The latest news from Boohoo Group’s Debenhams business is that Jo Hunt, formerly head of partner brands at ASOS, has arrived as head of business development.
Debenhams
It’s not been officially announced but Hunt shared the news on her LinkedIn profile page, which also says that she “played a significant role in building the ASOS.com third party branded business across Men’s & Women’s”.
She’s been in her new role since February and it’s clearly going o be a big change for the exec as she’s been with ASOS for almost 19 years. She started at the e-tail giant as buyer for women’s brands in summer 2006 and became head of partner brand in September 2013, holding that title until last December. She also became head of asosmarketplace.com in summer 2017, holding that post concurrently with her other duties until November last year.
Before joining ASOS, she was an assistant buyers at House of Fraser, a job she did for almost six years.
Debenhams is a business Boohoo Group acquired for £55 million in 2021 after it ran into trouble due to the pandemic and filed for administration.
The new owner made it online-only and it has actually turned out to be one of the more successful parts of the Boohoo operation in recent years. Dan Finley, the CEO who turned it around was also promoted to CEO of the entire group following his Debenhams success.
Debenhams has been planning international expansion and late last year another sign of its new-found confidence came as it named insider Patrick Duggan as its new creative director. He’d been the senior head of creative at the online marketplace for almost two years.
Almost last, but very probably best, Miuccia Prada presented her latest collection for Miu Miu—a meeting of multiple decades, manifold pronouns, and some really marvelous fashion on Tuesday, the final day of Paris Fashion Week.
Photo Credits: Godfrey Deeny
During a year that has begun with blatant attacks by the Trump administration on diversity of any form, it was particularly admirable to witness Miuccia’s cast, so obviously diverse in their sexual preferences. Added to that was an overriding sense of liberation in this show, with its super self-confident women, overt sensuality, and unexpected clothes.
The designer’s bold opening idea was using thick, military-style felted wool in generals’ coats or city skirt suits, where the only thing evident underneath was a bra. Cut to sit off the torso, with bold raised seams and darts at the back, making it all seem super now—easily identifiable chic for those in the know.
In an impish play, the tailoring was paired with early-teen cotton knee socks or black socks covered in crystals and strass. Miuccia, who personally loves fine jewelry, finished every model in spiky golden earrings and large floral brooches.
Photo Credits: Godfrey Deeny
Photo Credits: Godfrey Deeny
Weaving disparate eras, Miu Miu suddenly grew cinematic—blending femme fatales from Hitchcock with knowing seductresses from David Lynch. Checked and printed skirts paired with side-buckled boots and fitted sweaters—each look completed with elaborately lacquered hair and sultry secretary glasses. A nod to Miss Moneypenny, but through the lens of Miu Miu in Paris, in a collection Miuccia aptly titled “Femininities.”
Photo Credits: Godfrey Deeny
Signora Prada never does anything in half measures, and in a season where fur has reconquered the runways, she sent out all manner of fur stoles—fox, wolf, and mink—worn as scarves and cut with hand-warmer pockets.
Crossing borders with footwear, most of her gals wore mannish burnished leather loafers, along with the coolest aged leather dude blazers with aplomb.
Miuccia always loves mixing up her Miu Miu cast. This season, she selected actress Sarah Paulson, of “The People v. O.J. Simpson” fame; fellow thespians Raffey Cassidy, Laura Harrier, Oscar Lesage, and Sunday Rose Kidman Urban; French ever-hip hipster Lou Doillon; artist Isabelle Albuquerque; Amelia Gray, daughter of Perseus; and rapper Nettspend. Talk about eclectic.
Before heading into the evening, first came some razor-sharp leather looks. The show ended with girls on the prowl—in slip dresses or off-the-shoulder silk dresses with bra straps always on display. Looking sensational inside the 1930s Palais d’Iéna, done up with yellow silk jacquard wallpaper.
Photo Credits: Godfrey Deeny
Backed up by a great cinema organ-driven soundtrack, climaxing with “Day Off” by Teho & Romain Garcia. Effectively bringing to an end the truly influential shows in contemporary fashion.
