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Tag: Fashion

  • Primark opens world’s largest fashion store

    Primark opens world’s largest fashion store

    Primark has launched the world’s largest fashion store in Birmingham, the UK. The 160,100sqft store is built over five stories and has been officially recognised by Guinness as the largest fashion store in the world. It has effectively taken over the former Pavilion shopping centre in the city’s downtown heart.

    The entire building is given over to Primark’s ranges and includes several in-store shops, a custom lab for personalised goods, and three dining options including a Disney-themed cafe and the first own-brand Primark cafe.

    Primark’s store design director Sanjay Dihman told that the combination of food-and-beverage offers will attract footfall, along with the new store design and the sheer scale of the store.

    “People will be intrigued by that, and also personalisation, barbers and the beauty studio make it whole collection of different offers that will attract footfall.”

    The store, believed to have cost £70 million to construct, also contains a Duck and Dry salon, a Duck and File Xpress nail boutique, and Joe Mills barber shop.

    The Irish retailer launched in 1969, entering the US market in 2015 where it plans to expand beyond its current nine outlets.

  • Marks & Spencer Singapore store opens at Jewel Changi

    Marks & Spencer Singapore store opens at Jewel Changi

    Marks & Spencer Singapore will open its Jewel Changi store this Wednesday.

    The 13,000sqft space offers M&S’s clothing and accessories across womenswear, menswear, lingerie and kidswear.

    The store also features Food Hall which will include nearly 3000 lines of food and drinks, including international award-winning wines.

    Customers can expect a variety of chilled food and drinks including fresh sandwiches, prepared salads, fruit and vegetables, meat and dairy, prepared meals, inspired by world cuisines.

    The new store also features an M&S in-store bakery, selling coffee-to-go and patisserie goods.

    “Our new store at Jewel Changi Airport will combine the best of our clothing collections and high-quality food with an inspiring shopping environment and exceptional customer service, offering a truly special experience,” said Christine Choi, Marks & Spencer Asia CEO.

    A new feature of the Jewel Changi store will be unique name badges for staff which bear ‘Singlish’ taglines such as ‘I am Stylo Milo, ‘I am Tok Kong’, and a few other variations embracing local culture.

    From April 17 to June 11, shoppers can enjoy special offers including lucky draws and free M&S cooler bags.

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  • Rebecca Feng buys LK Bennett

    Rebecca Feng buys LK Bennett

    UK-based affordable-luxury fashion-brand LK Bennett has been sold to its Chinese franchise partner Rebecca Feng.

    Rebecca Feng, who operates the label’s business in China under a franchise agreement, competed with several interested buyers following the fashion retailer’s entry into administration last month, including founder Linda Bennett.

    The purchase reportedly places stores in Britain and Ireland in some danger of closure, which could affect up to 500 staff. It will also involve a review of the firm’s operations in Europe and the US, which filed bankruptcy proceedings earlier this month. The firm has some 200 locations globally.

    The brand was founded by Bennett in 1990 with the vision of bringing “a bit of Bond Street luxury to the High Street”. Initially known for its signature ‘kitten heels’ favoured by celebrities, the label grew to become a destination for feminine footwear. Ready-to-wear collections were introduced in 1998 establishing LK Bennett as a fashion house offering complete wardrobe solutions for all occasions.

    All of the label’s collections are designed in house with a theme that combines signature detailing with strong colours, distinctive prints and a flattering fit.

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  • Oysho Singapore opens first store in Singapore

    Oysho Singapore opens first store in Singapore

    Oysho Singapore is opening its first store this week, at Jewel Changi.

    The Spanish fashion label’s debut Singapore store spans 220sqm, and features a warm atmosphere, fitted out with materials such as wood and metal, combined with new furnishings.

    The store stocks products from all the brand’s categories, including sleepwear, lingerie, gym wear, beachwear, footwear, sportswear and accessories. Prices range from $7.90 to $299.

    The Oysho Sport range features garments suited to boxing, surfing, skiing and trekking. With a commitment to technical innovation, the brand’s garments include lines featuring aloe vera microcapsules, compression fabrics for muscle recovery, and Sensil Innergy Nylon 6.6 fabric which Oysho says enhances physical performance.

