Asia Fashion Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 27 Week of 11 August 2025
(1) Marithé + François Girbaud opens first store in Greater China
French casual brand Marithé + François Girbaud has officially entered the Chinese market, opening its first store in Shanghai’s Xintiandi on July 3.
(2) JF3 and Lakon Indonesia’s vision for empowering Asian craft and heritage
Mr. Soegianto Nagaria, Founder of the JF3 Fashion Festival, and Mrs. Thresia Mareta, Advisor for JF3 and Founder of Lakon Indonesia, speak to Vogue Singapore about shaping an ecosystem where artisans thrive.
(3) Shanghai to Host ‘Stories of a Miss’: Dior’s Exhibition Celebrating Miss Dior Fragrance
Shanghai will be the stage for Dior’s inaugural fragrance launch this September, as the maison enchants the city with a captivating exhibition of sculptures, immersive experiences, and exclusive art pieces.
(4) CLOT unveils London capsule collection a symphony of eastern and western street culture
CLOT’s new London Capsule Collection merges British heritage with Eastern design, featuring standout pieces like the trench-fabric Chinese Jacket with mandarin collars and punk-inspired plaid sets. Building on the vibrant cultural and stylistic convergence sparked by the London pop-up store, “CLOT Country Club,” this collection reinterprets new fashion trends.
(1) Marithé + François Girbaud opens first store in Greater China
(Photo Credit: retail asia/shutterstock photo)
French casualwear brand Marithé + François Girbaudhas officially launched in China, opening its flagship store in Shanghai’s Xintiandi on July 3. Operated by Misto Holdings, the debut marks the brand’s first presence in Greater China and kicks off a strategic regional expansion targeting fashion-conscious consumers.
Following the successful Shanghai launch which featured interactive events like DIY eco-bag stations and social media-friendly photo installations, Misto Holdings plans to open three additional stores in 2025. These will be located in Hangzhou’s IN77 Mall, Beijing’s Taikoo Li, and a second Shanghai location at iapm Mall, accelerating the brand’s footprint in key luxury retail hubs.
Simultaneously, Misto Holdings is expanding its Korean fashion portfolio in China – including brands Matin Kim, Raive, and Rest & Recreation – to capitalize on rising demand among Gen Z and millennial shoppers. This dual-brand strategy positions Misto to dominate both European minimalist and Korean trend-driven segments in China’s competitive apparel market.
News Source: https://retailasia.com/fashion/news/marithe-francois-girbaud-opens-first-store-in-greater-china
(2) JF3 and Lakon Indonesia’s vision for empowering Asian craft and heritage
(Photo Credit: VOGUE)
Indonesia’s JF3 Fashion Festival and Lakon Indonesia are spearheading a movement to preserve the archipelago’s artisan heritage through a comprehensive cultural ecosystem. Led by JF3 Chairman Mr. Soegianto Nagaria and Lakon founder Mrs. Thresia Mareta, the July-August 2025 festival spanned two Jakarta malls (Summarecon Mall Kelapa Gading and Serpong), integrating runway shows, retail exhibitions (like Niwasana by Fashion Village), streetwear programs (Code Street by DRP Jakarta), and educational panels with Vogue Singaporeand VMAN SEA. This initiative aims to uplift traditional crafts while empowering local communities across Indonesia’s islands.
Lakon Indonesia focuses on handcrafted traditional fabrics made by artisans nationwide, with Mareta emphasizing their mission transcends commerce: “We’re building an ecosystem where artisans can earn a living from their craft and have stable jobs.”By providing retail platforms like their Kelapa Gading store (hosting 200+ local brands) and educational initiatives such as the PINTU Incubator and Future Fashion Award, the organization tackles the critical challenge of preserving endangered crafts. This approach regenerates interest among younger generations who previously hesitated to continue family traditions due to livelihood concerns.
The festival’s talent-regeneration programs, including the JF3 Model Search and JF3 Talk series directly address the threat of cultural erosion by creating pride and economic viability for artisans. Mareta notes artisans now see “a future in their heritage,” transforming storied techniques into sustainable careers. By merging cultural preservation with commercial innovation, JF3 and Lakon Indonesia not only safeguard Indonesia’s artistic legacy but also position these traditions as dynamic contributors to Southeast Asia’s creative economy.
News Source: https://vogue.sg/soegianto-nagaria-thresia-mareta-jf3-interview/
(3) Shanghai to Host ‘Stories of a Miss’: Dior’s Exhibition Celebrating Miss Dior Fragrance
(Photo Credit: Modaes)
Shanghai’s Fosun Foundation will host “Stories of Miss Dior” from September 13 to October 8, marking Christian Dior’s first fragrance exhibition in China. Curated as a tribute to the “enduring bond between Dior and China” (per Dior Parfums CEO Véronique Courtois), the showcase will feature a monumental sculpture of the iconic 1952 “Bobby bottle” – designed as a seated dog with a “J’appartiens à Miss Dior” neck plate – at the museum’s entrance. This centerpiece embodies the exhibition’s mission to celebrate the fragrance’s heritage through immersive storytelling.
Designed by OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture), the exhibition spans Fosun Foundation’s first and second floors with thematic rooms guided by the perfume bottle’s signature ribbon. Visitors will explore Miss Dior’s origins through multidisciplinary installations blending haute couture, fine art, and floral notes, including an embroidered interior garden by French artist Eva Jospin (known for Dior runway décors). Limited editions, paintings, and sculptures will contextualize the fragrance’s artistic legacy across eras.
Following prior editions at Paris’ Grand Palais (2013) and Tokyo’s Roppongi Museum (2024), this Shanghai iteration deepens Dior’s dialogue between perfumery and visual culture. The exhibition highlights collaborations with artists like Jospin while emphasizing the brand’s cross-cultural connections. As Courtois notes, it invites visitors to “rediscover the spirit, creativity and emotion that define Miss Dior,” positioning the fragrance as a timeless bridge between French craftsmanship and global artistry.
News Source: https://www.modaes.com/global/look/miss-diors-stories-of-a-young-lady-with-shanghai-as-destination
(4) CLOT unveils London capsule collection a symphony of eastern and western street culture
(Photo Credit: Juice Store)
CLOT introduces its London Capsule Collection, redefining cross-cultural streetwear through a masterful fusion of Eastern aesthetics and British heritage. Inspired by the brand’s “CLOT Country Club” pop-up in London, the collection reinterprets iconic British elements—Union flag motifs, rock/punk influences, football culture, and urban lifestyles—through CLOT’s distinctive Eastern design lens. This creative synthesis offers streetwear enthusiasts a boundary-defying style journey that blends cultural narratives with contemporary fashion.
The collection’s centerpiece is the Chinese Jacket, crafted from luxurious trench coat fabric and featuring traditional Chinese buttons and a sleek mandarin collar to merge Eastern elegance with British utility. Equally notable are the Chinese Plaid Jacket and Trousers, which channel 1970s punk rebellion while incorporating functional details like zipper hems, adjustable buckles, and signature Chinese fastenings. These pieces exemplify the capsule’s ethos of blending cultural motifs with versatile, wearable design.
Complementing the outerwear are graphic T-shirts and accessories that showcase CLOT’s signature wit, including a standout tee transforming the iconic British baked beans breakfast into bold logo art. Retro football jerseys reinterpreted with tiger-stripe motifs and tote bags featuring subverted British iconography further demonstrate the collection’s playful yet profound dialogue between Eastern and Western visual languages, revitalizing classic symbols with contemporary streetwear sensibilities.
