INDUSTRY NEWS

Rens Original, the Finnish sustainable start-up behind sneakers made from coffee waste and recycled plastic, has launched its new Kickstarter project to raise $1 million for the world’s first crowdfunded climate neutral sneaker.

Levi Strauss & Co. said on Thursday it would buy apparel maker Beyond Yoga for an undisclosed amount, as it looks to expand its presence in the lucrative leggings category that boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Switzerland-headquartered Philipp Plein Group has become the world’s first major fashion group to accept payment in 15 different cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and Ethereum.

LVMH, the world's leading maker of luxury goods, said that sales and profits had bounced back strongly in the first six months of 2021 as demand soared after the pandemic-induced slump last year. 

Fausto Puglisi has unveiled his debut collection for the house of Roberto Cavalli, and the designer has come out swinging. A Sicilian-born designer who has dressed the likes of Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez, Puglisi presented a techno-Tuscan-rock-star collection that felt like an instant hit.

The news some women have been awaiting for some time was announced on Monday as we learned that British designer Phoebe Philo is launching her own label, with minority backing from LVMH.

Azzedine Alaïa was never, ever going to be an easy act to follow, but with an elite audience perched on wooden folding chairs on the street outside the house’s historic headquarters willing him on – Pieter Mulier unveiled a striking and sculptural debut collection, winning himself a well-deserved standing ovation.

In a surprise announcement, Burberry said on Monday that CEO Marco Gobbetti is to leave the luxury company at the end of the year. The man who’s been in charge during a five-year transformational period for the group is taking up another opportunity “that will enable him to return to Italy and be closer to his family”. It's understood that he's taking a similar role at Ferragamo.