All About Coronavirus/COVID-19

[Benn98]

...how it is affecting the fashion sales, publishing, events, and ...you.

Magazine Editors’ Favorite Ellie Awards Postponed Amid Coronavirus Concerns

A number of media events have been canceled as authorities around the country move to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

By Kathryn Hopkins on March 9, 2020


Calendars are becoming increasingly empty.

New York’s media world was due to descend on East Williamsburg’s Brooklyn Steel music venue Thursday evening for the annual National Magazine Awards — also known as The Ellies in a nod to its elephant-shaped award. But a raft of glossy magazine editors are now suddenly free after the American Society of Magazine Editors and Columbia University-sponsored event was postponed amid concerns over the coronavirus. At the latest count, there are 142 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York state and officials are urging organizations against mass gatherings as they work to battle the deadly disease.

“ASME fully hoped to host the Ellie Awards this week,” said Sidney Holt, executive director of the ASME. “Given, however, the near-certain spread of coronavirus in New York, ASME has concluded that postponing the awards is the right thing to do.”

The organization plans to reschedule the event for later in the spring. The award winners will be announced then, while David Granger, the editor in chief of Esquire magazine for almost two decades until 2016, will be honored for his work in the media industry.

Last year’s winners included David Remnick, editor in chief of The New Yorker, who took home four Ellies, pushing up his total haul over his career to 48. Adam Moss of New York Magazine, whose office was just closed because of the COVID-19, was another big winner of the night. But as the old guard reigned, that new guard still got a look in. Indeed, Erin Bried, the founder of children’s magazine Kazoo, won the General Excellence, Special Interest award.

A number of media events have been canceled as authorities around the country move to stop the spread of the virus. On Friday, Time magazine postponed its 100 Women of the Year launch event, due to take place on International Women’s Day with news personality Katie Couric. Just hours later, the City of Austin canceled South by Southwest, the annual music-festival-turned-tech-and-media event. This is the first time in 34 years that it will not take place.

WWD

 

[Benn98]

N.Y. Magazine Owner Closes Office After Non-Vox Employee in Building Tested Positive for Coronavirus

The office, located in downtown Manhattan, is due to reopen on March 12.

By Kathryn Hopkins on March 9, 2020

Staffers at New York Magazine and The Cut were among the Vox Media staffers sent home today after a non-Vox employee working in the same downtown Manhattan building tested positive for the coronavirus.

A Vox representative confirmed to WWD that the Vox office, located at 250 Vesey Street, will be closed until March 12. In the meantime, staffers will work remotely.

“We learned today that a non-Vox Media employee in the 250 Vesey Street building tested positive for COVID-19,” she said. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are closing the Vox Media offices at 250 Vesey Street until Thursday, March 12, to thoroughly clean and disinfect. We will closely monitor developments to determine whether to reopen on Thursday. The health and safety of our employees is our number-one concern.”

Vox purchased the 51-year-old, biweekly New York Magazine in September. As part of the deal, it also got its hands on New York Media’s five other brands — Vulture, The Cut, Intelligencer, The Strategist and Grub Street. It already owned Vox, Eater, Curbed, SB Nation, The Verge, Polygon and Recode.

According to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the total number of COVID-19 cases in New York is 142. This is the largest number in any U.S. state and includes executive director of the Port Authority Rick Cotton.

These statistics came as New York Mayor Bill de Blasio urged New Yorkers to work remotely where possible as officials attempt to combat the deadly virus that began in China and has since spread to various countries around the world.

“For a business that can allow more employees to telecommute, we want you to do that,” he said in a briefing Monday. “We simply want to reduce the number of people on mass transit just to open up some more space,” he added.

WWD

 

[Benn98]

Which Major Events Have Been Canceled Because of Coronavirus?

The outbreak has caused cancellations and disruptions across the music, film and fashion industries and beyond.

By Layla Ilchi on March 10, 2020

The coronavirus has spread to over 80 nations, including the U.S., Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in the Hubei Province of China in late January — and its impact is being felt across myriad industries.

The virus — which has affected roughly 115,700 people and caused 4,083 deaths as of March 10 — is now the cause of a number of other cancellations and postponements in other industries, including tech conferences such as SXSW and music festivals, including the Ultra Music Festival and reportedly Coachella.

