• Richard Branson and Ray Dalio Have No Tolerance for Office Gossip: Why Some Billionaires Are Willing to Fire Employees Over It

  Men who gossip about their colleagues behind their backs could be putting their careers at risk. A new study by the University of Iowa and the University of New Mexico has found that men who gossip are perceived as less competent and are less likely to be seen as leadership material than women who engage in exactly the same behavior....

• Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult Join the Race to Become the Next James Bond

  Two more A-list actors have entered the race to play the next James Bond: Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult. According to Variety, both British stars have screen-tested for the role of the legendary 007...

• Lavish Birthday at Taxpayers’ Expense: Ivanka Trump’s Security in Morocco Cost $93,000

  American taxpayers may have been left footing a bill of nearly $100,000 to provide security for Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka during her lavish trip to Morocco for her 45th birthday. According to newly released federal records, accommodation for Secret Service agents at five-star hotels alone cost the government $93,000...

• Jessica Simpson’s Sexual Renaissance: 46-Year-Old Star Is Head Over Heels for Younger Boyfriend

  Jessica Simpson, 46, is enjoying a romantic renaissance. Following her painful split from husband Eric Johnson, the singer has found happiness with 33-year-old Nashville musician Thomas Eisenhood. According to sources close to the couple, their relationship is heating up, and Simpson is embracing what one insider describes as a “new, sexier chapter” of her life, the Daily Mail reports...

• Bridgerton Star Sabrina Bartlett Marries Businessman Lachie Stewart in Romantic Tuscan Wedding

  British actress Sabrina Bartlett, 35, best known for her role in Netflix’s Bridgerton, has married her longtime partner, businessman Lachie Stewart, in a romantic ceremony in Tuscany...

• Khloe Kardashian’s Ex-Husband Makes More Than $50,000 on OnlyFans in Just Eight Days

  Lamar Odom, the 47-year-old former NBA star and ex-husband of reality TV personality Khloe Kardashian, has revealed an impressive payday from OnlyFans. The basketball veteran reportedly made more than $50,000 within just eight days of joining the platform...

• Meghan Markle’s Father Led Away in Handcuffs From Nursing Home: He Faces Up to 20 Years in Prison in Child Sexual Abuse Material Case

  Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, has been arrested in Florida on charges of possessing child sexual abuse material. The elderly man, who uses a wheelchair following the amputation of one of his legs, was led away from a nursing home in handcuffs by FBI agents. He faces up to 20 years in prison...

• Kering’s Creative Shake-Up: Pierpaolo Piccioli Exits Balenciaga After Two Other Designers Leave

  French luxury group Kering has announced the departure of Pierpaolo Piccioli as creative director of Balenciaga. The designer spent less than 18 months at the fashion house, presenting just four collections, including his debut couture line in July 2026. His successor is expected to be announced shortly...

When Bernard Arnault, one of the world’s richest people and chairman of LVMH, visited Shanghai in September, many expected a routine tour of Louis Vuitton, Dior, and other group boutiques in the city’s luxury malls. Instead, Arnault took a surprising turn: he shopped at Chinese brands, Bloomberg reports.

At the new Qiantan Taikoo Li mall, he visited Songmont, a minimalist leather goods brand, purchasing two handbags. He also stopped by Laopu Gold, a local jewelry brand neighboring Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, spending about 30 minutes and calling the pieces “refined” and “interesting.”

This move was symbolic: the head of the company that helped shape modern luxury is now showing interest in brands that could define the future of China’s luxury market.

Chinese Brands on the Rise

China’s economic slowdown has dampened demand for foreign luxury brands, while local labels are gaining traction. Online platforms have fueled their growth: over the past two years, five Chinese brands in handbags, apparel, fragrances, cosmetics, and jewelry have outpaced seven foreign competitors in sales growth.

• Laopu Gold’s online sales jumped over 1,000% in the first three quarters compared to two years ago.

• Songmont handbags grew around 90%, while Gucci’s online sales in China fell by more than 50%, and Michael Kors by 40%.

On Tmall, China’s largest e-commerce platform, some domestic brands now outperform foreign competitors in revenue: in the 12 months through October, Laopu Gold sold $630 million, Van Cleef & Arpels $57 million, and Mao Geping $125 million, more than double Bobbi Brown’s sales.

Storytelling Over Price

Chinese brands focus on brand universe and storytelling, rather than just pricing. Songmont draws on Eastern aesthetics and calligraphy, while perfume brand To Summer uses traditional ingredients like tea, osmanthus, and dried orange peel. ICICLE channels Confucian ideals of harmony and restraint.

This approach is particularly effective online: Songmont launched a podcast about urban women’s lives, emphasizing self-respect and diverse values rather than social status.

Challenges and Outlook

Despite impressive growth, Chinese brands still hold a small market share. Major Western labels account for about 63% of China’s personal luxury market. Economic headwinds could slow expansion, as luxury growth depends on rising incomes and an expanding middle class.

Still, local brands are beginning to attract global buyers, with younger consumers seeking unique products tailored to their cultural context rather than just Western logos.

The Chinese luxury market is evolving: domestic brands are delivering quality, cultural identity, and growing popularity, while foreign labels face slower demand. As consumers become more selective, the future of luxury in China is increasingly homegrown.

Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram