"Coach's 'Hot Mom' Brand Status Propels Robust China Growth" (Jing Daily)

"A Coach purse 'kind of feels like your mom's bag,' proclaimed a Bloomberg analyst last January when discussing the American leather-goods (and now lifestyle) brand's 'lacking personality' as a cause of a less-than-stellar quarterly earnings report. Its new numbers released this week were once again disappointing — but not in China, where the label's tech-heavy and youthful branding strategy has provided it with a new image that moves it into a self-proclaimed 'hot mom' category. Coach has tailored its branding messages specifically for the China market with an aesthetic that is decidedly younger than that of other countries."

"Gathering of the Brands" (China Daily)

"Lower prices for the recognized brands are proving to be an irresistible draw for Chinese shoppers. No one knows this better than Florentia Village Jingjin Designer Outlets, a high-end outlet mall on the outskirts of Tianjin. Apart from big international names, the Italian-style village is also trying to rope in some exceptional domestic brands. 'Local brands only account for 10 percent of the total shops in the village,' Lupi says. 'The outlet industry should not hinge its future only on international luxury brands. In smaller cities, local clothing brands cannot be ignored as it may be difficult to get sufficient leftover or off-season products from the big brands,' says Guo Zengli, president of the China Shopping Center Development Association of Mall China."

"Paris Ramps up Tourist Security Amid Chinese Concerns" (Reuters)

"France is the world's most-visited country and solid tourism revenues are a bright spot in its depressed economy. But reports of pickpockets and muggers targeting Chinese tourists have soared of late, tarnishing the French capital's image as a favoured destination for love-struck couples and high-end shoppers. France said on Friday it would work harder to safeguard tourists in Paris after a spate of muggings of Asian visitors made such headlines in China that the Chinese embassy demanded action."

"In China, Ink Joins a Budding Crop of Concept Stores" (The Business of Fashion)

"Away from the grandeur of marquee projects, Ink — which stocks menswear labels like Boris Bidjan Saberi, Damir Doma, Rick Owens and Song for the Mute — is targeting the growing number of wealthy consumers who are keen to differentiate themselves from the ambient conformism radiating from the country's luxury malls and are increasingly dropping established labels in favour of deliberately anti-commercial brands."

"Ten Forces Forging China's Future" (McKinsey Quarterly)

"In early June 2013, several hundred of the world’s leading CEOs gathered in Chengdu, China, and discussed that country’s rapidly evolving business environment: growth is slowing and wages are climbing just as a new upper middle class emerges, a new wave of innovation rises, and a new generation of leaders steps to the fore. Executives at this year’s Fortune Global Forum, in Chengdu, were reading 'China’s next chapter,' a special edition of McKinsey Quarterly, now available in digital form. What follows here is a snapshot of highlights and takeaways: ten critical issues that will be facing China during the years ahead and what they mean for you."

"Returning Fashion Designers Herald a Seismic Shift for the Local Industry" (South China Morning Post)

"'West is best' used to be a common mantra among Hong Kong's fashion community. Young designers dreamed of making it in Paris, New York, London or Milan at one of the big fashion houses or, if they were lucky, striking out with their own label. But in recent years, as the industry matures, more young designers are choosing Hong Kong as a base for their start-ups. In particular, a flood of Hong Kong hai gui - 'sea turtles', or Hongkongers living abroad - are returning to make their mark. The cultural capital of Hong Kong fashion has moved beyond manufacturing and sourcing, with local labels making international waves."