It’s been confirmed by Women’s Wear Daily – Fast Retailing (the parent company behind Uniqlo) announced during the National Retail Federation’s convention and expo that the Japanese clothing brand will be opening more U.S. stores and taking it’s business online. W00t! W00t!
Let’s hope that one of these new brick-and-mortar locations includes San Fransisco – I can see the store fitting nicely in Union Square or even next to the New People mall in Japantown. But if they skip over us Bay Area peeps, at least, we’ll be able to shop online.
What comes to mind when you hear that something’s been made in China? Let me guess. You’d probably call it a cheaply made knockoff or you’d be very concerned about lead/melamine poisoning. Well, when it comes to suits, think again!
Over the past three months or so, I’ve seen an increase in impressive top-tier coverage of a relatively unknown Chinese clothing brand based in Dalian, China (an industrial/manufacturing port city in the northeast). This “brand” is hardly the next Shanghai Tang trying to establish itself as a global luxury brand, nor is it growing powerhouse retailer like Uniqlo. So what’s with all the media attention from CNN, Bloomberg News and The Wall Street Journal (see video below)?
Since it’s extremely unlikely that Trands has retained a public relations agency, the media buzz can only explained by their star customer, Warren Buffet. Yes, you heard right – Warren Buffett, the second richest man in the world who’s better known for his investment strategies than his sense of fashion and style.
Mr. Buffett loves Trands so much that he’s been quoted on the record that he only wears these “Made in China” suits and has thrown out everything else. While he’s hardly a fashion icon, I wouldn’t be surprised if this $700+ Chinese suit becomes the next symbol of wealth and power for businessmen around the world.
It’s not Uniqlo, but it’s start. Earlier this week, PSK gave me the heads up that YesStyle.com – the fashion/beauty/accessories spin off to YesAsia.com – is launching it’s first brick and motor store in San Francisco’s Stonestown Galleria today at 2:00 p.m. PT. If you’re in the area and are free – you should check it out and pick up some free gifts:
The first 10 customers who make a purchase on opening day will receive a free Momoko Doll valued at $139*. The following 100 customers who make purchases receive a free Green Banana Beanie (value $25).
As an FYI to everyone who’s not familiar with YesStyle.com, it’s an online store where you can buy FOB style clothes (e.g., the latest styles and fashion trends in Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan). I’ve never shopped on the site, but I have friends that love the site.
I just read an interesting article in The Wall Street Journal today by Ray Smith about the rise of Asian American designers in the U.S. fashion world. Names like Alexander Wang, Jason Wu, Philip Lim, Doo-Ri Chung and Derek Lam are rising among the ranks and their rising fast.
What I appreciate the most is that these designers do not rely on their heritage for inspiration. There are no East-meets-West themes where everything looks like a funky kimono or qipao. Instead they are making modern clothes that have universal appeal. Here’s my favorite part of the story:
Today’s Asian-American designers don’t wear their “otherness” on their sleeves as did the wave of Japanese designers like Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto, who took the fashion world by storm in the ’80s with avant-garde designs. Many young Asian-American designers’ clothes, such as Jason Wu’s blend of modernity with the intricacy of couture and Phillip Lim’s modern takes on classic looks, are generally aimed at a broad mainstream audience.
A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to see Jolin Tsai in person when she made her first SF appearance as part of her press tour for her new fashion line, Seventy Two Changes (see previous post here). So how close did I get? Well, that photo you see above this paragraph was taken by yours truly with my iPhone. All I have to say is that she’s is T-I-N-Y (in weight and height).
Now don’t get the wrong idea, I wasn’t invited to the event as a “fashion blogger” (Ha! I wish). I just happened to be at the right place, at the right time. My good friend @TommyKTse got the invite on Facebook about the event at 5:00 p.m. on July 21, 2009 that Jolin would be at Nordstrom at 6:00 p.m. – since we happened to be in the neighborhood, we decided to head over to the mall and check it out. The actual meet-n-greet took place in a special room on the top floor of Nordstrom. Us non-VIPs had to wait in line for wrist bands in order to go upstairs, while the press and movers/shakers went directly through the express lane. Fortunately for us, we got into the line as it was forming so the wait wasn’t too bad – we made it into the second group that was allowed upstairs.
To sum up the event, there were two models (see photo below) on a platform wearing the new line and a bunch of people mingling. After about maybe 5-10 minutes, Jolin made an appearance to pose for photos by herself against a logo backdrop (e.g., typical red carpet pose). She also made a quick speech (see video below) and left as quickly as she came. I suspect that this “appearance” repeated itself multiple times for each group of fans that were allowed upstairs. Although SF Chronicle’s Carolyne Zinko, who was probably at the event longer than I was, says that she only made one appearance.
As for the fashion line, I must say that I was a little disappointed by the lack of variety. You see, the clothes on those two models pictured below pretty much sum up the whole line that was displayed at Nordstroms at the time. The items were trendy and took on a hipster street-wear feel, which may do well, but come on….two outfits?
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