Brioni Autumn/Winter 2011 | Source: Luxos

PPR set to buy men’s wear brand Brioni (FT)
“PPR, the French luxury goods group, has confirmed it will acquire Brioni, the Italian high end men’s wear group that has dressed Vladimir Putin and the fictional character James Bond in several movie outings. In a statement on Tuesday, PPR said it would be buying 100 per cent of the family owned group for an undisclosed sum… PPR is reorienting and expanding its business in two segments: luxury, which includes Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta; and lifestyle, which consists mainly of a majority stake in Puma, the German sportswear company.”

H&M Sets Versace Goddesses of High Fashion to Low Prices: Retail (Bloomberg)
“Hennes & Mauritz AB, the world’s second-largest clothing retailer, next week starts selling apparel and accessories designed by Gianni Versace SpA, including floor-length ‘goddess’ gowns, dresses dotted with Grecian buttons and fluorescent micro-minis. The Versace for H&M line, the latest partnership between the Swedish retailer and a luxury designer that boasts high fashion at low prices, will give the Italian label ‘global visibility’ as it targets sales of about $700 million by 2014, Versace Chief Executive Officer Gian Giacomo Ferraris said.”

Hugo Boss ups 2015 targets on Chinese growth (Reuters)
“German fashion house Hugo Boss sharply raised its earnings outlook for 2015 on Tuesday as it increases its network of stores and eyes strong growth from China. The group… Said it now expects sales of 3 billion euros ($4.1 billion) in 2015, and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization and special items (EBITDA) of 750 million. That compares with a previous target for sales of 2.5 billion and core earnings of 500 million euros. Hugo Boss said it expected sales in Asia to almost triple by 2015 compared with 2010, mainly thanks to China.”

Upcoming Zappos iPad App Mimics a Fashion Magazine (All Things Digital)
“The new black this fall: Retailers producing content alongside their products, like an online version of a glossy fashion magazine. Zappos expects to launch its first attempt at recreating the catalog experience on the iPad in early December, just in time for the holidays… Instead of being generally available in iTunes, the Zappos app will be found on Apple’s Newsstand, which organizes magazine and newspaper subscriptions for those who use iOS 5. It will be free; a new edition will appear monthly.”

Alber Elbaz wants dramatic fashion (Belfast Telegraph)
“Alber Elbaz has announced plans to ‘bring back real drama’ to the fashion industry. The Lanvin designer staged a presentation of his Spring/Summer 12 collection at Carondelet House in Los Angeles recently. He’s already put on a similar event in Paris and explained he’s keen to get people interested in style again. ‘Geoffrey Beene told me that fashion is not show business, it’s just business,’ he said. ‘These days there are too many reality shows, and I watch many of them, but I am trying to bring back real drama to fashion.’”

La Source by Anne Deniau | Source: NY Times

What Christian Lacroix Did Next (NY Times)
“‘This is my couture,’ says Christian Lacroix, before his latest creations took to the stage in “La Source,” a magical realist ballet created in the 19th century and rarely seen since then. These fantastical costumes, mixing folkloric outfits with diaphanous pastel dresses, scattered with sparkling crystal, are for just one among a series of theatrical events across Europe that Mr. Lacroix has worked on since his couture house was shuttered in 2009.”

Hugo Boss confirms 2011 outlook after Q3 results (Reuters)
“German fashion house Hugo Boss  confirmed its outlook for 2011 as it reported forecast-beating third-quarter results… Adding to signs the premium and luxury sector has not yet been hit by the global economic slowdown… Hugo Boss, known predominantly for its sharp suits, is aiming to grow sales by between 15 and 17 percent on a currency neutral basis and core operating profit by between 25 and 30 percent for 2011 as a whole.”

Has campaigning for an ethical fashion industry had any impact? (Guardian)
“Campaigners have been battling for an ethical fashion industry ever since the first sweatshop scandals broke back in the 1990s… Progress might be slow, but it’s not all doom and gloom. Take the example of the campaign led by the Responsible Sourcing Network to stop forced child labour in Uzbekistan’s cotton industry. Over 60 global clothing companies, including Adidas and H&M, have now committed to ban Uzbek cotton from their supply chains.”

