Fendi Opens Children’s Store in Kuwait City

Luxury brand Fendi has unveiled its first kids’ store in Kuwait City. The Fendi Kids Store, located in the Avenues Shopping Mall, is “an adorable and cosy space carrying collections from the newborn to kids.”

Fendi opened its first freestanding children’s store in Hong Kong in September 2011, and the concept has exploded around the world with boutiques in Rome, Prague, Jeddah, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong and Doha having opened up. There are additional locations within the Harrods department store in London, at Paris’s Galeries Lafayette, and at Milan’s La Rinascente.

Children’s luxury is a growing sector. This September Canadian designers DSquared² are set to unveil their debut collection, while fellow Milanese label Roberto Cavalli already has a successful Junior line.

Gucci, Stella McCartney, Dolce & Gabbana and Burberry have also entered children’s wear as brands have recognized the value of dressing the next generation of luxury consumers as early as possible.

Bentley and Vintage Team up for $1200 James Bond Book

Bentley Motors and Vintage Classics are partnering for a 500-copy limited run of James Bond debut “Casino Royale,” pricing the leather-cased copies at £750 (about $1200) apiece.

The Bentley link is in reference to James Bond’s affinity for the performance cars, and Random House furnishes the limited edition accordingly.

Its hand-bound beluga leather case comes from the same tannery as Bentley’s interiors, the metal spine is reminiscent of Bentleys tread plates, and a secret compartment hides a set of playing cards.

The Bentley edition of “Casino Royale” is to go on sale from November 1, with orders being taken via telephone numbers available from Fleming’s official website.

Aston Martin to relaunch Lagonda brand

Lagonda, the sportscar company bought by Aston Martin some 66 years ago, is to get a new lease of life as its parent company looks to boost sales and break into other premium car markets.

Speaking to Drive, Aston Martin’s CEO, Dr. Ulrich Bez, said: “I am confident in the future we will see a Lagonda on the road,” but indicated that the first new cars to carry Lagonda branding probably won’t be making an appearance for at least five years.

Aston Martin has been toying with the idea for some time and in 2009 showcased a Lagonda concept SUV at the Geneva Motor Show (pictured above). However, that was when the company was still under Ford’s ownership and had unfettered access to the US automaker’s parts bins and R&D facilities.

Since regaining its independence, Aston Martin has struggled in the face of increasing competition from Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, McLaren and Mercedes and its most recent accounts show that while the rest of the motoring industry is in rude health, it actually made a loss over the past 12 months.

Aston needs to reinvigorate its line-up and it needs to innovate if it is to continue to compete with the best of the rest, and a partnership with Mercedes Benz AMG, is a very big step in the right direction. Breaking into the growing luxury SUV market seems to be another key step to profitability.

Let’s hope for Aston Martin’s sake that the resulting car is nothing like the last Lagonda-branded vehicle the company built.

The Aston Martin Lagonda, which launched in 1974 (immediately after coming out of bankruptcy) was throughout its 16-year lifespan the world’s most expensive production car. As well as being one of the most costly cars ever built, it was also one of the most technologically advanced, using TV screens rather than dashboard dials and a computerized engine management system.

As such it was incredibly unreliable and thanks to the complexities of the construction process took up to three years to reach each perspective owner.

In all, just 645 were produced and during that time the car won a host of unwanted accolades including an appearance on the Time magazine list of “The 50 Worst Cars of All Time.”

Victoria Beckham wants to create fashion empire

Victoria Beckham, the one-time pop star who is now one of the most courted designers at the upcoming New York Fashion Week, says she has even bigger plans for her eponymous brand.

“I want to get bigger and bigger,” the former Spice Girl told the New York Times ahead of the unveiling of her spring-summer 2014 collection during fashion week. ”I absolutely want an empire.”

Beckham, who was once only famous for her stint as Posh Spice and as the wife of David Beckham, has come into her own since her first runway show in New York in 2008 took the fashion world by surprise.

Beckham designs clothes she would want to wear herself, from chic, ultra-flattering dresses to her current fall line of masculine-influenced coats and body-skimming skirts and trousers.

