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Tag: Fashion

  • Inditex suffers from late coming winter

    Inditex suffers from late coming winter

    Zara owner Inditex has posted slow like-for-like sales growth due to the unusually warm autumn and adverse currency moves. Inditex, which also owns upmarket label Massimo Dutti and teen label Bershka, posted a 3 per cent rise in like-for-like sales in the six months to the end of November after an “extraordinarily warm September”. Sales bounced back somewhat to 5 per cent in October and November.

    The fashion giant reported an increase in earnings before interest and tax of €3.07 billion from the previous corresponding period.

    In the first nine months of the year, the world’s largest fashion retailer reported a 3 per cent increase in sales to €18.4 billion and a 4 per cent rise in net profits to €2.4 billion.

    According to Inditex, the company didn’t have to cut clothing prices from September like its rivals, which resulted in margin growth of 108 basis points during the third quarter.

    The clothing retailer maintained sales and margin guidance for the rest of the year.

    Pablo Isla, Inditex chair and CEO, said the group’s strong business model, which continues to deliver solid structural growth in all markets, and its constant focus on developing the integrated store and online platform through continued enhancement of technology and systems, have contributed to its performance.

    The company announced last September that all products from all its brands will be made available online by 2020, including in markets where it does not have any stores.

    Isla had said that Inditex wants to make all fashion collections available to all customers wherever they are in the world.

    “Even in those markets which do not currently have our bricks-and-mortar stores,” Isla added.

    Other than Zara, Massimo Dutti and Bershka, Inditex also sells the brands Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Oysho and Uterque across its network of almost 7500 physical shops. It operates online in 49 markets.

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  • Victoria’s Secret opens first flagship store in Australia

    Victoria’s Secret opens first flagship store in Australia

    Victoria’s Secret has opened its debut flagship store in Australia, the first store in the nation to offer the U.S. lingerie giant’s full range of apparel, innerwear and accessories. Located in Melbourne’s Chadstone Shopping Centre, the Victoria’s Secret store opened to much fanfare at 5:30 am local time, with a ribbon cutting ceremony last week.

    Some one thousand women camped outside and waited for a first look at the store, according to local media reports, with the first shoppers getting a $180 voucher.

    Designed to reflect the firm’s New York flagship store on Fifth Avenue, Victoria’s SecretMelbourne is fitted out the brand’s recognised pink, and hosts an in-store display that holds approximately 12,000 pairs of panties.

    There’s also a separate entrance for its Victoria’s Secret Pink collections.

    The new Australian store in addition sells Body by Victoria, Very Sexy, Dream Angels, Bombshell, cotton lingerie and Victoria’s Sport athleisure line.

    The Melbourne opening marks the first official Victoria’s Secret store in Australia, separating itself from concession stores inside malls and Australian airports that are limited to selling fragrance and cosmetics.

    Victoria’s Secret recently announced it had appointed fashion executive John Mehas as its new lingerie chief executive.

    Mehas will take over in January, replacing Jan Singer, who has now resigned.

    “Our number one priority is improving performance,” L Brands chairman and chief executive officer Leslie Wexner said at the time of announcing.

    “I am confident that, under John’s leadership, Victoria’s Secret Lingerie…will continue to be a powerhouse and will deliver products and experiences.”

    Victoria’s Secret operates 1600 stores globally.

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  • Moncler open store in Changi Airport

    Moncler open store in Changi Airport

    DFS Group, the world’s leading luxury travel retailer, is pleased to introduce global luxury brand Moncler at Changi Airport Terminal 1. The opening of the new Moncler boutique adds an important presence within the DFS Group’s luxury fashion offerings that are housed within a world-class travel retail destination.

    The new Moncler boutique represents a new milestone that reflects the DFS Group’s focus on experiential shopping. It also complements the DFS Group’s impressive luxury retail line-up at Changi Airport, which is home to a prominent stable of premium fashion offerings. The latest collaboration with the fashion-forward and iconic outerwear leader underlines DFS Group’s commitment to deliver the finest product offerings and exclusive experiences to fashion-conscious shoppers.

