Belstaff opens flagship store in Japan

Source: Belstaff.

British modern heritage brand Belstaff has opened its first flagship store in Tokyo, Japan within the 47,000 m² retail space Ginza Six. The opening of a flagship in Tokyo showcases the brand's development in Japan and its continued international expansion and dedication to retail.
The store features an initial offering of Belstaff's women's line in Tokyo and a complete menswear collection. This follows Belstaff's launch into the Japanese market in 2016, with retail spaces opened in Matsuzakaya Nagoya, Isetan Tokyo and Kobe.

Global Ambassador and Hollywood A-lister Liv Tyler graced the opening. Tyler has co-designed and produced two collections for Belstaff, and her latest Spring Summer 17 offering will be available in Ginza Six.

The Tokyo store will offer an exclusive Ginza Capsule collection of lighter-weight pieces and the first eyewear collection from the brand, all handmade with the finest materials in Japan. The 100 sq m store is the second-biggest retail space in Asia, after Macau, and the biggest retail launch since the flagship in New Bond Street, London, UK.

Source: Belstaff website. Tyler.

Gavin Haig, Belstaff CEO said: "Ginza Six, our fourth opening in Japan, shows our fast and strategic expansion in this important market. The Japanese influence on fashion and style can be felt globally, which is why we selected this great country as a key pillar market for Belstaff. The Japanese appreciation and appetite for modern heritage is key to our success here. We are also a brand that continues to innovate, with functionality as important as style. Our successful launch of the ongoing partnership with SOPHNET showcased a more street style-influenced collection, which is synonymous with Tokyo, and was well received all over the world."

"The first launch of our women's business in Japan is at Ginza Six, with Ambassador Liv Tyler attending and representing our modern Belstaff Woman. Ginza Six epitomises the new luxury by offering shoppers an experience of the highest quality. We are thrilled to be a part of this historic opening, an important milestone in the brand's 93-year history."

The flagship launches in the same month Belstaff exhibits its first Archive exhibition, Hollywood Legends in the Daikanyama Tsutaya bookstore. This is a celebration of Belstaff's iconic design which has influenced many Hollywood films, including The Aviator starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ironman, Dark Knight, I am Legend, and Twilight.

Interested?

In Asia, UK-headquartered Belstaff pieces are available through stores in Asia, select wholesale distribution worldwide and online.

Hashtag: #BELSTAFFGINZA
 

posted from Bloggeroid

Younger consumers prefer shopping online for clothing

YouGov has discovered that consumers across the Asia Pacific region (APAC) are still shopping for clothing physically in-store, with more than three-quarters of those polled* (79%) saying they have shopped in-store in the past year.

Shopping in-store is particularly prevalent for shoppers in Hong Kong, Australia, and Malaysia, where 88%, 85% and 84% have done so, respectively. Shopping online via a website is the second-most popular method of purchasing apparel; nearly half of respondents in APAC (45%) have used a website to shop for clothing and accessories over the past year. The popularity of e-commerce has surged in mainland China, where three-quarters (75%) of people have bought apparel via a website over the past year. 

Respondents in APAC share how they buy clothing.

The most popular reason for online shopping is to save time, say 69% of those who have shopped using websites over the past year and 66% of those who have used apps. Over half of those who shop online also value the price savings, with 58% of those who have shopped through websites and 54% of those who have shopped via apps citing price as an advantage of online shopping.

In contrast, apps are yet to break into the mainstream and have only been used to buy apparel by 15% of those polled in the past year. App usage peaks in Indonesia, China and Singapore where nearly one in five people (19%, 18% and 18% respectively) have purchased apparel through an app in the past year.

Indicators suggest however that shopping trends are set to change. Young people are more than twice as likely to have shopped using a website in the past year and more than six times as likely to have shopped via an app than older generations. Half of those aged 16 to 24 (51%) have shopped using a website over the past year and nearly a fifth (19%) have used an app. In contrast, just a quarter of over 55s (24%) shopped using a website and only 3% have used an app.

