Italian eyewear maker Luxottica is looking to next year with a degree of optimism after a tough 2009, Chief Executive Andrea Guerra said.

Asian fusion will be the fashion theme when APEC leaders including US President Barack Obama appear for a traditional group picture at their Singapore summit next month.

While the rest of the world struggles to bounce back from the global financial crisis, China's billionaires are living large, snapping up luxury products at a breathtaking pace.

The election of America's first black president was trumpeted by the world of fashion and media, but a year on, as the euphoria dims, white faces still dominate the catwalks and glossy magazines.

AIM-listed Pangea DiamondFields Plc, said that Operations Manager Boris Kamstra will take over as new chief executive officer as of Nov. 1.

Italian eyewear maker Safilo Chief Executive Roberto Vedovotto said in a conference call with analysts that operating perfomance in October was very weak.

Demand for diamonds has started to stabilise, Sheila Khama, chief executive of De Beers in Botswana, told the Financial Times newspaper, adding that the company's flagship mines were operating at 80 percent of capacity.

Tshepo Mokwena had a glittering education, sponsored by the Botswana government's diamond wealth, but a year after graduating she still has no job in the tiny southern African nation.

Dubai jewellery group Damas International Ltd has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers to examine unauthorised transactions by its former chief executive, which lead to his resignation earlier this week.

The Ittierre unit of Italian fashion group IT Holding, in administration since February, has asked banks for further credit but has not yet received approval, the company said.

Jewellery major Gitanjali Gems has announced the brand valuation of four of its leading brands at Rs 1,502 crore. The brands include Gili, Asmi, Nakshatra and D’Damas.

British retailer Marks & Spencer unveiled plans to upgrade its supply chain and boost its presence online and abroad in a strategy update that will feature presentations by internal candidates for chief executive.

Dubai jewellery group Damas International Ltd said chief executive officer and managing director Tawhid Abdulla had resigned after disclosing "unauthorised transactions".

Nike Inc said Michael Spillane will succeed Jack Boys as CEO of the footwear maker's Converse business, following Boys' retirement by the end of the year.

French luxury group Hermes will see high single-digit growth in its turnover for 2009 at current exchange rates, its CEO said.