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Tag: lingerie

  • 6ixty8ight Singapore expands by opening stores

    6ixty8ight Singapore expands by opening stores

    Hong Kong lingerie brand 6ixty8ight is trebling its Singapore store network. 6ixty8ight Singapore will open new stores at Tampines 1 on December 1 and at Bugis Junction this week. They follow the brand’s debut at VivoCity in July.

    The Bugis Junction 6ixty8ight Singapore store will take up340sqm of space, a little larger than the 270sqm site at Tampines 1 – but both are considerably larger than the first store, which is just 185sqm.

    6ixty8ight was founded in 2005 by Hop Lun Group which has manufactured lingerie for many international brands for more than 25 years. Its strategy was to use its manufacturing expertise to create underwear for Chinese women. Such a course did not cannibalise sales from its manufacturing customers, which primary target western markets. It was the first time the manufacturer had developed its own label.

    The brand, which targets women aged 15 to 30, has found a ready market in Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea where its value offer and fun store decor has differentiated it from rivals. It now has more than 150 stores in the region.

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  • L Brands loss revealed, Victoria’s Secret faces challenge

    L Brands loss revealed, Victoria’s Secret faces challenge

    Lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret needs to reinvent itself, says retail analyst Neil Saunders, commenting in the wake of a US$42.8 million loss by its parent L Brands. “The brand is simply not connecting and resonating with consumers in the way that it once did. Its overt sexuality, its focus on airbrushed glamour, and its dark-and-moody stores are completely out of step with the mood of most modern consumers,” said Saunders, MD of GlobalData Retail.

    “However, this is not a new phenomenon, Victoria’s Secret has been out of kilter for a long period of time – and has seemingly done very little to bring itself back into line.”

    Sales at Victoria’s Secret have fallen in seven out of the last eight quarters, mainly due to its weak diffusion brand Pink, launched in 2002 and aimed at college-aged women.

    “In Pink, fashion errors in loungewear have driven a recent deceleration in performance,” the company admitted in its earnings statement.

    L Brands’ third-quarter results showed an increase in same-store sales of 4 per cent across the group, to $2.77 billion, but Victoria’s Secret store sales fell by 2 per cent.

    The top line was boosted by L Brands’ Bath & Body Works brand. But one-off costs from the closure of Henri Bendel, impairments at Victoria’s Secret and ongoing losses in the La Senza business drove the net loss.

    Saunders described the Victoria’s Secret performance as disappointing, “not only with the sales numbers but by the inertia within the business”.

    He said much of the brand’s failure to change came down to embedded attitudes within management.

    “The recent insensitive comments about transsexuals from chief marketing officer, Ed Razek, in a Vogue interview characterise the problems. Not only are such remarks bad for the brand’s image, but it also earned a sharp public rebuke from the CEO of more incisive rival ThirdLove which has been stealing share from Victoria’s Secret for some time.

    “In theory, the departure of Jan Singer as CEO should help herald in changes someone coming in will have fresh ideas about reviving the fortunes of Victoria’s Secret.”

    L Brands has appointed John Mehas from lifestyle brand Tory Burch as the new CEO of Victoria’s Secret. He will take up the role early next year.

    Pink CEO Denise Landman retired after the release of the L Brands half-year results and she was replaced on October 1 by former Bath & Body Works president for merchandising and product development, Amy Hauk.

    “Our new leaders are coming in with a fresh perspective and looking at everything … our marketing, brand positioning, internal talent, real estate portfolio and cost structure,” said CEO Leslie Wexner.

    Saunders said Bath & Body Works was a stark contrast to the core brand.

    “The company’s wholesome brand image and its focus on small indulgences are paying real dividends – especially in a consumer economy where shoppers have more money to treat themselves. Its strong range development which means assortments are constantly changing encourages regular visits to online and stores. It also means that the company is good at jumping on trends like aromatherapy-based scents and the ongoing popularity of candles. Second, good marketing and promotions help to drive volumes through the business,” said Saunders.

    “Both of these things stem from the fact that the BBW team is much more attuned to the market and consumer trends than is the case at Victoria’s Secret. Indeed, the cultures at the two divisions could not be more different, and we believe that Victoria’s Secret should take a leaf out of its sister brand’s playbook as it looks to reinvent itself.”

