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Tag: Fashion

  • 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.

  • Prada reports China sales growing at a fast pace

    Prada reports China sales growing at a fast pace

    Sales of luxury Prada items in China have exceeded last year’s levels since the brand’s physical stores reopened following the coronavirus pandemic.

    The Chinese appetite for luxury items has rebounded strongly despite the impact of Covid-19, even as global sales are hit with a decline of 35 percent.

    “To date, the Prada Group’s sales in China have already largely exceeded the levels of 2019, showing double-digit growth since the beginning of the year,” said Prada CEO Patrizio Bertelli.

    Prada’s growth within China has exceeded more than 60 percent since March, with a sales record hit on August 25, this year’s Chinese Valentine’s Day.

    The firm’s projections suggest the trend will continue in the coming months, according to Bertelli.

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  • Alexander McQueen opens Tokyo flagship store

    Alexander McQueen opens Tokyo flagship store

    British fashion label Alexander McQueen has opened a flagship store at Omotesando, Tokyo.

    Located in the shopping complex Oak Omotesando, the store occupies a 253sqm space and spans two stories. The first floor houses women’s clothes and accessories while the second floor features apparel and accessories for men.

    The Alexander McQueen Omotesando concept is a result of the collaboration between creative director Sarah Burton and architect Smiljan Radic. The store exterior features glass floor-to-ceiling doors and windows with grey metal frames, allowing customers to see into the store from the outside. The interior uses woods such as oak or walnut as the main material, creating a warm ambiance.

    The storehouses four fitting rooms designed in a glass cylinder shape with butterfly-patterned curtains. The patterns were previously featured in the brand’s Fall/Winter 2018 and 2019 Collection.

  • Skechers opening more outlets in Singapore

    Skechers opening more outlets in Singapore

    Skechers Singapore has accelerated its expansion plan in the city despite the Covid-19 situation.

    Since July, the footwear brand has rolled out five new stores in the territory, taking its store count to 30, employing 40 additional staff to man them.

    While many retailers are struggling to remain commercially viable during the Covid-19 crisis, and some closing stores, Skechers’ is bucking the trend. One of the latest victims of Covid-19 in Singapore is fashion retailer Topshop which has announced it will quit all its physical stores in the city and move entirely online.

    “It is without a doubt (that) in the retail industry, it is quite challenging,” VP at Skechers Southeast Asia, Zann Lee, told Channel News Asia. “This is a good time for us to actually enter into a market with good locations.”

    Besides expanding its physical presence, the brand is also developing its own online store as shoppers are shifting to online shopping. Although opening its own e-commerce store may seem like a late response to Covid-19, Skechers is already selling its products online via third parties such as Shopee or Lazada.

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  • Hermes re-opens renovated and extended retail space in Sendai

    Hermes re-opens renovated and extended retail space in Sendai

    Luxury Maison Hermes has unveiled its refurbished store in the Fujisaki Department Store in Sendai, Japan.

    “This reopening marks a new chapter for Hermes in this Northern city of Japan, where it has been present since 2004,” the company said in a statement.

    The store’s new design is inspired by Sendai’s natural environment – the city is known as “The City of Trees” – and the floor space has been expanded to 144sqm.

    The store’s facade features floor-to-ceiling glass windows and copper-colored steel, offering a clear view of the interior from the outside.

    Designed by Parisian architecture agency RDAI, the interior was divided into two open-plan spaces. At the entrance, the floor features mosaic tiles “in subdued Havana-and chocolate-brown hues, complete with iridescent cabochons”.

    Hermes Fujisaki offers a wide selection of products, including silk collections, fragrances, and fashion accessories. The collections for the home, featuring homeware and tableware, including the new Hermes Passifolia service, complete the displays in this initial area. The store also houses a VIP lounge for “enhanced privacy”.

    “While the entrance area is characterized by mineral, airy and bright accents, the second section creates a more muted atmosphere with carefully selected fabrics and carpets,” the company said.

    “This renovated address showcases the house’s craftsmanship and freedom of creation through its exceptional objects and the enhanced experience it offers its customers and new visitors

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  • Vietnamese, Argentinian designers top latest Redress Design Awards

    Vietnamese, Argentinian designers top latest Redress Design Awards

    Circular fashion environmental charity Redress has awarded two designers with collaboration prizes for their entries in the Redress Design Awards for 2020. The Redress Design Award 2020 Grand Final saw awards presented to menswear designer Le Ngoc Ha Thu from Vietnam and womenswear designer Juliana Garcia Bello of Argentina, who won design collaboration prizes with VF Corporation’s Timberland and upcycling brand The R Collective, respectively.

    A runner-up award was given to Sri Lankan designer Ruth Weerasinghe. The award for the best Hong Kong designer went to Grace Lant. The competition cycle, sponsored by local government body Create Hong Kong, has served to draw attention to the issue of waste in the fashion industry that has intensified under the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

    “Fashion’s waste crisis can’t be swept under the carpet any longer,” said Redress and The R Collective founder Christina Dean. “Covid-19’s retail and supply chain disruptions have stranded materials in warehouses, factories and stores globally. Now is the time to catalyze the circular economy – and this is Redress’ focus. The Redress Design Award has for 10 years educated designers about circular design. The industry must not waste the opportunities that Covid-19’s crisis is offering.”

