Monthly Archives: December 2009

In Brief: Suit Against Retailer Chick Downtown

Online boutique Chick Downtown owes $950,000, according to suit.

Danner Sues Rag & Bone Over Boot

Boot maker Danner Inc. says Rag & Bone's 'Danner Combat Boot' infringes on its marks.

In Brief: Sockwell Retires from Claiborne Board

Oliver Sockwell has resigned as a director of Liz Claiborne Inc. after seven years on the board.

Retail Stocks Dip 0.5% Wednesday

Holiday sales appeared to lend credence to the notion that retailers are beginning to show signs of life.

Daily Stock Wrap: December 31, 2009

The day's gainers and losers.

Isabel Marant Slowly Easing Up on Policy of Limited Availability

>> In a world of increasing accessibility to luxury goods, Isabel Marant has been going against the grain. Retailers are forbidden to sell, post pictures, or even state price of Marant goods online. Retailers estimate only a few hundred of the highly-coveted Fall 2009 black suede studded boots were produced to be sold the US, reports the Wall Street Journal. It's all about creating consumer want through rarity.

One London customer couldn't find the Marant boots she wanted, so she called the brand's boutique in Paris: "They said, 'Oh, we don't ship outside of Paris. If you want the boots, you have to come and get them.'"  When the company only delivered three pairs of boots out of a 28 pair order, Nevena Borissova, owner of Curve, Marant's biggest retail client in the US, flew to Paris to ask the designer to produce more.  Only after Borissova committed to €50,000 (about $70,000) order did she agree.

So why so hard to find? »