Retail News CRM

Tag: menswear

  • Onitsuka Tiger store in Singapore is biggest yet

    Onitsuka Tiger store in Singapore is biggest yet

    Onitsuka Tiger Singapore has opened its largest boutique in Ngee Ann City. As part of its efforts to become recognised as a fashion lifestyle brand beyond its sneaker business, the Japanese footwear firm’s new 165sqm store – the label’s fifth in Singapore – exclusively stocks the label’s Nippon Made collection as well as its usual retail offerings, focused on hand-made shoes following traditional Japanese methods.

    The store also sells Japanese-designed athleisure apparel and accessories in a store space fitted out with plush tiger toys.

    Onitsuka Tiger is owned by Asics.

    Lees ook:

  • Handsome markets brands in Paris Fashion Week

    Handsome markets brands in Paris Fashion Week

    Handsome, a Korean fashion brand owned by Hyundai Department Store, brought two of its labels to Paris Fashion Week in an effort to expand on the global stage. System for Women and System Homme, the two Handsome brands, showcased their fall and winter collections in a rented showroom for eight days starting from Jan. 17. The Handsome event included a presentation of the collections followed by showroom events, where item were modeled for clients.

    The brands are presenting their new collection one season early to major buyers in the fashion industry.

    In addition to 180 buyers, the event was attended by the Wall Street Journal, Vogue and GQ as well as by fashion influencers.

    It was the first time Handsome has taken its brands to a foreign showroom since being founded in 1987.

    System for Women debuted in 1990 and System Homme in 2008. The company has also introduced other names, including Time, Mine and SJSJ.

    Handsome was acquired by Hyundai Department Store Group in 2012.

    At the Paris event, which featured 200 items for men and women, around 40 department stores from 14 countries participated. Samples were purchased ahead of possible quantity orders.

    It was a buyers’ who’s who. The list included representatives from Bloomingdales, France’s Le Bon Marche, Hong Kong’s Lane Crawford, Japan’s Isetan and Shanghai’s 10 Corso Como. Inquiries also came in from parties in Switzerland and Israel.

    “We predicted the number of businesses that would visit our showroom would be 40 at maximum. But since System Homme was introduced via major media outlets and social media after the presentation on Jan. 18, a great number of fashion businesspeople visited,” said a source from Handsome.

    The company said that visitors appreciated the designs as being unique and set apart from other major Asian brands.

    “In the case of businesses that received the samples, they will decide on quantity purchases in February, and in June, the main products of System [for Women] and System Homme will be sold at department stores and in multibrand shops of each country,” said a source from Handsome.

    Handsome is planning to use the Paris showroom event as a stepping stone for its international expansion efforts.

    In line with the strategy, it will complete its product development earlier and present new design concepts to the market one season ahead.

    It is rare for a ready-made brand to utilize this sort of advanced development.

    “Our brand is still new in the global fashion market, but we will elevate awareness to the point where we could open an exclusive fashion show at a foreign fashion week,” said Kim Hyung-jong, the CEO of Handsome.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • The coolest men’s sneakers from Paris Fashion Week

    The coolest men’s sneakers from Paris Fashion Week

    Paris Fashion Week Men’s was not lacking in head-turning street-style looks this year. Attendees brought their sartorial A-game to take in new fall ’19 collections from the hottest designers. A guest paired trendy Off-White socks with shiny silver Maison Margiela sneakers that featured a chunky platform sole and an iridescent finish. Cuffed denim jeans highlighted the pairing perfectly.

    Elsewhere, a guest showed off J.W. Anderson’s new Converse collab sneakers, which feature a rubber jagged platform sole. The high-tops debuted on the catwalk at Anderson’s spring ’19 show.

    Meanwhile, Adidas x Alexander Wang Turnout Mint White runners caught our attention with its chunky midsole design, a mash-up inspired by several previous Adidas sneakers.

    The Nike x A-Cold-Wall Zoom Vomero +5, designed by Samuel Ross, undeniably stands out with its enlarged heel counter. The style, which dropped in November, blends retro and futuristic elements.