Conversely, shopping in-store is most popular with older generations; 90% of over-55s have shopped in-store, compared to 75% of 16 to 24 year olds. This suggests that, as one might expect, younger generations may be more open to shopping with new technologies than older generations. Over three-quarters of those who have shopped in-store (78%) say it is because they like to try out apparel before they buy it; 73% want to check the quality before they buy, and 56% simply enjoy shopping around.

Local markets and street vendors are bucking the trend. They attract 28% of consumers in APAC and are the most popular in Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia, where 41%, 38% and 36% of respondents respectively have bought apparel from local markets and street vendors in the past year.

They are more popular with young people than older generations; 35% of 16-24s purchase from markets compared with 23% of over-55s. One possibility, Yougov says, is that young people are strapped for cash and looking for a cheaper alternative to high street and luxury brands.

E- and m-commerce still have a long way to go before they can rival more traditional shopping experiences for convenience as well as for enjoyment. Opinions are divided as to whether new technologies are indeed up to the challenge. While 39% of respondents believe that retailers will close physical stores as online shopping becomes more popular, 36% don’t think they will.

*The company polled 9,037 people across Asia Pacific in December 2016 to investigate apparel shopping habits among the online population. Data was collected from research among YouGov’s panelists and was weighted to be representative of the online population. Sample size: Asia Pacific (n = 9,037; Australia: 1,009; China: 1,003; Hong Kong: 1003; Indonesia: 996; Malaysia: 1,003; Philippines: 1,008; Singapore: 1,004; Thailand: 1,004; Vietnam: 1,007).

Spice up the office wardrobe at the MAX sale in India

Source: MAX. MAX fashion for men, women and kids is on sale.

The Landmark Group's fashion brand MAX is offering up to 50% off in India on over 60,000 products from a collection that features the season's hottest trends across clothing, accessories and footwear.

In India, MAX has more than 145 stores across 55 cities. The brand plans to have a network of 160 stores in India by the end of FY16-17.

Interested?

The sale ends January 22 2017.  Enjoy 5% additional cash back using an SBI credit card with a minimum transaction of INR2,500. 

Digitally-printed textiles star at Epson's Print your Passion fashion show

Source: Epson Singapore. A model on the catwalk dressed in an outfit from the BI.ON.IC collection.

Epson, a digital imaging and printing solutions provider, has collaborated with Indonesian celebrity brand Sky and Thai designer Thanit Tiansivarat to showcase their digitally printed collections at the Jakarta Fashion Week 2017, during Epson’s Print your Passion fashion show.

Sky, co-owned by designers Amot Syamsuri Muda and Andrea Risjad, showcased their BI.ON.IC collection of 46 looks with a futuristic science fiction theme, which takes inspiration from the world of science fiction, technology and extraterrestrial life.

Source: Epson Singapore. A child model in an outfit from the digitally printed ELEMENTS collection.

Tiansivarat, owner and designer of Thai brand Oh! Lala and Dee Project, debuted at Jakarta Fashion Week her ELEMENTS collection, consisting of 12 looks modelled by kids. The collection takes inspiration from nature and the natural elements of earth, water, wind and fire, and is evocative of the transformative and changing powers of nature.

Both the designers’ collections are printed by Epson’s digital textile printers, powered by PrecisionCore technology. The collaboration between Epson and designers aims to showcase the unlimited possibilities of digital textile printing and its role in fashion, and vividly captures the bold and vibrant colours of the collections.

“The collaboration with the designers showcases how Epson’s textile printing technology can help in translating the designers’ vision to reality. Epson’s PrecisionCore technology brings vivid colour reproduction, and can inspire designers in the creation of their design. With digital textile printing, designers are only limited by their imagination. Through our collaborations with local designers, we hope to support the fashion industry and create greater awareness of the possibilities of digital textile printing,” said Shuji Hamaguchi, GM (Southeast Asia), Professional Printing, Epson Singapore.

