New Luxury Site Launches
A new luxury online retailer has launched today. The exclusive site is for members only and sells pieces from designers such as Giambattista Valli, Peter Pilotto, Derek Lam and Rochas. Called Clique Chic, it’s the brainchild of Jessica Martino, who has worked at Vogue, LVMH and eBay. Martino calls Clique Chic the “online version of Bergdorf Goodman” because of its exclusivity and focus on customization. To become a member, one must pass a vetting process that includes income level and the designers one already has in their closet. Other questions include a personal style description, colors you dislike and fabrics you won’t wear. After becoming a member, experiences at Clique Chic are personalized and include complementary styling on the site or over the phone. Free next-day shipping is also included and there is no membership fee. Martino’s membership goal for this year is 45,000 and projected yearly sales are just under $5 million.
Gaultier Partnering With Seven and i
Jean Paul Gaultier is collaborating with Japanese retail giant Seven and i Holdings to design a capsule collection of affordable women’s clothing. The pieces will be sold at Seven and i’s stores in Japan starting in October. In an odd twist, somehow the brand involved 7-Eleven convenience stores in the deal. Customers will be able to shop the collection online, and then pick up their orders from any of the 17,000 Japanese 7-Eleven convenience store locations. (Yes, you read that correctly!) Gaultier will design a total of 50 styles of women’s wear for the line, which is titled “Jean Paul Gaultier for Sept Premières.” The collaboration is currently set to last two seasons, fall 2015 and spring 2016.
Farfetch Raised $86 Million
Farfetch, the luxury online marketplace, continues to attract investors. The site has raised $86 million in its latest round of funding. The eight-year-old company has now raised a total of $195 million and is now valued at $1 billion. Digital Sky Technologies, Condé Nast International and Vitruvian Partners participated in the funding. The money will be used to expand to Germany, Korea, Spain and Latin America. The existing sites for Japan and Australia will be further developed as well.
-Claire Mykrantz
Source & Image: WWD
