Industry News – March 3rd, 2016

Curated fashion industry news links for Wednesday, March 3rd, 2016…

ARIANA GRANDE’S FASHION LINE FOR LIPSY IS OFFICIALLY HERE – Nylon
“If you’ve always wanted to snag Ariana Grande’s signature sweet-but-bad-girl style, your time is now. Grande’s design debut for Lipsy just hit stores today and it’s super cute, super feminine, and exactly what we expected. ”

WHO IS GOING TO SAVE SPORTS AUTHORITY FROM BANKRUPTCY? – GQ
“Another day, another massive American retailer to find itself in uncomfortably hot water. Sports Authority, the nationwide purveyor of everything from running shoes to hunting rifles, announced on Wednesday that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Over the next three months, the chain will lay off 3,400 of its 14,500 employees, close 140 of its 450 stores, and shut down two distribution centers.”

RUE LA LA CARRIES THE NEWS TO CUSTOMERS – RetailingToday
“Specialty online fashion retailer Rue La La is telling all the young dudes (or dudettes) about the latest in fashion with a new content site called Rue Now. Building on the fact that the average Rue La La member visits the site more than twice a week for purposes of learning and discovery as well as making purchases, the retailer launched the Rue Now platform will complement its daily shopping boutiques by giving customers access to timely fashion and lifestyle news.”

AMERICAN EAGLE IMPROVES PERFORMANCE BY REFINING FOOTPRINT AND MERCHANDISE – RetailingToday
“American Eagle Outfitters didn’t exactly soar in the fourth quarter, but its low single-digit same-store sales increase was better than most and benefitted from recent store closures. Total company sales increased 3% to $1.11 billion and same store sales grew 4% after a flat performance in the fourth quarter the prior year. Earnings per share increased 17% to 42 cents from the 36 cents earned from continuing operations the prior year. The company expects its first quarter same store sales to increase in the mid-single digits.”

DOLCE & GABBANA RELEASES “SLAVE SANDAL” – Footwear News
“Dolce & Gabbana has faced backlash in the past surrounding controversial IVF comments made by designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. It again ran into trouble when its spring ’13 collection included Blackamoor earrings that outraged the wider community and fashion fans alike due to their racial overtones. Now it seems the Italian powerhouse may soon find itself in the midst of yet another controversy, this time due to the name of a pair of sandals.”

TANYA GOLESIC NAMED PRESIDENT OF JIMMY CHOO’S U.S. SUBSIDIARY – Footwear News
“Jimmy Choo has named Tanya Golesic president of the brand’s US subsidiary, J Choo USA, Inc. Golesic joins on April 11 and will be based in the company’s New York office, overseeing the US and Canada operations.”