Latest news with #fashionhouse
The Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Burberry ‘encouraged' by turnaround progress amid job cuts
Burberry has said it is 'encouraged' by the initial progress from its transformation plan but highlighted that trading conditions remain 'challenging'. The London fashion house revealed that retail revenues fell by 6% to £433 million for the 13 weeks to June 28, compared with a year earlier, amid a drag from currency rates. However, it reflected a slowdown in the group's sales decline amid efforts to turn around its fortunes after coming under pressure from weaker luxury spending. Last November, the group launched a £40 million cost-cutting programme after first sinking to a loss. In May, the company announced proposals to cut about 1,700 jobs worldwide over the next two years as part of the shake-up. In its fresh update, Burberry said it has made some progress in its transformation efforts but is still in the 'early stages' of the potential turnaround. The company said: 'In the first half, we are continuing to prioritise investment and expect to see the impact of our initiatives build as the year progresses.' It pointed towards efforts to simplify its operations and improve productivity in a bid to improve profit margins. In the latest quarter, Burberry said there were improvements across its main regions, amid strong sales of 'outerwear and scarves'. Comparable retail sales grew by 1% in Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA) as positive local spending helped to offset declines among tourists. Meanwhile, its Americas business reported growth of 4% for the quarter. However, it said sales in Greater China fell 5% for the quarter, while its Asia Pacific division saw a drop of 4%, driven by a 'challenging performance in Japan'. Joshua Schulman, chief executive of Burberry, said: 'The improvement in our first quarter comparable sales, strength in our core categories, and uptick in brand desirability gives us conviction in the path ahead. 'Our autumn 2025 collection is being well received by a broad range of luxury customers as it arrives in stores. 'Although the external environment remains challenging and we are still in the early stages of our transformation, we are encouraged by the initial progress we are starting to see.'
Reuters
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Recovering Giorgio Armani says he will be back in September
ROME, July 11 (Reuters) - The founder of Italian fashion house Giorgio Armani issued a message as he turned 91 on Friday to say that he will be back in September, after a health problem forced him to miss the Milan and Paris fashion shows in recent weeks. It was the first time Giorgio Armani has missed one of his catwalk events. His company said last month he was recovering at home, without elaborating on his health, while Italian newswires reported that he had been in hospital for some days. "In the last few weeks I strongly felt the embrace of those who were thinking of me," Armani said in an open letter published by several Italian newspapers, mentioning family, colleagues, employees, the press and people on social media. "Today, on my 91st birthday, I want to thank all of you for the closeness you have shown me. It wasn't easy for me not to hear your applause live. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I'll see you again in September," he added. The next Milan fashion week is scheduled to run from September 23 to September 29.
Washington Post
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Armani couture channels black as maestro misses Paris bow for 1st time, days from 91st birthday
PARIS — Armani Privé opened Tuesday under an unmistakable shadow. For the first time in the 20-year history of his couture house, Giorgio Armani was not present in Paris to take his bow. Days from his 91st birthday and following doctors' advice after a recent hospital stay, Armani reportedly oversaw the Paris couture week show remotely from home, a moment of absence that lands heavily for a designer who has shaped every one of his brand's collections since its founding.
Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Armani couture channels black as maestro misses Paris bow for 1st time, days from 91st birthday
PARIS (AP) — Armani Privé opened Tuesday under an unmistakable shadow. For the first time in the 20-year history of his couture house, Giorgio Armani was not present in Paris to take his bow. Days from his 91st birthday and following doctors' advice after a recent hospital stay, Armani reportedly oversaw the Paris couture week show remotely from home, a moment of absence that lands heavily for a designer who has shaped every one of his brand's collections since its founding. The show's theme, 'Seductive Black,' played out with literal and symbolic force on the runway: black in myriad forms, from liquid velvet and lacquered silk to pavé crystals and flashes of gold. Even the models' makeup followed suit, rendered in shades of gray. For some in the front row, the relentless palette felt pointed. Guests quietly wondered if the choice of black was a coded message from the maestro himself. Armani missed Milan, too This is not the first major show Armani has missed this season. Just weeks ago, he was forced to sit out Milan Fashion Week for the first time in the label's history, following a brief hospitalization. According to the brand, the absence was a precaution to save energy for his Paris couture appearance. For decades, Armani — often referred to as 'Re Giorgio,' or King George, in Italy — has been both the creative and business force behind one of fashion's last great independent empires. The Tuesday collection balanced tension and control. After an uncertain start, including velvet jodhpurs and stark crystalline seams, Armani's familiar codes quickly emerged: tuxedo jackets transformed into evening gowns with plunging lapels and floating bow ties, tailored blazers worn on bare skin and military-inspired equestrian jackets paired with slim velvet pants. Bursts of embroidery and colored feathers provided a balance from the monochrome. A living fashion ma estro Armani's recent absences have sent ripples through the industry. In a landscape dominated by conglomerates like LVMH and Kering, Armani remains the sole shareholder of his company, personally overseeing every collection for nearly 50 years. In 2024, Armani Group reported revenues of $2.5 billion, while Giorgio Armani's personal fortune is estimated at $11–13 billion — even as the global luxury market faces headwinds. Armani is widely credited with redefining men's and women's tailoring, pioneering gender-fluidity in fashion, and inventing celebrity red-carpet dressing, from Julia Roberts to Cate Blanchett. Yet the designer himself has acknowledged that age is now a reality to deal with and that pulling back could be a necessity. Whether the monochrome collection was a deliberate metaphor or simply a showcase of discipline, 'Seductive Black' felt personal — both a mood and a message, perhaps an understated nod to a master whose presence, even in absence, remains absolute. As the show closed, the final bow belonged to the models alone. But Armani's vision — uncompromising and unmistakably his — filled the room.
South China Morning Post
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Prada's new US$1,200 sandal is an Indian classic – but did it give credit where it's due?
It began with a silhouette: supple leather, intricate stitching, the unmistakable toe ring of a Kolhapuri chappal. In Milan, it was hailed as luxury. In India , it was recognised as something far more profound – and its omission of origin as an affront. When Prada 's latest design walked the catwalk at Milan Fashion Week last month, it carried with it a legacy. And soon after, a controversy that reignited questions of cultural respect. The Italian fashion house's latest collection, which included footwear bearing a striking resemblance to the centuries-old chappals, set off a firestorm of debate in India. The initial absence of any mention of the shoe's origins, born of a long tradition rooted in the bustling markets and dusty workshops of Maharashtra, prompted accusations of cultural appropriation and exploitation. It took a wave of public outcry for Prada to acknowledge its debt. In a letter to the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, the brand conceded that its design was, in fact, 'inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage.' Models wear creations from Prada's spring-summer 2026 menswear collection at Milan Fashion Week, including Kolhapuri chappal-inspired footwear. Photo: Reuters Kolhapuri chappals, crafted from buffalo hide tanned with natural dyes and assembled without a single nail, are more than mere footwear. They bear a 'geographical indication' tag, a mark of authenticity and regional pride. For generations, they have been made by hand, often for a fraction of the price now commanding attention on Europe's fashion runways.