Photo Sharing App For Fashion Pose Raises $3 Million (TechCrunch)
“Pose, a mobile platform for real-time discovery and sharing of fashion, shopping and style, has raised $3 million in Series A funding from GRP Partners, True Ventures and Mousse Partners… Pose wants to help you share what you’re buying (or thinking of buying) with your friends. When you’re in a store and you come across and item of clothing you may want to buy, Pose invites you to take a snapshot. You can then tag it with your current location and the item’s price, and share it with friends.”

Meet Katie Hillier, the fashion world’s best-kept secret (Evening Standard)
“Once the head accessories designer at Marc by Marc Jacobs, where she created some of the most coveted bags of the decade – she continues to work there as a creative consultant – Hillier is now the expertise behind Victoria Beckham’s phenomenally successful bag line, and a consultant for Henry Holland’s House of Holland label and for designer Stuart Vevers, with whom she recently collaborated to re-imagine Loewe’s iconic Amazona tote bag.”

Park & Bond | Source: Park & Bond

Gilt Groupe Targets Guys for New Luxury Retail Site Park & Bond (Forbes)
“Internet retailer Gilt Groupe is straying from its tried-and-true flash sales model to launch Park & Bond, a full-priced menswear site without the limited-time component that’s been responsible for Gilt’s rapid growth since it was founded in 2007… But in order to really flex the buying muscle of its 400,000 male customers Gilt is going to offer them a specially selected full-price assortment on a dedicated site.”

When luxury and commodities collide (FT)
“Pity the poor jewellers of this world. As the price of gold soars and investors hoard bullion, the price of one of the luxury industry’s prime raw materials goes through the roof; suddenly, what was the base metal of high-end adornment has become as precious as the sparklers it normally holds.”

“China Currently Has No Strategic Vision For Cultivating Our Own Brands” (Jing Daily)
“Recent cases like the Da Vinci furniture scandal expose a sad truth: China still lacks a domestic luxury industry to speak of. Still, Hong — who recently signed Xiang Yaodong as BNC’s first in-house designer — and a growing number of Western-trained Chinese designers are looking to cultivate a home-grown luxury fashion industry that can rival international brands.”

Hugo Boss to raise 2015 margin target (Reuters)
“Hugo Boss is set to raise its 2015 profit margin target this fall, helped by the vigour of the global luxury market and improved productivity, sources close to the German fashion brand said. The maker of sharply cut men’s suits has already met its 2015 underlying profit margin target while bigger luxury rivals such as PPR , LVMH and Burberry published record results last month.”

Watch a teaser of Carine Roitfeld’s Elizabeth Taylor-themed magazine (Independent)
“France’s first lady of fashion styled a Chanel campaign and the Barneys fall catalogue recently, but her work for V Magazine marks her editorial debut since leaving French Vogue at the beginning of the year.”

Jun Takahashi | Source: Forbes

The Experimental Designer Who Will Replace Jil Sander At Uniqlo (Forbes)
“In some ways Takahashi is a surprising choice — he’s not exactly a household name outside of Japan, and his clothes veer toward the avant garde… But Takahashi is Japanese, and he has worked with big commercial companies before — he designs a running line for Nike. Furthermore, he’s one of the most innovative, interesting designers working today.”

PPR H1 beats forecasts thanks to luxury brands (Reuters)
“French retail and luxury group PPR SA delivered first-half sales and profits above forecasts on Friday, helped by strong growth of its luxury brands in major markets such as China. PPR’s luxury brands… produced combined sales growth of 24.4 percent in the second quarter, above expectations of 19 percent and first-quarter luxury growth of 22 percent.”

Hugo Boss confident as China, Americas sales soar (Reuters)
“German fashion house Hugo Boss sees a strong second half thanks to soaring demand for its suits from Asia and the Americas… Sales in the Americas were up 31 percent in the quarter, while the Asia/Pacific region saw sales soar 65 percent.”

Tommy Hilfiger Makes Asia Inroads (WSJ)
“In August, Hilfiger will be taking over the right to sell its own brand in China, where it was previously distributed through a licensing agreement. And it said today that it poached John Ermatinger, who until recently was the president of Gap Asia Pacific, for the newly appointed role of Asia Chief Executive for Tommy Hilfiger.”

Guangzhou: No Longer A Third-Rate Luxury Market? (Jing Daily)
“It may be very much a top-tier city, with an annual GDP of over 1 trillion yuan (US$152 billion)… Guangzhou can be a frustrating market for major luxury brands… Top brands have been slow to invest heavily in their Guangzhou operations, and for good reason: local luxury consumption lags far behind other key markets.”