    The new boutique reflects Moncler’s haute montagne aesthetic and vision, at the same time keeping in tune with the maison’s roots and heritage. Boasting a floor area that measures around 110 square metres, the clever layout maximises the use of space while the addition of select materials adds a contemporary feel. A unique effect has been achieved with the marble flooring, which alternates herringbone white Calacatta Vagli with black Gricio Carnico, while sleek glass cases with black varnished wood complete the look. The boutique hosts the Moncler men’s, women’s and accessory collections.

    “We are very honoured to welcome a distinguished and respected heritage brand such as Moncler into our portfolio of fashion and watch brands. As part of the strategy to up the ante of the retail experience for our global travellers when they visit DFS Changi, Moncler has been carefully curated to offer a wide selection from their latest collection for savvy travellers.” Wilcy Wong, DFS Group Managing Director Singapore and Indonesia, shares.

    Teo Chew Hoon, Group Senior Vice President of Airside Concessions from Changi Airport Group adds, “We are pleased to open the first Moncler boutique with our valued partner DFS Group to offer passengers an exceptional shopping experience with fashion offerings from luxury to high street designs across a range of price points.”

    The boutique was officially opened on 14th December with a grand opening ceremony. The festivities featured a ribbon cutting ceremony officiated by renowned local actor Desmond Tan with Wilcy Wong, DFS Group Managing Director Singapore and Indonesia and Chandra Mahtani, Changi Airport Group Vice-President of Terminal 5 Planning. Hosted by Constance Lau, the ribbon cutting ceremony and lion dancers kick-started the celebrations for esteemed guests, who were treated to a live nitrogen cocktail performance and styling tips by Celebrity fashion stylist and personality, Glenn Goh.

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  • H&M to collaborate with EYTYS to launch a gender neutral collection

    H&M to collaborate with EYTYS to launch a gender neutral collection

    ashion giant H&M has teamed up with Swedish streetwear brand Eytys to launch a gender neutral fashion collection that will go on sale in selected stores worldwide on January 24. The new unisex collection, which is being designed in collaboration with H&M, will feature footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and kids.

    The footwear collection will include new takes on a number of Eytys’ signature chunky-soled styles and will come in custom-designed boxes decorated by painter Zoe Barcza.

    “With this collaboration, we hope to introduce the H&M customer to our design philosophy of robust and fuss-free design where function triumphs embellishment and style spans genders,” said Max Schiller, creative director at Eytys.

    “The collection is all about proportions – creating a distinct unisex silhouette by playing around with loose silhouettes and chunky architectural footwear. It’s the Eytys idea of a ‘generic’ look, one that is meant to elevate integrity, attitude and confidence.”

    According to H&M, the Eytys design approach and overall ethos are rooted in the digital age, but also in freedom from restraints based on gender or age.

    “Together the brands have extracted the core of Eytys DNA and developed a unisex collection featuring a no- fuss and fashion-forward range of shoes and clothes.”

    Schiller said H&M admired Eytys’ distinct look and initially approached the company with the idea of creating a shoe collection.

    But after initial brainstorming, it was decided to create a full gender neutral fashion collection – shoes, clothes and accessories – and enable customers to experience the whole brand aesthetic and ethos, he said.

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  • Herschel teams up with Starbucks for launch in China

    Herschel teams up with Starbucks for launch in China

    Does a new new designer collaboration revealed this week represent growing Starbucks fashion cred? Accessories and apparel brand Herschel has created a capsule collection inspired by Starbucks China’s Sumatra coffee blends.

    It follows the release of two seasonal ranges of homewares designed by Los Angeles label Ban.Do in the coffee company’s Asia-Pacific stores, the first of them on sale in July last year.

    Vancouver-based Herschel established a headquarters in Shanghai this year and is currently working on expansion plans within the territory along with retail partners nationwide. A permanent store location will open in the third quarter, and 15–20 Herschel Supply stores are are expected to be open before the end of next year.

