Shoes and accessories TruePDF march 2019

www.shoesandaccessories.in

An Images Group Publication

March 2019 // Vol. 11 // No. 03 // `100 // US$20

Trends • MarkeTing • reTailing

hideSigN

celebrateS

KalKi
Koechlin’s

Spirit of
Adventure




Trends • MarkeTing • reTailing

editor-in-chief
amitabh taneja
managing editor
n bobo meitei
publisher
s p taneja
consulting editor & associate publisher
dipika chopra

creative
creative head hariom sharma
graphic designer Deepak Shakya
production
sr. general manager manish kadam
assistant manager ramesh gupta
circulation
logistics support shyam singh

Editor’s Letter

Today, manufacturers and suppliers can no longer ignore the demand
from consumers for sustainable production methods. The dominance
of fast fashion in the industry has proven to be unsustainable. When
Greenpeace undertook three site surveys in South-west China, it
found levels of lead, copper and cadmium that exceeded national ‘soil
environmental quality standards’. In addition, the river, which had been
safe to swim in twenty years ago, was now blue with a sickening odor.
A third of all Chinese rivers are currently classified as too polluted for
direct human contact.
Alongside environmental concerns, fast fashion is also affecting social
cohesion. Low wages and pollution mean locals are no longer willing
to work in the factories and so immigrants from poorer provinces have
moved in to do the work. This has even caused riots between locals
and in-comers.
To remain viable in a marketplace demanding sustainability,
manufacturers must be able to demonstrate compliance with
sustainable practices. This means independent oversight.
Manufacturers and suppliers of clothing, textiles and footwear need
to find ways to prove sustainability to an ever more demanding

customer-base.

Managing Director

amit chopra

IMAGES ACCESS MULTIMEDIA PVT. LTD.

AMITABH TANEJA
Editor-in-Chief

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On Cover: Kalki Koechlin posing with Hidesign handbag
Pic courtesy: Hidesign



Contents
march 2019

08) The Month That Was | Updates
India | International
24) Launch Trends
Editor’s Pick
28) Trends | What We Spotted
Spotted this Month
32) Brand Watch | StruT
Bags at Guilt-Free Prices
35) Brand Watch | Hush Puppies
Treating the World to Their Favorite Shoe
40) Trend Report | Lakme Fashion Week
Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2019 Trends
50) Seminar | Global Perspective
Global Perspective on Indian Leather Sector

56

56) Expressions | Hidesign
She Loves Adventure

ExprEssions / Hidesign

62) Trade Meet | Lee Cooper
Lee Cooper Hosts Autumn Winter 2019 Range Preview
66) Trade Event | Fashion Access
Fashion Access Hong Kong 2019
68) Report | Global Footwear Executive Summit
Agility in Action!
70) Trade Event | IILF
India International Leather Fair: Largest global leather
event in Asia
78) Fashion Show | Chennai Leather Fashion Show ’19
Runway Bike
84) Opinion | Sustainable Business
Introducing Environmental Changes at Business
86) Opinion | Handbag Industry
Indian Handbag Industry

62 tradE mEEt | Lee Cooper

88) Trade Event | Designers Fair 2019
Designers Fair: To Boost Manufacturing Opportunities for
Indian Entrepreneurs
94) Style File | Trailblazers
2019 Grammys: From the Red Carpet

Ad Index
Woodland
Inside Front Cover
ID
Inside Back Cover
Alberto Torresi
Back Cover

88 tradE EvEnt | Designers Fair 2019
Brand
Liberty
Hidesign
Buckaroo
Lemon & Pepper
Toni Rossi
Red Chief
Banish

84

opinion
Sustainable Business

50 sEminar | Global Perspective

Pg. No.
3
5
7

11
13
15
17

Brand
Valentino
Swans Ind
Zenyataa (Flag)
Lee Cooper (Flag)
Von Wellx
Abnashi
Subscription

Pg. No.
19
21
39
55
65
93
100



The Month That Was | Updates I India

Da Milano bags ‘Dynamic Retailer of the Year’

Da Milano has been honored as the most

‘Dynamic Retailer of the Year’ at the ET
NOW Global Awards for Excellence in
Retail Marketing held at Taj Land’s End
in Mumbai. The award brought together
retail giants across sectors that were
nominated under various categories.
On receiving this honor Sahil Malik,
Managing Director, Da Milano said, “It
is always a pleasure to be recognized
for all the hard work you put in. It is
motivational not only for me, but the
entire Da Milano team. I would like to
thank ET Now Global Awards for Retail
Excellence for honoring us with the
prestigious award.”
Presented by ET Now and organized
by Asia Retail Congress, Global Awards
for Retail Excellence is widely recognized
as one of the most prestigious awards in
Asia. The platform recognizes disruptors,
high-achievers, and leaders under various
categories in the retail space and honors
them for their remarkable contribution to the
sector.
Da Milano has demonstrated exemplary
growth as the brand has scaled newer
heights in this fiercely competitive market
space of fashion retail.
Adding yet another title to its roster
of honors, the prestigious award was

accepted by Sahil Malik Managing Director
of Da Milano. Under Sahil’s competent
direction of over two decades, the brand
has witnessed brisk expansion to become
one of the leaders in the retail space.

Sahil Malik

SHOES & ACCESSORIES march 2019

Puma Partners with Mary Kom

8

Global sports brand PUMA has announced
their partnership with world boxing
champion, Mary Kom. Magnificent Mary, as
she is popularly called, has signed a two
year deal with the brand. With this, Mary is
now PUMA India’s new ambassador for their
women’s training category and shall represent
the brand in marketing campaigns in the
country. The association has been facilitated
by IOS Sports and Entertainment Pvt Ltd.,
which exclusively represents Mary Kom.
PUMA as a brand celebrates strength and
empowerment of women. This partnership
gives PUMA the opportunity to be a part
of Mary’s journey as an athlete and inspire
confidence in women across the country.

A champion boxer and a super mom, Mary
is a role-model to millions of women in India.
She will lead PUMA’s #DoYou conversation
that aims to motivate women across the nation
to be strong and accomplish their goals.