These cancellations have led many to speculate what major event the virus will affect next, with some wondering the fate of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. COVID-19 has rocked the fashion world acutely, shifting international fashion weeks, upcoming trade shows and other events globally.

WWD compiled a list of major events that the public is speculating will be canceled in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Read on to see the status of many upcoming events in the fashion, film and music industries.

Beautycon: Not Canceled

Beauty festival organizer, Beautycon, is slated to host its Los Angeles festival on Aug. 1 to 2 and its New York festival on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Organizers are also planning a Tokyo version of the festival later this year.

The company declined to comment on any plans to go forward with all festivals.

Cannes Film Festival: Not Canceled

The Cannes Film Festival has not been canceled and will take place from May 12 to 23.

The festival issued a statement to Deadline on its decision on March 5, stating: “We understand the concern that has been expressed following the postponement of Cannes Series and the cancellation of MIPTV, but as of today nothing indicates that the Cannes Film Festival will not take place.”

On March 6, organizers released a statement on its web site stating that the official selection of films will be revealed during a press conference on April 16 by president Pierre Lescure.

The CFDA Awards: Not Canceled

The Council of Fashion Designers of America has confirmed it is going forward with its CFDA Awards, which will be hosted at the New York Public Library on June 8.

CFDA Bridal Week and Men’s Fashion Week: Not Canceled

The CFDA also confirmed that New York Bridal Week in April and Men’s Fashion Week in June are not canceled.

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival: Reportedly Postponed

According to Billboard, Coachella organizers are working to postpone the annual, two-weekend music festival held in Indio, Calif. to October due to the outbreak.

Organizers have yet to release a statement on the postponement, but it has been reported that the festival will now take place during the weekends of Oct. 9 and 16. The festival was originally scheduled for the weekends of April 10 and 17.

Facebook F8 Developers Conference: Canceled

Facebook has canceled its annual F8 Developers Conference, which was scheduled for May 5 and 6 in San Jose, Calif. The conference brings together developers and creators around the world to discuss the future of technology.

Facebook director of platform partnerships, Konstantinos Papamiltiadis confirmed the news in a blogpost on Feb. 27.

Frieze New York: Not Canceled

The Frieze New York art fair is still on as of Feb. 27, running from May 7 to 10.

A spokesperson confirmed the news to Artnet, stating: “We are moving forward with plans for the show to take place as scheduled.”

Google Cloud Next: Canceled

Google has canceled its Cloud Next conference — which focuses on the company’s cloud technology — scheduled for April 6 to 8 in San Francisco.

Instead the company is hosting a Google Cloud Next: Digital Connect option, which is a free, multi-day event that people can access virtually where they can stream keynote speeches and sessions.

Met Gala: Not Canceled

Sources close to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute confirmed it is going forward with the Met Gala on May 4 in New York. This year’s theme is “About Time: Fashion and Duration.”

The Summer Olympics: Not Canceled

Olympic officials have not yet canceled the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which are scheduled to begin on July 24 and will last for roughly two weeks.

As of March 3, the International Olympic Committee plans to go forward with the summer games, with IOC president Thomas Bach stating on Twitter: “The IOC remains fully committed to the success of the Olympic Games #Tokyo2020. I encourage all athletes to prepare for the games with ‘full steam.’”

San Diego Comic-Con: Not Canceled

Comic-con organizers have not canceled its San Diego Comic-Con, arguably one of its biggest nationwide conventions. The conference will take place from July 23 to 26.

A spokesperson stated to TVLine that organizers are “working with local officials as it pertains to the COVID-19 situation and continues to monitor developments closely.”

SXSW: Canceled

The City of Austin has canceled SXSW, that was scheduled for March 13 to 22 in Austin, Tex.

Organizers released a statement on its web site on March 6 with the news, stating: “We are exploring options to reschedule the event and are working to provide a virtual SXSW online experience as soon as possible for 2020 participants, starting with SXSW EDU.”

Ted2020: Canceled

TED has canceled its TED2020 conference in Vancouver on April 20 to 24. Organizers will either postpone the conference for July or hold it virtually, according to the BBC.

Tribeca Film Festival: Not Canceled

The 2020 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City is going forward, with dates scheduled for April 15 to 26.

“We are tracking the coronavirus situation closely,” a Tribeca spokesperson said in a statement. “If we receive pertinent information that requires us to make any changes to the Tribeca Film Festival taking place from April 15 to 26, we will provide an updated statement. As of right now, there are no direct impacts to our festival.”

