Coach Spring/Summer 2009 Featuring Ali Michael | Source: Coach

Coach Doubles Dividend as Earnings Top Estimates (BusinessWeek)
“Coach Inc., the largest U.S. maker of luxury leather handbags, doubled its dividend and announced an expansion in Europe … The company said it planned to open at least 14 stores in France … with Printemps, the French department-store chain. Coach has also agreed in principle to create a joint venture with Hackett Ltd. to open stores in the U.K., Spain, Portugal and Ireland.”

High street retailers show their resilience (Independent)
“Burberry, the fashion giant, said its sales had risen by 6 per cent during the first half of its year, adding that profits were now likely to come in above previous expectations of around £200m. Meanwhile, Primark, said it was also seeing strong demand continuing, with profits up 18 per cent during the first half to £144m.”

Estrella Out (Vogue)
“The Ungaro plot grows thicker today with the announcement that head designer Estrella Archs has left her position at the French house.”

Asos aims for £1bn global operation (Times)
“The online fashion retailer reported a sales rise of 38 per cent in the year to the end of March, a slower rate than previously, but insisted that its international expansion meant that it could quadruple in size by 2015.”

What’s in a Label? Say It in French (NY Times)
“The environment of Ms. Marant’s new SoHo store is reflective of the finished-yet-unpolished look of her clothing: artsy structures in raw wood; acoustic French folk music.”

Bryanboy with Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana | Source: Bryanboy

Luxury Firms Move to Make Web Work for Them (NYT)
“The luxury goods industry, struggling through a recession that has threatened some well-known names with extinction, is trying to cast off the kid gloves that have hampered its efforts to get a grip on technology.”

Saks beats Street with surprise profit, shares up (Reuters)
“Upscale U.S. department store operator Saks Inc reported a quarterly profit that beat Wall Street expectations for a loss, stoking investor hopes for a luxury market recovery and sending shares up 4.4 percent.”

Younger Buyers Challenge Luxury Retailers in Asia (NYT)
“Starting up or expanding in Asia is not merely a matter of replicating the tried-and-tested models used back home — This is especially noticeable in mainland China.”

Sophie Theallet wins CFDA fashion fund (Examiner)
“On Monday, November 16th at a gala event held at Skylight Studios in NYC Sophie Theallet was declared the winner of the $200,000 cash prize and one year of mentoring from industry professionals.”

Isabel Marant: breakout designer of 2009 (Telegraph)
“She is part of an astonishingly suc cessful group of female fashion designers… who are reinventing the notion of French style with their thoughtful and sensual, yet practical, designs that blend so well into our frenetic family and work lives.”