Fashion
LVMH expands in South Korea as luxury demand shifts from China and the US
By
Bloomberg
Published
September 25, 2025
LVMH is ramping up its expansion in South Korea, with the luxury conglomerate seeking to diversify its global footprint amid geopolitical and economic uncertainties that are clouding the consumer spending outlook in the United States and China.
The group’s two largest fashion labels — Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior — are both planning to expand their flagship maison-style stores in Seoul’s Cheongdam district within the next few years, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations. Dior’s revamp may take place as early as 2027 and is expected to feature a permanent restaurant, according to the report.
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE’s watch and jewelry house Bulgari is reportedly eyeing its first flagship location in South Korea, as the group strengthens its regional presence. Meanwhile, Tiffany & Co. is expected to open a flagship store in Seoul’s Cheongdam district in 2027, according to the same sources.
A representative for LVMH did not respond to a request for comment.
South Koreans’ enduring love for luxury, combined with a resilient economy and rising consumer confidence, has made the country a bright spot for top industry names amid an increasingly uncertain global retail landscape. Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Chanel posted almost 10% growth in their combined sales in the country last year, reaching $3.3 billion, according to government data.
Beyond domestic shoppers, a surge in visitors — mainly from China and Japan — along with the weaker won, has further boosted sales. Tourist spending rose by about a third to a record 9.26 trillion won ($6.6 billion) last year, according to the Korea Herald.
At the same time, China’s premium goods market shrank the most in a decade last year, while U.S. import tariffs have prompted fashion houses to hike prices, potentially driving wealthy shoppers to buy luxury items abroad. Even Japan, where a weak yen had fueled a boom in luxury spending, is now showing signs of a slowdown.
LVMH, founded by billionaire Bernard Arnault, has already been expanding its presence in South Korea. Celine opened its first boutique there in December last year, and Fendi launched its first flagship in 2023.
Other luxury groups are also betting on the South Korean market. Cie Financière Richemont SA — which saw its sales rise 20% in the country for the financial year ended in March — opened a new flagship for Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin in Seoul in June. The store features Korean artworks, a digital archive, a private lounge, and a dedicated space for exhibitions and events. Hermès also relocated and expanded its flagship in the capital, reopening the location in August.
Published
November 18, 2025
Ralph Lauren has unveiled its latest collaboration under the Artist in Residence program with Indigenous-led clothing label Tópa.
Polo Ralph Lauren x Tópa, offered within Polo Ralph Lauren’s Fall/Holiday 2025 lineup, highlights handcrafted designs rooted in the heritage of the Oceti Sakowin. The collection features modern silhouettes with Native design motifs in an assortment of men’s, women’s and accessories products.
Tópa was founded by husband-and-wife duo Jocy and Trae Little Sky, award-winning performers and designers who are members of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Oglala Lakota, and Stoney Nakoda Nations. The couple incorporates traditional arts into their work.
“We’ve long admired Ralph Lauren and how the brand brings worlds to life through its designs and storytelling,” said Jocy. “This collaboration with Polo Ralph Lauren honors our community, culture and way of life, and we hope it inspires people to be proud of who they are, where they come from and to follow their dreams.”
The collection launches with a short film that shares Jocy and Trae’s artistry, family life and cultural celebrations that influenced the designs of Polo Ralph Lauren x Tópa, filmed on the ancestral lands of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nations that are located on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota.
Ralph Lauren’s Artist in Residence initiative collaborates with artisans preserving heritage craft, offering a platform for mutually creative partnerships while amplifying historically underrepresented voices. Polo Ralph Lauren x Tópa is the fourth collaboration in the program, following previous partnerships with Naiomi Glasses, Zefren-M, and Tyler Glasses.
A percentage of the purchase price of each item of the collection will be donated to Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation (CDC), specifically supporting its Lakota Language and Education Initiative.
Copyright © 2025 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.
By
Reuters
Published
November 18, 2025
China’s PDD Holdings beat forecasts on Tuesday with a 14% rise in third-quarter adjusted earnings, a sign that the e-commerce group’s steep discounts and heavy marketing spending bolstered demand in its home market.