    Cofounder Lyndon Cormack said: “Coffee is significant in one aspect or another in just about every part of the world. Of course, it’s a huge part of our culture in Vancouver, here in the Northwest, just a few hundred kilometres away from Starbucks’ birthplace in Seattle.

    “To work with one of the most globally recognised brands and collaborate with them directly is an incredible opportunity to bring both of our stories to life in a unique and meaningful way. We’ve also been active in the market for years and certainly experienced robust growth.

    “To receive the stamp of approval, so to speak, from the Starbucks China team shows us we’re off to an amazing start and that there’s a lot of opportunity for us to expand in the territory.”

    The Starbucks fashion-influenced range, which is currently sold exclusively at Starbucks locations within China, includes carryalls, mugs and a Starbucks card featuring a custom Sumatra Cherry Woodland Camo print.

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  • Li-Ning X EDG Joint Apparel Anounced

    Li-Ning X EDG Joint Apparel Anounced

    Chinese sports apparel brand Li-Ning has released a collaboration with esports organisation Edward Gaming (EDG). The Li-Ning X EDG apparel line, which includes hoodies, jackets, tracksuits, and shoes, is now selling at its retail location in Shanghai’s Daning shopping complex.

    Li-Ning has become one of China’s largest sportswear brands, having signed multiple sponsorship deals with international-league athletes. EDG is best known for its League of Legends team, which competed in the world gaming championship earlier this year. It closed a funding round of close to RMB100 million (US$15.7 million) last May.

  • Steve Madden has launched in Malaysia

    Steve Madden has launched in Malaysia

    American footwear brand Steve Madden has opened its first store in Malaysia. The new location at Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur is the second Steve Madden store launched by the brand’s retail partner Valiram after the first opening in Takashi­maya Singapore.

    A statement from the brand that describes the new store’s aesthetic as “distilled urban” reads: “Making use of several materials, the intention is to stage the stars – shoes and accessories – in a way that allows each of them to tell their style story.”

    Featured in store is the brand’s Holiday 2018 collection for women, as well as its signature rock-n-roll-inspired shoes and leather goods.

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  • Kering leads the way to gender diversity

    Kering leads the way to gender diversity

    French luxury goods giant Kering has received a prize for its high level of female representation on its board. The company has made gender equality one of its corporate priority and has, this week, been chosen to receive the “Most Feminine Board of Directors” award.

    Handed out by the European Women on Boards along with Ethics & Boards, Kering was selected among the 200 largest companies of the Stoxx Europe 600 index based on the percentage of women on the boards as well as the presence of women serving as chief executive officer or chair of the executive board.

    The company, which owns a range of high-end labels including Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Pomellato, launched a leadership and diversity program in 2010 with the aim of increasing access for women to leadership positions.

    Kering has also committed to reaching gender parity and pay equality at all levels by 2025.

    French companies are leading the way on gender diversity and Kering is a great model setting an example for the rest of the world to follow.

    Indeed, more than half of the group’s managers are women while they constitute 64% percent of the board and 33% of its executive committee.

    François-Henri Pinault, Kering’s CEO, also announced that the company would be doubling the budget of the Kering Foundation, aimed at tackling violence against women.

    Kering is also partnering with Michelle Obama for the French leg of her blockbuster tour for her memoir titled “Becoming.”

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  • What is Amazon’s Japan bestseller fashion?

    What is Amazon’s Japan bestseller fashion?

    Amazon Japan has revealed its most popular items sold on the online retailer’s platform in the last twelve months, with basics and sportswear taking the top spot in both fashion and accessories, and footwear categories. According to the ‘Amazon Ranking Grand Prize 2018’, the United Athle 5.6 Ounce High Quality T-shirt took first place in the clothing and accessories category. In a classic design, the affordable fashion item was followed in popularity by the brand’s crew neck t-shirt, which came in second place.

