Thom Browne: The Five Hundred Million Dollar Man
Twenty years ago, people laughed at him in his shrunken grey suit. Now he’s showing haute couture in Paris, publishing a weighty monograph on his career, and chairing the CFDA. Who’s laughing now?
Luxury
How rapid change is reshaping the tradition-soaked luxury sector in Europe and beyond.
Highlights
How Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli Harnesses the Power of Colour
The designer has made deft experimentation with colour a hallmark of his aesthetic at the Roman house. Previously known for its signature red, Valentino has expanded its palette under Piccioli — from blistering magenta to dusty electric blues — turning the use of colour into a powerful brand signifier in the process.
Loro Piana Banks on ‘Not Quiet’ Luxury to Continue ‘Magnificent Growth’
In an in-depth interview with BoF, chief executive Damien Bertrand breaks down the strategy shifts he’s put in place to unlock the uber-luxe label’s growth potential.
Case Studies & Reports
Latest News & Analysis
Why Padel Is Luxury’s New Favourite Sport
Brands from Valentino to Prada and start-ups like Pulco Studios are vying to cash in on the racket sport’s aspirational aesthetic and affluent fanbase.
LVMH Considering Options for Marc Jacobs, Amid Buyer Interest, Say Sources
The fashion giant has been working with advisers to study possibilities for the Marc Jacobs brand after being approached by suitors.
Ralph Lauren Takes a Victory Lap
A runway show at corporate headquarters underscored how the brand’s nearly decade-long quest to elevate its image — and prices — is finally paying off.
Op-Ed: Should a Luxury Group Buy De Beers?
Mining company Anglo American is considering offloading its storied diamond unit. It won’t be an easy sell.
ADVERTISEMENT
What the Mango Collaboration Means for Victoria Beckham’s Business
The deal is expected to help tip the company into profit for the first time and has got some speculating whether Beckham may one day eclipse her husband in money-making potential.
The Other Side of Hedi Slimane
The designer has always been an arch perfectionist, a quality that has been central to his success but which clashes with the demands on creative directors today, writes Imran Amed.
The Prada Exception: How the Trend-Setting Group Bucked Luxury’s Uneven Slowdown
This week, Prada and Miu Miu reported strong sales as LVMH slowed and Kering retreated sharply. In fashion’s so-called “quiet luxury” moment, consumers may care less about whether products have logos and more about what those logos stand for.
The Prada Exception: How the Trend-Setting Group Bucked Luxury’s Uneven Slowdown
This week, Prada and Miu Miu reported strong sales as LVMH slowed and Kering retreated sharply. In fashion’s so-called “quiet luxury” moment, consumers may care less about whether products have logos and more about what those logos stand for.
Chanel CEO Says Price Hikes Driven by Inflation, Craftsmanship
The luxury goods maker is seeking pricing harmonisation across the globe, and adjusts prices in different markets to ensure that the company is”fair to all [its] clients everywhere,” CEO Leena Nair said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Hermès Defies Luxury Slowdown With Sales Jump in China
Hermes saw Chinese buyers snap up its luxury products as the Kelly bag maker showed its resilience amid a broader slowdown in demand for the sector.
Miu Miu Sales Jump 89 Percent, Boosting Prada Group
The group’s flagship Prada brand grew more slowly but remained resilient in the face of a sector-wide slowdown, with retail sales up 7 percent.
Kering Profits to Plummet 40-45% in First Half
The guidance was issued as the French group released first-quarter sales that confirmed forecasts for a slowdown. Weak demand in China and poor performance at flagship Gucci are weighing on the group.
Op-Ed | Tapestry-Capri and Pricey Purses Are the Wrong Targets for Trustbusters
Consumers face less, not more, choice if handbag brands can't scale up to compete with LVMH, argues Andrea Felsted.
THE NEWS IN BRIEF
Mulberry’s Full-Year Sales Fall 4%
The British brand’s share price, which has fallen by almost 60 percent this year, declined by a further 4.5 percent in early trading on Wednesday
Tapestry-Capri Deal to Face September Hearing
The preliminary injunction hearing on the US Federal Trade Commission’s bid to block Tapestry’s attempted takeover of rival Capri will likely last a week and a half, the judge said.
Shares of Versace Owner Capri Seen Falling 30% If Deal With Coach Owner Tapestry Fails
Since the merger announcement, Capri has reported weaker-than-forecast earnings twice, spurring concern about its performance in the coming quarters.
Sales at Italy’s Moncler Up 16% in First Quarter Boosted by China
Overall revenues for the three months through March totalled 818 million euros ($874 million), above a company-provided analyst consensus of 786 million euros.
LVMH Prize Names Finalists, Adds Phoebe Philo and Pharrell Williams to Jury
On Sept. 10 the eight designers will present their collections at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris.
Valentino’s Full-Year Sales Fall 3 Percent
The results help to explain owner Mayhoola’s decision to shake up the brand’s aesthetic direction by hiring former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele.
Vivienne Westwood’s Personal Wardrobe To Be Auctioned
A taffeta ball gown with the span of a light aircraft is one of the more magnificent items to go on sale at Christie’s in June as part of an auction of the personal wardrobe of Dame Vivienne Westwood.
Valentino Chairman Bets Quiet Luxury Is Over After Michele Hire
The fashion industry’s era of so-called quiet luxury is over and affluent consumers will want bold designs again, the chairman of Valentino has predicted.