Luxury Headlines – 20/07/2026
Luxury Headlines – 20/07/2026
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Chaumet Acquires Italian Manufacturer B.M.C
Chaumet has completed the acquisition of Italian jewelry manufacturer B.M.C., two years ahead of the original 2028 deadline, securing full ownership after purchasing an initial stake in 2020. Founded in Valenza in 2001, B.M.C. employs approximately 330 people and operates facilities in Valenza and Sesto Calende. The manufacturer recorded a turnover of €65 million in 2025, up €4 million year-on-year, while its precious metal inventory is valued at nearly €40 million. Much of its revenue comes from its work with Chaumet. The transaction strengthens Chaumet's control over jewelry production and its supply chain.
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Olivier Rousteing Takes Creative Helm at Rabanne
Puig-owned Rabanne has appointed Olivier Rousteing as creative director, succeeding Julien Dossena, who held the role for 13 years. Rousteing, who spent 14 years modernizing Balmain through haute couture and high-profile, celebrity-backed marketing, will debut his first collection for the house in March. Rabanne, reliant on its high-performing fragrance division, is using this transition to accelerate strategic diversification into beauty and new product categories.
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Macy’s Appoints Alex Choueiri to Lead Bluemercury
Macy’s Inc. has appointed Alex Choueiri as chief executive officer of Bluemercury, effective August 3. Reporting to Bloomingdale’s CEO Olivier Bron, he will oversee the beauty retailer’s business operations and growth strategy. Choueiri previously led Kering Beauté’s Americas division, where he supported Creed’s luxury fragrance positioning and helped introduce fragrances for Bottega Veneta and Balenciaga. He also spent more than two decades at L’Oréal, holding senior roles including global president of Ralph Lauren Fragrances. His appointment follows a positive first quarter for Bluemercury, supported by makeup, dermatological skincare, and fragrances, as well as strong results from new and remodeled stores.
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Bottega Veneta Names Romain Spitzer as New CEO
Kering has appointed Romain Spitzer as CEO of Bottega Veneta, effective September 1, 2026. Based in Milan, he will report to Kering CEO Luca de Meo and join the group’s executive committee. Spitzer succeeds Bartolomeo Rongone, who departed for Moncler in March. Spitzer brings extensive experience from LVMH, where he led its Fragrance Group after overseeing brands including Givenchy, Kenzo, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Acqua di Parma, and Loewe Perfumes. Working alongside creative director Louise Trotter, Spitzer will focus on strengthening global client engagement, improving retail performance, and expanding Bottega Veneta’s non-leather goods categories.
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Dior Unveils Restructured Milan Flagship with Expanded Lifestyle Services –
Dior will reopen its newly renovated flagship on Milan’s Via Montenapoleone on September 18, transforming the space into a three-level House of Dior. Designed by Peter Marino, the layout features a central glass roof, vertical gardens by Peter Wirtz, and second-floor private salons with Parisian-style moldings and a beauty room. The store offers specialized in-store services, including men’s made-to-measure and tailoring alongside a Monsieur Dior restaurant by multi-Michelin-starred chef Enrico Bartolini. To complete the flagship offering, the boutique will also carry high jewelry by Victoire de Castellane, La Collection Privée fragrances, and decorative homeware.
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Schiaparelli Launches First US Standalone Boutique at South Coast Plaza
Maison Schiaparelli is opening its first standalone US store at South Coast Plaza. Designed by Daniel Roseberry and Studio Halleroed, the boutique offers an intimate, apartment-style salon that brings the feel of its historic Paris headquarters to California. The multi-room layout guides shoppers through a private journey, mixing famous brand symbols like the Keyhole and Padlock right into the walls. This opening follows Schiaparelli's cautious global expansion, placing the brand in a premier shopping destination with highly affluent clients.
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QIA and LVMH Expand Their Hospitality Partnership
Qatar Investment Authority-owned Hotel Pitrizza in Sardinia will reopen in 2027 under LVMH’s Cheval Blanc management following a full renovation. The property will comprise 65 rooms and suites, including 16 pool villas, two restaurants, and a spa. QIA also owns Hotel Romazzino, recently reopened under LVMH-owned Belmond without renovation. Both brands generally own and operate their properties, although Pitrizza, Romazzino, London’s Cadogan and Cheval Blanc’s forthcoming Dubai hotel are third-party-owned exceptions.
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Soho House Expands Global Footprint with Tokyo Debut
Soho House has expanded its global footprint with a new two-floor location in Tokyo’s Omotesando Grid Tower in Aoyama. Seamlessly blending its signature British maximalism with traditional Japanese craftsmanship, the new location features 42 curated bedrooms with city-view balconies and upcycled kimono textiles and room elements. Key hospitality and entertainment amenities include shared club workspaces, a dedicated Brasserie, a 14th-floor club bar with a custom DJ booth, and a flexible Cabaret Room for live screenings and performances. The property further extends its lifestyle offering with a panoramic, dual-zone wellness studio for yoga and reformer Pilates, complemented by an exclusive rooftop pool and a terrace.
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Louis Vuitton Leverages FIFA World Cup Partnership to Launch Trunk Capsule
Louis Vuitton will leverage its 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy trunk partnership to launch a capsule of three customizable collector trunks. This retail initiative capitalizes on an expected final match audience of 1.5 billion television viewers. Strategically, CEO Pietro Beccari is using the sports sponsorship to drive physical engagement at the brand's Asnières workshops during the upcoming Les Journées Particulières open-door event. The campaign supports LVMH’s wider expansion into sports, which includes the Arnault family’s acquisition of a majority stake in Paris FC and multi-year athletic partnerships.
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