Apparel

New York – A group director for two Tiffany & Co. stores in Houston has filed a lawsuit alleging the retailer discriminates against African-Americans in hiring and promotions for management and executive-level jobs. A complaint filed by Michael McClure in federal court in New York on May 29 says that McClure is the only African-American holding one of 200 U.S. management-level positions at Tiffany, and that there are no African-American executives in the company.

The Men’s Wearhouse expects to close on its acquisition for Jos. A. Bank in the next 30 days after the Federal Trade Commission determined the deal doesn’t violate antitrust laws.

Men's Wearhouse agreed to pay $65 a share for Jos. A. Bank earlier this year in a deal valued at $1.8 billion that will create a company with more than 1,700 stores and pro forma annual sales of $3.5 billion.

The athletic performance-wear giant known for its commitment to innovation goes big in Manhattan, opening its newest and largest “brand house” location to date. With 10,000 sq. ft. of selling space, the store immerses customers in the Under Armour mystique and houses its most comprehensive assortment of men's, women's and children’s apparel, footwear and equipment in the country.

Express plans to close approximately 50 stores during the next 36 months, primarily at the end of their leases, following a weaker-than-expected first quarter.

The company’s profit dropped to $5.08 million, from $32.4 million a year earlier. Sales decreased to $460.7 million, from $509.4 million, while Same-store sales fell 11%.

New York - A pre-tax restructuring charge of $17.3 million during first quarter 2014 in connection with its previously announced strategic realignment was a major factor in a year-over-year net income decline at Ann Inc. Net income for the quarter totaled $5.2 million, down 66% from $15.4 million in the first quarter of the previous fiscal year.

Total net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 were $590.6 million, up 3% increase from sales of $574.5 million in the year-ago period. Total same-store sales dropped 1.8%.

New York -- Fast Retailing Co.’s Comptoir des Cotonniers division, a French fashion brand, has launched a new service, “Fast Shopping,” which allows European shoppers to purchase items in 20 seconds on their mobile devices via an application from Powa Technologies, London. Shoppers using the PowaTag app can scan items they see on ads in various places to make the purchase and with one click, complete the transaction and have the goods delivered to their home within 48 hours.

Genesco’s first-quarter results may have been tepid, but the company highlighted its second quarter, which is off to a solid start with a comparable sales increase of 3% through May 24, and expressed confidence that it can build on the current momentum.

The company reported net earnings of $13.97 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, down 3% from $14.41 million in the same quarter last year. An increase in selling and administrative expenses drove the net earnings decline.

Columbus, Ohio – A subsidiary of Express Inc. has entered into a franchise agreement with Edcon Group, a retail franchise operator in South Africa, to bring the Express brand to South Africa. The Express brand is expected to launch as a store-in-store concept at select Edgars department stores by the end of 2014 with standalone Express store locations to open in 2015.

Express has identified international expansion as one of the company's four pillars of growth and a significant long-term revenue opportunity for the company.