Retail News CRM

Tag: Fashion

  • H&M unveils small format retail stores in Berlin

    H&M unveils small format retail stores in Berlin

    Fashion retailer H&M has opened a new ‘hyper-local flagship’ in Berlin’s creative Mitte Garden district.

    The 300sqm store, one of the brand’s smallest worldwide, offers curated womenswear, selected external brands, vintage pieces and a showroom for customers. It features curated fashion from H&M’s own assortment as well as selected external brands, most of them Berlin-based.

    The selected assortment is paired with a digital tool offering H&M’s full range where customers can browse and build their looks on their own or aided by a stylist.

    “It’s a test for us as a global retailer to elaborate around how we can be more personal and locally relevant,” said H&M Group laboratory business developer Anna Bergare.

    H&M Mitte Garten will regularly offer events such as lectures, fashion talks, and yoga for its customers. Upcoming trends and looks will be presented in the public showroom. Here consumers can try on and borrow pieces to make sure their future purchases are consciously made.

    “This is a unique location and it has served as a meeting place for Berliners for more than 100 years,” said H&M Germany country manager Thorsten Mindermann. “[It’s] a tradition we want to honor. We aim to offer a neighborhood store serving as a platform for local and global talents within retail, culture, and art.”

    Rentals move in Sweden

    The opening comes as the brand gets ready to debut clothing rentals in its Stockholm flagship store. The brand is offering the chance to rent selected party dresses and skirts from its 2012–2019 Conscious Exclusive collections to members of its customer loyalty program.

    “We have looked at clothing rental for quite some time and are so happy to for the first time soon offer fashion fans the possibility to rent some stunning pieces from our Conscious Exclusive collections,” H&M said head of sustainability Pascal Brun. “We look forward to evaluating this as we are dedicated to change the way fashion is made and consumed today.”

    Members will be able to rent up to three pieces a time for a week at a cost of around SEK350 (US$36) per piece.

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  • Uniqlo switches to paper bags

    Uniqlo switches to paper bags

    Japanese retailer Uniqlo has jumped on the sustainability train, eliminating the use of plastic bags in its stores and switching to eco-friendly paper bags later this month.

    The bags will cost 15c in an attempt to encourage customers to bring their own reusable bags and will be launched in phases across the brand’s 21 Australian locations. The store will also sell branded bags made of recycled plastic bottles for $2.90.

    The switch is part of a move to become more environmentally friendly and coincides with the Victorian Government’s single-use plastic shopping bag ban which comes into effect in November.

    “Sustainability has increasingly become a priority on the global agenda and as a leading retailer, it has been crucial for Uniqlo to look at how we can address this key issue, whether from a clothing design perspective, or current in-store practices,” Kensuke Suwa, Uniqlo Australia’s chief operating officer, said.

    “We definitely recognize that Uniqlo has a role to play and the team is consistently exploring new sustainability initiatives to roll out in this market.”

    Woolworths also began offering paper bags earlier this month, in a bid to give more options to customers who forget to bring a reusable bag when shopping.

    “The vast majority of our customers bring their own bags to shop, but we know there are occasions when they forget or visit our stores unplanned,” a Woolworths spokesperson said in a statement to Inside Retail.

    “Some customers have told us they would like the option of a paper bag when this happens.”

    The adoption of paper bags is one part of Uniqlo-owner Fast Retailing’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the use of unnecessary plastic in its supply chain – having committed to reducing the amount of single-use plastics passed on to customers by 85 percent by the end of 2020.

    However, it is also looking at other parts of the supply chain and introducing several initiatives aimed at improving the manufacturing process.

    Uniqlo’s Jeans Innovation Centre has reduced the amount of water used in the washing process of its jeans by an average of 90 percent. The first batch of jeans using this process will be introduced in its 2019 fall/winter season and will be used for all Uniqlo jeans moving forward.

    Additionally, the company announced last year it would begin using a material formed from recycled plastic bottles in items of clothing called ‘Dry-Ex’, and that it would recycle down collected in Japanese stores into new products.

    “Uniqlo is committed to improving the sustainability of society,” Uniqlo founder and chairman Tadashi Yanai previously said.

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  • Marie France Van Damme launches Fall 2019 capsule collection

    Marie France Van Damme launches Fall 2019 capsule collection

    Hong Kong-based fashion designer Marie France Van Damme has released a new capsule collection.

    Retailing from US$500–$2000, the new Fall 2019 capsule collection is available as of this month.

    Photographed by Edwin Datoc in the industrial alleys of Kwun Tong in Kowloon – an area is known for its textile industry history and that also houses Marie France Van Damme’s office and atelier for the last 30 years – the campaign features model Hou Jing Cui set against the cityscape.

