Pops of coloured denim | Source: mamasarollingstone.com

Blinded by Brights (On the Runway)
“The fashion world took a giant leap into color this spring, and the denim makers were still offering vintage and classic washes, and a lot of other brands were displaying murky beiges and grays. Ew. And here in the middle of everything were J Brand’s exploding fuchsia, purple, vivid turquoise, bright red and lemon yellow.”

Cost-Cutting Is Rampant in Fashion (Bloomberg Businessweek)
“Retailers realize that they don’t have much pricing power with budget-conscious consumers these days. That’s why apparel makers are turning to “deconstruction” experts like Peter Brown, who shows clients how to tear garments apart and put them back together with cheaper and fewer materials.”

Beckham plays a new game (FT)
“Clothing, in other words, is the new fragrance, but with potential not just to add to a celebrity’s bank account, but actually bestow on them a new form of professional longevity. No wonder it has just been announced that Mr Victoria Beckham wants in on the act.”

Men’s fashion gets smart (Observer)
“Every well-dressed man’s wardrobe is a tribute to the influence of great British design. Here, three leading exponents reveal the challenges of creating clothes men really want to wear.”

Angela Ahrendts: Exactly the right material (Independent)
“Angela Ahrendts, Burberry’s 50-year-old chief executive, has transformed the company since her arrival in 2006…still, there is an obvious irony about Ahrendts’ relentless drive to sell this vision of upmarket Britishness around the world – her own background isn’t particularly upmarket and it’s certainly not British.”

Angela Ahrendts | Source: WSJ Magazine

Earning Her Stripes (WSJ Magazine)
“From small-town roots in Indiana to the big time as head of Burberry, a $2 billion fashion empire and one of the most widely recognized brands in the world, Angela Ahrendts takes it all in her stride.”

The Next Wave (NY Times)
“It is not just six names who are making waves in New York, but an entire generation of designers who have the potential to transform what we think of as American fashion.”

Out of Africa, Into Asia (WSJ)
“When Edun designer Sharon Wauchob unveils her new vision for the label Saturday, most of the clothes on the runway—some featuring African touches like beads from Kenya—will be produced in China.”

Luxury goods firm predicts return for UK manufacturing (Telegraph)
“The trend for luxury brands to outsource manufacturing, usually to the Far East, while concentrating on burnishing their marketing message may be ending. Discerning buyers are increasingly looking beyond the glossy sales pitch and seeking provenance.”

The return of Roland Mouret (Telegraph)
“My partnership with Simon Fuller is unique, he has allowed me to develop a business whilst ensuring I always had enough space and resources to follow my intuition and establish the company.”

Chanel Ad Autumn/Winter 2010 | Source: 829

Chanel’s luxury dream is turning to dust (Marketing Week)
“According to the company’s 2010 estimates… [Chanel] lost 11% of its brand value over the past 12 months. It’s a rare glimpse into the actual state of Chanel’s brand health.”

Chinese spending power underestimated, study says (Market Watch)
“Chinese households have far more money than previously thought… property companies and even European luxury goods makers could be about to benefit from the rise of these deep-pocketed consumers.”

Macy’s gains market share, sees better sales (Reuters)
“Macy’s Inc quarterly results showed the department store operator boosted sales and gained market share without relying as much on discounts as its rivals to get shoppers into stores.”

Laws Of Fashion (Vogue.com)
“The Institute of Fashion Law has been set up by Fordham University Law professor Susan Scafidi in partnership with the CFDA, to provide help and support to designers in need of legal aid.”

Burberry chief Angela Ahrendts takes profits on 400,000 shares (Telegraph)
“The chief executive of Burberry has raised about £3.4m by selling almost 400,000 shares in the luxury goods retailer… Of the amount that Ms. Ahrendts raised, about £814,000 was used to cover tax liabilities, the company said.”