Miu Miu Autumn/Winter 2011 photographed by Bruce Weber | Source: Miu Miu

Prada Woos Young Chinese With Edgier Sister-Brand (WSJ)
“Aiming to cash in on China’s bulging population of young fashion-lovers, Prada is turning its focus in the Chinese market to its… Sister-brand… Miu Miu has struck a chord with China’s young luxury shoppers… Who… Don’t remember the era in which the brand was overshadowed by the Prada label.”

Global growth drives ASOS sales (FT)
“Online fashion retailer Asos intends to make free global shipping a “permanent” part of its business model, after international sales growth fuelled a 63 per cent jump in sales in the first quarter to £107m… International sales grew 160 per cent… And now make up 57 per cent of overall sales.”

Hugo Boss raises outlook on China, U.S. demand (Reuters)
“German fashion house Hugo Boss raised its outlook for the year, boosted by growing sales in China and the United States…  The group, known for its sharp suits for men, said it now expected 2011 sales to rise by between 15 and 17 percent and underlying earnings to rise by 25 and 30 percent.”

Yves Saint Laurent Defends Its Red Soles Against Christian Louboutin (The Cut)
“Yves Saint Laurent, Inc.’s lawyers issued a… response to Christian Louboutin’s trademark-infringement charges this week, stating first… That no one can prove that YSL’s use of red soles hurt Louboutin’s sales or caused any consumer confusion… They argued that Louboutin never should have gotten a trademark for those red soles.”

In Berlin, Rocking the Fashion Trade Fair (IHT)
“A person stumbling into this spectacle… could easily mistake it for an artsy free-for-all in Berlin… Yet that is precisely what makes Bread & Butter, among the world’s most important urban and street fashion trade fairs… Held this year… It drew 100,000 visitors and 600 brands like Adidas, Diesel and G-Star”

Kate Moss for Topshop, Autumn 2009 | Source: Topshop

Kate Moss and Topshop to end design deal (BBC)
“A three-year design partnership between Kate Moss and Topshop is to end later this year. When the supermodel unveils her autumn and winter range in October – it will be her 14th and last collection for the chain.”

Gucci opens its new luxury digital flagship store (Fashion and Runway)
“Following an 18 month architectural renovation under the direction of Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini, the new online retail destination takes advantage of the most innovative technologies available today.”

Bulgari Recovers Its Luster (Wall Street Journal)
“Though jewelry lies at the heart of Bulgari’s business, Mr. Trapani’s decision to diversify into watches, perfumes and accessories over the past 20 years has “radically changed” the company he joined in 1981, he says. These lines now account for almost 50% of the company’s sales.”

Hugo Boss Sees Sales Rebound (Bloomberg)
“Hugo Boss AG’s sales rebound will gather pace in the second half of 2010 as its U.S. business benefits from a shift by customers toward less-expensive luxury items, according to Chief Financial Officer Mark Langer.”

It is Gandhi-wear vs bridal-wear in Kolkata (Times of India)
“With one paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s simple dressing style and another showcasing lavish bridal wear, the city is set for a double delight this September as two fashion weeks clash on the same date.”

Helly Hansen Hiking Gear | Source: Helly Hansen

PPR’s retail recovery could speed up sale process (Reuters)
“A shopping revival should help French group PPR more easily dispose of its retail units and fulfill its long-held ambition of refocusing on the luxury and outdoor sectors…One attractive target for PPR could be the Norwegian outdoor clothing brand Helly Hansen, owned by Swedish private equity firm Altor since 2006.”

Hugo Boss looks forward to growth (Telegraph)
“The German fashion house said orders were up for its latest season, after “cautious” demand from wholesalers for its spring/summer collection weakened its first quarter performance. Sales of premium goods are recovering after the sector was badly hit by the global downturn, which left even the world’s rich tightening their belts.”

Ittierre Closes Financing Deal With Banks For A EUR60M Loan (WSJ)
“Fashion company IT Holding’s (ITH.MI) manufacturing unit Ittierre has closed a financing deal with creditor banks for a 60.6 million-euro loan, the bankrupt company said Thursday in a statement…Now the company’s three commissioners plan to auction off all the group’s units, including Ittiere, Gianfranco Ferre and cashmere brand Malo.”

