Saris and Louis Vuitton: Luxury Brands Eyeing India for Future Growth

The 10 most creative countries, ranked by the Global Creativity Index.

India is considered “the next China” for luxury goods growth and the next few years should bring a rush of brands hoping to establish themselves.

ESCADA HIRE: Cynthia Srednicki has been named director of public relations at Escada USA. She succeeds Laura Henson, who left the firm. Most recently, Srednicki was the owner of Vision PR, which represented clients such as Silhouette…

Jil Sander saw double-digit sales growth, but stayed in the red for 2004 as its parent, Prada Holding, ponders the sale of its Helmut Lang unit.

Two years after Congress funded Customs to hire 72 textile specialists and investigators, the agency has finally put out the “help wanted” sign.

Strong demand for accessories and denim in Europe drove an eye-popping 980 percent surge in first-quarter profits and a 40.6 percent jump in revenues at Guess Inc.

There’s something about Connie Nielsen’s austere Scandinavian beauty and cool self-possession that doesn’t lend itself to playing comic heroines or witless bimbos.

A plethora of rockers, randy actors and the women who love them descended upon Sin City last weekend to help Peter Morton fete the 10th anniversary of his Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

At American Ballet Theater’s One Night Only gala last Thursday, the mostly teenaged company performed to Tchaikovsky in tutus and tights, then changed into their party clothes — which ranged from miniskirts to Uggs — to boogie down to salsa and hip-hop.

Known for fashion inspired by Western heritage, Double D Ranch has evolved to offer embellished styles that seem more suitable for rock stars than cowgirls.

Newlyweds Amy Krofchick and Brett Perkins talk about life together and the fall launch of their new knitwear line, Amo & Bretti.

Seven For All Mankind has the ultimate proof of its popularity–a counterfeit problem.

Levi’s in La-La Land … Lee goes online.

Contemporary and denim companies had a strong showing at the Intermezzo Collections, using the show to highlight additions to their lines.

The May installment of the Atelier Designers trade show is a smaller event than the September and February segments, though 31 vendors showed their fall and holiday 2005 wares to buyers.

Nouveau Collective has changed addresses, and vendors and buyers enjoyed the new scenery.

Spring has reached full blossom in the activewear field and stores are seeing brisk sales of fashion-oriented performance merchandise.

Following up on its revival in footwear, KangaRoos is hopping into apparel with its first line for young women set to launch at retail this fall.

Nike’s decision to stop selling its footwear and socks in Sears Holding Corp. was attributed to “the regular course of brand management” according to a company spokeswoman Wednesday.

Elizabeth Arden, Inc. said Wednesday that it has entered into a co-marketing agreement with specialty pharmaceutical firm Allergan, that it will do a second Britney Spears scent, and released third-quarter earnings.

A fund-raiser to help prevent teenage pregnancy is bound to be a little controversial, and guests at Candie’s “Event to Prevent” Tuesday night did not disappoint.

Whether creativity can have an impact on a country’s economic outlook is becoming a matter of fast debate.

Those opposed to CAFTA are stating their case as the President gets ready to send the agreement to Congress for approval.

KNITTED MOVES: Designer Fabio Piras apparently is headed to Malo, the knitwear company owned by IT Holding that is looking to round out its tried-and-true array of fluffy, colorful and luxurious sweaters with more…