WWD articles from June 2003

WWD archives from June 2003

GALLIANO'S NEW DIGS.(Galliano, John)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... PARIS -- "The clothes have waited to be shown like this for a long time," John Galliano said of his new, 1,700-square-foot store, which opened here last week and is his first in the world. Galliano describes the space as "high tech romance"...

LUXE RETAILERS GET PRAGMATIC.(designer retail operations)(Industry Overview)
June 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Beyond the chic limestone facades and Italian marble selling floors, difficult decisions are being made in the back offices of designer retail operations. Call it a new restraint. Call it pragmatism. For many upscale brands...

D&G SCORES $1.1M AT SHOWS.(Dolce and Gabbana)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Instead of staging a typical trunk show, Dolce & Gabbana flew in some one-of-a-kind pieces and runway looks for fashion shows at its Madison Avenue and Los Angeles stores last month. The unusual approach apparently worked,...

COMING THIS WEEK.
June 2, 2003... Monday: 2003 CFDA Fashion Awards, New York New York women's resort apparel market (through June 13). Wednesday: Neiman Marcus Group reports third-quarter earnings. Thursday: Tommy Hilfiger Corp. reports fourth-quarter earnings. ...

IN BRIEF.(Il Mondo article states Gianni Versace S.p.A. has business troubles)(Santo Versace threatens legal action)(Harrods up for sale rumor)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... SANTO RESPONDS: Italian financial magazine Il Mondo has spurred Santo Versace, president of Gianni Versace SpA, to write the publication threatening legal action. That letter was backed up by one from the company's auditors. An article,...

CORRECTIONS.(Correction Notice)
June 2, 2003... In "WWD: New Waves," a supplement in today's WWD, Andre Leon Talley's name was misspelled on page 28, as was Kelly Gray's name on page 42.

FASHION SCOOPS.
June 2, 2003... SERVING SARAH: Clothes horse Sarah Jessica Parker plans to do more than serve as emcee for tonight's Council of Fashion Designers of America's Fashion Awards. Reprising her multi-outfit-a-thon from back in the days of hosting the VH1-Vogue...

TATA NAKA'S FREE ASSOCIATION.(fashion designers get free publicity from "Sex and the City" association)
June 2, 2003... LONDON -- There are worse problems an upstart fashion label could face, but the designers behind Tata Naka have found their showroom nearly bare recently, thanks to "Sex and the City." Almost every sample was called to New York this...

MARTY STAFF DENIES REPORT OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.(former Hugo Boss employee denies newspaper report)
June 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Marty Staff has vigorously denied a German newspaper story that implied he sexually harassed Hugo Boss employees. The Stuttgarter Zeitung story, which ran Saturday, said a former Boss employee received $250,000 to avoid potential...

PEI AND EUROPEAN DESIGN TO DO WOMEN'S SUIT LINE.(Perry Ellis International Inc., European Design Group Inc. agree to licensing deal)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Perry Ellis International Inc. said Friday it had inked a licensing deal with European Design Group Inc. to produce a women's suit line under the Perry Ellis and Perry Ellis Portfolio brands. The lines are to be launched for...

THE LEGS HAVE IT.(fashion trends )(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Resort is all about showing a little -- or a lot -- of leg, as designers display gams with colorful dresses and cool skirts. At Oscar by Oscar de la Renta, embellishment is key with such looks as a sleek dress featuring a...

THE TRANSPARENT JOHN GALLIANO OPENS FLAGSHIP.
June 2, 2003... PARIS -- There's nowhere to hide in the arresting fishbowl of a boutique John Galliano opened here last week -- except, of course, the spacious bathroom, which is already generating buzz for its lavishly embroidered wall panels. ...

FAY PREPS FOR U.S. DEBUT.
June 2, 2003... MILAN -- Fay might not be a household name in the U.S., but it's increasingly garnering devotees in Europe. And, with Diego Della Valle behind this brand, it stands a good chance of becoming as well known as the entrepreneur's two other...

ISN'T IT RICH?(Cannes Film Festival)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... The only thing shining brighter than the Mediterranean sun at the recent Cannes Film Festival was all the glittering jewelry. Hollywood's finest stepped out dripping in jewels -- especially diamonds -- with plenty of gold to match. Penelope...

VANS GLAM.(Vans Inc. debuts Vault collection)
June 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Paul Van Doren started his Vans sneaker company in 1966 out of a corner shop in Anaheim, California. The store offered three canvas styles of vulcanized-rubber-soled shoes, at prices ranging from $2.49 to $4.99, but when a dozen...

