L'Wren Scott at Barneys | Source: Barneys

Will Top Firings Change Barneys’ Cool? (On the Runway)
“Increasing Barneys’ profitability was a prime objective… The recession forced retailers to become leaner and more competitive, in particular with online sales, and that urgency will be critical to Barneys’ cool.”

Moncler fights against fakes (Fashion United)
“The Italian Fashion Chamber is joining Moncler and also stepping up against fakes… fighting the collateral damages caused by the creation of a black market, which hits tax payers, companies, and puts jobs at risk.”

Gilt Groupe’s Full-Price Men’s Site Slated to Launch in July (NY Fashion)
“Gilt Groupe realizes that men, who approach shopping with the utmost effort to get in, get out, and get on with life rather than dig and dig for a great find to brag about later, will just as easily pay full prices as sale prices.”

Yoox to open new online stores in China in 2011 (Reuters)
“Italian online fashion retailer Yoox is planning to bring some of the most exclusive fashion brands to China next year, tapping into the demand for luxury goods of the world’s largest online population.”

Tom Ford’s catwalk pictures hit the web (Telegraph)
“Tickets were like gold dust and the anticipation sent shivers through New York Fashion Week in September. Tom Ford was back – but on his own terms. Mr Sexsational’s first women’s wear collection since leaving Gucii and Yves Saint Laurent was unveiled.”

Superdry Spring Summer 2010 | Source: Superdry

Sales soar at fashion label Superdry (Telegraph)
“The chain said that expectations for pre-tax profit for the year to the start of May will be ‘not less’ than the £25.7m it outlined in its IPO prospectus earlier this year. Total group sales over the year are up by £63m, or 83pc, to £139m.”

Italy’s Yoox Posts 1Q Growth In Net Profit, Revenue (WSJ)
“Italian Internet fashion retailer Yoox SpA (YOOX.MI) said Tuesday its revenue and net profit grew in the first quarter as business performed well across all segments and territories. Net profit for the first quarter increased fivefold to EUR2 million from the EUR0.4 million a year earlier.”

Fuller’s fashion website closed for lack of funds (Times)
“Fashionair was the brainchild of the former manager of the Spice Girls and Sojin Lee, a former Net-a-Porter executive, and was established as an ‘entertainment and shopping platform’. Last week staff were told that they would be made redundant after an investment review by its American parent.”

Fashion sales double with new system (Internet Retailing)
“In the first five weeks since launch, net retail sales on lkbennett.com rose by more than 100%, compared to the same period a year ago, and customer conversion also more than doubled. Compared to the previous season, sales were up by more than 70%.”

Is ‘wearable technology’ the future of fashion? (Telegraph)
“The ‘Look at me, I’m electric!’ appeal of wearable technology could prove far more lucrative than acting as a mere vehicle for its attention-hungry wearer. Surely it will only be a matter of time before arriving at the Oscars with your latest movie trailer playing on a loop across your chest maximises box-office longevity.”

George Davies | Source: George Davies

George Davies has further designs on women (Guardian)
“The man who invented Next and George at Asda is launching a spring collection with a brand new label. …GIVe – Davies’s fourth attempt to capture the hearts and minds of British women.  With the launch of its spring collection only days away, he cautiously reflects: ‘We are where I hoped we’d be when we set off. Overall, I’m happy.’”

Prada sounds positive note (FT)
“In a glimmer of good news for the luxury goods industry, Pradayesterday said its operating profit for 2009 would be better than the previous year and better than forecast in its own budget.”

Yoox ’09 sales rose 50 percent (Reuters)
“Online fashion retailer Yoox reported on Monday a 50 percent rise in 2009 sales, as consumers grew more comfortable and confident in using the Internet to shop.”

Liberty of London creative director exits (Retail Week)
“Tamara Salman, the creative director of the Liberty of London brand, has left the business. Liberty buying director Ed Burstell is reported to be taking over her responsibilities.”

The fashion stars of Central Saint Martins (Guardian)
“As the famous fashion school prepares to leave Soho, Louise Wilson, its razor-tongued head of MA fashion, talks us through her next generation of style superstars.”

Christian Lacroix by Annie Leibovitz, Vogue December 2003 | Source: Vogue

End of a fairytale: Christian Lacroix fashion house to strip down (Guardian)
“Christian Lacroix, the celebrated French designer whose fantastical creations and luxurious image captured the decadence of its age, was told today that the fashion house he founded over two decades ago is to cease making haute couture.”

J.C. Penney Is Betting Big By Adding A European Flair (WSJ)
“J.C. Penney Co.may be making its biggest fashion statement yet with the addition of a European fashion store within its own stores. J.C. Penney will begin selling merchandise by Barcelona-based retailer Mango in separate departments, or “mini stores,” within its own stores as a way of highlighting the trendy European merchandise for women.”

Fashion Entrepreneurs Capitalizing on High-End Rentals (Inc.)
“Companies that offer designer duds for rent are the saving grace of fashion-forward women who can’t afford such upmarket tastes in the recession… Membership-only designer rental companies that offer costly, elegant attire for just a fraction of the retail price have been experiencing a boom in the down economy.”

Fashion retailer Yoox prices IPO at 4.3 euros/share (Reuters)
“Italian online fashion retailer Yoox priced an initial public offering at 4.3 euros per share, towards the upper end of the indicated range, it said on Tuesday. Yoox will become the first company to float on Milan’s main MTA market after a 20-month hiatus caused by market turbulence. It will debut on Dec. 3.”

Stella McCartney to team up with Morrissey for vegan shoe range (Independent)
“Fashion designer and animal rights activist Stella McCartney has found the perfect collaborator for a leather-free shoe collection: cult singer and fellow vegetarian Morrissey. ‘I’m working with Morrissey on a line of leather-free shoes which I’m really excited about.’”

I couldn’t get over the irony of this quote from Giorgio Armani in todays WWD, which announced Emporio Armani’s upcoming  e-commerce launch in the United States

"In the last seven years, I have seen mounting enthusiasm for online fashion shopping in the United States through the growing success we have had with our A|X Armani Exchange site," Armani said. "Over this same period I have also observed the increasing sophistication of fashion consumers shopping online, which has encouraged me to develop this new site for my Emporio Armani lifestyle."

Seven years! This is a remarkably long time for a reputed business genius to finally see the opportunity in selling luxury and fashion online to customers beyond his teeny-bopper A|X customers. In the meantime, Dior, Gucci and Coach have all discovered that an online store rapidly becomes one of the top (if not the top) store in a brand’s store network.

… Continue Reading