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Tag: Fashion

  • Esprit restructures its marketing division

    Esprit restructures its marketing division

    Back in April, Vincent Jeanniard already joined the Esprit fashion group as Head of Global Marketing. The 46-year-old executive is leading the fusion of the company’s brand and go-to-market marketing teams into one department.

    The move is intended to ramp up Esprit’s marketing efforts and make them more dynamic to be able to react more quickly to customer needs and a younger target group. The fusion is also part of the restructuring program Esprit has rolled out to fight its recent decline in sales.

    “Vincent and the merged team will be responsible for the development and implementation of the marketing strategy and activities across all departments, markets and channels,” the company said in a statement.

    Vincent Jeanniard has held various positions in the global brand and marketing sector, especially executive roles in the beauty and fashion industry. Most recently Jeanniard was vice president of Burberry Beauty in London.

    Between 2006 and 2013, he worked as a general manager in the beauty industry for companies like Christian Dior in the UK and Ireland, L’Oréal Luxury Division in Brazil and Shu Uemura in Tokyo.

    He will be assisted by Rob McIntosh, who will join the brand as Chief Brand Officer on 1 August 2017 and a member of the Executive Management Team (EMT) at Esprit.

    McIntosh has already worked in various creative positions for major brands such as Apple, J.Crew and BMW. Most recently, he was Head of Experience Design at AKQA London, an innovative creative agency.

    Esprit Holdings Ltd. currently operates 6,137 stores in 40 countries. Its recent sales posted a double-digit loss when adjusted for exchange rates, which management says will continue unchanged in the fourth quarter as well.

    Further changes under the restructuring plan include the closure of unprofitable stores, the reduction of advertising measures, price reductions and streamlining of operating costs.

    Esprit’s headquarters are located in Ratingen near Düsseldorf, Germany and in Hong Kong. The brand will be celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018.

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  • Sephora Studio store concept unveiled in Boston

    Sephora Studio store concept unveiled in Boston

    Global beauty retailer Sephora has unveiled its first new concept mini-store format, in Boston. The Sephora Studio is contained within just 2000 sqft (190 sqm) and – in the company’s words – has an “emphasis on artistry and skincare services”.

    The store opened on Boston’s high-end shopping strip, Newbury Street, on Friday.

    “The Sephora Studio presents clients with an optimised store design and intimate format that fosters personalised connections between our clients and the store’s top-ranking beauty advisors,” said Calvin McDonald, president and CEO of Sephora Americas.

    “In today’s retail environment where very little is constant and clients’ expectations are ever-evolving, one thing has remained true for Sephora: there is no better way to create meaningful connections with clients than through personalised experiences and a customised approach to beauty. We could not be more focused on that notion than we are with the opening of Sephora Studio.

    “The Studio merges the best of an inclusive neighbourhood retail environment with best-in-class digital tools that enable our expert beauty advisors to customise recommendations on an individual basis,” said McDonald.

    Online to Offline strategy

    Sephora Studio integrates a variety of digital tools to optimise client experiences before, during and after their store visit. Among them are digital welcome and service menu screens for easy navigation and self-help, and beauty advisors with mobilised devices that can quickly service clients with appointment check in, looking up their Beauty Insider loyalty program status, and retrieving Sephora.com ratings and reviews on any product throughout the store.

    Additionally, Sephora Studio features two omnichannel product delivery options: order in store and same day pick-up. Both delivery features offer ease and convenience for purchase of product not available at the store. With order in store, Sephora staff can place the client’s order through Sephora.com with complimentary standard shipping or reduced next day shipping. For those who may need products faster, Sephora Studio will partner with another Boston store, Sephora Prudential Center, one of the first Sephora US stores to offer same day pick up.

    From October, Boston area clients can purchase on their device via the Sephora app and pick it up at Sephora Prudential Center the same day.

    Teach, inspire and play

    Meanwhile, Sephora’s innovative retail concept designed to Teach, Inspire, Play will extend to Sephora Studio by encouraging clients to freely test products from a curated selection of brands across prestige cosmetics, skincare, hair care and fragrance.

