News
17 February 2009
Hankyu Men's Sees ¥26.5 Billion in First Year
read on >> Osaka menswear department store Hankyu Men's has reported ¥26.5 billion in net sales for its first year. The final earnings figure was 6% above Hankyu's initial expectation of ¥25 billion.
Hankyu put the number of visiting customers in one year at 8.7 million.
The Hankyu Men's sales figure is a 51% increase over the revenue total of the former menswear space in the Umeda branch of Hankyu.
Hankyu Men's Sees ¥26.5 Billion in First Year
read on >> Osaka menswear department store Hankyu Men's has reported ¥26.5 billion in net sales for its first year. The final earnings figure was 6% above Hankyu's initial expectation of ¥25 billion.
Hankyu put the number of visiting customers in one year at 8.7 million.
The Hankyu Men's sales figure is a 51% increase over the revenue total of the former menswear space in the Umeda branch of Hankyu.
13 February 2009
Tiffany Drops Prices 9% on Average
read on >> American jewelry company Tiffany & Co. has announced an average 9% price decrease on their Japanese product line. The lower prices will go into effect on February 11. This comes after Tiffany dropped prices 6% in November 2008.
The company attributed the pricing adjustment to the strong yen and weak dollar.
Tiffany Drops Prices 9% on Average
read on >> American jewelry company Tiffany & Co. has announced an average 9% price decrease on their Japanese product line. The lower prices will go into effect on February 11. This comes after Tiffany dropped prices 6% in November 2008.
The company attributed the pricing adjustment to the strong yen and weak dollar.
09 February 2009
Forever 21 to Launch in Harajuku
read on >> Los Angeles-based fast fashion chain Forever 21 has announced a spring opening for its first Japanese store. The location will be the Harajuku youth fashion neighborhood, down the street from H&M in the former New Balance shop.
Forever 21 plans future stores in Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ginza.
Forever 21 to Launch in Harajuku
read on >> Los Angeles-based fast fashion chain Forever 21 has announced a spring opening for its first Japanese store. The location will be the Harajuku youth fashion neighborhood, down the street from H&M in the former New Balance shop.
Forever 21 plans future stores in Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ginza.
04 February 2009
Sanki to Import Casely-Hayford
read on >> Fashion importer Sanki has signed an import and sales contract with British men's brand Casely-Hayford, starting with the autumn 2009 collection.
Sanki will use select shops as the main distribution channel for the brand.
Sanki projects ¥150 million in sales for the first year and ¥300 million in sales by the third year.
Sanki to Import Casely-Hayford
read on >> Fashion importer Sanki has signed an import and sales contract with British men's brand Casely-Hayford, starting with the autumn 2009 collection.
Sanki will use select shops as the main distribution channel for the brand.
Sanki projects ¥150 million in sales for the first year and ¥300 million in sales by the third year.
02 February 2009
Ermenegildo Zegna Opens Flagship in Shinjuku
read on >> On January 30, Italian men's brand Ermenegildo Zegna opened its new five-story luxury tower in Shinjuku. The 700 square-meter shop is the first flagship for the brand in Asia and the largest retail space in Zegna's history.
The new tower is Ermenegildo Zegna's third major retail space in Shinjuku alone, with in-shop stores inside Isetan Shinjuku and Takashimaya Shinjuku.
Ermenegildo Zegna Opens Flagship in Shinjuku
read on >> On January 30, Italian men's brand Ermenegildo Zegna opened its new five-story luxury tower in Shinjuku. The 700 square-meter shop is the first flagship for the brand in Asia and the largest retail space in Zegna's history.
The new tower is Ermenegildo Zegna's third major retail space in Shinjuku alone, with in-shop stores inside Isetan Shinjuku and Takashimaya Shinjuku.
02 February 2009
H&M Reports ¥2.1 Billion in Sales for First Two Tokyo Stores
read on >> In its full-year financial report announced on January 29, Swedish fast fashion chain Hennes & Mauritz — aka H&M — announced net sales of over ¥21 billion (198 million Swedish kronor) for its first two Tokyo stores in Ginza and Harajuku, for the period up until the end of November 2008. According to the offical press release, these results "surpassed the company’s high expectations and were H&M’s most successful store openings ever."
H&M will open two more Tokyo stores in 2009: Shibuya and Shinjuku.
H&M Reports ¥2.1 Billion in Sales for First Two Tokyo Stores
read on >> In its full-year financial report announced on January 29, Swedish fast fashion chain Hennes & Mauritz — aka H&M — announced net sales of over ¥21 billion (198 million Swedish kronor) for its first two Tokyo stores in Ginza and Harajuku, for the period up until the end of November 2008. According to the offical press release, these results "surpassed the company’s high expectations and were H&M’s most successful store openings ever."
H&M will open two more Tokyo stores in 2009: Shibuya and Shinjuku.
