Lanvin Autumn/Winter 2010 Detail | Source: Style.com

Africa’s influence in the fashion industry (FT)
“A long way from the World Cup epicentres of Johannesburg and Durban, catwalkers in New York and Paris are already marching to an African beat… chiming with the prevailing mood makes economic as well as sartorial sense.”

Will Last Century’s Styles Open Today’s Wallets? (NY Times)
“Brands are combing their archives in the hope that old clothing styles with a classic feel will assuage consumer anxiety in shaky times… — and help pry open shoppers’ wallets.”

E-commerce: Innovation brings a touch of class to online shopping (FT)
“Fuelled by a resurgent interest in the consumer web, a raft of technological advances, and evolving opinions of the web itself, companies such as Ike Behar, Burberry and Thomas Pink are discovering ways to reach consumers without sacrificing brand integrity.”

European M&A: Economic woes may herald slew of deals (FT)
“The conviction that the international success of groups of brands such as LVMH and PPR could be easily replicated, and that luxury is an easy industry for new entrants such as private equity [is false].”

Mickey Drexler: Retail Therapist (WSJ)
“No one understands shopping like J. Crew’s Mickey Drexler. With three successful turnarounds under his belt — Ann Taylor, Gap and now J. Crew — the ‘merchant prince’ is on a roll.”

Etail 3.0

Etail 3.0 takes customer service to the next level (Mad.co.uk)
“The industry body for global online retailing, IMRG, predicts that by the end of this year, 20 percent of the UK’s £300bn retail business will be e-commerce. Fashion brands such as ASOS (originally “As seen on screen”), Net-A-Porter, jewellery and diamond specialists Blue Nile, optician business Glasses Direct and many others are providing sophisticated customer-focused experiences that leave their high street rivals trailing in their wake.”

British Fashion Council ups commitment to new talent (Drapers)
“The British Fashion Council (BFC) has appointed Sarah Mower as its first ambassador for emerging talent.”

Thierry Mugler is back after a decade in the fashion wilderness (Telegraph)
“After a decade in the fashion wilderness, his outrageous power-clothes pushed aside by the bony elbow of waif-chic, Thierry Mugler is back and lending maximum impact to Beyoncé’s killer curves on her new world tour.”

Merchandisers …what exactly do they do? (Guardian)
“The word “merchandising” has echoes that ring down the centuries, and reminds us, among other things, of Shakespeare’s Venetian merchant, trading goods from far off lands in a strange currency called the ducat. But the basic disciplines of merchandising have endured, and are as relevant in the 21st-century retail environment as they were in the Bard’s day.”