France news and archive

Can January sales survive the “yellow vests” protests in France?

Those who thought the “yellow vest” movement in France had lost momentum were definitely in the wrong. Participation in the weekly protests grew again last weekend, following a holiday drop. About 50,000 people took to the streets across the country. Once again, the marches started peacefully, but quickly gave way to clashes between protesters...

Retail

French label IKKS expands childrenswear line to China

French fashion label IKKS has opened four brick-and-mortar stores in Shanghai and Beijing, as the brand expands their childrenswear lines to the Chinese market. The ambitious move begins with their Junior line, which was released on 8 September, and comes after IKKS signed a joint-venture contract with with Fung Kids Limited, an associated...

ManagementFeatured

Online B2C turnover in France rose around 82 billion euros in 2017 - Report

A latest France Ecommerce Report 2018 by Ecommerce Foundation highlights the importance and growth of online retail in the country. In 2017, based on the report’s findings, ecommerce in France grew 14 percent and the online business-to-consumer turnover was just under 82 billion euros (95.8 billion dollars), which is expected to witness a...

Report

French swank watch sales tick up as Chinese tourists return

Luxury watch sales in France surged last year as deep-pocketed tourists, notably Chinese, returned after terrorism fears waned, an industry body said Thursday. Sales of watches worth more than 5,000 euros (6,200 USD) each saw an increase of eight percent in 2017 over 2016, a year when visitor numbers dwindled following a series of terror attacks...

Fashion

France cracks down on unnaturally thin models

Super-thin models and secretly airbrushed photoshoots will soon be a thing of the past in fashion hub France, as authorities passed measures to protect young people from the dangers of anorexia. A new law entered into force on Saturday which compels all models operating in France to provide a doctor's note certifying that their Body Mass Index...

Fashion Featured

In-depth: The Basque beret, from peasant cap to 'emblem of France'

The beret has come a long way since its humble beginnings as the headgear of choice for pelota players in the Basque country, becoming a must-have accessory as far afield as China. The jaunty topper preferred by Che Guevara and Pablo Picasso added a saucy touch to Monica Lewinsky's look in a famous photo of her getting a hug from then president...

PeopleFeatured

Marie-Louise Carven passes away aged 105

Marie-Louise Carven, a driving force in taking France's postwar fashion international, died on Monday aged 105, a spokeswoman for her foundation told AFP. "She passed away this morning (Monday) at her home" in Paris, said Catherine Degueldre, secretary of the Grog-Carven Association. Carven, who opened her fashion house in the French capital in...

Fashion Featured

"France's ultra-thin ideal is passe but not a problem"

France's waif obsession means its fashion sector snubs many women with bigger body types, but there is no need for a ban on ultra-thin models, said the patron of a plus-size Paris catwalk show under way this weekend. "It's a cultural blockage," explained Clementine Desseaux, a 26-year-old French model who lives in New York. The size-44 brunette...