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Showing posts from July, 2021

Aston Martin Reveals Valhalla Hybrid Supercar

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In Norse mythology, the term Vahalla refers to the home of slain warriors where, upon their death, they enter a beautiful shielded palace where they enjoy the fruits of their labor and prepare for the arrival of doomsday. For Aston Martin—one of the longest established luxury car brands in the world—Valhalla not only houses the opulent, but brings the company to new heights of luxury in the consumer market. Valhalla is Aston Martin's latest luxury supercar, a mid-engined hybrid that uses both traditional and electric power, while also featuring the high-class amenities and aerodynamic style one expects from the brand. Aston Martin announced the car’s production Thursday, promising “best-in-class standards,” for performance and driving pleasure, while also detailing how the Valhalla delivers on the company’s promise to broaden its model portfolio. “Aston Martin’s first series production mid-engined supercar, Valhalla, is a truly transformational moment for this u

LK Bennett Launches Rental

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LK Bennett  announced the launch of  LK Borrowed , the first unlimited subscription clothing rental service exclusively for women. Powered by  CaaStle , LK Borrowed allows customers in the UK to rent some of the brand's most popular pieces from their RTW collections. For a flat £79 month fee, members receive 2 items in their first box and can make unlimited exchanges with free shipping both ways and complimentary eco-friendly laundering. With unbundled returns, the customer can return garments 1 or 2 at a time, creating the ultimate wardrobe from hundreds of LK Bennett styles for every occasion. Found the perfect LKB item? Click 'Buy Item' and purchase it for up to 50% off the retail price every time. "We are thrilled to partner with CaaStle to bring a new, more sustainable way of shopping to customers," said  Darren Top , CEO at LK Bennett. "We believe this exciting rental offering will attract a new customer base to LKB as it will all

Lexus India Accelerates Electrification Vision With HEV Battery Warranty Extension To 8 Years

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- On World Nature Conservation Day, Lexus India announces the extension of Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) battery warranty from 5 years to 8 years - The announcement showcases Lexus' commitment to providing amazing experiences to its guests - Earlier in the year, Lexus announced sale of 2 million HEVs (Hybrid Electric Vehicles) worldwide, in line with the brand's 'Electrified' vision NEW DELHI ,  BANGALORE  and  MUMBAI, India ,  July 28, 2021  /PRNewswire/ -- Lexus India today announced the extension of its HEV battery warranty from five years to a period of eight years, showcasing the brand's commitment to its guests and position in the luxury vehicle market. This announcement further enhances the Lexus ownership experience, bringing in additional benefits to  Lexus Life , the brand's  exclusive ownership program  for guests. The extension of the HEV battery warranty reiterates the sheer commitment of  providing amazing experiences  th

Behind Italy's luxury deal surge: Is a conglomerate next?

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After the Ermenegildo Zegna Group revealed plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) by the end of the year, industry eyes are on Italian luxury fashion. Zegna will enter an agreement with a US special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC), launched by European private equity group Investindustrial and chaired by former UBS chief executive Sergio Ermotti, giving the group a value of $3.2 billion and puts an end to over 100 years of private ownership for the family business, while the Zegna family will retain a stake of approximately 62 per cent. They expect to raise about $880 million and will use the funds to reinforce Zegna’s menswear business, expand in China and the United States, and help buy other brands after its $500 million purchase of American luxury label Thom Browne in 2018. “We could have stayed private for another 100 years, but the timing is perfect and the luxury business is getting very challenging,” says Gildo Zegna, chief executive and grandson of the founder.

Virgil Abloh Will Help Launch New Brands With Lvmh

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Virgil Abloh is taking on a new job at LVMH. In addition to being artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear, role that he has held since 2018, Abloh will now work with the luxury conglomerate to help launch new brands and foster its existing partnerships outside of fashion, including wine and spirits and hospitality. “Initial discussions have already begun,” according to an LVMH press release. “I’m incredibly excited to work together with LVMH on other possible collaborations — an evolution of the great relationship I have had with LVMH, Bernard Arnault, Michael Burke at Louis Vuitton, and others,” said Abloh in an official statement. “I’m also honored to use this partnership to deepen my longstanding commitment to expand opportunities for diverse individuals and foster greater equity and inclusion in the industries we serve. This is an incredible new platform to take the disruption we’ve achieved together to a whole new level.” If there’s anyone who can help expand LVMH’s presence

