Tag Archives: fashion

High street fashion retailer H&M to close around 250 stores as it sees shoppers move online

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The high street fashion retailer, H&M has confirmed its plans to close down around 250 of its stores across the globe next year, following the surge of consumers moving to online shopping at the hands of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Retail Gazette reports that the Swedish retail giant stated that around one quarter of its more than 5,000 stores worldwide will have the chance to renegotiate or end their leases next year, allowing the company to shut down some stores in the process.

It also stated that it will be investing greater in digital and optimising its store portfolio to ‘react to the rapid changes in consumer behaviour that has resulted from the pandemic.’ This is all emerges as H&M sees sales continue to recover throughout September, yet still remain five per cent lower than the same period last year.

The retailer reported that its pre-tax profits fell to 2.37bn Swedish krona (£210 million) for the nine months to August 31, and that sales during the nine month period were “significantly negatively affected by the Covid-19 situation, particularly in the second quarter when stores were temporarily closed in most markets.”

H&M chief executive, Helena Helmersson has said: “More and more customers started shopping online during the pandemic, and they are making it clear that they value a convenient and inspiring experience in which stores and online interact, and strengthen each other.

“The substantial investments made in recent years have been very important for our recovery, and we are now accelerating our transformation work further to meet customers’ expectations. We are increasing digital investments, accelerating store consolidation and making the channels further integrated.

“To ensure that our offerings are relevant to customers and improve availability in all channels, speed and flexibility will be even more important in the future, particularly in the supply chain.

“Covid-19 has also highlighted the importance of sustainability. Demand for good value, sustainable products is expected to grow in the wake of the pandemic and our customer offering is well positioned for this. Through our work to become circular and climate positive we are increasing the share of sustainable and renewable materials and we are developing new revenue streams.”

Killing Eve spies licensing opportunities with IMG and AMC Networks

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AMC Networks and Sid Gentle Films have appointed IMG as the exclusive worldwide licensing representative for Killing Eve, in a move that will bring the hit spy thriller show’s first consumer products to market through selective brand partnerships.

Produced by Sid Gentle Films and distributed by IMG’s partner company Endeavor Content, Killing Eve follows Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), a smart British intelligence operative tasked with capturing the talented assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer). The hunt results in a mutual obsession between the two and one heck of a game of cat and mouse.

The show’s notable storyline, contrasting female characters, and enviable fashion and style credentials have contributed to its global popularity and numerous Emmy, Golden Globe, and BAFTA award wins and nominations since its premiere on BBC America in April 2018. It recently racked up eight Emmy nominations for 2020 and is shown in more than 140 countries.

The new multi-year licensing partnership will see IMG, Sid Gentle Films and AMC Networks build a robust licensing programme of products, experiences and collaborations focused around themes fans love most about the show, including fashion, beauty, travel and games.

Sally Woodward Gentle, Killing Eve executive producer, Sid Gentle Films, said: “In Killing Eve, the sharpness of the dialogue, and the quality of the performances has always been matched by a strong aesthetic that informs every aspect of the series from the music to costume and production design.  We look forward collaborating with partners who understand the style and ethos of the series.”

Dario Di Zanni, head of franchise, AMC Networks, commented: “At AMC Networks, we’re very proud of the stories we tell and the relationships we develop with fans through those stories. We also believe fan affinity can be served and fostered through consumer end-points, both physical and virtual, that create spaces for personal expression and representation.

“Killing Eve is both a brilliant inspiration and canvas for all types of fan affinity, and we are excited to partner with Sid Gentle Films and IMG to expand the reach and success of such a pop culturally relevant and defining show.”

Sherikay Chaffee, vice president of licensing, IMG, added: “Killing Eve hits on multiple notes and nuances of human behavior that naturally translate into licensing. Aside from being one of the most popular and loved shows on TV, it’s also one of the most clever and stylish.

“The dual aspect and opposing nature between its two lead characters can be used to tell a story about a product. For example, the unconventional and the conventional, the good and the bad, and every degree in between.”

The merchandise and licensing rights for Killing Eve are owned by AMC Networks in North America and Sid Gentle Films for the rest of world.

BlackMilk partners with Nintendo to launch Super Mario and Animal Crossing: New Horizons collections

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The globally loved Nintendo franchises, Super Mario and Animal Crossing: New Horizons are finding a new footing in the fashion world, thanks to a partnership between the video game maker and apparel specialist, Black Milk Clothing.

Renowned for its unique take on licensed collaborations, BlackMilk Clothing is offering gaming fans a new way to express their love for both Super Mario and Animal Crossing through the brand’s signature styles, including leggings, dresses, overalls, and more.

