UK consumer confidence isn’t just on the up again, it’s reached a new two-year high as personal finances improve, especially among 25-34 year-olds. But that isn’t necessarily feeding through to spending habits.

Well-known for its perfumes and candles, Diptyque has opened a store on rue Duphot in Paris, displaying its collections and offering customisation and workshops. This premium concept is about to be launched in London.

Hardware stores, furniture shops, and clothing stores all reported a rise in sales, but these gains were offset by falling food sales and in department stores where retailers say higher prices hit trading.”

London-based Trouva has yet another new owner. The platform for independent boutiques and brands has been acquired by Fy! for an undisclosed sum.

Fashion, accessories and homewares retailer Oliver Bonas is set to open a 3,000 sq ft store within the Touchwood shopping centre in Solihull.

The two luxury brands, along with the Italian retailer, are making a name for themselves at this year's Milan Design Week with some particularly original and environmentally-friendly projects.

LVMH’s first-quarter results brought reassuring signs that wealthy Chinese shoppers are splashing out on luxury items — just not in China.

Supermarket giant Asda’s reinvigorated fashion and lifestyle brand George has capped a strong six-month trading period with “soaring growth” recorded both online and in-store.

​Harvey Nichols has faced tough conditions in recent years but it’s now hoping for better times ahead with the announcement of a new CEO from one of luxury's major labels.

These esteemed fashion houses are collaborating with Gio Ponti, Cini Boeri, Gae Aulenti, Portaluppi, and Le Corbusier, to reinterpret their classic designs in luxurious new forms at the Milan Furniture Fair.

On the first day of Milan Design Week, FashionNetwork.com met Massimiliano Ferrari, CEO of Corporate Brand Maison, who talked about the new initiatives and ambitious projects of Elie Saab’s home interiors line.

​Schuh has taken a deeper dive into circularity in a link-up with Vintage Threads, launching a reworked collection that features shoe parts transformed into clothing and other products.

The new Fendi Casa project, launched in 2021, is starting to bear fruit. In 2023, the Roman luxury label's furniture line doubled its revenue, and is now commercialised via over 50 retailers worldwide.

While Easter remains a major shopping event on the retail calendar, this year’s four-day holiday (29 March-1 April) was a particularly strong one, given cost of living restraints. 

The Italian label is multiplying its projects in the region, where it already has around forty points of sale, notably by strengthening its presence in Saudi Arabia, with new boutiques and a café in Riyadh.

​The annual Innovation in Wool Awards is back and the 2024 edition comes with an impressive prize pot of £30,000.