Technavio outlines India fashion e-retail market

• Men’s clothing segment is the dominant shareholder in the market
• Key vendors—Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Jabong, and Yepme

The availability of a wide array of payment options and products, broader reach, and lower costs are encouraging online shopping for consumers in India, says Technavio’s analysts, who predict that the online fashion retail market in India will grow at a CAGR of almost 17% between 2016 and 2020.

Online shopping sites offer customers the opportunity to choose between a number of payment methods such as debit cards, credit cards, cash on delivery (COD), electronic wallets, smart cards, Internet banking, and demand drafts. Favourable demographic factors, better return policies, and increasing adoption of digital and push marketing by vendors are some of the other factors that will contribute to the growth in the online fashion retail market in India during the forecast period.

“The distribution of users between mobile applications and websites is an ongoing trend in the market. Mobile apps have a tremendous impact on the growth of the online fashion retail market in India as they offer a faster alternative to mobile web browsing for consumers to shop on the go. Key players in the market are coming up with more sophisticated fashion apps designed to leverage each functionality on specific operating systems such as Windows, Android, and iOS. Online retailers are emphasising on finding a balance between mobile applications and websites to cater to the masses who prefer shopping online,” says Brijesh Kumar Choubey, Lead Analyst, Consumer & Retail, Technavio Research.

In 2015, men's clothing online accounted for around 53% of the market share to dominate the online fashion retail market. However, more women in the country are likely to be employed and empowered financially in the coming years, thereby boosting growth in the women’s clothing online segment. Furthermore, hectic lifestyles and time crunch are encouraging women to transition towards online shopping rather than visit brick-and-mortar stores. The availability of premium women’s clothing is also projected to increase purchases and add more revenue by 2020.

The key players in the online fashion retail market in India include Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Jabong, and Yepme. Intense competition prevails in this market with most players selling broadly similar products. However, the global players like Amazon and eBay are offering an impressive range of fashion products, which has posed a tough challenge for regional players like Flipkart and Snapdeal. According to Technavio, the purchase decision of consumers is price-dependent so vendors need to focus on pricing strategies and the provision of innovative services. Most users prefer COD and conduct a price comparison before making a purchase, the research firm added.

AIN adds English, Chinese websites for the fashion-conscious

Source: AIN English website.

A Korean brand specialising in women's fashion is repositioning itself as a global brand with a special focus on mainland China, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

AIN has received a good response from selling its products through third party global e-commerce marketplaces, and has now begun its English and Chinese websites through cafe24, Korea's largest e-commerce platform. AIN CEO Park A-In noted that customers like AIN's unique, modern designs and overall image. "The key to success when entering the global market is providing customers with what they are looking for," he said.

AIN's collection is curated for mix-and-match convenience and to enhance the wearer's character and uniqueness. Approximately 20% of the products sold are designed and manufactured directly by AIN. 

Mei.com and Alibaba launch TMALL Luxury Flash-Sale Channel

Mei.com and Alibaba have launched the TMALL Luxury Flash-Sale Channel with a livestreamed fashion show event featuring 42 looks, all immediately shoppable through the new channel. TMALL is Alibaba Group’s B2C online marketplace, and the TMALL channel, which was soft launched about three months ago, is being managed by Mei.com, which has since 2010 operated a China website that provides a flash sales outlet for nearly 300 well-known international luxury brands through exclusive partnerships. Alibaba invested in Mei.com last year.

Source: Mei.com. The fashion show launching the new channel.

Consumers who watched the fashion show had 'scan and buy' shopping access to the runway looks through the TMALL Mobile phone app.

The fashion show event was livestreamed on the TMALL APP, showcasing 42 runway looks of clothing and accessories, including 30 womenswear looks, 10 menswear looks, and a finale including two children's looks. 

Actor Peter Sheng, famous for the China hit web series Go Princess Go made his runway debut walking in the show in a Carven suit. American socialite Olivia Palermo styled one of the runway looks and was featured as a front-row attendee at the show wearing the look herself. 