    “Sephora Studio is a destination for iconic, cult and emerging prestige beauty brands, including makeup, skincare, haircare and fragrance such as Benefit, Bite Beauty, Bobbie Brown, Bumble and bumble, Caudalie, Drunk Elephant, Drybar, Fresh, Kat Von D Beauty, Milk Makeup, Ole Henriksen, Ouai, Sunday Riley, NARS and Verb. The studio will offer clients a safe place to learn, play and master new looks with ongoing inspirational group learning-style Sephora Beauty Classes,” the company said.

    Clients can drop by to check makeover availability or book a premium service at one of the eight beauty studio seats in advance using Sephora’s client reservation system available online, through its app and via Facebook Messenger.

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  • Uniqlo releasing JW Anderson collaborative range

    Uniqlo releasing JW Anderson collaborative range

    A JW Anderson collaborative range will roll out at Uniqlo stores and at Uniqlo.com in September. Featuring British classic designs, the fall/winter range comprises 33 pieces for men and women featuring the signature London fashion brand’s graphic design aesthetic.

    “The point of this collaboration is that I believe in democracy in fashion, and what I hope will be achieved is that any age demographic can pick up and find something within the collection to relate to,” says JW Anderson founder Jonathan Anderson. “Doing something with Uniqlo is very interesting. It means you come up with a wardrobe that is universal and quirky.

    “The idea of reducing something to its essence is a very Japanese cultural thing. It can be culturally, textile or silhouette driven, but it’s about the idea of reducing something down so you can create the most impact.”

    “This line embodies our shared vision of offering elegance, simplicity, timeless comfort and individuality through LifeWear,” says Fast Retailing senior VP Yuki Katsuta, who is head of research and design at Uniqlo.

    “The inspiration for much of the clothing we wear today was the uniforms, workwear and sportswear that originated in the British Isles. We have combined the energy, creativity and traditional touches of JW Anderson with our fit, fabrics and functionality as part of our quest to craft wardrobe essentials that are enduringly appealing.”

    Design is a key focus for the collection, notably through such classics as a double-breasted belted trench coat, a wool-blend quilted jacket, a Fair Isle sweater and a striped scarf. The trench coat is accented by a tartan lining, and tartan is also used for a selection of down jackets, shirts and padded tote bags.

    Also in the line are multi-border cut-and-sewn pieces, knits, stoles in vivid hues, ruffle blouses and skirts. There are tweed coats in signature herringbone and shirts in extra-fine cotton, as well as knits in extra-fine Merino wool.

    Northern Irish designer Anderson established his company in 2008, attracting attention with his debut collection in that year’s London Fashion Week.

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  • LVMH’s Louis Vuitton launches e-commerce website in China

    LVMH’s Louis Vuitton launches e-commerce website in China

    French fashion brand Louis Vuitton, part of luxury giant LVMH , said on July 21st it had launched an e-commerce website in China to tap a booming online shopping market.

    Louis Vuitton, which opened its first store in Beijing in 1992, said the website offered leather goods, small leather goods, shoes, accessories, watch and jewellery, luggage, and the newly launched Les Parfums Louis Vuitton.

    Payments can be made via UnionPay, Alipay and WeChat, the statement said.

    The website will be available in 12 cities – Beijing, Shanghai, ChongQing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Shenyang, Dalian, Haerbin, Wuhan. More cities will be added later on.

    It is the 11th e-commerce market for Vuitton since it launched its first site in France in 2005.

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  • A Popular Malaysian Based Boutique For Muslim Woman is Expanding International

    A Popular Malaysian Based Boutique For Muslim Woman is Expanding International

    Lanafira has announced that it is offering a wide range of long dresses for Muslim women around the world. The Malaysian based company has already created a major buzz in the Malaysian and South East Asian market and it is now expanding its brand to the international market. The Muslimah Long Dress collection offered by Malaysia’s finest boutique are becoming the top choice of Muslim ladies and the brand has also introduced an e-Store where women can shop these dresses online with ease.

