Briefing
The latest from across luxury business: the moves, deals and numbers that matter, gathered as they break.
This briefing is compiled twice a day using Worthbury's AI agents, finely tuned to meet our editorial standards. While we test and review their work, mistakes can sometimes happen. See exactly how it works.
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MSC is restoring Red Sea services, joining Maersk and CMA CGM in a tentative return to the Suez Canal after months of Houthi-driven diversions.
The world's largest ocean carrier is bringing East-West services back through the Suez Canal, a cautious signal that shipping majors see the Red Sea security picture improving.
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LVMH has appointed Alexandre Oulès as chief operating officer of its beauty division, drawing on his long track record inside the group at Guerlain and Celine.
Alexandre Oulès takes the COO role at LVMH's beauty arm, bringing deep internal experience from Guerlain and Celine.
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Dolce & Gabbana revenues fell 2% for the fiscal year, and the house has secured a debt covenant waiver from its banks after posting a fresh operating loss.
The privately owned Italian house has persuaded lenders to waive covenant breaches after a fresh operating loss and rising debt.
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Swiss exporters, long shielded by premium positioning, are now being hit harder by US tariffs and a strong franc, the Financial Times reports.
Decades of Swiss strategy built on adding value to exports is being tested as American tariffs and currency strength compress margins.
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Vintage demand on The RealReal jumped 432%, with decade-specific searches up 135% year on year and Chanel under Matthieu Blazy now the platform's most popular brand.
The luxury consignment platform's annual report shows vintage searches climbing sharply, with Phoebe Philo-era Celine and Matthieu Blazy's Chanel among the most sought-after names.
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Byredo is expanding into Sephora's US stores,, a move that trades some of its niche exclusivity for scale as the category grows more crowded.
The Puig-owned niche perfumer is expanding into Sephora's US stores, trading exclusivity for reach as the niche fragrance category matures.
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Shein is finally heading toward a public listing,, but going public will intensify rather than ease scrutiny of its labour and environmental practices.
A public listing gives Shein fresh scrutiny rather than cover, as regulators and rivals sharpen their focus on its supply chain.
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The US has pushed tariffs on Canadian cars and alcohol to 50%, and Ottawa says it will match the increase dollar for dollar.
Washington has raised tariffs on Canadian-made cars and a range of alcoholic drinks to 50%, deepening a trade war that is already unsettling cross-border business.
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China's port congestion has stranded more container capacity than at the height of Covid, with Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd already cutting hundreds of thousands of TEUs of capacity.
Vessel queues at Shanghai and Ningbo have pushed stranded container capacity above pandemic-era highs, forcing major carriers to reroute or cancel sailings.
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Shein is heading for Hong Kong, at a fraction of the valuation it once commanded, the Financial Times reports.
The fast-fashion giant is reportedly preparing to list in Hong Kong at roughly a quarter of its peak valuation, capping years of false starts in London and New York.
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Black Tomato's founders have sold 75% of the company, into an employee ownership trust that lets them keep decision-making control.
The luxury travel specialist's founders have sold 75% of their shares into an employee ownership trust while retaining control of the business, according to Skift.
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Indian retail draws fresh capital, as Lenskart sees a $300 million block trade and Lalithaa Jewellery Mart lists at a 32% premium.
A $300 million SoftBank-linked share sale in Lenskart and a 32% premium listing for Lalithaa Jewellery Mart underline investor appetite for India's organised retail growth story.
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Regent acquires Avon North America, reuniting it with Avon International under one owner for the first time in ten years.
A single buyer now controls the beauty group's split business for the first time in a decade, with Lisa Siders taking the helm.
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Skims names its first chief brand and design officers, promoting Kim Schraub and hiring Erin Magee as the brand builds out senior leadership.
Kim Schraub becomes chief brand officer and Erin Magee chief design officer, the shapewear brand's first appointments to either title.
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Shein is pursuing a Hong Kong IPO at roughly $27bn,, just over a quarter of the valuation it once commanded before New York and London listings fell apart.
The fast-fashion giant is targeting a fraction of its former valuation after New York and London listings collapsed under political pressure.
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Muriel Gonzalez is retiring as president of The Vitamin Shoppe,, capping a four-decade career that included senior posts at Macy's, Bergdorf Goodman and Estée Lauder, with Jack Gayton succeeding her.
Jack Gayton steps into the top job at the wellness retailer as Gonzalez departs following senior roles at Macy's, Bergdorf Goodman and Estée Lauder.
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Lululemon unifies its APAC command,, promoting its China head to the top regional job and recruiting a former Louis Vuitton executive to join the team.
The activewear group is tightening its regional structure as it leans further into Asia Pacific growth.
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Luxury bosses see early signs of stabilisation in China, but caution still outweighs conviction after two years of decline.
Executives at the region's biggest luxury groups are cautiously more upbeat about a fragile spending recovery in China, though few are ready to call a turning point.
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CaaStle's Christine Hunsicker gets five years in prison, after a court found she defrauded investors of $300 million.
Christine Hunsicker's collapse marks one of fashion-tech's largest fraud cases and a reminder that subscription-rental models never proved their economics.
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Nobu Hospitality is bringing its restaurant-and-hotel brand to Egypt, a move co-founder Robert De Niro calls the group's most ambitious yet.
Robert De Niro's hospitality group is betting on Egypt as its next growth market, extending a brand built on restaurants into hotels and branded residences across new geographies.