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  • Massimo Dutti Singapore opens at Jewel Changi

    Massimo Dutti Singapore opens at Jewel Changi

    Massimo Dutti Singapore has launched its sixth store, at Jewel Changi. The Inditex-owned fashion label’s almost 600sqm retail space features the brand’s newest design concept for the first time in Southeast Asia and following the opening of a similar outlet in Munich, Germany.

    Designed to look like a New York apartment, the new interior design layout expresses the natural evolution of the brand. The store concept is focused on lifestyle, offering a more enticing setting via the use of warm, high-quality materials such as wooden furniture and finishes and the use of plants – a blending of contemporary designer furniture that greatly reinforces this updated identity.

    As Massimo Dutti Singapore’s second largest store after Liat Tower, the new venue is in line with the Inditex Group’s latest approach to eco-efficiency.

    Electricity consumption has been reduced by some 30 per cent and water consumption by 40 per cent in comparison with its conventional stores. The eco-efficiency measures implemented include a store lighting system that optimises the lighting for the furnishings, and the exclusive use of LED bulbs. The lighting system also enables partial lighting of store spaces.

    The Changi store also features a Travel Collection, with easy-iron shirts and lightweight crease-resistant suits.

  • Beauty & You brings Find Kapoor and Olens into Hong Kong

    Beauty & You brings Find Kapoor and Olens into Hong Kong

    The Shilla Duty Free’s retail concept Beauty&You has become the first retailer in Hong Kong to launch exclusive South Korean brands Find Kapoor and Olens.

    Located at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), Beauty&You seeks to introduce a multitude of brands and product combinations to customers, placing strong emphasis on the concept of individuality and personalised offerings through a mix-and-match of a unique range of products.

    “We are ecstatic to have Beauty&You as the first retailer to bring Find Kapoor and Olens to the HKIA”, said a representative for Beauty&You. “These partnerships are a testament to our strong positioning and ability to collaborate with a multitude of brands, in order to bring all-round travel retail experiences and surprises to global travellers.”

    Beauty&You will feature Find Kapoor’s classic, minimalistic strapped handbags at a dedicated pop-up. Olens is a range of coloured contact lenses.

    These brand collaborations are tailored to the needs of all global travellers passing through HKIA, aiming to stimulate customers’ minds about beauty and styling, said The Shilla. Incorporating brand new product options and categories such as fashion accessories and coloured contact lenses, Beauty&You strives to break the traditional mindset of beauty as solely focused on skincare and cosmetics, helping consumers to achieve their own definitions.

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  • Tong Liya helps Launching new H&M Conscious Collection

    Tong Liya helps Launching new H&M Conscious Collection

    Global fashion label H&M has launched its Conscious Collection with Chinese actress Tong Liya among the 13 women featured in the promotional campaign.

    Every piece in the collection is made from sustainably sourced materials, such as 100-per-cent organic cotton, Tencel or recycled polyester.

    “We’re absolutely thrilled to have this spring collection made out of sustainable materials,” said the brand’s head of design womenswear Maria Östblom. “With feminine, easy-going silhouettes, dreamy floral prints and separates all created by our in-house design team that can easily be mixed and matched, it shows how style and sustainability can work together beautifully.”

    The floral prints and earthy colours of the collection are styled to complement feminine details such as ruffles, off-the shoulder necklines and balloon sleeves.

    Throughout the month of April, H&M will not only celebrate their sustainability actions and goals as a company, but also highlight the Conscious Collection in stores all around the world. Promotions will emphasise H&M’s status as among the world’s largest users of sustainably-sourced materials and its continued commitment towards a sustainable fashion future.

    “This Conscious Collection is a wonderful step towards meeting one of our main goals – to use only 100 per cent recycled or other sustainably-sourced materials by 2030,” said H&M’s global sustainability manager Isak Roth. “Sustainability is one of our core values, and while there is a lot of work going into this throughout the entire value chain, it’s always exciting to see the more consumer-facing campaigns really showcase our conscious way of thinking.”

  • Uniqlo Parent Cuts Financial Outlook

    Uniqlo Parent Cuts Financial Outlook

    Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing has cut its annual operating forecast amid heavy discounting to offload winter clothes.

    The apparel company has struggled with a shortage of popular winter items in the past, and overcompensated last winter by ordering too much inventory.

    The unseasonably warm weather hit sales of winter clothes which led to the decline of Fast Retailing’s first quarter profit.