VIVA LE VAULT.(Vans Vault line is promoted with party at Sky Studios)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... "It's cool to see girls in Vans," said pro skater Tony Trujillo, surrounded by a gaggle of downtown divas at the launch party for the Vans Vault line Thursday night. "The shoes work for fashion or skating -- they go both ways." That...

COLE HAAN'S FACE OF A WOMAN.
June 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Cole Haan wants to emphasize its emotional and feminine side. Where once the 75-year-old brand was considered a traditional, somewhat sleepy, men's footwear business, Matt Rubel, chairman and chief executive officer, has...

FINDINGS.(includes multiple news briefs)
June 2, 2003... EPI EVOLVES: It took 18 years, but Louis Vuitton's signature Epi grained leather has finally softened up. Come September, four signature Vuitton bags also will be available in a more supple version of the leather. A yoga bag called the...

ADVICE FROM VICTORIA'S SECRET.(to intimate apparel design graduates)
June 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- The graduates of intimate apparel design at the Fashion Institute of Technology have high hopes for 2003. With an eye on breaking into the intimates business at Victoria's Secret, a capsule group of 14 new designers recently...

ESCADA LEAVES INTIMATE APPAREL.(lingerie collection is being discontinued)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... BERLIN -- The Escada lingerie collection is being discontinued. The German fashion house and its lingerie licensee, Huber Holding AG, based in Gotzif, Austria, have mutually decided to terminate their agreement, ending a two-year run. ...

PRADA SELLING SAN FRANCISCO SITE.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Prada has quietly put its 22,500-square-foot retail property here on the market. The company acquired 185 Post Street, one block from Union Square, for $18.5 million in 1996 but never developed it. "We will list the...

LOEHMANN'S NET DROPS 34.5%.(Loehmann's Holdings Inc.)
June 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- A weak retail environment cut Loehmann's Holdings Inc.'s first-quarter profits by a third, but the off-price retailer hopes to benefit from excess inventory in the marketplace in upcoming months. Net income sank 34.5 percent...

FINLAY, WHITEHALL FINISH UP TOUGH QUARTER.(Finlay Enterprises and Whitehall Jewelers)
June 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Lower net and same-store sales prevented Finlay Enterprises and Whitehall Jewelers from posting first-quarter profits. For the three months ended May 3, Finlay posted a net loss of $1.5 million, or 16 cents a diluted share....

BJS LOOKS TO LOWER PRICES AND GAIN UPSCALE BRANDS.(BJs Wholesale Club)
June 2, 2003... NATICK, Mass. -- When Sam's Club decides small business customers are its nirvana, what's a smaller competitor to do? Become the consumer club of choice, according to BJs Wholesale Club president and chief executive Michael Wedge, who...

EUROPE WATCH.
June 2, 2003... NOT SO RESERVED: Economic growth rates well above those seen elsewhere in Europe are giving fashion retailers in Central Europe a boost and helping the region's first homegrown brands get off the ground. Poland's LPP, trading under the brand...

GUESS ISSUES SOAR AS CEO UPS STAKE.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Shares of Guess Inc. skyrocketed on Friday after co-chief executive officer Paul Marciano fractionally increased his stake in the Los Angeles-based lifestyle brand. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange...

HEY LITTLE SISTER.
June 2, 2003... Janet had Michael to thank, but the Jacksons aren't the only multitalented family around. Some of today's biggest young pop stars have paved the way for their talented siblings. Thing is, those little sisters aren't so little anymore. This new...

ROAD SHOW.(Alexander McAqueen's first New York trunk show)
June 2, 2003... Old fans, new fans and those seeking an audience with Alexander McQueen turned up at his boutique Thursday evening for the designer's first New York trunk show. The most serious shoppers hardly noticed when McQueen entered the shop and made for...

NEW WAVES.
June 2, 2003... AMERICAN SCENES: DEMOCRACY AT WORK * THE DESIGNER SESSIONS * MINING THE MEGABRANDS * STUDYING ABROAD * FAB FASHION MOMENTS REVISITED * GETTING TO KNOW A CHANGED CONSUMER * FABRICS OF THE FUTURE * THE CONTEMPORARY BEAT

2003 CFDA FASHION AWARDS; GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY SWAROVSKI; MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2003 * THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY.
June 2, 2003... The Council of Fashion Designers of America would like to thank Swarovski, the underwriter of the 2003 CFDA Fashion Awards, in addition to the following companies for their generosity: Patrons Bill Blass Ltd. Burberry Calvin...

