Industry News – May 9th, 2016

Curated fashion industry news links for Monday, May 9th, 2016…

GILDAN BUYING ALSTYLE – California Apparel News
“Midlothian, Texas–based Ennis Inc. will sell its Alstyle Apparel LLC division to Canadian T-shirt giant Gildan Activewear Inc. for a $110 million all-cash offer subject to a working capital adjustment. The deal is expected to close by the end of June. Following the close of the deal, Ennis will provide “transition assistance” to Gildan for certain administrative, financial, human resources and information technology functions.”

JEANOLOGIA SOFTWARE RELEASE AIMED AT FASTER LASER FINISHING IN PRODUCTION – California Apparel News
“Spanish laser equipment maker Jeanologia has introduced eMark 3.0, the latest release for its laser-finishing software, created to help production designers maximize speed and creativity. The software features new tools to enhance industrial productivity while maintaining energy efficiency, including a new turbo mode, which Jeanologia says will speed up productivity by 30 percent.”

SPRING FASHION CAMPAIGNS WERE THE MOST RACIALLY DIVERSE ON RECORD — BUT THERE’S A CATCH – Yahoo!
“Over just the past few months, there’s been an uptick in models who break the norm landing huge campaigns. Caitlyn Jenner modeled for H&M. Beyoncé cast a model with muscular dystrophy for her new merchandise. But while pop culture and mainstream retailers seem to be getting the hint, unfortunately, high fashion is lagging behind. According to a new report from the website theFashion Spot, spring ad campaigns were the most racially diverse on record — but there’s a catch.”

TEEN RETAIL AS WE KNOW IT IS DYING – Business Insider
“The early 2000s marked a hallmark era for teen retail, canonized by prominent logos and a place in pop culture. But that’s all changed. Teen retailer Aeropostale just filed for bankruptcy, becoming the latest brand to fall victim to the capricious nature of teens’ wallets. Last month, Pacific Sunwear filed for bankruptcy, and in September, Quiksilver did the same. Wet Seal also filed for bankruptcy in 2015. The mall — once a sanctuary for cool teens — is practically turning into a cemetery. Aeropostale fell victim to the same problem that has plagued many others. It was unable to keep up with the increasing demands of young consumers, many of whom don’t want to buy clothes anyway and would would rather spend money on fancy gadgets and experiences.”

JCPENNEY AND MICHAEL STRAHAN EXPAND COLLECTION TO ACTIVEWEAR – FashionMag
“JCPenney and Michael Strahan are expanding their partnership with the launch of MSX by Michael Strahan, a new line of men’s active lifestyle apparel.”

THE ‘LEAST ENGAGING’ RETAILERS ARE … – Retailing Today
“Five retail chains rank among the top 10 brands doing a poor job when it comes to emotional engagement, a measure of how well brands meet consumer expectations, according to an annual survey. American Apparel, Aeropostale, Sears, Sports Authority and Whole Foods Market are among the Top 10 least-engaging brands in Brand Keys’ 2016 Customer Loyalty Engagement Index survey. (A list of the top 10 brands is at the end of article.) The listing, now in its 21st year, ranks brands based on customer input in the automotive, technology, retail, food and beverage categories.”