    “I think of my new capsule collection as the perfect blend of East and West,” said Marie France Van Damme. “Kowloon is the perfect backdrop for my latest collection inspired by the city I love and call home. We are proud of our atelier’s history and heritage and excited to share our new campaign.”

    The collection uses the designer’s signature black, white, and gold palette in luxurious fabrics from French lace to metallic-toned Italian weaves and light Chinese silks. New this season is a collection of full-length lightweight cotton and wool tweed coats.

    Marie France Van Damme has 13 boutiques and more than 100 retail locations in international destinations from London to Dubai.

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  • Fjällräven launches in Singapore with Outside

    Fjällräven launches in Singapore with Outside

    Swedish outdoor apparel brand Fjällräven has launched in Singapore and Malaysia.

    The 59-year-old brand, whose name translates into ‘the arctic fox’ is known for its collections of high-end clothing and equipment which focus on timeless design and long-lifespan.

    Fjällräven collections are now available at the Outside store located at Jumpa@SungeiWang Plaza Kuala Lumpur and at the retailer’s two stores on Singapore’s Orchard Road.

    One of Fjällräven’s most popular products is a backpack called Kånken, which is popular among hipsters and backpackers across the world.

    Outside is an outdoor-lifestyle multi-brand retail store that was launched in July 2017 “to link the gap between people and nature”. Brands it stocks include Patagonia, Keen Footwear, Freitag, Chums, Primus, United By Blue, NatureHike, Ellesse, Diadora, Baggu, Eno, Uttara, Dedicated, Camp Collection and Wildo.

  • Uniqlo South Korea courts controversy as it attempts comeback

    Uniqlo South Korea courts controversy as it attempts comeback

    Facing an unprecedented boycott campaign Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo has launched a comeback campaign in South Korea – only to stumble almost immediately.

    Uniqlo South Korea’s new television commercial rekindled controversy following complaints that the ad made fun of Japanese sex slaves.

    Following the boycott movement which dates back to July, Uniqlo closed four stores in South Korea before opening three new stores over August and September. The company also reopened two original stores following renovations.

    Uniqlo plans to hold a seminar for job seekers this month as it prepares to hire new employees next year.

    This time, a new program has been set up to connect job seekers directly with Uniqlo staff, which is seen as a strategic move to recover its reputation in the country.

    Uniqlo has also been offering a 50-per-cent discount for some of its signature products since October 3 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Uniqlo Korea, which is being seen as an unprecedented move even for Uniqlo that has been offering various discounts on a regular basis

    Uniqlo Korea’s new English advertisement, however, has sparked outrage among locals, placing the company at the mercy of South Korean consumers yet again.

    In the commercial, a teenager asks a 98-year-old lady what she wore when she was her age, to which the old lady answers “I can’t remember that far back.”

    The Korean subtitles, however, say “My God, how can I remember something that happened more than 80 years ago?”

    The commercial became an instant controversy among South Koreans, with many seeing the subtitles expressed as being scornful of the 1930s, which was about 80 years ago, when the Japanese empire forced Koreans into military service and sex slavery.

    Uniqlo denied all of the allegations but soon decided to take down the commercial all together.

    In response, Yoon Dong-hyun, a student from Chonnam National University, shot a video clip with Yang Geum-deok, a sex slave victim, imitating the Uniqlo commercial.

    In the video, Yoon asks Yang how difficult her life was when she was his age. Yang answers “I can never forget the horrible pain that I suffered back then.”

    “The video clip was made to tell Japan how it must have felt for the victims during those times,” said Yun.

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  • Giordano sales down across China

    Giordano sales down across China

    Giordano sales slid by 8.6 percent in the three months to September, or by 7.1 percent if measured by constant exchange rates. Comparable same-store sales fell by 10.3 percent.

    The damage to Giordano sales was largely borne in Hong Kong and Mainland China, where protests have hit inbound mainland tourist numbers since June and Chinese are spending less, spooked by the ongoing Sino-US trade war.

    Giordano sales in Hong Kong and Macau fell from $226 million to $169 million and in Mainland China from $251 million to $208 million.

    However, the China decline was mitigated in part by a strong performance in Giordano’s relatively new Middle Eastern markets. Sales there rose from HK$134 million to $153 million.

    Wholesale sales were constant.

    Despite the Hong Kong sales decline, Giordano maintained a network of 75 stores in Hong Kong during the period, the same number it had a year earlier.

    Group sales for the quarter totalled $1.075 billion, down from $1.176 billion a year earlier. Year-to-date sales (for nine months) were down from $4.036 billion to $3.617 billion.

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  • Cartier Capsule Exhibition “Into the Wild” opens doors in Macau

    Cartier Capsule Exhibition “Into the Wild” opens doors in Macau

    Cartier has partnered with DFS Group to open the first-ever Cartier Capsule Exhibition ‘Into the Wild’ in Macau City of Dreams, featuring the Panthere de Cartier

    The Cartier Capsule Exhibition presents three main “universes”, including The Design, The Salon and The Community.