IN THE RUNNING (PART ONE) HERE, A GLIMPSE AT THE FASHIONABLE FIGURES BEING NOMINATED AND HONORED THIS YEAR BY THE COUNCIL OF FASHION DESIGNERS OF AMERICA.
June 2, 2003... The Nominees: Women's wear Designer of the Year Carolina Herrera Though she's had an illustrious career on Seventh Avenue for 21 years, last year was one of Carolina Herrera's busiest, as her company opened its first in-store boutique...

IN THE RUNNING (PART TWO).(Alexander McQueen portrayed)
June 2, 2003... International Award: Alexander McQueen Alexander McQueen's story already has a fairy tale quality to it -- and he's only 34. Born in London's East End, McQueen left school at 16, and worked on Savile Row mastering different,...

NARCISO AND THE NEW KIDS; NARCISO RODRIGUEZ AND THE PROENZA SCHOULER TEAM INVESTIGATE THE PRESSURES OF BEING THE FASHION WORLD'S LATEST; WUNDERKINDS, THEIR INSPIRATION AND THE CIRCUS.(Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards)
June 2, 2003... Throughout the long history of the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards, and the Coty Awards before that, WWD has interviewed hundreds of designers on their achievements, but rarely have designers been given the chance to mine the...

DONNA AND BEHNAZ; DONNA KARAN AND BEHNAZ SARAFPOUR BOND OVER BOYS, BODS, AND THE FASHION BIZ.(Parsons School of Design alumni)
June 2, 2003... Women's wear designer of the year nominee Donna Karan, a past women's wear winner, met two-time Perry Ellis nominee Behnaz Sarafpour for the first time at the W Hotel during a reunion of Parsons School of Design alumni. Here's how their...

MARC AND ZAC; A PAIR OF FASHION WORLD DARLINGS CHAT EACH OTHER UP ABOUT MUSIC, THEIR MUSES -- AND THEIR SANITY.(Women's Wear Designer of the Year)
June 2, 2003... Perry Ellis award nominee Zac Posen and 1987 winner Marc Jacobs (also a nominee for this year's Women's Wear Designer of the Year), discovered in a phone conversation that they have a few things in common besides fashion: a love of the band...

BRAND NEW ERA; THE ESTABLISHED BUSINESS MODEL FOR ACHIEVING "MEGABRAND" STATUS ISN'T EASILY TRANSFERABLE TO FASHION'S NEW GUARD. SO THEY'VE MADE PLANS OF THEIR OWN.(American brands rival European fashion houses)
June 2, 2003... There's no question that a core group of American designers who have survived, or even flourished, over the past two decades have the potential to break out into "megabrand" status, but they, and the generation of upstarts that has followed...

UNITED WE'RE GLAM.(American fashion )(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... What's the future of fashion? Well, now that Miss Cleo has been discredited, nobody can say for sure. But we may be able to get some insights from its past. Designers have shaped the last hundred years of American fashion with everything from...

FASHION DEMOCRACY; DEPARTMENT AND MASS STORES THAT DESIGNERS ONCE TURNED THEIR NOSES UP AT, ARE NOW THE `IT' RETAILERS, REELING IN DESIGNERS ANXIOUS TO BRING THEIR VISION TO THE MASSES.(celebrity designer-marketers)
June 2, 2003... Fashion has long been predicated on exclusivity, from the rarified world of haute couture to the annual quest for the handbag du jour, where long waiting lists only add to the seductiveness of a style. Now, though, some of fashion's...

STARS IN THEIR EYES.(Designers and buyers discuss celebrity clothing )
June 2, 2003... First, it was the supermodels feeling the heat -- getting elbowed off of magazine covers by stylish stars. Now celebrities are flexing their market muscle right on the rack. Are they welcome on Seventh Avenue or should they beat a hasty...

THE NEXT BEST THING?($39 billion women's sportswear market)
June 2, 2003... For the style -- and budget -- conscious shopper, contemporary fashions offer the best of both worlds: fast fashion at an affordable price. But there are varying views as to whether it represents fashion's future. The contemporary...