BlackMilk x Super Mario will be the first of the two collections to be released, going live at 7am on October, 6th 2020. The collection features some of the franchise’s favourite characters, including Princess Peach, Yoshi, Bowser and, of course, Mario. It will also feature the game’s iconic power-ups and numerous items. Active wear and unisex pieces are on offer alongside a variety of fun outerwear styles. 

Meanwhile, customers will then be treated to an entirely new collection when BlackMilk x Animal Crossing: New Horizons is released a week later, landing at 7am on October 13th, 2020.

Fans of the Nintendo Switch game will be able to shop a range of pieces featuring their favourite islanders and collectibles. Alongside BlackMilk’s signature bold printed styles, the collection includes designer pieces made with specially created fabrics, such as a unique flocked Timmy and Tommy design. 

BlackMilk is expecting both collection ‘to be hugely popular, with some limited edition pieces likely to sell out fast.’

Brand Central named global consumer products agency for US YouTube-created lifestyle brand Full Send

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Brand Central LLC has been appointed the global consumer products agency for the US lifestyle brand Full Send, a label created by collaborative portfolio of YouTube content creators, including the popular Nelk Boys.

Under the partnership, Brand Central will look to develop strategic collaborations as it extends the Full Send brand into retail, tapping into the popularity of the brand’s collaborative popularity across content creators such as @kyleforgeard, @mtvjesse, and @stevewilldoit.

 The licensing agency is looking to attract licensees and retailers on a mission to tap into the world of digital influencers. Both the FULL SEND brand and the Nelk Boys were founded in 2010 and have to date amassed more than 27 million followers across all social platforms. 

“Our team is thrilled to go all in with Brand Central as they are the go-to licensing experts in digital, lifestyle, and pop culture representing brands such as Jake Paul and Ninja,” said Full Send’s business manager, Drew Hill. 

“We are honored to work with the Nelk Boys and the Full Send brand which is the obsession of millions of young adults fans.  We are confident of the success of Full Send at retail and looking forward put together very compelling collaborations that will be become ‘must have’ products of 2021,” added Ross Misher, Brand Central CEO.

Maison Longchamp sews up physical and digital fashion collab with Pokemon and Pokemon GO

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French elegance and Japanese kawaii have found their worlds colliding thanks to a new partnership between The Pokemon Company International and the globally revered fashion brand, Longchamp, spanning both the physical world of apparel and accessories, and the digital world of Pokemon GO.

From mid October this year, the Longchamp x Pokemon collection will arrive in stores and online across the world, while a new Longchamp avatar backpack accessory will be made available to players within the Pokemon GO game.

Under the new partnership, Pokemon’s very own Pikachu will feature across French brand Longchamp’s iconic Le Pilage bag, bringing a touch of fun across four exclusive designs. These will range from black and white LGP canvas, embossed leather, or in a numbered, limited edition. The line-up will be completed with a design in black canvas featuring a Pikachu specially designed for the fashion house, wearing a jockey’s helmet paying homage to the Longchamp logo.

To help celebrate the collaboration between Longchamp and The Pokémon Company, Pokémon GO players will also be able to show off their fashion with a new Longchamp x Pokémon avatar backpack accessory item available between October 2 and November 17, 2020. 

Pokémon GO will be celebrating the collaboration with a special in-game event for all Trainers timed during the Paris Fashion Week. Beginning Friday, October 2 a and continuing through Thursday, October 8, certain fashionable Pokémon will be appearing in the wild, challenging Trainers in raids.

Trainers can search for these rare Pokémon in style with the Longchamp x Pokémon backpack available in the Pokémon GO shop. They can also match their avatar in by picking up any of the four exclusive versions of Longchamp x Pokémon Le Pliage bag available on longchamp. com and in Longchamp points of sales from October 13, 2020.

Sophie Delafontaine, artistic director at Maison Longchamp, said: “Our Le Pliage bag has become a platform where all the different aspects of Longchamp can be expressed and can also take us to unknown places.

“We hadn’t explored entertainment and gaming before. It’s a very inspiring world, particularly with Pokémon and its iconic mascot, Pikachu. Our two worlds, real and virtual, blend perfectly in this collaboration.”

Kenji Okubo, president of The Pokémon Company International, added: “This partnership sees two iconic brands renowned for their creativity and design collaborating on a range of products that uphold Longchamp’s tradition for quality and luxury but add a fun and playful twist that is sure to appeal to fans of both companies.”

Reebok and Universal Brand Development launch Minions: The Rise of Gru footwear collection

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Reebok has partnered with Universal Brand Development, Illumination and the world renowned Minions franchise to grandly unveil its Minions: The Rise of Gru collection, a new footwear range celebrating the upcoming blockbuster release slated for July 2021.

Available globally from Reebok.com and select retailers beginning October 1, the exclusive full-family footwear collection ‘unfolds a real-life creative alliance of epic proportions revealing a master plan years in the making.’