She has also branched out into sunglasses, handbags and denim, and her main Victoria Beckham label is expanding rapidly in Asia.

Beckham has also created a new, more-affordable diffusion line, Victoria, which is more casual and colorful to appeal to a younger market. ”I want to reach as many women throughout the world as I can.”

“There are more categories that I want to enter into. I have five categories at the moment. But at some point I would love to do shoes, I would love to do fragrance, I would love to do makeup, I would like to do underwear. There are so many things I want to do.”

Giorgio Armani stars in his own campaign

The famous Italian designer has decided to cast and photograph himself in an advert for his bespoke tailoring line. While he doesn’t seem too camera shy, like most designers, Giorgio Armani has in the past usually chosen someone else to model his clothes.

This time around though, the 79-year-old billionaire designer has chosen to steal the limelight for his new Made-to-Measure campaign, appearing in a black and white shot that he took himself.

“I like the idea of being its testimonial, wearing a jacket and a tie and presenting myself with a different image from the one people normally associate me with,” Armani told WWD.

Launched in 2006, the bespoke Made-to-Measure is focussed on what Armani calls “sartorial attention”. The campaign launches later this month alongside a new dedicated website which will allow customers to book tailoring appointments and explore the fabric, cut and finish options on the clothes.

Kate Hudson launches fitness fashion line

American actress Kate Hudson has cofounded a new fitness fashion line that launched Tuesday in partnership with shopping website JustFab.

Fabletics is said to be inspired by the star’s own personal wardrobe and active lifestyle. Hudson is reportedly a fan of Pilates, spinning, and yoga.

“The most exciting part about cofounding this line is creating looks and pieces for every woman and every body type; things women can feel good in all day,” Hudson said. “At Fabletics, we believe all women should be able to have hip styles and amazing quality at prices that won’t break the bank.”

Fabletics’ pieces include workout essentials such as sports bras, shorts, leggings, and tanks. The collection focuses on easy-to-wear layering pieces, such as jackets and hoodies, “buttery soft” tees and long-sleeved tops, cardigan wraps, and scarves. Items ship to the US and Canada only.

Lara Stone named the new face of L’Oreal Paris

Just ahead of turning 30, the Dutch supermodel has joined the prestigious ranks of international beauty icons representing L’Oréal Paris.

With her perfect figure, intense gaze, and immediately recognizable smile, Lara Stone has a distinctive beauty that has appealed to fashion and beauty brands across the board.

Over the course of a few years, the young mother has emerged from the ranks of fashion models to become a true style icon, so it’s no surprise that L’Oréal Paris has chosen her as the face of its next makeup, skincare and hair care product campaigns.

“Lara is a true modern icon. Her sensual, edgy, and rebellious beauty has made her as strong as she is talented. And nonetheless, she remains sincere, real, sensitive and funny. I love her iconoclastic style, which makes her stand out on all the runways” said Cyril Chapuy President of L’Oréal Paris International.

Stone has thus joined the elite group of the French brand’s ambassadors, including Doutzen Kroes, Eva Longoria, Inès de la Fressange, Beyoncé, and Freida Pinto.

Discovered at age 12, Lara Stone has walked the runways for some of the world’s most prestigious fashion labels, including Chanel, Prada, 

Extended Range Rover

The first official long-wheelbase SUV to be offered by the company for 20 years will be officially unveiled at the Dubai motor show in November alongside the Range Rover Autobiography Black bespoke specification package.

The standard Range Rover is not exactly small, nor does it lack for creature comforts or exclusivity. However, the new model has been specifically designed to cater to what the company calls a “growing group of consumers looking for the ultimate SUV.”

As such it will offer rear passengers an extra 140mm of leg room and seats that recline to 17°, a panoramic sunroof and powered side door blinds for enhanced privacy. Adding to this sense of luxury and all-around vehicular wellbeing is the Autobiography Black specification.

Ticking that particular option box will bestow the long-wheelbase SUV with a unique seat cover design inspired by first-class travel — it features a number of massage settings and 18-points of adjustability — and built around a center console complete with electrically operated leather-covered tables, a chiller compartment to keep the champagne at exactly the right temperature, and all of the multimedia connectivity ports that modern life demands.