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  • Victoria’s Secret apologises for ‘insensitive’ transgender model comment

    Victoria’s Secret apologises for ‘insensitive’ transgender model comment

    Following the backlash on social media, the chief marketing officer of L Brands, parent company of Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, has posted an apology on Twitter for comments he made about transgender models. Ed Razek, L Brands’s CMO, released a statement on Twitter clarifying a comment he made in an interview with Vogue magazine, which read:

    “To be clear, we absolutely would cast a transgender model in our show. We’ve had transgender models come to castings… And like many others, they didn’t make it.”

    Razek and Monica Mitro, vice president of public relations for Victoria’s Secret, sat down in an interview with Vogue which touched on the topic on the casting team’s choices. Razek, who is part of the casting team, mentioned the company had considered putting plus-sized models and transgenders in the show but had not acted on it, since the company “did not market to the whole world.”

    L Brands has recently announced it is expecting a third quarter loss per share of about US$0.17.  The reported loss per share includes a total charge of about US$0.32 per share, which consists of an approximate pretax cash charge of US$20 million related to the closure of its Henri Bendel business, and an approximate pretax non-cash impairment charge of US$80 million related to certain Victoria’s Secret store assets.

    Excluding the charges mentioned, the company expects adjusted third quarter earnings per share to be approximately US$0.15, compared to its previous guidance of US$0.00 to US$0.05, principally driven by outperformance at Bath & Body Works.

    The company has recently reported an 8 per cent increase in sales of US$860.5 million for the four weeks ending November 3 and a 4 per cent increase in same-store sales for the period. It has seen a 6 per cent increase for the 13 weeks ending November 3 of US$2.78 billion compared to the previous corresponding period.

    L Brands, is scheduled to report third-quarter earnings on November 21.

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  • Swarovski creates Victoria’s Secret Fantasy Bra

    Swarovski creates Victoria’s Secret Fantasy Bra

    Atelier Swarovski has partnered with Victoria’s Secret to craft this year’s 2018 Dream Angels Fantasy Bra. The bra, which will be modelled by Victoria’s Secret Angel Elsa Hosk at the 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York, is crafted with more than 2100 Swarovski-created diamonds and topaz. Also, for the first time, the Fantasy Bra will place sustainability centrestage.

    Valued at US$1 million, the elaborate design took four craftsmen 930 hours to create, incorporating 71.05 carats of created diamonds with a pear-shape Swarovski created diamond centre stone weighing 2.03 carats. The bra’s casing is also set in sterling silver.

    Member of the Swarovski executive board Nadja Swarovski said the company was delighted to have been selected to collaborate with Victoria’s Secret on this year’s Fantasy Bra.

    “This stunning handcrafted Atelier Swarovski piece features thousands of Swarovski created diamonds set alongside responsibly sourced topaz. We hope it provides a bold new vision of luxury – mixing glamour and innovative materials – when it hits the runway at this legendary show.”

    Swarovski created diamonds are grown in a lab, yet have the same optical, chemical and physical attributes as mined diamonds – both are 100-per cent carbon and have the same hardness and brilliance.

    Elsa and the Fantasy Bra will walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway on December 2.

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  • Victoria’s Secret reveales collaborative capsule with Mary Katrantzou

    Victoria’s Secret reveales collaborative capsule with Mary Katrantzou

    Lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret has announced its newest designer collaboration: Victoria’s Secret x Mary Katrantzou. The collaboration marks the second time that Victoria’s Secret has partnered with a luxury brand to create an exclusive range.

    Katrantzou, a London-based fashion designer dubbed the “Queen of Prints”, has designed an exclusive collection for VS that blends a feminine design aesthetic with the brand’s signature sexy and glamorous style.

    Katrantzou commented: “Everything that Victoria’s Secret creates is about a woman feeling confident and empowered – and also having fun with what she is wearing. This collaboration is going to be bold, fun and playful.”

    Katrantzou has also designed a section for the 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The Victoria’s Secret x Mary Katrantzou capsule collection will feature looks from the runway and will be carried in select Victoria’s Secret stores and on VictoriasSecret.com this holiday season.