Talking about the association with PUMA,
Mary said, “Being a woman and a mother
I have faced several challenges that I have
powered through thanks to my family and
team. PUMA as a brand has always believed
in supporting and encouraging women,
which made it a perfect fit for me. PUMA
products are a fusion of high technology
and style that will only enable me to take it
up a notch. I am really excited to come on
board with a brand that so perfectly reflects
my very own ethos.”
“We are very thrilled to welcome Mary
to the PUMA family. She is going to take
our women’s category in India to the
next level” said Abhishek Ganguly, PUMA
India, MD. “She embodies the spirit of the
PUMA woman – determined, goal oriented,
confident, and forever gunning for the next
big challenge. Having consistently defied
all odds to achieve a wide range of records

and medals, she is an idol for women all
over India. With this association we want to

work with Mary in achieving our vision of
inspiring a much larger audience of Indian
women.”


Skechers buys Future Group’s 49% in joint venture

Future Group has exited its joint venture with
US lifestyle and footwear brand Skechers,
which will now run the Indian operations
independently. Though the company didn’t
disclose the deal size, it is believed that
Skechers paid nearly `580 crore for the 49%
stake that it doesn’t hold in the JV.
Skechers, which entered India in 2012,
has been doubling its business with plans to
add its own manufacturing units and newer
categories. Globally, the retailer sells watches,
apparel, socks and sunglasses, among other
merchandise. The brand has about 223 stores,
including 61, which are company owned.
An additional 80 to 100 stores are planned
for 2019—of which approximately 20 will be
company-owned, company-operated.
“The effort of our team has resulted in
significant growth as illustrated in our yearover-year numbers — 2018 saw double-digit

increases in wholesale and retail sales and
an 80% increase in pairs sold, reaching 2.7
million,” said Michael Greenberg, President

of Skechers in a statement. The company
believes that combining the experienced
team and Skechers’ proven sales and
marketing capabilities will allow it to grow
the brand and its presence in a faster, more
efficient manner, ultimately meeting its fullest
potential. The Skechers India subsidiary will
continue operating under its existing structure
and from its existing headquarters location in
Mumbai. “Skechers is still a relatively young
brand in this country, having been in India for
less than a decade, yet in the last five years,
we have seen significant growth through
our joint venture,” stressed Michael. “The
substantial existing retail network of over 200
stores, a strong wholesale business, and a
recently launched e-commerce site is a solid

foundation that we can build upon. These
accomplishments, as well as opportunities
we see to increase the brand’s exposure
and drive sales, give us great optimism and
confidence for the growth of Skechers in
India.”
According to Rahul Vira, CEO, Skechers
South Asia, “Skechers in India has achieved
great success over the past few years. As we
look into the future, we are delighted to be a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Skechers. This
development will enable us to amplify our

growth plans, accelerate the expansion of our
operations and build a stronger network to
further gain market share in India.”.
According to David Weinberg, chief
operating officer of Skechers, few markets
match the potential for growth of India, which
is why the company entered the market
initially, and why it recently decided to
purchase the minority stake in the joint
venture. “The effort of our team has
resulted in significant growth as illustrated
in our year-over-year numbers—2018 saw
double-digit increases in wholesale and
retail sales and an 80 percent increase in
pairs sold, reaching 2.7 million. We believe
the strength of our diverse product and
our marketing insight will help expand our
product offering in India. As a subsidiary,
we will be able to leverage our capital,
product, logistics, and business model to
better maximize our brand exposure to the
1.3 billion consumers in this country,” added
Weinberg. Skechers is a $4.64 billion global
leader in the performance and lifestyle
footwear industry, Skechers USA, Inc. designs,
develops and markets more than 3,000 styles
for men, women and children.

K-Swiss eyes wide footprint in India
years later is still a style staple. Today, K-Swiss

has expanded from tennis footwear, to include
lifestyle and training footwear that stands
up to the performance demands of worldclass athletes and trendsetters alike. K-Swiss
became an acclaimed worldwide style
statement both on and off the court. K-Swiss'
modern brand mission is to outfit and inspire
the next generation of entrepreneurs.
To emphasize on K-Swiss business
proposition in India, Kamal says, "While our
competitors are Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Puma,
Fila, our business focus will be on K-Swiss
tennis performance range, premium dress
sneakers and Gen-K collection, positioning
K-Swiss brand as a leading brand in India for
young entrepreneurs and upcoming CEOs
who are the new heroes of youth culture.” He
added, "On the choice of locations for K-Swiss
exclusive stores, we will be focusing on the
most potential malls and high-street locations.

We are primarily targeting Delhi, NCR,
Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Kolkata, Mumbai,
Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Cochin and
Chennai. We will also unveil the K-Swiss
Autumn/Winter collection for the year 2019 in
our new office at Golf Course Extension Road,
Gurgaon.”

SHOES & ACCESSORIES march 2019

With the plan to aggressively extend its
footprint in India, K Swiss has appointed BFL
Brand Folio Pvt. Ltd, incorporated in 2018 in
New Delhi, as its licensee of brand K-Swiss for
India. Kamal Gupta CEO of BFL Brand Folio
Pvt Ltd says, “We are planning to expand
rapidly in India by opening exclusive brand
stores and shop-in-shop formats with all the
potential key accounts and online Portals in
the year 2019. We are planning to open 5
exclusive K-Swiss brand stores by the end
of December 2019 and also start K-Swiss
business with all potential key accounts by
starting 100 shop-in-shops within the same
timeline.”
Founded in 1966, K-Swiss is a heritage
American tennis brand. Since its inception,
K-Swiss has represented innovation, quality,
performance and style. Its signature K-Swiss
“CLASSIC,” the first leather tennis shoe, made
its debut at Wimbledon, and more than 50

9


The Month That Was | Updates I India

Bata India Bounces back Strong in Q3
Bata’s strong Q3 results sparked a rally,
taking its share price to an all-time high.