WORLDLY AMBITIONS; U.S. DESIGNERS HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES IN THE GLOBAL ARENA. IN ASIA, SOME EVEN HAVE CULT FOLLOWINGS; BUT IN EUROPE, THE BAR IS GETTING HIGHER.(American designers targeted international markets)
June 2, 2003... Over the past 30 years, American designers and American fashion have made quantum leaps on the global stage. Since upstaging Paris designers at a landmark fashion extravaganza at Versailles in 1973, American designers have infiltrated...

PUTTING THE TECH INTO TEXTILES; GET READY TO WEAR YOUR PC ON YOUR SLEEVE: THE FABRICS OF THE FUTURE WILL BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN FASHION AND FUNCTION IN WAYS THAT ARE THE STUFF OF SCI-FI. BY DANIELA GILBERT; BLAME IT ON THE FIG LEAF.(textile scientists produce innovative fabrics)
June 2, 2003... Ironically enough, the material used to create the world's first fashion statement embodies some of the same properties -- breathability, water-resistance, lightness -- that drive textile scientists to continue churning out innovative...

GOT SILK?(Nexia Biotechnologies produces stronger silk)
June 2, 2003... They say good things come in small packages. If so, then spiders may have the biggest gift of all for the textile industry: a new fiber that's five times stronger than steel. A genetic manipulation of the "silk" with which spiders spin their...

FUTURE SHOP; TOMORROW'S CONSUMER HAS MORE ATTITUDE THAN MONEY TO BURN.(apparel sales drop to 3.6% of consumers' budgets in 2002)
June 2, 2003... Who is she? The fashion consumer who has emerged in the 20 months since 9/11 is paradoxical in nature: Her outlook has grown increasingly sophisticated, even as she looks to simplify her life. It's a scenario that's making the demands...

BIG NIGHT OUT.(CFDA Fashion Awards)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Sarah Jessica Parker, the city's ambassador of style, kicked off the fashion industry's biggest night -- the CFDA Fashion Awards. Wearing a champagne silk cocktail dress by Oscar de la Renta and Fred Leighton jewels, she popped...

TOM'S YSL UPDATE: ROUGHER SPACE PUTS FOCUS ON ACCESSORIES.(Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche store opens in Manhattan)
June 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- One might say Tom Ford is fixated on duality. After all, he's a man whose tastes run toward black, minimalist interiors, bold infusions of sex, and a design aesthetic that toes the line between hard and soft. So it's not...

RETAIL SHARES OUTRIDE WAVE.
June 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Investors were shopping for retail on Monday with the expectation that consumers have some shopping plans of their own. While other major indices gave back most of the gains they picked up earlier in Monday's trading session,...

IN BRIEF.(news from Bruno Magli, WestPoint Stevens Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2003... MAGLI'S NEW DIGS: Today, Italian footwear and accessories firm Bruno Magli is opening its second Manhattan unit at 789 Madison Avenue. The 5,000-square-foot boutique is spread over three levels, and design elements draw from the retail concept...

PEGGY MOFFITT IN TALKS TO RELAUNCH GERNREICH.(revolutionary designs of Rudi Gernreich)
June 3, 2003... PHOENIX -- The man behind the see-through shirt, unisex looks and the notorious topless bathing suit might posthumously have his second coming. The revolutionary designs of Rudi Gernreich could very well be in production again within the...

DOL REPORT: CHILD LABOR STILL ABOUNDS.(U.S. Department of Labor report)
June 3, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Children still mine for gold and diamonds, weave carpets, sew clothing and footwear, pick cotton and work in leather tanneries in countries receiving U.S. trade benefits, according to a newly released U.S. Department of Labor...

CORRECTIONS.(Correction Notice)
June 3, 2003... In "WWD: New Waves," a series of profiles on the nominees for the Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards, a headline under the accessories category misidentified one of the three collections. Marc Jacobs was nominated for his...

DALLAS REPS OFFERED ANOTHER MART OPTION.(fashion mart)
June 3, 2003... DALLAS -- Contemporary sales representatives who show here are weighing yet another proposal to build a fashion mart downtown less than three miles from the Dallas Market Center. On Friday, developer Brook Partners offered to invest $4...

FASHION SCOOPS.
June 3, 2003... NO, NO NICOLE: This time, she clearly didn't make it. After last year's Nicole Kidman contretemps at the Council of Fashion Designer of America Fashion Awards, phantom or not, the actress had to deliver the unfortunate news on Monday that she...