Completing the effect are two 10.2-inch screens, mounted to the backs of the front seats, a Meridian Audio system and cabin mood lighting with 10 different settings.

From the outside, the only hints of this exclusivity will be a choice of four two-color paint finishes, specially designed side and front grilles, redesigned rear lights, plus a choice of 7-spoke 21-inch or 22-inch wheels with a high-gloss polished finish, both of which are exclusive to the model.

Banksy sells art for $60 in New York

World-famous British street artist Banksy flogged original canvases for just $60 in Central Park over the weekend as part of a month-long residency in New York.

While his work can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars, his website announced that minimal interest and sluggish sales resulted in takings of just $420.

The stall was set up on day 13 of his pop-up exhibition in New York, announced each day on the website www.banksyny.com and posted to his instagram account.

The England-based graffiti maestro, who has never been formally identified, has promised to unveil a new piece of art on each day of the month somewhere in the city.

Banksy said the stall was a one-off that would not open again, likely to disappoint fans crushed at missing the chance to snap up an affordable original.

The white canvases with black spray-painted images were advertised for $60 each with another sign that said: “this is not a photo opportunity.”

A short video showed the vendor — wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap — yawning, then munching on his lunch to pass the time before the first sale at 3:30 pm.

A woman who bought two small canvases for her children, but only after negotiating a 50 percent discount. Half an hour later, a woman from New Zealand bought two. A man from Chicago then bought four to decorate his new house. By 6:00 pm, total takings for the day were $420.

Banksy’s stencilled designs, known for their irreverent humor and political activism, have propelled him from a graffiti rebel to reluctant star. He has spoken out against the exorbitant sums paid for his art and invites people to download photographs of his work for free from his website.

Send a video poem to friends with Van Cleef & Arpels

Like Burberry last summer with its digital kisses, French jewelry-maker Van Cleef & Arpels is aligning internet technology, luxury products and sentimental messages in a new campaign.

Through a dedicated website, fans of the brand can create an eight-second video poem on the theme of luck, send it to a friend, and register to win a trip to the opening of the Van Cleef & Arpels flagship store in New York.

The “8 Seconds of Luck” website draws inspiration from the famous maxim of Jacques Arpels, nephew to the company’s founder, who declared that “to have luck, you must believe in luck.”

Visitors to the website choose three elements that will determine the content of their video: a precious stone or metal, a line of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry and a short quote. Or, for those who like to leave things to chance, click on “Believe in Luck” to have the three elements chosen randomly.

Users then write a message to accompany their video. After clicking “Create,” users see an eight-second video with a varied assortment of pleasant images, followed by the message. The video can then be saved and sent to loved ones. Through October 23, users can also register for the sweepstakes to attend the Van Cleef & Arpels New York flagship opening.

A fun way to connect with friends and family, the site also offers a chance to become acquainted with Van Cleef & Arpels’ jewelry, and particularly with the Alhambra and Perlée lines.

New reality series to send winner into space

In what’s being described as a partnership of titans, Sir Richard Branson has teamed up with reality TV czar Mark Burnett for a new series that will send the winner into space.

In line with Burnett’s wildly successful TV franchise “Amazing Race,” “Space Race” will take the concept of cross-planetary treasure hunts to new heights and give an ‘everyday person’ a seat aboard Branson’s Virgin Galactic spaceship.

“Virgin Galactic’s mission is to democratize space, eventually making commercial space travel affordable and accessible to all,” said Sir Richard Branson in a statement.

“‘Space Race’ allows us to extend this opportunity of a lifetime to as many people as possible right at the start of our commercial service – through direct experience and television viewing.”

The competitive elimination show will take place in the commercial spaceline’s home at Spaceport America in New Mexico, the departure point and training and preparation center for space flights.

The series is being produced by American broadcaster NBC.

Christopher Bailey gets CEO job at Burberry

The Burberry designer, one of the key players behind the brand’s success, has been promoted to the role of CEO after the announcement of the departure of Angela Ahrendts for Apple in mid-2014.

Sales have doubled under American-born Ahrendts during her eight years with the brand, which have seen the London-based luxury label grow to one of the fashion world’s biggest names.

