Luxury news and archive

From sea to shore: How Starboard Group is holistically redefining travel retail experiences

Cruise retail is no longer a niche within a niche. It is a fast-growing global market that fashion brands are starting to take more seriously, and now, it is moving beyond the ship. According to TechSci Research, the global luxury retail market specific to cruise liners was valued at 17 billion dollars in 2025 and is projected to reach 31.88...

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Business|ANALYSIS

The COS strategy: Defining the sweet spot between hyper-luxury and high street in 2026

What started as the fashion’s “open secret”, a quiet recommendation whispered between editors, has become a market defining house across 2025. And this year, the data has officially caught up. The H&M-owned brand has exponentially grown in demand for the past five consecutive years. COS reached the Lyst Index of hottest brands in Q4 2024 at #17...

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Business

Opportunities for Italian luxury grow in India

The Indian market has room for Italian products, spanning from mechanics and luxury to cars and food, including wine and oil. “This is the new frontier for 'Made in Italy',” senator Adolfo Urso, minister for business and 'Made in Italy' (Mimit), emphasised yesterday. He was visiting the Italian pavilion at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi,...

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Business

In 'an uncertain world', luxury groups wary of 2026

Paris (France) - Following a "turbulent" 2025 and in "an uncertain world", caution is the watchword for 2026 in the luxury sector, where major French groups have published mixed results. "The past year was 'turbulent economically and geopolitically (...) and 2026 will not be very simple either, but one thing at a time'," stated Bernard Arnault,...

Retail

Longchamp opens first Scottish store as Edinburgh consolidates its luxury retail position

Longchamp has opened its first standalone store in Scotland, choosing Edinburgh’s Multrees Walk as the location for its latest UK expansion. Opening on 9 February, the boutique marks the French accessories brand’s first permanent retail presence outside London in the UK, reflecting a broader shift among luxury labels towards selective regional...

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Fashion |Interview

Lucie Greene on SS27: “The mid-to-high segment is the sweet spot right now” as luxury recalibrates

Luxury in transition, and the mid-high segment ‘a sweet spot’ At the top end of the market, Lucie Greene sees early signs of a revival of the powerhouse luxury brand, albeit in a very different form from recent years. “Luxury has been in a bit of a maelstrom,” the British trend analyst and founder of Light Years says, describing a period defined...

Culture

French luxury responds to Trump tariffs with cultural diplomacy

Facing a new era of trade tensions and tariffs under the Trump administration, the French luxury sector is leaning into its role as a “catalyst for cultural diplomacy.” Leading the charge is Comité Colbert, which has unveiled a strategic new exhibition in New York titled “Hidden Treasures: 250 Years of Franco-American Luxury Stories”. The...

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Business

Aspinal of London: Digital strategy and international expansion fuel 17.1 percent turnover rise

Aspinal of London Limited has announced a double-digit increase in annual turnover, underpinned by a robust digital-first strategy and a successful push into international markets. According to the company’s latest annual report for the year ended 31 March 2025, sales surged by 17.1 percent, reaching 45.2 million pounds (61.3 million dollars)...

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Retail

Why high street fashion must stop competing on convenience and start creating meaning

Luxury fashion brands have long understood that shopping is more than a transaction. They excel at blending global prestige with local nuance, creating bespoke environments that reflect local values and aesthetics. These stores feel rooted in place, with a distinctiveness of place that makes them desirable. Written by Luke Bell, strategy...

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Fashion

Louis Vuitton marks 130 years of its Monogram with heritage-led collections

As luxury brands continue to invest in recognisable visual codes, few symbols illustrate the power of branding as clearly as the Louis Vuitton Monogram. Created in 1896 by Georges Vuitton in tribute to his father, Louis Vuitton, the canvas marks its 130th anniversary in 2026. To coincide with the milestone, the French luxury house is launching a...

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Fashion |Opinion

2025: The year luxury lost its sheen?

If 2025 will be remembered for anything in fashion, it may be as the year luxury brands discovered that belief in the idea of luxury itself is not infinite. After more than a decade of uninterrupted growth, price inflation and relentless “newness,” the social contract between luxury houses and their customers began to fray. Factory and marketing...

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Business|Interview

AI in fashion: How Playar uses XR and AI for immersive experiences and storyliving

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the fashion industry. While some companies are waiting, others are taking bold steps forward. For the ‘AI in Fashion’ series, FashionUnited speaks with Justin-Caine Cavanas, XR and AI lead at Playar, a company specialising in immersive experiences. 1. Who are you and what do you do? I am...