How long can Dior thrive without a couturier? (France 24)
"Ten months after John Galliano was sacked over a racist outburst, Dior has yet to name a new chief designer -- but sales are booming. Which begs the question: how long can the French fashion house thrive without a couturier at the helm?"

Rio 2012: what can the fashion industry do to become more sustainable? (Guardian)
"This new 'fast fashion' model has considerably changed the role of fashion retailers in their supply-chains, specifically how and where they buy... Cheap fashion uses cheap fibres, such as polyester and cotton. While polyester is an oil-based commodity, cotton on the other hand is not exactly the 'good' crop it is usually perceived as."

Asian shoppers and tourists boost Burberry (Reuters)
"British luxury brand Burberry posted a 22 percent rise in third-quarter revenue as wealthy shoppers and tourists, particularly in Asia, showed their resilience to shaky economies in Europe and the United States."

In the 'Twilight' Zone (IHT)
"Alexander McQueen is introducing a made-to-order line with Huntsman of London's Savile Row. And that news, along with the upscale clothes displayed in the brand's Milan showroom, confirm that the tilt in men's wear is toward the formal and the evening."

Milan's Rising Star: A Conversation With Umit Benan (On the Runway)
"His clothing collections, under the label Umit Benan, have made Umit Benan Sahin a rising star in Milan, where he moved after working briefly in New York. In 2009, he won a prize for new talent sponsored by a trade show in Florence that raised his profile, and last June, he was hired by Trussardi to design its men's and women's collections."