Women in Travel Retail+ to meet in Singapore

Women in Travel Retail+ (WiTR+) is to hold an exclusive networking event during the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition in Singapore on 14 May.

The event begins at 5.30pm in a dedicated area within the TFWA Asia Pacific Lounge (Marina Bay Sands Business Centre). WiTR members can bring a guest to join the group for drinks.

Women who are interested in joining Women in Travel Retail+ are also welcome.

“We are thrilled to once again hold this networking event,” said WiTR+ Chair Sarah Branquinho. “This gathering presents a valuable opportunity for us to come together and support each other’s growth in the travel retail sector.”

As part of its ambition to expand its reach and impact, WiTR+ is offering corporate partnerships. At a cost of £1,000, corporate partnerships buy companies 40 memberships for women working in their travel retail division, and their logo will be featured on the WiTR+ website. For details, please contact Gina Kothari. Email: gina.kothari@diageo.com

About Women in Travel Retail+

Women in Travel Retail+ (WiTR+) was created in 2006 to recognise the contribution of women to the travel retail industry, past, present and future, and as a forum for women in the industry. It allows a privileged medium to exchange ideas, helps women to develop their careers, and supports people in need. From year to year WiTR+ helps different groups or communities (from Haiti to India to Sichuan) to help themselves, with a strong focus on women and children.

Metaverse-loving MCM breaks the rules in Milan

MCM, which participated in Milan Design Week for the first time with its debut furniture collection, finished the exhibition on 21 April with over 22,400 visitors.

The MCM Wearable Casa Collection by Atelier Biagetti, exhibited at Palazzo Cusani and curated by Maria Cristina Didero, was selected for the shortlist of the 10 best projects for the Mention Technology of Fuorisalone Award 2024 among more than 1,000 exhibitions around the city of Milan.

Yellow branded MCM bags were distributed among the visitors to the MCM Pavilion, creating additional brand awareness for the German luxury label and the MCM Wearable Casa exhibition.

During the week, MCM saw 225 members of the press from 30 countries attending the exhibition and being guided by its teams.

In a related development, MCM brought its Wearable Casa exhibition directly to everyone’s doorstep via an innovative metaverse experience. The German brand “crafted a multiverse that defies expectations, seamlessly blending reality with the metaverse. This immersive experience ensures that everyone can explore and savour the wonders of MCM Wearable Casa from the comfort of their own homes.”

For details of the metaverse experience, visit http://www.mcmworldwide.com

About the Fuorisalone Award 2024

The Special Mentions of the Fuorisalone Award 2024 aim to select and promote projects, events and content of relevance for design, qualitatively innovative and rich in meaning.

The 10 projects for the Mention Technology of Fuorisalone Award 2024 were identified by the editorial staff of Fuorisalone.it with the help of the Technical Committee and competed to win the Special Mention dedicated to the theme of Technology. The awards team selected “projects that show a particular ability to innovate by re-establishing a balance between man and environment. The use of technologies as a central factor to protect the planet.”

The Fuorisalone Award website said of MCM Wearable Casa by Atelier Biagetti: “With an innovative project, the presentation at Palazzo Cusani promises a bold exploration of design, highlighting the Wearable Casa collection conceived by Atelier Biagetti. The general mood of the collection is characterised by a mix of irony and originality, which allows the objects to transcend their traditional roles and take the public into another world."

MCM enjoys tremendous success at Milan Design Week

More than 1,000 people flocked to the MCM Pavilion at Milan Design Week 2024 to see the new MCM Wearable Casa exhibition on the first day.

MCM Chief Visionary Officer Sung-Joo Kim in the MCM Pavilion at Milan Design Week

“In just one day, on 15 April alone, over 1,000 individuals were captivated by the exhibition, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended,” said the German luxury brand, which created its first furniture collection with Atelier Biagetti. 

Inside the MCM Pavilion at Milan Design Week

These images offer a glimpse into the remarkable experience. The exhibition will continue until 21 April in Milan, at Palazzo Cusani on Via Brera 13/15.

Inside the MCM Pavilion at Milan Design Week

FT announces 20th Business of Luxury Summit 2024

The Financial Times has announced the return of the prestigious Business of Luxury Summit, scheduled to take place from 19-21 May in Venice, Italy.