    “We are proudly introducing a new collection with fresh arrival coming regularly for our Muslim sisters worldwide.” Said the spokesperson of Lanafira while introducing the Long Dress Muslimah range. “The Long Dress Muslimah can be easily ordered online and we are offering these dresses with a variety of designs and colors.” She added. The Muslimah online boutique also receives large orders from an increasing number of international distributors from Europe and North America where such long dress are high in demand, particularly from the Muslim ladies.

    With a slogan of ‘A Style for Every Story’, Lanafira has made a major launch internationally. Most of the Muslim women ordering these dresses range from the age groups of 20 to 40 years old. However, younger and older women are loving these dresses alike. The Muslimah Long Dress for sale at the online store of Lanafira features a wide range of designs that are universally popular and high in demand.

    Another amazing fact about the Muslimah long dress range introduced worldwide by Lanafira’s online store is the competitive price of each dress with high affordability. The traditional Muslim style along with the modern designing makes these long Muslimah dresses a perfect blend of fashion and grace for the women worldwide. Moreover, besides the Muslim women, these dresses are also getting increasingly popular among the non-Muslim women as well due to their elegance and style.

    Some of the Muslimah long dresses for sale at the online store of Lanafira include Mellisa Long Dress in several color with its increasingly popular wide range, Alana Kebaya, Pucci Long Dress, Sofea Modern Perplum and much more. All these designs are offered in several colors and are loved by the women who wear them. The company also offers free delivery across Malaysia and has an overwhelming presence on the social media to interact with the customers.

    In addition, Lanafira also features an informative newsletter on its website to keep its customers updated. The feedback and reviews received by the boutique have been phenomenal and women have simply loved these dresses. The testimonials received by the company reflect the level of trust and satisfaction from its customers and they have declared it the best Muslim dress making boutique available online in Malaysia.

    For more information and to get your Muslimah Long Dresses by Lanafira

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  • Hugo Boss opens Brisbane flagship boutique on Edward Street

    Hugo Boss opens Brisbane flagship boutique on Edward Street

    International fashion retailer, Hugo Boss, has opened a luxury Brisbane flagship boutique on Edward Street, in MacArthur Central’s luxury fashion precinct.

    The new boutique will feature the edited range of luxury Boss Menswear collections, including ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories as well as athleisure wear and a high performance sportswear offering, in addition to Hugo Boss timepieces and fragrances.

    According to the retailer, the store’s interior showcases a refined concept that has been adopted by select stores in major global cities, catering to the fashion savvy male.

    “Precision Group is proud to welcome Hugo Boss to MacArthur Central where it will sit alongside some of the best International and national retailers fronting Edward St, where Brisbane City Council have invested $11.8M into a beautification project of the precinct,” said Colleen Middlemass, Centre and State Asset manager.

    In the upcoming months, the Edward Street frontage project will see the addition of sub-tropical, mature trees and improved lighting as well as enhanced boulevard pavements. The MacArthur Central’s Queen Street frontage will also receive a major upgrade, with the National Australia Bank opening its flagship Brisbane retail branch and occupying eight floors in the office tower above.

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  • A Bathing Ape launches online store

    A Bathing Ape launches online store

    Established in Tokyo in 1993, street-fashion brand A Bathing Ape has launched a global online store.

    Also known as Bape, the brand is known for its graphics, patterns and characters such as “Ape Head”, “Bape Camo”, “Bape Sta”, “Shark Hoodie” and “Baby Milo”. The  brand has expanded from being a men’s line to include women’s and children’s items.

    Bape has stores throughout Japan, in the UK and US, Hong Kong, China and other regions in Asia. BapeOnline is initially available for customers in Europe, with plans to expand to a more worldwide presence soon. To celebrate the launch, a special limited-edition t-shirt is being offered.

    A Bathing Ape was created by Nowhere Co, in the Tokyo suburb of Harajuku, and continues to expand with Bape Store, BapeExclusive, Bape Kids and A Bathing Ape Pirate Store.

  • Brunello Cucinelli’s Greater China sales up 34 per cent

    Brunello Cucinelli’s Greater China sales up 34 per cent

    Brunello Cucinelli’s Greater China sales, up 34.6 per cent, outshone all other markets for its first half.