    Lastly, the oversized red and white contrast leather sneakers by Alexander McQueen, which Timothée Chalamet has worn on the red carpet, of course, made an appearance at fashion week.

    Lees ook:

  • Brands planning to cash in on rising menswear trend

    Brands planning to cash in on rising menswear trend

    This week, Nike launched its new collection of yoga wear for men. While this was the company’s first foray into men’s yoga apparel, the move was very much in line with competitors who have been making a push into the menswear apparel market recently. Lululemon, whose bread and butter has long been women’s yoga trousers, is one of those competitors. Former CEO Laurent Potdevin described menswear as one of the brand’s “best-kept secrets.” The company is now looking to grow this division into a billion-dollar business.

    Gap also jumped on the bandwagon last year, with its new casual menswear brand Hill City. But a push into menswear stretches beyond the athletic wear market – Madewell rolled out menswear in September, Saks Fifth Avenue recently closed its womenswear store in Brookfield Place but kept its menswear location open, sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen launched their own menswear collection for fashion brand The Row last year, and the list continues.

    These brands are all looking to capitalise on a big change in fashion, and that is that in the not too distant future, menswear may outgrow womenswear.

    Business intelligence firm Gartner L2 estimated that in just two years, revenue growth of men’s clothing will surpass that of women’s clothing. This data is backed up by Euromonitor International, which estimated that men’s lines will outperform women’s over the next six years. 

    “Fashion has always been about women but men are finally having their time,” says Lizzy Bowring, catwalk director at trend-forecasting agency WSGN.

    Bowring believes that the rise of a young, fashion-conscious male consumer is a key reason for this. “It’s the younger men that are driving the push for menswear,” she says. “These men are more savvy and aware, and there is a lot of competition to look the part.”

    Ayako Homma, beauty and fashion consultant at Euromonitor International, echoed these thoughts in an email.

    “One key trend is men’s changing perception of fashion. Men are spending more time, effort and money on their grooming and appearance,” she wrote.

    Experts say that this peak in menswear can be traced back to a boom in streetwear clothing, which has been driven by brands such as Supreme, Yeezy, and Off-White. These brands have experienced explosive growth in recent years and are considered to be redefining the fashion landscape.

    These labels have been embraced by luxury players, a move that has in turn given new life to some of the luxury brands.

    Louis Vuitton recently hired industry pro Virgil Abloh to become its new artistic director. Abloh is responsible for setting up perhaps the buzziest streetwear brand of all, Off-White, which was recently ranked the hottest label in the world.

    “The men’s business has exploded in the past five years,” Roopal Patel, fashion director of Saks Fifth Avenue said. Patel said the focus had shifted to bringing in newer menswear-focused labels such as Off-White.

    “We’ve gone from just category addressing to designers looking at how they’re going to wardrobe a man’s lifestyle, everything from work to evening to weekend to sport,” she said.

    Industry insiders say this trend is here to stay. “It’s more than a buzz. It’s a deeper trend,” said Sidney Toledano, head of LVMH’s fashion group. He continued: “There’s strong demand across the men’s fashion industry, in all its shapes and forms, and which comes in part from a younger clientele. We see it very clearly in the sales.”

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Korea’s Beyond Closet confirms strong potential at Pitti Uomo

    Korea’s Beyond Closet confirms strong potential at Pitti Uomo

    Korean label Beyond Closet, showing for the third time at Pitti Uomo for the ‘Concept Korea’ project, won over the audience with a stylish, highly colourful catwalk show.bThis season perhaps even more so than in the past, Beyond Closet’s self-taught designer Taeyong Ko proved he is truly well-versed in his craft. It is surely not by chance that his menswear label, whose style is defined as “classic, with a twist,” managed to double its multibrand clients from one season to the next, growing from 15 to 30, chiefly in South Korea.

    Taeyong Ko, who in his younger years was a swimming enthusiast, and cut his fashion teeth working in a clothes shop, has managed to create a highly distinctive, recognisable style through a classic wardrobe with a preppy vibe, infused with a touch of slightly humorous extravagance that is never excessive.

