Loewe Spring/Summer 2010 | Source: Loewe

Luxury goods brand LVMH sees sales soar (Guardian)
“A surge in demand for expensive jewellery, fashion goods, perfume and champagne has sent sales soaring at luxury goods firm LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. LVMH saw revenues jump by 11% in the first three months of this year to €4.472bn.”

Talbots Politely Shows Granny the Door (WSJ)
“To solidify its comeback and boost sales, Talbots must complete a merchandise and image overhaul aimed at attracting younger customers. And that’s a tall order for a brand that many women think of as perfect for their grandmothers.”

Morning Markets: FTSE muted as Dow hits 19-month high (Investment Week)
“Retailers were in the spotlight after the British Retail Consortium said UK sales in March rose at their fastest rate in almost four years thanks to the earlier timing of Easter. Total retail sales rose 6.6%, against 0.6% growth in March 2009.”

Hugo Boss Forecasts Higher Operating Profit, Sales This Year (Business Week)
“Hugo Boss AG, Germany’s largest clothing maker, expects ‘single-digit’ sales growth this year on rising demand for suits in North America and Asia. Operating profit this year will rise at a faster pace than sales, which should also advance in 2011.”

A Fashion App That Talks Back (WSJ)
“‘Ask a Stylist,’ a New Fashion iPhone App, Puts Style Experts On Call for Fashion Emergencies…The app, which claims to be the first to link up people in real time, is among the latest fashion tools to enter the crowded marketplace of 185,000 iPhone apps.”

Martin Margiela Autumn/Winter 2009 | Source: Fashionologie

Martin Margiela to Leave Fashion House He Founded (NY Times)
“Insiders had known for months that Mr. Margiela had left the company in all but name. The designer’s particular vision, which had focused on the authenticity of the vintage artisan fused with modern photo prints depicting wrinkles or handwork, was missing from recent shows.”

Primark beats its one-day sales record (Independent)
“The flagship Primark store in London is thought to have enjoyed the best day’s trading in the discount fashion retailer’s 40-year history on Saturday, boosted by a traffic-free shopping day in the West End. The Oxford Street branch is understood to have taken more than £700,000, an increase of about 17 per cent on last year’s record for the store on the same day in December 2008.“

Talbots In Merger Deal, Swings To Surprise 3Q Profit (WSJ)
“Talbots Inc. is revamping its ownership structure to give the retailer more flexibility to complete its turnaround by infusing capital, reducing debt and shedding its majority shareholder…it is merging with a publicly traded shell company in which Talbots’ management will stay in place and the merger partner will hold a roughly 60% to 70% stake in the retailer.”

Louis Vuitton announces Madonna follow-up (Independent)
“Confirming earlier rumors, french luxury giant Louis Vuitton has unveiled next February’s ad campaign to the press, starring Madonna ‘replacement,’ supermodel Lara Stone.”

The Power 25: fashion’s most forward (Guardian)
“From fashion lecturers to PRs, introducing some of the less well-known names from the new list of fashion’s most influential figures.”