USA. Lotte Duty Free is celebrating its successful promotion of K-fashion brands at annual fashion trade show Coterie New York, held on 20-22 February at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.
The leading travel retailer was one of more than 1,000 exhibitors to showcase their Fall/Winter 2024 high-end women’s collections. The event was an opportunity to meet potential buyers from North America, Asia and Europe, as well as other parts of the world.
Amid the rising popularity of K-fashion, Lotte Duty Free highlighted homegrown brands during the three-day event. With the support of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the retailer set up a Hi Seoul Showroom booth, a dedicated space for up-and-coming K-fashion labels including C-Zann E, Ma&Me, Tinablossom and Fleno.
Lotte Duty Free has also secured 50 export contracts to help promising Korean fashion brands develop overseas markets, with the total consultation amount surpassing US$200,000.
The company’s participation in the exhibition is part of its commitment to raise K-brand awareness and promote it on the global stage through various fashion trade fairs, showrooms and pop-ups.
Lotte Duty Free Head of New Growth Business Division Nam Gung-pyo said: “It is very meaningful that Lotte Duty Free can participate in Coterie New York and introduce promising K-fashion brands to the world stage.
“Lotte Duty Free will continue to explore and promote overseas sales channels for various domestic brands. We will actively work towards this.”
In May last year, Lotte Duty Free signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to support the development of new markets for Korean beauty and fashion brands.
A month later, it opened a dedicated Seoul Fashion Week pavilion on the eighth floor of its Tokyo Ginza store in partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
As it aims to become the top global travel retailer, Lotte Duty Free continues to establish a new growth business division, with plans to increase professional staff this year.
In October, the company unveiled LDF House, South Korea’s first experiential duty free shopping showroom.
It also launched a series of collaborations with popular global brands including Simihaze Beauty, Zanmang Loopy and Mediheal.
The 3CE pop-up store at LDF House is running until 31 March for shoppers to enjoy an array of benefits, including special set sales and discount promotions.
Furthermore, the retailer said it is now working on upgrading its direct purchase mall, Ginza Japan Direct Purchase, and overseas shipping, which can be used by foreign customers overseas. ✈
