Aaron Levine Joins Abercrombie & Fitch
In the midst of rebranding, Abercrombie & Fitch will be taking on Aaron Levine as the head of men’s design at the namesake division. Since June 2011, he was the vice president of menswear design at Club Monaco, where he contributed to significantly raising the profile of the menswear label. Hiring him suggests a probable step in the fashion-forward future for Abercrombie & Fitch, as they finally step away from their notorious (and distasteful) fragrance-overload and shirtless models frequented in stores.
Gap Plans for Turnaround
A day after the $16 billion store executed multiple store closings and layoffs, executives of Gap discuss what is going to be done in order to turn around the struggling Gap brands. The chief executive officer, Art Peck, says that the overarching objective is to deliver a “better and more consistent product, which has been the critical issue for us and our Achilles’ heel.” He acknowledged that the store closings means losing market share, and that more closings could possibly occur in the future.
Yuni Brand Connects Beauty and Yoga
Whether you’re a hardcore yogi or a city gal trying to find her zen in the world, Yuni is a new brand meant to continue your yoga lifestyle off the mat. Between 2009 and 2012, the yoga market grew 87 percent, so it couldn’t be a more perfect time for this brand to launch. It was developed by Emmanuel Rey, who helped develop Aveda as a natural and sustainable brand. Rey and his wife traveled around the world together after leaving the Estee Lauder-owned brand, in which during the time they took Ashtanga yoga teacher training. He became interested in the yoga students’ beauty routines, and a brand with a relationship between yoga and beauty was born. From $12 Instant Shower Sheets to $29 Active Calm Face Serums, it is estimated that Yuni could do $1 million to $1.5 million in retail in its first year on the market.
– Amy Donkel
Sources: WWD, WSJ
Photo: WSJ
