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Fashion and luxury retailers had a lot going on this week. While some were rethinking their international retail strategies, others were meeting demand with new supply. Meanwhile, a pair of sneakers was sold for a very pretty penny.
Hermes is making more Kellys
Come rain or come shine, it seems like a lot of people always want the Kelly bag. And finally, Hermes appears to be listening, ramping up production of the iconic bag after years of high demand.
The luxury retailer has just opened a new leather goods manufacturing facility in Normandy, and also plans to double its current roster of 140 skilled leather artisans within four years. (Creating a single Kelly bag, btw, takes between 14 and 20 hours.)
Burberry’s China play
Burberry appointed Chinese actor Chen Kun as its first Chinese global ambassador in two years. The 47-year-old actor has a longstanding relationship with the luxury label going back to 2011, and he has also attended several of the brand’s shows.
The announcement marks an important step toward Burberry’s reconciliation with the Chinese market after the brand faced backlash from Chinese consumers, influencers, and companies for banning the use of Xinjiang cotton in March 2021.
Air Jordans broke a Sotheby’s record
Sotheby’s brought the hammer down on a record-breaking sale on Tuesday, thanks to a certain pair of Air Jordans. The Michael Jordan 1998 NBA Finals Game 2 Air Jordan 13s sold for a whopping $2.2 million. While Sotheby’s had already priced the sneakers within the $2 to $4 million price range, this marks the highest publicly recorded price for a pair of sneakers. You know, just a casual day out shopping.—JS