Industry News – September 7th, 2016

Curated fashion industry news links for Wednesday, September 7th, 2016…

FORMER AMAZON AND J CREW EXECS JOIN FAST-GROWING PLUS-SIZE BRAND – ChainStoreAge
“Eloquii, a fast-growing, plus-size women’s fashion apparel manufacturer and online-only player, has expanded its executive team with two experienced retailers.”

“CAN’T WE DO SOMETHING NEW?” TOM FORD DISCUSSES HIS FIRST SHOW-NOW-BUY-NOW COLLECTION– Vogue
“Ford is part of the first wave of designers embracing a radical new direct-to-consumer model that rethinks decades of industry-wide standard operating procedure. There’s no long-lead press, no editorials in magazines.The new concept banks on immediacy, shrinking the gap between when a customer sees the collection and when she (or he, Ford is also showing men’s) can buy it.”

COLE HAAN REINVENTS DRESS FOOTWEAR FOR A NEW GENERATION – Multivu
“Cole Haan, the iconic American lifestyle footwear and accessories brand, unveils GrandRevølution – a dual gender collection that brings the innovation associated with performance footwear to dress shoes.”

WOLVERINE WORLDWIDE NAMES GILLIAN MEEK AS NEW PRESIDENT FOR KEDS – PRNewswire
“Wolverine Worldwide announces the promotion of Gillian Meek to President of Keds, effective Monday, September 12th. As Keds continues to celebrate their 100th anniversary with the Ladies First campaign, Meek’s appointment is an important organizational move that adds to the Company’s brand leadership, underscores the depth and talent of the management team and demonstrates the Keds brand’s commitment to female empowerment.”

RACHEL COMEY HAS WHAT EVERY INDIE DESIGNER HOPES FOR – TheCut
“She’s one of the few New York designers to make it to this milestone without any kind of outside investment — or with a second job at a luxury house. But Comey’s ethos has always been one of independence. The parking lot she first showed in has been razed for new construction — a condo, she’s pretty sure — and two recessions later, the designer is still standing. How did she do it?”

MICHAEL KORS DEBUTS CUSTOMIZABLE SMARTWATCHES – Pret-a-Reporter
“The designer on Tuesday announced the launch of the new Michael Kors Access smartwatch as part of the brand’s new wearable technology accessories line. The smartwatch, based on Kor’s Bradshaw and Dylan styles, is made in partnership with Google using their Android Wear platform.”

MADE IS THE LATEST TO JOIN IN SEE NOW-BUY NOW MOVEMENT – TFL
“One of this season’s adopters: MADE. The self-described “year-round, dynamic platform that connects emerging talent in fashion, music, art and culture with visionary brand partners,” which sponsors and hosts an array of fashion shows and presentations each season during New York Fashion Week, has announced its take on the revamped runway-to-retail timeline.”