Global Vibes

Bad news
UNITED STATES: Major US apparel retailers continue to feel the pinch of a slowdown in trading with department stores JC Penney, Kohl's and Nordstrom all showing profits loses when reporting their first quarter financial results. According to an online report by Women's Wear Daily, profits at Penney's fell 49.6 per cent, the bottom line at Kohl's slipped 26.8 percent and Nordstrom was off 24.2 percent. The news means retailers will markdowns stock and cut back on orders with most retail executives indicating they don't expect any improvement in their businesses through the rest of this year - with some not foreseeing any significant improvement until 2010.

Ecco expansion
THAILAND: Ecco shoes has launched into the Thai market securing distribution of its label across three different cities. The Ecco products will be available at four shops of TBS Sport, including those in Ho Chi Minh city, Hanoi and Hai Phong city. The demand for global brands has increased in the domestic market, which has motivated many international luxury item manufacturers to launch labels in Vietnam including Nike, Adidas and Gucci.

Indian venture
INDIA: Italian luxury apparel and footwear brand Salvatore Ferragamo has set up a joint venture with Indian-based real estate developer DLF. This is the latest in the real estate firm's strategy to partner leading global premium brands to spearhead its retail business in India. It is believed the agreement between the two will hold for 10 years. The joint venture, dubbed Ferragamo Retail India, will take over the only existing store of Ferragamo in the country in Mumbai. The initiative will see at least three stores in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore set up in 2008 and add another 10 across the country in the next five years.  Ferragamo's brush with India dates back to 1938, when he created the gloved arch shoe for the Maharani of Cooch Behar.

Awards shortlist
UNITED KINGDOM: Designers Anya Hindmarch, Luella Bartley and Stella McCartney are among those shortlisted for the Britisg Fashion Council's annual fashion awards. Christopher Kane, Gareth Pugh and Marios Schwab are among those nominated for Best New Designer while Marc Jacobs, Dover Street Market and Jigsaw's The Shop at Bluebird in the Kings Road are up for the Best New Retail Concept prize. The nominees for Best Menswear Designer include Christopher Bailey for Burberry, Alexander McQueen and Cassette Playa. Winners will be announced during an awards evening on November 27.

Great form
UNITED STATES: Global intimate apparel company Maidenform Brands has entered an exclusive global licensing agreement with Donna Karan International to design, source and market women's intimate apparel under the Donna Karan and DKNY brands. The agreement, effective immediately, offers Maidenform the rights to design, source and market Donna Karan and DKNY women's intimate apparel products. The collection will be distributed worldwide in high-end department and specialty stores. The products are expected to launch at the beginning of 2009. The 85-year-old company has a portfolio of established brands - including Flexees, Lilyette, Sweet Nothings, Rendezvous, Bodymates and Self Expressions - that are distributed across 60 countries.