, FirstCry spun off its logistics arm Xpressbees Logistics as an independent business. A year ago it acquired Mahindra Retail for about Rs362 crore. The Mahindra Group subsidiary owned the Babyoye brand.

    Government-backed investment company Temasek manages assets worth about $275 billion globally. In India it has backed online marketplace Snapdeal, automobile classified portal CarTrade, and online insurance aggregator PolicyBazaar, as well as other companies.

    Meanwhile, India’s baby and child-specific product market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8 per cent, reaching Rs2940 crore by 2021, according to a Euromonitor report.

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  • Sephora opens 12th Aussie location at Central Coast

    Sephora opens 12th Aussie location at Central Coast

    Global beauty retailer Sephora has today opened a new store today at Erina Fair, the company’s 12th Australian retail location, and seventh New South Wales store.

    Continuing their investment in brick-and-mortar stores, Sephora’s country manager, Libby Amelia, said “freedom to experience” is at the core of the cosmetics chain’s model.

    “After almost three years in the market our core customers know all about our exclusive brands like Tarte, Marc Jacobs Beauty, Fenty Beauty, Kat Von D and Huda, but with an ever-increasing list of new makeup, skincare, hair care and lifestyle brands, we know our customers are crying out for the opportunity to touch, play experience our brands, products and services too,”Amelia said.

    “We want our customers to be able to come into our stores whenever they like, for as long as they like,” she said. “You can touch and feel and play – being left to your own devices, or you can ask one of our experienced Beauty Advisors to guide you.”

    Stephen Ross, centre manager, said adding Sephora to Erina’s mix meant consumers “no longer have to travel outside the region to get their beauty fix of Sephora’s brands”.

    The global chain recently opened in concept stores in Spain and France, hinting at the LVMH-owned cosmetics retailer’s future design direction.

  • H&M’s profit falls in latest quarter

    H&M’s profit falls in latest quarter

    H&M’s profit fell 20 per cent in the last quarter as the Swedish fast-fashion retailer

    experienced reduced footfall in stores and increased competition.

    Net profit for the three months to end-August, the third quarter of the retailer’s financial year, came in at 3.84 billion kronor (US$469 million). Sales grew 4.6 per cent to 51.23 billion kronor.

    Despite the drop, which was in line with analysts’ forecasts, there was rapid and profitable growth of the retailer’s online sales, which in some established markets already account for 25 to 30 percent of total sales.

    “The fashion retail sector is growing and is in a period of extensive and rapid change as a result of ongoing digitalisation,” said Karl-Johan Persson, CEO, H&M.

    “The competitive landscape is being redrawn, new players are coming in and customers’ behaviour and expectations are changing, with an ever greater share of sales taking place online.”

    Persson said the shift to online was “clearly reflected” in H&M’s increasing online sales, however did not fully compensate for reduced footfall to stores in several of its established markets.

    “This is of course something that we are not satisfied with and which, among other things, resulted in that we entered the third quarter with inventory levels that were too high,” he said.

    “Through our aggressive summer sale we succeeded in improving the inventory position. This contributed to the autumn collections getting off to a good start, although sales slowed somewhat towards the end of September.”

    The fashion retailer is now looking to refine its store portfolio, with a raft of renegotiation, rebuilds, relocations and closures to take place.

    “Overall we will be closing around 90 stores during the year, resulting in a net addition of approximately 385 new stores,” said Persson.

    “We still see good potential for more physical stores primarily in many of our growth markets. In the year to date we have opened four new H&M store markets: Kazakhstan, Colombia, Iceland and most recently Vietnam. With Georgia which will open later this year.”

    H&M will be present in 69 markets.

    H&M said there had been a successful reception of its new brand, Arket, in London as well as online in 18 markets.

    “Creating and launching new brands is an important part of our growth strategy, and next year we plan to launch another new brand,” said Persson.

  • Emporio Armani Hong Kong launches star hunt

    Emporio Armani Hong Kong launches star hunt

    High-fashion brand Emporio Armani Hong Kong has launched its first-treasure hunt app, with augmented-reality technologies to enable users to track down a special quarry, Shanghai actor Hu Ge.

    Until October 17, the EA Collector app can be downloaded to scan AR images on four Hu Ge posters scattered around Harbour City. Users will then be able to take virtual photos with the Emporio Armani brand ambassador for Greater China and Asia Pacific.

    Users who present one of Hu Ge images can redeem a gift at the Harbour City Emporio Armani store, with a limited-edition postcard holder for anyone collecting all four images. There are limited daily quotas for this offer.

    Furthermore, there is a a chance to win an invitation to Emporio Armani’s party to meet Hu Ge by using the app to submit a virtual photo with the actor before October 15. The actor himself will choose 10 winners to attend the party, on October 18.

    To celebrate the event, a limited-edition Hu Ge Octopus Card will be launched at all Emporio Armani stores across Hong Kong.

  • Michael Kors Philippines updates Makati flagship

    Michael Kors Philippines updates Makati flagship

    Michael Kors Philippines has completed the renovation and reopening of its flagship store at Greenbelt 5 in Makati.