An array of initiatives undertaken in the
recent past are bearing fruit; a key strategy
has been to introduce many high-end and
premium brands. This has not only helped
increase same-store sales, but also helped
the brand increase visibility. Industry experts
contend that Bata India stores are seeing
greater walk-ins, with more millennials and
youngsters increasingly opting to purchase its
merchandise.
In fact, the revenue mix is now further tilting
from wholesale sales towards retail. Retail
sales rose to 88% of revenue, and registered
strong 18% growth, year-on-year. Also, the
company topped the high revenue growth
with an expansion in Ebitda (earnings before
interest, tax, depreciation and amortization)
margin, even surpassing many analysts’
estimates.

The company kept a tight leash on rental
costs, which have held in the same range
for about two years. It negotiated sixmonth contracts with its suppliers, against
three-month contracts earlier.In terms of
geographic spread, Bata India has been
increasing the number of stores, adding retail
outlets in malls and high-street locations. The
management expects to add about 150 stores
in FY19 to take its total reach to about 1,525
outlets.

Modello Domani Launches Women Collection

SHOES & ACCESSORIES march 2019

After successfully establishing itself in the
mens’ footwear segment, Modello Domani
has forayed into the women’s segment.
The design element in the women’s line
is mainly inspired by the wedding season,
creating a collection that caters to all occasion
wear needs. This range is an amalgamation
of rustic and ethnic designs, the main colour
schemes being black and gold. With this
new line of shoes, Modello Domani has
incorporated a fusion design element,
bringing in the traditional zardozi work with
modern silhouettes. Apart from that, casual
styles which are more wearable will also be
introduced in this range.
The women’s collection is created keeping
in mind the most common problem that every
woman faces at an Indian wedding: Prolonged
wearing of heels causing discomfort and shoe
bites.

10

In the women’s traditional footwear
segment, the jutti trend is quite prevalent

but excessively worn, hence Modello
Domani offers a wide range, from slip-ons to
loafers entering the market with something
fresh. The brand believes in keeping
things unique and yet the price is quite
approachable starting from `3999 going till
`7999 for the distinctive range they have
designed. Be it a wedding or a casual day
at the mall, Modello Domani has a pair
that can be worn at any occasion, fully
customized according to one’s liking.
The wedding collection has more to offer
and thus Modello Domani is coming up with
several new designs, elements and capsule
collections in collaboration with designers.
The shoe can be easily matched with both
western and Indian outfits, it makes this brand
a must in every woman’s wardrobe!

With Mi Men’s Sports
Shoes 2, Xiaomi forays into
footwear in India

Chinese major Xiaomi is expanding its
product offering in India by launching its
sports shoes branded Mi Men’s Sports
Shoes 2. This is the first time these shoes
are being sold here. The company has
chosen its crowdfunding platform online
to sell the product which is being made

available in three colours black, grey and
blue.
These shoes are being offered at a
discounted price of `2,499, against the
market price of `2,999. Xiaomi has set
a goal for itself to sell 5000 pairs on
the crowdfunding platform and it has
crossed that target comfortably with
over 7750 orders already booked and
counting. These orders have come
on just day 1 of the 10-day window
allowed. The orders being now booked
will be delivered from March 15
onwards.

The shoes, Xiaomi claims,have been
assembled with 5-in-1 uni-moulding
technology that combines five different
materials making them shockabsorbent, durable, and slip-resistant.
The five are synthetic rubber outsoles,
vacuum press midsole, TPU midsole
balancing patch, cushion patch, and a
PU supporting layer.
Explaining the merits of the
accessory, the company says that
there is a fishbone structure in these
sports shoes and this gives them the
ability to offer cushioned comfort to
the wearer’s feet, while reducing the
chances of accidental sprains. What’s

more you can even drop them into your
washing machine so that it gets cleaned
thoroughly. This is made possible due
to the fabric that is described as the
breathable mesh variety. Xiaomi would
like to call its Mi Men’s Sports Shoes 2,
ultra-comfortable.


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The Month That Was | Updates I India

Fila strengthens omni-channel presence

Cravatex Brands, the licensee of Fila, has
partnered with Ace Turtle, Asia’s leading
omni-channel platform company to strengthen
the brand’s omni-channel strategy as it aims
to reach out to more than 100 million online
shoppers in India. As part of the new Heritage

Store format, Fila has been opening one store
a month and expects to keep this going in
2019.
In addition to its core focus footwear
segment, the brand also has launched
collections for its apparel range in India.

“Over the last few years, Fila as a brand has
constantly endeavored in resonating with the
demand of millennials seeking for stylish and
sophisticated collections in the sportswear
segment. While, we have managed to achieve
that objective, engaging with our customers
across the country consistently through the
channel of their preference is something we
are currently focusing on. Partnering with
leading omnichannel enablers such as Ace
Turtle is a step towards that effort to showcase
the omnichannel strength of our brand and

Ralph Lauren launches flagship
store in New Delhi

Hummel signs Kartik Aaryan as India Brand Ambassador

SHOES & ACCESSORIES march 2019

American label Ralph Lauren finds a new
home in India. After launching Polo Ralph
Lauren in DLF Emporio a few months ago,

the brand has opened its very first flagship
store in luxury mall, The Chanakya in New
Delhi. Spread across two floors, the space
will feature apparel and accessories for both
men and women, along with pieces by Purple
Label, Ralph Lauren Collection and classic
Polo Ralph Lauren. From tailored suits, partyready dresses to their classic polo tees, it has
everything you’d need for a sartorial update.
Staying in line with their American heritage
and exquisite craftsmanship, the interiors
echo Spanish architecture, a curated selection
of antique furnishings and vintage 1920s
styled decor. In addition to their range of
footwear, handbags and other leather items,
you can also find the iconic Ricky bag here.

12

seamlessly connect with our customers,”
Rakesh Singh Kathayat, chief operating officer,
Cravetex Brands, said.
India’s sportswear market has evolved
from a niche segment, which was exclusively
aimed at Sportspersons, to a burgeoning
consumer sector. The industry has witnessed
rapid growth over the past few years, driven
by growth in income levels, changing lifestyle
and the entry of foreign brands in the recent
years. In addition to this, the trend of using
sportswear as casual wear has expanded

the definition of target consumers for leading
brands. Some brands also offer collections to
cater to this demand for casual wear.
“By 2020, sportswear segment is expected
to grow at an annual growth rate of 12
percent with sales expected to reach $8
billion. Having a well-orchestrated omnichannel strategy will play a critical role in
accelerating the growth of leading brands in
this segment in India. Over the past few years,
Fila has witnessed tremendous response
from Indian consumer looking for highly
sophisticated and premium sportswear
collections. We are delighted to partner with
Cravetex, to strengthen Fila’s omnichannel
offering and confident that our best in class
technology platform will add significant value
to Fila’s plan of enabling a seamless online
experience for its customers,” Nitin Chhabra,
CEO, Ace Turtle, said.

