Articles by AFP
Switzerland: watch exports almost stable in May
Zurich - Swiss watch exports remained almost stable in May, recording a modest increase of 0.4 percent to 2.1 billion Swiss francs, amid a sharp decline in China, the watch federation announced on Thursday. This stabilisation, however, helps “to mitigate the cumulative decline observed over the first five months of the year,” the federation...
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French consumers set new clothing consumption record in 2025
Paris – French consumers set another record for new textile purchases in 2025, buying 3.6 billion items, or 10 million per day, the eco-organisation Refashion announced in a press release on Wednesday. Consumers purchased an average of 43 items of clothing per person in 2025, one more than in 2024. They also bought four pairs of shoes and 12 new...
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Ikks invests following acquisition, reopens stores and rehires employees
Paris - IKKS's new owner, Santiago Cucci, is projecting "double-digit growth" by 2027 for the once-struggling fashion company. The plan includes re-establishing a presence in Spain, taking over ten additional stores, rehiring previously redundant employees, and an investment of 17 million euros. "We have changed everything," said Santiago Cucci,...
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Upcycling lace: Using antique fabrics for unique fashion pieces
Paris - Lace is once again prominent in fashion, lending a sense of craftsmanship and delicacy to collections. This traditional fabric is now even being recycled to create unique pieces, worn by stars such as Beyoncé and Rosalía. The resurgence of lace is a key trend this year, as predicted by Pinterest Business based on millions of user...
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BHV Marais sold to management team: partnership with Shein ends
SGM, co-founded by Frédéric Merlin, announced on Tuesday that it is selling the business of BHV Marais to the Parisian department store's “management team”. The team has decided to “end” the controversial partnership with Shein, calling it a “strategic mistake”. Société des grands magasins (SGM), which has operated BHV Marais since 2023, has...
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Jeff Bezos announced at Paris' VivaTech trade show on Wednesday
Paris - American businessman and executive Jeff Bezos, founder of the giant Amazon, will attend the VivaTech trade show in Paris on Wednesday, organisers announced. VivaTech is an annual technology and innovation conference held in Paris and is regarded as the largest tech event in Europe. “An emblematic figure of the global technological...
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Switzerland: Philippe Stern, former president of Patek Philippe, has died
Zurich - Patek Philippe announced on Monday the death of its former president, Philippe Stern. He represented the third generation at the helm of the prestigious, family-owned Swiss watchmaker. The father of the current president, Stern served as president of the company from 1993 to 2009. He “passed away on June 14, 2026, in his 88th year,” the...
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Fast fashion law: discussions to resume in parliament
Paris - More than two years after a bill to curb the rise of “fast fashion”, epitomised by the giant Shein, was adopted by the National Assembly, its progress will resume in parliament. A highly anticipated meeting has been scheduled for next week. Adopted by MPs in March 2024 and then by the Senate in June 2025, the bill from Horizons MP Anne-C...
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Marseille's slow fashion week for accessible and sustainable fashion
Marseille - Free and colourful catwalk shows, open to all, feature collections where second-hand textiles reign supreme. In Marseille, Slow Fashion Week is making its rebellious, popular and sustainable mark on fashion. "There is a sense of resourcefulness, upcycling, mutual support and community that works well here," explains Marion Lopez to...
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First handbag made from dinosaur cells fails to sell at auction
Paris - A leather handbag reconstructed from “Tyrannosaurus rex” cells failed to sell at auction in Paris on Thursday. The proposed price was significantly lower than its estimate, according to Drouot, the auction house where the sale took place. With a starting price of 100,000 euros from the auction house Giquello, this “unique piece” did not...
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