Snap Sets Up Spectacles Pop-Up Shop in Venice [TechCrunch]
Snap Inc., the parent company to Snapchat, is now selling its Spectacles video-camera sunglasses ($129.99 each) at a physical location in Venice, where the company’s HQ is located. The pop-up shop can be found at 701 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, and is open daily from 11 a.m. until “sunset.” It’s unclear whether or not it will be a permanent space; Snap opened a pop-up in N.Y. last November before closing it in February. Snap, which went public on March 2, has the largest U.S. IPO since Alibaba went public in 2014.
Nike Remains Most Valuable Apparel Brand [Pret-a-Reporter Inbox]
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Nike is the world’s most valuable apparel brand, according to London-based valuation and strategy consultancy Brand Finance. Nike saw a 13 percent rise in brand value to $32 billion from the previous year’s $28 billion. Brand Finance noted that the athletic label’s strength (measured by marketing investment, familiarity, loyalty, staff satisfaction and corporate reputation) can be attributed to its innovative and state-of-the-art products for a range of consumer demographics. Nike most recently launched performance hijabs and a plus-size collection, and last year, it released the self-lacing HyperAdapt sneakers popularized by the film Back to the Future. H&M and Zara ranked as the second- and third-most valuable apparel brands at $19 billion (from $15.5 billion in 2016) and $14.4 billion (from $10 billion), respectively. Also worth noting? Marc Jacobs is the fastest-growing brand on Brand Finance’s list of the 50 most valuable apparel brands. The brand value is up 84 percent, due in part to the company’s restructuring, including the discontinuation and folding of its diffusion line, Marc by Marc Jacobs, into its main line to create a more cohesive image.
H&M Designs Unisex Denim Collection [Pret-a-Reporter Inbox]
H&M has launched Denim United, a unisex denim collection that will be available exclusively at hm.com on March 23. The range offers oversized jackets, slouchy shorts and comfy hoodies in a range of washes. Prices range from $14.99 to $49.99. The Denim United collection is designed with more sustainable materials, including organic cotton and recycled cotton, as part of H&M’s goal of “closing the loop on fashion.”
