ONITSUKA TIGER SHOWCASES FALL/WINTER COLLECTION AT MILAN FASHION WEEK

Onitsuka Tiger keeps its contemporary collection that combines fashion with sports, and heritage with innovation going. At the Milan Fashion Week, the Japanese brand presented its Autumn/Winter 2022 collection. The AW22 collection can be described in one word: “Shadow”. It is also a tribute to the ’80s when the Japanese aesthetic of purity and austerity blasted Western aesthetics, where luxury and opulence were considered to be the height of beauty.

This Japanese aesthetic, working on silhouettes, monochromes, and details, redefined the Western aesthetic that had previously been taken for granted. The collection featured oversized graphic T-shirts, nylon jackets, maxi Bermuda pants, and other gender-neutral pieces.

H&M LAUNCHES H&M HOME IN INDIA

H&M India has launched H&M HOME in India. It has been introduced with a digital store on the brand’s website and through the e-commerce platform, Myntra. Furthermore, the latest launch will soon be introduced at H&M India’s existing store in Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj. “We are very excited to finally launch in India. At H&M HOME, we are driven by our desire to make great design available to everyone in a sustainable way and offer products that enable people to be inspired and to express their own personal style in their homes. We simply can’t wait to introduce Indian interior lovers to the world of H&M HOME,” says Evelina Kravaev-Söderberg, Head of Design and Creative, H&M HOME.

H&M HOME is a design-driven interior and lifestyle destination, offering fashion- forward decor and accessories for every room and style, with quality and attention to detail at its core. It has come to India with concepts that are divided into different rooms of the home: living room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and kids’ room. The assortment ranges from timeless dinnerware and high-quality bed linen to modern textiles and stylish storage solutions.

GUCCI PARTNERS WITH ADIDAS FOR LATEST COLLECTION

After months of rumours, Gucci confirmed that it has teamed up with Adidas with the release of the brand’s fall 2022 collection during Milan Fashion Week. Creative director Alessandro Michele unveiled Exquisite Gucci, a lineup that included a mix of the brand’s signature two-piece suits with puff-sleeve dresses and corsets.

The collection also featured pieces from the Italian house’s upcoming collaboration with the sportswear giant, which included cross-branded monograms and Adidas’ iconic three-stripe logo.

RELIANCE RETAILS PICKS UP MAJORITY STAKE IN ABRAHAM & THAKORE

Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd — a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited — has picked up a majority stake in homegrown designer brand Abraham & Thakore Exports Pvt Ltd., for an undisclosed amount. This comes after the company late last year announced a partnership with Indian couturier Anamika Khanna, apart from investments in designer Manish Malhotra. “Abraham & Thakore’s interesting use of material and fresh take on traditional textile techniques have crafted a highly distinctive design signature for the brand. With Indian luxury customers undergoing a generational consumption shift, there is heightened appreciation of Abraham & Thakore’s timeless design, and we are excited to partner with the brand to bring its unique expression of Indian craftsmanship to consumers globally,” said Isha Ambani, Director, RRVL.

The design trio, David Abraham, Rakesh Thakore, and Kevin Nigli will continue to lead the creative direction of the brand. “Abraham & Thakore is excited to partner with RRVL, the company responsible for redefining India’s luxury landscape. Through this partnership, we will be extending the presence of the brand and bring together both fashion and lifestyle collections, which will include home furnishings and loungewear,” said David Abraham.

MYNTRA TO BRING IN SOUTHEAST ASIAN FASHION RETAILER ZALORA TO INDIA

Myntra announced that they have partnered with Zalora, a prominent Southeast Asia’s leading online fashion platform, to bring the latter’s private labels to India. The announcement marks the arrival of the first brand from the Southeast Asian region to be brought to consumers in India with a range of stylish, chic, and sustainable in-house collections under one umbrella. The brand caters to the fashion-conscious urban value seekers, under the aegis of Origin, Zalora Basics, Active, Occasion Wear, and Work.

Sharon Pais, Chief Business Officer, Myntra on the launch said, “Myntra continues to be at the helm of enabling sought- after international brands to reach fashion-conscious consumers in India. Through our partnership with Zalora, we further our commitment to bring the best of global fashion within easy access of our shoppers. Zalora is a leader in the Southeast Asian markets and brings with it trendy and fashionable merchandise. Through this partnership, we continue to cater to the growing base of fashion and trend seekers in India.” Founded in 2012, the company has a presence in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia & Brunei, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

NANUSHKA AND NIKE PAUSE SALES IN RUSSIA

Nanushka CEO Pèter Baldaszti confirmed that the brand had cut financial ties with Russia. It has been reported that the brand’s sales team will not forge any new deals with Russian wholesale partners, and outstanding orders will not be fulfilled. The brand has also reportedly ceased deliveries to customers in Russia.

In a statement on its website, Nanushka said it “stands in solidarity with the citizens of Ukraine”. It has partnered with Hungarian charity, Order of Malta, to provide accommodation, food, clothing, and transport to and from Budapest for those leaving Ukraine. Nike has also reportedly paused orders to Russia, Reuters has reported. It has said that the footwear brand has made merchandise purchases on its website and the app is unavailable in Russia as it cannot guarantee delivery of goods to customers in the country.

THE LYST INDEX IN Q4 2021: BALENCIAGA IS THE WORLD’S HOTTEST BRAND

Balenciaga retained its position as the world’s hottest brand for the second successive quarter in The Lyst Index for the last quarter of 2021. Prada ranked third, moving up a spot — the highest the brand has ever been placed in the index. Miu Miu also celebrated its first-ever appearance in the index’s hottest brands ranking, in the 20th spot.

Along with being the world’s hottest brand, Balenciaga’s Neo Classic Bag, a reissue of its classic style, also tops the women’s hottest products list. This emphasises the great influence that the Y2K aesthetic has had on fashion; not only throughout the past three months of 2021, but the entire year, Lyst noted.

The Gucci 1953 Horsebit loafers as seen in House of Gucci were the most wanted men’s product in Q4, followed by the Omega Seamaster Diver 300 Watch, in the second spot, inspired by the most recent James Bond movie. The Valentino Logo Belt, a signature accessory worn by Emily in the second season of the much talked about Emily in Paris series, takes the seventh spot in the hottest women’s product list. The ‘gorpcore’ trend has remained popular throughout the year, with an uptick in the fourth quarter as consumers sought technical outerwear and footwear that can withstand the elements. Among the quarter’s hottest products, Prada’s Re- Nylon bucket hat, The Frankie Shop’s quilted jacket, Arc’Teryx’s Alpha SVjacke, and balaclavas from Miu Miu and Stone Island all speak to this movement.