Source: Mei.com. From left: Mei.com CEO Thibault Villet
with Palermo and Mei.com President Seamon Shi.

The fashion show brought together luxury brands from five of the world's fashion capitals, Paris, New York, Milan, London, and Shanghai: Sergio Rossi, Proenza Schouler, Stuart Weitzman, Carven, Zegna Sport, and Galeries Lafayette among them.

Interested?

Download the TMALL (天猫[淘宝商城]) app on Android or iOS

Watch the show online at Mei.com

Balinese sarong secrets revealed via the Sarong Concierge programme, Ritz-Carlton Bali

The Ritz-Carlton, Bali has unveiled a Sarong Concierge programme, further complementing its immersive Balinese experiences for guests. Led by Tresna Dewi, the resort’s Sarong Concierge, this half-day journey invites guests to discover the different kinds of Balinese textiles and learn about the creation process.

Admired for their beauty and pure artistry, textiles or 'kamen' in the Balinese language is a length of colorful fabric wrapped and tied around the body, often worn by men and women in Southeast Asia and the Arab peninsula. Sarongs are reflective of the historical traditions of Bali and are worn for many different types of occasions.

Tresna, a highly-respected member of the local community, will showcase four kinds of fabric that are mainly used as sarongs in Bali. This will include seeing samples of textiles and learn about the distinct characteristics of each sarong. Tresna will also lead the guests to an artisan workshop in Gianyar regency – renowned for arts and crafts – to see the behind-the-scenes production process of 'endek', the capital’s official cloth, from the threading to spinning and dyeing, and then weaving. Tresna will also demonstrate the etiquette of wearing a Balinese sarong and walking elegantly in it royal-style, among other activities.

“The most interesting element of the sarong creation is the production of the textiles,” says Tresna . "I’m always fascinated to see the process of spinning thread one by one to follow the pattern, before it continues with the weaving process. I look forward to inviting guests into our culture by providing insight of this traditional Balinese style and how it integrates into the daily life in Bali.”

Interested?

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about the opening of the Katamama boutique hotel in Bali

Hashtag: #RCMemories

Yellowfashion.in now available in Sri Lanka

Source: Yellowfashion.in website. 

-

 First curated online women ethnic wear store of its kind to foray overseas

- Eyes over Rs15 crores in revenues over the next three years

Yellowfashion.in, one of India's curated online women ethnic wear destinations, has expanded into Sri Lanka. The venture, well-known for its selection of sarees from across India, is betting on the fast growing Internet user base (6 million according to the ITU) and cultural similarities in clothing preference in Sri Lanka. 

The company estimates 15% of its revenues from 2016 and 2017 to come from the Sri Lankan market, with Sri Lanka contributing Rs15 crore over the next three years. Yellowfashion.in has signed up DTDC as a fulfilment partner to ensure delivery in three to six days to Sri Lankan customers, and put in place an international payment gateway. 

Darshan Patodi, Co-founder, Yellowfashion.in said, "Our in-depth market research revealed that the country, besides witnessing a growing Internet user base, is also very similar in nature to the Indian market when it comes to women ethnic wear choices. (The) Sri Lankan economy has since bounced back, it is geographically proximate and the partnership with DTDC gives us the logistical support required to ensure or track record of happy customers, which is retained in the new market as well. We look forward to the foray contributing significantly to our growth and profitability in the years ahead."

"What really is exciting about the market is that for a lot of women in Sri Lanka (the) saree is both regular wear and a fashion/lifestyle statement. Their affordability levels are high and they are seeking both design and quality which we are known for. Yellowfashion.in's approach of curating what is available on its online store vibes well with this need. Not to mention it being an untapped market. The initial response is encouraging," added Pallavi Patodi, Co-founder, Yellowfashion.in.

According to a Google India study, apparel is the highest contributor after electronics when it comes to e-commerce. The study has found that apparel is purchased 30% more times than any segment, making it one of the most stable domains in the Indian e-commerce landscape. Apparel contributes 34% to the value of total online purchases, says KPMG India.