    North America sales grew 9.4 per cent, Europe 9.9 per cent and rest of the world 11.4 per cent, the Italian luxury goods maison’s preliminary figures show.

    First-half net revenues grew overall by 10.7 per cent to  €243.3 million (US$278.9 million).

    For Greater China revenues reached €18.4 million, up 7.5 per cent from €13.7 million for the same period last year. To maintain allure and exclusivity, says the company, it is maintaining a limited presence in the region.

    Brunello Cucinelli’s retail distribution channel saw an overall 21.7 per cent growth in sales, or €121.1 million compared to €99.6 million for the same period last year..

    As at the end of June, the brand’s network comprised 91 direct boutiques, with just one opening over the 12 months.

    “We feel that this year is the start of a ‘new world’ where the internet will have an enormous impact on humanity,” says chairman/CEO Brunello Cucinelli. “We believe this will change buyer/seller relationships forever, making it even more important to care for and protect the brand.”

    The brand’s online boutique is being directly managed from its headquarters in Solomeo with special attention to customer service, packaging and visual merchandising.

    “If we take a look at the general context and at the very good start of the second half of the year,
    We feel pretty confident that the full year will deliver double-digit growth in terms of both sales and margins,” says Cucinelli.

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  • Louis Vuitton x Supreme draws queues

    Louis Vuitton x Supreme draws queues

    Louis Vuitton’s heavily-hyped collaboration with streetwear label Supreme has gone on sale in Hong Kong – and elsewhere around the world – with long queues.

    The products in the Louis Vuitton x Supreme collection range from a HK$565,000 luxury red trunk and a $445,000 skateboard to more affordable items like sneakers – and even a bumbag at $18,200.

    Such was the demand for the streetwear range, Louis Vuitton organised appointments for would-be buyers, limiting each person to one, non-transferable visit and a maximum purchase of two items.

    In Singapore, people queued for more than 48 hours, with some shoppers hiring queue-sitters and swapping shifts to be sure of getting in the door. On Friday, there were still short queues outside some Louis Vuitton outlets in Hong Kong. Louis Vuitton customers wanting to browse other items were allowed in via other entrances.

    The Louis Vuitton x Supreme range – which has a strictly limited volume – was pre-launched on June 30 in Beijing, Miami, Seoul, Los Angeles, Tokyo and several other cities via pop-up stores, which have since closed.

    In China, Louis Vuitton launched a WeChat campaign for fans to register to get their hands on the collection.

    Despite Louis Vuitton’s efforts to limit purchases per customer, the Louis Vuitton x Supreme items are already being resold online at a premium. A box logo hoodie was reportedly being advertised at US$25,000.

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  • Escada hires new Marketing Head

    Escada hires new Marketing Head

    German designer brand Escada has poached an experienced marketing expert from Red Bull to become its new vice president of marketing and communications.

    The high end label announced on July 13th that Marco Raab is to lead all marketing and communication activities of Escada from 15 August, particularly focusing on reshaping the brand “with a more contemporary edge”.

    Raab, who has been described as a “digital-native” with an understanding of millennial mindset, joins from Red Bull where he held several brand, marketing and communications position over the last 10 years. He was most recently global marketing manager for special projects, tasked with leading innovation and change for the fast moving digital age.

    At Escada, he will be part of the executive team and report to CEO Iris Epple-Righi.

    “Escada is at an exciting point in its journey with Iris Epple-Righi as new CEO and Niall Sloan as Global Design Director. I was attracted by the idea of being part of this leadership team tasked with re-shaping the brand with a more contemporary edge. I have a passion for creative approaches and believe Escada’s brand and its strong heritage offers numerous opportunities to engage with our established clientele as well as excite new customers about the beauty of Escada’s products,” said Raab.

    Escada CEO Iris Epple-Righi added: “Our vision is to build on Escada’s rich heritage in a relevant, modern and contemporary way and our marketing and communication is a very important part of this. We have the potential to reposition Escada at the cutting edge of fashion again and I believe Marco’s experience at Red Bull is extremely relevant for us.”

