Burberry

Burberry International a joint venture between Sanyo-Shokai and Mitsui is expanding their retail presence by opening 50 shops by 2015. Currently Burberry International has 5 shops and will open their newest shop in September 2009. In fact it is really not a new shop as they are merely taking over the Burberry Omotesando store from their licensee Sanyo-Shokai. The Omotesando store will close at the end of June and then reopen in September after an extensive renewal. This shop will carry the imported Prorsum RTW and ACC as well as other non-apparel accessories as opposed to Japan licensed and produced products. Watch closely as more Burberry shops open up throughout Japan that carry authentic imported Burberry products. Can you tell the difference between Burberry import products and licensed products produced in Japan? Sanyo-Shokai is hoping you can't.

Dolce & Gabbana on the rocks

In another sign of the down-economic times it is reported Dolce & Gabbana will close their Isetan shop-in-shop. With mounting losses in sales and employees some speculate Dolce & Gabbana may not be even around in Japan next spring (2010). I would not go far as saying that but I have watched as Dolce & Gabbana has laid off 30 employees in May 2009 as sales have declined past 10% from comparative same store sales from 2008. Do you think Dolce & Gabbana will last? I do, as it is a strong brand with great marketing and iconic designers who creative high-quality and high-fashion.

Prada Ginza Store to Close?

Word on the street of Tokyo has it the Prada flagship stores, one of the biggest in terms of size and sales is set to close this October. In lieu of a flagship in Ginza Prada will have a shop-in-shop in Matsuya department store. With all the big brands losing money and laying-off employees is this the new belt-tightening trend?

Brunello Cucinelli

This August the first shop in Asia will open for Brunello Cucinelli. The 380sqm flagship will be located in Aoyama. Sales for the Woollen-owned brand have been strong in recent years with a 40% increase in 2008. Brunello Cucinelli shops are currently divided into both men's wear and women's wear but as the brand grows expect to see more separate men's and women's stores opening up.

Armani Spa-Less

The latest fashion victim (and I don't mean the salary men wearing white-ankle sport socks with their suits) of the economy is the spa in Armani Ginza Tower. I am not sure if this has been officially announced yet, though I have been told through my network Armani Spa in the the Ginza Tower will close due to the economy - specifically they are not getting enough customers willing to spend ￥17,000 for 50 minutes. Would you?

Brooks Brother's Black Fleece

Brooks Brothers is coming to the hills...Omotesando Hills to be exact and they will open their spin-off brand Black Fleece in August 2009. The Black Fleece stand-alone store in the front of Omotesando Hills the shop will be 86sqm and will only carry the Thom Browne inspired men's collection. I was there over weekend and took a few pictures. If you look close enough you can see my partial reflection in...the reflection.

Comme des Garçons Black Guerrilla

As a way to fight the recession - Guerrilla style, Comme des Garçons has designed a new temporary guerrilla brand - at half the cost of Comme des Garçons' regular brands they have already seen a 50% increase in their forecast for this brand. Rie Kawakubo's vision of monolithic, square black fixtures have been front and center on the first floor at both Mitsukoshi in Ginza and Parco in Shibuya since last week, a first for Comme des Garçons. The brand's success has been credited due to accessible prices and a quick merchandising strategy with styles refreshed every six weeks. The collection revisits Comme des Garçons' best-selling silhouettes in popular fabrics and finishes, and perennial prints such polkadots, gingham and checkerboard which will be available in a total of 11 new shops that are opening in June and July, including freestanding stores in New York and Paris opening June 22, plus two-week pop-up corners at Barneys New York and Colette in Paris.

The End of Zadig & Voltaire in Japan

Zadig & Voltaire part of the Sazaby League will cease operations as of March 2010. Sazaby is closing down the non-profitable brand largely because it is middle-to-high price and still depends on department store locations for 50% of sales, which consumers have moved away from since the downturn. Sazaby is having a rough year over all and is pessimistic for 2010, though not pessimistic enough to keep Zadig & Voltaire open in Japan. Is this the end of Zadig & Voltaire in Japan or will another company pick up the license or distribution?

Preppie Come Lately

It seems the epitome of 1980's preppie style is back and and going against the recession trend with Lacoste posting sales increase of 7.2% in Japan of ¥10.7 billion as of end of fiscal year 2008. The growth can be attributed to the expanded range of merchandise such as dress shirts as well as the opening up dedicated women's wear stores, including a store for younger women in Isetan Girl. Japan now boasts 50 Lacoste boutiques, 155 department store corners and 9 outlet stores with 15 women's wear only locations. Fabrica which is the Japan subsidiary of Lacoste is forecasting growth of 3% to 5% for fiscal year 2009. Furthering their expansion Lacoste will open more stores in central locations in station buildings as well will increase Japan only products. By 2020 Fabrica has high hopes for Lacoste in Japan with ¥5 billion in women's wear sales and ¥5 billion in shoes and accessories.

H&M...agaiN

Following through with their expansion strategy, H&M announced it will open a 1,900sqm two-floor store in the Lalaport Shinmisato in Saitama. Along with the Lalaport store the fast fashion giant will open its Shibuya flagship in the old Book First location this Fall as well as the first H&M store in Osaka in the Spring of 2010. The awaited Shinjuku store will open up within the next year along with a store in Yokohama.