    The company is undergoing the biggest revamp of its logistics and supply chain network to resolve the challenge it faced over winter.

    The Japanese retailer said it now expects an operating profit of  ¥260 billion (A$3.2 billion) for the financial year through August, compared to its previous forecast of  ¥270 billion in January. The revised outlook would still be a record high and represent a 10 per cent year-on-year rise.

    For the quarter ending February, Fast Retailing posted a double-digit increase in sales and profit in China, which has helped the brand turn in a better-than-expected rise in operating profit to ¥68 billion.

    The company reported declines in both revenue and profit in the first half of fiscal 2019, with revenue totaling ¥491.3 billion yen, down 5 per cent from the previous corresponding period, and operating profit totaling ¥67.7 billion yen, down 23.7 per cent from the previous year.

    First-half same-store sales, including online sales, declined 9 per cent.

    Online sales, which now account for 9.9 per cent of Uniqlo sales in Japan and 20 per cent in China, rose 30.3 per cent in the first half.

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  • Greater China and South Korea drive Massive Uniqlo sales

    Greater China and South Korea drive Massive Uniqlo sales

    Heavy discounting necessary to offload winter stock has hit Uniqlo sales. Parent Fast Retailing has struggled with a shortage of popular winter items in the past, and overcompensated last winter by ordering too much inventory ahead of what proved to be an unusually warm season.

    As a result, the Japanese retailer’s first-quarter profit took a hit which in turn impacted of first-half results issued yesterday.

    The company reported declines in both revenue and profit in the first half of the current financial year, with revenue totaling ¥491.3 billion, (US$4.397 billion) down 5 per cent from the previous corresponding period, and operating profit totaling ¥67.7 billion ($606 million), down 23.7 per cent from the previous year. Same-store sales fell 9 per cent, however online sales, which now account for 9.9 per cent of Uniqlo sales in Japan and 20 per cent in China, rose 30.3 per cent.

    The weak first quarter for Uniqlo sales was in part compensated for by a double-digit increase in sales and profit in China, which helped the brand turn in a better-than-expected rise in operating profit to ¥68 billion ($609 million) for the three months to February.

    The company said it now expects an operating profit of ¥260 billion for the financial year through August, compared to its previous forecast of  ¥270 billion in January. The revised outlook would still be a record high and represent a 10 per cent year-on-year rise.

    Uniqlo re-stated its medium-term vision of becoming the world’s number one apparel retailer.

    “In pursuit of this aim, we are focusing our efforts on expanding Uniqlo International and our GU casual fashion brand,” said Tadashi Yanai, chairman, president and CEO of Uniqlo. “We continue to increase Uniqlo store numbers in each country in which we operate, and open global flagship stores and large-format stores in major cities around the world to further develop Uniqlo as a global brand.”

    He said that within the company’s international division, Greater China and Southeast Asia are entering “a new stage of growth as key drivers of operational expansion”.

    Uniqlo Greater China generated double-digit growth in both revenue and profit in the first half of the year despite the dampening effect of the mild winter weather.

    “Within that region, our operation in Mainland China continued to report strong growth in revenue and profit of approximately 20 per cent year on year. Uniqlo South Korea also reported increases in both revenue and profit. Uniqlo Southeast Asia & Oceania generated significant rises in both revenue and profit thanks to strong increases in same-store sales in every single one of the region’s markets.

    Meanwhile, the company plans to open more GU stores in Japan, while expanding the brand’s international presence, primarily in Greater China and South Korea.

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  • Home market hurts Sa Sa International sales

    Home market hurts Sa Sa International sales

    Hong Kong beauty products retail Sa Sa International has reported a 7.2 per cent decline in sales for the March quarter.

    The company’s home market and Macau were to blame, with same-store sales falling 10.8 per cent and combined retail and wholesale turnover down 8.4 per cent.

    Sa Sa is one of the bellwethers of the broader Hong Kong market because it serves both local consumers and tourists, appealing to more mainstream clients than the luxury watch and jewellery retailers which often disproportionately affect total Hong Kong retail sales figures.

    In a stock exchange filing, Sa Sa International blamed the sales decline on a 6 per cent fall in total transaction volume, of which the number of transactions of local customers and mainland tourists decreased by 8.8 per cent and 3.7 per cent respectively.