Adjusted earnings per share of 21.08 yuan ($2.97) topped analysts’ average forecast of 16.84 yuan. However, U.S.-listed shares of the company, which runs the Pinduoduo platform in China and Temu internationally, were down about 5% in early trading.
Chinese retail majors such as PDD, Alibaba and JD.com have been wooing domestic shoppers with price cuts and billions of dollars’ worth of subsidised promotions during a prolonged period of subdued consumer confidence amid job worries and a weak property market.
Those discounts have translated into higher sales, although below PDD’s typically high double-digit rates of previous years.
PDD said revenue rose 9% in the quarter, while JD.com reported steady sales growth last week, pointing to strong demand for general merchandise and staples.
“We have seen many industry peers deploy significant capital to develop new business models, leading to increasingly fierce competition,” said PDD’s co-CEO Zhao Jiazhen on a post-earnings call with analysts.
He reiterated the firm expects financial results to continue fluctuating in the coming quarters as it invests in merchant support programmes and platform upgrades.
Globally, Temu and other cross-border platforms like Shein selling cheap goods from China to the rest of the world have come under pressure after the U.S. scrapped duty-free exemption on parcels worth less than $800 and the EU looks to introduce duties on low-cost packages from next year.
Temu was also among platforms cited by a French consumer watchdog last week for selling illicit products.
“Today, with a rapid evolution of trade barriers, we are seeing a significant shift in the regulatory environment for the global business. We will inevitably face greater challenges and uncertainties,” said co-CEO Chen Lei.
PDD reported revenue of 108.28 billion yuan for the quarter ended September 30, compared with the 108.41 billion yuan average of 15 analyst estimates compiled by LSEG.
Adjusted net income attributable to PDD’s shareholders was 31.38 billion yuan, compared with 27.46 billion yuan a year earlier.
The Singles’ Day sales festival, one of the biggest shopping events in China, also ended on a subdued note. Many retailers kicked off discounts in the first half of October, making it the longest festival to date.
Pinduoduo saw sales growth of 11.7% in the period, while JD.com’s and Alibaba’s platforms saw increases of 8.3% and 9.3%, respectively, according to data from Beijing-based tech and commerce consulting firm Analysys.
© Thomson Reuters 2025 All rights reserved.
However, during negotiations with the United States, the European Union and several other developed economies, these very QCOs were repeatedly flagged as opaque non-tariff barriers, complicating market access and slowing progress on key FTAs. When major trade partners made it clear that India’s expanding QCO regime was not aligned with global norms and posed compliance concerns under the WTO’s Technical Barriers to Trade framework, the long-pending course correction finally gained urgency, as industry insiders hinted about sudden policy shift of the Indian government.
The recent withdrawal of QCOs for essential textile raw materials—covering PTA, MEG, PSF, PFY, FDY, POY and several technical polymers—has opened the door for full value addition in India’s MMF and textile ecosystem. Manufacturers across weaving, knitting, processing, technical textiles and garmenting say the rollback has restored access to globally benchmarked inputs at competitive prices, reversing the cost escalation that had eroded export competitiveness. Industry representatives note that the move has already begun easing supply bottlenecks, narrowing the gap between domestic and global prices and encouraging companies to revive deferred expansion plans.
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin weighs in on Jalen Ramsey’s ejection after spitting incident with Ja’Marr Chase
Mila Kunis explains her one movie a year rule
Ralph Lauren collaborates with Tópa for Fall/Holiday 2025 collection
-
Tech1 week agoFrom waste to asset: Turning ethanol production CO₂ into jet fuel
-
Tech3 days agoNew carbon capture method uses water and pressure to remove CO₂ from emissions at half current costs
-
Politics5 days agoBritish-Pakistani honoured for transforming UK halal meat industry
-
Sports3 days agoTexas A&M officer scolds South Carolina wide receiver after touchdown; department speaks out
-
Business3 days agoThese 9 Common Money Mistakes Are Eating Your Income
-
Tech1 week agoSecurity flaws in portable genetic sequencers risk leaking private DNA data
-
Fashion1 week agoBangladesh garment makers eye $5 bn more in exports post policy tweak
-
Sports1 week agoSteelers vs. Chargers (Nov 9, 2025) Live Score – ESPN