The latest major runway brand to deepen its commitment to fashionable living is Etro, which has announced plans to develop luxury residences in Phuket.

The Milanese luxury marque revealed its debut on Wednesday in Southeast Asian real estate with Etro Residences Phuket, an exclusive development that merges high-end design with immersive brand experiences.

Developer Amal Development will lead the flagship project in collaboration with The One Atelier, a global leader in branded real estate design.

The news comes one year after the house announced the creation of Etro Residences Istanbul, where Etro was responsible for the design of 37 of the 40-floor structures, each covering a surface of 2,000 square meters.

“Following the success of Etro Residences Istanbul, Etro Residences Phuket represents the brand’s continued growth into luxury real estate, further reinforcing its identity as a lifestyle brand. This ambitious project is poised to set a new standard in Southeast Asia’s rapidly expanding luxury property market while further enhancing the brand’s remarkable heritage and reinforcing its commitment to innovation and timeless design,” said Etro CEO Fabrizio Cardinali in a release.

Besides expanding its property portfolio, Etro Residences Phuket underlines the brand’s commitment to creating lifestyle-driven experiences that integrate the heritage and expertise of the brand, founded as a textile manufacturer in 1968. Etro Residences Phuket will be part of the luxury beachfront residential complex, Gardens of Eden.

Etro is controlled by the L Catterton investment fund, in which luxury conglomerate LVMH owns a significant stake.

After Giorgio Armani opened his first hotel in 2010 in the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, a series of luxury labels have actively developed hotels and luxury residences. LVMH was among them, with its 2019 acquisition of luxury hotel group Belmond for $3.2 billion.

Just this month, Elie Saab and Karl Lagerfeld announced plans to develop more gated residences. Experience suggests that branded designer residences, with carefully injected luxury aesthetics, can command property prices over 20% above the local real estate average.

“Thailand is an incredibly dynamic market, where evolving consumer preferences are driving demand for branded living. Our commitment to sustainable luxury and innovative design aligns seamlessly with the brand and project vision. This iconic new development will not only enhance Phuket’s luxury real estate offering but also help to further enhance the wider Southeast Asia region as a destination for global discerning buyers seeking an unparalleled lifestyle experience,” added Aleksandr Chuvalov, CEO of Amal Development.

The One Atelier is noted for transforming iconic brand identities into architectural concepts. The eight new residences in Thailand will range from three-bedroom apartments to duplexes—crafted to reflect Etro’s heritage, craftsmanship and celebrated aesthetic.

Expect the bold patterns, rich textures and sophisticated color palette of Etro to harmonize with Phuket’s natural beauty. Special pieces from the Etro Home Interiors collection—created in collaboration with Oniro Group, Etro’s partner since 2017—will adorn the apartments and common areas of the complex.

Residents will have access to a plethora of tailored services and amenities, including private wellness retreats, spa experiences and holistic well-being programs, as well as state-of-the-art fitness facilities.

“Etro Residences Phuket represents a window into the future of luxury living. Branded real estate is about more than aesthetics; it is about creating a seamless blend of hospitality, wellness and exclusivity that reflects the lifestyles of the world’s most discerning buyers,” concluded Michele Galli, CEO of The One Atelier.

English Premier League Club West Ham United has launched na SS25 collection, part-inspired by its east London heritage, “fusing iconic crests from both historic and modern eras with contemporary fashion trends”.

As sports clothing and sports brands in general become ever more important to every day dressing for both men and women, football clubs have increasingly been aiming to maximise interest from their fans with fashion lines. And these are more than just slapping the club name on a T-shirt as might have been done a decade ago. Nowadays as much designed thought goes into the product offer as it does for any ‘regular’ fashion collection.

Also known as ‘The Hammers’ or ‘The Irons’, the club’s new apparel line is said to be “sleek and casual” and combines different elements of West Ham’s rich heritage, featuring its Castle Crests from the 1970s and 2000s, Irons iconography mixed with embroidered ‘West Ham United’ emblems and the current crest that emphasises the club’s formation in 1895.

The drop features a range of seasonal colours, including pastel polos, acid wash T-shirts and crest-embroidered shorts, all designed to be loose fit and oversized.

Launched at multiple store locations in Westfield Stratford, the Lakeside mall, stores in Romford and Basildon, and via the club’s website, prices start at £26.
 
The accompanying campaign photoshoot features the London Stadium and Yani Ourabah, a local West Ham United fan with a YouTube presence on football channel ‘Goal Front Three’.
 

Ergonomically engineered footwear label FitFlop has launched a new exclusive brand outlet in Mumbai, located at Sky City Mall in Borivali East. The new store marks FitFlop’s third exclusive brand outlet in India and follows the launch of its second store in the country at Lulu Mall, Kochi. 

Spanning 48.7 square metres, the new Mumbai store is designed to cater to the growing local community in the area, offering a space focused on customer comfort, accessibility, and service, FitFlop said. The label’s expansion in India is being carried out in partnership with Metro Brands.

FitFlop’s chief commercial officer David Schüttenkopf said: “With 12 freestanding concept stores now operating across the country and four more in the pipeline for this year, the momentum is truly exciting. We’re incredibly proud of this partnership and the shared vision that continues to bring the FitFlop brand closer to consumers throughout India.”

Both of FitFlop’s stores in Mumbai and Kochi offer access to its full product range for both men and women. The UK based brand is known for combining biomechanical engineering with design-led footwear.

“We’re excited to open FitFlop’s third store in Mumbai- this time at the brand new Sky City Mall in Borivali,” said Metro Brands Limited’s chief executive officer Nissan Joseph. “The store brings FitFlop’s latest global design concept to life and introduces an all-new collection that’s high on style and powered by comfort-engineered products.”