Articles by AFP
A turning point: cryptocurrencies on US congress agenda
New York, July 15, 2025 – The US House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on several cryptocurrency regulation bills. This follows the impetus given by Donald Trump, seen as a blessing by the sector. After years of procrastination and a series of legislative proposals that failed to materialise, Congress is prioritising this issue...
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Rami Al Ali becomes first Syrian in Paris fashion programme
Syrian couturier Rami Al Ali made history Thursday as the first fashion designer from his country to feature in the official Paris Haute Couture Week calendar in a new landmark for Arab representation in the luxury business. After years of showing his tailored evening dresses on the sidelines of Couture Week, he was invited this year by France's...
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The 10 million dollar bag: Original Birkin smashes records at Paris auction
The first-ever Birkin bag designed by French luxury brand Hermes for celebrity Jane Birkin sold for 8.58 million euros (10 million dollars) at a Sotheby's auction in Paris on Thursday, smashing previous price records for a handbag. The modern design classic, owned by a well-known Paris-based handbag collector, sparked a telephone bidding war up...
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Cookie legislation in France: 150 million euro fine requested against Shein before CNIL
Paris - On Thursday, the rapporteur of the French data protection authority (CNIL) requested a 150 million euro fine against the Asian fast fashion giant Shein for not complying with cookie legislation. The rapporteur reproached this e-commerce heavyweight for "several breaches of its legal obligations" concerning cookies - the computer files...
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E-commerce: Belgium faces "tsunami" of parcels from China
Brussels (Belgium) - A Belgian economic body believes that Belgium is facing a "tsunami" of small parcels sent by major players in Chinese e-commerce. It has stated that Belgium must urge the European Union to accelerate its customs reform, according to an opinion obtained on Thursday by AFP. The EU has been working for two years on a customs...
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Viktor & Rolf's "inflated" proposal in Paris
The Dutch duo Viktor & Rolf once again employed irony with a show that displayed 15 pairs of black dresses. The dresses were replete with pleats and layers of fabric (tulle, crinoline and others), in a style reminiscent of the austere gowns of the 19th century. Each pair of garments was exactly the same. However, one of the two was inflated with...
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Syrian designer Rami Al Ali to make history at Paris Couture Week
As well as being optimistic about the future of his war-ravaged country, Rami Al Ali has other reasons to be upbeat: he is about to become the first Syrian fashion designer to show his work at Paris Haute Couture Week. The invitation to appear on the world's most prestigious fashion stage is a huge endorsement for the 53-year-old from the...
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Robert Wun unveils theatrical silhouettes at Haute Couture Week
Paris - Hong Kong designer Robert Wun presented his new collection with cinematic accents in Paris on Wednesday, the third day of Haute Couture Week. Entitled "Becoming", this AW25 collection is "a nostalgic exploration of the ritual of dressing and the profound role fashion plays in life's most important moments," the designer explained in a...
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Hermès heirs top French fortune ranking in 2025, dethroning Arnault
Paris - The Hermès heirs benefited from the luxury group's strong stock market performance in 2025. This allowed them to take the top spot in the annual ranking of French professional fortunes. The ranking was published on Wednesday by Challenges magazine. They dethroned Bernard Arnault and his family. Since the start of 2025, Hermès has shown...
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Temu's "uncontrolled growth" in the French market
After an "explosion in sales" in 2024, the Chinese online commerce platform Temu accelerated its presence in the French market in early 2025. This move was in response to US protectionism, which is encouraging its "uncontrolled growth", according to a Joko application study relayed to AFP on Tuesday. This shopping application questioned, "Who...
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