Danish sportswear major hummel signed
Bollywood actor, Kartik Aaryan to represent
the brand in India, the company said in a
statement.
hummel India director Soumava Naskar
said,“We are very happy to be associated
with one of the most talented stars in
Bollywood. He has made his own mark via
sheer hard work and talent. His persona
perfectly resonates with the cheerful hummel

approach of inclusiveness.”

Speaking on the tie-up Kartik Aaryan said,
“hummel needs no introduction. I have always
been a big fan of the brand and now when it
is in India, I am super excited to be its face.
hummel appeals to my style sensibilities, it
is bold, fashionable, creative, youthful and
I am looking forward to flaunting the cool
chevrons.”
hummel is a sportswear brand based in
Denmark. Founded in 1923, hummel has over
95 years of proud history.



The Month That Was | Updates I India

GJEPC presents The Artisan Jewellery Design Awards 2019
The Gem& Jewellery Export Promotion
Council (GJEPC) presented The Artisan
Jewellery Design Awards 2019 powered
by GIA (Gemological Institute of America)
and co-partnered by the DPA (Diamond
Producers Association).
The artisan awards celebrate the highest
levels of art, creativity and innovation by
honoring the best talent in jewellery design
and elevating designers to their rightful status
of artistes. Rightfully so, as creative minds

from diverse walks of life gathered together to
discuss, debate and deliberate on creativity

of young designers who are wooing the
consumers’ minds with their imagination,
spontaneity, artistry and visualization.
Pramod Kumar Agrawal (Chairman,
GJEPC), said, “The Indian gem and
jewellery industry has a history of more
than 5,000 years. The rajas and maharajas
have supported this art, and we have a
tradition of passing this skill from one
generation to other. We always had the
advantage of skilled artisans and karigars
when catering to global markets. Today,
total gem and jewellery exports account

SHOES & ACCESSORIES march 2019

Amazon cuts deal with Cloudtail to return products to India website

14

In a hastily arranged deal intended to comply
with stringent new e-commerce regulations,
Amazon.com Inc resurrected thousands of
suspended product listings in India by selling
much of its stake in top local venture partner
Cloudtail.
It is reported that the Amazon entity sold

25 per cent of its shares to Prione Business
Services Pvt, a company run by billionaire
Narayana Murthy’s Catamaran Advisors LLP.
Prione now owns 76 per cent of the venture
from 51 per cent previously, they said. The
remaining 24 per cent is now owned by a
non-Indian arm of the US retailer’s called
Amazon Asia-Pacific Resources Ltd, they said,
asking not to be identified talking about a
private matter.
The deal allowed Amazon to recover a
big chunk of item listings frozen since Feb.
1, when newly introduced e-commerce
regulations threw Amazon’s and Walmart Inc.’s
plans for the world’s fastest-growing online
retail arena into disarray. Heeding complaints
from small merchants, Narendra Modi’s

government banned Amazon and Walmart’s
Flipkart from cutting exclusive arrangements
with sellers, offering deep discounts or
holding any business interest in online
merchants on their websites.
Amazon’s deal with Catamaran’s Prione
complies with that latter rule, the people said,
as Amazon’s Indian entity, the marketplace
called Amazon Seller Services Pvt, has no
direct relation to Prione whose stake is held
by a Singapore-based Amazon entity.
“Catamaran has always been 100%

compliant with every law of our country,
India. We will continue to do so in the future,”
Catamaran CEO Abishek Laxminarayan
said in a statement. On February 6, 2019,
Catamaran has affected the required
changes to be 100% compliant with the new
regulations.
Despite Cloudtail’s return to Amazon.in,
thousands of products remain missing from
the virtual shelves of Amazon and Flipkart,
which together account for 70 per cent of
India’s online retail market. Arvind Singhal

for $42 billion annually. The industry
contributes around 7% to India’s GDP and
employs more than 5 million people. It’s
time that the world is made aware of India’s
jewellery design potential and portray India
as a design destination for jewellery. The
artisan awards is an initiative and a sincere
effort by council to encourage the true
design talent in the industry and showcase
India’s design extravagance to the world.”
Actress Aditi Rao Hydari graced the
momentous occasion of the grand finale
where the eventual winners triumphed from
over 550 entries and 23 shortlisted sketches,
which got into manufacturing process and the
final judging process based on these finished
products. The selection was based on various

predefined parameters.
Colin Shah (Vice Chairman, GJEPC),
said, “The importance of India in the global
jewellery design context is growing to
what it used to be historically when Indian
influence on luxury jewellery was evidenced
from the creations of Cartier, Van Cleef &
Arpels and Harry Winston for the maharajas
and nawabs. Incidentally, GJEPC chose the
theme of ‘Enchanted Cosmos’ for the Artisan
Awards 2019 much before it becomes the
design theme for buying season 2020. The
contest theme, Enchanted Cosmos, helps
designers explore the mysteries of galaxies
and universes known and unknown. We were
overwhelmed to receive 550 entries across
India in the three categories: a) Rings or
Pendants b) Brooches or Pins c) Earrings or
Bracelets.”

of consultancy Technopak Advisors Pvt, has
estimated their revenue growth could fall to
15 per cent in coming months from 25 per
cent to 30 per cent previously.
Meanwhile, items on Amazon Pantry
grocery service also made a comeback on
the platform. Amazon Retail India Pvt, the food
retailing unit of the Seattle giant, was deemed
compliant with India’s laws, which allow 100
per cent foreign investment in food retailing.

The company has written to the government
seeking further clarity on the fully owned food
retailer selling on Amazon’s platform, said
people familiar with the developments.



