Rebranding Africa (IHT)
"Africa is in the news — but not just for the sad and familiar reasons of conflict and suffering. The continent is entering the fashion arena, with the quality of its handwork, artistic creativity and its potential for economic growth bringing Africa literally in vogue."

Italy's Ferragamo Q1 net rises 10 pct (Reuters)
"Italian luxury shoemaker Salvatore Ferragamo said on Monday its net profit including minorities in the first quarter rose 10.2 percent to 17 million euros boosted by higher sales."

Fairchild Fashion Media Acquires Blogger Network (WWD)
"Fairchild Fashion Media has acquired Fashion Networks International, best known for NowManifest, a curated blog portal with 1.2 million unique visitors a month that showcases some of the biggest names in the fashion blogosphere."

Chanel Resort 2013: King Karl's seriously frivolous Versailles rhapsody (Telegraph)
"France is poised to inaugurate its new Socialist president with all the pomp and ceremony the Republic can muster. So tonight in Versailles Karl Lagerfeld nipped in first, with a majestic, pomp-aplenty Chanel cruise collection, as encrusted with courtly references as a Louis XIVth folly, yet determinedly 21st-century too."

Alber Elbaz: 'I hate the word cool' (Independent)
"There are not many surprises left in fashion – you name it, someone, somewhere has done it – which perhaps accounts for the ovation that followed being more heartfelt than most. Let's face it, this is a world that boasts its fair share of these too. But then M Elbaz is a highly individual designer and easier to love than many for that."