Burberry is renowned for its tech-friendly physical and online stores, link-ups with emerging musical talent, and innovative digital-heavy shows.

After arriving at Burberry in 2001, Bailey now joins an elite group of designers who occupy both CEO and creative director roles. Ralph Lauren, the chairman and CEO at his namesake label, also still runs the design teams, while fellow silver-haired fashion fox Giorgio Armani is currently chief designer, president and CEO of the Armani Group, as well as the sole shareholder of Giorgio Armani S.p.A.

So the big questions for consumers remain: what will Christopher Bailey change at Burberry, and what is Apple cooking up? The first question is difficult to answer.

Has Bailey been hired as a safe pair of hands, due to his inside-out knowledge of the company, or does he have new ideas for a shake-up which could see new product lines hitting stores in 2014?

The Apple question seems easier. With a series of big hires from the fashion world (earlier this year Apple pinched Yves Saint Laurent CEO Paul Deneve), it looks like Apple is about to move further into the world of wearable tech.

Recent smartwatch efforts by Samsung and Sony have been derided for “unfashionable” designs, and Apple will be hoping it can foster more of a luxurious image around any future devices.

Galeries Lafayette returns to China after 15 years

France’s luxury department store Galeries Lafayette Friday launched a new shop in Beijing, seeking to tempt China with the “art of French living”, 15 years after a failed attempt.

The entrance to the 47,000-square metre (506-square foot), six-storey shop, intended as bridgehead in the world’s second-largest economy, is emblazoned with an Eiffel Tower.

The name the store has chosen as its Chinese transliteration — “Laofoye” — was historically a title of respect for the mother of the emperor during the Qing Dynasty.

Galeries Lafayette is targeting China’s middle class, with the economy the fastest-growing in the G20 and demand for luxury goods rising, despite a knock from a government crackdown on corruption.

The chain’s showpiece outlet on Paris’ Boulevard Haussmann is a top target for Chinese tourists visiting France — their favourite European destination — and the Beijing version includes a reproduction of its trademark glass dome, made up of LEDs.

With oak floors and distinctive French-style mouldings, the Beijing version looks to distinguish itself from the Chinese capital’s many malls and offers “a whole range of products with prices going from accessible to premium”, Philippe Houze, chairman of the Galeries Lafayette group, told reporters.

“Above all, we are a fashion retailer, and we want to reach customers who are not necessarily hugely rich, as well as fashionistas and the wealthy,” he added.

Its first attempt at establishing itself in the Chinese capital, a franchised outlet, opened in 1996 but closed less than two years later.

Galeries Lafayette has invested 42 million euros in the new joint venture with Hong Kong fashion distributor IT, and they are aiming to open around 15 outlets in China. The Beijing store is Galeries Lafayette’s fifth shop outside France, following Berlin, Casablanca, Dubai, and Jakarta.

Tom Ford readies men’s grooming line

Designer and movie director Tom Ford lifts the lid on his debut men’s grooming line with a short film featuring Cuban male model Juan Betancourt.

“I believe that taking care of one’s self adds quality to life, and that looking the best you can is a show of respect to those around you,” explains the designer in the video.

Set for release on November 1, the line is composed of six multi-functional products designed to purify, calm and revitalize skin.

These include face cleanser ($48), oil-free moisturizer ($105), anti-fatigue eye treatment ($75), hydrating lip balm ($60), purifying mud mask ($60), and a skin revitalizing concentrate ($150).

Interestingly, the designer has also unveiled two men’s makeup products — a bronzer ($48) and a concealer ($40) which comes in three shades to match different skin tones.

Could Tom Ford be the man to make men’s touch-up go mainstream? It’s certainly an effective way to help cover up tired skin and blemishes.

Designed for the man on the go, the line has been been tailored to Ford’s own needs: “Tom Ford For Men is based on my own personal grooming regiment.

It’s born from my deep conviction that fine grooming doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. It should be simple, straightforward and intuitive,” added the designer.

First photo of the iPhone 5S in ‘champagne’

TechCrunch has published the first photos of the iPhone wearing its new shiny coat. In addition to the traditional black and white, Apple’s next smartphone will reportedly be available in a pale gold color.