The Month That Was | Updates I India

Myntra restructures business to comply with FDI Norms
Flipkart’s subsidiary Myntra has clarified that
it does not own any equity stake in sellers on
its platform thereby complying with the new
FDI norms. The move signals a significant
restructuring at Myntra since the company
continues to sell brands through third-party
merchants instead of directly from its brand
stores.
Myntra and other e-commerce retailers
like Amazon have been bringing on board
new seller entities so that they do not flout the
regulations which prohibit online marketplaces
to own equity stakes in sellers. The regulations
also disallow an e-commerce marketplace from
making exclusive deals with sellers.

Fast-fashion brand, Chemistry is now sold
on Myntra by Wiztech Corp, while AKS, and
Anouk sell through FashionTech, while Mango
is sold by WandWagon. Other private labels

are being sold by sellers including Unistand,
and Mayazen.
Myntra holds stakes in brands including
Chemistry and ethnic wear brand AKS
through its accelerator programme
launched in 2017, which it said would
drive about 5% if its sales. The programme
offered brands technical, design and
financial support and the company at that
time said that it will partner with about
10-15 local fashion brands. The fashion

‘Foreign e-tailers must have registered entity in India'
E-commerce sites or apps available for
download in India must have a registered
business entity in the country, according to
latest draft e-commerce policy. The draft also
proposes regulation of cross-border flow of
data collected by sector players in India.
The move to make it mandatory for
foreign online retailers to register entities
in India follows the relatively recent spread
and expansion in the country of Chinese
e-commerce platforms which do not have
an Indian presence.
These include Chinese portals such
as Shein, Romwe and AliExpress and the
proposed registration norms come after
complaints made to the government by
traders’ bodies like the All India Online

Vendor Association about Chinese online
operators shipping cheaper products to
Indian customers as gifts in order to avoid
customs duty.
As per the proposed norms, all foreign
e-commerce sites must have a registered

business entity in India as the importer on
record or as the entity through which all sales
in India are transacted.
The draft policy has also proposed a ban
on all parcels designated as gifts, with the
exception of life-saving drugs.
Moreover, as per the draft policy, all data
collected by e-tailers in India and stored
abroad should not be made available to other
business entities outside the country, for any
purpose, even with customer consent.
However, the government will have the
right to access the data of Indian consumers
stored abroad.
Restrictions on cross-border flows of
data would not apply to data which is not
collected in India, business-to-business
(B2B) data sent to India as part of a
commercial contract between a business
entity located outside India and an Indian
business entity.
Software and cloud computing services
involving technology-related data flows,

SHOES & ACCESSORIES march 2019

Reliance Retail may launch IPO by June: report

16

Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd, the retail unit
of Reliance Industries, could launch its IPO
by June this year as Mukesh Ambani-led
company's betting big on his consumer
businesses, including Reliance Retail and
Reliance Jio, reported a major daily. The
company is also expecting a good response to
the public offering as the growth projections of
the retail business of Reliance Industries have
fanned high hopes for the RIL investors.
Reliance Industries, India's largest
company by market valuation, operates retail
consumer businesses under Reliance Retail
Ventures, which further operates under two
different retail ventures, Reliance Brands and
Reliance Retail Ltd. While Reliance Brands

handles joint ventures with global fashion
brands, Reliance Retail Ltd has over 9,900
stores in over 6,400 cities across India.
"It may be after June and the company
expects a good response," reported another
daily. The development bears significance

as RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani in his
2017 shareholder meeting had said Reliance
Retail was a business with significant growth
possibilities. "I have set our leadership a
target of 30 per cent growth each year
over the next decade," he said. He had also
promised the shareholders that Reliance
Retail Ventures would be aggressively
expanded in rural and semi-urban markets
for achieving the 30 per cent growth

etailer also has a strategic partnership with
Spanish brand, Mango along with holding
stakes in celebrity fashion brands owned
by Saif Ali Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Deepika
Padukone and Alia Bhatt, which exclusively
sell though their portal.

which have no personal or community
implications and multi-national companies,
moving data across borders, which is
largely internal to the company and its
ecosystem, would not have to follow the
regulations.
New foreign direct investment (FDI)
norms, which prohibit the e-tailers from
selling products of companies in which
they have stakes, came into effect on
February 1 despite both Amazon and
Walmart seeking a six-month delay in their

implementation.
The second e-commerce draft policy
has been welcomed by sector players like
Snapdeal and trader associations such
as the Confederation of All India Traders
(CAIT).
Snapdeal said the draft policy’s rejection
of inventory based e-commerce must be
followed by effective implementation of FDI
norms to ensure marketplaces do not own
or control inventory, directly or indirectly.

annually over the next 10 years.
The retail business, which completed 11
years of full-fledged operation in 2018, had
recorded revenues of Rs 69,198 crore in the
last financial year, a 105 per cent growth
compared to the previous year. A year
before that, the company grew 60 per cent.
In its previous report, CLSA had said the
Indian retail market would rise three times to
$2.2 trillion in 10 years while the organised
retail business would witness a nine-time
spike to $550 billion with online making up
48 per cent. "While organised retail may
become a highly consolidated market, RIL's
omnichannel strategy has all the ingredients
to make it a leader," CLSA had said.

The Month That Was | Updates I International

The Man Who Defined Luxury

Not only did his designs turn Chanel into one of the world's most valuable
couture houses, but Lagerfeld's business savvy made him an early proponent of
the now ubiquitous luxury collaborations with high street brands.

