Retail sales rose much more than expected in April with most sectors doing well, suggesting that consumer spending is holding up despite the recession.

Japanese equity fund Unison Capital on Monday 25 May raised its planned offer for shares in wig maker Aderans Holdings by 20 percent, making the bid at least 17.6 billion yen ($186 million).

According to the Wall Street Journal, the CEO of the Italian fashion house Versace – Giancarlo Di Risio – could present his resignation at a board meeting on the 25th of May.

Meeting on the 14th of May in Paris, the ‘Comité de Direction de la Chambre syndicale de la Haute Couture’ elected new invited members to this year’s haute couture schedule. These invitees include a return for the Alexandre Matthieu creative duo.

Halston has entrusted its artistic direction to Marios Schwab. The graduate of Central Saint Martin’s College of Art & Design, owner of his own label since 2005, will head up the the design team, working on items from designer shoes to a line of handbags.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc has defered the launch of its first cash-and-carry store in India, after riots in the northern Punjab state following an attack on a Sikh temple in the Austrian capital Vienna on Sunday 24 May.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton called on guests at an amfAR AIDS research charity gala in France to give more to good causes during the recession.

South Africa unveiled a plan on Thursday 21 May to help the struggling textile sector, a key employer, to better compete with cheap Chinese imports.

Sales at Italian department store chain Gruppo Coin SpA fell slightly year-on-year in the three months to April, as rain kept customers at home, although the trend changed in May, its top executive said on Monday 25 May.

Italian clothing retailer Stefanel SpA named Luciano Santel as its managing director on Monday 25 May, he will take over by September.

Italian financial police have notified Dolce & Gabbana of steps to recover taxes on what the designer duo described as a "completely abstract" 800 million euros ($1.12 billion).

Italian fashion house Versace on Monday 25 May denied news reports there was friction between design head Donatella Versace and Chief Executive Giancarlo Di Risio. Newspapers have speculated about Di Risio possibly leaving the company.

“My Adidas”, so went the lyrics by Run DMC in 1986. “Homeboy, got 50 pair", proclaimed the emblematic rap group. More than a panegyric, it was a merchandising feat which allowed Adidas to become a symbol of hip-hop culture

In Notting Hill, in the windows of 186 Westbourne Grove, a man-sized Eiffel Tower takes pride of place sporting the Union Jack. The reason? To remind people that under an anglicised name hides one of the most Parisian brands in ready-to-wear clothing.

Despite a growth of 8.5% in sales in the Asia-Pacific region, Esprit has seen its revenue drop in total by 2.1% in the past year.