    Taeyong Ko’s main strength is his ability to subtly blend genres and to create looks that are as original as they are attractive. His style is all about the way he plays with the accessories and the details which spice up Beyond Closet’s looks, as well as how he mixes and matches materials and registers. As he quipped backstage: “I dress men whose uniqueness lies in their own style.”

    The show’s setting was reminiscent of a military encampment, with tents erected in a desert-like environment, and you could hear a motorbike revving up as the first models strutted out on the catwalk to the notes of Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’. Trousers gathered at the ankles, woollen check shirts and oversize parkas alternated with Price of Wales suits and navy-style looks, a nod to the theme chosen by Taeyong Ko this season, translating into sailor-style pea-jackets with golden buttons worn over striped tops, small scarves knotted around the models’ necks.

    The mood was both relaxed and elegant, as in the case of the dandy ambling around in tracksuit bottoms and furry mules, sporting a classic tweed jacket, or in tartan trousers and a navy-style cardigan.

    There was an emphasis on snug, ultra-warm items for protection against the cold, like plush coats and boiled-wool tops, fleece sweaters worn under jackets, oversize turtlenecks and curly-wool tracksuit bottoms, not to mention sundry jackets with generous collars and lapels, all strictly fur-lined, and an assortment of quilted trousers and jackets, featuring colourful patchwork fabrics in menswear’s classic printed motifs, like checks and houndstooth patterns.

    The whole collection is made even sharper by the great attention paid to details and colour combinations. For example, the back of a khaki jacket is embellished with a vertical string of golden buttons. Elsewhere, in the guise of knee or elbow pads, Taeyong Ko opted for a kind of rectangular fitted panel, while some of his grey felt shirts featured ample pockets in brightly coloured nylon fleece, gloves in bright yellow leather were matched with a Prince of Wales checks look, and royal blue or velvet flaps livened up a classic trench coat.

    The designer also played with layering and trompe l’oeil effects, as with the Teddy-style sweater whose back morphs into a grey nylon jacket, or the pinstripe jacket which strays into baseball kit territory, sporting the number 27 on the reverse side. Other examples are the overcoat which unexpectedly turns into a wind-breaker or the jacket which becomes an orange waxed top.

    Lees ook:

  • United Colors Of Benetton appoints new Artistic Director

    United Colors Of Benetton appoints new Artistic Director

    Fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac has been appointed artistic director of the United Colors of Benetton men’s and women’s collections. “We are happy to welcome Jean-Charles de Castelbajac into our big family,” announced UCB Chairman Luciano Benetton.“His experience, charisma and ability to forecast tomorrow’s social and fashion trends will constitute a great asset for our brand.”

    Castelbajac has a long career that spans from design to painting, advertising and street art. He debuted in the fashion world in 1968, when he launched a brand created in collaboration with his mother. He then went on to inspire fashion trends such as the ‘anti-fashion’ movement and the alternative use of objects to decorate garments.

    In 1974 he co-founded Iceberg. In 1978 he founded maison Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, which he left in 2016. Over the years he has also collaborated with Max Mara, Ellesse, Courrèges, Rossignol, and Le Coq Sportif. Born from a mix of punk and pop, his style is characterized by the use of strong colors and pop icons, the mix of old and new and a whimsical and irreverent touch.

    “An iconic brand, United Colors of Benetton envisioned the world of today: a pop, colorful, affordable and universal fashion, enhanced by Oliviero Toscani’s powerful images,” commented Castelbajac. “United Colors of Benetton and I have always had a similar take on fashion, characterized by the passion for knitwear and the love of pop and rainbow colors.”

    Castelbajac and Benetton also share a passion for contaminating fashion with art. In his career, the French designer befriended and worked with artists such as Andy Warhol, Miguel Barcelo, Keith Haring, Jean Michel Basquiat, M.I.A and Lady Gaga. His creations have been displayed at New York’s Institute of Fashion and Technology, London’s Victoria & Albert Museum and the Galliera Museum in Paris. In 2018 he was guest artistic director at the Paris Biennale.

    “Thanks to social networks, fashion today is visible to everyone. But it remains affordable only to a few,” Castelbajac said, adding: “Together, United Colors of Benetton and I will seek to create tomorrow’s wardrobe, bringing beauty and style to everyday life, at prices that everyone can afford.”