N

o designer has else stayed
on top of so many labels for
so long like Karl Lagerfeld.
Karl explored and exploited
couture, ready-to-wear and even
mass-market fashion for many decades. He
transformed Chanel into a global powerhouse
after becoming creative director in 1983. In
addition to his day job churning out numerous

SHOES & ACCESSORIES march 2019

Puma Signs a New Multiyear
Deal With NBA

18

The NBA announced that it has entered
a new multiyear partnership with Puma,

making the brand an official marketing
partner of the league. The deal, according
to the league, allows Puma to feature
athletes in their respective NBA uniforms
and team logos, and develop original
content to tell the stories of the brand and
its athlete ambassadors.
“We are thrilled to partner with the NBA to
bring Puma to the next level in our re-entry
to the basketball market,” global director of
brand and marketing Adam Petrick said in a
statement. “This partnership is a testament to
the continued resurgence of Puma within the
basketball industry.”
Dan Rossomondo, NBA SVP of media and
business development, added: “Puma played
an important part in the early footwear culture
of the NBA. As Puma expands its presence
in the basketball market with new player
relationships and a new line of basketball
sneakers, becoming an official footwear
partner of the league was a natural next
step to help amplify the brand’s return to the
category.”

collections a year for Chanel, Fendi, and his
own eponymous label, he managed to forge
a multitude of admired mini careers. He was
a photographer, a publisher, a stylist, an
illustrator, a gallerist, a director, a curator,

a costume designer, and a conjurer of fine
tableware and deluxe furnishings.
He mentioned of his strict upbringing,
governess, and the family’s oil paintings.
But some records downgrade his father to
a successful businessman, his mother to a
lingerie saleswoman. He later dropped the
final letter of Lagerfeldt to arrive at a more
marketable name.
Karl was rarely seen without his dark
glasses, a silver ponytail and fingerless gloves
-- gaining him the reputation as the most
recognizable man in fashion. Chanel CEO
Alain Wertheimer said in a statement that the
late designer was “ahead of his time” and his
“creative genius, generosity and exceptional
intuition” contributed to the House of Chanel’s
success throughout the world.”
Born in Hamburg, Germany, Lagerfeld went
on to win a womenswear design competition

in 1954. He got his start in Paris working
under Pierre Balmain in the 1950s, moving
three years later to the House of Patou. He
had stints as a freelancer for Chloé and
was hired by Fendi in 1967 as a consultant
director, responsible for modernizing the
Italian house’s fur lines.
Not only did his designs turn Chanel into
one of the world’s most valuable couture

houses, but Lagerfeld’s business savvy made
him an early proponent of the now ubiquitous
luxury collaborations with high street brands.
In 2004, he became the first designer to
design a collection for H&M, a trend that was
later followed by the likes of Stella McCartney,
Comme des Garcons, Versace and Maison
Martin Margiela.
When he was absent from Chanel’s
haute couture shows in Paris, there were
speculations over the 85-year-old designer’s
health. They were ripe, the most prolific
designer of the 20th and 21st centuries and
a man whose career formed the prototype of
the modern luxury fashion industry is now no
more.

Asics Replaces North America’s CEO with Koichio Kodama

Asics announced changes to its leadership team , which includes a new CEO of its North
American division. In a release, the company stated Gene McCarthy — who assumed the role of
president and CEO in October 2015, is out. He is replaced by Koichio Kodama.
“Gene made countless contributions to Asics America as he navigated the brand through
an incredibly turbulent time for our industry and implemented numerous changes that set the
region on course for success,” Alistair Cameron, Asics Corp. executive officer and senior general
manager of the geography strategy division, said in a statement. “We thank him for his energy,
spirit and being a true champion of the brand during his time with Asics.”
Other moves in the leadership ranks include the appointment of Richard Sullivan to EVP of sales,
categories and marketing, Craig Gillan to VP of operations and Paul Ljucovic to VP of finance.
The brand also announced a new category structure, separating its products into three

buckets: Performance Running, Core Performance Sports and Sport Style.



The Month That Was | Updates I International

Macy’s Promotes Patti Ongman
as Chief Merchandising
Officer

Macy’s named Patti Ongman as its new chief
merchandising officer, succeeding Jeff Kantor,
who is retiring after serving in the position for
more than four decades.
Ongman, who is currently executive vice
president and general business manager
for Home merchandise, will take the reins
on March 1. Her duties will include leading
merchandising, private brands and planning
for the company’s five “families-of-business”
(Ready-to-Wear, Center Core, Beauty, Men’s
and Kid’s, and Home).
The promotion comes after more than
30 years with the retailer. Ongman said in
a statement that she anticipates a smooth
transition with Kantor’s support.
“I’m excited to lead the Macy’s
Merchandising organization along with my
team of first-class merchants.
We will build on
the great work the team has done, and we will

continue to get better every day,” Ongman
said.
Macy’s president Hal Lawton praised
Ongman’s track record with the company.
“Patti is a world-class merchant with a
stellar reputation in the market,” Lawnton
said. “As a 33-year veteran at Macy’s, she’s
a trusted leader to our colleagues and a
valued partner to our vendors. I am confident
that Patti is the right person with the right
experience to continue transforming our
merchandising organization to move faster
and be more flexible.”

REI’s Jerry Stritzke Resigns

REI president and CEO Jerry Stritzke
has resigned following the conclusion of
an investigation surrounding a “personal
and consensual relationship” between
the executive and the leader of another
organization in the outdoor industry, the
company announced.
Stritzke will exit the co-op on March 15,
and REI COO Eric Artz will take on the role of
interim CEO.
The investigation into Stritzke’s relationship
with the unnamed executive was conducted
by an external law firm and overseen by REI’s
board. As part of the probe, REI said the law

firm also thoroughly evaluated the working
relationship between REI and the partner
organization and found that there was no
financial misconduct.
Despite his untimely exit, REI’s board
and other key leaders continued to sing
the praises of Stritzke, who has helmed
the company since 2013 and helped it
become a strong voice on social issues
with initiatives like #OptOutside, which
encouraged employees and customers to go
outdoors during the Thanksgiving weekend
as opposed to working or shopping at retail.
The retailer also has joined in the highly
publicized push for protecting historic
monuments.
“Jerry has been an excellent CEO for
REI and together with a strong team has
consistently delivered outstanding results for
our co-op. He has led REI through remarkably
challenging times in retail. He has built a great
team and the co-op is stronger today than
when he joined,” said REI board chair Steve
Hooper. “We will always be grateful for Jerry’s
drive, his many contributions to the co-op and
the successes he and his team have made
possible.”
However, he added, “The conclusions of the
investigation were clear. Errors of judgment
were made and Jerry and the board agree

SHOES & ACCESSORIES march 2019

Amazon abandons plans to build 2nd headquarters in NY

20

Amazon will abandon plans to build 2nd
headquarters in New York. Amazon.com Inc
said it will not move forward with plans to
build a headquarters in New York after rising
opposition from local politicians.
The company said it will not reopen the
search process “at this time. We will proceed
as planned in Northern Virginia and Nashville,
and we will continue to hire and grow across
our 17 corporate offices and tech hubs in the
U.S. and Canada.”
The company had begun considering
alternatives last week. The online retailer has
not yet acquired any land for the project, which
would make it easy to scrap its plans, a person
briefed on the matter told Reuters.

that REI needs a new leader to take the co-op
forward from its very strong position. Eric is
a seasoned leader and steward of REI. He is
deeply committed to the purpose of the co-op
and will do a great job as the board considers
the longer-term needs for the co-op.”

