Eva Morletto

On the shores of Lake Como, the Villa d’Este hotel has epitomized the excellence of Italian luxury hotels since 1873. The eponymous company has just reported strong financial results, with revenue up 14% in 2025 to €115.3 million, while EBITDA jumped 19% to €47.5 million.

The constellation of brands managed by the group LVMH is set to shed some of its stars. The so-called “accessible” luxury brands are now seen as shooting stars with fleeting and unstable success.

In Geneva, the international auction house Phillips has just broken an all-time record. In partnership with Bacs & Russo, it has just achieved the largest watch sale in history, with a total of 74.8 million Swiss francs ($96.3 million) realized at the Geneva Watch Auction: XXIII held on May 9 and 10.

The network of mono-brand stores is confirming its central role in the luxury economy. According to data from Research and Markets, reported by the Italian media outlet Milano Finanza, this segment is worth $107 billion in 2026 and is expected to reach $142 billion by 2030, with an average annual growth rate of 7.4%.

With a $34 million investment through the Bezos Earth Fund, the American billionaire has just confirmed his ambition to transform the fashion industry. Founded in 2020 and valued at $10 billion, Jeff Bezos’s foundation is now directing part of its funding toward textile research and the creation of eco-friendly materials.

Chanel returns to growth, according to its 2025 results published on Tuesday 19 May. The fashion house announced revenue of $19.3 billion in 2025 — approximately €16.4 billion — up 2% at constant exchange rates, following a 4.3% decline in 2024.

Despite criticism of its governance, Swatch Group saw its shareholders overwhelmingly renew their confidence in the Hayek family at the annual general meeting. The rejection of activist investor Steven Wood’s candidacy confirms the strength of family control within the Swiss watchmaking giant.

The Venice Biennale, which will take place from May 9 to November 22, 2026, is set to become a strategic event for the growth of Bulgari, one of the jewels in the LVMH crown.

Another key position in the hands of an Arnault heir? In an interview with Bloomberg, Jean-Christophe Babin, head of LVMH’s watch division, paved the way for his succession by hinting at a gradual withdrawal and, more importantly, by publicly naming his ideal successor: Jean Arnault. At 27, Bernard Arnault’s youngest son now embodies much more than just an heir: he is already an operational leader.

According to estimations based on the Media Impact Value models developed by Launchmetrics, each outfit featured in The Devil Wears Prada 2—set to premiere in France this Wednesday, April 29— could generate approximately $2 million in media value.

In the fall of 2023, Birkenstock made its debut on Wall Street with a clear ambition: to transform a 250-year-old orthopedic sandal into a contemporary luxury brand. Backed by LVMH through the L Catterton fund, the German brand rode the wave of “quiet luxury” and forged numerous prestigious collaborations, from Dior to Manolo Blahnik. Today, that narrative is beginning to crack.

Players in the mid-range segment are suffering from the global economic slowdown. Breitling, famous for its Navitimer watch designed for pilots, is now facing the limits of its growth strategy.

Puig, the Spanish group, has just formalised a three-year partnership with the Dries Van Noten Foundation. This new cultural organisation, founded by the Flemish designer Dries Van Noten and his partner Patrick Vangheluwe, was launched in Venice during the Biennale on 25 April.

The Spanish group Puig kicked off the 2026 fiscal year with a solid performance praised by company executives. In the first quarter, the Spanish giant’s revenue reached €1.215 billion, up 4.7% at constant exchange rates and 0.8% on a reported basis.

The Franco-Italian eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica has just released its first-quarter 2026 results, and the figures are excellent. The group reported revenue of €7.127 billion, up 10.8% (at constant exchange rates) compared to the same period last year.