Articles by AFP
Luxury sector seeks solutions amid downturn
Is this the dawn of a new era for luxury? Faced with a marked slowdown over the past three years, the sector is trying to regain momentum by returning to fundamentals, streamlining portfolios and exploring new avenues. Profits are down sharply for LVMH and Kering in 2025, and Burberry reported a net loss for its 2024/2025 financial year. The...
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France fines Shein over 22 million euros for traceability and consumer law violations
France's fraud authority has issued two fines to Shein totalling over 22 million euros (25.56 million dollars), it announced on Wednesday. The authority cited failures related to product traceability, environmental claims, withdrawal periods and delivery times. The institution, which reports to the French Ministry of Finance, has increased the...
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Amazon announces "three new logistics sites" in France
Paris - Amazon plans to invest more than 15 billion euros (17.49 billion dollars) in France over three years. The company announced on Monday "three new logistics sites" intended to create 1,000 permanent jobs. These will be in addition to the more than 7,000 already promised by the company in early May. "Amazon is strengthening its presence...
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Hermès/LVMH shares case: two Swiss lawyers and a notary under investigation in Paris
Two Swiss lawyers and a notary are under investigation in Paris regarding the Hermès shares case. An heir of the French leather goods house claims to have been dispossessed of the shares in favour of LVMH. AFP learned this on Friday from the Paris public prosecutor's office, confirming a report from the daily newspaper Libération. Nicolas Puech,...
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'Robots need clothes': humanoids hit catwalk in Seoul
There were no naked robots in sight at a fashion show held in Seoul with a high-tech twist, where pairs of people and humanoids hit the catwalk in matching outfits. A tasselled blue Texan-style ensemble -- complete with a cowboy hat for the robot -- and a retro silver puffer jacket were among the looks showcased at the event on Thursday. Each...
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'Down with the suit': Mobutu-era jacket makes comeback
Sewing machines whirred across bold fabrics at a Kinshasa atelier where Congolese tailors and their style-savvy customers have revived a suit long associated with life under a dictator. The "abacost" has a closed-front jacket, often with a Mao-style collar and worn without a tie, ideal for the sweltering equatorial heat. It was the signature...
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Kering holds its annual general meeting amidst a transformation phase
Luxury group Kering is holding its annual general meeting on Thursday, a few weeks after unveiling its strategic plan, as the slowing luxury market seeks to reinvent itself. Last September, the French giant's last annual general meeting saw the appointment of Luca de Meo as chief executive officer. François-Henri Pinault retained his position as...
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Less luxury, more clicks: savvy Chinese consumers are shopping smarter
Beijing - Jacqueline Li was astonished to learn of the closure of Galeries Lafayette in Beijing. She believes it signals a change in Chinese shopping habits. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, luxury no longer holds the same appeal as it once did. The closure of the iconic French department store this Wednesday occurs against a backdrop of economic...
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Galeries Lafayette closes its Beijing store
Beijing – French group Galeries Lafayette is closing its Beijing store on Wednesday after 13 years of operation. The closure is attributed to evolving customer demands and a slowdown in the luxury market in a country once considered an eldorado for the sector. On Tuesday, the day before the closure, a steady stream of customers browsed the...
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In Pictures: Cannes red carpet showstoppers
While the Oscars and the Met Ball are one-night wonders, the Cannes Film Festival is the fashion equivalent of an ultra marathon -- 11 days and nights of unrelenting red carpet premieres featuring some of the planet's biggest stars and influencers. Ahead of Saturday's awards ceremony, AFP brings you some of the chicest and craziest looks, and...
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