The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
"SMCP Boost Luxury Brand with China Partner Over IPO" (Bloomberg)
"Daniel Lalonde, president and chief executive officer at SMCP, discusses the influence of China on the future of luxury goods, what sets his brand apart in the luxury industry, and why they chose to partner with Shandong Ruyi rather than go to market in an IPO."
"Alibaba Affiliate Ant Financial Closes $4.5bn Funding Round" (Reuters)
"China's biggest e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's affiliate Ant Financial Services Group has closed a $4.5 billion funding round, paving the way for a long-expected initial public offering (IPO)."
"Consumption in China Is Resilient, Despite the Economic Slowdown" (The Economist)
"All retail sales across the economy, adjusted for inflation, rose by 9.6% during the first quarter, compared with the same period a year ago."
"Designer Finds a Home in a Shanghai Landmark" (The New York Times)
"Han Feng moved her atelier to Shanghai in 2005, and now works exclusively on a made-to-measure basis with a list of loyal clients, many of whom have been wearing her designs for decades."
"China Debt Load Reaches Record High as Risk to Economy Mounts" (The Financial Times)
"China's total debt rose to a record 237 per cent of gross domestic product in the first quarter, far above emerging-market counterparts, raising the risk of a financial crisis or a prolonged slowdown in growth, economists warn."
The French beauty giant’s two latest deals are part of a wider M&A push by global players to capture a larger slice of the China market, targeting buzzy high-end brands that offer products with distinctive Chinese elements.
Post-Covid spend by US tourists in Europe has surged past 2019 levels. Chinese travellers, by contrast, have largely favoured domestic and regional destinations like Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan.
While travel to Europe remains muted, Chinese shoppers are flocking to Singapore, Thailand and other Southeast Asian destinations where fashion retailers are hoping Lunar New Year marketing investments will pay off.
Local fashion designers experimenting with puffers and other down clothing have scored collaborations with outerwear companies like Moncler and attracted the attention of prominent international retailers like H.Lorenzo.