Tuesday 14 April 2015

Get with the jet set and fly high with Jetlag - New premium fashion brand targets travel retail


With a name like Jetlag, it was only a matter of time before this contemporary meets comfort fashion brand targeted travel retail.

The company made its travel retail debut at the recent Duty Free Show of the Americas where Anthony T Sala, VP Sales & Merchandising Jetlag, introduced to the market a unique range of casual men’s-wear positioned as being perfect for cruise, travel and beach wear. A growing range of women’s-wear is also available.

What makes Jetlag different to any other premium fashion brand is not just its intense attention to remarkable details: from outstanding Italian fabrics, to innovative hand-sanded vintage washes. Nor is it just its distinctive unique styling with ultra-soft materials, quality hardware accents and a design team which reinvents and breathes new life into each season.

For travel retail, consumers will love the reversibility of many items within the range. Shorts, cargo pants, joggers and jackets which can be simply reversed from block colours to patterns – bold to pastels, camouflage and strong floral designs to cool shades. Two pieces for the price of one!

Apart from the reversibility, Jetlag offers items such as the gorgeously scrunchy padded jacket that folds up into a hand-sized pouch. Wearable straight from the pouch…no ironing needed…the jacket is simply perfect for airlines looking for something truly different to add to their inflight range.

Jetlag comes to travel retail with strong investment behind the brand. Established in Germany in 1993 to take men’s denim and cargo wear in a superior new direction, Jetlag USA is a division of Jordache Enterprises (best known for U.S.Polo Assn).

With presence across Europe, Russia and Germany, Jetlag’s launched into the USA market in 2005. An instant hit, today the brand is sold in some 200 plus higher end department stores and boutiques all over the country including Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and Macy’s.

It is Anthony T Sala, who joined the company in 2013 bringing blue-chip fashion experience with brands including Eddie Bauer, Puma, Ralph Lauren, Guess? and Calvin Klein, who has seen the potential for Jetlag in travel retail and took the decision to exhibit in Orlando. “ I am very glad that we were accepted at the show and the response to the Jetlag offer was phenomenal and we’ve had serious discussions with a number of retailers from all over the Americas,” he says.

Sala believes that there is real potential for Jetlag to have a branded presence in airport retail with its own boutiques, as well as Shop In Shops and Personalised Corners. “As a company we have the finance and logistical support to be able to create a unique and really very different offer to travellers in store. Jetlag offers a complete trend-setting fashion style – stylish and sophisticated yet, at the same time, functional and practical.” Sala also sees real potential for the brand through border shops, on cruise ships, and – for the fold up items – even inflight.

Jetlag is keen for the brand to move into travel retail globally and is interested in hearing from agents and distributors interested in discussing possible partnerships. “I believe we could work on both agency and distribution bases depending on the area and our own regional offices,” continues Sala. “It’s not a question of if we do this…we are going to do this, but recognise that working with companies already experienced in the travel retail business is the sensible way forward.”

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