While there are signs the explosive growth seen in luxury goods is slowing, most observers believe the sector’s good times will keep on rolling along.
Saks Inc. is facing a potential class-action lawsuit accusing the company of illegally reducing the wages of its sales associates.
MILAN — It’s a new era at Stephen Fairchild.
To better assist retailers, the American designer has tinkered with his design-cum-business formula for spring-summer. The revised strategy consists of smaller collections, more special…
MILAN — Prada chief Patrizio Bertelli has inked a deal with Telecom Italia for the telecommunications giant to sponsor the new Luna Rossa sailing boat set to challenge for the America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain, in 2007.
Telecom…
HAMBURG, Germany — “Our most beautiful store so far,” declared Albert Kriemler, head designer of Akris, at the opening last week of the label’s new boutique here.
Located on the exclusive Neuer Wall, next door to Louis…
Caryn Lerner has been named president of Holt Renfrew & Co., succeeding Andrew Jennings, who left in February to join Saks Fifth Avenue.
NANO EXECUTIVES: Nano-Tex has added two positions to its management team to help bolster its research and development as well as brand-building capabilities. Kim Houchens was brought on board as chief technology officer. Most recently, she was…
Shares of Tommy Hilfiger Corp. plunged in NYSE trading after the disclosure that a subsidiary is the target of a federal criminal investigation.
The field of bidders for Dockers appears to be narrowing, but officials at parent firm Levi Strauss denied a deal to sell the brand had been struck.
Catching up with Duran Duran, back together after 21 years with a new studio album called “Astronaut.”
PARIS — United States of luxury? You bet.
Citing a relatively strong economy, pent-up demand and a broadening clientele for upscale fashions and accessories, European luxury firms are soaring in America — and banking on continued…
Milan collections kicked off with an inspired collection at Byblos, Debora Sinibaldi’s charming debut and Just Cavalli’s looks for wild nights.
COLOR ME BLUE: Giorgio Armani’s Milan empire just keeps expanding. The designer unveiled his 5,000-square-foot Armani Jeans shop, replete with a cafe, on the hip Corso di Porta Ticinese Monday. “Right now the jean industry is split…
PARIS — Exhibitors at Texworld, the fabric fair that closed here Friday, said political uncertainty and anxiety about the end of global apparel quotas on Jan. 1 had cast a cloud over business activity, though order levels were on par with last…
On the last Tuesday of each month, WWD publishes the current, month-ago and year-ago fiber prices. Prices listed reflect the cost of one pound of fiber.
![]() TextilesPV: Fabrics Get Light for Fall 2005Exhibitors and attendees at Première Vision said some of the most directional fabrics were lighter weight than previous fall seasons. ![]() Beauty FeaturesBeatuy Beat: KaDeWe: On the Cutting Edge in Germany … Henkel Exec to RetireKaDeWe: On the Cutting Edge in Germany ![]() Fashion FeaturesNuala’s Next StageWith her baby turning one and her Nuala business set to celebrate its fifth, Christy Turlington has sized up her collection and is making changes. ![]() Fashion FeaturesRamosport by E2 Goes Picture PerfectNEW YORK — Ramosport by E2’s trenchcoats were the centerpiece of a one-day photography exhibition in a trendy Chelsea art gallery, and now the show is hitting the road to be displayed in stores. ![]() Fashion FeaturesLee Young Hee Taps NYC RepNEW YORK — Now that her name is on a new museum, Lee Young Hee is working to broaden her reach in the U.S. FinancialAnalysts See Cloudy Future for GapNEW YORK — The easy part of Gap Inc.’s recovery seems to have passed, and analysts are now questioning how strong the retailer’s near-term results will be. Ever-increasing competition, weak traffic levels, difficult upcoming sales… TextilesWWDSourcing Horizons: Countdown to 2005With 95 days remaining until the expiration of the quota system, executives in the $320 billion global apparel and textile business are faced with critical decisions. ![]() TextilesChina Charges OnHONG KONG — As they prepare for the end of quotas on Jan. 1 — an event that most people in the apparel industry expect to be a boon for China — executives here are wondering just how the historic event will play out for… TextilesSafeguard ShowdownPolitical, industrial and diplomatic winds are swirling into a hurricane of criticism over the possibility of the U.S. moving to limit its imports from China through safeguard quotas. ![]() TextilesCountdown to 2005: Trade’s New WorldThe expiration of the quota system that has regulated the world’s apparel and textile trade for more than three decades will be an epoch-making event. ![]() TextilesIndia Steps UpCHENNAI, India — In late August, Indian company Raymond Ltd. opened a new plant outside the southern city of Bangalore to make trousers and suits entirely for export. ![]() TextilesNeighborhood NeedlesWASHINGTON — Apparel makers in Central America, Mexico and the Andean countries of South America are counting on duty breaks and their proximity to the U.S. to keep their American market share from drastically eroding next year when quotas… FinancialFederated Takes Florida Hurricane HitATLANTA — Federated Stores projected a 2.1 percent decline in same-store sales for September compared with a year ago because of the hurricanes that have battered Florida, and apparel sales are suffering short-term damage. ![]() TextilesAfrica Tries to AdaptJOHANNESBURG — As they look ahead to 2005, most African apparel executives see trouble brewing for their continent’s industry. FinancialThe Istanbul CrusadeGENEVA — After months of intense industry lobbying and a diplomatic blitz by a group of poor countries spearheaded by Mauritius and Bangladesh, the World Trade Organization on Friday is to put the spotlight on the ramifications the end of quotas… ![]() TextilesEurope’s Measured ApproachPARIS — As Europe’s apparel firms count down to the end of the quota regime, they are still debating what the effects will be — and how fast they will come. FinancialU.N. Predicts Rise in InvestmentsGENEVA — Buoyed by the improved climate in the world economy, in particular for the Asia-Pacific region and major industrialized countries, global foreign direct investment is forecast to rebound in 2004 to around $600 billion, the U.N…. ![]() TextilesHiccups and HeadachesRetail and wholesale importers navigating the final months of the quota system must maneuver around some ominous land mines. ![]() MediaMemo Pad: All the Vixen … Truffle ShuffleALL THE VIXEN: Like the wildebeest, magazine publishers prefer to travel in herds. Witness Vibe, which is launching a women’s fashion-and-beauty spin-off, Vibe Vixen, that will go head-to-head against Suede, the new Essence extension that… ![]() FinancialA Look BackGENEVA — Asian countries lost global market share in textiles and apparel trade from 1995 to 2003 and U.S. textile exporters posted gains, according to data released last week by the World Trade Organization. TextilesSourcing Digest: Cotton Prices Seen StableCOTTON PRICES SEEN STABLE: The recent World Trade Organization panel ruling that found the majority of U.S. cotton subsidies broke global rules should not have a major impact in cotton trading, said Joe O’Neill, senior vice president at… Fashion FeaturesWhat’s NextWASHINGTON — The end of quotas is by no means the final hurdle for free-trade advocates. The lifting of apparel and textile quotas will mark the most significant change to global trade rules the industry has experienced in decades and… ![]() Fashion FeaturesDVF, Mantero Seta Head to BeachNEW YORK — Diane von Furstenberg’s first collection of swimwear and beach offerings is a lot like the designer herself: colorful, fun and with a strong point of view. |