The China Edit | Hong Kong Protests, Zara and Alibaba, Ports 1961

The China Edit is a weekly curation of the most important fashion business news and analysis from and about the world’s largest luxury market.

"Hong Kong Protests Impact Golden Week Luxury Sales" (Bloomberg) “Imagine a Christmas shopping season with closed stores and customers stranded because cabs are nowhere in sight. For retailers of Fendi bags and Rolex watches in Hong Kong, pro-democracy protests wreak havoc during one of the busiest times of the year, the China National Day holidays known as Golden Week.”

“Zara Partly Cedes China Web Control to Alibaba to Aid Growth” (Bloomberg) “Since opening its first website four years ago, Inditex SA (ITX) has maintained full control of online sales for its flagship brand Zara. To gain a stronger foothold in China, the Spanish retailer plans to partially cede both oversight of the chain’s Web sales and a share of its profit.”

“Ports Fashion Looks for Haven from China Storm in Europe” (Business Insider) “Ports 1961, the designer subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Chinese fashion retailer Ports Design Ltd., is poised for 'substantial growth' in Europe after completing an Italian makeover, according to chief executive Salem Cibani.”

“Big Shift in China Economy To ‘Disrupt’ Western Retailers” (Reuters) “China's role in supplying cheap consumer goods to the West could end in coming years due to rising domestic consumption and worker pay, stoking inflation and unsettling retailers in Western markets, the chairman of logistics group Li & Fung warned.”