Counterfeits get sophisticated: how to spot fakes | Source: WSJ

[ The Finer Art of Faking ItOpens in new window ]

(WSJ)

"The prices of the imitators are rising, confusing customers who are looking for the real deal at a discounted price. Still, the higher-priced fakes are just a fraction of what a real item would cost...  To fight back, more brands are turning to authentication devices into their merchandise."

The Has-Beens of the Fashion Industry? (Huffington Post)
"There's a sentiment on the fringes of the fashion industry that is picking up steam and now fully seeping into the industry's most coveted position: the inside... Big city fashion weeks and major trade shows are not what they once were."

Digital startup: Editd (Guardian)
"As well as crawling retail sites across the web to gather details on stock, prices and sizes, Editd monitors mentions on Twitter, Facebook and blogs, aggregates data from key catwalk and trade shows and adds a sprinkle of secret sauce that captures public 'mind share'. The result is a bespoke dashboard digitising the age-old mood board."

LVMH wins EU clearance for Bulgari takeover (Reuters)
"French luxury group LVMH  secured EU approval on Thursday for its 3.7-billion-euro ($5.24 billion) purchase of Italian peer Bulgari to boost its presence in emerging markets... The acquisition will help LVMH...  improve margins and better compete with bigger watch and jewellery companies."

Fashion Return (Vogue UK)
"Former Gucci and Valentino creative director Alessandra Facchinetti is returning to the fashion world, with a new label in association with Pinko. The brand, called Uniqueness, aims to build a collection in a new way - interacting with customers and eschewing the traditional fashion seasons."