Articles by AFP
Italy fines Amazon over 'recurring' purchase option
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Italy's competition authority said Wednesday it had fined two Amazon companies 10 million euros (10.6 million dollars) for unfair commercial practices that push customers into agreeing to "recurring" rather than "one-time" purchases online. The AGCM said the option to set up regular purchases was "pre-selected by default" on a wide selection of...
Rwandan LGBTQ fashion designer plans comeback after arrest
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Less than a decade after founding Moshions, a fashion brand whose customers included Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, LGBTQ designer Moise Turahirwa's career came to a crashing halt following their arrest a year ago. Turahirwa was charged after sharing a post on Instagram claiming that their passport was changed to reflect their gender. Now out...
Indigenous fashion center stage in Mexico presidential election
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After years of fighting for greater recognition, Mexico's Indigenous weavers have seen their creations thrust into the spotlight by the two women leading the country's presidential race. The brightly colored, elaborately embroidered garments handcrafted by generations of artisans have long enchanted visitors to Mexico -- including international...
Colombian designer jailed 18 months over reptile handbags
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A celebrity fashion designer was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison for smuggling handbags made from the skin of protected reptiles into the United States. Colombian national Nancy Gonzalez, 71, admitted in November to illegally importing purses made from caiman and python skins between February 2016 and April 2019. Both animals are...
The flamenco dress, an Andalusian classic evolving with fashion
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Luis Fernandez's workshop in Seville's Old City is buzzing with customers who have come to try on his dazzling array of flamenco dresses, their vibrant fabrics replete with voluptuous ruffles and polka dots. Flamenco fashion hits its annual peak in springtime when towns and cities across Spain's southern Andalusia region hold their annual...
Two more of Bernard Arnault's sons join LVMH board
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Two sons of the world's richest man Bernard Arnault on Thursday joined the board of LVMH after a shareholder vote, further cementing the family's control on the French luxury goods giant. The pair joined their elder siblings on the board of directors of the company, which houses brands such as Dior and Louis Vuitton, meaning four of Bernard...
Giving a second life to fashion's deadstocks
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At the Nona Source showroom in northern Paris, designers pick through luxurious textiles with ornate names: curly alpaca, geometrical macrame guipure, silk diamond cloque Jacquard. What makes them really exotic, however, is that they all come from "deadstocks" -- the leftovers designers discard when they have finished with a roll of fabric....
Princess Diana's dresses on display in Hong Kong ahead of auction
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Hong Kong - Shoulder-padded, daffodil yellow and accented with gleaming gold buttons -- a very of-its-time suit Princess Diana wore during her 1989 trip to Hong Kong is now among six outfits on display in the former British colony. The collection of dresses, shoes and handbags -- some of which are familiar fashion moments from the Princess of...
Walmart launches exclusive Jessica Simpson collection for spring and summer
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Walmart has unveiled a partnership with The Jessica Simpson brand, introducing a fresh lineup of women's apparel, swimwear, and jewelry just in time for the summer seasons. Boasting a blend of boho-chic styles and timeless classics, the collection offers Walmart customers the perfect additions to their spring and summer wardrobes, Walmart said...
Swiss watch brands making time for India
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Swiss watchmakers are increasingly turning their sights towards India thanks to a new free trade agreement that is due to gradually open the doors for luxury timepiece exports. While some brands are already in the starting blocks, others are waiting to see whether India will become a new land of plenty. "India represents enormous potential,"...