GOODY'S BUYS DUCK HEAD TRADEMARKS.(from Tropical Sportswear International Corp.)
June 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Duck Head has found a new home at Goody's Family Clothing Inc. Adding another chapter to the growing saga of stores owning or launching proprietary brands, the 330-door retailer, based in Knoxville, Tenn., acquired the Duck...

DFA NOMINEES ANNOUNCED.(Dallas Fashion Awards)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2003... DALLAS -- The Dallas Market Center announced 42 finalists in its 28th annual Dallas Fashion Awards competition. The DMC changed the categories a bit, adding Better Classics, After 5 and Denim and expanding men's wear from a single category...

CHAMPION STEPS UP NATIONAL ADVERTISING.(Champion Athleticwear launches national TV and print brand campaign)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- For the first time, Champion Athleticwear has launched a national TV and print brand campaign. With the tag line "Greed vs. Love," the ads are aimed at consumers who love sports for their purity, not for their highly paid...

MEMO PAD.(fashion industry news briefs)
June 3, 2003... HIRING: Bruce Pask, the freelance stylist who has been working extensively with Annie Leibovitz on the "The Sopranos" campaign and various cover shoots for Vanity Fair, is the latest to join the so-called "Lucky for Men" start-up being edited...

DUPONT UPS CANADA BID.(DuPont increases its offer for the shares of DuPont Canada it does not own)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- In an effort to entice shareholders of its Canadian unit to part with their holdings, DuPont on Monday upped its offer for the shares of DuPont Canada it does not own. Acquiring the 24 percent stake in DuPont Canada that the...

SWATCHES.(textile industry news briefs)
June 3, 2003... CONE EXTENDS CREDIT: Cone Mills Corp. said Wednesday it had extended its $56 million credit facilities through March 2004. The arrangement had been scheduled to end on June 27. The facility includes a $25 million 12 percent senior note and a...

DEALS CREATE CUSTOMS CONCERNS.
June 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- The slew of trade-preference pacts the U.S. has struck with countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East for the past few years has created many opportunities for apparel economies to find new production...

FLUTTERING INSPIRATION FOR FIBER INNOVATION.(Teijin Ltd. develops new fiber based on butterfly scales)
June 3, 2003... TOKYO -- By studying a beautiful South American butterfly, researchers at textiles giant Teijin Ltd. have developed a new fiber that can reflect a radiant color without being dyed. It works by using nanostructures to affect the way the...

QUOTA WATCH: GOING FAST.
June 3, 2003... At the end of May, eight countries had consumed more than 59 percent of their total quota allocation for the year in 10 categories. China and Macau quickly filled their swimwear quota categories to more than 70 percent, though it is too early...

SEOUL SEEKING A HIGHER DESIGNER PROFILE.(Seoul, Korea)
June 3, 2003... SEOUL -- The recent Seoul Collection Week showcased the Korean fashion industry, which has been striving to promote itself in international markets and present its clothes to a more global audience. The event, featuring 48 Korean...

ASIA WATCH.(clothing industry)(Industry Overview)
June 3, 2003... SLOW MOTION: The Hong Kong Trade Development Council revised downward its forecast for export growth. The TDC's chief economist Edward Leung said that he expects only 3.3 percent growth in the last quarter of the year, down from the 4 percent...

DRESSED TO SELL.(dresses profitable part of clothing industry)
June 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- When Louis Vuitton opened its spring runway show with a train of candy-colored satin daytime dresses, it was a clear sign the category was in for a bright season at retail. According to retailers in New York -- where the...

AN ESSENTIAL SUCCESS.(Jane Seymour introduces new clothing line)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- She may have played a healing doctor on TV, but Jane Seymour also knows a thing or two about helping others in real life. On May 22, the actress was in town to launch a new group of career apparel called Essentially Jane. It...

SHOPPING LONDON; LONDON -- FOR LONDONERS, IT'S ALL ABOUT BOUTIQUE SHOPPING. HERE ARE FIVE WORTH NOTING.
June 3, 2003... Coco Ribbon At Coco Ribbon, everything is for sale. Besides offering frilly panties, embroidered satin cushions, Swarovski stilettos and feathered bags, this luxury lifestyle boutique is happy to sell the display furniture. Alison Chow and...

HER MAJESTY'S WORKING WARDROBE.(Queen Elizabeth's hats exhibited)
June 3, 2003... LONDON -- Fifty years ago this week, 27-year-old Princess Elizabeth was crowned Queen of England, and to mark the occasion Kensington Palace has put together -- what else? -- a display of the monarch's crowning glories -- hats and...

