German Investor Sentiment Falls

FRANKFURT (Bloomberg) — German investor confidence unexpectedly fell for the first time in six months, signaling that the uncertainty induced by Greece’s debt crisis may be weighing on Europe’s largest economy. The ZEW Center for European Economic Research in Mannheim said its index of investor and analyst expectations, which aims to predict economic developments six months in advance, fell to 53.3 in April from 54.8 in March. Economists had forecast an increase to 55.3, according to the median of 33 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey. The Bundesbank said on Monday that recent data suggest growth momentum in Germany is probably weaker than anticipated, though the economic expansion will continue to be “quite robust.” Factory orders dropped in the first two months of the year as fears of a Greek default damped demand. “The current weakness of the world economy is dampening export prospects and reducing the scope for further improvements of the economic situation in Germany,” ZEW President Clemens Fuest said in a statement. At the same time, “the German economy is in good shape. A stable labor market and increasing wages are strengthening confidence and boosting consumption.” Germany’s economy expanded 0.5 percent in the three months through March, according to a Bloomberg survey

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Rakuten Buys Stake in China’s Fanli

TOKYO (Reuters)–Japanese online retailer Rakuten Inc said on Monday it bought a stake of less than 10 percent in Chinese online discount provider Fanli Inc, as it continues a push into overseas markets. Rakuten – one of Japan’s biggest online retailers – is trying to use its stronghold in its domestic market to transform itself from a pure e-commerce firm into a one-stop-site for a global audience, along the lines of Amazon.com Inc. The Fanli investment comes about a month after Rakuten bought U.S. eBook company OverDrive Inc for about $410 million. Other high-profile acquisitions in recent years have included free messaging application Viber for $900 million and Canadian e-book reader Kobo for $315 million. Rakuten did not disclose the size of the stake it bought in Fanli or how much it paid, and a spokesman declined to comment further. The investment valued Fanli at about $1 billion, according to a Rakuten statement. Kevin Johnson, the chief executive officer of Ebates, a U.S.-based online discount operator that Rakuten bought for $1 billion last year, will join Fanli’s board of directors, the company said. Rakuten already offers online services such as financing, travel, shopping and online video. It also announced last year it would set up

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Chris Evert Launches Tennis Line With Tail

Chris Evert has launched a tennis and activewear collection aimed at women over 30. The tennis legend, who holds 157 singles titles, 18 Grand Slam singles titles and six U.S. Open wins, among other tennis-related accolades, has designed Chrissie by Tail in partnership with Tail Activewear. The collection, which features about 100 styles, is divided into three groups by color: highlighter yellow and powder blue; neon pink, and atomic blue. It’s available on tailactivewear.com and in 200 specialty stores this month. “I’ve always dreamed of creating my own line and Tail felt like a natural fit as a partner,” Evert, 61, said. “For years, as I dropped my children off at school, other moms would say, ‘When are you going to start a tennis and active line that’s built for women’s bodies?’ “The other lines available are beautiful, but they’re designed for the 18-year-old body,” she added. “I’m designing for myself, but the unique fits and styles will appeal to women of all ages.” Evert describes her personal style as “feminine with a little edge.” “I like the cleanness of classic tennis whites, but at the same time I also love vibrant colors,” she said. “I actually think they’re more flattering on women. You

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Graydon Carter Reportedly Eyeing Several Documentary Projects

GRAYDON’S DOCUMENTARY PUSH: Vanity Fair editor in chief Graydon Carter is looking to get into the documentary game. Aside from long-publicized plans to produce a Nora Ephron documentary for HBO, Carter has been eyeing Walter Isaacson’s book “The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution,” as another project. According to e-mails found on Wikileaks between Carter and Sony chief executive offi cer Michael Lynton, the Vanity Fair editor is interested in turning “The Innovators” into a four- part TV series. Sony had procured the rights to Isaacson’s book with Columbia Pictures president Doug Belgrad and producer Scott Rudin. In an e-mail dated Oct. 22, 2014, Carter wrote to Lynton: “Don’t want to intrude on your turf if you have other ideas for this, I will buzz off. But the biggest story of our age is the Internet. And Walter’s book is the Best and the Brightest of that story. It can’t be done in one documentary. But a four-hour series, similar to what Bob Hughes did with the ‘Shock of the New’ might be the way to go.” That same day, Lynton wrote back, adding that all three parties were “very open to the idea of creating