  • Malaysia to have first Victoria’s Secret Lingerie Store

    Malaysia to have first Victoria’s Secret Lingerie Store

    The first full-range Victoria’s Secret Malaysia store has opened. Located in Mid Valley Megamall, the boutique has been launched by the US brand’s regional partner Valiram Group, which is also behind Victoria’s Secret stores in Macau, Bali and Singapore, (but not Hong Kong and Mainland China). It is reportedly planning more stores in Jakarta, Bangkok and Melbourne, Australia.

    The Kuala Lumpur store takes up 8233sqft, and has dedicated space for diffusion lines Pink and Victoria Sport, as well as the beauty products and perfume ranges stocked in earlier Victoria’s Secret stores in Malaysia.

    Many celebrities attended a formal opening earlier this month and social media key influencers including Joi Lynn have been photographed at the store.

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  • First Victoria’s Secret Lingerie Store to open in Malaysia

    First Victoria’s Secret Lingerie Store to open in Malaysia

    The first full-range Victoria’s Secret Malaysia store has opened. Located in Mid Valley Megamall, the boutique has been launched by the US brand’s regional partner Valiram Group, which is also behind Victoria’s Secret stores in Macau, Bali and Singapore, (but not Hong Kong and Mainland China). It is reportedly planning more stores in Jakarta, Bangkok and Melbourne, Australia.

    The Kuala Lumpur store takes up 8233sqft, and has dedicated space for diffusion lines Pink and Victoria Sport, as well as the beauty products and perfume ranges stocked in earlier Victoria’s Secret stores in Malaysia.

    Many celebrities attended a formal opening earlier this month and social media key influencers including Joi Lynn have been photographed at the store.

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  • H&M lingerie line that fits Asian lauched

    H&M lingerie line that fits Asian lauched

    H&M has launched its first Asian-fit lingerie collection. The collection, now available at H&M stores with lingerie departments within Hong Kong as well as on hm.com, has been designed to impress Asian women with its comfortable fabric and skin-friendly design.

    The label’s 44-stitch superfine fibre has been used to bring a soft touch to the skin, while the wire-free feature and triangle-cup design is intended for comfort and fit for all sizes and cups, with side support for comfortable body shaping.

    Promotional materials for the collection emphasises the use of superior materials to offer a high level of skin-friendly, breathable comfort.

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  • Victoria’s Secret To Open First Lingerie Store In Malaysia

    Victoria’s Secret To Open First Lingerie Store In Malaysia

    Victoria’s Secret Malaysia is opening its first lingerie store in October.

    Located at Mid Valley Megamall, the first full-range store will house all of the brand’s signature collections, including Body by Victoria, Very Sexy, Dream Angels, Bombshell and T-Shirt collection, along with the athletic line, Victoria Sport.

    All the signature scents and body care collections will also be ranged – including the Pink line.

    Victoria’s Secret arrived in Malaysia in 2012, and only stocks its lifestyle collections including accessories and beauty lines at existing stores.

  • Lingerie e-tailer Adore Me expands offline

    Lingerie e-tailer Adore Me expands offline

    Lingerie e-tailer Adore Me says it plans to open between 200 and 300 stores during the next five years. The company will make its brick-and-mortar debut in New York City within the next few months, followed by up to 10 locations this calendar year and another 20 next year to gauge foot traffic in different locations.

    The offline expansion will accelerate in subsequent years.

    Adore Me founder and CEO Morgan Hermand-Waiche told The Wall Street Journal that online retailers need a physical store presence in order to compete with mainstream retailers.

    “Victoria’s Secret is the big guy in the room. Even if we are successful for a digitally native brand, we will remain small compared to Victoria’s Secret.”

    Adore Me is considering new formats for its stores, including bars where shoppers can relax with friends and showrooms allowing customers to try clothes on and have purchases shipped to their homes.

  • Victoria’s Secret unveils its Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra

    Victoria’s Secret unveils its Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra

    US lingerie company Victoria’s Secret has unveiled its 2017 Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra, designed by luxury jeweller Mouawad.

    Brazilian model Lais Ribeiro will wearing the US$2 million bra at this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Shanghai in three weeks’ time.