HUDSON'S BAY PLAYS THE MIDDLE WITH THREE NEW LINES.
June 3, 2003... MONTREAL -- The Hudson's Bay Co. has introduced three new exclusive lines at its Bay department stores across Canada aimed at the all-important demographic of middle-income women, ages 35 to 55. Executives at the Toronto-based retailer...

GRIN AND BARE IT.(apparel trends seen at MTV Movie Awards)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2003... The MTV Movie Awards, held at the Shrine Auditorium on Saturday, boasted the media company's usual -- a superhero theme complete with a blue carpet and comic strip sound effects -- and plenty of skin-baring pop stars and glamorous...

BLONDE AMBITION.(profile of author Candace Bushnell)
June 3, 2003... As New York's premier blonde sex scribe, Candace Bushnell has been compared with a number of the city's pulp fictionalists, but never before to Tom Wolfe. Her third book, "Trading Up" (Hyperion), coming out in July -- and guaranteed to...

EYE SCOOP.(George W. Bush's nephew, Pierce Bush misbehaves)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2003... PASSING THE BAR: Memo to Presidential nephew Pierce Bush, age 17: Remember your twin cousins, Barbara and Jenna's underage drinking troubles, and don't swig your dad's beer in public. When the elder Bush put his bottle of beer down to greet...

RALPH V. JONES: THE GLOVES ARE OFF.
June 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- The battle between Jones Apparel Group and Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. got even nastier on Tuesday. To the apparent surprise of Lauren executives, Jones walked away from the contested Lauren by Ralph Lauren license and filed a...

GROOVY, BABY.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- No matter what the calendar says, in the world of fashion the Sixties are never far off. And the decade's swinging It Girl look is right up Anna Sui's girly alley. For resort, she cut some of her Mod-style silhouettes in glossy...

HANSEN: GAP'S TOP BANANA.
June 4, 2003... LOS ANGELES -- Gap Inc. on Tuesday named Marka Hansen president of its Banana Republic division, moving quickly to help restore the luster and leadership at its most troubled chain. Just last month, former Banana Republic president...

SARS HITS LUXURY, HERMES.
June 4, 2003... PARIS -- Asian tourism, devastated by the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, might not rebound until 2004. That's the outlook from several luxury goods analysts, who consider the perceived safety of travel a key driver for a...

IN BRIEF.(Dolce and Gabbana, Avon Products Inc., and Girlshop Inc.)
June 4, 2003... AVON ON PLAN: Avon Products Inc. rubber-stamped its previous second-quarter projections and said currency exchange rates, if they stay at or near current levels, could propel the firm past its earnings target for the year of $2.55 a share. For...

WAL-MART TAKES CRACK AT JAPAN.
June 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- A ripple in the retail waters now, a "tsunami" later. After getting burned in Germany and Indonesia, Wal-Mart is taking it slow in Japan, aware that it could be another tough overseas market to crack. Perhaps its toughest....

STRONG MARGINS LEAD TJX IN TOUGH CLIMATE.
June 4, 2003... FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- A shaky economy, but a "solid" performance nonetheless. That's how TJX president and chief executive Edmond English characterized the company's year at the annual shareholders meeting Tuesday at headquarters here....

BROOKS BROS. FACES PROTESTS.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- A contingent of about 50 unionized retail workers and union organizers showed up outside Brooks Bros. flagship on Manhattan's Madison Avenue Tuesday afternoon to protest the slow pace of contract renewal negotiations. The...

NRF FORMS INTERNATIONAL UNIT.
June 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- The National Retail Federation, seeking to boost its overseas membership and provide it with enhanced services, has formed a new division, called the International Retail Federation. "This is a first stage in designing a...

LIVING WITH MARTHA STEWART'S WOES.
June 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Advertising industry executives said Tuesday that Martha Stewart's possible criminal indictment is unlikely to have any negative impact on her magazine Martha Stewart Living -- at least for now. But the impact could be...

SEPHORA EUROPE TAPS LEVY AS CEO.(Jacques Levy)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... PARIS -- Sephora Europe has a new head. Jacques Levy was appointed chief executive officer of Sephora Europe, the perfumery chain's parent company LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton announced Tuesday. Levy will fill the position in...

FAST FASHION.(Council of Fashion Designers of America awards)
June 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- They retreated and won. After several years of trying to compete in star wattage with the Costume Institute gala, the Council of Fashion Designers of America finally turned its primary focus back to the designers for its...