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Alibaba Faces Challenges in Fixing Counterfeit Problem

BEIJING — As Alibaba faces continued criticism from regulators in China and the United States over its business practices, analysts say it could be challenging for the e-commerce giant to overcome some problems, particularly what appears to be an endemic presence of counterfeits and gray-market products on its consumer-to-consumer marketplace platform, Taobao.com. The platform is renowned among Chinese shoppers for its vast array of goods for sale, ranging from pets to fake college diplomas and counterfeits, or very close replicas, of fashion brands. “It is very hard to eradicate the problem,” John Fang, an analyst with the Shanghai-based China Market Research Group, said, adding that heightened scrutiny could be related to China’s slowing economy, which expanded 7 percent year-on-year on the first quarter, the slowest growth in six years. In March, retail sales rose at the slowest pace in nearly a decade. “The brands are hurting,” Fang said. “It is very hard to do business in China right now, so if the fake products are out there, it is making business even more difficult.” Torsten Stocker, greater China partner at A.T. Kearney in Hong Kong, said it will be “difficult” for Alibaba to eradicate goods on Taobao that are blatant counterfeits or products that

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Kohl’s Taps Thakoon for DesigNation Collection

Thakoon Panichgul is next up in Kohl’s Department Store’s seventh installment of its DesigNation limited-edition collection. The misses’ apparel collection and accessories will be inspired by Panichgul’s trip to London and will be available exclusively at Kohl’s and kohls.com beginning this fall. “DesigNation is built to inspire our customers with designs shaped by some of the world’s most popular destinations, and Thakoon Panichgul is the perfect person to bring London to life as he is known for showcasing distinct global influences through his collections,” said Nancy Feldman, Kohl’s executive vice president of women’s apparel. Panichgul recently celebrated his brand’s 10th anniversary in London. For Kohl’s, he will translate his affinity for the British capital’s character, culture and history to unusual prints and patterns for shirts, sweaters, knit tops, dresses and bottoms, all under $200. “The DesigNation collection allows me to explore London, a city I love so much, in depth, and to bring my imprint and take on its captivating culture to women everywhere,” the designer said. Asked what prompted him to do a collaboration with Kohl’s, he told WWD, “Kohl’s has established a tradition of working with brands to create accessible fashion to women — the title they have given the DesigNation initiative is

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High Times Petitions to Free Jailed Non-Violent Marijuana Users

4/20 FRIENDLY: In order to fete April 20 — aka National Marijuana Day — High Times magazine will do more than spark up a few joints. The magazine has launched a petition to free all non-violent marijuana users from U.S. prisons. Posted on Change.org as well as Hightimes.com starting Monday, the petition demands that U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and California Attorney General Attorney Kamala Harris free what High Times’ Chris Simunek estimates is “tens of thousands” of prisoners. Simunek, who serves as High Times’ “Sordid Affairs Editor,” told WWD that he decided to pen the petition on April 20 because it’s the highest traffi cked time on the magazine’s Web site. “We need a groundswell — mass pardons and mass releases — not on the scale of tens but on the scale of thousands,” he said, explaining that while it’s hard to know how many are in jail, the underlying message is that the inmates are not criminals. “We want to them to free the prisoners who have been jailed for growing, smoking, selling — to us they are not quote-unquote crimes,” Simunek said. “It’s getting to the point where this hypocrisy can no longer be ignored. Marijuana is legal in

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Fall 2015 Accessories Trend: Kitschy Business

Accessories designers had fun for fall, creating these sure-fire Conversation starters.