HOTPING sees sales outside Korea grow to 100 million won

Source: HOTPING website.
Highly elasticated pants.

Korean women's clothing specialty mall HOTPING entered the global market in July 2015 and has since seen monthly international sales surpassing the 100 million won mark, contributing 10% of total sales.

"We believed that winning new markets quickly would secure future competitiveness after we started up in 2014 and we launched the English, Chinese, and Japanese versions of our online mall through the global e-commerce platform of cafe24," explained CEO Kim Yeo-jin. "We received orders from international customers even when we had the Korean site only, which also quickened our entry into the global market."

HOTPING is a portmanteau word mixing 'hot trend' and 'pink'. The platform caters for plus sized women with sizes from 44 (equivalent to XS in the US) to 105 (equivalent to XXL) for most of its products. The company has reached prominence through sponsoring the wardrobes featured in Korean costume dramas, especially in countries swept by the Hallyu, or Korean Wave, notably the US, China, and Japan. News anchors have also been enquiring about sponsorship. HOTPING is becoming popular with its line of Magic Pants, which are highly elasticated pants that can be worn comfortably.

"We will continue to make efforts to win new markets and will also continue offering beautiful clothes to our customers at reasonable prices like we do now," said Kim.

The Curve Cult brings trendy to plus-sized fashion

Source: The Curve Cult Facebook
page. The top fits UK18.

Indie fashion is very much in evidence at Far East Plaza, a mall just off the Orchard Road shopping belt in Singapore. Students go there to buy prom wear, or just something different to wear.

In an age where blog shops offer yet multiple outlets for fashion, going niche is a smart move. Rani Dhaschainey, co-owner of The Curve Cult, has gone from pop-up shops to a real store-front at Far East Plaza. Opening less than a week ago, at #05-126a, she stocks plus-sized fashion, from UK sizes 14 up to about 22.

Source: The Curve Cult Facebook
page.

Her collection is a mix of casual, business and evening wear to suit a wide range of tastes, and with very few pieces of each item, often custom-ordered from India, in cheerful prints as well as trendy solid colours. Dhaschainey models the clothes herself on The Curve Cult's Facebook page so she knows exactly how the items will drape on the body, and can advise customers accordingly.

Interested?

Like the Facebook page and see what's available before going down to buy. The owners are happy to mention prices online

Benetton to focus on empowering women with A Collection of Us

Women telling their stories and listening to other women's stories: only by sharing their wisdom will the world's women be able to build a better future for us all. 

This is the philosophy behind A Collection Of Us, a brand new United Colors of Benetton collection, comprising four capsules to be released in October 2015, December 2015, February 2016 and April 2016 respectively. 

Each of the capsules revamps a central element of the brand's identity - heritage, technique, colour, performance - by reinterpreting it and charging it with dynamic, contemporary meanings.

Knitwear, colour and innovation hold A Collection Of Us together. The capsule collections highlight the technical skills that create soft, polished, trendy, high performance knitwear, and drawing attention to the imaginativeness and forward-looking spirit of Benetton fashion.

What if every woman in the world could be the protagonist of her own story? This question is at the base of the new social commitment by the Treviso-based clothing company Benetton, whose sustainability strategy for the coming years will focus specifically on women, who are still waiting to be guaranteed a sustainable livelihood and full participation in all economic sectors.

Source: Benetton.

The Benetton Women Empowerment Program is a long term initiative that supports projects and concrete actions aimed at targeting important key priorities for women, following the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations for 2030: sustainable livelihood, non discrimination and equal opportunities, access to quality education and healthcare and an end of all forms of violence against women.

A global campaign was launched on October 22 to accompany A Collection Of Us. It will feature five female models, each belonging to a different generation and background, each carrying a message of emancipation and empowerment to be spread through digital and traditional media, and destined to all the world's women.

BLUEPOPS plus-sized fashion expanding globally

Source: BLUEPOPS website.

