With greater disposable income at the hands of the current generation, the demand for luxury fashion products and accessories has seen a sustained and eminent rise on the fashion axis.
The latest to plan expansion to foreign lands is New York-based Rebecca Minkoff, who is eyeing the booming markets in Europe and Asia.
The designer recently made her European retail debut by setting up with shop in Venice in collaboration with her local partner TODO, a venture between Tomorrow London Ltd. and Doro Group Srl. The designer revealed that eventually she would like Europe to become 20 percent of the business, which currently is at about 5 per cent.
In London, the designer has launched a range of exclusive bag styles that include a cross-body, mini-messenger, camera and clutch in shades of sapphire, clementine and sky blue priced between 200 pounds to 400 pounds. These will be available for purchase at Selfridges, Fenwick and Coggles.com.
“London is a city that’s much like New York,” Minkoff said in an interview. “It’s a global city and it has local people, but also international tourism. For us, it’s another sort of stronghold that the rest of the world looks to for fashion, so we really want to have a large presence,” she added.
Another lucrative expansion opportunity that the designer is eyeing is the market of Mainland China. Already operating three stores in Hong Kong, the designer revealed that she has recently signed a partnership for a distributor based in China for stores, scheduled around the fourth quarter.
Apart from this, the brand is also keen on maintaining an enriching one on one relationship with their clients. Keeping this and Mikoff’s journalist background in view, the designer has revealed plans to launch a podcast in September that will talk about fashion and non-fashion topics that cover more inclusivity, camaraderie and support with a digital component.
