Valentino Cancels June Fashion Shows Following Piccioli’s Exit

A model presents a creation by designer Pierpaolo Piccioli as part of his Spring/Summer 2024 collection show for fashion house Valentino during Men's Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Claudia Greco
A model presents a creation by designer Pierpaolo Piccioli as part of his Spring/Summer 2024 collection show for fashion house Valentino during Men's Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Claudia Greco
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Valentino Cancels June Fashion Shows Following Piccioli’s Exit

A model presents a creation by designer Pierpaolo Piccioli as part of his Spring/Summer 2024 collection show for fashion house Valentino during Men's Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Claudia Greco
A model presents a creation by designer Pierpaolo Piccioli as part of his Spring/Summer 2024 collection show for fashion house Valentino during Men's Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Claudia Greco

Italian fashion house Valentino said on Monday that it would not present its Men's and Haute Couture fashion shows in June, following the departure of its creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli.

The group said on Friday it had agreed with Piccioli to end their collaboration, adding that a new "creative organization" would be announced soon.

"Following the latest organizational announcement regarding the Maison's Creative Direction, Valentino confirms that it will not present its upcoming Men’s and Haute Couture fashion shows in June 2024," the group said in a statement on Monday.

"Creativity will continue to lead the company as a key pillar, shaping new future collections ...", it added

Earlier on Monday fashion trade publication WWD reported that Gucci's creative director Alessandro Michele was negotiating with Valentino to take the role left by Piccioli, citing market sources.

Italian newspaper La Repubblica said on Monday that the contract with Michele had already been signed during the weekend, cited sources close to him.

Valentino declined to comment, while Michele could not immediately be reached for comment.

French luxury group Kering, which owns Gucci, bought a 30% stake in Valentino last year from Qatari investment fund Mayhoola with an option to buy the rest in five years.



Hermes 2Q Sales Rise 13% on Continued Appetite for High-End Luxury

People stand with Hermes shopping bags as they wait at a traffic light in Tsim Sha Tsui, a bustling shopping hotspot, in Hong Kong, China December 5, 2023. (Reuters)
People stand with Hermes shopping bags as they wait at a traffic light in Tsim Sha Tsui, a bustling shopping hotspot, in Hong Kong, China December 5, 2023. (Reuters)
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Hermes 2Q Sales Rise 13% on Continued Appetite for High-End Luxury

People stand with Hermes shopping bags as they wait at a traffic light in Tsim Sha Tsui, a bustling shopping hotspot, in Hong Kong, China December 5, 2023. (Reuters)
People stand with Hermes shopping bags as they wait at a traffic light in Tsim Sha Tsui, a bustling shopping hotspot, in Hong Kong, China December 5, 2023. (Reuters)

Birkin-bag maker Hermes reported a 13% rise in second-quarter sales on Thursday, demonstrating the continued appetite from wealthy shoppers for its luxury handbags, even as less affluent consumers pull back.

Sales at the French luxury group grew to 3.7 billion euros ($4.02 billion), a 13% organic sales rise that strips out currency fluctuations. The figure was in line with analyst expectations, according to a Visible Alpha consensus.

Operating profit for the first half was 3.1 billion euros, compared to a forecast from consensus provider Visible Alpha for 3.2 billion.

One of the most steady performers in the luxury goods sector -- even as economic conditions worsen -- the French group's results stand out after a string of disappointing earnings updates from peers which have raised investor concern about uncertain prospects for the sector in the coming months.

Hermes' famously classic designs and tight management of production and stock have helped reinforce the label's aura of exclusivity, and CEO Axel Dumas told reporters the company had seen "no big interruption in trends".

However, he said Hermes was seeing slightly less traffic with aspirational clients, which was impacting higher volume products like fashion accessories.