30 January 2009
Uniqlo Looks to New York for Designers Invitation Project
read on >> Japanese mass retailer Uniqlo has announced four new collaborators in its Designers Invitation Project: Steven Alan, Shipley & Halmos, Opening Ceremony, and Gilded Age. All four brands are based in New York.
Sales for the DIP collaboration goods will begin in March.
Preliminary photos of the project here: http://www.uniqlo.com/dip/jp
Uniqlo Looks to New York for Designers Invitation Project
read on >> Japanese mass retailer Uniqlo has announced four new collaborators in its Designers Invitation Project: Steven Alan, Shipley & Halmos, Opening Ceremony, and Gilded Age. All four brands are based in New York.
Sales for the DIP collaboration goods will begin in March.
Preliminary photos of the project here: http://www.uniqlo.com/dip/jp
29 January 2009
Itochu to Import 313 and Arne & Carlos
read on >> Trading company Itochu Corporation has signed exclusive sales and import contracts with two European brands: Italian down jacket maker 313 and Norwegian knit brand Arne & Carlos.
Almond Eye will be the direct importer and distributor, selling to specialty stores across Japan from autumn 2009.
Itochu expects ¥1 billion in retail sales for each brand within three years.
Itochu to Import 313 and Arne & Carlos
read on >> Trading company Itochu Corporation has signed exclusive sales and import contracts with two European brands: Italian down jacket maker 313 and Norwegian knit brand Arne & Carlos.
Almond Eye will be the direct importer and distributor, selling to specialty stores across Japan from autumn 2009.
Itochu expects ¥1 billion in retail sales for each brand within three years.
29 January 2009
Fast Retailing Announces Take-over Bid for Link Theory Holdings
read on >> On January 28, Fast Retailing — parent company to mass retailer Uniqlo — announced a take-over bid to make equity method affiliate Link Theory Holdings into a wholly-owned subsidiary. Fast Retailing's board voted to actualize the plan through acquiring outstanding common stock, new share subscription rights, and warrant bonds. Link Theory Holding's board has agreed to the buyout.
The move comes in light of Link Theory Holdings' worsening financial situation. The company projects losses of ¥4.3 billion for the February 2009 midterm balance sheet. Fast Retailing hopes to use the buyout as a way to deepen its commitment to Link Theory's business, ultimately restoring growth potential and profitability.
Fast Retailing first invested into Link Theory in 2004 and currently owns 32.32% of its common stock.
Link Theory Holdings operates global brands Theory and Helmut Lang.
Fast Retailing Announces Take-over Bid for Link Theory Holdings
read on >> On January 28, Fast Retailing — parent company to mass retailer Uniqlo — announced a take-over bid to make equity method affiliate Link Theory Holdings into a wholly-owned subsidiary. Fast Retailing's board voted to actualize the plan through acquiring outstanding common stock, new share subscription rights, and warrant bonds. Link Theory Holding's board has agreed to the buyout.
The move comes in light of Link Theory Holdings' worsening financial situation. The company projects losses of ¥4.3 billion for the February 2009 midterm balance sheet. Fast Retailing hopes to use the buyout as a way to deepen its commitment to Link Theory's business, ultimately restoring growth potential and profitability.
Fast Retailing first invested into Link Theory in 2004 and currently owns 32.32% of its common stock.
Link Theory Holdings operates global brands Theory and Helmut Lang.
28 January 2009
Zechia Breaks from Unit & Guest
read on >> Japanese avant-garde ladies brand Zechia has decided to go independent, leaving the auspicies of previous owner — fashion importer Unit & Guest. The designers cited "a divergence in opinions on direction" as the reason for the move. Designer LICA wants to expand the brand's activities beyond fashion, into the realms of environmental protection and art.
Zechia's designers LICA and NAKA originally hail from the Harajuku-based brand 20471120. They will now operate Zechia within their own company Tra I Venti, formed in 1994.
Zechia will not participate in the upcoming AW '09-'10 Japan Fashion Week.
Unit & Guest is the Japanese importer and agent for foreign brands such as Stella McCartney, Diane von Furstenberg, and Madison Marcus. The company is a subsidiary of Sanei International.
Images from Zechia's SS '09 Japan Fashion Week show available here.
Zechia Breaks from Unit & Guest
read on >> Japanese avant-garde ladies brand Zechia has decided to go independent, leaving the auspicies of previous owner — fashion importer Unit & Guest. The designers cited "a divergence in opinions on direction" as the reason for the move. Designer LICA wants to expand the brand's activities beyond fashion, into the realms of environmental protection and art.
Zechia's designers LICA and NAKA originally hail from the Harajuku-based brand 20471120. They will now operate Zechia within their own company Tra I Venti, formed in 1994.
Zechia will not participate in the upcoming AW '09-'10 Japan Fashion Week.
Unit & Guest is the Japanese importer and agent for foreign brands such as Stella McCartney, Diane von Furstenberg, and Madison Marcus. The company is a subsidiary of Sanei International.
Images from Zechia's SS '09 Japan Fashion Week show available here.