Marking its 20th annual gathering, the Business of Luxury Summit returns to Venice, one of Europe’s most iconic and celebrated cities. In a country renowned for its luxury goods heritage, the Summit will explore the changes in the industry over the past two decades and look forward to the next 20 years of innovation. 

The luxury goods sector continues to grow despite significant economic and geopolitical uncertainty. What can the industry do to maintain this positive outlook? How can businesses adapt to accommodate the increasing demands of their consumers? Where will the next big deals come from?

Co-chaired by the FT’s Editor Roula Khalaf and HTSI magazine’s Editor Jo Ellison, the Summit will gather leading executives from the industry across three days of thought-provoking keynotes, lively debates and an exclusive gala dinner.

Speakers include Prada Group CEO Andrea Guerra and Kering Deputy CEO Francesca Bellettini, who is also President & CEO of Yves Saint Laurent.

In addition to its rich programme of sessions and discussions, the Summit will provide ample opportunities for networking and collaboration. Attendees will have the chance to connect with fellow professionals, forge new partnerships and gain valuable insights into emerging trends and best practices in the luxury industry.

MCM shapes its first furniture collection in Milan

German luxury brand MCM has introduced its first furniture collection with a “revolutionary” hybrid exhibition at 2024 Milan Design Week.

The MCM Wearable Casa Collection was crafted with Atelier Biagetti and curated by Maria Cristina Didero and “breaks boundaries between fashion and furniture, transcending traditional roles to transport you to another world”, the German luxury brand said.

MCM Wearable Casa

The hybrid exhibition is “where reality meets metaverse, reshaping norms and connections between individuals, objects and living spaces”, according to MCM.

MCM Wearable Casa

The exhibition can be seen at Palazzo Cusani, Via Brera 13/15, Milan, from 15 to 21 April 2024.

Meanwhile, the furniture collection itself, which draws inspiration from both MCM heritage and modern design cues, has seven portable and versatile pieces.

MCM pet backpack

“The collection merges the Bauhaus ethos of the past with today's nomadic lifestyle, perfectly reflecting the essence of innovation and functionality that MCM has embodied since 1976.

“All of these pieces transcend their traditional roles, transporting the audience to another world, while also being things you can wear – blurring the line between home decor and fashion,” MCM said.

Women in Travel+ celebrates a major milestone

Members of Women in Travel Retail+ are set to gather during the 2024 IAADFS Summit of the Americas at the Hilton on West Palm Beach, Florida. The meeting will take place prior to the opening cocktail on Sunday, April 14 at 5pm.

WiTR + supporters are welcome to join the meeting, which has been organised by WiTR+ Steering Committee member Lois Pasternak, and is generously sponsored by WEBB Banks and IAADFS.

Women in Travel Retail+ has seen a rapid increase in membership in the past few months – through both individual membership and through Corporate Partners who offer membership to women in their travel retail teams, giving WiTR+ members access to a global network of women in the travel retail industry. Anyone who isn’t a member can sign up at the meeting.

Attendees are encouraged to bring cash as there will be three special raffle gifts available to win. The money raised will go to the WiTR+ nominated charity for 2024: FRASI’s Bike to School project.

A house funded by WiTR+ in partnership with the Koma Karanth Foundation

Last year Women in Travel Retail+ raised enough money to fund the building of six houses for people living in poverty in a remote rural community in the Philippines in partnership with the Koma Karanth Foundation. The first home, sponsored by Victoria’s Secret, has just been completed and shows a massive quality in life improvement for its residents.

WiTR+ Chair Sarah Branquinho said: “A huge thank you to everybody who supported last year’s charity. It truly is encouraging to see the results of everyone’s generosity, and this is a great example of the power that we have collectively to change people’s lives for the better. I look forward to catching up with you all in West Palm Beach."

French teenager makes history in Monte-Carlo

#NextGenATP tennis star Arthur Fils became the youngest Frenchman to record a match win at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters since Richard Gasquet in 2005 on Monday when he cruised past Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 6-0, 6-2. 

The 19-year-old produced one of his best performances of the season in front of a vocal local crowd to record victory on his debut in the Principality. He hit 11 winners and struck just seven unforced errors, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Arthur Fils wins in Monte-Carlo

“I watched a lot this tournament on TV. I saw many champions. I’m happy to play here for the first time,” Fils said. “Well, it’s good to play the tournament, but it’s also good to win matches, and I hope I’ll keep coming here in the following years, and I’m sure it’s going to become a milestone in my season.”

