Top fashion designers Jean Paul Gaultier and John Galliano were in combat mode as they brought military flare to the opening day of the Paris menswear shows for next summer.

All eyes will be on Hedi Slimane's successor at Dior Homme when four action-packed days of menswear for next spring-summer kick off here on Thursday, June 28th.

As Western luxury brands target India's rising rich, a local leather goods firm aims to turn the tables and become the country's first global fashion marque.

Hot shades evoking the sunny south and rock/leather chic dominated Milan's fashion ramps Tuesday, June 26th as Giorgio Armani and Dolce and Gabbana unveiled their men's lines for next summer.

Milan Fashion run of men's fashion shows for next summer displayed brazen irreverence Monday, June 25 with Moschino's fluorescent tones, Gucci's slimline tweeds and John Richmond's gangster chic suits.

A week after Italian designer Gianfranco Ferre died the fashion house that bears his name on Sunday, 24th presented its summer show for men to a tearful audience that gave him a posthumous ovation.

Italy's leading fashion houses are increasingly looking to the stock market for the kind of financing needed to develop in the ever-competitive luxury sector, while keeping the business in the family.

The Dubai government's private equity arm, Istithmar, said on Saturday, June 23rd it was buying luxury speciality retailer Barneys New York for 825 million dollars from Jones Apparel Group.

Milan kicks off a hectic five-day run of men's fashion shows for next summer on Saturday, June 23rd under a sombre cloud following the sudden death of leading Italian designer GianFranco Ferre.

Roberto Cavalli is set to be the latest designer to create a collection for Swedish clothing giant H&M, he announced Wednesday, June 20th following in the footsteps of Karl Lagerfield and Stella McCartney.

Swedish cheap'n chic fashion chain H&M announced Wednesday a 31-percent rise in second-quarter net profit to 3.46 billion kronor (368.2 million euros, 500 million dollars) as the group pursues its worldwide expansion.

Italian designer Gianfranco Ferre, who died this weekend at the age of 62, was buried Tuesday, June 19th in his northern hometown of Legnano in a ceremony attended by his peers and admirers.

The Italian designer Gianfranco Ferre, whose training as an architect had a crucial influence on his approach to fashion, died Sunday June 17th in a Milan hospital after suffering a massive brain haemorrhage. He was 62.

Animal rights activists strutted naked through Tokyo's glitzy Ginza district Friday June 15th as they urged a boycott of fashion giant Burberry for using fur. Three women walked up to the Burberry store on the Ginza strip of high-end boutiques wearing nothing but a banner reading : "The naked truth : Burberry butchers bunnies."

Valentino will next month break with a 17-year tradition of unveiling his luxurious haute couture collections for women in Paris. Instead, to mark the 45th anniversary of his design house, the veteran 75-year-old designer is returning to Rome to present his made-to-order creations for autumn-winter 2007-08 on July 7.