Articles by AFP
McQueen restructuring plan: one-third of Italian workforce at risk
British luxury brand McQueen could lay off one-third of its Italian employees, according to a statement released by three local unions on Wednesday. The company's management has announced a restructuring plan. According to the unions Filctem CGIL, Femca CISL and Uiltec, this plan involves cutting approximately one-third of the total workforce....
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Swiss watch exports contract by 1.7 percent in 2025
Zurich - Hit by US tariffs, Swiss watch exports contracted by 1.7 percent in 2025 despite a rebound in December, according to statistics published on Thursday by the Swedish watch federation. In 2025, Swiss watch exports amounted to 25.6 billion francs (33.32 billion dollars). This marked a decline for the second consecutive year, following a...
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Interparfums acquires David Beckham and Nautica fragrance licences
Interparfums, which produces fragrances for brands including Jimmy Choo and Coach, announced on Thursday the acquisition of two additional licences for David Beckham and Nautica. “Interparfums today announced the signing of an exclusive 20-year global licence agreement with David Beckham for the creation, development, production and distribution...
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Amazon to reduce global workforce by 16,000 roles
E-commerce giant Amazon is cutting 16,000 jobs worldwide. The company has not yet specified which roles will be affected as it concentrates its efforts on artificial intelligence. “The reductions we are implementing today will impact approximately 16,000 roles across Amazon, and we are working (...) to support everyone whose position is...
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British designer Victoria Beckham receives prestigious French honour
British designer Victoria Beckham was named an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters (Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres), a prestigious French cultural honour, on January 26, 2026, at the age of 51. The French Ministry of Culture announced the honour during a ceremony in Paris held at the beginning of Paris Haute Couture Fashion...
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Okaïdi files for administration for its French operations
The IDKIDS group, owner of the childrenswear brand Okaïdi, announced on Tuesday that it is filing for administration for its French operations. The group employs 2,000 people in France. A hearing will take place in February before the Lille Métropole commercial court, IDKIDS told AFP. The filing concerns the brands Obaïbi (for ages 0 to 3), Okaï...
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Haute couture: Moment of truth for Matthieu Blazy at Chanel
Will Matthieu Blazy build on his success at Chanel? Following a highly praised womenswear collection in October, Paris eagerly awaits the designer's first haute couture show on Tuesday. This unprecedented undertaking will be closely scrutinised. The show, held as usual at the Grand Palais in the morning, is the highlight of this haute couture...
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The rise of unconventional venues in Parisian fashion shows
Paris – Empty offices and disused car parks are the new playgrounds for Parisian fashion shows. Favoured for their minimalist aesthetic, creative freedom, and attractive pricing, these raw spaces are increasingly popular venues. “There has been a real trend in recent years to use raw spaces with nothing but load-bearing walls,” Rod Reynolds, a...
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Willy Chavarria's musical-style fashion in Paris
Paris - On the fourth day of men's fashion week, Mexican-American designer Willy Chavarria presented his new collection in Paris on Friday. The spectacular show blended a runway presentation, artistic performance and a concert worthy of a musical. This new co-ed autumn collection is a blend of Mexican-American culture and streetwear. The...
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Key highlights from Véronique Nichanian's final Hermès menswear collection
Paris, France – A standing ovation and “immense emotion” marked the presentation of French designer Véronique Nichanian’s final Hermès collection on Saturday evening in Paris. After 37 years leading the menswear line, she presented a collection she wanted to be “just like the others”. “It is incredibly emotional. This is not a retrospective, nor...
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