PPR eyes Brioni (Reuters)
“French luxury goods and retail group PPR is considering buying family-owned Italian tailor Brioni for about 350 million euros ($508.4 million)… The deal, if it goes ahead, would allow PPR to make further progress on its pledge to get out of retail and make luxury and sports brands its central focus.”

A Proenza Schouler Deal Is Near (On the Runway)
“A European private-equity firm is expected to sell its shares in the design house Proenza Schouler to a group of New York investors led by John Howard, the chief executive of Irving Place Capital, and Andrew Rosen, a seasoned garment industry executive behind Theory and Helmut Lang.”

Forever 21 ups the fashion stakes (FT)
“With the arrival of US retailer Forever 21 on London’s Oxford Street. Renowned for its constantly changing styles and rock-bottom prices, its continued expansion could herald a battle with its rivals, who are already feeling the pinch from cash-strapped shoppers and rising input costs.”

H&M links up with Beckham on new underwear range (Reuters)
“Budget fashion chain Hennes & Mauritz  is to partner with soccer star David Beckham to sell his new range of underwear… H&M, the world’s number two clothes retailer, has often linked itself with famous names to attract customers, including Madonna and Stella McCartney. The partnership with Beckham will be a long-term alliance, the group said.”

Crystals: All that glitters (Independent)
“There’s one name behind all the glitz: Swarovski. Founded more than a century ago, the brand is still family-run and the breadth of its reach and influence continues to grow…The driving force behind all of this is Nadja Swarovski, 41, who has transformed the brand’s reputation and reach through collaborations and commissions.”

Holly Fulton A/W 09, Swarovski Emerging Talent Award Winner | Source: Dazed

British Fashion Awards 2009 – The Winners (Independent)
“British fashion’s leading lights were rubbing shoulder pads last night at the prestigious annual awards which celebrate home-grown design talent and business success and are voted for by industry leaders, designers and retailers.”

Neiman Marcus sees weak luxury demand (FT)
“Neiman Marcus, the US luxury retailer, said on Wednesday it was seeing “some encouraging signs” of a recovery in parts of its high-end business, while warning that it expected overall demand to remain weak for some time.”

New York cracks down on counterfeit luxury goods (Reuters)
“New York authorities are cracking down on the sale of counterfeit luxury items, shutting down 31 stalls in raids on Tuesday and Wednesday and seizing $1 million of fake bags and watches.”

Burberry confirms London Fashion Week return (Drapers)
“Burberry chief creative officer Christopher Bailey has confirmed that the luxury British brand will stay at London Fashion Week this February.”

Alexander Wang, for Cool Kids, and Now You (NY Times)
“Don’t tell Alexander Wang that blue is the new black or that wedge-heel boots are the season’s must-have. Such airy edicts would most likely make him laugh. “No one talks like that anymore,” said Mr. Wang, whose keen sense of what young women want to wear is matched only by his no-nonsense approach to his, um, métier.”