The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Tomorrow, a brand accelerator, distributor and consultancy for independent brands, has taken a majority stake in the London designer boutique Machine-A. The shop’s founder Stavros Karelis will stay on as buying director, while Tomorrow’s Alessandra Rossi will take over as CEO with an eye to revamping its direct-to-consumer business and long-term growth strategy.
Located in Soho, Machine-A’s concept store has positioned itself as a champion for young designers and creative labels, stocking Martine Rose, White Mountaineering, Y/Project and Richard Quinn.
Machine-A currently operates its e-commerce business through a partnership with Showstudio, the content agency founded by photographer Nick Knight.
”The retail, wholesale and digital models are continuing to merge, and this is an exciting time for the industry,” Tomorrow chief executive Stefano Martinetto said in a statement. “We will work together with Stavros and the team to ensure that the brand curation continues to reflect the Machine-A values of inclusivity and gender fluidity.”
The Covid-19 crisis has made going it alone even harder for high-potential young labels. Brand platforms offer cash and critical operational support.
Robert Williams is Luxury Editor at the Business of Fashion. He is based in Paris and drives BoF’s coverage of the dynamic luxury fashion sector.
The Japanese apparel chain will be launching its sister brand GU in the US later this year, targeting younger consumers with lower prices and a curated selection of trendy wares.
Canada, France and Ireland are among the countries working with home-grown fashion talent to create uniforms for their teams at this summer’s Olympic Games. For these small labels, it’s an unprecedented opportunity to capitalise on one of sports’ largest events.
The online fashion retailer plans to update China’s securities regulator on the change of the initial public offering venue and file with the London Stock Exchange as soon as this month, a person with knowledge of the matter said.
The company, under siege from Arkhouse Management Co. and Brigade Capital Management, doesn’t need the activists when it can be its own, writes Andrea Felsted.