Bespoke inflation, Chinese seek experiences, Barneys’ latest hire, H&M and Elin, Missoni’s Museum of Everything

| Daily Digest

Indochino Bespoke Suit | Source: Gear Patrol

Why Dressing Well Is Costing More (WSJ) “The culprit is the rising price of fabric. Cotton prices climbed a record 91% in 2010, and the price of crossbred wool hit a 14-year high in October, up 50% over 15 months… But higher material costs are only part of the story: Increasing demand caused by rising affluence is another.” New Experience Economy to Drive China Luxury in 2011 (Red Luxury) “Consumer demand

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Liz Claiborne’s rise and fall, Zero waste design, Bigging up bloggers, Fashion’s arty side, The Missoni dynasty

| Daily Digest

William L. McComb, CEO of Liz Claiborne Inc. | Source: Huffington Post

Targeting Younger Buyers, Liz Claiborne Hits Snag (WSJ) “In an effort to attract a younger audience, Mr. McComb decided to focus on the company’s contemporary brands with the most potential… But he made a series of strategic blunders… The decision to realign the company’s portfolio ‘was a disaster waiting to happen’.” Fashion Tries on Zero Waste Design (NY Times) “Zero-waste

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Runway ready rooms, Plus-size market minus, Esprit profits plummets, Another fashion week in India

| Daily Digest

Missoni Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland

Runway-ready rooms (Globe & Mail) “Fashion houses have found a new creative outlet: Hotels. In Europe and the Mideast, designers from Armani to Missoni are delivering chic interiors, stylish experiences and nice bedspreads.” Plus-size fashion market squeezed in recession (AP) “The American waistline may be expanding, but plus-size shoppers are tightening their belts. People just aren’t buying plus-size

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Missoni at 50, Fast Retailing rises, Seoul menswear, Liberty standalone closes, Hope for Italian menswear

| Daily Digest

Missoni S/S 09 ad campaign, courtesy of Missoni

Stars in their stripes: Missoni a fashion powerhouse (Independent) “For 50 years, it has dressed the stylish in its striped and zig-zag knits. Missoni is a fashion powerhouse, a family business and, a new exhibition argues, an Italian national treasure.” Fast Retailing Lives Up to Name With Global Gains (WSJ) “Despite the economic gloom brought on by Japan’s shrinking domestic consumption, Fast Retailing Co.

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Prada’s profit falls, Cartier cuts hours, Gap teams with ASOS, Missoni’s London store, Ballantyne’s new Chairman

| Daily Digest

Prada S/S 09 Ad campaign, courtesy of Prada

Prada lays foundations for future growth (Financial Times) “Prada, the privately owned Italian fashion house, reported on Tuesday a 22 per cent fall in net profit for 2008 of €99m and sought to position itself for growth when the global economic crisis eases.” Cartier cuts working hours as demand dwindles (Reuters) “Richemont, the world’s second-largest luxury goods group behind LVMH, is cutting working

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