Publications - WWD.com

WWD 11/15/2004

Truly Fast Fashion: H&M's Lagerfeld Line Sells Out in Hours

Mass hysteria for Karl. That was the situation Friday morning at H&M locations in the U.S. and Europe as the fashion retailer launched its Karl Lagerfeld collection in about half of its , 1,000 locations.

Truly Fast Fashion: H&M's Lagerfeld Line Sells Out in Hours

There was mass hysteria Friday at H&M locations in the U.S. and Europe, as it launched the Karl Lagerfeld collection in about half its 1,000 locations.

— Nov 15, 2004

Fashion Scoops: Yamamoto's Moment ... Mr. In Personality ... Still Modeling

YAMAMOTO'S MOMENT: Yohji Yamamoto was against doing a retrospective of his work until he met with organizers of Pitti Immagine last year. But even then, Yamamoto's show "Correspondences" will be an antiretrospective...

— Nov 15, 2004

Oscar Sets Bal Harbour Store

NEW YORK - The paint is barely dry on Oscar de la Renta's new Madison Avenue store, but the designer already has secured space for a second location in Miami's Bal Harbour Shops.

The company said Friday it will open a...

— Nov 15, 2004

WWD Stock Index Sustains Momentum

The bulls continued their post-election charge, sending stocks up for a second week, including retail shares, which, as a sector, soared on a brighter consumer spending picture and lower fuel prices.

In turn, the WWD Composite Stock...

— Nov 15, 2004

Courting Counterfeiters

Lawsuits involving counterfeiting can leave the impression that lawyers ask judges for monetary awards in the same way little girls ask Santa for ponies.

Lawyers representing manufacturers of luxury goods in particular seek huge sums from...

— Nov 15, 2004

Credit Worthiness

When it comes to making credit determinations, factors say it depends on the people making the decisions. But is it an art or a science? Factors say both.

or factors, companies that handle suppliers' receivables for a fee, determining...

— Nov 15, 2004

Retail Sales Training: It's About the People

With fewer people looking to retail as a career and a rapidly shifting customer base, retailers are seeking better training methods to save the day.

Federated Department Stores Inc. has taken a page from a U.S. Air Force manual for part of its...

— Nov 15, 2004

Chasing Comps

Wall street's fixation with same-store sales began more than two decades ago.

Without standardization, are comps an exercise in faith, science or a false idol?

On the first Thursday of the month, hordes of retail executives rise...

— Nov 15, 2004

Era of the New Deal: Money Talks

Money, money, money/always sunny/in the rich man's world" are lyrics from an Abba song that describes a working stiff's dream of riches.

And suddenly in the world of fashion and retailing, there's more money than ever....

— Nov 15, 2004

Geox Sets IPO With 65M Shares

MILAN - Italian footwear company Geox will kick off its initial public offering today, with up to 65 million shares available.

Geox will be listed on the Milan Stock Exchange beginning Dec. 1. While the definitive price has yet to be...

— Nov 15, 2004

Obituary: Mary Vinson

NEW YORK - Mary Vinson, a designer of apparel and home goods who was also an owner of the Island Trading Co. store, died Nov. 8. She was 49.

The cause of death was multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cell, according to her husband,...

— Nov 15, 2004

European Firms Grapple With Weak Dollar

The weakened dollar and the stronger euro are forcing European firms to raise prices, shore up shrinking margins and hedge their forecasts.

— Nov 15, 2004

Vassarette Enters Sleepwear

NEW YORK - VF Corp.'s Global Intimate Apparel Coalition has signed a licensing agreement with NAP Inc. to produce a collection of sleepwear, robes and loungewear bearing the Vassarette label.

The line will be shown in January for...

— Nov 15, 2004

Cautious Mood Permeates Spring-Summer Market

The second half of this month's lingerie market promised a lot of sizzle after a quiet first week, but it generally fizzled out.

— Nov 15, 2004

Timepieces for High Rollers

NEW YORK - It's easy to lose one's sense of time in Las Vegas. Nights seem like days in the glaring lights of the Strip, while days could just as well be nights in clock-less casinos. But that should no longer be as much of a problem...

— Nov 15, 2004

Findings: In the Bag ... Jones Lets Go

IN THE BAG: Junior sportswear company Necessary Objects has signed a licensing agreement with Cudlie Inc. to produce handbags and small leather goods under the Necessary Objects by Ady Gluck-Frankel Handbags label.
The spring collection,...

— Nov 15, 2004

Crown Jeweler Goes for Skull and Crossbones

Crown Jeweler Goes for Skull and Crossbones

— Nov 15, 2004

LeSportsac's New Tune Trimmed in Leather

NEW YORK - To the industry, Tim Schifter is known as the dapper president and chief executive officer of LeSportsac. Few realize, however, that in his free time, Schifter has a penchant for music, and lately he has grown particularly fond of...

— Nov 15, 2004

Jewelry Charms Spring Bags

Jewelry has returned to the spotlight this fall and shows no signs of losing its luster for the spring and summer seasons.

— Nov 15, 2004

Ninth China Petition Targets Wool Trousers

WASHINGTON - The coalition of apparel and textile groups claiming Chinese imports pose a threat to U.S. production filed its ninth quota safeguard petition on Friday covering imports of men's and boys' wool trousers, a category that...

— Nov 15, 2004

Beauty Beat: Origins Wellness Unit Opens at Macy's

SAN FRANCISCO - Origins launched its first Walk-in Wellness center at Macy's Union Square this week. Set in the ground-floor cosmetics and fragrance department just inside the store's Stockton Street entrance, the 300-square-foot...

— Nov 15, 2004

Strong Showing for Luxury: Bulgari, Tod's Up in Quarter

Consumers' ongoing love affair with luxury goods bolstered top-line and bottom-line growth for luxury firms Bulgari and Tod's SpA.

— Nov 15, 2004

Big in Japan ... Top Shops ... The Slipper Fits

Speaking with Japanese female rock duo Puffy AmiYumi about stardom, cracking the U.S. and their new cartoon…A Cinderella story.

— Nov 15, 2004

In Brief: Everlast Expansion ... Quiksilver Flagship

EVERLAST EXPANSION: Everlast Worldwide Inc., which has been aggressively expanding overseas, has signed a licensing agreement with Big Brands, a Johannesburg-based firm, to develop Everlast apparel in South Africa. The line of women's,...

— Nov 15, 2004

Financo Taps William Susman

NEW YORK - Financo Inc. has named former Merrill Lynch investment banker William S. Susman as president and chief operating officer, WWD has learned.

Susman becomes the second in command at Financo, the boutique investment banking firm...

— Nov 15, 2004

Castagna Exits Penney's

As expected, Vanessa Castagna, chairman and chief executive officer of J.C. Penney stores, catalogue and Internet, has decided to leave the company.

— Nov 15, 2004

Love 'Em and Leaf 'Em

NEW YORK - There's nothing quite like taking natural forms and re-creating them in lustrous gold and lavish jewels. So designers are coming up with a new crop of flora and fauna for pendants that swing gently on, or accent long, delicate...

— Nov 15, 2004