In addition to the traditional black and white models, the forthcoming iPhone 5S could also be available in a flashier version, all in gold, according to American tech specialist website TechCrunch.

Apple’s new smartphone will be presented on September 10, most likely alongside a more affordable version of the device, dubbed the iPhone 5C.

According to these rumors, Apple may introduce a new “champagne” color to the iPhone range. The shimmery gold shade is said to be easily obtained by anodizing the smartphone’s aluminum casing.

Well-heeled Apple fans can already purchase iPhones made of solid gold, or even encrusted with diamonds, through brands such as Amosu or Goldgenie, for several thousand euros, but the “champagne” iPhone would present a more affordable alternative for fans of metallic colors.

Readers of TechCrunch commented that an iPhone with a gold case would likely sell particularly well in the Chinese and Indian markets, where the color is popular.

Donatella is not a fan of Lifetime’s ‘House of Versace’

Set to debut at 10pm ET this Saturday, “House of Versace” already looks to become a camp cult classic with its mix of dramatic dialogue and over-the-top costumes.

Gina Gershon stars as Donatella Versace, alongside Raquel Welch, in a story exploring the struggles of the Italian fashion house in the years surrounding Gianni Versace‘s 1997 murder.

Still, the TV movie, which is based on Deborah Ball’s 2010 book “House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder and Survival,” hasn’t received a particularly warm welcome from the designer:

“Versace has neither authorized nor had any involvement whatsoever in the forthcoming TV movie about Mrs. Versace,” the brand told WWD. “Since Versace did not authorize the book on which it is based, the movie should only be seen as a work of fiction,” the company added.

The US channel is following up the premiere of the film with a screening of “Versace: Beyond the Headlines,” an hour-long documentary exploring the origins of Gianni Versace and the birth of one of the biggest fashion brands in the world.

Joel Robuchon to open next restaurant in Bordeaux

Next summer, Joel Robuchon will open a gourmet restaurant and hotel in Bordeaux, France in partnership with wine magnate Bernard Magrez.

The chef whose Michelin star count stands at a whopping 28 signed a property development agreement for the future home of “L’Hôtel de Bernard Magrez – Joël Robuchon Restaurant.”

The establishment, aiming to attract high-end tourists, will have six suites, a gourmet restaurant with around 50 tables, and a more relaxed and affordable “lounge” area, where diners can pay between €35 and €40 for a main course and a glass of wine.

Considering its setting in one of the world’s most prestigious wine capitals, in addition to the participation of wine magnate Bernard Magrez, the restaurant is bound to turn the spotlight on sublime food and wine pairings.

Four of the wine estates owned by Magrez in the Bordeaux region bear the “grand cru classé” designation for wines of extraordinary quality: Château Pape Clément, Château La Tour Carnet, Château Fombrauge, and Le Clos Haut-Peyraguey.

“The restaurant will be luxurious but without extravagance or pretentious ceremony; one will feel at home there. In terms of the kitchen, which will be staffed by a team of 30 people, we will place the accent on local ‘terroir’ ingredients and bring the best out of them,” Joël Robuchon says.

The restaurant aims to earn a three-star Michelin rating. Currently, there are no restaurants bearing the coveted three-star distinction in the Bordeaux region.

The hotel and restaurant will move into a 1900 private mansion located on the Rue de Tivoli, across from the Château Labottière, home to the Bernard Magrez Cultural Institute.

Sharapova tops Forbes rich list of female athletes

Tennis stars dominated the list of the world’s 10 best-paid female athletes, Forbes magazine said on Tuesday, but highlighted the yawning earnings gap with their male counterparts in most sports.

Russia’s Maria Sharapova headed the list, published on forbes.com, earning a total of $29 million (£18.9 million, 21.9 million euros) between June 2012 and June this year.

Tennis took the top four positions, with world number one Serena Williams of the U.S. second ($20.5 million), China’s Li Na third ($18.2 million) and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus fourth ($15.7 million).

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark was in seventh ($13.6 million), followed by Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland ($7.4 million) and Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic ($7 million).

