News
« February 2008 |
March 14, 2008
Tommy Bahama CEO, Co-Founder Retires
Tommy Bahama CEO and co-founder Tony Margolis has announced that he is retiring June 1st. He will be replaced by retail veteran Terry Pillows, who is moving from New York to Seattle to head the West Coast company.
Pillows has worked with companies such as Coach, Neiman Marcus and Polo Ralph Lauren over his 30-year career. He will be the first CEO to head the company other than Margolis.
Margolis will remain an advisor to the company after his retirement.
Posted by Blacks at 10:05 AM | Comments (0)
March 13, 2008
Balenciaga Opens New Melrose Ave. Store
U.S. Balenciaga fans no longer have to go to Manhattan to get their fix. The designer brand just opened a new 5,000-square-foot store in West Hollywood, offering a complete collection of apparel, gowns, handbags and accessories.
The two-storey Melrose Ave. space has a futuristic feel and is decorated in Balenciaga’s signature blue shades.
The new store is part of a larger expansion strategy, the company said.
Posted by Blacks at 10:37 AM | Comments (0)
March 12, 2008
Theory's Leavitt Tapped To Lead Kate Spade
Former Theory exec Craig Leavitt has been named the new co-president and chief operating officer of Kate Spade. Leavitt will share his president role with creative director Deborah Lloyd.
Kate Spade parent company Liz Claiborne hopes that the two executives will be able to triple sales at the brand by 2010. They will also be charged with drawing up a five-year plan to launch in new product categories.
Posted by Blacks at 10:01 AM | Comments (0)
March 11, 2008
Chloé Taps MacGibbon As Creative Director
Longtime Chloé collaborator Hannah MacGibbon is taking over as the company’s new creative director. MacGibbon, 38, worked for five years under previous Chloé creative director Phoebe Philo and has recently done consulting for the brand.
The new director will be doing her first collection for the Spring 2009 season, debuting in October.
MacGibbon replaces Paulo Melim Andersson. Melim Andersson is an edgier designer but his designs reportedly produced slower sales.
Posted by Blacks at 09:53 AM | Comments (0)
March 10, 2008
Banana Opens Higher-Priced Men's Concept Store
Banana Republic is temporarily turning its Greenwich Village store into a new men’s concept store called Monogram. The Monogram concept includes tailored and more fashion forward clothing at a higher price point. The store will be open for nine months to test customer reaction.
A Monogram women’s collection is also in the works and will debut this spring. Banana will try out the women’s collection in its own concept store when the merchandise is available.
Posted by Blacks at 10:18 AM | Comments (0)
March 07, 2008
Badgley Mischka Opens West Hollywood Store
Badgley Mischka officially launched its new 1,300-square-foot store in West Hollywood this week, offering its women’s collection, handbags and accessories.
The store is operating under a license given to a friend of the design duo, Jacqueline Sassoon. Sassoon also has first rights to operate all future Badgley Mischka stores in the U.S.
Posted by Blacks at 10:12 AM | Comments (0)
March 06, 2008
Specialty Apparel Sales Slow In February
Sales at specialty apparel stores slowed in February with growth of just 1.9%, according to data from MasterCard. This compares to a 5.4% increase in sales for January.
Consumers are cutting back on their spending amid rising prices for gasoline and other staples, the credit card company said.
Luxury apparel sales slid even further in February, dropping 2.2% to $3.5billion, according to MasterCard.
Posted by Blacks at 10:02 AM | Comments (0)
March 05, 2008
Lily Pulitzer To Open In Manhattan
Lily Pulitzer is opening a new door in Manhattan, featuring the brand’s women’s, men’s and children’s lines as well as accessories and exclusive products. The 3,700-square foot Madison Ave. store is slated to open in May. The store spans two floors and is located between 78th and 79th Street.
The company is also focused on expanding distribution into Europe and is already being sold at Harrods in London.
Posted by Blacks at 10:31 AM | Comments (0)
March 04, 2008
Kors Plans European Expansion; Names New VP
Michael Kors is planning significant European expansion and has named Cedric Wilmotte as its new senior vice president of European operations. Wilmotte was most recently European sales director for Marc Jacobs and has done a stint at Donna Karan.
Kors sees great potential in Europe and plans to open a headquarters there as well as a number of freestanding and concept stores.
Wilmotte will be in charge of all retail and wholesale in the region.
Posted by Blacks at 09:38 AM | Comments (0)
March 03, 2008
David Yurman Sees Luxe Growth Abroad
David Yurman is bullish about the international luxury jewelry market, despite U.S. economic worries. The fine jewelry purveyor is expanding into Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Yurman is opening its first Asian location in Hong Kong this weekend and has another store slated to open in Tokyo. The New York company plans to crack Europe and the Middle East next year.
Yurman also plans to open a new 6,000-square-foot flagship on Madison Ave. to replace its old Manhattan store. The company already has 15 stores dotted across the U.S.
Posted by Blacks at 09:23 AM | Comments (0)