Apparel

Target kicks off NY Fashion Week with song
Target Corp. is putting out the red carpet for the opening of New York Fashion Week. The retailer, in partnership with IMG, the parent company behind Fashion Week, opened a temporary sing-a-long piano lounge at The Park at Moynihan Station (on West 33rd Street), one of the official NYFW venues. It kicked off the fashion event with an opening party that drew such luminaries as Queen Latifah, Christie Brinkley, and Kendall Jenner.
Report: Fire at Gap DC was set
The fire that damaged a Gap Inc.’s primary distribution center in the Northeast was no accident. The massive fire at Gap’s DC in Fishkill, New York, was intentionally set, according to Reuters, which cited a report by the New York State Police. "The ATF National Response Team has concluded that the fire was incendiary in nature. This means that the fire was intentionally set," the State Police said.

Francesca’s raises outlook after strong Q2

Francesca’s Holdings Corp. posted better-than-expected sales and earnings for its second quarter, helped in part by higher online sales. The retailer reported a profit of $10.6 million, or 27 cents a share, compared with a profit of $9.3 million, or 22 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Sales increased 9% to $115.3 million, helped by a net gain of 44 stores over the year-ago period. Online sales rose 37%.
OMG! Nordstrom, Topshop launch fashion emojis :)

U.K. retailer Topshop will debut more than a new fashion line at London’s Fashion Week. The British fashion brand and Nordstrom teamed up to launch a co-branded emoji keyboard app that features fashion and lifestyle emojis, stickers and GIFs resembling actual Topshop product sold at Nordstrom.
Macerich opens its rebuilt San Francisco ‘fortress’

It was already generating $700 per square foot in revenue, but Broadway Plaza in San Francisco’s East Bay got a complete makeover from owner Macerich that was unveiled last week. Fireworks and a performance by Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray accompanied the ribbon-cutting. Gross leasing area was expanded to beyond 900,000 sq. ft. and more than 50 new stores inhabit the open-air center that debuted in 1951. Nordstrom, Neiman-Marcus, and Macy’s anchor the plaza that Macerich has owned for the last 30 years.
Former Amazon and J Crew execs join fast-growing plus-size brand

Eloquii, a fast-growing, plus-size women’s fashion apparel manufacturer and online-only player, has expanded its executive team with two experienced retailers. The retailer named Michael Concannon as chief technology officer. He most recently served as CTO of Quidsi, an Amazon-owned e-commerce company where he oversaw long-term technical strategy and maintained technical leadership for the entire platform of six sites including diapers.com.
Breitling Boutique opens at WTC

Swiss watchmaker Breitling opened its boutique at Westfield World Trade Center in New York and promises to make it an all-senses experience for shoppers.
With Me, Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, Calif.

WithMe, an interactive brick-and-mortar shopping experience that features limited runs of traditional and pure-play retail brands, has opened three new pop-ups in its flagship space at Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, Calif.
Tech Guest Viewpoint: E-commerce Content: Emerging Trends
Aeropostale back from the brink after auction

Aeropostale Inc. will live to see another day after all. A consortium, including Simon Property Group Inc. General Growth Properties Inc. and Authentic Brands Group, won the bankruptcy auction for Aeropostale Inc. The group, which also includes liquidators Gordon Brothers Retail Partners LLC and Hilco Merchant Resources LLC, plans to keep at least 229 of the teen retailer’s stores up and running along with Aeropostale's e-commerce business and international licensing business.
Athleisure giant to open smaller store model

Lululemon Athletica Inc. revealed that it plans to open smaller, “local” stores amid results that disappointed Wall Street. Net revenue for the quarter ended July 31 increased 14% to $514.5 million, just shy of projections, from $453.0 million in the year ago period. Total comparable sales rose 4%, with in-store sales up 3% and direct to consumer sales up 6%. Net income increased 12.5% to $53.6 million.
Genesco cuts outlook

Changing footwear trends took a bite out of Genesco Inc.’s sales in the second quarter. The company reported net income of $14.6 million, up from a year-earlier profit of $7.5 million. Genesco’s revenue for the second quarter, ended on July 30, fell 4.6% to a less-than-expected $625.6 million. Total same-store sales fell 1%, with a 4% decline at the Journeys Group.