Zanerobe co-founder Leith Testoni revealed at an industry seminar last month the menswear label was owed “about a quarter of a million” by collapsed US chain store Metro Park. The latter declared bankruptcy in May 2011.
Testoni added that while international sales now account for about 70 per cent of Zanerobe’s business, he and business partner Jonathan Yeo had observed an increasing divide between the “fashion maturity” of Australian and US customers.
“...A fair percentage of the Australian market accepts and wants more fashion aligned styles... Deeper necklines, more garment length and/or a little oversized. But in the US they’re far less favourable to this,” Testoni said.
As a result, Testoni and Yeo are “redoing” collections for Australia, injecting more “fashion aligned” product. The changes will start with spring/summer 2011/12 and include a “refinement of shape, great construction complexity and a print story that reflects the...Australian customer,” Testoni said.
Styles will include fashion singlets, muscle tees, short beach shorts and scoop-neck t-shirts, accompanied by loud yardage prints, deconstruction and fabric distressing. Returning for a second season will be Zanerobe eyewear, but dropping from 30 styles to 20.
“A large percentage of styles designed for Australia will still be offered internationally as there are ‘pockets’ that demand this of us. For example, east coast USA and metropolitan Canada need to see innovation and a greater fashion aesthetic as opposed to their neighbouring States,” Testoni said.
Zanerobe currently has over 250 Australian stockists, including David Jones. The label was founded in 2002.
Erin O'Loughlin