Ultra Music Festival: Canceled

The annual EDM festival scheduled for March 20 to 22 in Miami has been canceled. It is postponing the festival to March 26 to 28, 2021.

Festival organizers released a statement on the cancellation on its web site on March 4, stating: “We completely understand how extremely frustrating this is because so many of you are looking forward to Ultra, having already made travel arrangements. This is, however, an unprecedented issue which is not being taken lightly, and we must continue to defer to the authorities for guidance.”

WWD

 

[Benn98]

Max Mara Cancels St. Petersburg Resort 2021 Show

The show was set to be held in the Russian city on May 25 but in light of the coronavirus outbreak, the company is taking "precautionary measures."

By Luisa Zargani on March 10, 2020

ONE MORE: Add Max Mara to the list of brands canceling their shows.

On Tuesday, the Italian fashion house said the resort 2021 show will no longer be held in St. Petersburg, Russia, on May 25 due to “precautionary measures” in light of the recent global outbreak of coronavirus. Additional details were not provided.

The fashion calendar is being reshuffled as brands and organizations react to the health emergency. Giorgio Armani has postponed its Dubai event from April to November, and Versace has deferred its coed cruise show, which was supposed to be held in the U.S. in an undisclosed location on May 16, without providing a new date. Gucci said it was canceling plans to host its cruise 2021 fashion show in San Francisco on May 18, without announcing a new timing and location.

The decision followed Prada’s move to postpone its cruise show, which had been scheduled for May 21 in Tokyo. Several trade shows, from Mido and the Salone del Mobile in Milan to Cosmoprof in Bologna, Watches & Wonders in Geneva and Baselworld, have also been postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Other events are still on the calendar for the time being. Chanel is expected to be heading to the island of Capri on May 7 and Dior on May 9 to Lecce, located in the region of Puglia where Maria Grazia Chiuri is originally from.

WWD

 

[Benn98]

As Coronavirus Lockdowns Hit Supply Chains, Luxury Fashion Is Not Immune

Isabel Togoh Forbes Staff
Mar 10, 2020,02:19pm EST

Topline: Luxury retailers have been hit by a double-whammy of falling demand from Chinese buyers, and lockdowns across major manufacturing regions in Italy that have now spread nationwide.

• Suppliers of textiles and leather goods told Reuters that demand had been slashed from the likes of Gucci, Prada and Salvatore Ferragamo.
• “We were producing 880 to 1,000 bags a month for Gucci. In February we made 450 and we have no orders for March,” one owner of a supplier to the Kering-owned luxury brand told Reuters.

• Italy has the largest cluster of Covid-19 cases outside China, and on Monday, a lockdown imposed on the worst hit regions and cities in the north, including financial and fashion capital Milan, was extended to the entire nation.
• The tail-end of fashion month was hit by mounting concerns about the spread of the virus in Europe, with some editors leaving Paris fashion week early, while Giorgio Armani’s fashion show was displayed to an empty room and streamed online.
• Like many other industries, the $320 billion luxury goods sector is wracked with uncertainty as to how long the effects of Covid-19 will last, with many retailers saying that they are monitoring the situation closely.
• "The outbreak of COVID-19 has already negatively impacted the luxury industry," Fflur Roberts, head of Luxury at Euromonitor International, told Forbes. "Luxury companies such as Burberry, Tapestry and Capri, have already adjusted their sales forecasts for 2020 down."

Tangent: Italy is the 5th largest market globally for personal luxury goods, with leather goods dominating sales, Roberts said. Meanwhile, in 2018, Chinese shoppers accounted for one-third of luxury goods purchases, according to Bain & Company.

Crucial comment: Honor Strachan, retail analyst at GlobalData, told Forbes that while brands might be insulated in the immediate term, if the public health crisis continues, it could have adverse effects on stock levels as far as the Autumn and festive seasons.

• Short term impact on supply chains: The immediate impact on Italy-dependent supply chains should be small, given long lead times and how much they rely on “continuity and core lines, which they will have a higher stock of.”
• Impact on brands: “Brands sourcing materials from Italy but manufacturing elsewhere will be exploring opportunities with new suppliers, but this is challenging given the quality control and reliance on trusted suppliers to maintain product standards - especially if brand credentials lean on Italian heritage and craftsmanship,” Strachan said.
• “However, we think brands should have built sufficient stock levels into their supply chain to offset short term disruptions.”