    Escada is also set to welcome its new design director Niall Sloan on 1 August. Sloan comes from Hunter and has revealed he plans to focus on Escada’s fun, bold and feminine heritage.

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  • International fashion brands target Vietnamese market

    International fashion brands target Vietnamese market

    International brand names are starting to grab the attention of HCM City’s fashion-conscious people, clearing the way for more ready-to-wear clothing stores in Vietnam.  More than 50 well-known brand names, such as Giordano, Mango, Zara, Topshop, Gap and Old Navy, have opened stores in HCM City.

    While Old Navy opened its first store last month, H&M launched its brandname last weekend with a fashion show at a leading shopping centre in the city.

    Other fashion companies, including Pull&Bear, Uniqlo and F21, will also enter the market this year with their own stores scheduled to open in Hà Nội shopping centres.

    “Before launching our designs in Vietnam, we spent time researching the country’s economic development, culture and living conditions,” said a representative of Zara, who noted that the country would become one of the most important  markets for the popular fashion brand from Spain.

    Although their prices are higher than local products, ranging from VNĐ300,000 (US$15) to over $1.5 million ($70) with accessories sell for an average of VNĐ100,000 ($4) per item yet customers, particularly young people, are thrilled they are here.

    Customer Tran Thi Anh Nhung of District 3 spent almost VNĐ5 million (US$230) on nine items at Zara after discounts last weekend, saying she was delighted she no longer had to go Singapore or Bangkok for the latest styles.

    Nhung, a senior marketing executive for a foreign-owned advertising agency in District 1, said: “Zara and Topshop offer ready-to-wear products in the trendiest styles at reasonable prices. A mini-dress sells for VNĐ500,000 ($22) compared to a Vietnamese one at VNĐ300,000 ($15). Customers aged 18 to 30, who change their clothes every season, are interested in that kind of stores.”

    Another customer, Vu Chi Hung, 32, said she was a fan of Topshop because their merchandises are both stylish and practical and can be purchased for around $22 a piece.

    “The foreign brands located in shopping centres like Diamond, Vincom and Takashimaya guarantee their services and quality are the best for customers,” he added.

    Hồ Trần Dạ Thảo, brand name creative director of the Tsafari Fashion Company, said: “The appearance of international fashion houses in Việt Nam and so-called ‘fast fashion’ or ’casual wear’ brandnames is sure to create fierce competition in the country’s fashion industry.”

    “Vietnamese brands should try to capitalise on the shopping seasons and spend more money on advertising to grab the attention of consumers,” she added.

    “Many of our collections cost as little as VNĐ150,000 ($7) for both men and women and offer high quality and modern style pieces. Some designs start at over VNĐ700,000 ($35), but customers with more to spend are thrilled that sophisticated designs can now be made by Vietnamese,” she said.

    Thảo said that collections under the brand name Tsafari are offered at shops by young designers, led by a group of trendy creators in Singapore. They offer clothes in the latest fashion trends to attract the interest of young customers.

    “With these changes, we hope to popularise and diversify our products in the local market,” she said.

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  • APAC boosts Uniqlo’s Q3

    APAC boosts Uniqlo’s Q3

    Fast Retailing, Uniqlo’s parent company, has reported consolidated revenue totaled ¥1.4779 trillion (+3.0 per cent year on year), with operating profit expanding to ¥180.6 billion (+23.9 per cent) in its latest financial results.

    In the third quarter from March to May, Uniqlo Southeast Asia and Oceania and South Korea reported a doubling in operating profit.

    The apparel chain said that its sports goods, new women’s blouses, dresses and clothes designed to “suit the Southeast Asian climate and culture sold especially well.”

    In the US, Uniqlo  reported a lower operating loss in the third quarter after same-store sales recovered, with business cost ratios improving under a new operational structure.

    In Europe, investment in 10 new store openings over three months inflated costs and knocked operating profit slightly lower.

    Uniqlo’s international network increased by 143 to 1,071 stores at the end of May.