Recognized globally as the world’s most successful animated film franchise of all time, Illumination’s iconic Despicable Me continues to capture the imagination of audiences worldwide. The Minions x Reebok collection injects inspiration directly from the forthcoming film that chronicles the untold story of one 12-year-old’s dream to become the world’s greatest supervillain.

The collection feature the Minions x Reebok Question Mid Gru’s Lab, an imaginative modification of Reebok’s Question Mid inspired by Gru and his laboratory. It uses different “metals” from around Gru’s lab to form a mostly unpolished silver upper, while a more-finished glossy chrome leather panel at the heel pops above his signature “G” logo stamped in place of the traditional Iverson “3”.

Looking inside, wearers will find asymmetric double-sided ‘trap door’ sock liners – a first-of-its kind sneaker innovation – that each hide top-secret elements from Gru’s lab on the underside.

Next up is the Minions x Reebok Instapump Fury Vicious 6, a take on the Vicious 6 that Gru must first defeat to become the world’s greatest super villain. Taking inspiration from the infamous group, this asymmetric fashion-forward take on Reebok’s historic ‘laceless’ Instapump Fury mixes a plethora of contrasting prints, colors, materials and textures, while the silhouette goes big like the villains themselves.

The Minions x Reebok Club C Vicious 6 meanwhile, nods to the film’s ’70s vibe and textures as well as retro colours, featuring corduroy, premium leather and nubuck panels and the Vicious 6 logo on the tongue.

 

The Minions x Reebok Instapum Fury Minions pays homage to the Minions iconic yellow and blue colour palette, as a vibrant take on the Instapump Fury imagined through the eyes of the Minions themselves. It feature particular nods to the film franchise, including a Minions party insole, Minion eyes on either pump button, a banana peel graphic on the left outsole, and more.

Completing the line up is the Minions x Reebok Club C Otto, a subtle yet bright take on the classic Club C which celebrates the franchise’s newest Minion, Otto. The silhouette, a second creation inspired by the Minions horde, is filled with yellow paint, Minions party insoles, pops of lime green and a splash of mud on either outsole – the meaning behind which will be revealed in the forthcoming film.

 

The partnership is completed with an apparel capsule collection that feature Minions x Reebok graphic acropss a range of short sleeved and long sleeved cropped and regular t-shirts. Each Reebok creation arrives in Gru’s Lab sneaker packaging, featuring hand-drawn orthographic views of Gru’s childhood bedroom and top secret lair, complete with Easter egss from the upcoming film.

Sanrio partners with London kids clothing brand Cribstar for Mr Men Little Miss launch

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Sanrio has partnered with the independent London-based children’s clothing brand, Cribstar to launch an exclusive, new capsule collection inspired by the globally popular Mr Men Little Miss brand.

Combining the iconic cast of characters from Mr Men Little Miss with Cribstar’s motto of ‘making little ones stand out from the crowd,’ the new unisex collection features a series of bold retro prints and patterns.

 Two sets of designs have already launched with the brand, including a Mr Happy ‘happy days’ set and a multi-character ‘don’t kill my vibe’ design, both of which landed on September 18th. Each designs boasts a collection of matching jumpers, leggings, and stand out t-shirts.

 Silvia Figini, chief operating officer, Sanrio, said: “We’re so excited to partner with Cribstar on this collection. We love their design aesthetic and the fun, playful unisex designs fit perfectly with Mr. Men Little Miss.”

Jadwiga Batatawala from Cribstar, added: “It was a dream come true to design a collection with the iconic Mr Men Little Miss characters. Together I think we have created a collection which really captures the fun spirit of Mr Men Little Miss but with a Cribstar twist.”

 The full collection is available now from Cribstar’s website – https://www.cribstar.co.uk/

IMG renews representation agreement for French cinema icon Brigitte Bardot

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IMG has renewed its exclusive representation agreement with Family Trademark to continue its work developing fashion collaborations for the icon of French new wave cinema, Brigitte Bardot.

The screen legend of ‘And God Created Woman,’ ‘The Contempt’ and other movies remains a style icon whose classic beauty and distinctive style continues to inspire generations of models and leading fashion designers. Throughout the 1960s and ’70s, the Bardot ‘look,’ including smoky cat-eye makeup, kitten heels and gingham capri pants, the off-the-shoulder top and bouffant hairstyle all established an unmistakably personal style that continues to influence fashion today.

Since 2015, IMG has been working with fashion labels to develop capsule collections and items that celebrate the Bardot legacy and the many fashion styles she made famous.

In January, IMG worked with designer Anine Bing following a personal letter by the latter to Bardot herself, describing the French icon as her “first inspiration” and “muse.” The resulting collection of three monochrome pieces depicting Terry O’Neill’s iconic images of Brigitte Bardot was worn by celebrities including Kate Bosworth and Poppy Delevingne and quickly sold out in Anine Bing stores around the world.

