Balenciaga

Kering has named the former Valentino designer known for his deft use of colour and sculptural couture to succeed Demna in an apparent reset at the Paris-based brand.

The Kering-owned fashion house is promoting its chief product officer as it prepares to open a new chapter under a new designer.

From Bottega Veneta’s poetry pact to Rui Zhou’s sex toy tie-up, marketing partnerships are becoming increasingly bold and imaginative as brands try to reignite demand in the cooling China market.

Group revenues fell 14 percent in the first quarter as Saint Laurent and Balenciaga also suffered from the downturn in luxury demand.

Just a few years ago, designer sneakers were an “it” item driving huge sales. Today the situation has changed, though they still have their place in luxury’s arsenal.

The financial markets and fashion fans on social media have rejected Kering’s bet on the zeitgeist-shaping Balenciaga designer to revive its ailing flagship. BoF’s Imran Amed has a different view.

The era-defining Balenciaga designer will take the reins of Italy’s biggest luxury brand in a surprise shakeup of parent company Kering’s creative ranks. The French group is under pressure to turn around performance after profits tumbled 46 percent last year.

On the seventh day of Paris Fashion Week, featuring Duran Lantink, Valentino and Balenciaga, the dialogue between clothing and body said more than brand storytelling.

The stylist key to Miu Miu’s explosive growth sits down with Alexander Fury to discuss her path to fashion, her personal look and working with Mrs Prada, courtesy of System magazine.

BoF sits down with prominent makeup artist and Dior Beauty Ambassador, Sam Visser, to hear how prioritising creativity has enabled him to become one of the most influential makeup artists of his generation.