Frédéric Malle Steps Down From Namesake Brand
Frédéric Malle announced on Apr. 18 that he will be leaving his brand Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle at the end of June.
Akiko Shinoda
Why Japan's E-Commerce Giant Is Doubling Down on Fashion
Rakuten is replacing Amazon as the title sponsor of Tokyo Fashion Week, but the road to dominating Japan’s fashion e-commerce market isn’t obstacle-free.
Why Dior Men Is Targeting Tokyo
The French label’s first-ever travelling Pre-Fall menswear show and a pop-up selling a special Summer 2019 capsule collection are set to hit Tokyo next week.
Inside Japan’s Biggest Fashion Festival
Tokyo Girls Collection is a shoppable mega-show so popular that it causes hysteria, but only a few brands outside Japan have tapped into this colossal direct-to-consumer opportunity.
The Japanese Fashion School That Could Birth the Next Rei Kawakubo
A Tokyo-based institution with an unorthodox approach to teaching, Coconogacco has emerged as a new breeding ground for Japanese fashion talent.
The Global Influencer Economy, Part 1: The Dangers of Playing It Safe
What boosts the bottom line from London to Lagos? BoF examines the dark arts of influence and why brands can't afford to play it safe.
Tokyo’s Cult of Exclusivity Rules Fashion Week
Fashion week in Japan leaves outsiders feeling both highly impressed and highly frustrated, as many talented designers seem uninterested in doing business abroad.
Survival Mode for Japan’s Department Stores
Wave after wave of closures have hit the US and China, but Japan’s distinguished department stores were thought to be relatively safe from the era of 'new retail' — until now.
Who’s Driving Japanese Style?
At the close of Tokyo Fashion Week, BoF shines a light on the enigmatic stylists shaping how the world sees Japanese fashion.
In Japan, Luxury Flourishes While Economy Flounders
Japan’s economy is dipping in and out of recession, but the country is still one of the bright spots in the global luxury goods market. BoF reports.
Why Asia’s Brightest Stars Struggle to Shine
Fashion weeks in Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul showcase some of Asia’s most promising fashion talent, but many still lack global visibility.
The Ups and Downs of Japan Fashion Week
Looking back Japan Fashion Week, BoF columnist Susanna Lau, aka Susie Bubble, reflects on Tokyo's fragmented fashion landscape and catalogues the designers that caught her eye.
News & Analysis
The Gatekeepers Who Hold the Keys to Japanese Fashion
BoF examines Japan's 'madoguchi,' the bicultural point people who play the critical role of scout, market researcher, mediator, cultural ambassador, interpreter and deal broker for Western businesses seeking out the most exciting niche labels in Tokyo's often impenetrable fashion landscape.
The Gatekeepers Who Hold the Keys to Japanese Fashion
BoF examines Japan's 'madoguchi,' the bicultural point people who play the critical role of scout, market researcher, mediator, cultural ambassador, interpreter and deal broker for Western businesses seeking out the most exciting niche labels in Tokyo's often impenetrable fashion landscape.
Company Snapshot
An ardent supporter of the homegrown Japanese fashion industry, she called upon the government to invest in the sector.
The News in Brief
With Succession in Focus, LVMH Adds Alexandre and Frédéric Arnault to Board
The two brothers join older siblings Antoine and Delphine, meaning that 4 out of Arnault’s 5 heirs now serve on the board. Bernard Arnault, age 75, has placed his controlling interest in LVMH in a stock-share partnership aimed at perpetuating family control.
Arnault Says He Hopes Tensions With China on Luxury Quiet Down
Billionaire Bernard Arnault said he hopes a planned visit to France next month by China’s Xi Jinping will help smooth trade relations between Paris and Beijing.
Vita Liberata Bought Back By Founder
Alyson Hogg, who founded the luxury tanning brand in 2003, has reacquired it from Crown Laboratories.
Swiss Watch Exports Plunge as China and Hong Kong Demand Dries Up
Monthly Swiss watch exports suffered their biggest decline since 2020 as demand for premium and luxury timepieces in key markets including China and Hong Kong plunged.
Asos Says It Will Take ‘Necessary Actions’ After 18% Drop in Sales
Asos has said it will take “necessary actions” to transform its fortunes after the fast fashion retailer’s first-half losses widened and sales fell by nearly a fifth.
TikTok Divest-or-Ban Bill Heads to Fast Track in US Congress
The effort to force TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance Ltd to divest its ownership of the social media platform would quickly become law under a plan outlined Wednesday by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Lagardère Group Launches Egyptian Edition of Elle Magazine
The French publisher has appointed Tunis-based firm Nissa Editions Group as the local licensing partner and Cairo-based fashion media veteran Susan Sabet as both managing director and editor-in-chief of the new title.