The company said Stritzke tendered his
resignation with an acknowledgement “that
the facts led to a perceived conflict of interest,
which he should have disclosed under the REI
conflict of interest policy.”

“I love REI and I believe fiercely that the
work that the co-op has done for 80 years
has had an unmatched positive impact on the
outdoors. I feel incredibly fortunate to have
led this organization. REI is full of amazing
people and I am grateful for the role the coop has played in my life, even in the toughest
times,” said Stritzke. “I regret few things in
life, but I am sorry that I did not disclose the
relationship, and it’s time for the co-op to
have a new leader. The last thing I want is
to damage REI and I deeply regret that any
of this could impact the co-op. You deserve
better. Even so, the co-op is in a great place
and I have enormous confidence in Eric and
the leadership team and the thousands of
employees of REI to get REI to next.”

Amazon had announced it would create
25,000 jobs and build one of two new
headquarters based in the Long Island City
neighborhood in the borough of Queens, just
across the East River from Manhattan.
The proposal ran into opposition from local
politicians who opposed the $2.8-billion in

incentives promised to Amazon in a deal
secretly negotiated by New York Governor
Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill
de Blasio.
The company said, “for Amazon, the
commitment to build a new headquarters
requires positive, collaborative relationships
with state and local elected officials who will
be supportive over the long-term.”


Online shopping:

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|

Stores: Ispahani Center - Nungabakkam, Chennai | Bazaar street, OMR | Available at leading outlets

Also available at online stores

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The Month That Was | Updates I International

Johnston & Murphy’s Jon Caplan Announces Retirement

The CEO of Johnston & Murphy has
announced that he will step down from
leadership at the brand, effective the end of
June. Succeeding him is Danny Ewoldsen,
who was named president of Johnston &
Murphy in January 2018.
“It has been an honor and a privilege
to be part of the remarkable growth and
success of Johnston & Murphy,” said Caplan
in a statement from the company. “I have
long admired the company’s dedication to
the highest standard of craftsmanship and
have the utmost confidence in Danny and the
rest of the leadership team’s ability to carry

Johnston & Murphy’s legacy into the future.”
Caplan has spent the past 16 years steering
the historic men’s label, and also leading
the Branded Group for parent company
Genesco Inc. Under his tenure, the 168-yearold Johnston & Murphy brand has worked
to maintain its status as a trusted American
shoe source, while also broadening its appeal
with targeted initiatives aimed at women and
younger male customers. Of late, the label has
been a bright point in the Genesco portfolio,
delivering consistent comp-store sales gains.

Caplan’s career first began at Genesco
in 1982, leading to several roles in the
organization. He then left for a 10-year stint,
which he spent mainly overseeing the Stride
Rite and Keds brands, and returned in 2002 to
head up Johnston & Murphy.
In a statement, Caplan’s successor praised
his long and successful leadership. “Jon’s
strategic vision, industry expertise and
personal warmth made him an effective and
unique leader,” said Ewoldsen. “He led with
humility and never missed the opportunity
to teach or offer support at all levels of our
organization. We thank him for all he has done
for our team and for establishing J&M as a
viable and growing business.”

Over Backlash, Katy Perry’s Shoes Pulled from Shelves

SHOES & ACCESSORIES march 2019

Two styles from Katy Perry’s shoe collection — the Ora Face block-heel sandal and the Rue
Face slip-on loafer — sparked an uproar on social media for their problematic resemblance to
blackface makeup.
In response to the attention, Perry’s shoe partner, Global Brands Group has moved to remove
the shoes from retailers such as Dillard’s and Walmart, as well as the brand’s own site.
The music star issued a statement, saying, “The Rue and the Ora were part of a collection that
was released last summer in nine different colorways (black, blue, gold, graphite, lead, nude,
pink, red, silver) and envisioned [them] as a nod to modern art and surrealism. I was saddened
when it was brought to my attention that it was being compared to painful images reminiscent of

blackface. Our intention was never to inflict any pain.”
The conversations around racially insensitive products and marketing have been increasingly
prevalent in the fashion industry, lately pointed at high-end brands such as Gucci and Prada
(which drew criticism in December for selling and displaying monkey figures that resembled
blackface characters). Gucci, meanwhile, is still addressing the fallout from its black wool
balaclava sweater featuring a mouth cutout with outsized red lips.

22

Micam to Start Consumer
Sneaker Event, Step Up
Focus on China, U.S

In September, Micam will launch a
business-to-consumer sneaker event
called Plug-Mi, which will be loosely
modeled after ComplexCon in the
U.S. “We want to embrace the sneaker
culture revolution,” said Micam CEO
Tommaso Cancellara. “One day, we hope
to become half of what ComplexCon is,
but we also want [to focus on European
style.] Here, sneakers are a bit more
classic. A lot of made-in-Italy companies
are doing more and more of them, and
focusing on sustainability.”
In the meantime, Micam brought five top
Chinese influencers — with a total social
following of more than 10 million fans — to
this edition of its show. China is a primary

focus, and Cancellara believes there is
plenty of opportunity ahead. “Despite the
Chinese New Year period, we are seeing
so many new faces from China, and we are
happy to experience that,” he said, noting
that the country’s presence should be even
bigger in September.
While there has been some concern
about a slowdown in the Chinese market,
Cancellara said it continues to grow
at a pace that’s far beyond the current
potential in Europe. Consumer shopping
patterns are also good news for small
and midsize Italian firms. “They are
sophisticating themselves as consumers
and are looking for different kinds of
fashion and shoes.” the executive said.
“They not want to be standardized; they
want to be unique.”
On the other side of the world, the U.S.
market is also high on the agenda for the
Italian footwear industry. Through new
partnerships with FN and WWD, as well
as organizations like FDRA and CFDA,
Micam is amping up its message to the
American market this year.
At this edition of the show in Milan,
1,304 total companies are exhibiting,
including 755 Italian players. Other
countries with a major showing include

Spain, Portugal, the U.K, Germany,
Brazil and France. “We really are the
sole international show in Europe now,”
Cancellara said. “We are like the United
Nations of footwear.”
While the overall Italian market continues
to be challenged, Micam is upbeat about
the future. “Quality is a winning strategy,
and Italians are focused on high quality,”
Cancellara said. “We are producing for big
brands all over the world. No one makes a
better shoe than Italy.”