    Japan reported a rise in revenue but a contraction in profit in the nine months to May 2017. Revenue rose 1.2 per cent year-on-year to ¥653.4 billion while operating profit dipped 0.6 per cent year-on-year to ¥92.6 billion.

    The global chain said it expects to achieve strong revenue and profit gains, “with Greater China, Southeast Asia, and South Korea acting as the key drivers of growth.”

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  • Colette Paris flagship to close

    Colette Paris flagship to close

    The iconic Colette Paris flagship store is to close on the 20th anniversary of its opening. The news came as a shock as the retail brand has continued to flourish in the internet era, and continues to work with brands on collections – the most recent with Swedish fast-fashion brand H&M announced this week.

    “As all good things must come to an end, after 20 wonderful years, Colette will be closing its doors on December 20th of this year,” the company said in an Instagram post.

    “Until our last day, nothing will change. Colette will continue to renew itself each week with exclusive collaborations and offerings, also available on our website colette.fr We thank you for your support and see you soon at Colette – until December 20,” the post concluded.

    The reason for the closure is that founder Colette Roussaux has decided to step back from an active retail management role, and “Colette cannot exist without Colette”.

    The 8000 sqft, three-storey store in trendy Rue Saint Honoré, is likely to be taken over by Saint Laurent.

    “We would be proud to have a brand with such history, with whom we have frequently collaborated, taking over our address.” Employees may transfer to the luxury fashion brand.

    Roussaux has largely left the day-to-day running of the store to her daughter Sarah Andelman during the past few years.

    The Business of Fashion said the store’s success was down to its “discerning fashion edits and quirky mix of lifestyle products that have turned the store into one of Paris’ premiere fashion pit-stops”.

    Among its fans is fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld who once declared it was the only store he ever shopped at “because they have things no one else has”.

    “I buy watches, telephones, jewellery there – everything really! They have invented a formula that you can’t copy easily, because there is only one Colette and her and Sarah are 200 per cent involved.”

  • China helps power Burberry quarterly sales up 5 per cent

    China helps power Burberry quarterly sales up 5 per cent

    Burberry quarterly sales have jumped by a solid 5 per cent, largely buoyed by a doubling of turnover in China.

    Greater China is a key market for Burberry, accounting for almost a quarter of total sales.

    A social media campaign – including activity by Beijing blogger ‘Mr Bags’ – helped boost brand awareness and sales through the WeChat channel.

    Globally, retail revenue rose 3 per cent to £478 million (US$613 million) and like-for-like store sales rose 4 per cent during the three months to June 30.

    The figures impressed analysts, outperforming expectations and providing a welcome background to incoming CEO Marco Gobbetti’s first investor presentation today.

    However, Bloomberg columnist Andrea Felsted urged caution, writing that Gobbetti “still has the task of reigniting interest in the tired brand”.

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  • JD.com buys into Farfetch fashion site

    JD.com buys into Farfetch fashion site

    Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com has made its largest overseas investment ever, in online Farfetch fashion marketplace.

    JD.com has bought a US$397 million stake in Farfetch, solidifying a partnership that will see its CEO Richard Liu take a place on the UK company’s board. It will also make JD.com one of Farfetch’s largest shareholders.

    This comes amid a push by the luxury-oriented Farfetch to expand in Asia, having raised $110 million in 2014 to support China growth. The new partnership will allow Farfetch to make use of JD.com’s logistics network and marketing systems, alongside online payment technology and social-media resources like its partnership with WeChat.

    An added bonus for the UK fashion marketplace is an increased ability to tackle counterfeit luxury products produced in the region.

    JD.com will also benefit from the partnership, pushing into the luxury market and setting itself apart from rival Alibaba.

    “China is the world’s second-largest luxury market, and we are delighted to have such a respected partner, known for its strict protection of IP, with whom to address Chinese luxury consumers,” says Farfetch founder/CEO Jose Neves.

    Just this month, JD.com launched its high-end delivery service JD Luxury Express, with staff in suits and white gloves delivering packages via electric vehicles directly to customers’ homes.

    Farfetch, which counts France’s Eurazeo, Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek and China’s IDG Capital among its investors, was valued at around $1.5 billion in a fundraising last year.

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