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Melania Trump Launches Own NFT Platform

First Lady Melania Trump speaks at the White House in September 2020. Drew Angerer GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
First Lady Melania Trump speaks at the White House in September 2020. Drew Angerer GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
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Melania Trump Launches Own NFT Platform

First Lady Melania Trump speaks at the White House in September 2020. Drew Angerer GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
First Lady Melania Trump speaks at the White House in September 2020. Drew Angerer GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File

Former US first lady Melania Trump on Thursday launched her own NFT platform, the latest public figure to join the crypto boom.

A non-fungible token (NFT) is a digital object that can be a drawing, animation, piece of music, photo, or video with a certificate of authenticity created by blockchain technology. This authentication by a network of computers is considered inviolable.

A portion of the proceeds from Melania Trump's NFT collection will be used to help children in foster care, AFP reported.

"I am proud to announce my new NFT endeavor, which embodies my passion for the arts, and will support my ongoing commitment to children through my Be Best initiative," Trump said in a statement.

"Through this new technology-based platform, we will provide children computer science skills, including programming and software development, to thrive after they age out of the foster community."

The first NFT, a watercolor by the French artist Marc-Antoine Coulon titled "Melania's Vision," will be available for purchase through the end of the year for the price of 1 SOL, the cryptocurrency of the Solana blockchain protocol, (approximately $150).

Coulon, a fashion illustrator, has been published in magazines, including Vogue, Vanity Fair, and ELLE, according to his website.

The limited-edition piece of digital artwork "embodies Mrs. Trump’s cobalt blue eyes, providing the collector with an amulet to inspire," according to the statement. It also includes an audio recording from Melania Trump "with a message of hope."

The Melania Trump NFT platform will run on Solana and will accept both the SOL cryptocurrency and credit card payments.

This is Melania's Trump first public project since she left office a year ago.

Using the blockchain technology behind cryptocurrencies, NFTs transform anything from illustrations to memes into virtual collectors' items that cannot be duplicated.

NFTs rocketed into the mainstream this year and are now traded at major auction houses, generating several hundred million dollars in transactions every month.

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Fashion

UK's Next Edges Up Profit Outlook after Christmas Sales Beat Expectations

FILE PHOTO: Shoppers walk past a NEXT retail store on Oxford Street in London, Britain, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infante/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Shoppers walk past a NEXT retail store on Oxford Street in London, Britain, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infante/File Photo
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UK's Next Edges Up Profit Outlook after Christmas Sales Beat Expectations

FILE PHOTO: Shoppers walk past a NEXT retail store on Oxford Street in London, Britain, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infante/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Shoppers walk past a NEXT retail store on Oxford Street in London, Britain, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infante/File Photo

British fashion retailer Next on Tuesday reported a better-than-expected 10.6% increase in full-price sales for the nine weeks to December 27 and edged up its annual profit guidance for the fifth time over the last year.

Subdued UK ⁠consumer confidence ahead of Christmas coupled with unseasonably mild weather had left analysts cautious about clothing retailers' festive trading prospects.

However, Next reported a 5.9% increase in UK ⁠sales year-on-year, with international sales up 38.3%.

According to Reuters, the group said it now expected to report a pretax profit of 1.15 billion pounds ($1.56 billion) for its year to January 2026, up from previous guidance of 1.135 billion pounds and the 1.011 billion pounds it made in ⁠2024/25 when it breached the 1 billion pounds mark for the first time.

Next forecast a further 4.5% increase in profit to 1.202 billion pounds for its 2026/27 year, on full-price sales up 4.5%.

Shares in Next have risen 43% over the last year.

Fashion

Saudi Fashion Commission Issues Research Paper on 'Fashion Week Economics'

The Saudi Fashion Commission logo
The Saudi Fashion Commission logo
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Saudi Fashion Commission Issues Research Paper on 'Fashion Week Economics'

The Saudi Fashion Commission logo
The Saudi Fashion Commission logo

The Saudi Fashion Commission has issued its research paper for the fourth quarter of 2025, titled Fashion Week Economics, as part of its continued commitment to providing leading sector insights through the Fashion Futures platform.

The paper presents an in-depth analysis of Riyadh Fashion Week's contribution to local economic growth and explores the role of global fashion weeks in the global economy.

It highlights how Riyadh Fashion Week reflects the Kingdom's cultural and creative development, marking the beginning of a new era for Saudi creative industries, one driven by cultural confidence and economic ambition, through a dynamic integration of creativity, commerce, and culture aligned with the vision of a thriving creative economy.

The research also examines themes including the economic and cultural value of fashion weeks worldwide, the role of fashion-week events as global economic drivers, and case studies of various brands showcased at Riyadh Fashion Week 2025.

Through publishing this paper, the Fashion Commission continues to provide essential economic data and sector insights into the rapidly evolving fashion industry.

Riyadh Fashion Week targets designers, brands, creative talent, buyers, retailers, sponsors, and partners, serving as a central platform for opportunities across the market. Its rapid expansion across three editions, featuring more than 100 participating brands and attracting approximately 27,000 visitors, has delivered significant value in terms of media presence, relationship building, and business growth for participants.

The participation of major global fashion houses such as Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney in the third edition further reflects Riyadh’s growing influence in international luxury circles and its increasing global standing.

Fashion

Fashion Commission Launches 1st Executive Master’s Program in Riyadh

Fashion Commission Launches 1st Executive Master’s Program in Riyadh
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Fashion Commission Launches 1st Executive Master’s Program in Riyadh

Fashion Commission Launches 1st Executive Master’s Program in Riyadh

The Fashion Commission announced the launch of the first Executive Master’s program to be delivered in Riyadh, developed in collaboration with the world-renowned Institut Français de la Mode (IFM).

The new program marks a significant leap in advancing fashion education and executive training within the Kingdom, according to SPA.

The Executive Master’s in Strategic Management of Fashion & Luxury represents a new milestone in fashion education, taking place in Riyadh for the first time. It is a 15-month hybrid executive master’s degree track designed for high-potential professionals seeking advanced executive training while continuing their careers. Delivered through a blend of in-person modules in Riyadh and Paris, alongside supervised online learning, the program equips participants with strategic, managerial, and analytical expertise tailored to the rapidly evolving fashion and luxury sector.

Designed with market needs in mind, the executive master’s curriculum covers creation and design, brand strategies, sustainability, new consumer behaviors, retail innovation, fashion media, collection management, and future industry perspectives. Participants will also complete a thesis that contributes new knowledge to the regional and global fashion landscape.

The program is taught by IFM’s internationally recognized faculty, experts in fashion history, sustainability, consumer behavior, design, and luxury management, alongside industry leaders from major global houses, fashion federations, media groups, and innovation-driven organizations.

This landmark program builds on the Fashion Commission’s ongoing partnership with IFM since June 2022. Within the first year, the collaboration introduced high-level educational initiatives, including the Advanced Management Program for Luxury Fashion and the Executive Master’s in Luxury Fashion, designed to elevate local talent and strengthen the Kingdom’s creative workforce.

These programs have contributed to developing the skills and knowledge required to support a world-class fashion ecosystem.

The launch of the Executive Master’s marks a pivotal step in establishing Riyadh as an education hub for the fashion and luxury sectors. By bringing a master’s qualification of this caliber directly to the Kingdom, the Fashion Commission reinforces its commitment to enabling professional growth, supporting innovation, and creating globally competitive talent pipelines.