Articles by AFP
Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing raises its forecast for 2025/2026
On Thursday, Japanese ready-to-wear giant Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo, raised its profit and revenue forecasts for its 2025/26 fiscal year. The company cited robust profits for the September-November period and a turnaround in the Chinese market. The Japanese apparel giant had achieved its fourth consecutive year of record...
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French report outlines plan to tax fast fashion and boost local production
On Wednesday, Clément Beaune, France's High Commissioner for Strategy and Planning, unveiled a strategic study designed to combat the "massive influx" of fast fashion. The report advocates for a tripartite approach: revitalizing French manufacturing, scaling textile recycling, and imposing heavy taxes on low-cost imports. Ahead of the full...
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L'Officiel: fraud investigation launched following 'predatory' acquisition by Chinese group
French authorities have launched an investigation into potential large-scale fraud surrounding the acquisition of L'Officiel magazine's publisher by a Chinese conglomerate. The founding owners, the Jalou family, are denouncing a “predatory” operation aimed at stripping the assets of the century-old fashion and luxury institution. Behind the...
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Vietnam: growth accelerates to 8 percent in 2025 despite US tariffs
Vietnam reported an 8 percent growth in its gross domestic product (GDP) for 2025 on Monday, driven by services, construction and exports, despite the impact of US tariffs. “The 2025 GDP is expected to post significant growth, estimated at 8.02 percent compared to the previous year,” the Statistics Bureau said in a statement. For several years,...
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Fashion designer Jacqueline de Ribes passes away aged 96
Paris - Countess Jacqueline de Ribes, nicknamed “the last queen of Paris”, has died at the age of 96. The stylist, businesswoman, jet-set figure and symbol of Parisian elegance, particularly in the US, passed away on Tuesday. Her office confirmed the news to AFP on Wednesday, speaking on behalf of the family. De Ribes died in Switzerland, her...
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Dress for success: Mexican president's ideological attire
San Pedro Martir, Mexico - Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's wardrobe is more than a statement of style; it has become known as a canvass for her political message of advancing women's and Indigenous rights. The leftist leader, Mexico's first woman president, proudly uses small-scale, local tailors and shuns "those brands that are super...
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LVMH acquires Challenges, Sciences et Avenir and La Recherche
Luxury giant LVMH announced on Tuesday it has acquired the magazines Challenges, Sciences et Avenir and La Recherche as planned. According to a statement, the group intends to ensure their “longevity”. Businessman Claude Perdriel, who was the majority shareholder until now, had agreed to the sale for a symbolic one euro. He has now retired from...
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Analysis: French ready-to-wear, between collapse and hope
Paris - Under pressure from fast fashion and second-hand fashion, the ready-to-wear sector is faltering: 2025 has been marked by a series of bankruptcies, receiverships and liquidations. However, experts believe a rebound is possible, driven by a renewed focus on brand DNA, innovation and moving upmarket. At the end of this year, the brand IKKS...
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Why ultra-fast fashion's 'cheap' argument is a consumer 'scam'
Paris - The French state's fight against Shein and other e-commerce giants is initially “symbolic” and “regulatory”. However, it must be coupled with a “cultural strategy” to confront platforms that sell clothing and, above all, “instagrammable emotions”. This is according to Benoît Heilbrunn, a philosopher and marketing professor. “Shein's...
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And B.B. created style
Paris (France) - She had the art of elevating simplicity. Brigitte Bardot consistently inspired with her relaxed, head-to-toe style, turning simple pieces like the Breton top and ballet flats into cult classics. Beyond these timeless womenswear staples, the Brigitte Bardot style also encompassed silhouettes that were both sexy and liberated. It...
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