US Nascar driver Danica Patrick, South Korean figure skater Kim Yuna and American golfer Paula Creamer, were the only non-tennis stars in the top 10.

But the business magazine said disparities remained between men and women in terms of earnings in sport. World number one golfer Tiger Woods, for example, was the highest-paid athlete on the planetwith earnings of $78 million in the 12 months between June 1, 2012 and June 1 this year.

Los Angeles Laker basketball star Kobe Bryant will earn $30.5 million next season but the highest salary in the women’s equivalent of the NBA is $107,000.

Park Inbee of South Korea won $585,000 for winning the women’s US Open but men’s winner Justin Rose was awarded $1.4 million, the magazine noted.

Forbes said that there was increasing parity in terms of pay in tennis, after moves in recent years to put prize money on a more equal footing.

Endorsements that come on the back of Grand Slam wins such as Sharapova’s 2012 French Open title dwarf most players’ winnings.

The 26-year-old earned $23 million in endorsements with sportswear manufacturers Head and Nike after her victory at Roland Garros. She has also launched her own brand of sweets, Sugarpova.

Forbes list of the world’s highest-paid female athletes 2013

1. Maria Sharapova (RUS), tennis, $29 million
2. Serena Williams (USA), tennis, $20.5 million
3. Li Na (CHN), tennis, $18.2 million
4. Victoria Azarenka (BLR), tennis, $15.7 million
5. Danica Patrick (USA), Nascar, $15 million
6. Kim Yuna (KOR), figure skating, $14 million
7. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN), tennis, $13.6 million
8. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL), tennis, $7.4 million
9. Ana Ivanovic (SRB), tennis, $7 million
10. Paula Creamer (USA), golf, $5.5 million.

Calvin Klein Platinum unveiled in Hong Kong

Calvin Klein hosted a fashion presentation in Hong Kong on October 24 to celebrate the unveiling of the newly ‘recoded’ Calvin Klein Platinum lines for men and women.

Previously known as CK Calvin Klein, the “bridge” tier for sportswear and accessories has been rethought by the brand’s global creative director Kevin Carrigan.

The rebranding, which was announced in May this year, saw top models Liu Wen, Tilda Lindstam, and Soo Joo Park take to the runway at Shaw Studios to show off the metallic, sporty, minimalist collection.

The event was backdropped by a giant custom structural Mylar screen around 150 feet wide and 20 feet tall, and attendees included Japanese actress and model Tao Okamoto, Hong Kong model Gaile Lai, and blogger Hanneli Mustaparta (the former model helps curate the brand’s tumblr page).

Lonely Planet publishes Great Escapes

From a luxury spa treatment in Bali, to rhino-watching wilderness expeditions and meditative retreats in a monastery in Mallorca, the latest travel guide from Lonely Planet offers globetrotting ideas that promise to help readers reassess, recharge and inspire tired souls.

Organized by theme, desires and interests, Great Escapes includes 75 getaway ideas that span the world and cater to everyone from food lovers and thrill seekers to nature lovers and luxury travelers.

In the luxury travelers category, for example, editors suggest escaping to the cloud forests of Ecuador or embarking on a safari with Indian tigers.

Gourmands may want to consider indulging in their food fantasies chasing cheese and cider in Asturias, Spain, while nature lovers may want to consider sleeping under the stars in Kerala.

Each section includes information for travel planning, activities and recommended reading lists. Themes include culture, romance, food and drink, shoestring, family, wild, party, chill-out, city, and luxe.

Lonely Planet’s Great Escapes is available now and retails for $39.99 USD.

Luanda beats Tokyo as costliest expat city

The Angolan capital Luanda has regained the top spot in an annual survey of the most expensive cities for expatriates, followed by Moscow and Tokyo. The survey by the Mercer consulting group is published annually to help companies assess compensation allowances for expatriate workers.

“Despite being one of Africa’s major oil producers, Angola is a relatively poor country yet expensive for expatriates since imported goods can be costly,” said Barb Marder, a senior partner at Mercer.

“In addition, finding secure living accommodations that meet the standards of expatriates can be challenging and quite costly.”