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The North Face Expands Recycling Program

The North Face is expanding its Clothes the Loop recycling program to all of its retail and outlet stores in the U.S., with the goal of recycling more than 100,000 pounds of apparel and footwear in 2015. The expansion of the program is being conducted in tandem with an in-store and social media campaign to encourage consumers to recycle unwanted apparel and footwear from any brand, in any condition. Clothes the Loop extends the life cycle of apparel and footwear brought in by consumers by giving them a new life through reusing items or reverting them to basic materials used for new product manufacturing. Initially piloted at 10 The North Face retail locations in February 2013, Clothes the Loop will now be available in all 83 of The North Face retail and outlet stores nationwide. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an estimated 24 billion pounds of post-consumer textile waste goes to landfills each year, the equivalent of about 70 pounds of textiles per person, accounting for some 5 percent of all space. “We’re committed to creating responsible products, both in how we design them and also in how long they last,” said Adam Mott, director of sustainability for The North Face,

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Nick Wooster in Shanghai for Wooster + Lardini Launch

WOOSTER IN SHANGHAI: Nick Wooster is currently in Shanghai for the launch of his Wooster + Lardini capsule collection at Strasburgo, a Japanese-owned luxury men’s wear boutique with two outlets in China. Wooster appeared in-store for a day of style consulting and meet-and-greets, first in Beijing, where he visited the Strasburgo store in Parkview Green, an upscale art gallery-cum-shopping mall in the commercial Chaoyang District. Now in Shanghai, Wooster’s visit centers around the boutique in Yifeng Galleria, a heritage building on the Bund specializing in designer men’s wear. This is the first time that Wooster’s pieces are being sold through an official outlet in the country. Speaking with WWD at Strasburgo in Shanghai, Wooster said: “It’s just been incredible. It was my first time in Beijing, at the beginning of this trip, and I went to see Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall. I’ve been to Shanghai once before, but the views still amaze me. The Bund is just unbelievable. And what’s so crazy is to think that right across the river, all of that’s only been around for 10 years or so.”

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Emilio Pucci Opens Store in Miami Design District

WELCOME TO MIAMI: Emilio Pucci opened its third store in Florida, in the Miami Design District. Pucci’s famed Torre print, originally designed in 1966, embellishes the entire facade. Painted in giant black and white mazelike blocks, the facade appears like an optical public artwork hanging above the sidewalk. Inside, white terrazzo tiles and white walls provide a canvas for the colorful clothing hanging on open brass fixtures. The cashier’s table is cut from a rose-colored travertine stone, a key material in all new Pucci stores. Located at 140 NE 39th Street, the one-floor boutique spans 1,600 square feet. The full Pucci spring collection is available, as well as special gowns, beaded caftans and embroidered pieces that cater to the Miami clientele. The shop also features women’s and men’s swimwear and resort pieces from the Orlebar Brown + Emilio Pucci collaboration, as well as sunglasses by the brand’s licensee, Marcolin. Pucci’s other two stores are in Palm Beach and Aventura. In total, Pucci has five freestanding stores in the U.S. and 28 internationally.

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Coach, Inter Parfums SA Sign Fragrance License

PARIS – Coach Inc. and Inter Parfums SA said they have signed a global licensing agreement for Coach fragrances for 11 years. Inter Parfums is to create, produce and distribute new fragrances and fragrance-related products to department and specialty stores, duty-free shops and Coach stores starting in fall 2016. “As our brand transformation continues to progress, and with Inter Parfums as our partner, we know we can leverage this category into a much larger global opportunity,” said Victor Luis, chief executive office of Coach. “Given Inter Parfums’ successful track record of cultivating and growing fragrance lines for fashion and luxury goods brands, they were the ideal choice to take our business to the next level.” “Coach is an iconic brand focused on relevance and innovation. We greatly respect what the company has already accomplished in the realm of fragrance, most notably with Signature and Poppy, the brand’s well-established top-selling brands,” stated Philippe Benacin, ceo of Inter Parfums SA. “With our distribution network, we have a great opportunity to build upon the success already seen with Coach fragrance by expanding the distribution globally and capitalizing on the growing recognition of the brand in international markets.” Coach had formerly had a fragrance and beauty license with

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Mulberry Lifts Profit Forecast

