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Valentino’s Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli Leaves after 25 Years

Designer Pierpaolo Piccioli appears at the end of his Menswear ready-to-wear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 collection show for fashion house Valentino during Men's Fashion Week in Paris, France, January 20, 2024. (Reuters)
Designer Pierpaolo Piccioli appears at the end of his Menswear ready-to-wear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 collection show for fashion house Valentino during Men's Fashion Week in Paris, France, January 20, 2024. (Reuters)
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Valentino’s Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli Leaves after 25 Years

Designer Pierpaolo Piccioli appears at the end of his Menswear ready-to-wear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 collection show for fashion house Valentino during Men's Fashion Week in Paris, France, January 20, 2024. (Reuters)
Designer Pierpaolo Piccioli appears at the end of his Menswear ready-to-wear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 collection show for fashion house Valentino during Men's Fashion Week in Paris, France, January 20, 2024. (Reuters)

Italian fashion house Valentino said on Friday it had agreed with its creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli to end their collaboration, adding that a new "creative organization" would be announced soon.

Piccioli started working at Valentino in 1999 and took on the role of sole creative director in 2016.

"We extend our deepest gratitude to Pierpaolo for writing an important chapter in the history of the Maison Valentino. His contribution over the past 25 years will leave an indelible mark," Valentino's chairman Rachid Mohamed Rachid said.

Piccioli said in the same statement: "I've been in this company for 25 years, and for 25 years I've existed and I've lived with the people who have woven the weaves of this beautiful story that is mine and ours."

French luxury group Kering bought a 30% stake in Valentino last year from Qatari investment fund Mayhoola for 1.7 billion euros ($1.84 billion).

The agreement includes an option for Kering to purchase the whole of Valentino's share capital no later than 2028.

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Fashion

Primark to Open First Dubai Store

A woman speaks on her mobile phone as she browses a shop for new clothes ahead of the start of the Eid al-Fitr festival in Dubai on March 16, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
A woman speaks on her mobile phone as she browses a shop for new clothes ahead of the start of the Eid al-Fitr festival in Dubai on March 16, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
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Primark to Open First Dubai Store

A woman speaks on her mobile phone as she browses a shop for new clothes ahead of the start of the Eid al-Fitr festival in Dubai on March 16, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
A woman speaks on her mobile phone as she browses a shop for new clothes ahead of the start of the Eid al-Fitr festival in Dubai on March 16, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

Budget fashion retailer Primark has confirmed it will press ahead with opening its first Dubai store on Thursday despite the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran, during which the emirate has been hit by Iranian missiles and drones.

Primark, owned by London-listed Associated British Foods, and its ⁠franchise partner Alshaya ⁠Group will open the store in Dubai Mall.

Primark and Alshaya plan to open two more stores in Dubai - at City Centre ⁠Mirdif in April and Mall of the Emirates in May.

Dubai's malls have seen a sharp fall in visitors since the Iran war began, reflecting a collapse in tourism.

Primark and Alshaya plan to open stores in Bahrain and Qatar by ⁠the ⁠end of the year.

Primark entered the Middle East with a store in Kuwait in October last year.

As of the end of January, Primark traded from about 475 stores in 18 countries across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the US.

Fashion

ASOS Posts 50% Profit Jump as Cost Cuts Overshadow Merchandise Value Dip

FILE PHOTO: People walk past the ASOS pop-up store in London, Britain, November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk past the ASOS pop-up store in London, Britain, November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo/File Photo
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ASOS Posts 50% Profit Jump as Cost Cuts Overshadow Merchandise Value Dip

FILE PHOTO: People walk past the ASOS pop-up store in London, Britain, November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk past the ASOS pop-up store in London, Britain, November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo/File Photo

ASOS reported a nearly 50% jump in first-half adjusted core profit on Wednesday, as cost cuts overshadowed a 9% decline in gross merchandise value, and helped lift gross margins.

The online fashion retailer has been trying to revive its fast-fashion ⁠appeal among its ⁠core twenty-something shoppers, while sharpening its focus on profitability through tighter cost control amid intensifying competition from cheaper Chinese rivals.

British retailers have ⁠been squeezed by weaker consumer spending as high inflation has curbed discretionary purchases.

UK inflation held steady at 3% in February, official figures showed on Wednesday, ahead of a likely uptick as the Middle East war pushes prices higher.

According to Reuters, ASOS said ⁠its ⁠GMV decline improved sequentially through the reported period, with its largest market - the UK - outperforming the group with a 5% decline.

The company also reiterated its annual profit guidance of 150 million pounds ($200.7 million)-180 million pounds.

Fashion

Paris Appeals Court Rejects Government's Request for Suspension of Shein's Marketplace

(FILES) This photograph shows the logo of Asian e-commerce giant Shein in its stall at the Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville (BHV) department store in Paris on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Julie SEBADELHA / AFP)
(FILES) This photograph shows the logo of Asian e-commerce giant Shein in its stall at the Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville (BHV) department store in Paris on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Julie SEBADELHA / AFP)
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Paris Appeals Court Rejects Government's Request for Suspension of Shein's Marketplace

(FILES) This photograph shows the logo of Asian e-commerce giant Shein in its stall at the Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville (BHV) department store in Paris on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Julie SEBADELHA / AFP)
(FILES) This photograph shows the logo of Asian e-commerce giant Shein in its stall at the Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville (BHV) department store in Paris on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Julie SEBADELHA / AFP)

A Paris Court of Appeal on Thursday rejected the French government's request to suspend Chinese online platform Shein's marketplace, defeating an appeal by the state after a Paris court ruled against the government in December.

Shein has ⁠been embroiled in ⁠a scandal since France's consumer watchdog DGCCRF found sex dolls resembling children and banned weapons for sale ⁠on its marketplace last year, prompting the government to attempt to suspend the platform.

In December, a Paris court had rejected the government's request to suspend the Shein site in France as a ⁠whole ⁠for three months, saying it would be "disproportionate", prompting the government to appeal the ruling.

Shein banned all sex dolls and suspended the adult products category from its marketplace globally on November 3 after the consumer watchdog's findings.