LVMH grows +52.8% in first 6 months of 2010

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton reported a +52.8% in the first half of the year, more than analyst' expected, as organic sales grew by double digits in all categories: net profit rose to 1.05 billion euros, from 687 million euros, or $917.2 million, a year earlier. “The 2010 first half results, once again, demonstrate the exceptional appeal of our brands as well as the effectiveness of our strategy, as pertinent in the context of a recovery in 2010 as it was during the global economic crisis in 2009," LVMH chairman and chief executive officer Bernard Arnault said in a statement.

Brummel launches the online store and a literary contest

The newly launched website ‘www.outletbambini.it’ provides childrenswear at affordable prices for the brands Brums, Bimbus, Mek and Suomy (which will all have a link on their hompages to the site). From the 23rd August to 30th September 2010 Brums is also having a literary contest to find the best fables, and participation will be possible by acquiring three or more garments in any of its mono brand boutiques. The best stories will be collected in a special volume available as a gift in Brums stores next Christmas and the best one will also win a holiday.

Artà Capital and L Capital acquire 27,8% of the Pepe Jeans group

Artà Capital and L Capital (the latter had previously invested in Dondup in December 09) have reached a deal for the acquisition of 27. 8% of the Pepe Jeans group (16.4% for Artà Capital and 11.5% for L Capital ). The total investment is 85 million euros, respectively 50 million from Artà Capital and 35 milion from L Capital. The funds will purchase their stake directly from the current owners, after which Artà Capital and L Capital will be involved in the business management as major shareholders together with Torreal and the former company management. In the fiscal year ended March 31, the group Pepe Jeans had sales of 347.3 milion euros and a gross profit of 51.4 milion euros (+18% on the previous year).

Esprit sales and net profits drop in 2010, but cashflow increases

Esprit Holdings Friday reported slightly lower full-year sales and net profits, but operating cashflow increased. In a statement, the Hong Kong-based apparel producer said revenue for the 2010 fiscal year, ended June 30, was 33.7 billion Hong Kong dollars, or circa 3.4 billion euros, compared with 34.5 billion dollars in 2009. Net profits dropped to 4.2 billion dollars, from 4.7 billion dollars the previous year. However, the company reported gross margins up 2.6%, to 54.7 percent. Esprit proposed a 0.67 dollar per share dividend, compared with 0.72 dollars paid out in 2009. The payout ratio increased, to 60% versus 40%. According to Ronald Van der Vis, Esprit Holdings’ CEO, “the economic situation seems to be improving, but the road to a complete recovery of consumer confidence is still long.”

H&M to launch Lanvin collection

Swedish retailer H&M on Thursday said it will soon launch a new collection designed by French label Lanvin, “Lanvin for H&M”. Designed by Alber Elbaz, Lanvin’s artistic director and designer of the men’s line Lucas Ossendrijver, the collection, for men and women, will be presented, on H&M’s website www.hm.com, on November 2 and will be on sale, from November 23, in some 200 H&M stores worldwide. In a statement, Elbaz said: “H&M contacted us to propose a collaboration and understand if it was possible to offer to a wider public the dream which Lanvin has translated into reality.” Margareta va den Bosch, creative advisor of H&M, added: “We’re enthusiastic about the Lanvin collection for H&M. It’s a fantastic moment. Lanvin will bring to H&M the luxury of the French tradition, enriched with modern and lively elements.”

Marchon gets Lacoste eyewear license

Starting from 2011, Marchon will produce eyewear for Lacoste. The French company will end its collaboration with Charmant, which obtained the Lacoste license in 2006. Marchon Eyewear, Inc., which already produces under license for brands like Calvin Klein, Coach, Fendi, Jil Sander and Karl Lagerfeld, will design, produce and distribute sunwear and prescription lenses for Lacoste. The new collections will debut in stores in January 2011 and will be present at the Lacoste Spring-Summer 2011 Fashion Show, in September. The new relationship with Marchon, said Christophe Chenut, Lacoste CEO, will lead to a “new phase in the development of Lacoste accessories.” Furthermore, the new collaboration will mark a strong push for the women’s business. The first collection will include 48 sunglass models and 35 prescription lines and will be sold in Lacoste flagship stores, department stores, select stores and in the best opticians worldwide.

Zara to launch e-commerce site

Spanish retail giant Zara is debuting in e-commerce. From September 2nd it will be possible to shop online at www.zara.com in six countries: Italy, France, Germany, Portugal, United Kingdom and Spain. The online shopping site will be rolled out to other countries where Inditex, owner of Zara, is present in the following months. Inditex also owns retail outlets Pull & Bear, Bershka and Massimo Dutti. Pablo Isla, Inditex’s Group Vicepresident, pointed out “the strategic relevance of this new commercial impulse (which is) in line with the constant effort to offer the best service to our customers.”

The Gucci award for women in cinema

Gucci, in collaboration with the Venice International Film Festival, announced a new annual award that will celebrate an outstanding artistic achievement by a woman in filmmaking. The Gucci Award for Women in Cinema will be inaugurated at the 2011 Venice International Film Festival, but thanks to Gucci and Martin Scorsese’s non-profit organization, The Film Foundation, will be preceded in 2010 with the world restoration premiere of Wanda, the highly regarded independent film directed by Barbara Loden which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Prada opens first monobrand store in Bologna

Italian luxury goods maker Prada on Wednesday inaugurated its first monobrand store in Bologna, Italy, in Galleria Cavour. The new store, designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi, occupies four floors for a total sales area of 280 square meters. The store sells apparel, bags, accessories and men’s and women’s shoes.

a.testoni opens first monobrand store in Middle East, in Dubai

Italian high-end shoe maker a.testoni opened its first monobrand store in the Middle East, in Dubai, in the Festival City Mall. In a statement, the Bologna, Italy-based shoe firm explained that “the Middle East market is extremely demanding in terms of luxury and elegance: for this market a.testoni is proposing exlusive models, even in the new windows of Festival City Mall.” In the new store, 140 square meters in all, the company will offer not only leather goods and accessories, but also a line of sandals made in exclusive by a.testoni for the Middle East market. The sandals, in various colors, will be produced in different materials, including calf and suede and more exotic materials, like croccodile and ostrich.