Which brands will feel the biggest impact? Some of the biggest Italian names of the moment. Strachan told Forbes: “Domestic brands will feel the biggest hit, given tourist appeal of purchasing Italian brands while visiting Italy, so Prada SPA, Giorgio Armani, Valentino and the Kering group which owns Italian heritage brands such as Gucci, Bottega Veneta & Pomellato will suffer weaker sales in H1 2020.

“LVMH is also exposed with brands such as Fendi & Pucci likely to experience weaker footfall.”

But if the epidemic can be contained by the end of the month, "travel and luxury shopping demands will rebound" and drive luxury sales for the rest of 2020, Roberts said.

What to watch for: Financial results from Italian luxury goods firms Prada and Salvatore Ferragamo later this month.

News peg: The spread of Covid-19 has raised questions about how supply chains—of companies from Apple to Tesla—can better insulate themselves against widespread disruption. Meanwhile, luxury executives are bracing for a decline of up to $40 billion in sales this year, Vogue Business reports.

In numbers: Italy’s economy is expected to shrink at least 0.3% this quarter, AP reports, as key industries—tourism, leisure, luxury—face weakened demand, while more people work from home. Several U.S. and European airlines have cancelled flights to Italy, which the lockdown of its entire 60 million-strong population includes a ban on non-essential travel within the country. Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte earlier this mnt pledged $8.5 billion to offset the economic impact of Covid-19, but on Monday hinted that the stimulus could be much larger.

Forbes

 

[Armani]

Gucci cancelled its resort show as well.

As for NYC not closing all its schools and Coachella still undecided on what extent of action to take, it’s insane to read such news... especially considering the amount of crowds that populate both areas (in terms of Coachella, during the festival).

Update: Coachella has delayed the festival until October.

 

[SophiaVB]

Today was day #1 of my quarantine! My European coworkers are in a panic & my China coworkers have stated that it feels quite contained there.

 

[Armani]

Coronavirus Fashion Fallout Continues

Coronavirus Fashion Fallout Continues
PVH, Burberry and Kering were all showing signs of strain tied to the outbreak.

Fashion is still holding its breath, trying to gauge the full impact of the coronavirus.

On Wednesday, the order of the day seemed to be to acknowledge the disruption that has followed the outbreak — which has shuttered stores and tied up supply chains — keep the focus on protecting employees and postpone events where necessary.

PVH Corp. said the majority of its owned and franchised Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger stores in China were now temporarily closed. Kering chief executive officer and chairman François-Henri Pinault said it was “impossible at this time to fully evaluate” the outbreak’s impact and Burberry postponed its show in Shanghai, scheduled for April 23.

Burberry had planned to take its fall 2020 show to China, and to showcase some new looks that were to be exclusive to the region. The brand said it was too soon to confirm a new date for the event.

Other major events have been canceled outright. Organizers pulled the plug on the tech-focused Mobile World Congress set to be held in Barcelona this month given coronavirus complications.

One of the biggest questions for businesses that rely on China is just when the outbreak will subside and life can return to normal. Some companies are slowly coming back after the extended Lunar New Year, but millions of people remain isolated.

“We are hearing lots of different theories on the speed and shape of the rebound, but the reality is that it is too early to predict,” Pinault said.

For now, businesses is at a virtual standstill for many.

PVH said the Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger stores that are open are working on a truncated schedule and “experiencing significantly lower than planned traffic and sales trends.”

“Our priority is the well-being of our associates and business partners, their families and local communities, and our hearts are with those that have been impacted by the coronavirus,” said Emanuel Chirico, chairman and ceo of PVH. “I want to sincerely thank our dedicated associates in Asia who are going above and beyond, with many working remotely from home, to drive our business forward.”

Last year, Greater China accounted for about 7 percent of the company’s revenues while the whole Asia-Pacific region made up approximately 16 percent of the top line.

But sales are only part of the equation as China is also an important production hub with many cut and sew factories, but also raw material producers and component-makers.

Roughly one-fifth of the company’s goods are delivered from China — and about half of those deliveries are bound for the U.S.

Given that the early part of the coronavirus outbreak only impacted the last two weeks of PVH’s fiscal year, the company reaffirmed its adjusted guidance for fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.79. Without the virus, PVH said it believes it would have topped estimates.

