Manolo Blahnik at work | Source: Manolo Blahnik

Well heeled: Manolo Blahnik and his left-hand woman (Independent)
“As his exclusive collection for Liberty arrives, Manolo Blahnik talks footwear, films and fabrics with his niece and ‘left-hand woman’ Kristina…Since he set up shop in the Seventies Manolo Blahnik has become the world’s most famous artisan shoemaker.”

The Evolution of the Fashion Film (WSJ)
“‘This is the new advertising… The consumer and the audience are one…. While the Internet has facilitated the blossoming of fashion films, fashion photographers have long experimented with motion pictures.”

Cavalli back to profit (Reuters)
“Italian fashion house Cavalli, best known for animal print designs, returned to profit in the first half, as a pick-up in sales helped offset lower licence fees. As a result of a strong reorganisation at the group, retail and wholesale revenue grew 4 percent.”

Lakme Fashion Week ties up with e-commerce portal (Relax News)
“Lakme Fashion Week has entered into a strategic collaboration with fashion trade portal Fashion And You as part of its push to further the business of fashion by using e-commerce.”

The Real Harajuku Girls (WWD)
“Young Japanese women are an eclectic bunch… WWD plucked a sample of these consumers from the bustling streets of Harajuku and asked them about their personal style and shopping habits. Here’s what they had to say.”

Uniqlo Green Initiative | Source: greenz

Uniqlo Healing Social Problems With Hipster T-Shirts (Fast Company)
“Fast Retailing Co., the company behind the Uniqlo clothing chain, has established a new, wholly-owned subsidiary that’s going to expand its enterprise with a ‘social business’ in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.”

Asos co-founder cashes in as profits jump (Guardian)
“Online retailer Asos sees first-quarter sales rise by 54%… The man who co-founded Asos a decade ago has scooped almost £15m in his first major sale of shares in the online fashion retailer.”

Inditex says to expand in Australia, South Africa (AFP)
“Spain’s Inditex, Europe’s largest clothing retailer, said Tuesday it would move into Australia and South Africa next year as the Zara owner pushes ahead with its aggressive international expansion.”

Liberty’s Grand Plan (Vogue.com)
“Liberty’s new ceo Marco Capello has vowed to turn the store into the country’s best by 2012… ‘We have all the right elements – it’s just mad that we’ve been losing money. If I can’t turn this store round I have failed.’”

Launching Gilt Groupe, A Fashionable Enterprise (WSJ)
“With 2009 revenue of $170 million and a current valuation of some $400 million, Gilt Groupe appears to have more staying power than most fashion trends.”

Tommy Hilfiger Spring/Summer 2010 | Source: Tommy Hilfiger

A big takeover brings cheer to gloomy fashion retailing (Economist)
“PVH’s acquisition of Tommy Hilfiger has aroused widespread interest, because it is a sign of life in an ailing industry. Analysts are predicting that more deals will follow this year. The cutbacks fashion companies have made in the past two years have left some of them with cash to spend on takeovers.”

Cost-cuts take shine off Bulgari (FT)
“Bulgari sank yesterday after the Italian watch and jewellery maker posted a €13.6m fourth-quarter loss in spite of an improving luxury goods sector. Analysts said the numbers were the result of poor fundamentals, adding that the company should expect downgrades.”

Moody’s lifts Saks outlook to stable (Business Week)
“Moody’s Investors Service lifted its outlook for Saks Inc. on Tuesday, saying the luxury retailer is likely to fatten operating income over the next two quarters.”

Retailer Liberty agrees sale of flagship store for £41.5m (Guardian)
“Liberty, the department store group, has agreed a sale and leaseback deal on its Tudor-style building in London’s West End… [the company] has exchanged contracts to sell the building for £41.5m to Sirosa Liberty, with the proceeds used to pay off its debt.”

Luxury Brands Declining Demand in Russia (Pravda)
“Decrease in demand for products of Luxury, Premium and Upper Middle segments in Russia in 2009 amounted to… 40-45% because of the exchange rate difference. Most luxury operators had stopped their expansion and focused on the development of their existing projects in large Russian cities.”

Net-a-Porter features Utility Chic | Source: Net-a-Porter

Net-a-Porter is being acquired for up to £350m by Richemont (Telegraph)
“The deal, expected to be completed this week, will see founder Natalie Massenet, a former fashion journalist, become at least £50m richer as Richemont acquires the remaining 70pc of the company it doesn’t already own.”

Phillips-Van Heusen Acquires Hilfiger for $3 Billion (NY Times)
“Phillips-Van Heusen, the clothing conglomerate that owns Calvin Klein, announced Monday that it would buy Tommy Hilfiger, once a leading purveyor of colorful preppy clothing, for about 2.2 billion euros, or $3 billion.”

Prada accused of maltreatment (Japan Times)
“A senior manager at Prada Japan has filed a legal complaint against the Italian fashion label, accusing the company of harassment and discrimination based on appearance and alleging it maltreated other employees in the past.”

Liberty back in fashion as store weighs up bid approaches (FT)
“Liberty, the listed upmarket London retailer, is in take-over talks with Marco Capello, the former managing director of Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity , in a deal that could value the group at about £40m.”

Gen Y Will End Luxury Drought — In ’20 (Media Post)
“The last two years have permanently altered America’s relationship with the luxe life, says Pamela Danziger… While Gen Y definitely has champagne tastes, they won’t be able to back it up with real bucks for another decade or so.”

Phoebe Philo by Solve Sundsbo | Source: NY Times

Phoebe Philo’s Third Act (T Magazine)
“A designer’s debut at a new label is always exciting, especially if it is backed by a luxury colossus, as Céline is by LVMH. But this particular designer is the fashion superstar who made Chloé one of the hottest labels of the early 2000s.”

Bottega Veneta Grows Up (WSJ)
“As Bottega pursues its strategy to grow from a niche player into a global brand, it has been conducting a major overhaul to its business, starting from the production line. As part of that, it now decides well before its catwalks what—and how much—to manufacture and send to stores.”

Liberty considers freehold sale of iconic flagship store (Retail Week)
“Liberty has confirmed that investors are circling the luxury department store’s iconic Tudor-style building to lease it back to the company.”

Vogue App Turns Ads Into Shopping Links (WSJ)
“Vogue readers with iPhones are getting another toy to play with this month. The magazine is launching an application that looks like a fun shopping and styling tool but is actually a savvy way to connect the magazine and its advertisers directly with readers’ wallets.”

Milan Goes in All Directions (NY Times)
“The problem is Ms. Prada doesn’t know what to do with these older forms other than offer them… By contrast, the clothes for Fendi looked modern and relaxed.”