    Lees ook:

  • China, Japan boost Brunello Cucinelli revenue growth

    China, Japan boost Brunello Cucinelli revenue growth

    Italian luxury house Brunello Cucinelli reported a leap in revenues for the 2018 fiscal year, with all geographic regions recording sales growth, particularly Greater China and Japan. For the year ending December 31, 2018, Brunello Cucinelli said total revenues increased 8.1% to €553 million, (+10.7% at constant exchange rates), compared to €511.7 million in 2017.

    The Solomeo-based company saw a significant rise in sales at 8.8% in the international markets and 4.2% in the Italian market, according to a press release published on the Italian stock exchange on Monday.

    By region, Greater China witnessed the biggest increase with an incredible 28.5% sales growth, followed by the Rest of the World region, up 10.7%, which was lead by Japan and the Middle East. Sales in Europe increased 8.5% and the U.S. saw growth of 3.9%.

    By distribution channel, Brunello Cucinelli’s retail sales gained 6.3% globally, with wholesale monobrand and multibrand up 19.4% and 9%, respectively.

    Capital expenditure for the twelve months was approximately €45 million, with “the objective of keeping the brand image extremely high in both the physical and digital channels,” said the company.

    Net debt narrowed €15 million, a slight improvement compared to 2017.

    “Another year has come to an end in a splendid manner, both in terms of numbers and from the standpoint of the general image of the brand at a global level,” said Brunello Cucinelli, Chairman and CEO.

    “We continue to support, believe in and invest in our beloved Italy, perceiving the great value this represents at a world level for the country’s creativity, quality and craftsmanship.”

    Following the stellar results, which included the sell out of the past winter collections, followed by strong spring/summer 2019 orders, the brand said it expects “another year ahead of gracious growth in line with 2018.”

    Lees ook:

  • Blackberrys Charts Upon The Next Growth Chapter

    Blackberrys Charts Upon The Next Growth Chapter

    Following an exceptionally successful year, amidst 8 months of re-branding, Blackberrys plans to significantly increase its long-term guidance in 2019. In April 2018 the company revealed its new face to the world after 27 years of its inception. In 2019, Blackberrys intends to strongly accelerate its retail presence and sales growth as part of its long-term strategic business plan.

    Blackberrys is currently present across 350 cities in India and operates more than 260 EBOs and 700+ MBOs. In 2018, Blackberrys added 50 new doors to its retail footprint and is confident of adding upto 50 more in the current financial year.

    In the New Year the company will continue bolstering marketing programs both in store and through online and offline media. The company has earmarked a marketing budget of Rs 55 crore for the current financial year.

    In 2018, Blackberrys launched several consumer centric brand campaigns including India Khaki week, The Distinguished Gentleman Rides, Style partnership with Bollywood blockbuster Race 3 and Lord of Giza to name a few, which were very well accepted by the customers and trade alike.

    Blackberrys is consistently investing in building a par excellence consumer experience using Machine Learning based analytics, and extensively leveraging the digital presence for redefining the Indian man’s Fashion journey.

    Nikhil Mohan, Founder Director at Blackberrys sharing his thoughts on the same added, “Our 2018 results and our positive outlook for 2019 are proof that our strategy is paying off. Company’s growth, grounded in deep acceptance of our brand, led by the product quality, innovation and service, is remarkably healthy. The new development model implemented across, has paved the way for increased value creation along with profitable, sustained and consistent organic growth. We are expecting an accelerated growth in coming years with a strong focus on developing newer wardrobe propositions and our retail presence across the country.

    Nitin Mohan, Co-founder Director at Blackberrys said, “We are committed to developing a ownership and entrepreneurial brand culture at employee level as it’s pivotal for the company in achieving its long-term objectives. As part of the accelerated growth plan, Blackberrys is focusing its HR initiatives on talent development and performance management.  The company plans to launch its new office very soon in Gurgaon, reflecting the collaborative work culture and with a young & fresh look and feel.”

