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Asia fashion weekly news bulletin - ISSUE 86 week of 12 October 2026. 16/10/2026 Famed designer Kim Jones will open his brand's global debut flagship store at Central Yards in Hong Kong in H2 2027. Choosing Hong Kong over Paris or London, Jones highlighted the city's unique position as Asia's luxury hub, supported by a 16-month retail growth streak and recalibrated commercial rents. LVMH reported a 15% decline in demand among Chinese consumers and admitted that its trademark lawsuit against popular teahouse chain Molly Tea resulted in negative public fallout. The rare admission highlights the complexities luxury conglomerates face when navigating intellectual property disputes in the mainland market. Ella Yam and Jasmine Yen, daughters of Hong Kong icons Simon Yam and Donnie Yen respectively, are making high-profile marks internationally. Yam is expanding her presence across global fashion runways alongside her mother, while Yen is solidifying her music and commercial appeal through high-profile events in Paris. (4) Alice + Olivia Transforms Hong Kong's Tai Kwun Into "World of Stace" Fashion Fantasy Featuring K-Pop Star Jeon Somi and Local Collaborations Alice + Olivia transformed Hong Kong's Tai Kwun into the "WORLD OF STACE" for a major fashion party on October 9, hosted by founder Stacey Bendet. Joined by K-pop star Jeon Somi and local artists, the immersive event celebrated the brand's bold aesthetic through local collaborations and cinematic installations. (1) Kim Jones Chooses Hong Kong's Central Yards for Global Debut Store as International Brands Cement City's Premier Retail Gateway (Photo Credit: 林惠芳 / Tai Kung Pao) Renowned British fashion designer Kim Jones OBE will open the inaugural world flagship store for his namesake brand KIM JONES in Hong Kong. Slated to open in H2 2027 at Henderson Land's flagship Central Waterfront development, Central Yards, the 4,000-square-foot, two-story flagship marks a major vote of confidence in Hong Kong's position as Asia's luxury capital over competing fashion hubs such as Paris, London, and New York. The selection highlights Hong Kong's enduring "connect-in, reach-out" (內聯外通) advantage, serving as a vital bridge between mainland China and international luxury markets. Recent economic indicators reflect sustained retail momentum, with August total retail sales rising 5.6% year-on-year to HK$32.1 billion - marking 16 consecutive months of growth, led by a 10% surge in luxury goods and jewelry. Hong Kong also ranked second globally in luxury shopping city rankings, outperforming Paris and Seoul. Henderson Land Chairman Martin Lee noted that Central Yards Phase 1 - featuring 710,000 square feet of commercial space, a 100,000-square-foot Broadway-style theater, and high-profile retail - has achieved strong leasing performance, with office occupancy exceeding 70% ahead of its mid-2027 completion. Kim Jones' arrival adds to a wave of top-tier international expansions in Central, including Schiaparelli's first Asian permanent salon, Prada's enlarged flagship at Landmark, and newcomer brands capitalizing on recalibrated retail rents. (2) LVMH Reports 15% Drop in Chinese Consumer Demand and Acknowledges Negative Fallout from Trademark Lawsuit Against Teahouse Brand Molly Tea (Photo Credit: Sing Tao Headline) Luxury conglomerate LVMH has released its latest financial and market performance updates, revealing a 15% decline in demand from Chinese consumer segments amid broader macroeconomic adjustments. The luxury giant candidly addressed recent brand challenges, acknowledging that its high-profile trademark infringement lawsuit against popular Chinese teahouse chain Molly Tea (茉莉奶白) generated considerable negative public relations and consumer backlash in the mainland market. The legal dispute arose after LVMH subsidiaries contested the trendy beverage brand's visual identity and naming conventions, a move that sparked extensive social media debate across Chinese consumer platforms. Industry analysts noted that the public relations friction underscored the delicate balance luxury houses must maintain when managing intellectual property rights against burgeoning domestic lifestyle brands in the Greater China region. Despite the headwinds, LVMH executives emphasized ongoing adjustments to their regional retail strategy, focusing on experiential luxury and targeted client engagement to navigate shifting consumer preferences within the world's leading luxury market. (3) Second-Generation Stars Ella Yam and Jasmine Yen Make Waves in Global Fashion and Music Industries (Photo Credit: Dilraba Dilmurat / Weibo) Two prominent second-generation Hong Kong celebrities - Ella Yam, daughter of actor Simon Yam and supermodel Qiqi, and Jasmine Yen, daughter of martial arts icon Donnie Yen and Cissy Wang - are carving out high-profile careers on the international stage. Ella Yam has followed closely in her mother's footsteps, stepping into the fashion world with major runway appearances and brand endorsements. Her striking height, refined presence, and international appeal have made her a sought-after face for luxury fashion houses during recent international fashion weeks. Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Jasmine Yen has expanded her artistic footprint globally, securing lucrative engagements and high-profile performances in Paris. Balancing her burgeoning pop music career with luxury brand partnerships, Yen continues to demonstrate impressive commercial value and cross-cultural reach across Asian and European entertainment sectors. Their simultaneous rise reflects a broader trend of Hong Kong's young creative talent leveraging global heritage to build multifaceted careers spanning entertainment, music, and international luxury fashion. (4) Alice + Olivia Transforms Hong Kong's Tai Kwun Into "World of Stace" Fashion Fantasy Featuring K-Pop Star Jeon Somi and Local Collaborations (Photo Credit: Vogue Taiwan) Contemporary American fashion brand Alice + Olivia hosted a high-profile "WORLD OF STACE" fashion party on October 9, 2026, transforming Hong Kong's historic Tai Kwun heritage site and The Magistracy into an immersive, whimsical wonderland. Brand founder and Creative Director Stacey Bendet traveled to Hong Kong to personally host the celebration, blending the brand's iconic Stace Face, signature rose prints, and bold party culture into the colonial-era architecture. The star-studded event was highlighted by a surprise appearance from K-pop star and brand friend Jeon Somi, alongside prominent Hong Kong fashion figures including Grace Chan, Kayan9896, and Gigi Cheung. To ground the global brand in the local creative scene, Alice + Olivia collaborated with Hong Kong artists, including doll artist Ning Lau, who created a limited-edition Stace Face doll charm, and artist Natari Sadik, who live-painted custom denim pieces. Reflecting on the brand's core design philosophy, Stacey Bendet emphasized empowering women to feel confident, beautiful, and expressive through fashion. The multi-sensory evening also featured bespoke treats by Butter and Messina, music by DJ Christi McGarry, and a cinematic Glambot photo installation, underscoring Hong Kong's vibrant appeal as a premier hub for luxury brand experiences.

LVMH sales miss growth forecasts as China luxury demand slows. Published on 13/10/2026 - 10:41 GMT+2 This audio is read by an AI voice, it may have pronunciation or prosody defects Voice by Audioboost Full accessible LVMH, the world's leading luxury group, said its sales edged higher in the third quarter despite a slowdown in demand in China hitting its fashion and leather goods segment. The fashion giant, once Europe's most valuable listed company, reported revenue of €18.5 billion in the three months to the end of September. The firm, whose brands include Louis Vuitton, Dior, Celine and drinks maker Hennessy, saw a revenue increase of 1.2% year on year in the third quarter, after a 0.1% rise in the second quarter and a 5.9% fall in the first. However, organic sales growth, which excludes currency movements and changes to the group's business portfolio, fell short of expectations. Growth slowed to 1% in the third quarter from 3% in the second. Overall, in the first nine months, sales were €57.1 billion, with organic sales up 2%. The company praised its diverse business portfolio in a statement, saying it provided resilience in an uncertain geopolitical and economic environment. LVMH said sales growth was good in the United States, Europe and Japan, but it faced a less favourable environment in China. As a result, the fashion and leather goods segment saw sales drop 5% on an organic basis as weaker demand in the world's second-largest economy weighed on the business. The decline was steeper than the roughly 2% fall expected by analysts, according to Deutsche Bank. Louis Vuitton also saw its public image take a hit in China after suing local tea company Molly Tea for copying its logo. While it won the case, the dispute provoked a wave of indignation on social media and calls to boycott the brand. Overall, the quarter proved to be a setback for the fashion and leather goods segment, as the drop in sales followed the division posting its first organic sales gain in two years in the previous quarter. But LVMH's selective retailing division, which includes the Sephora perfume and cosmetics retail chain, posted an 8% organic sales increase, while the watches and jewellery and wines and spirits segments both managed 6% organic gains. Deutsche Bank analysts said the results could prompt further cuts to earnings forecasts for the second half of 2026 and 2027. "It is hard to see what could change investor sentiment in the short term," they wrote, although they viewed the weakness as cyclical rather than structural. "Overall, recovery is taking longer due to the weaker Chinese demand, but the company do not see it as a structural issue. Brand initiatives are producing results and they expect these bottom-up measures to be more gradual," they wrote. LVMH's share price has dropped nearly 40% since the start of the year. In September, L'Oréal overtook the group as France's most valuable listed company. LVMH's share price was down more than 1.6% at around 10am CEST in Paris.

Hit by boycott in China, LVMH disappoints market and shares have worst year since 2008. Image crisis in China after dispute against the country's tea maker and weakness in consumer confidence send luxury group shares plunging more than 40% this year By Angelina Rascouet October 13, 2026 | 07:11 AM Bloomberg - Sales at LVMH's largest division suffered a sharp drop, as worsening economic conditions and a consumer backlash in China hurt its main brand, Louis Vuitton. Revenue at the fashion and leather goods unit fell 5% in the third quarter on an organic basis, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE said on Monday, the 12th, a larger decline than analysts had forecast. The luxury group's total sales also fell short of estimates. "These results confirm a stagnation in the already fragile recovery momentum seen earlier this year," RBC analyst Piral Dadhania said in a note. LVMH's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) fell as much as 3.6% in New York after the results were released. The group's shares have plunged more than 40% this year in Paris, a trajectory that could represent its worst annual performance since the 2008 global financial crisis. Louis Vuitton sales were hit in China after the brand won a trademark dispute against Molly Tea, a local tea maker, as Bloomberg News reported last month. The victory sparked a backlash from Chinese consumers, who considered it unfair that the world's largest luxury group took a much smaller company to court. LVMH Chief Financial Officer Cecile Cabanis said it is difficult to quantify the exact effect of the Molly Tea case on Louis Vuitton sales, but that the consumer backlash "had a negative impact, at least at the beginning of the quarter." The region including China posted a 5% drop in sales, the only area with negative performance in the period. More broadly, hopes for a recovery in the luxury sector as a whole were undermined this year not only by weak Chinese demand, but also by the prolonged conflict in the Middle East and lower consumer confidence. Although much of the sector is feeling the effects of the slowdown, LVMH shares have the worst performance this year among major luxury groups, followed by shares of rival Hermès. When asked about profitability in the second half, Cabanis told analysts that although LVMH is working to increase efficiency, cost cuts in the short term will not increase sales. "I'm not sure whether we will be able to fully offset the pressure on revenue in the short term, but we continue to strive," she said. Speaking about Christian Dior Couture, Cabanis said that designer Jonathan Anderson's women's ready-to-wear creations are getting a "great reception" among customers. The new bags, however, have taken a little longer to win over female consumers. Anderson took on the role of artistic director last year to revitalize the brand, which has been losing market share to rival Chanel. See more at bloomberg.com (C) 2026 Bloomberg L.P.