Articles by AFP
New Kering CEO charts turnaround plan with customer focus and faster timelines
The new chief executive officer (CEO) of luxury group Kering, Luca de Meo, is set to speak with the group's key managers. This group comprises several hundred executives. They will meet after reviewing a memo outlining several workstreams to revive the group, AFP learned on Wednesday, confirming a report from La Lettre. The meeting will take the...
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French department store operator dropped by investment bank following Shein collab
French department store operator Société des grands magasins (SGM) has seen its deal to acquire the property of the Parisian department store BHV Marais collapse after its new partner, fast fashion giant Shein, caused the withdrawal of a key state-backed investor. SGM, which operates BHV, has condemned what it calls “political pressure” but...
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US tariffs spark concern in India's textile capital
Tiruppur, India - The roar of sewing machines has given way to an unusual quiet in the textile factories of Tiruppur, in southeastern India. Since the tariffs on Indian exports was imposed by Donald Trump at the end of August, most have been operating at a reduced capacity. “US orders are almost at a standstill,” notes a disappointed Ramesh...
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Swiss watch industry should find time for India, says Deloitte
India and Mexico could become new drivers of growth for the Swiss watch industry, which has been clobbered by US tariffs and slumping demand in China, top audit firm Deloitte said Wednesday. The emblematic Swiss industry "is navigating one of the most complex periods in recent memory", the professional services giant said in the 11th Deloitte...
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IKKS enters administration, over 1,000 jobs at risk
Fashion brand IKKS has been placed into administration. This procedure puts over 1,000 jobs at the group at risk, AFP learned on Friday from the Paris Commercial Court, confirming a report from Les Echos. The brand, which had ceased payments and was already facing difficulties a few years ago, secured a debt waiver from its creditors in 2024....
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Who is Matthieu Blazy, the new man at Chanel?
The most-coveted show at Paris Fashion Week this season: Matthieu Blazy's debut at Chanel. But who is the 41-year-old designer? The Franco-Belgian is relatively low-key - certainly not one of the big celebrity names he beat for the job - and was picked for Chanel after a highly successful three-year stint at Bottega Veneta. The new job is a...
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Shoe brand Minelli placed into receivership
Shoe brand Minelli was placed into receivership in September. The company had been acquired in early 2024 following a similar procedure, according to a decision seen by AFP on Thursday. Founded in 1973, the brand, which primarily sells leather goods and shoes for women, was placed into receivership in September 2023 by the court in Marseille. It...
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Paris fans now watching fashion shows like sports games
With Paris Fashion Week in full swing, a well-heeled group of mostly 20-somethings has been gathering every day near the Gare du Nord train station for "watch parties" of the biggest shows from Saint Laurent to Dior. It is a concept created by Lyas, aka Elias Medini, a 26-year-old French influencer with more than half a million followers on...
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Stella McCartney takes on 'barbaric' feather industry
British fashion designer Stella McCartney is showcasing plant-based alternatives to real feathers in her latest collection, as the animal-rights campaigner takes on the "barbaric" farming of birds for clothing. "I've been having the conversation about not killing cows and goats and snakes or any living animal to be made into a shoe or handbag in...
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Shein announces opening of permanent stores in France, a world first
Paris - Asian platform Shein has chosen France to open its first permanent physical stores, a world first. The brand claims this is a “commitment to revitalising city centres”. Shein is regularly accused of unfair competition for flooding the market with discount products sold online. Six boutiques will open “from November”, first within BHV...
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