Survival of the Finest (WSJ)
“With buyers in retreat, its traditional customers aging or dying, and critics increasingly carping about its irrelevance, the couture economy, always delicate, now is more precarious than ever, leaving many to wonder whether there is a customer base left for couture.”

Singapore capitalizes on its style sense, as fashionistas look East (National Post)
“Legions of status-seeking shoppers with deep pockets are turning Asia into the next big catwalk for international designers, boosting Singapore’s aspirations to become the region’s Milan or New York. Asia’s growing economic clout — and the millions willing to spend top dollar on luxury lifestyles — were the buzz words at Singapore’s fashion festival.”

First Spring directed by Yang Fudong | Source: Prada

Cinema à la Prada (WSJ)
“With the Internet and digital technology, industry executives say short online videos have become an essential part of the fashion marketing tool box, offering customers a new way to interact with a brand and show clothing in motion.”

Web-only luxury retailers fared well during the recession (Internet Retailer)
“Luxury goods retailers that sell exclusively online increased their sales by 87% last year compared with 2008, even as overall luxury sales declined 20%.”

Hugo Boss to Keep Ohio Factory Open (WSJ)
“Hugo Boss reversed a decision to shut down a factory in Ohio, succumbing to an aggressive union-led campaign against the German fashion house and its private-equity owners.”

Anna Wintour on the Web, Vogue’s Future, and the iPad (WSJ)
“She was formally inducted into the American Society of Magazine Editors Hall of Fame during the National Magazine Awards, held at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall.”

Helmut Lang: From catwalk to gallery (Independent)
“He is, for many, the last of the great couturiers. With his chic white dresses and sleek trouser suits, Helmut Lang’s meticulous designs defined 1990s minimalism.”

Loewe Spring/Summer 2010 | Source: Loewe

Luxury goods brand LVMH sees sales soar (Guardian)
“A surge in demand for expensive jewellery, fashion goods, perfume and champagne has sent sales soaring at luxury goods firm LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. LVMH saw revenues jump by 11% in the first three months of this year to €4.472bn.”

Talbots Politely Shows Granny the Door (WSJ)
“To solidify its comeback and boost sales, Talbots must complete a merchandise and image overhaul aimed at attracting younger customers. And that’s a tall order for a brand that many women think of as perfect for their grandmothers.”

Morning Markets: FTSE muted as Dow hits 19-month high (Investment Week)
“Retailers were in the spotlight after the British Retail Consortium said UK sales in March rose at their fastest rate in almost four years thanks to the earlier timing of Easter. Total retail sales rose 6.6%, against 0.6% growth in March 2009.”

Hugo Boss Forecasts Higher Operating Profit, Sales This Year (Business Week)
“Hugo Boss AG, Germany’s largest clothing maker, expects ‘single-digit’ sales growth this year on rising demand for suits in North America and Asia. Operating profit this year will rise at a faster pace than sales, which should also advance in 2011.”

A Fashion App That Talks Back (WSJ)
“‘Ask a Stylist,’ a New Fashion iPhone App, Puts Style Experts On Call for Fashion Emergencies…The app, which claims to be the first to link up people in real time, is among the latest fashion tools to enter the crowded marketplace of 185,000 iPhone apps.”

Erdem Autumn/Winter 2010 Digital Print Detail | Source: Style.com

Prints for the Cyberage (IHT)
“Printed matter has undergone a digital revolution, as the new millennium has witnessed a dramatic change in the way that a pattern is developed to follow the shape of the body and to overlay actual images with virtual versions.”

Takashimaya’s Net Slumps 34 percent (WSJ)
“Takashimaya Co. said.. that revenue and profit for the year ended Feb. 28 showed steep declines as consumer worries about income and employment hurt the Japanese department store operator’s sales.”

Jil Sander Launches New Line (Elle.com)
“Fashion house Jil Sander has announced that it will be launching a brand new, lower priced line… designed by Raf Simons after all – the line will be less expensive than its catwalk counterpart.”

From Paris to Patna:Net takes high-fashion to small town India (Economic Times)
“The sweeping spread of cyberspace has made it an ideal channel for coveted brands like Versace, Gucci and DKNY to reach out to the nooks and crannies of India, the country often touted as the next big retail destination.”

A fashion duo dresses up a wine label (FT)
“It was recently announced that Basso & Brooke, British designers known for their use of fabric decorated with pornographic prints, had been appointed ‘designers in residence’ to Turning Leaf, E&J Gallo’s traditional wine brand.”