    Lees ook:

  • Berluti showcases its signature styles in Mumbai

    Berluti showcases its signature styles in Mumbai

    One of the world’s most iconic luxury footwear brands, Berluti, hosted an exclusive evening to showcase new styles to guests and present their signature technique of footwear tattoo artistry by Elena Lodiat Soho House, Juhu. Firmly grounded in bespoke know-how, Berluti took its technical skills and creative flair a notch higher by transforming the rules of style with tattooing.

    The rare tattoo designs based on four themes: a classic bestiary of Insects & Animals, the signs of the Zodiac and the Chinese horoscope, vintage designs with Eagles, and the subtle art of Calligraphy can now be perfected on Berluti’s original and globally renowned Venezia leather. The noblest of all leathers, only Venezia leather sustains the creative audacity of Olga Berluti’s vision of art.

    The design is crafted to meet the modern-day sensibilities of contemporary dandy men. Fire-breathing dragons, fantastic beasts, regal eagles, all the mythical creatures and several other esoteric designs can now be realized on the emblematic Berluti Venezia leather from shoes and handbags to belts and other small leather goods.

    With this exclusive service, Berluti brings an even more bespoke look to an already-unique shoe.

    Talking about the event, the only female shoemaker in the world Olga Berluti said, ‘’I always wanted to grace leather shoes with the markings of the skin; scars, gashes, branding, piercings. We have already mastered the color technique on the leather from bronze and brown to red and copper, and the dark blue of the Tuaregs. Only one thing was missing, the most obvious and most difficult: tattoos. I tried to tattoo shoes using every possible process, but the designs faded, the colors were lost beneath the patinas, and the tattoos had no “life” in them. However, my technique has evolved over the years and today I am using the exact same methods as tattoo artists, along with inks that work well with leather. I hope Berluti loyalists from across the world admire this new art.”

    An exclusive Indian distribution partner of iconic global brands Bequest Group, Managing Director, Gaganmeet Singh said, “Luxury is all about a bespoke experience and personalization and creating tattoos on leather is an artisanal process. We are glad to have showcased this unique technique of tattooing on the Berluti Venezia leather to our patrons in India. The activity was insightful and interactive at the same time that gave a chance to the luxury connoisseurs to get involved in the nuances of tattoo making on leather at this unique Berluti event.”

    Berluti currently has a store in New Delhi at DLF Emporio Mall and is scouting for a property in Mumbai to open its store.

    Lees ook:

  • PM for Men by Pomelo is launched

    PM for Men by Pomelo is launched

    JD.com-backed fashion brand, Pomelo Fashion, is launching a menswear label called Pomelo Man (PM.). The label will be making its debut in Thailand, launching exclusively on the App available on both iOS and Android. PM aims to offer a new shopping experience to the modern man, transitioning from the online to offline world, on-the-go seamlessly.

    Customers can now walk into a PM location, get measured by the store crew and never have to bother about sizing while shopping on the App again. Addressing one of the biggest drawbacks of online shopping – sizing, the brand aims to innovatively take it out of the equation altogether. Through technology, PM helps customers find what they call their unique ‘Perfect Fit’. With key items like t-shirts, chino pants, hoodies, and accessories, the brand will become a one-stop shop for every man’s daily fashion needs. PM takes it up a notch by providing all men with a ‘Man Lounge’ complete with free Wi-Fi, USB charging stations, and video games, all of which can be enjoyed by customers and everyone else alike.

    Opening its pop up store to customers at Siam Square One on December 20th, 2018, PM will offer affordable, yet premium clothing ranging from 390 THB to 1,590 THB. For customers that download and register on the App – the brand will be giving away free t-shirts in their ‘perfect size’. The first collection consists of wardrobe essentials such as t-shirts, pants, outerwear, and accessories in expansive size options, available at the stores for a fitting and to be purchased on the Pomelo App. Going further, PM would roll out monthly drops composed of not only everyday essentials, but eventually branching out to polos, shirts, and a mix of both formal and informal styles.

    David Jou, Pomelo’s CEO, commented: “With PM we wanted to re-imagine men’s fashion. We wanted something classic, yet fresh and contemporary, combined with the latest technology to create an effortless shopping experience.”

