Hermès and Giorgio Armani have taken centre-stage at Milan Design Week with their sophisticated installations, showcasing the affinities between their furniture and fashion collections.

Well-known for its perfumes and candles, Diptyque has opened a store on rue Duphot in Paris, displaying its collections and offering customisation and workshops. This premium concept is about to be launched in London.

Hardware stores, furniture shops, and clothing stores all reported a rise in sales, but these gains were offset by falling food sales and in department stores where retailers say higher prices hit trading.”

The two luxury brands, along with the Italian retailer, are making a name for themselves at this year's Milan Design Week with some particularly original and environmentally-friendly projects.

LVMH’s first-quarter results brought reassuring signs that wealthy Chinese shoppers are splashing out on luxury items — just not in China.

​Harvey Nichols has faced tough conditions in recent years but it’s now hoping for better times ahead with the announcement of a new CEO from one of luxury's major labels.

These esteemed fashion houses are collaborating with Gio Ponti, Cini Boeri, Gae Aulenti, Portaluppi, and Le Corbusier, to reinterpret their classic designs in luxurious new forms at the Milan Furniture Fair.

On the first day of Milan Design Week, FashionNetwork.com met Massimiliano Ferrari, CEO of Corporate Brand Maison, who talked about the new initiatives and ambitious projects of Elie Saab’s home interiors line.

The new Fendi Casa project, launched in 2021, is starting to bear fruit. In 2023, the Roman luxury label's furniture line doubled its revenue, and is now commercialised via over 50 retailers worldwide.

The Italian label is multiplying its projects in the region, where it already has around forty points of sale, notably by strengthening its presence in Saudi Arabia, with new boutiques and a café in Riyadh.

Many labels don’t know which way to turn, forced to choose between the Venice Biennale, scheduled on April 17-19, and Milan Design Week, set to welcome 300,000 visitors on April 15-21.

​Amazon has announced a €700 million+ investment in robotics and AI-powered technologies across Europe, using its Innovation Lab to develop and test new tech, and it will soon open the lab to the public.

Known for simple, monotone stationary, apparel and home goods, Muji is betting that there’s just as much demand for no-frills homes and hotels, with plans to ramp up the number of Muji-style accommodations.

Hong Kong-based AS Watson has promoted Malina Ngai to the role of group chief executive, effective from the start of next month.

The New York-based fashion group is debuting food and beverage concepts in Dubai and Jakarta.

​E-tail giant The Very Group has promoted its Retail Managing Director Robbie Feather to Group CEO, succeeding Lionel Desclée, “who has chosen to step down and pursue new opportunities”.