Worldview: ComplexCon Lures Asia’s Streetwear Stars to Hong Kong

🇨🇳 US streetwear and popular culture competition ComplexCon debuts in China. The inaugural version of ComplexCon Hong Kong passed off from Mar. 22 to 24 on the AsiaWorld-Expo conference centre, that includes concert events by worldwide hip-hop stars and a market promoting over 200 worldwide and native manufacturers. Christian Dior’s Hong Kong menswear present, which was slated to coincide with the occasion, was postponed indefinitely stopping the model’s inventive director Kim Jones from making an look, however different well-known faces from vogue have been invited to participate within the competition together with Japan’s ‘godfather of streetwear’ Hiroshi Fujiwara, Hong Kong entertainer and co-founder of Clot, Edison Chen, and the South Korean-born inventive behind VandyThePink, Junghoon Son. Japanese graphic designer Verdy, who works with Ok-pop band Blackpink, took the helm because the occasion’s inventive director, curating limited-edition merchandise and unique collabs. [South China Morning Post]

🇭🇹 AAFA urges US to resume Haiti commerce agreements amid state of emergency. The president of the American Attire and Footwear Affiliation (AAFA) has urged the US Congress to take “rapid motion” to resume the Haitian Hemispheric Alternative by way of Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) and the Haiti Financial Raise Program (HELP) Acts. The 2 programmes, which offer sure attire gadgets made in Haiti with duty-free entry to the US market and 50,000 jobs for Haitian staff, are because of expire subsequent yr. This uncertainty is “eroding future enterprise” for the native textile sector at a “crucial” juncture for the Caribbean nation. Current civil unrest and gang violence have created not solely a humanitarian disaster however a state of emergency that led to an influence vacuum with the resignation of the prime minister. [Sourcing Journal]

🇧🇷 Buyers scared by administration shakeup at Brazilian jeweller Vivara. Certainly one of Latin America’s largest jewelry manufacturers and retailers, Sao Paulo-based Vivara Participações, noticed shares plunge final week after founder Nelson Kaufman introduced he deliberate to return as CEO after 13 years. Nonetheless, this week, Kaufman reportedly made a U-turn, deciding to as an alternative appoint CFO Otavio Lyra as CEO of the corporate with over 390 shops throughout Brazil, in line with Brazil Journal, citing individuals conversant in the matter. [Brazil Journal, Bloomberg]

🇦🇪 Manufacturers promote Ramadan ranges and occasions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Muslim holy month and festive interval, which began on Mar. 11 and is predicted to conclude round Apr. 10 forward of the Eid-al-Fitr vacation, is a busy time for retailers in markets just like the United Arab Emirates. Buying centres together with the Mall of the Emirates, JBR, Metropolis Stroll and Dalma have all been that includes promotions, particular occasions and unique ranges, equivalent to these by vogue manufacturers Ferragamo and Stella McCartney. [Zawya]

🇨🇳 Chinese language sportswear large Li Ning stories 2023 revenue droop. The corporate based by the Olympic gymnast of the identical title has posted a 22 p.c annual decline in internet revenue to three.2 billion yuan ($444.5 million) and a 7 p.c improve in income to 27.6 billion yuan ($3.8 billion). “The agency… has nothing to announce about privatisation,” government chairman Li Ning mentioned throughout the earnings name, referring to a Reuters report on March 12 claiming that he’s contemplating taking the agency personal from the Hong Kong Inventory Alternate. [Yicai Global]

🇮🇳 Indian magnificence large Good Glamm Group secures $30 million in funding. The Mumbai-based group has raised 245 crore rupees ($30 million) by way of a rights subject from current traders, together with Warburg Pincus, and Prosus, Bessemer Enterprise Companions and Accel Companions. The content-to-commerce unicorn based by Darpan Sanghvi, Priyanka Gill and Naiyya Saggi started as DTC make-up model MyGlamm earlier than buying a steady of magnificence and private care product and media manufacturers. [Economic Times]

🇸🇻 APS manufacturing unit in El Salvador owes tens of millions to garment staff. The producer for North American firms like Hanesbrands and Gildan Activewear has been accused by the Employee Rights Consortium (WRC) of unlawfully withholding again wages, severance and different advantages price $2 million from 831 staff, after its facility in Ilopango went out of enterprise two years in the past. The WRC has partially brokered a settlement between the businesses and the employees. [Sourcing Journal]

🇨🇳 Chinese language attire large Peacebird posts 2023 revenue surge. The Ningbo-based vogue model has reported internet revenue of $65.94 million (422 million yuan), a rise of 127.1 p.c yr over yr and income of $1.21 billion (7.79 billion yuan), down 9.4 p.c. The corporate attributed the robust bottom-line efficiency to tighter management of reductions and bills. [Jing Daily]

🇮🇳 New commerce settlement set to spice up Indian gem exports to Switzerland. The Commerce and Financial Partnership Settlement (TEPA) signed between India and European Free Commerce Affiliation (EFTA) international locations Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein on March 10 is predicted to triple the export of Indian gems and jewelry to $1 billion within the coming years, predicted Vipul Shah, chairman of India’s Gem Jewelry Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), with out specifying the time horizon of the forecast. [Economic Times, Financial Times]

🇳🇬 Nigerian legislature requires a ban on adire cloth imports. The Nationwide Meeting’s Home of Representatives has adopted a movement to induce the federal authorities to limit imported adire, a textile historically handwoven within the nation, to guard the native business and preserve scarce international trade reserves. The transfer follows comparable calls final yr by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who particularly recognized Chinese language producers. [Premium Times Nigeria]

🇨🇳 Abroad patrons flock to Shanghai’s Intertextile Attire commerce present. The spring version of the three-day March occasion organised by Messe Frankfurt has reported that worldwide customer numbers doubled yr over yr, following the Chinese language authorities’s easing of visa necessities. Practically 90,000 guests from 116 international locations and areas attended the showcase that includes 3,000 suppliers. [BoF Inbox]

🇰🇷 Celine names Danielle from Ok-pop band NewJeans as ambassador. The French luxurious model has tapped the Australian-Korean singer within the South Korean lady group to endorse its merchandise. Danielle has additionally collaborated with Burberry and YSL Magnificence. [BoF Inbox, L’Officiel Singapore]

🇨🇳 Hublot strikes endorsement take care of Chinese language architect Ma Yansong. The Swiss luxurious watchmaker has named the award-winning, internationally famend Beijinger and founding father of MAD Architects as a “buddy of the model”. [BoF Inbox]

🇦🇷 Argentina Style Week held its 62nd version in Buenos Aires. Designers together with Benito Fernández, Vero de la Canal, Ivana Picallo and Iara offered their Autumn/Winter 2024 collections on the occasion organized by Hector Vidal Rivas. [Revista Gente]

🇨🇳 Tommy Hilfiger names China’s Fan Chengcheng as ambassador. The American model has produced a industrial co-starring the male singer and actor as a part of a wider endorsement deal.