EVEN BETTER OUT OF BED
PYJAMA designer Peter Alexander, once dubbed "Australia's Best in Bed", added "Crown Retailer of the Year" to his trophy cabinet this week. Southbank's Crown precinct has a posh provenance including long-time tenants Burberry, Prada, Versace and Louis Vuitton, but Alexander's vibrant, joyfully girly jim-jam store pipped them all on points for an audited mix of marketing, presentation, customer service, business attitude and sales performance. "We're not exclusive," Alexander said after Tuesday night's presentation by Anne Peacock of Crown (pictured). "But we are a sort of club, if that makes sense." It does. Along Crown's fashion strip are stores including Mimco, G-Star Raw, Zu, Olrik Denmark, Politix, Witchery and winners of the first two Crown Retailer of the Year awards, Nine West and Sunglass Hut.
www.crownmelbourne.com.au.
BIKINI COUP
SYDNEY swimwear designer Lisa Maree Boersma secured a shop slot on notoriously picky globoutique www.net-a-porter.com after just two seasons in the market. Boerma showed her Lisa Maree collection, most covetable for its crocheted triangle bikinis and deep- plunged maillots (pictured, "Baysider", $129.90), at Miami's swim shows in July with a cluster of other hot local labels including Kooey, Lisa Blue and White Sands. Lisa Maree was also picked up by US retailers Urban Outfitters and Free People, and Boersma has factored in an autumn/winter 2011 collection of crocheted and Lycra togs, printed silk kaftans, jumpsuits, harem pants and maxi dresses, "to keep up with the demand." Her crocheted collection for www.net-a-porter.com will be racked online in March but is available now on www.sueonstyle.com.au. Local real shop stockists include Miishu and Bliss and Love.
www.lisamaree.com.au.
SHORT SHOTS
JIMMY Choo will introduce a new collection of Italian-made men's dress shoes and casual boots, moccasins and sneakers for US-Euro fall-winter next year, reports WWD. Real shop stockists will be limited, but the collection will also be sold on the brand's website. This is Choo's first foray into men's footwear in a decade, though its collection for fashion chain H&M last year, which included men's shoes, was so popular it triggered the decision for a second plunge into the market.
The Fair@Square public festival and market of ethically produced and sustainable products and businesses is on this weekend at Federation Square. Workshops, talks, market stalls, live music, demonstrations and fashion and art events will be staged from 11am to 6pm, tomorrow and Sunday.
HEAVENLY HAMISH
IN A jewellery season often marked by excessive embellishment, bafflingly complex designs and overwhelming price tags, Hamish Munro dares to be different. After a previous collection inspired by palaeontology and pre-historic creatures, his latest creations boast bold simplicity and striking statements in leather and rope, materials that lend them a more natural sentiment than their fussy alternatives. Munro is a graduate of the VCA and was drawn into the global spotlight when Nancy Wang of LCD Soundsystem was seen rocking out in one of his coiled rope necklaces at the Glastonbury Festival. He launched his latest collection last month in a tiny reformed lavatory block "by appointment" studio in Melbourne at the rear of 126 Franklin Street.
Prices range from $44 to $380, but most at the lower end. Phone 0400 227 389. Stockists include Fat, Chiodo and Alphaville.
www.hamishmunro.com.au
Compiled by Hannah Merrigan and Janice Breen Burns
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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
What helped Peter Alexander win the Crown Retailer of the Year award and why might that matter to investors?
Peter Alexander won Crown Retailer of the Year based on an audited mix of marketing, presentation, customer service, business attitude and sales performance. For everyday investors, awards like this can be a useful signal that a retail brand is executing well across customer experience and sales channels, which may support continued foot traffic and brand strength in premium precincts like Crown at Southbank.
Where is the Crown retail precinct and which major fashion brands are its long‑time tenants?
The Crown fashion precinct is at Southbank and is home to long‑time tenants including Burberry, Prada, Versace and Louis Vuitton. Knowing the tenant mix can help investors understand the positioning of the precinct as a high‑end retail destination.
What does Lisa Maree being stocked by net-a-porter, Urban Outfitters and Free People indicate about a designer’s growth?
Lisa Maree being picked up by net‑a‑porter after just two seasons, along with US retailers Urban Outfitters and Free People, indicates rapid wholesale and e‑commerce traction. For investors, landing placements with major online and international retailers is a sign of growing brand demand and broader distribution potential.
How can being available on sites like net-a-porter and the brand’s own website affect a fashion label’s sales and visibility?
Selling on high‑profile platforms like net‑a‑porter boosts visibility to global customers, while a brand website provides direct sales and control over margins. The article notes Lisa Maree will be racked on net‑a‑porter in March and is already available on sueonstyle.com.au, illustrating a dual online strategy that can drive both reach and higher‑margin direct sales.
What should investors note about Jimmy Choo launching a new men’s footwear collection?
Jimmy Choo plans an Italian‑made men’s dress shoe and casual collection for the US‑Euro fall‑winter season, with limited real shop stockists and online sales on the brand’s website. This expansion into men’s footwear — following a popular H&M collaboration that included men’s shoes — shows product‑line diversification that can open new customer segments and revenue streams.
What role do curated festivals like The Fair@Square play in the fashion and retail ecosystem?
The Fair@Square festival at Federation Square focuses on ethically produced and sustainable products, offering workshops, talks, market stalls and demonstrations. For investors, such events highlight growing consumer interest in ethical and sustainable fashion, and can spotlight emerging brands and trends that may gain traction in retail and e‑commerce.
What does Hamish Munro’s approach to jewellery tell investors about niche designer markets?
Hamish Munro’s pared‑back, natural materials approach (leather and rope) and price range of about $44 to $380 show how a niche designer can carve out a market with distinct aesthetic and accessible pricing. Stockists like Fat, Chiodo and Alphaville and notable exposure (e.g., seen at Glastonbury) suggest that focused branding and selective retail partnerships can build demand for independent labels.
Where can consumers find Lisa Maree and Hamish Munro products now, and why is that distribution information useful for investors?
Lisa Maree’s crocheted pieces are available now on sueonstyle.com.au and will appear on net‑a‑porter in March; local stockists include Miishu, Bliss and Love. Hamish Munro’s jewellery is stocked at Fat, Chiodo and Alphaville (prices mostly at the lower end between $44 and $380). For investors, knowing current stockists and online availability helps assess a brand’s market reach, retail strategy and potential for sales growth.
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