LONDON— Mulberry Group plc has ended its year on a high note. The British accessories firm, plagued for months by management woes and negative profit warnings, reported that profit before exceptional items is expected to be “slightly ahead” of market expectations for the year ended March 31, due to improving retail sales and cost control. As reported in December, retail trading improved following the introduction of the spring-summer 2015 collection, which boasts a broader price range than in the past. Mulberry said revenue for the 12-month period would be in line with expectations at 148 million pounds, or $241.2 million. Figures have been calculated at average exchange rates for the 12 months to March 31. However, the full-year growth in retail revenue of 1 percent has been more than offset by the previously announced decline in the wholesale business, Mulberry added. Mulberry has been pursuing a strategy of culling wholesale clients and putting a larger focus on retail sales and international expansion. The company added that, as a result of “careful cost control,” profit before exceptional items is slightly ahead of market expectations. The reported results for the year will also include an exceptional, non-cash impairment charge of between 2.5 million pounds and 3 million pounds, or

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Fast Retailing Lifts FY Operating Profit Forecast

TOKYO–Fast Retailing Co Ltd has raised its full-year operating profit forecast by 11 percent, lifted by strong sales at its Uniqlo stores in Japan and continued growth overseas. Asia’s biggest apparel retailer said it now expects operating profit of 200 billion yen, or $1.7 billion, for the fiscal year through August, versus its prior estimate of 180 billion yen. The average forecast of 22 analysts was for 197.25 billion yen. In its September-February fiscal first half, Fast Retailing’s net profit grew 56.2 percent to 104.75 billion yen, or $911.33 million at exchange rates for the period. Sales rose 24.2 percent to 949.68 billion yen, or $8.26 billion. Operating income rose 40.2 percent to 150.08 billion yen, or $1.31 billion. Uniqlo, known for its HeatTech fabric technology and rainbow colored-basics, enjoyed an 8.4 percent rise in same-store sales at its Japanese outlets during the half. Growth was also solid overseas, where expansion is key to Fast Retailing’s goal of becoming the world’s top apparel retailer ahead of Zara-owner Inditex SA, Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) and Gap Inc in coming years. Reuters contributed to this report.

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VF Corp., FibeRio Collaborate on Nanofiber Technology

FibeRio Technology Corp., a nanofiber technology specialist based in McAllen, Tex., has formed a strategic partnership with VF Corp. to help develop and commercialize performance apparel and footwear fabrics. The association will focus on FibeRio’s Forcespinning technology platform and its ability to produce nanofiber materials in high volumes, the parties said. VF said it will use FibeRio’s expertise in its three innovation hubs dedicated to advancements in performance apparel, footwear and jeanswear. “VF’s global innovation center strategy is centered on the pursuit of disruptive design and materials that will meaningfully redefine the future of apparel and footwear for our customers,” said Dan Cherian, vice president of VF’s global innovation centers. “Our partnership with FibeRio is a great step forward toward the co-development of proprietary, high-performance nanofiber materials that will help push the boundaries of performance and explore the creation of new apparel and footwear market categories.” Ellery Buchanan, chief executive officer of FibeRio, said, “VF’s long history of brand strength and operational excellence, along with our leading commercial scale nanofiber production expertise creates an excellent opportunity to proactively shape the competitive landscape.”

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Hudson’s Bay Profits Leap

The Hudson’s Bay Company reported net earnings almost quadrupled in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31 from a year earlier, to $111 million from $29 million in the year-ago period. On a per share basis, earnings from continuing operations practically tripled to 61 cents a share from 21 cents. Normalized earnings, before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization came to $318 million in the last quarter, versus $253 million in the year-ago period. Total sales in the quarter rose 9.3 percent to over $2.6 billion, and 3.2 percent on a same store basis. The department store group which includes Hudson’s Bay and Lord & Taylor saw same-store sales grow 2.3 percent. Saks Fifth Avenue had a same-store sales increase of 2.6 percent. Saks Fifth Avenue Off-5th had a same-store sales increase of 12.1 percent, while digital sales gained 35.1 percent. “We are pleased with our fourth quarter and full year operating and financial results,” stated Richard Baker, HBC’s governor and executive chairman. “It was a strong conclusion to a successful year for our company. Sales growth, further progress with the Saks integration and continued strength at HBC Digital has us well-positioned to deliver on our fiscal 2015 strategic priorities and initiatives.” RELATED CONTENT: WWD Earnings Tracker

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Pringle Donates to Louise Wilson M.A. Fashion Fund