Fils, who is No. 36 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, performed well on clay last season, winning his maiden tour-level title on the surface in Lyon. Fils is the youngest Frenchman to win a match in the Principality since then-18-year-old Gasquet upset Roger Federer in 2005. Fils will next play Italian Lorenzo Musetti.

An Astronomical watchmaking achievement

Christiaan van der Klaauw Astronomical Watches has unveiled with "immense pride" its inaugural in-house developed CVDK Manufacture Movement. 

Pictured: CEO Pim Koeslag, Marketing Director Maria Reintjes and Creative Director Daniel Reintjes

"The development of our manufacture movement started in 2017 and is now revealed in 2024, celebrating our 50 years of Astronomical Complications anniversary," enthused CEO and Master Watchmaker Pim Koeslag. 

"This exceptional movement will find its home in models within the CVDK Collection of Astronomical Masterpieces, elevating each timepiece to new heights of haute horlogerie," he said.

Monaco to host top retail e-commerce symposium

Monaco is set to host e-commerce leaders for the One to One Retail E-Commerce event, which returns to the Principality at the Grimaldi Forum from 12-14 March 2024 under the theme: "Under pressure, a creative and demanding e-commerce".

Speakers will discuss four major trends: retail media, cookieless, responsible e-commerce and generative AI. They will include Philippe Berlan, CEO of La Redoute, and Enrique Martinez, President of Fnac Darty.

Some 2,000 visitors and 180 partner companies are expected at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco for three days of one-to-one meetings, inspiring keynote speeches and networking evenings.

Created in 2011, One to One Retail E-Commerce is a Comexposium Group event. The group organises more than 150 professional and public events, covering more than 10 sectors of activity, including retail/digital, fashion/accessories and leisure. The group connects 48,000 exhibitors and 3.5 million visitors, 365 days a year. Its events include SIAL, All4Pack, Paris Retail Week and Foire de Paris.

A Rolex retailtainment experience on the seas

German duty-free operator Gebr Heinemann, through its 100% subsidiary Heinemann Americas Inc, has debuted 14 retail venues onboard Royal Caribbean International’s new ship Icon of the Seas. In a significant development, the shopping experience spans pre-loved luxury goods from leading brands Rolex and Hermès.

The stores offer an exclusive selection of Royal Caribbean branded logo merchandise, in addition to fine watches, fine and fashion jewellery, spirits, perfumes and cosmetics, and vintage luxury leather goods and watches.

Prestigious brands include Chanel in the beauty category, while Cartier and Hublot watches are being offered in a multi-brand store. This store also includes certified pre-owned Rolex. Notably, the first-at-sea Omega boutique has been introduced.

The Royal Promenade onboard Icon of the Seas

Brands new to the cruise channel include Sunday Riley, Bond No.9, Parfums de Marly, Kylie Cosmetics, Supergoop, Sol de Janeiro and Casamigos. A store offers certified pre-owned luxury handbags with exclusive models from Hermès, Louis Vuitton and others, as well as watches. Here, guests can purchase unique and rare products. The selection features a co-branded collection with US clothing label Vineyard Vines and an Icon of the Seas-exclusive Woodford Reserve whiskey.

Strategically positioned throughout the ship, the stores are found in key areas like the vibrant Royal Promenade, the picturesque Central Park and the family-friendly Surfside. These retail spaces provide guests with immersive retailtainment experiences, according to Gebr Heinemann. A team of 35 are on hand to help.

Nicolas Hoeborn, Managing Director of Heinemann Americas Inc, enthused: “We are thrilled to be able to equip this stunning ship with such a diverse and exceptional retail offering. Guests can expect a spectacular assortment and unforgettable shopping experience aboard Icon of the Seas.”

Discussing pre-owned luxury products, Hoeborn added: "Our certified pre-owned products offer luxury brands at affordable prices, great quality, variety and availability. Pre-owned luxury also makes a lot of sense from a sustainability perspective, as these products contribute to the careful use of resources."

The Central Park fine watch stores onboard Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas set sail on its maiden voyage from Miami to the Caribbean in January. The ship is 365 metres long and can accommodate 5,610 guests and 2,850 crew members. As a result of a 2019 tender, this is the fourth Royal Caribbean ship awarded to the travel retailer, which also operates on Wonder of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas and Independence of the Seas.

