Louis Vuitton, Shenzhen, China | Source: Richards BasmajianLONDON, United Kingdom — Louis Vuitton is losing ground as the world’s most valuable luxury brand as competitors including Gucci and Prada gain, a new research report shows.
Source: ReutersHONG KONG, China — Armed with empty suitcases and same-day return tickets, an army of mainland Chinese is descending on suburban outlet shopping malls and international fashion chains in Hong Kong, turning cheap into the new chic as luxury falls out of favour.
Savigny Luxury Index April 2013 | Source: Savigny PartnersLONDON, United Kingdom — The Savigny Luxury Index (“SLI”) lost 1.5 percent in April, underperforming the MSCI World Index (“MSCI”) by almost two percentage points. Luxury spending in Europe has been hit by a drop in tourist demand, as well as price increases by brands seeking wider margins. The unusually cold weather, particularly in March, also contributed to weak demand for Spring/Summer ready-to-wear collections.
Louis Vuitton Pre-Fall 2013 | Source: Louis VuittonPARIS, France — LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA fell to the lowest price in four months in Paris after reporting the slowest fashion and leather goods sales growth in more than three years as demand for Louis Vuitton handbags softened.
SHANGHAI, China — For decades, made-in-Asia luxury has been shorthand for “fake.” Now, companies from South Korean bag maker Couronne to Malaysian dressmaker Farah Khan are making a case for homegrown chic. Couronne, Khan and brands such as Woo, a Shanghai-based producer of silk scarves, are winning clients with products that can rival goods made in Europe. Their growing popularity, amid slowing sales at Louis Vuitton and other European brands, shows how demand is changing in Asia, with consumers favoring fresh designs over ubiquitous logos. The trend may lead to more acquisitions in the region as companies such as LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA and PPR SA seek to boost growth. “Luxury brands of the 21st Century can come out…
