Apparel

Columbus, Ohio -- Big Red Rooster, a design and brand experience firm, is expanding its marketing communications and branding services through the incorporation of Integrate, Moorehead Design and The Imaginati, effective Sept. 1.

"Integrate, Moorehead Design and The Imaginati's marketing communications, branding and advertising industry expertise will extend Big Red Rooster's breadth of services, allowing us to better assist our clients and solve problems along every step of the customer journey," CEO Martin Beck said.

Waynesville, N.C. -- Shopping center developer CBL & Associates Properties, based in Chattanooga, Tenn., said Friday that it has launched construction on its newest community center project Waynesville Commons, located in Waynesville, N.C.

The 127,500-sq.-ft. shopping center will be anchored by a new 85,000-sq.-ft. Belk fashion department store, which joins the existing Walmart.

NEW YORK — Consumers are spending more, but doing so in fewer transactions, according to American Express Business Insights’ most recent Business Insights Spend Sights report.

The study, which examines spending patterns across several key categories, U.S. cities and demographic groups, finds that while economic uncertainty continues to dampen overall consumer confidence, a new pattern of less frequent but measurable splurging has become evident among a range of customer groups in several categories.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc.'s online boutiqe Piperlime announced that Rachel Bilson, Olivia Palermo and Byrdie Bell will join Rachel Zoe as guest editors to kick off the fall season.

“The idea of hosting guest editors on Piperlime.com has been integral to who we are since the day we launched in 2006,” said Jennifer Gosselin, VP and general manager of Piperlime.  “We started with Rachel Zoe and her popularity and reach has grown since then,” Gosselin continued.

MOSCOW — Gap Inc. announced that it has opened its first Banana Republic store in Russia through its franchise channel. The company also announced that it will open its first Gap store in Serbia on Friday. This store will represent the company’s 200th franchise store globally.

NEW YORK — The third annual Fashion’s Night Out -- created by Vogue editor Anna Wintour -- kicked off on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. Although the shopping extravaganza has spread to more than 100 U.S. cities as well as select cities abroad, its nexus remains in New York City. More than 1,000 Big Apple merchants and designers are participating in the event, which is the kickoff to the city’s Fashion Week industry gathering.

San Francisco -- Gap has opened its first Banana Republic store in Russia, in Moscow's AfiMall City. In related news, the company will open its first Gap store in Belgrade, Serbia, on Friday.

“We are very proud to not only be introducing Banana Republic to Russia, but also opening our 200th franchise store,” said Stephen Sunnucks, president, international, Gap. “This is a significant landmark for our goal of growing our franchise store base to 400 by 2014.”

Houston -- Increased sales across its brands helped drive The Men's Wearhouse’s second-quarter net income up nearly 33%, beating estimates.

The retailer earned $57.1 million for the fiscal quarter that ended July 30, up from $43 million in the same quarter last year.

Revenue increased 22% to $655.5 million. Men's Wearhouse said its purchase in 2010 of two British uniform and work-wear companies helped drive business.

SAN FRANCISCO — Docker's announced that is partnering with Alexander Wang, who was named GQ's Best New Menswear Designer in America, and a diverse group of five other influential American menswear designers to unveil a limited-edition collection. Each designer will reinterpret the khaki pant in a modern way, the company reported.

HINGHAM, Mass. — Talbots is searching for a new chief creative officer, as the company struggles to find a product assortment that will translate into sales growth. The company's current chief creative officer, Michael Smaldone has left the company, effective immediately.