LONDON – Pringle has made a “generous donation” to the Louise Wilson M.A. Fashion Fund at London’s Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, the school said Thursday. The donation marks Pringle’s 200-year anniversary, which the company celebrates this year. The Louise Wilson M.A. Fashion Fund was set up last year following the death of Wilson, the late course director of the M.A. fashion program at Central Saint Martins. Among the fund’s activities will be to provide scholarships for students experiencing financial hardship and to extend the range of “international creative expertise” on offer through the course’s teaching program. “The fund is dedicated to giving talented students, regardless of background, the life-changing opportunities afforded by an outstanding creative education,” the college said in a statement. Fabio Piras, the course director for the fashion M.A. program, noted that Central Saint Martins has worked with Pringle on a number of projects since 2010, among them a collection designed by Central Saint Martins students and inspired by the late Princess Grace, and another project as part of which students organized Pringle’s archives and then designed a collection inspired by the archives. “Over the last five years both the course and Pringle have benefitted from these collaborations, leading

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Boston University Renames Business School After Allen Questrom

(Bloomberg) — Boston University received $50 million, its largest gift ever, for its management school from retailing executive Allen Questrom and his wife Kelli. The renamed Questrom School of Business will use the donation to endow 10 faculty positions and help pay for added facilities for the graduate program, the university said. Questrom, 74, who earned a bachelor’s degree from BU in 1964 and is a trustee, has led retailers including Barneys New York Inc., J.C. Penney Co., Federated Department Stores and Neiman Marcus. He is currently a senior adviser to Lee Equity Partners LLC, a New York private equity firm. “When one looks at where investment can do the most good, you have to think of innovation in our schools,” Questrom said in a statement. “The route to earned success is to be well educated.” Questrom said he hoped other students would “pay it forward” and help the next generation to succeed in business. The business school was rated No. 57 in the country in a Bloomberg ranking of full-time MBA programs in 2014.

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China’s Alibaba Signs Digital Distribution Deal with Music Rights Group BMG

BEIJING (Reuters) – Germany’s BMG music rights company said on Monday it had signed a music digital distribution deal with China’s Alibaba Group Holding Ltd , as the world’s largest e-commerce firm firms up its bid to become a digital media empire. The deal, one of the first in China made by a major music publisher rather than a label, will bring more than 2.5 million copyrights to Alibaba, whose music platforms already had many of the songs from artists including Kylie Minogue, the Rolling Stones and Jean-Michael Jarre, an Alibaba spokeswoman said. Alibaba has set its eyes on becoming an online-media powerhouse, with music, film and television. The $210-billion firm has touted the potential for selling digital products as well as physical products in China, despite the country’s track record of users not paying for media content. In the process, it is vying with Tencent Holdings Ltd , China’s biggest social networking and online entertainment firm, and search leader Baidu Inc and its online video unit, iQiyi. For BMG, the tie-up is both a chance to boost earnings by its artists in China and part of its attempt to “grow the legitimate music market in China”, the company said. BMG last November linked up

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Beckham Goes to China Under Hong Kong Global Brands Venture

(Bloomberg) — David Beckham-branded products are set to head to China when the British soccer star’s Hong Kong joint venture partner rolls out its goods in a few months. The venture with Global Brands Group Holding Ltd. will focus on developing Beckham-branded consumer products including sportswear, footwear, casual-wear, hi-tech and skincare, Chief Executive Officer Bruce Rockowitz said in an interview in Hong Kong today. The company aims to build this into a multi-billion dollar business in five years, the executive said. The former Manchester United, Real Madrid soccer player “has a huge following in China as he has almost 100 percent recognition,” Rockowitz said. “When we launch something, it most likely will be global, but China will be part of that in a big way. We are in the middle of finalizing everything.” Beckham has used his celebrity status on several consumer-related products. The star signed an agreement with Las Vegas Sands Corp. to promote the casino operator’s business in Asia. Diageo Plc has also hired the retired soccer player to peddle a new Scotch. Shares of Global Brands surged 12 percent to close at HK$1.37 in Hong Kong trading today, the biggest gain since July 24 last year. The benchmark Hang Seng Index

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