American Apparel Opens New British and Hong Kong Stores
American Apparel continues its international growth.
So far in April the Los Angeles–based wholesaler and retailer has opened a new 2,922-square-foot store in Leeds, England, and a pop-up shop at Lane Crawford in Hong Kong.
Both stores represent an entreacute;e into previously untapped markets for American Apparel. The apparel maker collaborated with Lane Crawford on a pop-up shop that will be the only retail outlet for the brand in Hong Kong. American Apparel, which has permanent retail stores in Beijing and Shanghai, does not have a Hong Kong location. From April 9 through May 11, Lane Crawford will host the American Apparel shop-in-shop.
The Leeds store, which is located in an 800-year-old shopping district, is an hour away from the nearest American Apparel store.
“When the right location came up here, we didn’t hesitate to take it,” Marsha Brady, a creative director for American Apparel, said in a statement, referring to the Leeds store. In all, 15 employees will staff the Leeds store, bringing the company’s total staff in Great Britain to more than 300.
American Apparel, which had a tough fourth quarter in 2009, saw its fourth-quarter profits drop 21 percent to $3.05 million. The company, which operates 281 clothing stores, warned that sales at stores open at least a year will probably drop 10 percent in the first quarter of 2010.
The vertically integrated manufacturer and retailer employs approximately 10,000 people in 20 countries.—Erin Barajas