    Looking at the top 20 apparel brands, Champion gained five spots in the report, while in the womenswear section, casual tops by And It_ sat high in the rankings.

    Asics’ running shoes won both first and second place in footwear, while Anello’s poly-canvas mini bag proved popular in the bag category.

    In watches, Casio’s G-Shock shock-resistant smart-watch continued to gain popularity, with the Casio brand featuring 11 times in the Amazon Japan top 20. In the jewellery ranking, products by Tiffany & Co. gained in popularity too, said the report.

    The “Amazon Ranking Grand Prize 2018” ranked the U.S. e-commerce giant site’s most popular products by category for the period beginning in November 13, 2017, and ending on October 31, 2018.

    In the last twelve months, retail expenditure has continued to grow in Japan.

    In September, the archipelago nation recorded its 11th consecutive month of retail revenue growth, with sales up 2.1% on the same period last year, according to data by the Japanese trade ministry.

    Specifically, online shopping is at the forefront of this drive with the Japanese love for online shopping helped by the trend to online shop using mobile phones.

    In the latest Criteo survey, mobile devices accounted for 55% of all EC transactions in Japan, up 4 points on the year.

    Transactions through smartphones increased 9%, and tablets 3%, but purchases by PC were down 9%, said the report.

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  • Which tourists spend the most overseas?

    Which tourists spend the most overseas?

    Overseas spending by South Korean tourists ranks among the top of advanced economies, research data showed on December 5. Figures provided by the Korea Economic Research Institute, affiliated with the Federation of Korean Industries, put the proportion for South Korea at minus 1.9 percent in 2016, ranking it the fifth highest among 32 member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

    The institute derived the proportion by subtracting overseas expenditures by South Koreans from foreigners’ spending in South Korea and measured the sum’s ratio against household spending.

    Higher numbers in the negative means that local citizens spent more abroad that what inbound foreigners spent.

    Results showed Norway topped the list with minus 4.3 percent, followed by Lithuania (minus 2.7 percent), Belgium (minus 2.5 percent) and Germany (2.3 percent).

    In the case of Japan, the number turned positive in 2014 and came to 0.6 percent in 2016.

    “The outflow of spending is the result of choices by local and foreign consumers of tourism services,” the institute said. “It indicates weaknesses in the competitiveness of the domestic tourism industry.”

    The institute cited a report last year from the World Economic Forum that said South Korea’s competitiveness in prices fell from 84th in 2007 to 88th in 2017.

    “(This) was one of the important elements that undermined South Korea’s competitiveness in the tourism business,” it said.

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  • Ted Baker CEO and founder Ray Kelvin to take leave of absence

    Ted Baker CEO and founder Ray Kelvin to take leave of absence

    Ted Baker chief executive and founder Ray Kelvin has taken a voluntary leave of absence after “further serious allegations” around his conduct were brought to light. These allegations were brought to the attention of an independent committee of non-executive directors created to investigate harassment claims made by multiple anonymous staff members that Kelvin had expected them to hug him and sit on his lap when he would visit stores.

    The committee appointed Herbert Smith Freehills LLP to conduct an independent external investigation into the claims.

    Kelvin agreed it would be best for the business, and the people who work in it, if he were to take a voluntary leave of absence for the duration of the investigation.

    Chief operating officer Lindsay Page has been appointed acting chief executive with immediate effect.

    Ted Baker non-executive chairman David Bernstein noted the business remains in a strong position to deliver on its strategy, despite the negative media reports.

    The investigation stems from a petition created on website Organise, through which multiple Ted Baker employees made workplace harassment claims about the founder.

    “Together our pressure exposed what was happening at the highest level. Now, over 100 anonymised reports of harassment are sat with Ted Baker’s board,” Organise said in a blog post about the matter.

    Kelvin said that he grew up with such practices, and that it was “good old-fashioned stuff”.

