Luxury group PPR reported solid operating and financial performances with net income up 141%. François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO, commented: “Our solid performances in the first half can be attributed to the favorable balance of our Group profile and the strength of our global brands. PPR has always been able to take advantage of periods of slower growth and the present case is no exception. We are determined to further improve our commercial effectiveness and optimize our operational structure in order to benefit from a decisive and immediate competitive advantage as soon as there is an upturn in growth.
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After extending its partnership with Fashion Scout, car manufacturer Vauxhall is moving further forward into the creative community. Vauxhall announced the formation of the Style Council to judge its annual Vauxhall Collective. The Vauxhall Collective is the company’s arts fund aiming to support up and coming creatives across a range of six sectors including craft and design, fashion, film, fin art, photography and theatre. The Style Council is a group of industry movers and shakers who come together to discuss names for the commission and select the eventual winner. Council members are chosen from all sorts of institutions such as London College of Fashion, Central St. Martins, Hayward Gallery and British Film Institute. In the past, Giles Deacon and Christopher Kane have both been members within the fashion commission. The winners of each category are asked to produce a commission up to £20.000 themed by The Great British Road Trip. The Vauxhall Collective members will be announced mid September. (more…)

IIn the first half of fiscal 2008, retail brand Hugo Boss showed a positive trend and operating income, the fashion group’s sales went up by 5% to EUR 831 million. In Europe, sales adjusted for currency effects increased by 4% in the first six months of 2008, with Germany showing a decline in sales of EUR 174 to EUR 177 million last year. By contrast, sales in the rest of Europe rose by 4% to EUR 299 million. In particular Hugo Boss’ own retail stores continued to be the driving force for the sales development in the first half of 2008. (more…)

Trendy style setters now have direct access to Europe’s hottest trends in high fashion rain boots. Awesome Rain Boots.com, the American counterpart of the U.K.’s top selling fashion rain boots company WellieArt, has launched its long awaited online store for U.S. shoppers loaded with dramatically unique funky-style rain boots.With styles like “Tattoo,” “Tossed Skulls,” “Fizzy Pop,” and “Parisian Pups,” Awesome Rain Boots.com’s celebrity choice rain boots turn a drizzly day into a fashion opportunity. (more…)

Jean Charles de Castelbajac’s AW08 catwalk collection is dominated with the iconic 70s smiley face logo. The French fashion and accessories brand Smiley Collection has teamed up with French designer Jean Charles de Castelbajac and the line is referred to as Jean Charles de Castelbajac + Smiley.The clothing and accessory collection, for both men and women, features the Smiley logo on knitwear and jersey pieces staying true to the non-conformist identity of both brands. This collaboration is part of four collaborations working with Smiley for 2008. In addition to Jean Charles de Castelbajac, denim label Religion, global fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger and French jewellery label N2 will incorporate Smiley in their designs as well. (more…)

One of Europe’s fastest growing fashion designers, Cold Method, is teaming up with Retail China Ltd. of Hong Kong to expand in China and Southeast Asia. The firms announced an exclusive 20-year deal for Retail China to introduce and develop retail channels for Cold Method in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore. The retail company is looking to develop a combination of channels including retail China owned and operated Cold Method flagship shops, department store shop-in-shops, online retailing and distribution agreements through retail chains in Hong Kong and Singapore. Retail China plans to open and operate 20 flagship stores and 23 shop-in-shops in China over the first 3 years.

European fashion designer Cold Method is growing globally and recently entered the US, Canada and is available in more than 500 selling points in Europe. For 2008, Cold Method feature continuous capsule ranges that include apparel and a full range of accessories. It’s the brands first Asian business venture and gives access to the world’s fastest growing, and youngest middle class.
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Lila Nikole Rivera designer of Amaya Swimwear will celebrate her birthday at the Dream night club on South Beach formerly known as Amika. The first quarter of this year has been a whirlwind for the young designer who recently stepped off the BET’s Rip the Runway right into shooting the pilot of her new reality series which will cover her day to day productions and personal life. “We have a great relationship with our dear friend Lila Nikole we are honored she asked us to host her birthday celebration”, says J. Little and Jessy Marquez, of the The 400 Club. Guest will look forward to sponsored cocktails by Nuvo Liquor which also goes with the Pink Affair theme.