On a net basis, the company said its earnings would also take a hit from an actuarial loss tied to its retirement plans as well as other previously revealed items, including the $105 million charge to restructure the Calvin Klein business, laid out just over a year ago.

“While the coronavirus will impact our businesses in the near-term, our long-term growth opportunities across the Asia-Pacific region are significant,” Chirico said. “Given our diversified, global business model and the strength of our iconic brands, we are well-positioned to manage this period of uncertainty.”

 

[Armani]

Ralph Lauren Cancels April Fashion Show Due to the Coronavirus Outbreak
Lauren didn't participate in New York Fashion Week in February.

Add Ralph Lauren to the list of companies that are canceling events due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Lauren said Tuesday night it has decided to cancel its April fashion show, which was planned for an unspecified location in New York.

“In light of the ongoing uncertainties related to the novel coronavirus around the world, we have decided to cancel our fall 2020 show as a precautionary measure and out of respect for our teams, partners and consumers. Our primary focus remains on their health and safety,” said a Ralph Lauren spokesman.

As reported, Lauren didn’t participate in New York Fashion Week in February and had instead decided to show separately in late April. Lauren had been on the “see-now-buy-now schedule” since September 2016, and he was planning to get out of that rhythm and routine and show fall 2020 in April.

WWD reported this week that Gucci decided to cancel its cruise 2021 fashion show that was slated for San Francisco on May 18. The decision follows Prada’s move to postpone its cruise show, which had been scheduled for May 21 in Tokyo. Several trade shows, from Mido and the Salone del Mobile in Milan to Cosmoprof in Bologna, Watches & Wonders in Geneva and Baselworld, have also postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Meantime, Chanel is still headed to the island of Capri on May 7, and Dior on May 9 to Lecce, located in the region of Puglia. Max Mara is showing in Saint Petersburg on May 25.

 

[Armani]

Chanel Postpones Repeat Show in Beijing Due to Coronavirus
The French fashion house had planned to stage a repeat show of its Métiers d'Art collection in China in May.

NO SHOW: Chanel has postponed plans to restage its Métiers d’Art show in Beijing in May due to uncertainty over the coronavirus epidemic.

“Considering the current situation and following the guidance of Chinese authorities, Chanel has decided to postpone its project of a replica of the Paris — 31 Rue Cambon 2019/20 Métiers d’art collection in May in Beijing to a later and more appropriate moment,” the house said in a statement on Monday.

“Chanel is monitoring the situation closely. At the foremost are the health and wellbeing of its teams and clients,” the French fashion house added.

The collection was initially shown at the Grand Palais in Paris on Dec. 4 and was scheduled to travel to China before another showing in London on June 4 at Old Billingsgate, a 19th-century Victorian building overlooking the Thames River.

Meanwhile, Prada said on Monday it would postpone its resort show in Japan, scheduled for May 21, as a precautionary measure in light of the uncertainties connected to the spread of the coronavirus.

The outbreak, which has killed more than 1,600 people in China, has prompted authorities to seal off entire cities and airlines to suspend traffic to and from China. As a result, Chinese designers have canceled planned presentations and shows overseas during the current round of fashion weeks.

Chinese buyers, editors and influencers are staying home, while the upcoming fashion weeks in Beijing and Shanghai have also been postponed. François-Henri Pinault, chairman and chief executive officer of Kering, said last week he expected at least 30 percent fewer guests at the Gucci show in Milan on Wednesday.

 

[Armani]

Six Chinese Brands Cancel Paris Shows Due to Coronavirus
Masha Ma, Shiatzy Chen, Uma Wang, Jarel Zhang, Calvin Luo and Maison Mai have pulled out of Paris Fashion Week.

BOWING OUT: The coronavirus has taken its toll on the Paris Fashion Week schedule: Masha Ma, Shiatzy Chen, Uma Wang, Jarel Zhang, Calvin Luo and Maison Mai have canceled their planned events in the French capital because of the outbreak, organizers said on Tuesday.

La Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, French fashion’s governing body, announced the cancellations as it gears up for the fall ready-to-wear shows and presentations, due to take place from Feb. 24 to March 3.

“The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode will make available all its communications platforms to allow these brands to share the work they had planned to present both in France and overseas,” the federation said in a statement.

