Sugarfina is sweet on Sanrio brand
Candy maker to produce treats featuring Hello Kitty and friends with limited-edition release
Fans of the cute characters of Sanrio can now take a bite out of them — literally — thanks to a sweet new collaboration with Sugarfina.
The luxury candy brand, which operates a boutique inside Nordstrom in Vancouver, partnered with the global lifestyle brand to create a collection of candies inspired by the beloved Sanrio characters.
Dubbed Sanrio Loves Sugarfina, the collection includes Candy Bento Boxes and Candy Cubes packed with sweets in the shapes of characters such as Hello Kitty, Keroppi, Chococat, Badtz-Maru and more.
“I grew up with the Sanrio characters as a little girl and love them even more today,” Rosie O’Neill, Sugarfina’s co-founder and chief creative officer, said in a news release. “There’s something so irresistibly cute about Hello Kitty and her friends and this collaboration is a childhood dream come true.”
The limited-edition Sanrio Loves Sugarfina collection is available at Sugarfina boutiques worldwide. To learn more, visit sugarfina.com/hellokitty.
Simons launches unisex collection, fashion app
Canadian retailer Simons has a few new launches to celebrate this season.
The company recently announced the release of its first in-house collection designed for unisex wear.
The release, titled NV, features 24 item styles such as pants, sweaters, shirts and accessories — all in gender-neutral styles and colour ways. The designs are inspired by 1940s fashions and highlight shape, volume and “unusual” details.
The new NV collection launches in Simons stores nationwide, as well as online at Simons.ca on Sunday.
The company also recently celebrated the launch of its first shopping app, which it’s billing as the “first of its kind” in Canada.
In addition to providing a platform from which shoppers can peruse items from the retailer’s various in-house and outside brands, users can access various functions meant to streamline their experience.
The new Simons app keeps track of purchased pieces for wardrobing purposes, can be used to scan items in store to access full item details as well as boasts image-recognition software that can match an item the user has spotted online (or elsewhere) and suggest similar options available at Simons.
Addition Elle joins battle against breast cancer
Canadian fashion retailer Addition Elle is backing the battle against breast cancer with a month-long campaign.
Throughout October, breast cancer awareness month, the company will donate $5 to the Canadian Cancer Society for every two bras sold (to a minimum of $50,000).
Addition Elle will also be selling Amoena post-surgery breast forms in select stores throughout the month.
“As longtime supporters of breast cancer research and advocates for women’s health, we wanted to offer something more than the donation and so the in-store fittings of external breast forms by Amoena was a natural fit,” Roslyn Griner, vice-president of visual presentation and marketing, said in a news release.
Amoena is one of the worldwide leaders of “external breast forms,” according to the release, specializing in options that are both comfortable — and natural feeling.
The Weeknd x H&M: Part 2
Music superstar The Weeknd (a.k.a. Abel Tesfaye) took to social media earlier this month to announce the second round of his fashion collaboration with H&M.
Using his Instagram account @ theweeknd, the Canadian talent posted a promotional snap of himself wearing a piece from the collection — a stylish purple-and-black satin letterman jacket.
The 18-piece collection will include sweaters, jackets and other assorted “autumn essentials” and is expected to land in select H&M stores as well as online at hm.com on Thursday.
Bench collection gives back
Bench is going back to its roots with a new collection.
A continuation of its online #LoveMyHood campaign, which sees the brand and its customers showcase their neighbourhoods (and Bench goodies, of course) on social-media platforms, its Fall 2017 Heritage Collection sees the company partner with two charities to show some local love and promote “diversity in communities.”
Now through Oct. 9, the partial proceeds from the sale of items such as the Bench multi-coloured logo T-shirts, hoodies and special-edition pins will go to ENSEMBLE and the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI). To learn more, visit bench.ca/diversity.