Adidas Originals has revealed the
ZX10000C for SS19 Consortium line-up.
While this latest release diverges from
the usual adidas Consortium way of
working, in that it was created in-house
by adidas, the final outcome was only
made possible – and elevated to such
great heights – due to the input of
former adidas Director of Footwear
Creation, Jacques Chassaing. Jacques
was the designer responsible for one of
the most iconic adidas lines of all time
- the ZX running shoe series – which
utilized an equally enduring technology
also designed by Jacques, the adidas
Torsion system. The sleek craftsmanship

of the ZX range – which originally ran
between 1984 and 1989 and was later in
1991 replaced by the equally as iconic
Equipment range – ZX embodied adidas’
commitment to high-performance
functionality, with the Torsion system
playing a key role. By using a TPU arch to
bridge the heel and forefoot it allows the
front and rear of the foot to operate and
adapt to surfaces independently, offering
high degrees of support and stability.
The ZX 10000C is the long awaited
answer to many collectors question ‘what
happened after ZX 9000?’ The ZX 10000
C retains the Torsion system that remains
a proud part of adidas’ performance
capabilities to this day, in a shoe that at
first glance reads like a never before
seen model from the original ZX archives
that has only just been unearthed. Its
aqua, orange and neutral coloring
inspires nostalgia for a very specific era
of performance footwear, utilized across
a diverse blend of natural and technical
fabrications that include mesh underlays,
webbed Three Stripes, premium suede
overlays and reinforced TPU on the ghilly
and heel.

Teva Celebrates Grand Canyon’s 100-Year Birthday

Footwear brand Teva has honoured the 100-year centennial of Grand Canyon National Park with
its spring GC100 Collection. It’s no surprise Teva is paying tribute to the historic landscape. With
its colors, textures and sweeping views, the Grand Canyon itself served as inspiration for the new
line, featuring men’s, women’s and children’s styles available now on Teva.com.
Design details include a webbing pattern that nods the canyon’s layered red rocks, rivers and
sunset colors on remixed versions of the Hurricane XLT2, Original Sandal and Original Universal.
New models like the Hurricane XLT2 Alp and the Hurricane Sock are also included in the line.
In a statement, the company praised the campaign for offering both style and substance,
'We are taking this opportunity to celebrate a monumental milestone for this iconic landmark,
and to accelerate Teva’s commitment to the preservation of our outdoor treasures.Given the
existential risks facing our parks in today’s political environment, Teva’s pledge is a first step
toward a solution in this time of uncertainty, by making access for all a priority. Our goal is to
bring as much awareness as possible to this initiative, so the Grand Canyon can be explored by
adventurers for years to come.”

Sia and Repetto Design Ballet Flats Inspired by Her
Signature Style
With a gigantic black bow atop a dualcolored wig to serve as her hair, Sia boasts
a stage presence that has undeniably
contributed to her own unique sense of
style.
Now the nine-time Grammy-nominated
artist is bringing that sartorial creativity to
the table, teaming up with French heritage
dance clothing and accessories company
Maison Repetto on a footwear collaboration
that marks the pop icon’s first foray into
fashion design.
Aptly dubbed Repetto by Sia, the

limited-edition capsule is inspired by the
artist’s expressionistic performances and
one-of-a-kind presence. The shoe models
champion movement, dance, style and

freedom, driven by the singer’s mantra: “I
love you, keep going.”
It introduces three of the label’s classic
styles, starting with a ballerina flat in a
trio of colorways: one solid black, one
solid white and the other a combination
of both — similar to the two-toned
bob often worn by Sia during live
performances.
With a decorative bow, soft construction
and dainty silhouette, the Sophia shoes are
easy on both the eyes and the feet — and
they’re available to preorder exclusively on
the Repetto site for $195.
The brand will also release a Siadesigned dance slipper and oxford shoe in
a variety of colors.

SHOES & ACCESSORIES march 2019

Adidas Originals Reveals
ZX 10000C for SS19

23

Launch Trends | Editor's Pick

Editor’s Pick

SHOES & ACCESSORIES march 2019

Vintage Trolley by Da Milano

24

Inspired by the 80’s, Da Milano has launched a brand-new line of travel luggage
“Vintage trolley” which is designed to bring out the retro diva in you. Paying
homage to the forgotten style, the travel collection is launched in the shape of
a vintage trunk which was used by the then fashionistas for travel and storage.
Textures like Croco, ostrich and Zenia add to the beauty of the unisex collection.
Made with vegetable tanned and hand dyed full grain leather, the collection
is launched in selective colors like black, brown and blue which makes for a
perfect accessory to ace your next airport look.


Creating versatility with accessories
Kiwi by Musskan
The fun side of “going with the season” is to shop
for the season. Kiwi is offering a collection of bold
jewellery pieces, Tanjore Jewellery art, to add unique
touch to your style. The collection also offers delicate
statement pieces, simple studs, pearl earrings,
Swarovski pieces, an amalgamation of Indian festive
and western looks.

Metro

SHOES & ACCESSORIES march 2019

Metro’s 2019 collection of shoes is the perfect mix of comfort
at an affordable price. They offer myriads of options from
leading footwear brands, all under one roof. Delivering quality
footwear that flaunts style is the ‘Metro Motto’.

25