The days of London and New York catwalk shows and dressing a generation of teens maybe a distant memory, but Topshop/Topman has designs on a revival.
The brand is aiming for a website relaunch, given three videos posted on its Instagram account and the teasing message ‘watch this space’ for new statements ahead. A relaunch of Topshop.com is scheduled for summer.
It comes about as Michelle Wilson was appointed managing director of Topshop and Topman last week with plans to help both brands “thrive” as standalone names.
She joined ASOS in April 2023 from Berenberg, where she led retail and e-commerce business. In her previous role as chief of staff & strategy at ASOS, she led major strategic initiatives, including developing the group’s ‘Back to Fashion’ strategy.
With her promotion comes a promise of building a “dedicated cross-functional team” for the brand that began with Moses Rashid, founder of the sneaker resale platform The Edit Ldn, becoming global marketing director for Topshop and Topman.
And a key part of Wilson’s wider functions will be controlling the brand’s global wholesale division expansion, including partnerships with major players such as Nordstrom in the US, Reliance Retail in India, and Bestseller in Europe.
Last September, ASOS sold a majority stake (75%) in the twin brands to Danish holding company Heartland for £135 million, controlled by the Holch Polvsen family, the owner of Bestseller, creating a joint venture.
However, ASOS retains certain design and distribution rights to the brands, which will help it continue to market and sell them online, alongside its retail partnerships.
The latest news came as ASOS also announced a number of promotions including its SVP North America, Sean Trend, becoming Managing Director for the UK and US, as part of its strategy and customer-focused approach to driving growth.
Zara Home continues to strengthen its ties with leading names in design. As part of its ongoing collaboration strategy aimed at refining its positioning, the brand has teamed up with Morris & Co., the British company renowned for its craftsmanship and design legacy, to create an exclusive line of home décor and furniture.
The home and decor brand partners with British heritage label Morris & Co. for a new collection – Zara Home
Drawing from the rich archives of Morris & Co., founded by the celebrated William Morris, the capsule seamlessly blends traditional artistry with a contemporary sensibility. The collection features some of Morris’ most iconic prints, deeply rooted in the Arts & Crafts movement, reimagined through Zara Home’s signature modern aesthetic.
The result is a refined selection of timeless designs, adorned with intricate motifs of foliage, fruits, florals, and natural elements across blankets, duvets, and cushions. Crafted from premium materials such as linen and washed cotton, the collection is priced between €12.99 for a pillowcase and €799 for a reclining chaise longue.
The range also includes a pet bed, trunk-style storage benches, and an assortment of bedding essentials, now available at select Zara Home stores and online.
With this latest collaboration, Zara Home further enriches its impressive portfolio of design partnerships. Over the past year, the brand has worked with esteemed international names such as French publisher Éditions Gallimard, sports equipment manufacturer Spalding, high-end appliance brand Smeg, and Galician artisanal label Heimat Atlántica.
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in A Coruña, Zara Home is part of Inditex’s brand portfolio, alongside Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Pull&Bear, Oysho, and Lefties. As of late 2023, the brand operated 410 stores worldwide, spanning both standalone boutiques and franchises across more than 60 markets.
Financially, Inditex, under the leadership of Marta Ortega, reported €8.15 billion in revenue for the first half of fiscal 2024, reflecting a 7.1% increase compared to the same period the previous year.
Hong Kong’s retail sales by value fell by 3.2% in January from a year earlier, marking an 11th consecutive month of declines despite a surge in tourist numbers, government data showed on Monday.
Reuters
Sales declined to HK$35.3 billion ($4.5 billion), with the percentage change narrowing from a revised 9.6% drop in December, reflecting the earlier arrival of the Lunar New Year this year.
Sales fell as shoppers spent less and fewer visitors from mainland China stayed over, while local residents spent more across the border taking advantage of the strength of the local currency.
The near-term performance of the retail sector would continue to be affected by the change in consumption patterns of visitors and residents, a government spokesperson said.
In volume terms, January retail sales fell 5.2% from a year earlier. That compares with a revised 11.3% decline in December and an 8.4% drop in November.
China eased visa restrictions for Shenzhen residents visiting Hong Kong effective December 1, 2024.
January visitor arrivals stood at 4.74 million, up 24% from the same month a year ago, data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed. That compared with 4.26 million in December, 3.57 million in November and 4.09 million in October.
The number of mainland Chinese visitors stood at 3.73 million in January, up 24.8% from a year ago. That compares to 3.10 million in December, 2.56 million in November and 3.14 million in October.
Sales of jewellery, watches, clocks and valuable gifts fell 17.9% in January year-on-year after a 14.5% drop in December.
Sales of clothing, footwear and allied products increased 2.2% in January after a 11.1% decline in December.
Major footwear brand Clarks is inviting ‘little dreamers’ to step into the world of Roald Dahl with a new kids’ shoe collection, launching in the UK today (3 March) in stores and online.
In collaboration with The Roald Dahl Story Company, the collection includes some of its most beloved children’s stories – Matilda, The Enormous Crocodile, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach.
Including “designs that celebrate imagination, adventure, and fun”, the exclusive range is “crafted for curious minds and confident steps” featuring vibrant canvas shoes and breathable sandals adorned with Quentin Blake’s unmistakable illustrations.
Foxing Air is available in both toddler and kids’ sizes, these canvas trainers feature a colourful peach pattern, centipede details on the heel tape, and rubber trims adorned with illustrations of James’ insect friends. Hidden peach motifs also come with soles stamped with the words ‘Magnifico!’and ‘Splendifico!’
Foxing Mix and Foxing Hi are vibrant purple canvas trainers feature a sweet-wrapper print, candy-striped rubber trim, and a hidden Golden Ticket detail on the tongue. They channel the magic of Willy Wonka’s factory and both styles have ‘ I’ve Got a Golden Ticket’ scripted across the soles.
Foxing Ace features navy canvas trainers showcasing a fearsome crocodile motif that stretches across both shoes, encouraging kids to join them together to reveal the full illustration. Featuring ‘Munch’ and ‘Crunch’ wording on the soles and ‘Snap! Snap!’ printed across the fastening straps.
Foxing Bow, a tribute to the small-but-mighty Matilda, is an off-white canvas sneaker adorned with an all-over letter print and signature red bows. With ‘Brave’ and ‘Mighty’ scripted on the soles.