Kering is Bolstering its In-House Eyewear Division By Acquiring Danish Brand LINDBERG

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Kering is bolstering its eyewear division by way of a new name. The Paris-based conglomerate announced on Thursday that it has signed an agreement for Kering Eyewear to acquire 100 percent of the share capital of LINDBERG, the Danish eyewear brand launched in 1969 by optician Poul-Jørn Lindberg and his wife as an optical store and subsequently turned into a multinational company by their son Henrik. The acquisition is “an important milestone in the successful expansion of Kering Eyewear and perfectly fits with its development strategy,” according to Kering, which launched its eyewear division in 2014, a venture that it says consists of “an innovative business model that has enabled [it] to reach a critical size in the market with close to €600 million wholesale external revenues” as of FY2019.    “This acquisition will further reinforce Kering Eyewear as the most relevant player in the luxury eyewear market segment, adding to its portfolio a complementary and propr

Inside Neiman Marcus’s $500 million tech investment

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After a bankruptcy filing amid a pandemic, Neiman Marcus Group, the luxury US department store owner, is making a $500 million bet that investing in technology can turn it around. Neiman Marcus plans to spend the sum during the next three years on new tech, updating its stores and speeding up delivery times. Bob Kupbens, Neiman Marcus Group’s new EVP and chief product and technology officer, who joined in February and had previously worked with Apple and Ebay, is leading the investment. He will be working with the e-commerce team, the “Connect” app and the innovation team, where experimental projects across both Neiman and Bergdorf Goodman are planned. “People love Neiman Marcus,” Kupbens says in an interview. “So how can we create an even deeper emotional connection? Our selling associates do that so well every day, so how do we invest in technology that enables them to do that more — and then bring a deepening of people's perceived value and integration with t

Mackage Announces the Appointment of Tanya Golesic as Chief Executive Officer

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Mackage—the luxury outerwear specialist—has appointed New York City fashion veteran Tanya Golesic as Chief Executive Officer. Golesic—a Canadian who has lived and worked in New York for over twenty years—brings a rare depth of global high fashion experience to Mackage, underscoring the company's commitment to worldwide growth in the luxury space. "Tanya's results-driven approach will build brand desirability through innovative digital marketing, focused product assortments and international expansion in key markets. All will serve to accelerate the brand's current trajectory,"  says  Patrick   Elfassy ,  Mackage's Executive Chairman.   Golesic joins Mackage from Jimmy Choo, where she served as President of the Americas for five years. While there, she focused on generating brand heat with various high-visibility collaborations—including Jimmy Choo x Off-White™ and Jimmy Choo x Timberland. Golesic was also a member of the executive team

Poundland launching new food service in almost 40 more shops - see full list

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Poundland is rolling out its chilled and frozen food ranges to almost 40 more stores over the next few weeks. Items being sold by the budget retailer including ready-meals, pizzas and pies, as well as frozen desserts and ice-cream. The latest expansion, known internally as Project Diamond Ice, will see 37 more shops stocking the range. The goods have already launched in 11 shops that are included in the latest rollout, with 26 more to come over the next few weeks - you can see a full list of store locations below. More than 200 Poundland shops will sell chilled and frozen goods by next month thanks to the rollout. Poundland is aiming to stock the range of foods in 250 stores by autumn and 500 branches within two years. The first Poundland store started selling chilled and frozen foods in 2019, and the range is currently available in around 170 shops. The discounter says its chilled and frozen food programme has been accelerated following the acquisition of Fultons Foods in October. The

Kering accelerates its policy for diversity with the appointment of Kalpana Bagamane Denzel as chief diversity, inclusion and talent officer

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The appointment of Kalpana Bagamane Denzel from October 1st, 2019 as Chief Diversity, Inclusion and Talent Officer signals a new stage in the Group’s determined action in support of diversity. The Group will benefit from Kalpana’s 25 years’ experience of integrating diversity and inclusion across business, leadership and talent advisory, and education. Kalpana will be based at Kering’s headquarters in Paris and will report to Béatrice Lazat, Chief People Officer.   Working with the Houses and global Group functions, Kalpana will align and execute Kering’s global diversity and inclusion mission and strategy. This will include identifying and prioritizing initiatives to help create an environment that embraces and encourages diversity. Kalpana will also take the lead on developing a talent strategy where diversity and inclusion will be at the core of attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining talent.   This appointment highlights Kering’s broad desire t