  • ‘The store of the future’ by Tommy Hilfiger opens in Amsterdam

    ‘The store of the future’ by Tommy Hilfiger opens in Amsterdam

    A new generation Tommy Hilfiger store of the future has opened in Amsterdam. The store emerges from the firm’s evolving omnichannel strategy and features floor-to-ceiling interactive mirrors, personalised embroidery stations and a cafe with digital screens built into the tables. The more than 300sqm interior has been described in a CPP Luxury report as boasting “modern finishes and a bright, airy aesthetic, taking cue from the nautical lifestyle – one of Tommy Hilfiger’s long standing sources of inspiration.

    Tommy Hilfiger CEO Daniel Grieder said: “You can’t just expect shoppers to come into the store when you do nothing, you have to excite them. You have to give customers a reason to come into the store.”

    View the gallery below (7 images) :

    The Tommy Hilfiger store of the future features large monitor screens which serve as “digital endless aisles” that allow customers to browse the brand’s complete online catalogue, facilitating home-delivered or store-delivered orders. Customers can also identify items from different looks featured online.

    Store manager Mark commented: “It’s about bridging that gap between online and offline, and making the shopping experience as easy as possible … People still want to be able to feel the material and see the products in person. That’s always important, so where we can we always want to encourage customers to come into the store.

    “For example with suits, we’ll offer an appointment for the customer to come in and try it on. We’ll make sure the dressing room is prepared for them with fitting shoes and a shirt. So for us it’s really about taking that extra step and building on the customer relationship.”

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  • Shanghai Tang sold to Chinese Lunar Capital fund

    Shanghai Tang sold to Chinese Lunar Capital fund

    Chinese luxury fashion label Shanghai Tang has been acquired by Chinese investment fund Lunar Capital. The new owner specialises in growing mid-sized Chinese firms, already holding a range of clothing brands. Their acquisition signals a new direction for the brand, which has just opened a flagship store on JD’s luxury platform TopLife, the brand’s first domestic online retail space. Shanghai Tang’s creative director Massimiliano Giornetti will be resigning following the handover.

    The rapid turnover just one year after its acquisition by Italian clothing firm A. Moda, Alessandro Bastagli, and Hong Kong private equity firm Cassia Investments follows disagreements between the buyers. The brand was purchased last year from Swiss luxury goods firm Richemont Group, one of the brand’s original investors and owners since 2008.

    Shanghai Tang is thought to be China’s first contemporary luxury brand, and pulled in estimated sales of US$45.57 million this year.

  • The Body Shop Malaysia franchisee plans IPO

    The Body Shop Malaysia franchisee plans IPO

    Rampai-Niaga, The Body Shop Malaysia franchisee, is planning an IPO that could raise RM200 million (US$48 million). The company is considering submitting a listing application to the local securities regulator shortly, targeting a presence on Bursa Malaysia by the second quarter of next year at the earliest, according to a source close to the firm. As yet, the company has refrained from commenting on the proposal.

    The company’s website says Rampai-Niaga is the sole franchisee for The Body Shop Malaysia. It opened the beauty products brand’s first outlet in the country in 1984.

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  • Shinsegae International Opens Select Shop for S. Korean Designer

    Shinsegae International Opens Select Shop for S. Korean Designer

    South Korean retailer Shinsegae International aims to promote South Korean designer brands through a new online store. The company says ‘Select Shop’ will specialise in South Korean designer brands, on its S.I.Village online shopping portal. Select Shop accommodates 30 designer brands for clothing, bags, and footwear.

    “Select Shop will serve as a new channel for South Korean designers as well as for young and sensational new brands, which will also boost the competitiveness of our online shopping mall,” said a Shinsegae International spokesperson.

    Shinsegae International said S.I.Village’s high-end reputation is what encouraged many of the designers to join Select Shop.

    To mark the grand opening, Select Shop will provide discounts of 5 to 20 per cent on all member products and will give away movie tickets to the first 300 customers to make a purchase on Select Shop.

    The website will also be the exclusive distributor for 99 T-shirts designed in collaboration with 99%IS by Bajowoo.

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