Articles by AFP
Free Fashion initiative shakes up wedding industry in Netherlands
Utrecht, Netherlands - "After about 30 minutes, I knew it was the one," confides Lara Peters, looking at her sleek, second-hand wedding dress. She had just said "I do" to her partner amidst the hustle and bustle of Utrecht station in the Netherlands. Two days earlier, the bride found her dress in a pop-up shop at the station. The shop is run by...
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Kering sells majority stake in Milan building for over one billion euros
French luxury group Kering announced on Wednesday it has sold a majority stake in a building in Milan to the Qatari Al Mirqab Group for over 1 billion euros (1.15 billion dollars). Kering announced the acquisition of the building for approximately 1.3 billion euros in April 2024. In a press release on Wednesday, the group stated it is “...
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War in the Middle East: Dubai, a luxury capital on borrowed time
Dubai – Louis Vuitton, Dior, Louboutin... In Dubai's Mall of the Emirates, one luxury boutique follows another. A month into the regional war, their teams of unoccupied salespeople watch for customers or scroll through their phones out of boredom. Having just left Chanel, a rare customer who wishes to remain anonymous is adamant that people “...
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South African mohair: production, traceability and industry challenges
Graaff-Reinet (South Africa) - The Karoo, a vast South African semi-desert, is criss-crossed by dirt tracks. These paths lead to several centuries-old farms where angora goats graze, raised for their mohair. The country accounts for over half of the world's production of this natural fibre. Steel blades of pumping windmills are the only things...
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Jott administration: three candidates vie for ready-to-wear company
Marseille (France) - The Marseille commercial court on Friday reviewed bids from three candidates to take over the Marseille-based ready-to-wear company Jott, known for its colourful down jackets. These were selected from around 15 potential buyers who came forward in February. The court will announce its decision on April 13. The Jott brand...
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Investigation opened in Italy against Sephora and LVMH for sales to teenagers
Milan, Italy - The Italian competition authority announced on Friday it has opened an investigation into French luxury giant LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH). The probe targets its brands Sephora and Benefit for promoting “the early use of adult cosmetics by children and teenagers”, including anti-ageing creams. The authority, the Autorit...
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EU to fine e-commerce platforms importing harmful items
EU states and lawmakers struck a deal Thursday to give the bloc the power to slap fines on online platforms importing unsafe items into the European Union. The measure is part of wide-scale reforms to the EU's customs rules, including an EU-wide handling fee on products bought outside the 27-nation bloc, as Brussels steps up its efforts to stem...
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Global economic update: oil prices fall, stock markets reassured amid Middle East conflict
Paris, France – The latest global economic developments on Wednesday at approximately 8am GMT, as the war in the Middle East enters its 26th day. Oil prices fall Oil prices fell on Wednesday, with Brent dropping below 100 dollars, following Iran's announcement that it would unblock the Strait of Hormuz for ships deemed “non-hostile” and the...
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Live shopping: a digital bazaar just a click away
Teleshopping has not died; it has simply migrated to mobile phones. Live shopping, a blend of live video and instant purchasing, is revolutionising e-commerce. This has prompted tech giants, brands and small boutiques to invest in the format. “One euro starting price... 20 seconds to bid. Three, two, one, go!”. In front of multiple screens, Hugo...
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New evidence in Epstein files prompts renewed focus on modelling industry abuse
The case was previously closed. However, the accusers hope that investigations into Jeffrey Epstein could lead to its reopening. On Thursday, 15 women alleging sexual violence in the modelling industry asked the French judiciary to investigate Gerald Marie, a former executive of the prestigious modelling agency Elite Model Management (Elite)....
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