Moscow’s high costs for rentals and imported goods accounted for its second-place finish, with a luxury unfurnished two-bedroom apartment in Moscow costing $4,600 a month and a cup of coffee $8.29.

Tokyo was the third most-expensive city in the survey, followed by Chad’s capital N’Djamena, Singapore, Hong Kong, Geneva, Zurich, Bern and Sydney.

Market for business jets is expected to grow

The exclusive world of business jets associated with film stars and royalty is showing signs of being on the up as a vital tool for companies and executives.

The Las Vegas business jet show opens today in Las Vegas for three days until Thursday to showcase a sector which is a barometer of both the climate for glitz and the health of international business.

Frustrated by the fixed schedules of regular aviation companies, international businesses are turning to luxury jets as a means of raising, not cutting, their profit margins.

“More than ever private aviation allows company directors to be more competitive and closer to their clients,” said Check Suma, a vice-president for NetJets, the world leader in the sector.

Although the economic crisis still hangs over manufacturers of private jets, after four dark years there are hopes the skies may be clearing.

“Coming out of the crisis is a lengthy, slow process. It is happening but in a rational way,” said Eric Trappier, chief executive of the French group Dassault Aviation speaking before the show.

The business aviation sector was hit badly by the economic crisis in 2008. The market fell by 29.2 percent between 2008 and 2012, according to a study by US analysts Teal Group and it has barely managed to return to the prosperous 2005-2008 period.

Last year the 672 plane orders for private jets in the world was a drop of 49 percent compared to the 2008 peak of 1,315 planes, the aviation organisation Gama said.

In the first quarter of 2013, global deliveries were down by 4.1 percent compared to the same period in 2012, while manufacturers avoided forecasting a date for an upturn.

“Companies are more careful. Their order books have filled up and investment time is coming,” said Trappier, who did not want to estimate when this might happen in the business jet industry.

Aviation equipment-maker Honeywell believes the private jet sector will grow by 3 to 4% in 2013.

For Suma, there are reasons to be quietly hopeful. “We are observing a continuous improvement of the economy, slowly but surely, and as a result business aviation is getting better too. But… growth will depend on a sustainable economic recovery.”

The main obstacle to this, according to aeronautics expert at Oddo Securities Yan Derocles, is the still sluggish macro-economic environment.

“In the next two years economists are not anticipating a strong recovery,” said Derocles, adding that the absorption of the used market is key. “It is a sine qua non condition of the recovery of new plane orders.”

NetJets, financially backed by US millionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, is convinced the market has long-term growth potential.

President of Executive Aviation Market at the Brazilian aerospace conglomerate Embraer, Ernest Edwards, said globalisation has opened up the market, with private aviation less limited now to its traditional pool of clients from the US, Britain, France, Switzerland and Germany.

“Asia, the Middle East and Russia are examples of regions where the demand for private aviation is growing,” Edwards said. In China, India and Russia the number of millionaires increases each year.

In China, according to the Teal Group study, 3,000 people own more than $500 million and there are 130 billionaires.

Teal Group forecast an 11 percent growth this year, followed by four years at around 12 percent. Richard Aboulafia, vice-president of the group, estimated any return to the peak number of orders from 2008 would not happen before 2015.

Miller Harris launches the Perfumer’s Library

The luxurious London-based fragrance company is launching a new set of core scents designed to be mixed and matched.

Le Jasmin, Tuberosa, Veti Vert, La Feuille, and Verger, the five scents which make up the ‘Perfumer’s Library’ collection, were each inspired by a different year in perfumier Lyn Harris’s development.

The collection encompasses two decades of Harris’s pioneering work in the fragrance industry, bringing back natural and traditional ingredients to her concoctions, which are inspired by shifting seasons and varied elements from the natural world.

First up, Le Jasmin is a dewy white floral with fresh Sicilian lemons and bergamot notes. The feminine Tuberosa honors the classic tuberose flower, while Veti Vert is masculine, French and fresh. La Feuille is a fruity, green chypre secent, while Verger was inspired by the crisp, earthy smells of an orchard.

Priced at £195 (approx $315) for each 100ml bottle, the ‘Perfumer’s Library’ collection by Miller Harris is set to launch on November 1.