Italian slump, Valentino endures, Luxury’s brighter future, Gilt Groupe’s Jetsetter, +J launches at Uniqlo

| Daily Digest

Missoni A/W 2010 ad campaign | Source: Missoni

Italy’s Fashion Houses See No Early Recovery From Sales Slump (Bloomberg) “Italy’s fashion industry will take years to recover after the biggest sales decline in at least two decades, according to the country’s designers, who criticized the government for not doing enough to assist them.” Valentino Owners Say Company Will Survive Recession (New York Times) “The finances of the Valentino fashion house will

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Valentino swimming in debt, Bread & Butter Berlin, Arab influences on Western style, Creating Korean luxury

| Daily Digest

Valentino S/S 09 ad campaign, courtesy of Valentino

Valentino hits Permira’s pockets (FT) “Private equity’s costliest excursion on to the catwalk risks turning into a flop as Permira, the UK buy-out house, nears completion of talks with lenders to Valentino, the Italian fashion house, about renegotiating its €2.5bn (£2.1bn) debt.” Bread & Butter anticipation mounts (Drapers) “Karl-Heinz Muller, the organiser of young fashion trade show Bread &

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Valentino’s uncertain optimism, Shrinking luxury market, Retail leadership, UK retail jobs at risk

| Daily Digest

Bulgari 'Save The Children' ring, courtesy of Bulgari

The Fashion Forecast (Vogue.com) “Valentino Fashion Group’s operating profits fell seven per cent in 2008. But, despite a difficult year, the group – which owns Valentino, Hugo Boss and operates under license Marlboro Classics and M Missoni – intends to remain positive about its growth and future prospects.” Luxury Goods to Drop as Much as 20% in First Half of 2009 (Market Watch) “The luxury

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Valentino | Still in the spotlight

| Uncategorized

NEW YORK, United States — While he has technically left his eponymous house, Valentino Garavani has certainly not left the public eye. Following his departure from Valentino Group, the iconic Italian designer received the Légion d'honneur in France, celebrated 45 years in fashion in an over-the-top multi-day extravaganza in Rome, and premiered a feature-length documentary, Valentino: The Last Emperor directed by Matt Tyrnaur, at important international film festivals in Venice and Toronto. Then in March, at a star-studded soiree in New York, Mr. Valentino was feted by friends like Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow, at a launch event for the film and conducted several television interviews, including ones with Oprah and this one with Charlie Rose (with his business partner Giancarlo…

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BoF Recommends | Valentino, the last Emperor

| New York

NEW YORK, United States - In the Summer of 2007,  around the time when Valentino Garavani finally resigned from his own label after months of speculation, I would have done anything to be a fly on the wall. What, with the planning of a 45th anniversary celebration in Rome, the controversy surrounding Permira's battle with the Carlyle Group for control of the House, the never-ending will he-won't he leave debate, and the ensuing rumours about potential successors (Giambattista Valli, Zac Posen, Proenza Schouler), there was a veritable tornado of activity going on in the Italian fashion house. Today, 18 months later, I got my wish. I caught an afternoon press screening of  Matt Tyrnauer's film, Valentino - The Last Emperor,…

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