LONDON, United Kingdom – "Expect a new Dior," Sidney Toledano told BoF just before the French house announced the appointment of Maria Grazia Chiuri. "I was looking for somebody that was deeply understanding the needs of the women of today and tomorrow – globally." The move came during a busy news week that kicked off with Condé Nast's announcement of its plans to launch Vogue Arabia, edited by Saudi Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz, and ended with the news Olivier Theyskens is relaunching his namesake collection. In between, Paris couture was 'hijacked' by ready-to-wear brands looking for a piece of the action. This week, we also examined how global brands are thinking local. Read this story and more in our latest print issue.

1. Sidney Toledano: 'Expect a New Dior'

Sidney Toledano and Maria Grazia Chiuri | Source: Courtesy/Photo: Maripol

Dior Couture chief executive Sidney Toledano speaks to BoF on why Maria Grazia Chiuri was the best choice to align the house with 'the needs of the women of today and tomorrow — globally.'

2. Condé Nast to Launch Vogue Arabia

Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz. Source: Courtesy

BoF can reveal that Condé Nast will launch a Vogue Arabia edition online in the autumn, followed by a print magazine next spring, appointing Saudi Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz as its editor-in-chief.

3. How Global Brands Are Thinking Local

Illustration: Rod Hunt for BoF

Global retailers like Uniqlo, Lululemon and Nike are activating local communities with cultural programming, ‘superhero’ yogis and neighbourhood run clubs.

4. BoF Exclusive | The Return of Olivier Theyskens

Olivier Theyskens | Photo: Thomas Whiteside

The designer Olivier Theyskens is poised to relaunch his namesake collection at Paris Fashion Week this autumn.

5. Software Is Reshaping Fashion's Back End

Selecting a retailer to sell to using the Joor app | Source: Courtesy

Digital has revolutionised the front-end of fashion, but the industry’s less glossy back-end systems have remained relatively untouched — until now.

6. Armed with Popular Apps, Resellers Stir Up Mid-East Market

Illustration: Costanza Milano for BoF

Local resellers using WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram are filling the gap in lucrative but isolated pockets of the Middle Eastern fashion market.

7. As Tastes Mature, Chinese Crave Native Materials

Looks by Rechenberg, created using traditional tea silk dyeing methods | Source: Rechenberg

From tea silk to yak wool, traditional materials and products are being reinvented for Chinese luxury consumers less enamoured with European mega-brands.

8. Direct-to-Consumer Labels Sharpen Their Brands

Graphic t-shirt range Monogram | Source: Courtesy

As the once-disruptive business model of bypassing wholesale and going direct-to-consumer via e-commerce becomes commonplace, brands must do more to differentiate themselves.

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