BLUEPOPS, a Korean online shopping mall specialising in plus sized women's clothing (M to XXL), is designing its own clothing in house.

Elegance is key, said the owner of the mall, Jo Yeong-hwa. "The online mall needs to launch products that have a sense of identity on a regular basis in order to increase customer satisfaction."

BLUEPOPS surveys customers twice a year. Recently it learned that customers decide to buy based on product details, and is now working on providing more close up images.

BLUEPOPS maintains malls in English, Chinese, and Japanese through Cafe24, the largest e-commerce solution platform in Korea.

posted from Bloggeroid

Nadine Arton launches 2016 capsule collections

Nadine Arton, the designer behind the brand GlamOnYou, has launched a 2016 capsule collection under her own name. Represented by dynamic cuts and distinctive prints, the City and All Around the World collections are targeted at women of sophistication and glamour.

Produced with Nadine’s renowned quality and craftsmanship, each collection is inspired by Nadine's travels. Billowing tops combined with skirts alongside dresses to suit any city or occasion are part of the City Collection. The Shanghai Kaftan is reminiscent of the modern and cultural Chinese city while the London dress will bring ladies from work to the evening soiree.

The All Around the World line combines vibrant and geometric prints, bright materials and pastel colours. Add a pop of polka dots to the wardrobe with the Venice dress or check out the crocheted Moscow long skirt for a global travel experience. 

Interested?

View the collections in Nadine Arton’s showroom in Jumeirah, Dubai and at Salam stores in Wafi, Abu Dhabi as well as at Boutique Casual Chic, Kuwait.

*Images from Nadine Arton.

Get up close and personal with Ritu Kumar's summer 2015 collection

Source: Ritu Kumar website.

Indian luxury fashion brand Ritu Kumar has launched its Summer 2015 Collection, now available at the brand's flagship store in BurJuman Shopping Centre in Dubai. The collection includes both the Ritu Kumar as well as the Label Ritu Kumar lines.

Catering to the contemporary women of today, the Ritu Kumar Summer 2015 collection comprises of varied styles for day wear and evening, ranging from kurtis to skirts and suits. The fabrics used include jersey, crepe, cotton georgette, cotton voile.The blend of signature Ritu Kumar prints with subtle detailing provide comfortable yet chic designs with a contemporary edge. 

The Label Ritu Kumar Summer 2015 collection offers daywear to evening options for the contemporary woman. Button downs, maxis, shifts, long skirts, jumpsuits and chic tops form the core of the collection. Available in tomato reds, indigo blues, pastels and bright prints, the collection is crafted using seasonal fabrics such as jersey, crepe, chiffon, lace and georgette. The Label spring-summer (SS) '15 collection has a lot of vintage prints like paisleys and bold florals.

Interested?

Visit the Ritu Kumar store at Level 1 - 137B in BurJuman Shopping Centre. 

Yii's first womenswear collection is inspired by an autistic child

Source: SHOPTHEMAG. Yii. This Spring-Summer 2015 season, SHOPTHEMAG welcomes Malaysian designer Yii, who launches his inaugural womenswear collection this season. Called 4 Years of Pito, and it is the sartorial representation of an autistic child’s mind. The drawings on the pieces from this collection are what Yii imagines would be Pito’s point of view of the world. The resulting artworks are at once chaotic and brilliant; childlike and profound; shocking and funny. To allow them to take centre stage, Yii keeps the silhouettes on almost every piece in the collection, from cocoon dresses to cropped tops, simple and clean. Yii says, “I believe in every child, there is an artist. Children are naturally curious and adventurous. Perhaps we should not grow up, then things would always appear pretty and fun.” The 4 Years of Pito Collection is sold exclusively in Singapore at shopthemag.com.