In a separate statement, Shiatzy Chen chief executive officer Harry Wang said: “We think it is the most appropriate action after deep thoughts and considerations. We will now focus on a new format of communication to introduce our new collection.”

The French initiative comes on the heels of a similar move by Italian fashion authorities, as Chinese buyers and editors sit out this round of European shows due to the draconian travel restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the virus.

The Camera Nazionale della Moda said it would aim to involve members of the Chinese fashion community during Milan Fashion Week, running Feb. 19 to 24, through its “China, we are with you” project.

Live-streamed shows, dedicated social media platforms to comment on the collections and the creation of ad-hoc videos, backstage content and interviews will enable buyers and designers to partake remotely in the fashion experience.

As part of the initiative, eight Chinese emerging designers that should have presented their collections in Milan inside the Camera della Moda’s Fashion Hub space will be able to showcase their lineups digitally with video projections and explain their inspirations via live video calls.

The upcoming fashion weeks in Beijing and Shanghai, due to begin on March 25 and March 26, respectively, have also been postponed.

 

[Armani]

LVMH Cancels Cocktail for Designer Prize Semifinalists
LVMH gave no reason for the cancellation, although it comes on the same day that France recorded its first death from the coronavirus.

CHAMPAGNE ON ICE: The cocktail celebrating the 20 semifinalists for the LVMH Prize for Young Designers is the latest event to fall victim to the coronavirus scare.

Organizers of the gathering, to be held at the luxury conglomerate’s headquarters on Avenue Montaigne in Paris, said they have decided to cancel the event, originally scheduled for Feb. 27 at 6 p.m., though participants will still show their collections throughout the day on Thursday and Friday.

In a brief statement, LVMH gave no reason for the cancellation, although it comes on the same day that France recorded its first death from the coronavirus. Six Chinese brands have scrapped their planned events in the French capital because of the outbreak, and scores of editors from China and elsewhere are skipping the season.

Gigi Hadid recently joined the committee of experts for the seventh edition of the LVMH award and is the designated ambassador for the showroom, where the semifinalists show their creations to the panel made up of 68 industry figures. What shape her endorsement will now take could not immediately be learned.

The crowded annual event is usually an opportunity for emerging talents to rub shoulders with top LVMH executives, including chairman and chief executive officer Bernard Arnault and his daughter Delphine, in addition to designers and celebrities.

“Dear experts, your participation remains crucial and we will be thrilled to welcome you to this semifinal,” LVMH said.

 

[Armani]

Coronavirus Sends Ripples Through Fashion’s Supply Chain
The retail industry expects a decline in imports as the outbreak interrupts production in China and beyond.

The coronavirus is working its way back to the supply chain.

Already the outbreak has forced fashion retailers to close in much of China while grounding the luxe shopper with travel restrictions. Now the fallout is making its way to the shipping world, where the supply chain strain is starting to become more clear.

The coronavirus is contributing to a projected 12.9 percent slowdown at U.S. ports this month, according the National Retail Federation’s monthly Global Port Tracker report, produced in conjunction with consultancy Hackett Associates.

The ports are expected to see roughly 1.41 million twenty-foot equivalent units this month — well below the 1.54 million TEU projected prior to the outbreak. (The metric looks at the volume of goods within a 20-foot-long cargo container). The NRF projections cover imports that arrive through about a dozen major U.S. ports, including in Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, Miami and Houston.

The effect on the supply chain more broadly may be harder to quantify at present, though it’s expected to ripple through various parts of the shipping process, said Jonathan Gold, the NRF’s vice president for supply chain and customs policy.

“It’s not just the factories that are affected, but the infrastructure, too — the ports, vessels, trucking — all the ancillary services associated with cargo movement,” he said. “Everybody is still in the assessing stage, and trying to figure out what the impact is going to be, and what contingency plans can be made to avoid shortages on store shelves — which nobody expects at this point.”

The NRF is also surveying its members to learn how factory closures in China may be affecting production elsewhere, said Gold.

“There are factories around the world that rely on components from China — whether it is raw materials or other inputs that could have an impact as well,” he said.

The impact is starting to become more clear all around.

“If you thought two weeks ago that this would maybe be a temporary issue and that in a couple of weeks things would be up and running, it now feels like this is going to be a longer-term issue,” said Karen Giberson, president of the Accessories Council.