    “The average sales per transaction of local consumers and mainland tourists decreased by 0.7 per cent and 5.9 per cent respectively, which resulted in a 3.5 per cent decline in total,” the company said.

    “The weaker sales performance was mainly due to high base effect. The hot trend of some trendy product categories last year has been weakening while the group’s newly launched products could not fully compensate their sales decline. In addition, a number of new pharmacy stores selling skincare and cosmetic products have opened new stores in tourist hot spots aggressively, resulting in intensified competition and lower-than-expected sales at Sa Sa.”

    The company says it plans to open new stores to enhance its store network and boost its competitiveness “under reasonable rental condition”.

    “The group is adjusting its business strategies to adapt to the changing consumer preferences and competitive landscape. The first action is to change towards a more balanced product mix.”

    Sa Sa International says it will also increase its range of high-end products and focus on its own-label products which offer better margins.

    Another step Sa Sa plans to arrest falling sales is speeding up its investment in digitalisation and IT, using big data to formulate better product strategies.

    The new Express Railway Link and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge have so far failed to bring about the expected stimulus to the retail industry, the company said.

    “Looking ahead, the group believes the benefits of the two mega infrastructure projects will gradually emerge under the favourable policy of the Greater Bay Area. The group remains cautiously optimistic about the outlook of Hong Kong and Macau markets in the long run.

  • Levi’s to opening 100 extra stores this year

    Levi’s to opening 100 extra stores this year

    San Francisco-based retailer Levi Strauss announced plans to open 100 new company-operated stores this year.

    The apparel maker, which launched on the US stock market last month, announced its plans for the store openings alongside a well-received debut batch of earnings as a public company.

    Company chief executive Chip Bergh told that most of the store openings would be in Europe and Asia, though mainline and outlet stores would open in the US as well.

    Levi’s posted a 7 per cent jump in net revenue to US$1.43 billion for the quarter ending February 24. The company produced a net income of US$147 million compared with the losses of US$19 million a year ago, when the results were hit with a tax-related charge.

    “We delivered our sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit constant-currency revenue growth,” Bergh said.

    “Growth was broad-based across all three regions and all channels, demonstrating that our strategies are working and our investments are paying off.”

    The 166-year-old brand operates 824 standalone stores, including 74 the retailer opened last year.

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  • LVMH global revenue rises 16%

    LVMH global revenue rises 16%

    LVMH global revenue rose 16 per cent in the first quarter of this year, with Asia and every other geographical market fuelling growth.

    Organic growth – excluding acquisitions – was 11 per cent higher than the same period last year.

    The fashion-and-leather-goods business saw organic sales rise 15 per cent.

    “Louis Vuitton continued its remarkable growth across all of its businesses. Its performance was exceptional, its creativity ever more striking and innovative, and its men’s and women’s Autumn-Winter fashion shows were universally acclaimed,” the company said in a statement.

    “The transformational upgrade of its distribution network continued with highly successful and iconic re-openings, including Florence, London’s Sloane Street, Monaco and Shanghai IFC. Christian Dior Couture performed exceptionally well across all its product categories and regions. At Celine, the new Men’s and Women’s ready-to-wear collections arrived in stores as the new concept starts to be rolled out. Fendi, Loewe and Berluti are growing fast. Loro Piana’s vicuna and shoe collections performed well. The other Maisons continued to progress.”

    In selective retailing, organic revenue rose 8 per cent, with Sephora recording strong revenue growth and market share gains during the period.

    Online sales grew strongly and DFS grew “at a steady pace”.

    “The Gallerias of Hong Kong and Macao performed particularly well,” the company reported.

    Wine and spirits business sales rose a more modest 9 per cent in the quarter, however Hennessy cognac volumes increased by 11 per cent, driven largely by China and the US.

    In perfumes and cosmetics, organic revenue increased by 9 per cent in the quarter.

    Parfums Christian Dior had a standout quarter, helped by the launch of its new fragrance Joy.

    Louis Vuitton global revenue from watches and jewellery grew the slowest, at just 4 per cent, with watches lagging.

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  • Sandro Hong Kong Opening Festival Walk Maal Boutique

    Sandro Hong Kong Opening Festival Walk Maal Boutique

    Parisian fashion brand Sandro Hong Kong will open its Menswear and Womenswear boutique at Festival Walk Hong Kong this month.

