Luxury Headlines – 08/12/2025
Luxury Headlines – 08/12/2025
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Kering Ventures Invests in Chinese Gold Jewelry House Borland
Kering Ventures, the investment arm of Kering Group, has acquired a minority stake in Borland, a Chinese jewelry house. Borland specializes in 24-karat gold designs rooted in traditional imperial craftsmanship. The investment is a strategic move to capitalize on the rapid growth of the gold jewelry category in China, with higher demand coming from younger consumers who use gold pieces for expression and financial security. The Borland investment aligns with Kering’s broader China strategy to deepen its cultural participation, following a strategic alliance with Shanghai Fashion Week.
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LVMH Luxury Ventures Acquires Minority Stake in BDK Parfums
LVMH Luxury Ventures Fund (LLV) has acquired a minority stake in the niche French fragrance house BDK Parfums. This operation marks the first external investment for BDK, founded in 2016 by David Benedek. The investment will facilitate BDK’s further international expansion into key retail markets while ensuring that the brand retains complete creative and operational independence. BDK Parfums joins a portfolio of niche brands within LLV, including Our Legacy and Molli, and will continue to produce its fragrances in France. The financial terms of the operation were not publicly disclosed.
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Beccari Replaces Toledano at LVMH Fashion Group
LVMH has appointed Pietro Beccari as the new Chairman and CEO of LVMH Fashion Group, confirming the executive handover effective January 1st. Beccari, who retains his leadership role at Louis Vuitton, will oversee major houses including Fendi, Celine, and Loewe, leveraging his 20 years of LVMH experience. He succeeds Sidney Toledano, who will transition to a Special Advisor role for Bernard Arnault. In a related move, Damien Bertrand, Deputy CEO of Louis Vuitton, has been promoted to the LVMH Executive Committee. The handover period is expected to extend into the first quarter of 2026.
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Loewe CMO Charlie Smith Transitions to Smartphone Maker Nothing
Luxury fashion executive Charlie Smith, former Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Loewe, is transitioning to technology as he joins the smartphone manufacturer Nothing in January. Smith will oversee Nothing’s global brand, marketing, and communications strategy, reporting directly to CEO Carl Pei. This strategic hire follows Nothing’s recent $200 million Series C funding, which values the company at $1.3 billion. Smith, known for driving successful collaborations and youth engagement at Loewe, stated he looks forward to applying his luxury experience to redefine consumer technology for the next generation.
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Gucci Hires Automotive CFO and Restructures Leadership
Gucci is executing a significant organizational restructuring under CEO Francesca Bellettini, marked by high-profile executive transitions sourced from the automotive industry. Gianluca De Ficchy, the former CEO of Mobilize, Renault Group, was appointed Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Alberto Valente. Giovanni Perosino, formerly Global CMO at Maserati, was named Senior Vice President of Marketing, effective December 15, reporting to the newly created role of Chief Client, Marketing, and Commercial Officer, Dario Gargiulo. These appointments coincide with the confirmed departures of senior executives Valérie Leberichel and Maria Cristina Lomanto, whose EMEA role was assumed by Cayetano Fabry.
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Dario Vitale Exits Versace Post-Prada Acquisition
Dario Vitale is confirmed to be departing Versace, less than 2 days after the acquisition of the brand by the Prada Group was finalized. Vitale was appointed Chief Creative Officer in March 2025, succeeding Donatella Versace. Sources indicate Vitale, who was previously ready-to-wear design director at Miu Miu, was reportedly seeking opportunities outside of the Prada Group. Leadership transitions are also anticipated, as Lorenzo Bertelli is expected to take on the role of Executive Chairman of Versace. CEO Emmanuel Gintzburger is set to remain with the company for the present time.
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Canada Goose Unveils Relocated Milan Flagship
Canada Goose unveiled its new luxury flagship in Milan, relocating to Corso Giacomo Matteotti, a prominent hub for high-end outerwear brands. The 1,722-square-foot store adapts the retail concept that was debuted in Paris by architect Snøhetta. The design blends Canadian heritage with local Italian style, featuring walnut wood inspired by Villa Necchi Campiglio and Ceppo di Gré stone. Architectural elements nod to Milanese design, while a "Legacy Wall" is dedicated to the Italian Alps.
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Alo Launches Luxury Bags Collection with Mini Sizes
Alo has expanded its luxury handbag category by launching 3 new mini versions of its signature silhouettes: the Voyage, Odyssey, and Balance bucket bags. This size adjustment responds to customer preference for smaller bags and the "girl-on-the-go" lifestyle. The mini bags debut in black, Espresso leather, and bright red, and are retailed for $ 1,200. Alo has also downsized its intention of crystals for the mini bags, enhancing personalization and integrating the brand’s wellness message into the luxury accessories category.
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Mytheresa Opens Exclusive VVIP Club in Saint Moritz
Mytheresa has launched its first hotel-inspired private club in Europe, Maison Mytheresa, in Via Serlas, Saint Moritz. The invite-only private club is open from December 5 until April 6. Designed to celebrate community and creativity, the space is exclusively a lounge, not a retail shop. It will host a calendar of high-end events available by invitation only for VVIP clients, including brand trunk shows with partners like Max Mara and Aquazzura, personal styling appointments, and cultural activities such as poetry workshops.
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The North Face x Skims Expands 2nd Winter Collection
The North Face and Skims have released their 2nd winter collection, following their 1st highly successful launch, which sold out rapidly and highlighted the outsized consumer demand relative to available stock. The new collection expands the product line to include a wider array of silhouettes, additional footwear, and the introduction of children's wear. The aesthetic successfully merges The North Face’s technical expertise in cold-weather apparel with Skims’ signature fit, modern design, and color palette. This partnership aims to push the boundaries of winterwear by leveraging their respective strengths in technical innovation and form-fitting aesthetics.
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Abel Richard Showcases $170K Handbag at Miami Art Week
During Miami Art Week, the new Italian-made handbag brand Abel Richard made its debut with the opening of its Design District boutique. The brand’s featured product is the Chrono handbag, which starts at $170,000. The Chrono requires extensive production time and utilizes high-tech materials like aerospace-grade carbon fiber, proprietary titanium alloys, and kiln-fired enamel, with an engineering approach comparable to a supercar. Founder Abel Richard Bullock, citing his biotech and engineering background, stated the bags are built for extreme durability and longevity. The brand projects ambitious global retail expansion, targeting 50 locations within 5 years.
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