“From all aspects, from retail to sales there to even developing future product, it looks like it’s going to be compromised for the foreseeable future,” Giberson said. “I think we will see disruption immediately and down the line because all products developed now or placed now will be potentially delayed. I’ve heard a number of factories are delaying opening after the holiday.

“It’s the synthetic bags that are harder to create in other places; the raw materials aren’t available,” she said. “Even if you are making things in other countries, your components will be delayed.”

At the recently completed MAGIC show in Las Vegas last week, 40 percent of the exhibitors within the Sourcing section of the show were unable to make the trip due to the travel ban from Asia, according to Tom Nastos, chief commercial officer of Informa Markets Fashion division.

It seems the coronavirus — and its many disruptions and threats — is a topic that cuts across the industry, from shipping experts to the trade show circuit to executives at New York Fashion Week, who were swapping stories and worrying over their next shipment and the one after that.

Their compatriots in China may have to wait to swap supply-chain woes. WWD has learned the upcoming fashion weeks in Beijing and Shanghai will be postponed in light of the outbreak.

Shanghai Fashion Week was supposed to start March 26, and Beijing’s China Fashion Week would run from March 25 to 31.

No new dates have been revealed, as designers, trade show owners, fashion week committees and the local governments have not yet been able to agree on a time slot that would still make sense for brands to sell and be safe for the government to approve.

In recent years, Shanghai Fashion Week has risen to become one of the most powerful regional fashion weeks with a big talent pool and strong Chinese spending. It hosts the biggest fashion trade fair in Asia. More than 1,700 brands participated in seven of the official showroom and trade show events last season. Meanwhile, Beijing’s China Fashion Week aspires to attract young designers and gain international appeal to make itself more relevant to the global fashion community.

Meanwhile, Chinese buyers and executives are not traveling to the overseas trade shows and fashion capitals for the designer runway shows, since in some cases countries have banned Chinese visitors.

Most of China went back to work on Monday after the Lunar New Year holiday, but many fear that the increased traveling could bring a second wave of cases.

The usual Lunar New Year holiday spans about a week, although in practice the holidays and related closures go on for longer. This time, those closures have been extended further, without a clear end in sight.

There were at least 37,558 confirmed cases of the virus as of Sunday, according to the latest situation report by the World Health Organization, which is based on government information. Most of those cases are in China, where there have been at least 812 deaths as a result of the virus, according to the WHO report.

Ports in the U.S. are generally getting their cues from government agencies responding to the outbreak, including the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as their group The American Association of Port Authorities.

The U.S. Coast Guard also has a captain of the port at each port, which serves as a way of sharing information from the feds to ports.

The NRF report does project that imports will pick up in the coming months, albeit with the disclaimer that “the duration of the coronavirus impact remains unknown.” The report estimates April’s imports to pick up to 1.82 million TEU, a 4.5 percent increase from last year, and imports for May to rise to 2 million TEU, 8.3 percent increase from last year.

“Projecting container volume for the next year has become even more challenging with the outbreak of the coronavirus in China and its spread,” said Ben Hackett, founder of Hackett Associates. “It’s questionable how soon manufacturing will return to normal, and following the extension of the Lunar New Year break all eyes are on what further decisions China will make to control the outbreak.”

China is not as big a fashion importer as it was, but it is still the number-one player, accounting for 29.7 percent of all apparel shipments to the U.S. last year.

A slowdown in shipments from China would wreak havoc on business plans and also create potential opportunities if brands or retailers run out of goods.

Asked about inventory levels on a conference call last week, Timothy Boyle, chief executive officer of Columbia Sportswear Co., said the outbreak would “be likely impacting the importation of new products.”

And Boyle suggested this is not a bad time to have a little extra stock on hand.

“If we have inventories in line with good product today, we think we’re in a superior position than somebody who might be sold out,” Boyle said.

While companies of all stripes are scrambling to adjust where they can, supply chains can only be shifted so fast and many are going to find themselves in the same boat.

Mika Rautiainen, ceo of Finnish retailer Tokmanni Group Oyj had a similar outlook, noting that its important shipments for the spring season have already come in or are en route, but that the company is bracing for possible impact down the road.

“We follow this very closely, what’s the development, what’s the situation when it comes to the coronavirus and the Chinese environment,” Rautiainen said in a call with analysts Friday. “At the moment, we don’t have difficulties with that, but we see that if it continues, then, of course, there will be like difficulties, I would say, globally.”