    He added, “PM has no sizes. It’s built for the urban gentleman who is always on the go and seamlessly traverses between the digital and physical. We wanted to start with a focused and approachable collection that will grow over time as the brand itself grows. The PM app is at the center of the experience.”

    Lees ook:

  • Tommy Hilfiger opens first Indian store

    Tommy Hilfiger opens first Indian store

    Last week, Tommy Hilfiger has opened its first exclusive Tommy Hilfiger store in Patna, India. Actress Radhika Apte made the launch of the event wearing the brand’s clothes. “I’m excited to be in Patna to celebrate the opening of the first exclusive TOMMY HILFIGER store in the city,” she said.

    During the event, key influencers such as Ira Dubey, Carol Gracias, Neelaksh Apte, Kanishtha Dhankar and Arya Bhat, and VIPs browsed and shopped the Fall 2018 collections that celebrate American Icons while putting a modern twist on timeless classics to meet the needs of the now.

    Spanning over 125 square meters, the store’s design reflects Tommy Hilfiger’s new global retail concept, which fuses the brand’s American heritage with clean and bright aesthetic.

    The interior takes cue from the nautical lifestyle – one of Tommy Hilfiger’s longstanding sources of inspiration.

    Technology being at the center of retail today, a high-resolution digital screen
    showcases the brand’s latest global campaigns for an immersive brand experience.

    Lees ook:

  • Korean fashion firm Handsome unveils AI-designed clothes

    Korean fashion firm Handsome unveils AI-designed clothes

    South Korean fashion label Handsome says it will release the country’s first clothes designed with artificial intelligence technology. Handsome, an affiliate of Hyundai Department Store Group, said it joined forces with Designovel to create new patterns for clothes released under the SJYP brand. Designovel is a startup specialising in AI fashion technology.

    The fashion company said the first product, dubbed Dino Hood Tee, is printed with an image of a dinosaur and toy blocks designed by Designovel’s program, Style AI.

    The graphic was based on 330,000 images, including characters and logos, provided by Handsome.

    Style AI uses a convolutional neural network, which is an image processing technology to modify patterns.

    Handsome said it will review whether the AI technology can be applied in other areas of its fashion business.

    Lees ook:

  • Taiwan’s boutique Invincible coming to Shanghai

    Taiwan’s boutique Invincible coming to Shanghai

    Taiwanese streetwear boutique Invincible has opened a new store in Shanghai. The opening was marked by a brand collaboration with Japanese label Wacko Maria in the form of a capsule collection, which is on display within an in-store pop-up installation.

    The pop up’s striking-pink print wall and industrial rack set off the store’s otherwise understated design with untreated wood displays.

    The store is located at Soho Fuxing Plaza on Madang Road.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Woodland to add 60 stores, strengthen franchise model in India

    Woodland to add 60 stores, strengthen franchise model in India

    With changing lifestyles and increasing affluence, domestic demand for footwear is projected to grow at a faster rate than has been seen in India. Currently, India is the second largest footwear producer in the world, with footwear production accounting for approximately 9.6 per cent (till April 2018) of the global annual production – 22 billion pairs as compared to China, which produces over 60 per cent of the global production.

    The footwear market in India is now dominated by men’s footwear which contributes close to 58 percent of the total Indian footwear retail market and is expected grow at a CAGR of 10 percent by 2020. The women’s footwear segment, however, is projected to grow at a much faster CAGR of 20 percent.

    While the industry is currently dominated by unorganized domestic SME footwear manufacturers, changing consumer behavior and modern lifestyles have led to more organised brands coming into the fray, lured by the potential of bigger sales, but mostly in a bid to give the consumer branded, better quality products, value for money.

    A significant shift was observed post liberalisation when lifestyles expanded to foster great value for the sports/active segment and for casualization as a whole. The technological prowess of global sportswear giants enabled them to functionally and fashionably appeal to a young India. Tapping the unlocked potential in India, Woodland entered India in 1992 when the Indian footwear market was largely unorganized and soon became a recognizable name in the adventure and outdoor segment in India.

