SGB Update Apparel

Economic Trends Test Outdoor Industry’s Mettle

While some Americans are clearly shifting down market, worldwide demand for outdoor lifestyle brands like Keen, Merrell, Teva and The North Face remains strong. This, of course, elicits that old industry saw about how the outdoor industry always holds its

KEEN Opens New European Office

KEEN Inc. opened its new European headquarters to support the brands' continued international growth and expansion. The office, located in Rotterdam, Netherlands, will support all aspects of the KEEN business in Europe…

Shawn Neville Out at Keds

Shawn Neville, president of Keds, a division of Collective Brand's Stride Rite unit, has left the company, SportsOneSource has learned. Calls to Collective Brands confirmed his departure although further details were not available at press time…

Neiman Marcus June Comps Slide 2.4%

Neiman Marcus, Inc. reported June comps slid 2.4%. Total sales slipped 1.1% to $401 million from $406 million. In the five-week June period, comparable revenues in the Specialty Retail Stores segment, which includes Neiman Marcus Stores and Bergdorf Goodm

Hincapie Sportwear Hired New Design Director

Hincapie Sportswear, Inc. has hired Nikole Rock as its new Director of Design & Development. Rock will be responsible for all aspects of design, development and sourcing of the Hincapie retail apparel line…

Darius Billings to Oversee The Athlete’s Foot

NexCen Franchise Management, Inc., a division of NexCen Brands, Inc., has appointed Darius Billings as director of retail brand marketing and merchandising. Billings is charged with the development of strategic brand growth and merchandising for NexCen’s

UGG Forms China Joint Venture

Deckers Outdoor Corporation entered into a joint venture with Stella International Holdings Limited for the opening of retail stores and wholesale distribution for the UGG Australia brand in China. Initial plans call for the opening of one to two stores i

Olympic Swimmer Countersues TYR

Olympic silver medalist Erik Vendt, who will also be a part of Team USA in Beijing next month, has filed a countersuit against TYR sports, which had filed a breach of contract claim against him for switching to Speedo's record-breaking LZR Racer swim

Steve and Barry’s Faces Fire Sale

Steve & Barry's said in a bankruptcy filing late Wednesday that it doesn't have the money to stay in business and is being forced to undergo a fire sale. Lenders led by General Electric Co.'s (GE) General Electric Capital Corp., which contr

G-III Apparel Acquires 116 Outlet Stores

G-III Apparel Group Ltd said it has bought certain assets, including 116 outlet stores, from Wilsons The Leather Experts for about $22.3 million in cash and raised its 2009 outlook to reflect the acquisition. The assets acquired include $18.5 million in i

Puma Extends Agreement with Dobotex for Socks Outside U.S.

Puma has extended a long-term licensing contract for socks by PUMA with Dutch company Dobotex, the current manufacturer of PUMA socks, as of January 1, 2009. The new licensing deal excludes the United States. In addition, PUMA and Dobotex signed a new lic

adidas Opens Largest Brand Store in Beijing…

On July 5, adidas opened its largest Brand Center worldwide in Beijing, China. The facility will offer products from both adidas divisions – Sport Performance and Sport Style. One of the highlights of the new adidas Brand Center is miCoach Core Skills, an

Textile Import Growth Slows…

U.S. imports of textiles and clothing grew by only 1.8% in 2007 following a 2.6% increase in 2006 and double-digit growth in seven of the nine years between 1996 and 2005, according to a recently published report by Research and Markets of Ireland.