Global Vibes

Asda announcement
UNITED KINGDOM: George, the inhouse fashion brand of supermarket chain Asda has declared war on competitors Tesco and Marks & Spencer by claiming it will be the number one supermarket clothing retailer by the end of this year. Admitting the business had stalled over the past four years George admitted the brand had focused too much on fast fashion and the under 25s market. George now intends reorganising its offer and introduce two new sub-brands that would focus on the over 45s. The core George brand will make up 70 per cent of the new offer and will focus on the 25 to 45-year-old shopper. Two new sub-brands - Moda for women and Boston Crew for men - would be aimed at the over 45s and make up 20 per cent of its offering.

Reebok fined
UNITED STATES: Sports apparel brand Reebok has been fined $US1 million ($A1.1 million) for giving away toxic bracelets ree with a purchase of children's shoes. Hundreds of thousands of lead-laced bracelets that reported caused the death of one child, were distributed by the sportswear company. A worldwide recall was announced in March 2006 of more than 500,000 of the Chinese-made bracelets, including 300,000 in the United States, after a four-year-old American boy died after swallowing the pendant on the jewellery. Reebok said it had introduced tough, mandatory product-checks since the recall.

M&S European boost
CZECH REPUBLIC: UK-headquartered department store Marks & Spencer has entered into a venture with franchise operator Coms to expand in Central Europe and Eastern Europe. M&S has acquired 51 per cent of Coms for €13.6 million ($A23.1 million) in cash plus a deferred consideration of up to €5.2m ($A8.8 million) based on business performance and agreed targets. Coms operates 13 M&S stores in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Latvia and Lithuania. The joint venture will see around 30 new stores opened in these markets, together with Estonia. M&S plans to grow its international business to 15 per cent and 20 per cent within the next five years.

Fair success
HONG KONG: More than 8000 buyers from 50 countries attended the Interstoff Asia Spring Fair in Hong Kong early last month. Aside from its usual spread of eco-textiles and functional fabrics, one of the Messe Frankfurt-hosted fair's biggest draw cards was the seminars given by eco-textile certification bodies. Other key points of interest included the design and trend seminars by Elementi Moda (Italty), the Society of Dyers and Colourists (UK), Carlin International (HK) and Italtex (HK). The three-day fair also saw the launch of a new eco-labelling system at Interstoff Asia Essential, which explains what elements of a product are eco-friendly allowing greater transparency for buyers. The next edition of the show will be staged October 8 to 20.

Van Heusen expands
INDIA: Phillips-Van Heusen Corp has announced it is undertaking a new licensing agreement with Arvind Brands, a division of Indian-based textile company Arvind Mills. The agreement will see Arvind design and distribute apparel under its IZOD sport-inspired lifestyle brand. The licensing arrangement provides Arvind with the right to distribute apparel under this iconic American brand both at wholesale and through its own IZOD flagship stores across India.

Fig-friendly
UNITED STATES: Online lingerie store figleaves.com has launched an eco department focusing on eco-friendly products for environment-concerned customers. The new department, dubbed Greenleaves includes brands such as Enamore, Green Knickers and Eco Boudoir. It will also offer information on energy-saving washing and how to recycle lingerie. To coincide with the launch, the company is undergoing a business audit to make sure its practices are as environmentally friendly as possible. Shipping notes will be made from sustainable plantation timber, and all return packaging will be sent to a recycling plant. The company is also considering the environmental impact in all supplier sourcing and will undertake further measurements in future months.

Gone Bananas?
UNITED KINGDOM: Gap-owned apparel brand Banana Republic has opened its first European flagship store in the heart of London's west end. Occupying 17,000 square foot over three floors, the store will house the women's and men's ready-to-wear collections, accessories and personal care products. A Banan Republic said the city's "affinity for fashion and luxury products" meant it had the potential to be a strong market for the brand and European customers had also expressed interest in bringing the US-headquartered brand across the Atlantic. The Regent Street store will introduce sub-brand Monogram - a new collection of what it described as "wardrobe builders and statement makers". Each item is created in limited quantities using the finest fabrics, most refined techniques and meticulous attention to detail.

Adidas ups forecast
GERMANY: Adidas has raised its sales growth forecast for Reebok after announcing the brand it bought in 2006 will form a joint venture with a Brazilian-based business. The company, dubbed Vulcabras, is expected to begin selling Reebok footwear, apparel and accessories in Brazil and Paraguay in April. Since 1992, Vulcabras has been the exclusive and independent distributor as well as a licensee of Reebok footwear and apparel products in Brazil and Paraguay, and the Brazilian shoe manufacturer will continue to supply Reebok products to the joint venture company. The two brands are also in negotiations to form a joint venture company in Argentina, where a Vulcabras subsidiary has been the exclusive distributor of Reebok footwear and apparel since 2004.

Battle of the Diors
FRANCE: The Australian Trade has upheld a rejection raised by Paris-headquartered couture house Christian Dior against a Sydney-based real estate service company attempting to register the trademark Dior Realty. Hearing officer Iain Thompson determined that while the Dior trademark was "exceptionally well known", confusion between the two was inevitable in a commercial environment where fashion design houses stepped outside their core business and engaged in businesses such as hotels decorated to their design. Thompson refused to register Dior Realty's application and ordered it to pay costs.

Designer talks
UNITED STATES: Designer label Donna Karan International and womenswear retailer Liz Claiborne will team up for the production of a new casual menswear collection called DKNY Men. The range, to be sold through the US and Canada will feature men's sportswear aimed at the high-end market. Currently Claiborne holds the license to produce, distribute and market DKNY Jeans and active apparel for men, women, and juniors in the Western Hemisphere. Since November 2001, Donna Karan International has been a part of luxury goods group LVMH.