    It is the first time the Victoria’s Secret Angel will showcase the brand’s annual fantasy bra. Other supermodels who have worn Mouawad’s showpieces over the years include Lily Aldridge, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Candice Swanepoel, Selita Ebanks, Gisele Bündchen, Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum and Karolina Kurkova.

    Mouawad’s latest creation features a suite of contrasting gemstones. The bra and matching belt took more than 350 hours of labour to be handset with nearly 6000 white diamonds, yellow sapphires and blue topazes, totalling more than 640 carats and all set in 18-karat yellow gold.

    Mouawad Jewelry first teamed with Victoria’s Secret in 2001, since designing 10 fantasy bras. His 2003 masterpiece, the Very Sexy Fantasy Bra, was awarded a Guinness World Record as the most expensive bra ever made.

    Founded in 1890, the Mouawad brand is led by fourth-generation co-guardians Fred, Alain and Pascal Mouawad. The family firm designs, makes and sells exclusive jewellery and timepieces.

    Victoria’s Secret is known for its fashion-inspired collections, fragrances and bodycare products as well as its lingerie, but perhaps is more famous for its runway shows and supermodels, not to mention its fantasy bras. It is owned by Limited Brands and has more than 1000 stores internationally.

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  • Design first for Victoria’s Secret catwalk show

    Design first for Victoria’s Secret catwalk show

    Victoria’s Secret has engaged Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing to create styles for its annual catwalk show, with a capsule collection to launch in stores the following day, November 29.

    While the lingerie brand often calls upon designers to create runway pieces, this is the first first time it has partnered with a fashion house on an in-store collection.

    There is also a parallel in that Rousteing has his “Balmain Army”, models who regularly star in his campaigns, while Victoria’s Secret uses star models for its shows.

    For the Shanghai showcase on November 28, the French designer is tipped to choose friends Sara Sampaio, Joan Smalls, Alessandra Ambrosio and Karlie Kloss to model his first mainline foray into underwear.

  • Record number of Chinese models to star Victoria’s Secret show 2017

    Record number of Chinese models to star Victoria’s Secret show 2017

    The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show this year is still months away. As the date and location are still shrouded in secrecy, 57 beauties have already been confirmed as part of the lineup, with a record number of Chinese faces announced to walk the more-diverse-than-ever runway.

    In addition to some veteran western super models, such as Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, so far a total of six angels from the east, for the first time ever, is expected to shine in one of this industry’s most-watched shows, according to a full list released by Fashionista.

    The gorgeous girls who are making history for the brand are:

    Liu Wen

    This year, Liu will walk in her fifth Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. When she first walked the VS runway, she was the only Asian model ever to do so.

    Ming Xi (Xi Mengyao)

    Ming Xi has already walked in the past four shows for Victoria’s Secret, regularly modeling during the section of the spectacular that showcases the brand’s little sister line, PINK.

    He Sui

    He Sui is no stranger to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. She has walked in the show six times already, beginning in 2011. When she first stepped on the stage, she was only the second Asian model for the brand, after Liu Wen.

    Ju Xiaowen

    This year will mark Ju’s second walk on Victoria’s Secret runway. Before her cooperation with the brand, she has helped other brands break racial barriers, for example, she was the first-ever Chinese model to be the face of Marc Jacobs.

    Xie Xin

    While this will be her premiere walk on Victoria’s Secret show, she’s fronted numerous ad campaigns and walked some of the top runways.

    Estelle Chen (Chen Yu)

    Chen is a French model of Chinese descent born in Paris. The 17-year-old is the only Asian face among the 15 other newly-minted Victoria’s Secret models. This newcomer started out in 2013 but has already walked for fashion powerhouses Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Elie Saab and Fendi.

    A more racially inclusive runway

    Victoria’s Secret has long been criticized for not featuring a more racially diverse lineup of models over the course of the fashion show’s 22-year history.

    No Asian model has walked the VS runway until 2009, according to Yahoo Style. However, the lingerie giant in recent years has been ramping up its efforts to be inclusive.

    An expanding market in China

    China’s female lingerie market is lucrative with a retail value of 25 billion US dollars in 2017. However, the market is highly fragmented with no major brands leading the way. Currently, a Guangdong-based mass market lingerie brand Cosmo Lady has just a four percent share of the market, revealed Business of Fashion.

