Stockholm–H&M has boosted sales and profit during the first half of the year, and announced plans to move into three new markets. Group sales excluding VAT during the first six months of the financial year amounted to $6.67 billion, an increase of 4%. H&M’s profit after financial items amounted to …
Amazon to Relaunch Apparel and Footwear Biz
The world’s largest online retailer, Amazon, is to relaunch its clothing and footwear business. According to reports in the UK’s Financial Times today, the company is going to focus on high-end styles. The report said that Amazon is recruiting software engineers who it says will build “great new features to …
HSN to Introduce Liza Minnelli Collection
People
St. Petersburg, FL–Liza Minnelli, who has a cameo appearance in “Sex and the City 2”, will bow her own limited edition apparel and jewelry collection for HSN on June 30. The performer is basing HSN exclusive collection on her own trademark look recreated from her personal archives. “My life has …
Patricia Field Hosts Swim-Sational Disco Soiree
New York–Patricia Field, famous for her “Sex and the City 1 & 2 costume design, had quite a week last week, beginning with the hot ticket premiere of Sex and the City 2, and following with her over-the-top swimwear and accessories fashion show Swim-sational Disco Soirée. The show, which took …
Fossil First Quarter Earnings Double
Richardson, TX—Fossil Inc.’s first-quarter earnings reported today more than doubled, exceeding expectations thanks to an increase in its wholesale watch and other accessories sales in North America and Asia and improved same-store comps. The company, which sells watches, jewelry, leathergoods, belts, sunglasses and apparel, posted net income of $35.9 million, …
Nike Targets $27 Billion by 2015
New York–Athletic footwear and activewear brand Nike is targeting revenues of $27 billion by the end of fiscal 2015, led by growth in emerging markets and its affiliate brands as well as hundreds of new Nike stores. At the company’s investor meeting in New York on Wednesday, president and ceo …
Eco-Themed NY Pop Up Readies for Earth Day
New York–In conjunction with Earth Day’s 40th anniversary on April 22, the first The GreenShows EcoLux, a pop-up boutique featuring sustainable designs from fashion and accessories designers around the world, will run April 19 to 24 at Grand Central. Sponsored by The GreenShows Eco Fashion Week, the EcoLux event hopes …
Pulse Report: Does Quality Spur Spending?
New York–During the recession, consumers traded down to less expensive brands–and discovered they liked them. Now that things are turning around, they’re not necessarily trading back up to better quality. Such is the result of a WSL Strategic Retail How America Shops The PULSE of Shopping Life spending report. Spending …
Revamped Talbots Posts Quarterly Profit
Hingham, MA–Talbots, which had been fighting with sales drops for several quarters and a heavy debt load and is adjusting its styles to cater to younger shoppers, posted a quarterly profit this morning. The women’s clothing specialty retailer (TLB.N) posted a quarterly profit versus a year-ago loss and forecast higher …
More Retailers Turning Their Eyes to the Bride
Retailers are always looking to reach more customers, and as more non-bridal stores extend their reach to target brides (J. Crew and soon Urban Outfitters), it seems like the wedding industry could be what they’re looking for. In fact, jewelry company Miriam Haskell, a bridal favorite for decades, is unveiling …
Zac Posen Launches at Target
New York—Designer Zac Posen has joined the ranks of other top designers in Target’s Go International collection. The line debuts nationwide April 25th. For us Target-less Manhattanites, the company will open a Zac Posen pop-up shop (481 8th Ave. at 34th Street) featuring the entire collection. The shopping event is …
California Steps Closer to New Fur Labeling
Sacramento, CA–California is on its way to becoming the sixth state with a fur labeling law after adopting legislation earlier this week that requires clothing and most accessories made of animal fur to say so on the label. The state Assembly voted April 5 in favor of the bill, which now heads to the Senate. …
Selena Gomez Signs Kmart Junior Collection Deal
Troy, MI– Kmart, a unit of Sears Holdings, has teamed with actress and singer Selena Gomez to launch a junior fashion collection. Kmart and Gomez, along with her master licensee Adjmi Cynosure Holdings, will launch “Dream Out Loud” by Selena Gomez at the end of July. The collection will include junior …
Chinese Currency Issue Sparks Debate for Imports
Hong Kong–Apparel and accessories experts from different sides of the globe have expressed mixed feelings about the effect of asking China to revalue its currency at a conference in Hong Kong today. A leading Indian trade representative has welcomed the proposal, while others believe it is unwarranted. As reported by …
Steve Madden Declares Three-for-Two Stock Split
Long Island City, NY–Steve Madden (SHOO) announced that its Board of Directors has declared a three-for-two stock split, in the form of a stock dividend, of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock. Steve Madden designs, sources, markets, and sells footwear and accessories for women, men and children, which are …
Madonna Flexes Her Name with Fashion Launches
New York—It’s surprising only in the sense that it didn’t happen earlier. Pop queen Madonna, who has spawned millions of fashion imitators in her (gasp!) three-decade reign, is finally cashing in on her name with a joint venture geared for fashion projects, a teen fashion line with 13-year-old daughter Lourdes …