April 25, 2009 • 11:10 pm
So according to this press release, Uniqlo has teamed up with Taobao / Alibaba (from what I understand, this is basically China’s version of Amazon.com) to offer e-commerce to the Chinese and foreigners living in China. So not only can the Chinese people get their Uniqlo fix in one of 26 stores, they can also buy online.
Needless to say, I am eating a lot of vinegar right now (Chinese expression for jealousy). I mean, come on, I’m only asking for one more location in San Francisco. Is that too much to ask?
As a side note, the press release also uses a recent stat on e-commerce in China, which found that apparel is the most popular online shopping category in China and was the highest transaction amount in 2008. So if the Chinese people are indeed buying more clothes online then in street markets/malls/stores, then this might explain why everything was so damn expensive last time I tried to buy clothes in China.
Filed under: Retail , Alibaba, Asian, China, Japan, Retail, Taobao, Uniqlo
February 22, 2009 • 4:54 pm
dev, originally uploaded by danicalo.
These two Slumdog Millionaire co-stars really look good together. I love Fredia Pinto’s John Galliano gown, although I must admit that I loved her mustard colored Golden Globe dress more. That was just so gorgeous!
Want more red carpet photos? Check out @danicalo’s blog, Hi Lo, on the New York Post – She’s live blogging from the Oscars right now.
Filed under: Fashion, Film , Academy Awards, Asian, Entertainment, Fashion, Film, Freida Pinto, India, John Galliano, Oscars, Slumdog Millionare
February 21, 2009 • 1:05 am
I just read that my favorite clothing retailer in the world, Uniqlo, has partnered with Opening Ceremony to launch a menswear collection for spring/summer ‘09. According to Melissa Magsaysay of the LA Times:
The collection features wrinkle-free check shirts, linen cotton trousers, a full zip cardigan, and a shawl collar anorak in colors ranging from black to navy to orange and will hit Opening Ceremony next month. Prices range from $19-$79.
This collection will be exclusive to Opening Ceremony’s boutique in West Hollywood. While this is great for SoCal men, I’d like to know when Uniqlo will show some love to the women in San Francisco. Flying to NYC, HK or China to shop for Uniqlo merchandise isn’t exactly something that I do every weekend. *cry*
Filed under: Fashion, Retail , Asian, Fashion, Japan, Los Angeles, Opening Ceremony, Retail, Uniqlo
February 19, 2009 • 11:46 pm
On Valentine’s Day, Ports 1961 opened it’s second U.S. boutique in New York City’s meatpacking district. To be honest, this is the first time that I have ever heard of this international luxury fashion label from China. Looking at the lifestyle shots from its ad campaign, I think that I am in love with this line! There’s a classic, almost vintage, look to their collection and pale, dusty color palate is so pretty!!
I did some research and found that this brand has a pretty interesting history (see here for the extended business story in Forbes). Originally a Canadian company when it was founded in 1961, Ports Design Ltd. experienced moderate success in North America in the 1980s; however, the recession and over-expansion led to its bankruptcy in 1994. To save the company, CEO Alfred Chan decided to move everything to Xiaman, China. Now when I say everything, this includes design, manufacturing, marketing, finance and the target customer base. The company then rebuilt itself thanks to the growing buying power of China’s neo rich. The Ports 1961 line was later launched in 2005, which has a higher price point than the Ports label.
As a side note, I can’t help but wonder if February 2009 wasn’t the best time to expand Port 1961’s American presence from L.A. to New York. The current state of the economy is very likely to hinder people from spending much on luxury goods, let alone a relatively unknown luxury brand. Mei Fong of The Wall Street Journal posed a similar question in her China Journal blog post in which she asked “Does making it in American retail matter anymore?” Only time will tell.
Filed under: Fashion, Retail , Asian, China, Fashion, Hong Kong, New York, Ports 1961, Retail
February 14, 2009 • 5:08 pm
Looks like Jolin Tsai is following Gwen Stefani’s paved path into the fashion world. Taiwan’s reigning queen of pop launched her very own own fashion line, “Seventy Two Changes,” through a partnership with L.A.M.B. Clothing (i.e. Gwen Stefani’s label). Like her American counterpart, Jolin has named her line after her 2003 album, “See My 72 Changes – Magic.” The sportswear collection will feature both street and club wear (as if the market hasn’t had its fill of that) and will be hitting stores in seven cities worldwide including New York, Shanghai and New York. The announcement was made during New York Fashion Week on Monday (2/9) by Jolin and L.A.M.B. president and co-founder, Ken Erman.
Here’s a fuller description of the new line as reported by WWD:
A mix of club-appropriate and streetwise items such as a black T-shirt dress accented with bright blue and silver sequin details, structured tuxedo jackets and vests with beading details at the shoulders, lightweight wool plaid tops, leather leggings with zipper details at the ankles, silk chiffon printed tops and dresses, a taffeta motorcycle jacket and an asymmetrical bomber jacket.
Based on what I’ve read, it sounds like Jolin is not really the designer behind the brand (no surprise there), just the face of L.A.M.B.’s new global push into the Chinese speaking world. This line is based on Jolin’s style and image and will be priced lower than L.A.M.B. – so while it isn’t being positioned as a diffusion line, it certainly sounds like it is one. No doubt, building this brand in a depressed global economy is going to be tough, but it will be interesting to see if her fans will buy regardless or spend their money on a more reasonably priced copycat.
Filed under: Fashion , Asian, Designer, Fashion, Fashion Week, Jolin Tsai, L.A.M.B., New York
