Articles by AFP
'Stigmatized' or 'sustainable'? Vintage sales boost sees fur return
Laura Jacobs thought she'd never wear animal fur, having witnessed years of protests over its use in clothing -- until suddenly she started spotting it all over New York. Jacobs fished out the long mink her grandmother left her years ago and took it to a Manhattan furrier to give it a second act. Fur "was stigmatized for so long," Jacobs told...
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Meta plans 10 percent layoffs as AI spending soars: source
Meta plans to cut a tenth of its workforce, looking for productivity gains from its remaining workers as it invests heavily in artificial intelligence. Meta will lay off about 8,000 employees and leave thousands of other positions unfilled next month, a source told AFP. The move comes as co-founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg makes a...
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Succession and ambitions: Bernard Arnault holds firm at LVMH shareholder meeting
Addressing shareholders of the world's leading luxury group, LVMH, its CEO Bernard Arnault, 77, has postponed the debate on his succession. He preferred to set medium-term goals for his group instead. The topic of succession prompted one of the very first questions from shareholders at the general meeting in Paris on Thursday. When asked about...
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"Made in China" hopes for improvement with Trump visit
Canton - In the heat of a vast wholesale market in southern China, surrounded by clothing and footwear, traders are hoping that Donald Trump's announced visit will ease the American tariffs penalising their exports. Manufacturers and factories in Guangdong province, the country's manufacturing heartland, have borne the full brunt of the White...
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Ski: Rossignol capitalises on strong winter to boost sales
Paris, France – April 22, 2026 (AFP) – Ski equipment manufacturer Rossignol has improved its sales for the 2025/2026 season, following two difficult winters. The brand announced on Wednesday that the increase was due to strong visitor numbers at ski resorts. For its financial year ending March 31, the French group achieved a turnover of 346...
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Switzerland: watch exports fall by 1 percent in March
Swiss watch exports contracted by one percent in March to 2.1 billion Swiss francs, driven down by the US market, according to figures published on Tuesday by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH). American market in decline In March, exports to the US, the largest market for Swiss watchmakers, fell by 1.6 percent compared to the same...
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Exploited labour: Loro Piana (LVMH) is no longer under judicial administration
Rome - Italian fashion house Loro Piana, owned by French luxury giant LVMH, announced on Friday the early termination of its judicial administration by the Court of Milan. “Loro Piana acknowledges the early conclusion of the judicial administration proceedings by the Court of Milan, ahead of the originally scheduled 12-month period,” the Italian...
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Marimekko textile design figure, Vuokko Nurmesniemi, dies at 96
Finnish artist and designer Vuokko Nurmesniemi, known for creating several iconic prints that became classics for the Marimekko brand, has died at the age of 96, her niece announced to AFP on Monday. Architect of textile renewal She joined the clothing, textiles and interior design company in 1953 and would lead the house's artistic direction...
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Fashion trend analysis: barrel-leg trousers
Paris (France) - Barrel-leg trousers, also known as "tonneau" in French or "clown" trousers, seemed unlikely to move from the catwalks to the high street with their unique, voluminous cut. However, they have recently taken over everyday fashion for both men and women. "Ready-to-wear has made it a staple that has replaced all the flared jeans of...
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Victoria Beckham explains parental approach following son's 'control' claims
New York - Victoria Beckham has responded to accusations from her eldest son that she wants to "control" his life and tried to "ruin" his marriage. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, she stated that she and her husband David have always sought to "protect" their children. In a long message posted on social media in...
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