Apparel-August 2020 | Page 16

Market Watch Hidesign to open Six Flagship Stores in 2020, eyes larger sales online Hidesign, the Pondicherry-based premium leather accessories maker, aims to expand the network in India and overseas markets this year. The 42-year old brand, which currently operates 102 exclusive stores including 32 airport stores in India and has a distribution network across 25 countries, plans to open 20 new outlets including six large-format flagship stores. The first one will open at Lucknow very soon. The company is also planning to expand in Sri Lanka by adding another three to four stores. “We are planning to open six flagship stores this year and each of the large-format stores will offer our entire range of products. We will also offer customised products to our customers,” said Dilip Kapur, founder of Hidesign. At the flagship stores, customers can choose the leather of their choice out of 15 different types of leathers including Ostrich leather, New Zealand deer, lamb, and Indian calf among others. Every bag or wallet will be specially crafted and manufactured with the customers' names embossed. The products will be manufactured at their factory in Pondicherry within 30 days and shipped to customers anywhere in the world, he informed. — www.deccanherald.com Future Lifestyle Fashions Announces shut down amid Coronavirus outbreak Future Lifestyle Fashions Ltd has announced that its fashion retail stores that include Central, Brand Factory, All and other exclusive brand stores have been temporarily shut down. In the wake of the novel Coronavirus, the government of India has issued an advisory to shut stores and take preventive measures to stop the spread of the virus. The lockdown across the country is expected to continue, after which authorities will and suggest the way forward. “In view of the uncertainty created globally by this pandemic, the business of the Company is adversely affected by temporarily shut down of stores, degrowth of revenue, drops in footfalls and discretionary spending by the customer. The expected impact of Covid-19 as of now is hard to ascertain,” said Future Lifestyle Fashions in a statement. — www.in.fashionnetwork.com Chidiyaa pays Employees under lockdown, shares upcoming Design Ideas Hand-block printed clothing brand Chidiyaa will continue to pay its staff and keep orders open to be fulfilled after lockdown lifts as designer Deepanshu Ohlan shared future design ideas to keep customers engaged. Chidiyaa shared a video on Facebook featuring the children of some of its workers playing at home and assured its customers that its staff are “at home, safe and getting paid,” during the lockdown. As all non-essential commercial operations have been halted till further notice, many brands are struggling to keep staff on but Chidiyaa is sending a message that it will continue to support its staff. “These are the times which define one’s purpose, all in this together,” wrote Chidiyaa on Faceook. — www.in.fashionnetwork.com 14 I APPAREL I August 2020