European Fashion System: An Unfinished Puzzle Amidst Luxury's New Realities
Beginning September 22, Milan will host 61 runway shows over a span of 15 days, while Paris will present 101, prompting inquiries about market absorption. The European fashion sector supports approximately 400,000 jobs. Notable luxury brands such as LVMH, Kering, and Chanel have experienced minor reductions in workforce due to diminishing demand, especially from China. By the end of 2025, LVMH's employee count fell to 214,000 from over 215,000. Kering employed 43,731, Richemont had 38,896, and Chanel reported 37,984. In the first half of 2026, LVMH's fashion sales increased by 1% to €8.89 billion. Kering achieved €7.22 billion, Hermès €8.2 billion, and Richemont €6.3 billion. Japan leads in sales, surpassing China, as brands aim at new billionaires in Asia, the UAE, and the US.
Key facts
- Milan will host 61 shows and presentations from September 22 for 15 days; Paris will have 101.
- European fashion industry employs about 400,000 people.
- LVMH closed 2025 with 214,000 employees, down from 215,000.
- LVMH first-half 2026 sales: fashion and leather goods up 1% to €8.89 billion.
- Kering first-half 2026 revenues: €7.22 billion, up 1% at constant scope.
- Hermès first-half 2026: €8.2 billion, up 6% at constant exchange rates.
- Richemont first-quarter fiscal 2027: €6.3 billion, up 20% at constant exchange rates, jewelry up 24%.
- Prada Group first-half 2026: €3.048 billion, up 16%.
- Moncler first-half 2026: €1.3 billion, up 9% at constant exchange rates.
- Brunello Cucinelli first-half 2026: €749.4 million, up 9.5% at current exchange rates.
- LVMH's Les Journées Particulières: October 16-18, 2026, opening 65 sites in 11 countries.
- Chanel's 19M campus houses 700 artisans.
- Brunello Cucinelli's School of High Craftsmanship founded in 2013 in Solomeo.
Entities
Artists
- Jonathan Anderson
- Bernard Arnault
- Antoine Arnault
- Luca de Meo
- Axel Dumas
- Aldo Premoli
Institutions
- Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana
- Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode
- LVMH
- Kering
- Chanel
- Richemont
- Hermès
- Prada Group
- Moncler Group
- Brunello Cucinelli
- Armani Group
- Fashion Revolution
- Made in carcere
- Vogue World
- UBS
- Bain & Company
- Altagamma
- McKinsey & Company
- Louis Vuitton
- Dior
- Gucci
- Saint Laurent
- Bottega Veneta
- Loro Piana
- Rimowa
- Tiffany & Co.
- Bulgari
- Cartier
- Van Cleef & Arpels
- Buccellati
- Vacheron Constantin
- Piaget
- Boucheron
- Pomellato
- Qeelin
- DoDo
- Miu Miu
- Church's
- Car Shoe
- Versace
- Marchesi 1824
- Stone Island
- Alaia
- Chloé
- Lemaire
- Toteme
- Our Legacy
- Studio Nicholson
- Giuliva Heritage
- 19M
- Scuola di Alto Artigianato Contemporaneo per le Arti e i Mestieri
- Artribune
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Paris
- France
- China
- Japan
- Asia
- Europe
- United States
- Middle East
- India
- South Korea
- Indonesia
- Singapore
- United Arab Emirates
- Solomeo
- Rome
- Venice
- Tuscany
- Piedmont
- Veneto
- Switzerland
- Africa