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.
The French luxury house has confirmed that it will no longer work with its brand ambassador.
On July 19, Louis Vuitton announced on Weibo that it was suspending its relationship with Wu, after he was accused of predatory behaviour by Du Meizhu, a woman claiming to be one of his victims, on July 8. Other brands Wu endorsed, like Porsche and Bulgari, cut ties with him soon after, while Lancôme and Kiehl’s removed mentions of the singer from their online accounts. Wu and his team have denied the allegations.
An official local police report, published on Weibo on July 22, has since detailed findings of an ongoing investigation. The post states that Wu’s team invited girls to his home for a gathering and to have sex on the pretext of an interview; Wu and Du had met more than once and kept in touch until April 2021. The police are still investigating the claims relating to Wu’s alleged sexual abuse.
Further Reading: How to Avoid Brand Ambassador Controversy in China
Navigating China’s celebrity ecosystem has always been a high-risk, high-reward gamble for global luxury brands, but the stakes are even higher in this volatile, politically charged year.
The guidance was issued as the French group released first-quarter sales that confirmed forecasts for a slowdown. Weak demand in China and poor performance at flagship Gucci are weighing on the group.
Consumers face less, not more, choice if handbag brands can't scale up to compete with LVMH, argues Andrea Felsted.
As the French luxury group attempts to get back on track, investors, former insiders and industry observers say the group needs a far more drastic overhaul than it has planned, reports Bloomberg.
After growing the brand’s annual sales to nearly €2.5 billion, the star designer has been locked in a thorny contract negotiation with owner LVMH that could lead to his exit, sources say. BoF breaks down what Slimane brought to Celine and what his departure could mean.