
Leap Expanding into Five Additional Domestic Markets
Leap has announced the expansion of its store network into five additional domestic markets, allowing the brand to deploy omni-channel retail stores using its platform in Boston; Columbus, Ohio; Greenwich, Conn., Philadelphia; and Washington, D.C.

Victoria’s Secret PINK Taps First Male Spokesperson
Victoria’s Secret PINK has announced Darren Barnet as the brand’s first male celebrity brand ambassador as part of the brand’s focus on inclusivity. The “Never Have I Ever” star will work with the brand to promote its Gender Free collection throughout the year.

G-III Apparel to Purchase Karl Lagerfeld Brand
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. has agreed to acquire the remaining 81 percent stake in Karl Lagerfeld for $210 million in cash, making G-III the sole owner of the company.

RSVLTS and Big League Chew Partner for Apparel Launch
RSVLTS, creators of pop culture and lifestyle apparel, has announced a new partnership with bubblegum brand Big League Chew to bring a new collaborative apparel collection that will debut eight new original character to some original packaging designs.

Atlanta Apparel Continues to Break Records With Customer Service
Trade Shows
Showing inimitable Southern hospitality, Atlanta Apparel, held April 11–15 concurrent with VOW Bridal and Formal at AmericasMart Atlanta.

WGSN Launches TrendCurve+
Technology
Trend-forecasting company WGSN has announced the launch of TrendCurve+, a fashion-planning tool that combines data sources across social, search, shelf, shows and sentiment with advanced machine learning to tell customers which trends to invest in, how much and when.

Functional Fabric Fair Portland Brings New Features to Latest Edition
Trade Shows
The spring edition of Functional Fabric Fair Portland—powered by Performance Days took place April 4–5 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Ore.

Coachella’s Return Brings New Festival Fashion Trends
Festival Fashion
Song, sun and streetwear filled the Revolve Festival, held April 16–17 at the Merv Griffin Estate in La Quinta, Calif., and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, held April 15–17 and 22–24 at the Indio California Empire Polo Club. Fashion trends included a return to the ’70s, shades of neon, bucket hats and lots of crochet.

Amsterdam Denim Days Follows on the Heels of Kingpins
Trade Shows
Following the Kingpins trade show’s return to physical events in Amsterdam April 20–21, Amsterdam Denim Days returned April 22–23 at De Hallen and Denim City.

Kingpins Holds First In-Person Event Since 2019
Trade Shows
Denim trade show Kingpins returned to Amsterdam April 20–21 for its first in-person show in over two years at SugarCity, a former sugar factory located on the outskirts of Amsterdam.

Los Angeles Swim Week Returns to L.A.
Los Angeles Swim Week
Art Hearts Fashion has announced it is set to host Los Angeles Swim Week June 11–14.

Lenny Combines Vintage and Upcycled for One-of-a-Kind Looks
Fashion
With thrifting increasingly becoming the favored way to shop and the resale market booming as sustainability becomes a focal point of modern shoppers, vintage and upcycled clothing have been thriving as the pandemic sparked a rise in consumers shopping with their consciences as well as their wallets.

OTD Opens Flagship West Coast Store on Sunset Boulevard
OTD Store
On the Sunset Strip and part of the shopping, dining and work experience The Sunset, John Varvatos opened his first West Coast store on April 28 for his latest endeavor, OTD—On This Day.

SHEIN Announces Exclusive Partnership with Stagecoach
Global fashion retailer SHEIN has announced the brand will be the exclusive fashion sponsor for the 2022 Stagecoach Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

Champs Opens New Experiential Store Concept
Champs Sports, part of Foot Locker, Inc., has unveiled the brand’s new retail concept, Champs Sports Homefield in Pembroke Pines, Fla., with the grand opening taking place April 22-24.

Texworld NYC, Apparel Sourcing NYC and Home Textiles Sourcing Return to In-Person Shows
The co-located Texworld New York City, Apparel Sourcing New York City and Home Textiles Sourcing shows are returning to the Javits Center July 19–21. The largest sourcing event on the East Coast returns after a rising number of COVID cases during the winter caused show organizer Messe Frankfurt to cancel the in-person segment of the shows and shift to virtual shows.

Rebag and Moda Operandi Partner to Offer Selection of Luxury Items
Luxury handbag and accessories reseller Rebag has partnered with fashion curation platform Moda Operandi to launch a digital trunk show that will give Moda Operandi customers access to over 115 of Rebag’s hottest items.

Express Announces First Collegiate Athlete Style Ambassadors
Fashion retailer Express, Inc. has announced an expansion of the brand’s styling community by announcing Ohio State University football players CJ Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the brand’s first collegiate athlete style ambassadors.

Digital Fashion House The Fabricant Raises $14 Million in Series A Funding Round
The Fabricant, a decentralized digital fashion house that operates at the intersection of fashion, gaming and blockchain, has announced a Series A round of financing led by Greenfield One, an early-stage crypto fund, with additional participation from Red DAO, Sfermion, and Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary’s Sound Ventures, among others.