Rising Sun jeans | Source: FM8Y

Niche specialists will take denim into the future (The National)
“The classic five-pocket western jeans may be just that – a classic – but perhaps more consumers are now asking whether they really need another pair. Or, perhaps more precisely – the need to meet some fleeting fad for high-rise or flares or “boyfriend” jeans aside – what makes the next pair special enough to justify the outlay.”

Fashion and Tech and Startups, Oh My! (Huffington Post)
“Last month, Reuters reported that venture capitalists invested $2.4B in e-commerce in 2011, more than double the investment in the sector in 2010. Rumors of Gilt Groupe’s impending IPO have only increased interest in the fashion-tech scene.”

China Luxury Trends to watch in 2012 (Red Luxury)
“The pace of transformation in China’s luxury market is stunning, yet it is unique. Due to its size and diversity, China can not be viewed simply as one market, but as many smaller markets with different degrees of maturation. Therefore, China requires different approaches.”

David Rowan: Welcome to 2012 (NOWNESS)
“From social design to person-to-person networking, UK Wired’s David Rowan reveals the big ideas and tech-trends that will define our lives in 2012.”

Mr. Zeitgeist (NY Times)
“In the world according to Monocle, Mr. Brûlé is the walking cynosure of the good life. In addition to his global media company, he writes a column, Fast Lane, in The Financial Times, in which he chronicles his adventures as a globe-trotting connoisseur, bent on unearthing the rarefied and idiosyncratic.”

John Varvatos | Source: Multivu

Fusing Rock ‘N’ Roll With Fashion (WSJ)
“With two fashion labels—John Varvatos, a classic menswear line that celebrated its 10th anniversary last year; John Varvatos Star USA, an edgier, younger collection and the most profitable of the lot… the 56-year-old designer now has nine stores in the U.S., a robust ecommerce site and plans to open stores in London and Berlin.”

Arbiters of Style See It, Post It and Share It (NY Times)
“Melding social networking and the style maven’s obsession with all things beautiful, sites like Fancy and Svpply have emerged recently, letting users shop and fetishize while creating and sharing things they like with friends and followers, from clothes to art to gadgets.”

Emmanuelle Alt to Head French Vogue (WWD)
“Known for rock ’n’ roll style — pinned on big-shouldered jackets, skinny jeans and vertiginous heels — Alt, 45, is a low-key yet influential fixture on the Paris fashion scene. Her name should appear on the top of the masthead of the April issue as Roitfeld winds up her tenure.”

British wool industry back in fashion as exports rise (BBC)
“After years of decline, the British wool industry is fighting back. Exports of wool are on the way up and knitting has become the latest hobby of the rich and famous…. Jenny Hill speaks to Ian Hudson and James Laxton from Laxton’s Specialist Yarns about the rise in wool exports.”

Forever in Blue Jeans (WSJ)
“When one ponders the history of the fabric, certain images may come to mind. Levi Strauss & Co.’s original pair of dungarees… Jane Birkin in impossibly low-rise bell bottoms roaming the streets of Paris… Brooke Shields ensuring nothing got between her and her Calvins.”

Christopher Kane Spring/Summer 2011 | Source: Style.com

Bold London fashion seeks way out of recession (Reuters)
“London Fashion Week is emerging from the shadow of a recession that has hung over the industry the last few seasons, with confident designers presenting bold creations.”

McQueen Moves On to a New Season (WSJ)
“Now, as Ms. Burton gears up to unveil her first full women’s wear collection in Paris on Oct. 5, the label faces a tough question: What does it mean to be Alexander McQueen without Alexander McQueen?”

Luxury brands must regain focus on customer experience (Luxury Institute)
“57 percent of high-income shoppers identify superior customer service as a defining quality of luxury goods, yet 50 percent have noticed a marked decline in the customer experience. This downturn poses a significant threat to upscale brands.”

Selling becomes sociable (Economist)
“Firms in this market combine e-commerce with social networks and other online group activities… Angus Davis, Swipely’s boss, points out that the internet has already disrupted the content industry. Commerce will be next, he says.”

Denim jeans originated in Italy (Telegraph)
“Clues to the origins of denim jeans have been discovered in the works of a forgotten 17th century painter, suggesting the fashion favourite came from Italy nearly 400 years ago rather than France.”

Alexander McQueen Autumn/Winter 2010 | Source: Alexander McQueen

Fashion industry internships: exploitation or experience? (Guardian)
“The haute couture world may be glamorous, but some interns at the gritty end of the business are being exploited in their quest to gain industry experience.”

Balderton Capital on its Investment Strategy (The Next Woman)
“As we’re seeing lots of companies from different sectors, it gives us a useful vantage point for spotting broader trends, which can sometimes be helpful… challenges that businesses face have parallels in other companies, and different industries.”

LVMH Profit Beats Estimates on Rising Fashion Sales (Bloomberg)
“LVMH… the world’s largest maker of luxury goods, reported first-half profit that beat analysts’ estimates as sales of fashion and leather goods accelerated in the second quarter.”

Armani Is Luxury’s `Odd One Out’ as Second-Quarter Sales Falter (Bloomberg)
“Giorgio Armani struggled to win customers in the past quarter, contrasting with a surge in sales at luxury goods companies Hermes International and Burberry Group.”

Into the blue: Why denim never goes out of fashion (Independent)
“It’s among the most versatile and practical fabrics, beloved in its time by soldiers, railway workers and, of course, since the mid-1950s, by any fashion follower worth his or her credentials.”