    An animated jewelry designer table and jewelry creations are on display at The Design area while The Salon has a photo backdrop and recollection honoring the ‘panther woman’ Jeanne Toussaint. The Community is a digital wall where celebrities incarnate the wild spirit of Panthere.

    A WeChat mini-program allows visitors to play interactive ‘missions’ or capture personalized Panthere memories. Inside the Into the Wild exhibition, windows and counters with the panther icon are displayed to highlight new Panthere de Cartier Jewellery and Watch creations.

    Cartier and DFS Group jointly hosted the opening event for Into the Wild yesterday. The exhibition will take place until December 31 at T Galleria By DFS City of Dreams.

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  • First Steve Madden store opens in Malaysia

    First Steve Madden store opens in Malaysia

    Steve Madden has opened its first store in Malaysia in partnership with retail group Valiram.

    Following success in Singapore, Steve Madden Malaysia marks the label’s second boutique launched by Valiram.

    “It is an absolute privilege for us to present yet another new-to-market lifestyle brand to Malaysia. Steve Madden is a trend leader that is intrinsically urban with an edgy attitude, and we’re certain it will make an impact with the fashion-forward shoppers in Kuala Lumpur,” said Ashvin Valiram, executive director of Valiram.

    Located in Mid Valley Megamall Kuala Lumpur, the 1410sqft store features the brand’s new design concept “Distilled Urban”, the incorporation of wood, steel and concrete, inspired by contemporary New York City chic.

    The Steve Madden Malaysia store also featured the new Fall 2019 Collection at its opening event.

    Founded in 1935, retail group Valiram operates more than 380 stores across Asia Pacific, presenting international brands including Michael Kors, Tumi and Victoria’s Secret.

  • Style Theory opens its first flagship store

    Style Theory opens its first flagship store

    Southeast Asian online subscription-based designer fashion rental service Style Theory is opening its first permanent retail store on October 18 at 313@somerset.

    The 1500sqft store is an effort to make sustainable living more accessible by bringing the fashion rental experience to the physical space, encouraging more consumers to embrace renting and kick over-consumption habits. It opens as the conversation around the textile-product industry and fast fashion’s negative environmental impacts now gain momentum.

    The new store will help first-time subscribers get more out of their subscription, providing more than 300 apparel pieces and 30 designer bags in a location where customers can see, touch, try and immediately rent products – including casual everyday pieces, formal business outfits or occasion and weekend wear, as well as classic, trendy, and seasonal bags.

    The space will also serve as a collection and return point, reducing processing time between each box as subscribers can enjoy new outfits and bags right away, or choose their next selection on the app immediately upon return.

    New subscribers can take advantage of complimentary 60-minute personal styling sessions, where professionally-trained image consultants will share bespoke advice and recommendations based on body type and preference.

    The store also features an immersive life-sized art installation – The Infinite Wardrobe – designed in collaboration with Laura Francois, a prominent social impact strategist and sustainability advocate. The three-meters-tall installation, created entirely with retired clothing from Style Theory, represents a future where the dream of having an infinite wardrobe turns into reality through sharing clothing items that are made to last.

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  • Raymond plans to open 500 more Indian stores by 2021

    Raymond plans to open 500 more Indian stores by 2021

    Indian retailer Raymond is set to operate 1500 stores across the territory within two years.

    The firm currently runs 1000 branded stores and 500 outlets under other brand names across 600 cities in India. It will seek to expand its home brand in lower-tier cities via a franchise model.

    Raymond stores average 2000sqft, although the firm has been focused on establishing smaller-format stores over the past 18 months.

    Indian retailer Raymond currently runs the largest branded fashion retail network within India and also operates in Bangladesh, Nepa, the Middle East and Pakistan. It has plans to enter the US market in “the near future”.

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  • Asos profits tumble as international sales growth slows

    Asos profits tumble as international sales growth slows

    Global fashion online retailer Asos has seen profits tumble 68 percent in the year to August, despite a 13-per-cent increase in sales.

    In what Sofie Willmott, lead retail analyst at GlobalData, described as “a tumultuous” year, Asos reported sales of £2.73 billion and a profit of just £33.1 million. After two profit warnings during the year, investors were unsurprised by the numbers and its share price actually rose 16 percent in post-announcement trading.

    Asos says it received 72.3 million orders and its core UK market performed the best, where sales rose by 15 per cent.

    “This financial year was a pivotal period for Asos, where we have invested significantly and enhanced our global platform capability to drive our future growth,” said CEO Nick Beighton.

    “Regrettably this was more disruptive than we originally anticipated. However, having identified the root causes of our operational issues, we have made substantial progress over the last few months in resolving them.