    The Right Fit

    The brand boasts of a huge product portfolio aside from footwear, including apparel and accessories.

    “In order to survive in today’s ever-changing and highly competitive market like India, diversifying our product portfolio is inevitable. Keeping a close eye on latest trends and new rising demands, we upgrade our portfolio accordingly,” Harkirat Singh, MD Woodland.

    The demand for the products is different in India and other countries because of the various factors namely demographic conditions, climatic conditions, styling culture.

    “We created a product line specifically for India and since then we have never looked back. Our product positioning was altogether unusual, and we were known as a one definite choice for adventurists, taking the market for rugged and outdoor leather shoes by storm. The phenomenal success in the shoe segment encouraged and motivated us to enter in new segments like clothes, handbags as well,” explains Singh.

    Over a period of time, the brand has expanded its product category and now has an extensive product range including handbags, wallets, travel bags, casual shoes, formal shoes, track pants, eyewear, gloves and outdoor equipment like tents, sleeping bags, umbrellas, trekking poles, waterproof outdoor backpacks.

    The prices of products have been set with a realistic approach since Woodland prides itself on being a customer-friendly brand.

    “The pricing strategy is to keep the prices in sync with the purchasing power of our target customers, which are majorly the youth segment – aged between 17-25 years, college studenst and professionals – who are interested in adventure sports and are on the lookout for stylish, yet value for money products. The price range of our jackets varies from Rs. 5,000 to 35,000 whereas the price range of our footwear starts from 3,000,” says Singh.

    Letting Technology Lead the Way

    With online channels taking over the retail industry, e-commerce has gradually become an inevitable part of the company’s sales and revenue. The company’s portal and other e-commerce sites collectively contribute to the e-commerce sales revenue, thereby adding to volumes. There is also an exclusive range of merchandise for e-commerce sites.

    The availability of Woodland products on all the prominent e-commerce websites enhances the brand visibility among the larger group of audience and helps widen the scope of sales.

    The brand is also a strong believer in Omnichannel retail, investing in online sales which are expected to grow to 40 percent in the next three to four years. It plans to concentrate more on a seamless approach through all available shopping channels, i.e. mobile internet devices, computers, bricks-and-mortar, television, radio, direct mail, catalogue, in-store experience and so on.

    Aside from this, Woodland has a history of exploring innovative technology embedded in products and integrating it with all aspects of the brand.

    “We have already launched GPS embedded jackets, BOA shoes, client T-shirts, and many more new technologies and innovations in products are in pipeline,” says Singh.

    Retail Mapping & Expansion Plans

    Globally, Woodland is present in more than 40 countries. In India, Woodland has a chain of over 600 company-owned stores and is present in over 5,000 multi-brand outlets and is planning on adding another 60 stores in this financial year in an equivalent combination of small towns and metros.

    It is also working towards strengthening its franchise model in India, to grow its presence in smaller cities and towns.

    “We are currently working on entering into more foreign countries in the near future to add to our international kitty. Woodland as a brand is already present in China, Aokang and Hon Kong. Apart from this, we are working on strengthening our presence in South-East Asia, West Asia, Europe and USA,” states Singh.

    Lees ook:

  • Brioni opened second store in HK

    Brioni opened second store in HK

    The Italian brand announced the opening of its second store in Hong Kong. The store is located on level two of the IFC mall at the Central Waterfront. The store interior pays tribute to the brand’s city of origin, Rome, by using Travertine marble. A coloured Italian marble column decorates the store’s entrance and rosewood panels are a reference to a men’s private space.

    The store has dedicated areas for Brioni’s formalwear, leisurewear and accessories.

    To celebrate the opening, Brioni has opened a pop-up exhibition in the oval atrium at the mall. Featuring a 5.5m replica of Michelangelo’s David dressed in a tuxedo, the ‘Masterful Tailoring Meets a Masterpiece’ installation required almost 100 hours of work by a team of specialists led by the brand’s chief master tailor.

    Whilst the bespoke service is a cornerstone of the menswear company’s identity, it also sells ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes, eyewear and fragrance.

    Brioni’s first store in Hong Kong is located at the Element shopping centre in Kowloon.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook: