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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8 2013
World Leather BusinessWeek
5
“Northampton men’s brands were
reporting expectations that business would
be up 20% year on year,” John Saunders, the
British Footwear Association’s (BFA) sales and
marketing director, told
leatherbiz.com
. “Last
year was a record year – Micam alone booked
over £2 million so things are looking good for
this year, too.”
The BFA supported 68 brands at Milan-
based Micam and sees attendance at
footwear fairs as “massively important” as the
retail scene gets concentrated into a fewer,
bigger multiple businesses at home. “British
manufacturer and design is appreciated
overseas, giving a chance for our brands to
use this to their advantage,” said Mr
Saunders.
In terms of manufacturing, a number of
BFA’s member brands, including ladies, are
now making parts of their collections in the
UK. “International brands are also seeking
manufacturing in the UK, and although
opportunities are limited, demand remains
high,” added Mr Saunders.
Bentley extends leather to
furniture range as it celebrates
first-half growth
L
uxury carmaker Bentley has launched a
new Home collection using the same
materials and craftsmanship that characterise
the interiors of Bentley models.
The new Richmond collection includes
sofas, chaise longues and armchairs covered
in either leather or burr walnut. The colour
palette is neutral tones of ivory and taupe
matched with beige and cream. Intricate
details such as the leather braid around the
contours highlight the sinuous lines, and the
Harlow collection features leather-coated
tables.
At the half-year point in 2013, Bentley’s
deliveries to customers increased by 9% to
4,279 cars. The Americas remained Bentley’s
largest sales region with 1,282 cars delivered
to customers in the region, up 12% on the
same period in 2012. In Europe, deliveries
grew by 22% with 740 cars delivered to
customers. In the UK, 698 cars were delivered
to customers, a 25% increase on the first half
of 2012. In China, 817 cars were delivered to
customers, a 23% decrease, which reflects
anticipation of the new Flying Spur, the top
selling Bentley in China, which becomes
available later this year. The Middle East
region performed well with deliveries up 28%
to 394 cars and Asia Pacific increased its
deliveries by 53% to 222 cars.
Marc Jacobs to leave Louis
Vuitton
M
arc Jacobs is to leave French fashion
brand Louis Vuitton after 16 years as
creative director. The New York-based
designer, who has been credited with
transforming the brand from a traditional
luggage firm to one of the best-known luxury
brands in the world, is to take his own brand
public in the next three years.
LVMH, which owns the Louis Vuitton brand
and acquired a majority stake in Marc Jacobs
in 1997, has signed a deal with the designer
and has committed itself to helping out with
the label’s initial public offering.
LVMH chief executive, Bernard Arnault, said:
“When we started together, Marc Jacobs was
a tiny business of around $20 million. Now
the totality of sales is approaching $1 billion.
It has been enormous growth.”
The Louis Vuitton brand notched up
revenues of ¤7 billion ($9.5 billion) in 2012,
accounting for more than 50% of LVMH’s
operating profits. However, in April the brand
posted its weakest leathergoods and fashion
sales since 2009.
Reports suggest Louis Vuitton may be close
to appointing Nicolas Ghesquière, who
previously served as a designer at Balenciaga,
part of the Gucci Group, to replace Mr Jacobs.
The brand has already appointed Darren
Spaziani, who has worked with both designers
in the past, to develop a high-end accessories
range.
Muirhead showcases aviation
leather at US expo
S
cottish tanning company Muirhead
showcased its latest aviation leathers at
the Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas 2013 in
Seattle, Washington, from October 1-3.
Having recently provided leather for
Singapore Airlines’ business class cabins, the
expo provided plenty of networking
opportunities and new orders for the
company.
Muirhead recently completed extensive
expansion work at its laboratory facilities in
Glasgow and appointed Dr Raymond Gosland
to lead the operation as technical director.
Exporting to more than 60 countries,
Muirhead supplies the automotive, marine
and contract furnishing sectors and is the
largest supplier of leather to the global
aviation industry, working with more than
130 airlines and aircraft manufacturers.
Brands that currently use its high-