Last month, "MStars News" reported that U.S. officials seized $1.8 million worth of counterfeit Hermès bags. But that seemingly large counterfeiting problem doesn't seem to have done much damage to the French luxury heritage brand's own handbag business, as sales have been steadily increasing. According to "Fashionista," Hermès said Thursday, Nov. 13, that revenue increased by a healthy 11 percent to 990.6 million euros — $1.2 billion — in the third quarter of 2014, and much of that was thanks to demand for the brand's French-made, high-end leather goods. That category grew 15 percent. Ready-to-wear also fared pretty well, growing 13 percent over the quarter, underlining what we knew: Recently departed Creative Director Christophe Lemaire has left some pretty big shoes to fill. Read More »
U.S. authorities seized an estimated $1.8 million in counterfeit Hermès Birkin handbags at the Port of Savannah, Ga., last month, marking the largest counterfeit seizure at the port this year. Officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection snagged 198 of the fake Hermès handbags in early October after inspecting a shipment from China that was logged in the manifest as polyurethane handbags. Read More »