WWD latest story proclaims that luxury brands are refocusing their offerings to pull from heritage roots (”Latin Roots” by Fugazi anyone?). “These days, Twitter enthusiast Louis Vuitton is far more likely to tweet about the 1896 launch of monogram canvas or the 1930 birth of its iconic Speedy handbag than which actress wore its clothes to a recent VIP event. It’s but one indicator that Europe’s big luxury players are moving heritage to the forefront of product and communication efforts as a way to reassure — and seduce — consumers spooked by recession.” It’s all cyclical anyways, isn’t it?

Read “Fashion Brands Focus on their Heritage” on WWD.

WWD reports that Sean Connery may be tapped as the next face for Vuitton campaigns. "Louis Vuitton, which has featured Mikhail Gorbachev, Keith Richards and Francis Ford Coppola in its “core values” advertising campaign, has landed another surprising agent for its message. Rumor has it Sean Connery, the original James Bond, has posed for Annie Leibovitz’s camera, just in time for the “Quantum of Solace” frenzy."

WWD reports in on news of Runway gone Internet. "Fashion showmen extraordinaire Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren said Monday that they would present their spring-summer 2009 collection on their Web site, in lieu of the Paris runway, on which the Dutch designers in the past have featured pyrotechnics, fog and blue-screen technology effects…" (photo via fashionindie)

More at WWD.

Giorgio Armani plans to design some beachfront villas in Egypt, according to WWD. The residences being built in partnertship with Emaar Properties PJSC SpA "will be located in Marassi, Emaar’s flagship resort development in Egypt on the Sidi Abdel Rahman Bay facing the Mediterranean Sea. Marassi, two hours from Cairo…Armani said he ‘integrated several elements that capture the serenity and calm of beachfront living.’ The designer said he was ‘keen to present residents with personalized living spaces…’"

WWD is reporting on new plans from Ralph Lauren making mobile shopping easier for their customers with the introduction of QR Codes into their marketing media. A QR Code is something similar to a UPC symbol on packaging, except that it holds and stores information such as web addresses, email addresses, and more. "Taking its philosophy of “merchan-tainment” to a new level, Polo Ralph Lauren is launching into mobile commerce — m-commerce — incorporating echnology that allows shoppers to buy Polo merchandise from their cell phones."

In the USA, Nokia phones should come embedded with a QR Reader while Mac users can download a variety of QR Readers inside the iTunes Music Store. QR Codes have been popular in Asian markets for some time now.

WWD has a fascinating article on how the women’s apparel industry that was strictly focused on feeding hip-hop culture with fabrics of fashion is going through a shift -almost growing pain- that is forcing a transition and adaptation to a new market. "Today, record sales are plummeting and many music artists’ lines are struggling. As hip-hop’s popularity has dropped, so has that of the apparel brands that rode the wave — labels like Deréon and JLo have gone through numerous reinventions…"

A must read for anyone involved in the industry.

Tonight’s the big night in Brooklyn, NY. The Takashi Murakami exhibit opens its doors  at the Brooklyn Museum. Special guests can expect the usual festivities – big ole bash with Kayne West performing, the 550-square-foot Louis Vuitton boutique that accompanies Murakami’s show wherever it goes, and 300 Monogramouflage canvases up for purchase (6000-10000$US depending on if you’re one of the first 50 in line).

But what is most interesting for this show is that those Monogramouflage canvases and Vuitton handbags will also be sold on the streets right outside the museum – and they’re authentic! Giving a slap in the face to the usual street vendors of NYC, Vuitton is boldly taking their war against counterfeiters right onto their turf.

Yves Carcelle, chairman and chief executive officer of Louis Vuitton told WWD, “We think that by highlighting it in a happening way and not in a boring way, it will make everybody more aware.” (photo via NYT)