In addition to her film and fashion credentials, the rebellious star known as ‘B.B.’ is renowned for her lifelong advocacy for animals and the environment. This is reflected in various B.B. collaborations, including a new two-piece t-shirt collection featuring Terry O’Neil’s famous images with Massimo Dutti’s environmentally-friendly ‘Join Life’ label, launched in Massimo Dutti stores around the world and online this month.

This year has also seen the launch of a vegan, cruelty-free luxury haircare range with Brigitte Bardot’s signature citrus floral scent, available now from retailers including Urban Outfitters, Pretty Little Thing and Fenwick.

Additional recent collaborations have included collections with Mango, Joyrich, and Snidel, as well as a new range with Swedish high-end fashion brand Limitato which will arrive to stores later this year.

“Our work on the Brigitte Bardot brand with IMG bears witness to a mutual trust. Our aim is to pay homage to the fashion legacy of Brigitte Bardot with products that invoke the timeless glamour of her style and era with quality products that can be enjoyed by many and not only the ‘happy few,’” said Tanguy Toulemonde, CEO of Family Trademark.

Bruno Maglione, president of licensing, IMG, added: “Brigitte Bardot is a beauty and fashion icon without rival in terms of the continued relevance and aspirational appeal of her style.

“Bardot’s signature looks are so established that her name has become interchangeable with them. Our aim is to bring authentic images and storytelling to the many brands and designers who continue to be inspired by B.B. and her legacy.”

LEGO and Levi’s build new collection that turns fashion line into “a blank canvas for LEGO play”

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The worlds of fashion and toys have discovered an innovative way to combine through a new partnership between The LEGO Group and Levi’s and the introduction of the customisable baseplate, that will turn your pair of jeans “into a new blank canvas for LEGO play.”

Exclusive to the collection, the collaboration features the first flexible LEGO baseplate, a pliable LEGO silicone panel onto which fans can create their own customised designs using the LEGO Dots system, a new concept that was introduced by the LEGO Group earlier this year.

Sewn directly onto the garment, LEGO and Levi’s fans alike can create their own design using the mosaic-like tiles that snap onto the baseplates. The baseplate features as a customisable patch on the vintage stonewash Levi’s Trucker Jacket, a Dad Crop Trucker Jacket, 501 ’93 Straight Jeans, and a line up of hoodies, crewneck sweatshirts, and accessories.

Customisation pieces from the collection will come with a Levi’s and LEGO Group branded bag of 110 LEGO Dots. Graphic t-shirts are also included in the collection, featuring co-branded graphics. LEGO elements also appear in product details across the collection, including shank buttons in yellow, red, green, blue, white, and black. The Levi’s standard leather patch has also been converted to a flexible red LEGO patch.

“This is such a fun collaboration celebrating self-expression, creativity and nostalgia,” said Karyn Hillman, chief product officer for Levi Strauss & Co. “It’s Levi’s and the LEGO Group coming together to co-create something really special and new, but undeniably familiar. With the customizable baseplates, Levi’s is now literally a new blank canvas for LEGO play.”

Lena Dixen, senior vice president and head of product and marketing development at LEGO Group, added: “There’s so much passion and energy in this partnership, working with the creative and iconic Levi’s brand is inspiring, and is pushing the way we innovate the LEGO brand experience.”

Italian motorcycle brand MV Augusta revs up global licensing efforts with IMG

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The Italian motorcycle brand, MV Augusta, has appointed IMG as its exclusive worldwide licensing representative in a move to expand its global presence through a new range of consumer products and partnerships. Its initial focus will be on apparel, motorcycle and fashion accessories, video games, and collectables.

Through the new multi-year partnership, IMG will work with MV Agusta to build a licensing programme focused on brand extensions and lifestyle products that reflect the company’s commitment to performance, quality, innovation and consumer engagement within local communities.

“IMG is the best possible partner for what we have in store for our fans around the world,” said Timur Sardarov, CEO MV Agusta Motor S.p.A.

“This strategic partnership accelerates the execution of our five-year expansion plan. MV Agusta has tremendous brand equity; it’s a truly beloved brand and an icon of design and technology in the motorcycling world. Working with IMG, the most authoritative and experienced specialist in the field, will help take MV Agusta to the next level as a lifestyle brand with a series of thoughtful, high-profile merchandising initiatives.”

Marcelo Cordeiro, associate vice president of licensing, IMG, added: “MV Agusta is an iconic Italian brand with a passionate consumer base who revere the brand for both its performance and design attributes. Amongst true motorcycle fans, its bikes are considered to be nothing less than motorcycle art.

“We intend to deploy IMG’s global reach and specialised licensing expertise in the automotive space to extend the brand into a range of consumer products through selective brand partnerships and collaborations.”