    “The Redress Design Award has established as a recognized brand in the sustainable fashion design community over the past years by educating emerging fashion designers in order to drive growth towards a circular fashion system”, said Create Hong Kong head Victor Tsang.

    Over the past fortnight, 10 finalists in the competition were subjected to a tough series of virtual design and business challenges focused on real-life sustainability business cases.

    VF’s executive VP & group president Asia Pacific region and emerging brands Kevin Bailey, one of the judges, said the company’s collaboration with Redress over the past two years has connected it with talented, emerging designers “who are passionate about creating fashionable, compelling designs with environmental responsibility in mind”.

    “We are constantly inspired by their commitment to circular design and creativity. These are the future leaders who are going to help drive lasting and positive change throughout our global industry and we are proud to be part of their journey.”

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  • Maison Kitsune makes Thai debut at Bangkok’s EmQuartier

    Maison Kitsune makes Thai debut at Bangkok’s EmQuartier

    Maison Kitsune has opened Thailand’s first Kitsune boutique and cafe at EmQuartier shopping center in Bangkok. The boutique and cafe occupy a 145sqm area with two entrances. The store design is a fusion of Japanese and Parisian style.

    The boutique’s facade features three white arches, “creating an impression of the endless sky”. The brand’s latest collection is displayed behind the glass windows. Located in the middle of the entrance is the brand’s signature Fox.

    The store interior features brass frames and wooden elements in contrast with white walls and marble floors. Meanwhile, the Kitsune cafe wall features “ Japanese-inspired panels in varnished bamboo stalks, a nod to Thai traditional craftsmanship”. The cafe houses an outdoor area with four tables set up in front of the store.

    The cafe offers a variety of drinks to pair with sweet and savory treats. The Cafe Kitsune collection of tableware, ready-to-wear and accessories is also available to bring home.

    Maison Kitsune is a French-Japanese electronic music record label and fashion brand created in 2002 by Gildas Loaec, Masaya Kuroki and London-based company Abake.

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  • Prada opens a new store in Tokyo’s Shibuya district

    Prada opens a new store in Tokyo’s Shibuya district

    Italian luxury fashion house Prada has opened a new boutique in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, featuring the unique evolution of its green-themed interior design.

    Located at the Miyashita Park shopping mall, the store is designed by OMA studio, founded by Rem Koolhaas. With a floor area of about 300sqm, it displays Prada’s full range of clothing, bags, accessories, and footwear for men and women in unisex and thematic versions.

    The store also offers cotton poplin t-shirts featuring original prints exclusive for the store’s opening, including a Prada oval logo reinterpreted by OMA bearing the Prada Miyashita Park store name, and a travel tag print with TYO (Tokyo) symbols.

    The external facade features floor-to-ceiling glass, which allows a view into “a dreamlike, virtual ‘container’ against a dynamic backdrop.”

    The store interior has a black-and-white chequered floor and green walls designed in backlit “sponge” – the ‘air and matter’ hybrid material designed by OMA. A digital wall, which can be assembled and disassembled, is installed to draw attention.

    The brand uses aluminum for all displays and racks to “enhance the minimal aesthetics and contemporary feel of the interiors”.

    Coinciding with the store’s launch, Prada has announced a digital project called “My Shibuya View”, featuring personal films introducing creators and musicians’ favorite spots in Shibuya. Project participants include singer and songwriter Taichi Mukai, model Ruka and actor, model, and musician Yoshi.

  • Stussy launching new store in Japan, Nagoya

    Stussy launching new store in Japan, Nagoya

    American fashion label Stussy has opened a new store in Nagoya, its 46th outlet in Japan.

    Located in Sakae, the store was designed by WP & A and offers Stussy’s full selection of apparel, accessories and footwear, including a limited-edition collection.

    The store facade features floor-to-ceiling windows with black frames. A small sign showing the brand name is installed at the corner of the store’s front – barely noticeable in images.

    The store interior features wooden and metal shelves together with wood sculptures. The walls are painted in a half-white, half-grey style while two rows of LED lighting are installed on the ceiling. Several greenery corners balance the design.

    Stussy operates more than 60 outlets across more than 10 regions including the US, Australia, Singapore and Taiwan.

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  • Uniqlo piping up to open Macau’s largest store ever

    Uniqlo piping up to open Macau’s largest store ever

    Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo is to open its biggest Macau outlet this month.

    Located at ‘Yellow House’ commercial building near the Ruins of St Paul’s, it is the first store in Macau to feature the UTme! design-your-own T-shirt service. The brand will collaborate with local artists to launch UTme! designs that feature local elements.

    According to the company, the new Macau store will occupy a 1772sqm area and span five stories. The store also houses an exhibition area where community events will take place.

