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Retail News
When H&M opened the first BC store in Coquitlam Centre last fall, the fashion industry cocked their collective heads to the side, confused about the suburban location. There was already buzz surrounding the possibility of a flagship store opening at Pacific Centre, which has now been confirmed to open on May 22. Just in time to line up for the anticipated Comme des Garçons’ collections hitting stores this fall.
This marks the second year that Gap has paired up with the CFDA and Vogue Fashion Fund, revitalizing the basic white shirt in interesting forms. Emerging American designers Phillip Lim, Band of Outsiders’ Scott Sternberg, Michael Bastian, Philip Crangi, and threeASFOUR have created garments inspired by the classic Gap white shirt, which will be worn by models Lily Donaldson, Chanel Iman, Du Juan, Doutzen Kroes, Irina Lazareanu, Catherine McNeil, Anya Rubik and Jessica Stam.
All clothes aboard! Longshore worker contracts are up for renewal at the beginning of July. Companies are frantically rushing cargo into the West Coast ports during the months of May and June to avoid delivery delays that could arise during contract negotiations.
The labour distruptions in 2002 created a 10-day lockout backlogging merchandise during the holiday season. Retailers don’t want to be stuck again and are testing out new waters. Home Depot Inc. is doing some test runs into the Port of Lázaro Cárdenas in Mexico, and Epson Inc. is looking at shipping a few runs into the Port of Vancouver in Canada. The talks of another labour dispute are the result of a lack of negotiating leverage the union has at this time, as cargo import containers have been flat, leaving employees to work shorter hours while fuel costs have soared.
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