Shizuka Fujioka, Yu Kimura and Misako Aoki | Source: Daylife

Japan’s Ambassadors of cute (FT)
“Economists are now looking at Japan and going: ‘Well, they don’t have the economic clout they had before, but they have a kind of soft power in view of the incredible global popularity of manga and anime.’”

Prada’s core profit up 3 percent in 2009 (Reuters)
“Italian fashion house Prada said 2009 core profit rose 2.8 percent to 290 million euros ($389.8 million), boosted by a rise in more profitable retail sales even as its wholesale business declined.”

Safilo sees flat Q1 sales as Asia, U.S. recover (Reuters)
“Italian eye-wear maker Safilo (SFLG.MI) forecast flat first-quarter revenues on Monday after reporting a 2009 net loss as the global crisis hit sales and led to hefty writedowns.”

16-Year Old Girl Gives Best Day Ever To E-Commerce Site (Business Insider)
“Thanks to a 16-year old girl, a small e-commerce site had its best day ever, as they detail in a blog post. No, not because of a mad spending spree with dad’s credit card, but a viral video.”

Twiggy: It could have gone terribly wrong (AP)
“Back in the Mod ’60s, when Twiggy conquered London and fashion changed forever, the waif of a teen with huge eyes, a boyish bob and long legs craved the glamour and curves of a different icon.”