    The 128sqm boutique features a contemporary design with a full limestone shopfront;  the boutique will showcase the most diverse range from the brand in an understated, sophisticated setting.

    The store’s interior is characterised by contrasts – as reflected in the simplicity of clean lines against strong graphic features as well as the use of different raw materials and texture such as wood and marble.

    For the Spring-Summer 2019 season, Sandro Homme will celebrate the streetwear spirit of the 1990s. The Sandro women’s look draws on contrasts from around the world and adopts duality as a fixed design feature.

    Sandro currently has more than 600 points of sales worldwide, including more than 180 in Asia.

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  • Ted Baker Boost Store Network in China with JV

    Ted Baker Boost Store Network in China with JV

    Fashion brand Ted Baker has formed a joint venture to expand its network in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

    A new company will take over the three Ted Baker China stores already operating in Hong Kong and the six on the mainland. It will operate all Ted Baker future stores, concessions and online channels in the three geographical markets.

    Ted Baker will invest about RMB30 million (£3.4 million) in the new venture, which will be co-owned with Shanghai LongShang Trading Company (LS). LS will assign its rights under the JV to a newly incorporated Hong Kong investment vehicle to be wholly owned and formed by LongGoal Holdings and Infra-Apparel Group.

    Lindsay Page, acting CEO of Ted Baker, said the company is excited about the growth potential for the brand across China.

    “Over recent years we have invested in introducing the Ted Baker brand to Chinese customers, and we are confident that the creation of this JV will build on this platform and deliver meaningful long-term growth. In LongGoal and Infra-Apparel, we have extremely capable partners that bring local market expertise to our brand and already well-established design, buying and merchandising skillset.”

    Page said the brand firmly believes China has the long-term potential to become one of the largest single global territories for the Ted Baker brand.

    The Ted Baker China JV will have six directors, evenly split between Ted Baker and the JV Partner. The JV is expected to break-even in the 2021/22 financial year.

    In a statement, Ted Baker said LongGoal and Infra have a wealth of experience in digital marketing, e-commerce operations and building successful joint ventures in China.

    Infra-red has expanded the Golfino brand to 60 stores across China during the last five years and has strong digital-marketing and e-commerce operations experience.

    LongGoal is the current distributor of Gant, operating more than 165 directly owned and 25 sub-franchised locations in China, along with 44 directly owned and franchised Bebe stores.

    The new joint venture will be focusing on expanding the Ted Baker brand into tier 2 and 3 Chinese cities.

    Chen Xiaoling, chairwoman of LongGoal, said Ted Baker’s global lifestyle appeal has resonated well in China, and the company is confident in its ability to grow it further and faster.

    “In more than 20 years, LongGoal has amassed an infrastructure and presence in more than 65 cities, which presents a strong, compelling and proven platform that Ted Baker China can leverage. The transformational JV we’ve forged brings together a leading brand, strong management team and unparalleled opportunity to expand Ted Baker into cities that desire its fresh vision of style,” she said.

    Jing Yin, co-founder and chairwoman of Infra, described Ted Baker as an amazing brand that her company has admired for a long time.

    “[Ted Baker] has already demonstrated its relevance and appeal in the Chinese market. Our knowledge and experience in building fashion brands through stores, concessions and online should prove invaluable to Ted Baker and we look forward to working together.”

    The new venture is condition on approval from Chinese regulatory authorities.

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  • Uniqlo Opening New Store in New South Wales

    Uniqlo Opening New Store in New South Wales

    Japanese global apparel retailer Uniqlo will open its sixth store in New South Wales tomorrow at Westfield Hornsby.

    The new store, Uniqlo’s 17th in Australia, will feature a full line-up of the retailer’s LifeWear apparel for men, women, kids and babies.

    Uniqlo said the new store underlines the brand’s commitment to growing Australia as a key market in the Asia Pacific region.

    “The opening of our sixth site in New South Wales at Westfield Hornsby demonstrates our commitment to extending our LifeWear message to all Australians by offering exemplary customer service and high quality products at an affordable price,” said Kensuke Suwa, chief operating officer for Uniqlo Australia.

    The doors to the new store will open to consumers at 10am after an official ribbon cutting ceremony and Japanese drumming celebration.

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