Lulu Yasmine is coming to Singapore's shopthemag.com

Source: shopthemag.com. Bali brand Lulu Yasmine, known for its use of delicate fabrics like lace, silk and chiffon, will be available to Singapore shoppers through fashion retailer SHOPTHEMAG in May 2015. Corinne Ng, Director, SHOPTHEMAG, explained that a test Lulu Yasmine collection had done very well last season. "Climate-wise, Bali is similar to Singapore, so the collections are relevant for Singaporean women. Plus, Singaporean women generally like comfort and relaxed styles, so this brand suits them to a tee,” she said. Lulu Yasmine's Creative Designer, Luiza Chang, has a Brazilian mother and a British-Chinese father. Chang was brought up in Europe as a child and has lived in Asia for over 15 years. Lulu Yasmine reflects Chang's diverse cultural background – every collection boasts a strong nomadic theme and a spirit of adventure.

Adidas launches clothing with heat management technology - in black

Source: adidas. Climachill apparel.

Adidas has launched the new Climachill apparel range, headlined by a black training t-shirt that features body heat management technology to cool wearers in hot conditions. Perfect for warm and humid climates, the adidas Climachill is designed to deliver maximum cooling benefit without compromising comfort or design.

“The body’s core temperature can increase by 3 degree Celsius when we are exercising. To maintain a stable temperature, your body needs to work a lot harder to lose excess heat. This may result in impaired physiological functions, which will ultimately affect performance,” explained Dr Maarten Hupperets, Director of Future Sport Science at adidas. “When it comes to performance, every degree matters. The Climachill apparel is the smartest and most advanced sporting product and can provide maximum cooling experience.”

Employing industry-first 3D aluminium-cooling spheres, Climachill apparel provides an instant cooling sensation upon contact. In addition to the aluminium dots, the ground-breaking SubZero flat yarn also contains titanium and is woven throughout the inside of each Climachill jersey to deliver more cooling capacity.

In Singapore, the Climachill training tee will be available at S$59, the Climachill polo retails for S$69 and Climachill tanks are priced at S$55. The Climachill product range is available at the adidas online store, adidas Sports performance stores, Sports Interlink, Sports Intersport, Sportslink outlets, Alternative Sports and Royal Sporting House retail stores.

TINKR marries fashion, design and 3D printing technology

Singapore-based TINKR has shifted from providing 3D printing services to combining fashion, design and technology in ways that are ideal as one-of-a-kind corporate gifts.

"Marrying craftsmanship and technology has always been our deep rooted passion and belief, and we can't wait to share with you beautiful prints designed locally and around the region. Over the next few months, we will be collaborating with artisans and designers to bring you the finest and the freshest prints, uniquely created with a signature influence," say Founders Xiaohui and Freda in an eDM.

The two have taken six months to develop The Pocket Square and The Calligraphy Pendant. The 3D printed Pocket Squares fit in the pocket of a blazer and come in the Peak Cut, Classic Cut and the Unstructured Cut variations. These are available on TINKR's website in white nylon (S$40), wood (S$42) and gold-plated steel (S$99).

The Calligraphy Pendant is TINKR's first collaboration with calligrapher Clarence Wee of Craft Varies. Various ready-to-wear phrases are available in white nylon (S$28) and gold polished brass (S$78). A chain is included in the price.

*Images from TINKR eDM.

Roots opens flagship store in Beijing

Roots, a lifestyle apparel brand which also offers shoes and bags, has marked its success in Asia with its first flagship store in Beijing. In addition to the same Roots products available in the company's stores in Canada and the US, the Beijing store features a specialty athletic collection unique to Asia.

Source: Roots Tumblr. The Beijing store.

"It's extremely gratifying for us to see how much Canada and the Roots brand resonate with the Chinese," says Co-Founder Michael Budman. "The new store in Beijing is an exciting step forward in our expansion in this important market. It wouldn't have been possible without the tremendous work of our Asian partner, Branded Lifestyle. Based on what's happening in both China and Taiwan, the future looks incredibly bright for Roots in Asia."

The new store in Beijing is the largest of the 23 Roots locations in mainland China. Roots opened its 100th store in Taiwan in December 2014.