    The US affordable luxury brand is distributed in the Philippines by Stores Specialists Inc (SSI) and has other stores at Central Square on Bonifacio High Street, Newport Mall, Power Plant Mall, Rustan’s Makati, and Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

    “Michael Kors has contemporary styling and great value. It is very up to date with trends interpreted in a way that resonates with every kind of style,” says SSI Group president Anton Huang.

    He says Michael Kors Philippines has noted a recent upturn in sales of ready-to-wear lines, while bags and accessories and footwear are the most popular categories in the local market. “Up-to-date, ready-to-wear apparel has become more important to our customers. It’s been successful.

    “For apparel, there’s growth season after season.”

    Huang says the brand’s fortunes are rising along with the evolving sophistication of Filipinos’ lifestyles.

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  • Margins decline for Nike, but growth in China

    Margins decline for Nike, but growth in China

    Footwear giant Nike Inc lost traction in its first quarter to the end of August, its gross margin declining 180 basis points to 43.7 per cent.

    It attributes this mainly to unfavourable currency exchange rates and, to a lesser extent, more discount sales.

    Sustained revenue growth in international markets, particularly China, was offset by an expected decline in North America wholesale revenue.

    Chairman/president/CEO Mark Parker says the group captured near-term opportunities during the quarter through its new company alignment, simplifying its geographical structure from six regions to four – North America; Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA); Greater China; and Asia Pacific and Latin America (APLA).

    Nike’s revenues at $9.1 billion were flat on both a reported and currency-neutral basis.

    Revenues for the Nike brand were $8.6 billion, up 2 per cent, driven by growth in Greater China, EMEA and APLA, as well as growth in sportswear. Converse revenues, at $483 million, were down 16 per cent.

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  • Three fashion pop-ups for Hong Kong

    Three fashion pop-ups for Hong Kong

    Three fashion pop-ups will be in full swing in Hong Kong next month. Already open is a Prada pop-up store in Harbour City offering a special selection of men’s travel goods and accessories including backpacks, pouches, wash bags, luggage tags, eyewear cases and leather patches. The space features urban graphics inspired by the avant-garde black-and-white cinema of the 1930s as well as black Saffiano trunks and three life-size “trick robots” iconic to the brand.
    The store runs until October 8.

    From October 4 to 8, Giorgio Armani will be offering a made-to-order pop-up service for its key bag of the season, the Le Jeu bag, which can be worn as a shoulder bag, a shopper, or a wrist bag. With the pop-up service, bags can be customised with various combinations of materials, colours and linings. Customers can also have their name engraved on the metal plate inside the bag.

    The service is available at Giorgio Armani Canton Road store in Harbour City from October 4 to 8, and at Giorgio Armani Central store in Chater House, Central, from October 10 to 13.

    Another made-to-order pop-up service is being run by German fashion brand MCM, its first such venture. It is based around the Patricia bag, inspired by the brand’s Patty bag in the 1970s and featuring a structured satchel-inspired silhouette. With the pop-up service, customers will be able to customise every element of the bag from the type of leather and colour of the flap, to the front panel and the two side panels.

    The metal push-lock is available in either gold or silver, and customers can opt to add a studded trim. Each bag also comes with a leather charm to which customers can add up to three initials. Each order takes about five to eight weeks to produce, and comes with a special MCM certificate.

    At the MCM shop at IFC mall in Central, the service runs until January 5.

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  • Sephora concept stores debut in France and Spain

    Sephora concept stores debut in France and Spain

    New Sephora concept stores have opened in Spain and France, hinting at the LVMH-owned cosmetics retailer’s future design direction.

    Unashamedly targeting millennials, the brand is trying to increase dwell time in-store and encourage younger shoppers to buy into perfume.

    First introduced in France, the hyper-connected stores bring customers what Sephora describes as “a unique beauty experience in an unprecedented service-driven environment, perfectly expressing the beauty retailer’s play, share and shop philosophy”.

    “Following the tremendous success of two pilot stores opened in March in Nantes and Val d’Europe in France, Sephora has brought its new store concept to Spain. This new concept revolves around a fascinating variety of services, letting Sephora offer a groundbreaking beauty experience, transforming beauty shopping in Spain, where the brand has been present since 1998,” the company said in a statement.

    The new design engages customers right from the entrance, with a giant slide for shoppers who are happy to eschew escalators or the piano stairway.

    “As at the two French pilot stores, these newest concept stores include a trend zone with a selection of hot new products, a beauty hub for personalised advice and beauty classes to learn about specific makeup topics. With four distinct experience spaces – compared with one or two at classic stores – the new concept stores give customers access to an expanded range of brands, from the latest on-trend products from South Korea to para-pharmaceutical products, and engage with a broader audience, especially millennials.”

    New services include the Dry Bar by Rizos for a 15-minute hairstyle touch-up and the Drops fragrance experience, designed to introduce younger customers to perfume by letting them personalise the bottle of their chosen fragrance in a fun, interactive way.

    “With these two new concept stores Sephora introduces a groundbreaking shopping experience in Spain, as the brand continues to expand the concept throughout Europe, adapting it to each country for an even more exclusive experience,” the company said.