 

[Benn98]

I thought it would be the high street who would suffer most, but of course they'd merely move their contracts from China to India. Suppose it's simply not that easy for a luxury house to do that.
That Forbes article saying brands should have made provisions, meaning stockpiling? Despicable! That's the reason why Burberry had to do away with so much stock a few months ago because they've stockpiled to tie them over for the 'rainy days'.

Today was day #1 of my quarantine! My European coworkers are in a panic & my China coworkers have stated that it feels quite contained there.

So you must remain self-isolated for 14 days and then you're free to go about as usual? Don't quite understand that theory myself.
I think the severity of the situation is really highlighted when a country as developed as Italy, and as reliant on commerce and manufacturing, is on lockdown. Then you must know things are far worse than it seems. We'll luckily never reach that stage here in the UK, surely.

I must say it's almost eery to see the barren and desolate streets of Italy and China without any people about.

 

[Zorka]

The thing isn't benign at all...

Naomi Campbell, today:

 

[apple]

So you must remain self-isolated for 14 days and then you're free to go about as usual? Don't quite understand that theory myself.
I think the severity of the situation is really highlighted when a country as developed as Italy, and as reliant on commerce and manufacturing, is on lockdown. Then you must know things are far worse than it seems. We'll luckily never reach that stage here in the UK, surely.

I must say it's almost eery to see the barren and desolate streets of Italy and China without any people about.

Quarantine is 14 days because:
- if you are positive to coronavirus, but have light symptoms (fever and cold), these are the days necessary for healing
- if you are not positive, but had contact with someone who is, these days are used to see if you develop the symptoms (in that case, you will be tested for the virus) and to prevent contagion (as you're a possible case)
Right now the country is in quarantine to avoid the spread of the virus.


I'm going to use this thread to make an appeal to the fellow users of the forum.
The situation here in Italy is critical: covid19 is not extremely dangerous itself as a virus, the death rate is about 4-5% (flu is only 0,1% though) but it's dangerous for communities because of its contagion rate. This allowed the virus to spread around the country and infect many people. 15% of these people need assistance in the hospital to breath, otherwise they can't live, but beds and tools in intensive care units are limited. Our healthcare system assists everyone, not only those who can pay, but with the increase of cases and exhaustion of places, doctors will probably have to choose who to save and who not based on age and presence of other pathologies.
This is why the entire country is locked down: we must stay at home and go out only for real necessities in order to limit contacts and the contagion because the sanitary system might collapse.
At the beginning, we underestimated the problem: some said it was just a flu, some said it affected only the elderly. It was a mistake. It's much more dangerous than a flu (for which we have vaccines and medical drugs, and which causes a secondary pneumonia, whereas coronavirus is totally new and causes a primary pneumonia), it affects everyone, nobody is immune and there are young and healthy people hospitalized who need respiratory assistance (yesterday an 18-year-old person for example), not only the weakest subjects.

PLEASE DO NOT MAKE OUR SAME MISTAKES. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE PROBLEM.

I still see many people all over the world living like the problem does not exist, going around in big groups, saying it is not dangerous, it is just a flu. It's not. If a country like China stopped everything for weeks, losing so much money, there must be a reason why.

Spread this information if you can. I hope your countries will be safe and will not have to go through what Italy is facing. But you must be informed and prepared.

Thank you and sorry for this sort of sermon that is totally off-topic. It's also the effect of staying at home for so long I guess.

 

[Melancholybaby]

The thing isn't benign at all...

Naomi Campbell, today:

Such a clown...

 

[SophiaVB]

Unfortunately, I believe America is in a far worse position given how dysfunctional our government is & how much people distrust it/don't follow guidance. Additionally, we have no healthcare or sick days so people will choose to ignore advice to keep commerce running & receive paychecks.

 

[eugenius]

Hey Benn98, can you imagine if the Coronavirus broke out on one of those Atlantis cruises that's all the rage right now?

Anyways, can we get a round of applause for Giorgio Armani?

Giorgio Armani Makes Donation to Fight Coronavirus in Italy

 

[Lola701]

The thing isn't benign at all...

Naomi Campbell, today:

Considering everything she does when travelling (her travel YouTube video if I remember well), it’s not even a surprise that she goes to that extreme.

I wonder if a photographer is going to make a story about at...