    The Uniqlo Yellow House store is the second store in the city after the Uniqlo The Venetian store in Cotai. The new shop is scheduled to launch on September 30 after the opening was previously postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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  • H&M’s Cos launches online reseller marketplace

    H&M’s Cos launches online reseller marketplace

    H&M’s subsidiary Cos has launched a pre-owned fashion platform called Resell.

    Resell allows the brand’s customers to buy and sell their used Cos pieces, “re-inventing their wardrobe in a considered and sustainable way,” according to a statement from H&M.

    The launch is part of the brand’s program of developing circular fashion and renewable solution strategies.

    “Resell reinforces Cos’ ambition and journey to becoming fully circular and renewable, developing innovative ways to continue the brand’s commitment to quality and longevity by re-imaging the lifecycle of each pre-loved piece,” the company said.

    Resell will charge a 10-per-cent commission to cover “operational costs” for every item sold on the platform. The digital platform is now available in the UK and Germany and will go global this Autumn.

    “By extending the life cycle of your Cos item, we believe we can work together to make better environmental choices,” the company said.

  • Pomelo speeds up Southeast Asian retail expansion

    Pomelo speeds up Southeast Asian retail expansion

    Pomelo is speeding up its retail expansion plans across Southeast Asia as part of a multi-market retail strategy.

    The company said it will enter Indonesia and Malaysia next. Indonesia’s first store will open at Central Park mall this November, while Malaysia’s first store is expected to launch in the first quarter of next year.

    “Creating a seamless omnichannel experience has always been at the core of what we do at Pomelo, and it’s what allows us to continue expanding our retail presence at a time when other brands may be doing the opposite,” said Anders Heikenfeldt, chief retail officer at Pomelo.

    Last month, Pomelo Thailand opened two retail stores – at The Mall Ngamwongwan and Terminal 21 in Bangkok. By November, the brand will roll out three more stores in the city’s popular shopping locations, including Fashion Island and Siam Center. The company said it plans to reach 20 stores in the country by the end of this year.

    In Singapore, Pomelo will open the city’s second store at Nex mall in November.

    Pomelo’s Tap Try Buy, a rebranded iteration of the Pomelo Pick Up service, makes up almost half of Pomelo’s online orders, with this percentage continuing to increase during Covid-19.

    “With Tap Try Buy, we’ve seen a huge increase in user adoption, especially as Thailand started to ease lockdown restrictions,” said Heikenfeldt. “For us as a brand, this emphasized the importance of opening more physical touchpoints to both engage with our existing customers as well as enable new shoppers across the region to experience our unique omnichannel approach.”

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  • Gap closing over 225 stores globally as sales continue to drop

    Gap closing over 225 stores globally as sales continue to drop

    Struggling US apparel retailer Gap Inc has revealed plans to shutter more than 225 stores globally this year with another batch to follow next year.

    The company has reported a second-quarter net loss of $62 million on sales down 18 percent. Sales through physical stores were down by 48 percent, offset by a meteoric 95-per-cent rise on online sales. The company gained more than 3.5 million new customers during the period.

    The company did not give any indication of where in the world its stores would close, or which banners are most affected by the plan, although its namesake Gap network and Banana Republic stores seem to be performing the worst. As at August 1, Gap Inc had 1643 stores trading under those two brands.

    The decline in sales in physical stores during the quarter was caused by enforced temporary closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with shops beginning to reopen from May. As of August 1, about 90 percent of its stores globally were trading again.

    Worldwide sales by the Gap brand were down 28 percent and at Banana Republic by 52 percent. Old Navy performed better, down by 5 percent overall, and aided by a 136-per-cent increase online.

    Athleta was the standout, boosted by consumers purchasing more relaxing apparel as they moved to work from home. Sales were up 6 percent overall, and online by 74 percent.

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  • Japan’s 2nd Street to launch in Taiwan

    Japan’s 2nd Street to launch in Taiwan

    Japanese pre-owned fashion retailer 2nd Street is launching in Taiwan with its first outlet set to open in Taipei. Located in the Ximen neighborhood, the store offers some 7000 items, including clothing, handbags, shoes, and accessories from Japanese designer brands such as Comme des Garcons and Under Cover as well as luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel.

    The brand plans to open three 2nd Street shops in Taiwan by next March.

    The 2nd Street Taiwan store’s layout and service will follow that of the stores in Japan. Prior to the launch, 2nd Street opened a pop-up store in Breeze Nan Shan mall to test the potential of the brand in the country.

    “Our aim is to expand the fan base for 2nd Street with a combination of the experience developed in Japan for the re-use business and the retail management skills beloved by the people of Taiwan,” said Sadaharu Deguchi, chairman, and GM at 2nd Street.

    “I sincerely hope that 2nd Street Ximen Taipei will become an attractive location for many customers,” Deguchi said.

    Launched in 2018, 2nd Street handles the sales of pre-owned products, including clothing, furniture, and appliances.

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