After three years at the helm of Menswear, Franck Boclet is leaving Ungaro.

It couldn’t come at a worst time because Ungaro has just lost its chief designer (see ELB past article here).
Boclet was recruited in 2007 at the same time as Esteban Cortazar after working at Smalto for more than 15 years! He is considered as Francesco Smalto’s spiritual son.
Franck Boclet begun his career at renowned fashion houses: Kenzo, Arrow and Courrège. In 1991 he joins Smalto and works alongside Francesco Smalto himself, then 5 years later he flies solo and becomes Smalto only Artistic Director.
Franck Boclet has his own …

There are newcomers in the children market. Indeed both High-end Italian brands Gucci and Fendi have unveiled their plans to expand to childrenswear, on the same day.

Fendi has already developed products for your tots, from 0 to2 years, but now wants to create a strong line for 2-12 years old kids and thus has associated itself with Simonetta for its children ready-to-wear line.
Simonetta is an Italian company and is also working with Roberto Cavalli on its childrenswear.
Fendi, which is part of luxury group LVMH, will present the first Spring Summer collection during Pitti Bimbo, the Childrenswear tradeshow that …

Baselworld, the world’s largest watch and jewelry fair, opens its doors on March the 18th for a week.

Watchmakers and the industry in general have great expectations for this 2010 edition after last year’s catastrophic one. With the crisis behind (but still close) the fair motto is optimism but also caution. While Swiss exportation experienced its first rise since 2008 last quarter (+2.7% in January 2010 compared to January 2009), Jean-Claude Biver, Swatch group CEO still thinks the crisis is just around the corner…
Baselworld organizers and the industry experts hope to benefit the same conditions as did the SIHH (Haute Horlogerie …

The Oscars night might be the most awaited night of the year. Not only the Oscars are the most important event in the movie industry, it is also a key fashion event.
This year big winners are definitely European Couture designers.
As usual Italian designers were well represented with Armani privé, Atelier Versace, Valentino Couture, Roberto Cavalli and Prada for women and Gucci, Ferragamo and Dolce & Gabbana for men.
The night big winner Kathryn Bigelow – who took home five Oscars and became the first woman to win the Best Director award – with acclaimed actress and always red carpet winner, Kate …

In an interview to the Wall Street Journal last November, François Pinault – PPR’s CEO – re-asserted his will to strengthen the group’s luxury brands by selling La Fnac and Conforama “the sooner the better”.

PPR is a French multinational holding company specializing in retail shops and luxury brands.
The group’s main activity is the retailing business thanks to La Fnac which is the leader of cultural and technological products in southern European countries and Conforama, which is a major player in European home furnishings. Moreover the company owns Redcats Group, a B-to-C (business to consumer) home shopping market in fashion and …