    As a representative from Victoria’s Secret China told Jing Daily, the brand is feeling “very positive about the potential of the China market,” as they expect three stores alone, including the one planned in Beijing, are anticipated to generate 150 million US dollars in annual sales for the 7.78 billion US dollar brand.

    China is expected to equal, if not exceed the US, in sales in the long term, according to this representative.

    Efforts to woo Chinese customers

    Considering the first Victoria’s Secret model of Asian descent didn’t walk in its fashion show until 2009, and the only two and four Chinese models strutting down the catwalk in 2015 and 2016, this time the six Chinese faces could be reflective of the brand’s growing focus in the Chinese market.

    As a matter of fact, the retailer’s presence hasn’t started till 2015. Adding to the 26 concept stores in China, which are shops that sold only beauty products and accessories, the company has opened two flagship fully-stocked retail stores in Shanghai and Chengdu in 2017. As the VS China representative suggested, one more store is expected in Beijing later this year.

    The brand’s additional attempts to woo Chinese consumers are through their dragon-themed outfits throughout its annual fashion show last year.

    Although the show’s so-called Chinese elements fell flat on China’s Internet, with social media users complaining about the “appropriated Chinese culture” and the “ugly bikini outfit”, the full video of the show boasted an estimated 162 million viewership compared to last year’s 127 million on Tencent video.

    From this perspective, the Chinese cultural emblems, for example, the dragon-themed costumes, have already prevailed angel wings.

  • Second quarter sales sag for Victoria’s Secret owner

    Second quarter sales sag for Victoria’s Secret owner

    Second-quarter net sales fell by 8 per cent year on year to US$2.7 billion for Victoria’s Secret owner L Brands.

    The company says there was a negative impact of about six points with the exit from the swimwear and apparel categories, which particularly hit Victoria’s Secret comparable sales (nine points).

    Operating income was $300.9 million, down from $408.2 million for the same quarter last year, while net income slid to $138.9 million from $252.4 million.

    Overall the brand finished the quarter with 3077 stores, down from 3074 with 27 openings and 24 closures. For Victoria’s Secret, store numbers were 1174, down from 1177 with six openings and nine closures.

    As well as Victoria’s Secret, L Brands owns Bath & Body Works, Henri Bendel, La Senza and Pink. The company runs 3077 specialty stores in the US, Canada, the UK and Greater China, with its brands being sold in more than 750 franchised locations internationally as well as online.

  • Victoria’s Secret to open mega store in Macau

    Victoria’s Secret to open mega store in Macau

    Victoria’s Secret will open a new mega store in Macau on April 27, as the US brand eyes further Asia expansion, following its China debut store opening last February.

    Under parent company L Brands, the 15,000-square-foot Macau full assortment store  — which not only sells its branded accessories and cosmetics but lingerie and sportswear — will bow at St Mark’s Square at The Venetian.

    In addition to the latest collections and pieces, the store will showcase five sets of Victoria’s Secret angel wings – all of which have featured on the runway of past Victoria’s Secret shows. The curate will be on display at The Venetian from April 26 to May 31.

    The news comes as the fashion lingerie conglomerate opened its first standalone store in mainland China in February. The four-story, 25,850-square-foot flagship opened in Shanghai, followed by a 12,294-square-foot store debut in Chengdu one week later. A Beijing store is coming later this year.

    Meanwhile, Victoria’s Secret’s Asia expansion is also taking on a flagship store in Hong Kong. The brand is reportedly taking up prime location in Causeway Bay, the former residence of Forever21. It is slated to open in Hong Kong next year.

    Fellow lingerie maker La Perla has already opened a four-storey flagship store in Causeway Bay in late 2015, located on the iconic, and expensive, Russell Street.

    More and more international retailers are renewing leases in the region as tents in Hong Kong continue to drop, especially in Causeway Bay.

    According to a recent report by Everbright Property Investment Consultancy. For the first quarter of 2017, major lease transaction records in Hong Kong’s high-traffic tourist areas — including Central, Causeway Bay, Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui — featured drops in monthly rents of up to 72% in some cases.

    On average, Causeway Bay witnessed the sharpest rent price decline for the period, down 31%, the report said.