    “Whilst there remains lots of work to be done to get the business back on track, we are now in a more positive position to start the new financial year.”

    Willmott said with overseas sales accounting for 62.6 percent of group turnover, a modest 11.4-percent rise had a major impact on top-line growth.

    “Although its reliance on territories outside of the UK has been an asset in the past, helping to drive total performance while its domestic market has been challenging, its troubles overseas remain a concern going forward as Asos attempts to improve its proposition and entice shoppers back. The retailer’s plans to bolster its management team with the addition of four new c-suite roles, alongside the four non-executive directors due to join imminently, is a wise one considering it has a number of key areas of focus in the year ahead.”

    Willmott said it bodes well for Asos that it is clearly willing to adapt to survive – unlike some of its multichannel rivals that have been slow to respond to changing consumer needs and shopping habits.

    “Although a quantifiable forecast for the new financial year was omitted from the results today, we expect the online pureplay to continue to outperform in the year ahead.”

  • Kipling releases a fresh collection with Chinese designer Angel Chen

    Kipling releases a fresh collection with Chinese designer Angel Chen

    Fashion brand Kipling has released a collaboration with contemporary Chinese designer Angel Chen.

    The embroidery designs constitute what the brand describes a fresh approach to some of Kipling’s classic bag silhouettes, presenting its Fall/Winter “Live. Light” collection to consumers.

    Angel Chen

    Chen has brought her East meets West aesthetic to the collection by borrowing the English phonemes “Do Re Mi” from the world of music and blending them with auspicious Chinese symbols. The result corresponds with the brand’s seasonal campaign of “Express Yourself with Music”.

    “Live. Light to me represents vitality, which is indispensable in life,” said Chinese designer Angel Chen. “I think it can bring hope and happiness. That is why I have chosen ‘Do Re Mi’ in bright and vivid colours for the bag’s pattern, drawing my inspiration from the music scale.”

    The collection comes in two distinct designs with different color combinations: a youthful pink-based design embroidered with crane and pine tree motifs and a denim-based design embroidered with a Chinese symbol in the form of a dragon.

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  • Japanese retail chain Usupso opens store in Ghy

    Japanese retail chain Usupso opens store in Ghy

    Japanese fashion retail chain Usupso is opening three new stores at once in India.

    The chain opened its first location in Guwahati city on October 14, and will launch in Kohima and Dimapur later this week under local franchise partner GM Retails. The firm plans to open more outlets in other parts of the northeast region.

    The first more than 1050sqft store offers in excess of 2500 products under eight categories from homeware to toys at lower-than-average prices.

    The brand operates more than 1000 stores globally.

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  • Karl Lagerfeld to launch in India this month

    Karl Lagerfeld to launch in India this month

    Fashion house Karl Lagerfeld is collaborating with premium Indian brand Cover Story to enter the Indian market.

    A limited-edition collection is being sold in selected Future Group stores in cities such as Ahmedabad, Pune and Hyderabad.

    “The collection is very global,” said Future Style Lab CEO Manjula Tiwari, according to a CNBC report. “The idea is to introduce the best of international fashion to India, but tailored for the Indian customer, whether it is in shape, color or even fabrics that work for our weather.

    “While scaling the operations for Future Style Lab, I realized there were lots of opportunities for international quality fashion. That is how we had conceived Cover Story to occupy the premium end of the Indian market. Our retail strategy also positions us next to some of the best high-street and luxury brands in malls. Maison Karl Lagerfeld approached us in London. The collaboration has been in the works for the past year.

    “There has been no attempt to play around with the House of Karl Lagerfeld’s DNA, which ensures that the clothes look like they have been bought in any world city in Europe or in London,” added Tiwari. “Even someone in Pune or Ahmedabad should be able to access global fashion without actually having to travel to say, London, to buy a Karl Lagerfeld. This was the last collection that the designer Karl Lagerfeld himself supervised before he passed away.”

    The brand is not the only international luxury label to make moves into the Indian market, with high-end jewelry retailer Tiffany setting up shop in the territory just two months ago in a joint venture with Reliance Brands.

  • Louis Vuitton in Thailand expands to Phuket

    Louis Vuitton in Thailand expands to Phuket

    Louis Vuitton in Thailand has unveiled a new store in Phuket, its first store outside the capital city of Bangkok. 

    Located in Central Phuket mall, the new boutique features unique interiors as the brand wants to embrace local elements and yet keep its international spirit.

    The interior expresses the Maison’s codes with subtle off-white cut-out panels in a pattern that reflects Louis Vuitton’s famous monogram motif, which appears to float like lace.

    The wall sculptures and installations reflect the store’s Sino-Portuguese style.

    Finally, to reflect the environment of Louis Vuitton in Thailand, tropical plants are placed through the store to highlight “tropical modernism”.

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