As a result of the successful partnership that began in 2019, Icon of the Seas is the third new-build launched by Heinemann Americas since the pandemic.

“This achievement firmly cements the travel retailer’s standing as the leading expert for new-builds within the industry,” the company said.

MCM travels from Munich to Mars, full of wonder

Pushing the boundaries of innovation and expression, MCM’s FW24 press presentation at Milan Fashion Week in February invited guests on an extraordinary journey dubbed “From Munich to Mars”.

Designed by Creative Director Katie Chung, the collection transcends house codes to new frontiers, fusing heritage craftsmanship with futuristic concepts.

MCM's FW24 collection in Milan

Taking place at the majestic Palazzo Serbelloni in Milan, more than 500 guests, including 200 notable talents, attended.

The historic venue was transformed with ”intrigue and wonder”, according to MCM, offering attendees a glimpse into two distinct worlds. Two portals served as a gateway between Earth and Mars, setting an extraordinary stage for the collection.

Mary Leest in MCM

In the spirit of independence, exploration and versatility, MCM and Harper Collective – the visionary lifestyle luggage brand co-founded by American rapper and actor Jaden Smith and Sebastian Manes, the former buying and merchandising director at British department store Selfridges – teased a sustainable travel lifestyle brand collaboration, pioneering eco-conscious luxury with three suitcase silhouettes.

Drawing inspiration from heritage codes and offering a fresh perspective on luxury, the Diamante 3D and Diamante Soft shapes served as collection highlights with their confidence and sophistication.

Breaking new frontiers in sustainability, the MIRUM® capsule introduced sustainable, plant-based leather alternatives, another major step forward in eco-conscious luxury for the German luxury brand.

“FW24’s From Munich to Mars is a celebration of exploration – into a world without boundaries, both physically, virtually, and beyond,” MCM said.

Meet the first MCM Maverick – Cara Delevingne

Supermodel Cara Delevingne stars in MCM’s Spring/Summer 2024 campaign as the first MCM Maverick.

Capturing the essence of the German luxury brand's community, the SS24 campaign features boundary-breaking English model and actress Cara Delevingne and South Korean model sensation Xu Meen, who are described by MCM as “two purposeful and dynamic digital nomads who follow their own true North”.

The campaign, created by famed creative director Fabien Baron and shot by Craig McDean, portrays a life on the move. It aims to capture the optimism and rule-breaking heritage of the brand with a fresh and vibrant image through a new community who focuses on moving forward.

Cara Delevingne and Soy the Samoyed in MCM's SS24 campaign

“SS24 bridges the gap between luxe and leisure with versatile designs that are foundational for a robust wardrobe,” MCM said.

Collection highlights include the XL Visetos Diamond Tote, Aren Shoulder Bag, Stark Tennis Backpack and Sling Bag.

MCM Stark Tennis Backpack

The campaign was styled by Karl Templer, with beauty by Pat McGrath and hair by Guido Palau. Not forgetting the gorgeous white fluffy dog, Soy the Samoyed.

Party time: TFWA celebrates 40th anniversary

TFWA is turning 40 in 2024, and plans are in place to mark this momentous occasion in style across the year. The climax of the festivities will come in Cannes during the TFWA World Exhibition, when the association will be throwing a spectacular birthday party on the final night of the event.

“In the run-up to this occasion, there’s plenty of fun (and a few surprises) in store, and over the coming months TFWA’s social media channels will be keeping the industry up to date with information on a number of special events to add to diaries,” the association said.

During the anniversary year, key players from all walks of the duty free and travel retail business will be sharing their experiences of how the industry and the association that serves it have evolved over time, as well as their aspirations and predictions for the future.

Throughout its 40-year journey, TFWA has proved its ability to embrace and adapt to the use of new technologies, and this tech-forward approach has provided inspiration for key elements of TFWA’s activities. The visual for the 2024 TFWA World Exhibition was brought to life with the use of AI, and AI also played a hand in crafting TFWA’s seasonal greeting card.

TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen said: “In this special year, I would like to take the opportunity to send all my friends and associates across the industry my best wishes for 2024 and beyond. As we take time to look back on the incredible journey TFWA has undertaken over the past four decades, we, as an industry, have every reason to feel proud of our achievements and the indomitable spirit that defines us. The dedication of our members is the bedrock of our success, and I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of them for their unwavering support. An anniversary also signposts the beginning of a new era. We at TFWA have our sights firmly set on what is yet to come and the travel retail experience as we head to the future. We look forward to the next chapter that is opening for the great industry that is duty free and travel retail.”

Women in Travel Retail+ to support vital bike project

Women in Travel Retail+ (WiTR+) has announced that its charity for 2024 is FRASI’s Bike to School project, proposed by Patricia Bona, co-founder and co-owner of Miami-based Essence Corp, the beauty products distributor to the Americas travel retail markets. 

Of the three charities put forward by WiTR+ members, the Bike to School project had attracted the most votes when polling closed at 23:59 on 14 January 2024.

FRASI, a not-for-profit association based in Lugano, Switzerland, works with disadvantaged and vulnerable children in many different countries. Its Bike to School project in Sri Lanka aims to help prevent boys and girls from dropping out of schools, by providing them with a safe means of transport.

Patricia Bona, co-founder of Essence Corp

Sri Lanka is going through its worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948. Prices have risen, basic products are unaffordable, there are shortages of electricity and fuel. The risk of a serious food crisis and the collapse of the health system, already destabilised by the Covid-19 pandemic, are real. This economic meltdown has triggered a political and social crisis with widespread anti-government protests erupting across the country.

In these dire circumstances, children are quitting school. Not only do they lose basic education, but also their only daily guaranteed meal. For many, walking to school is fraught with danger.

In response to this problem and partnering with local associations, FRASI has launched the Bike to School project which will provide bikes and bike safety equipment to students with good academic performance, coming from families with financial difficulties, and living more than 5km away from schools. Cycling safety lessons, and cycle repair lessons will also be provided.

Patricia Bona, one of the earliest members of WiTR and an active supporter, said: “I am thrilled that WiTR+ members have chosen the Bike to School project as its 2024 charity. I believe that empathy, support and collective action can change the world. Together, we can give to one child at a time a chance for better education, which is vital to break the cycle of poverty.  If WiTR+ can raise €15,000, more than 100 girls and boys, from families with few economic resources, will receive a bicycle, a helmet, and lessons on street safety and bike repair. Our fundraising will help them get an education and get to school safely. I hope that the whole industry will help WiTR+ to achieve its target.”

For details on FRASI and the Bike to School project, visit https://www.associazionefrasi.org/

Bape is back with MCM for Lunar New Year capsule

Following the success of their first collaboration in 2019, MCM and Japanese streetwear brand A Bathing Ape (Bape) have joined forces for the launch of a Lunar New Year collection to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.

The Lunar New Year Edition capsule collection features pattern play, playful graphics and combines Bape's shark motif with MCM's signature Visetos. The famous Bape STA logo is entwined with a golden dragon, symbolising unapologetic confidence and irreverent style for the new year, MCM said.

MCM x Bape Lunar New Year capsule collection

The Shark Hoodie, designed in Black and Cognac Visetos, highlights the collaboration logo and the Bape shark motif. Also included are MCM icons such as the backpack, belt bag, crossbody, Boston, Weekender, North-South Tote and handheld pouch, reimagined with a transparent rendition of Bape's camo pattern debossed in gold over the Visetos in Cognac and Black.

Each piece features gunmetal hardware and oversized graphics, bold curvilinear patterns and animalistic patches, finished with the collaboration logo.

"We are pleased to recombine MCM’s rich heritage of artisanship and mobility with the dynamic creativity of Bape for this next drop,” said Sabine Brunner, Global Commercial and Brand Officer & President MCM Global AG. “Both brands complement one another as they achieved prominence through their natural proximity with the global streetwear movement – MCM finding a renaissance in the New York hip hop community of the 80s and Bape coming of age during the explosion of Tokyo’s Harajuku scene in the 90s. It is a true celebration of luxury streetwear that captures the essence of the Zeitgeist."

Thomas Hui, Chief Operating Officer of Bape, added: “We are excited to join forces again with MCM for a collaboration that merges the best of both worlds. The launch of this capsule collection is an inspiring synergy of style, individuality and an unbridled spirit of innovation. This sensational collection will elevate the whole luxury streetwear vibe to the next level.”