A bona fide home-run, bases-loaded hit show. If Miuccia Prada were a footballer, she would have just won the Ballon d’Or again for Miu Miu. At the very least, she got the most enthusiastic applause of four weeks of runway shows. That’s real respect.
Golden Goose is packing in a lot of excitement and features to its new London pop-up store with the Italian footwear brand having just unveiled its exclusive takeover of The Corner Shop at Selfridges.
Ahead of opening of its first London standalone store on Mount Street later this year, a taster of things to come can be seen until 12 April with the “one-of-a-kind” pop-up.
With a focus on “co-creation and shared moments”, the brand has transformed the temporary space into an “intimate, Italy-infused… archive of dreams”.
Drawing inspiration from the brand’s Venetian headquarters and artisanal heritage, the design blends “vintage aesthetics with contemporary craftsmanship”, featuring salvaged wood walls and furnishings alongside archival souvenirs.
At the heart of the pop-up, a vintage table hosts Co-Creation, a one-to-one personalisation experience with ‘Golden Goose Dream Makers’. Here, clients can personalise their favourite pieces with patches, charms, pins, brooches, crystals, studs and other embellishments.
Additional artisanal treatments, such as distressing, embroidery, and hand-painted designs “ensure each item is one of a kind, becoming a unique expression of individuality”.
But of course, product is key and the Corner Shop installation features a rotating focus each week, offering an “ever-evolving selection” of ready-to-wear, boots, bags & accessories and sneakers, including limited-edition and archive pieces. Here, the “standout highlight” is the global preview of the True-Star sneaker – the brand’s most anticipated release – available exclusively in the space.
Next to the Co-Creation space, Golden Goose has also unveiled its ‘Con Amore’ corner, where “every moment becomes a gesture of love”. Inspired by Italy’s floral shops, the area offers personalised gift wrapping, curated ribbons, and decorative bows – “elevating gifting into an art form”. It also provides visitors with coffee, sweet treats, and fresh flowers, “inviting them to pause and connect”.
Every week, Golden Goose will also hosts a series of immersive Co-Creation workshops. Customers can personalise their Marathon Sneakers with exclusive design options, such as changing the label tab; add a retro twist with keychains, laces, and charms on the Forty2 Sneakers; enhance their sneakers and nails with crystal embellishments; and express their creativity by personalising archive products with tattoo-inspired artwork.
Golden Goose CEO Silvio Campara talked of bringing its “craftsmanship and heritage to such an iconic space”, noting: “This pop-up offers a unique opportunity to connect with the Selfridges community and customers, showcasing our distinct DNA and Co-Creation services. It’s more than just a retail space, it’s an immersive journey where artisanal tradition and community unite, placing the client at the heart of every experience.”
He also said the pop-up “marks a key milestone in Golden Goose’s expansion in the UK… This is the first step towards a larger presence in the UK, culminating in the highly anticipated opening of our flagship store on Mount Street later this year – a space that will elevate the in-store and Co-Creation experience to new heights.”
Malìparmi is embarking on a new chapter, setting its sights on a 25% revenue increase by 2028. Leading the charge is Virginia Da Sie, granddaughter of the brand’s founder, who has been appointed chief executive officer of the heritage label known for its bold prints and vibrant colors since its launch in the 1970s.
Virginia Da Sie
Virginia, now the third generation to lead Malìparmi, takes over from her mother, Annalisa Paresi, the driving force behind the brand’s international success. Paresi will remain with the company as president of the newly formed board of directors, supporting her daughter in style and marketing decisions.
A Bocconi University graduate with a Master of Science in Management, Virginia joined the family business after gaining experience in Italy and abroad. She started at Malìparmi as a retail buyer before moving into digital communication and e-commerce.
“I grew up immersed in fashion, learning from my mother and embracing the joy of creating,” says Virginia Da Sie. “This journey has been invaluable in ensuring continuity for the brand and securing its future with a strong sense of responsibility and a deep understanding of what women want today. That’s why I’m so excited to lead this new chapter of Malìparmi—a brand created by women, for women.”
“There is a strong synergy between Virginia and me, allowing us to collaborate with mutual respect for our skills, experience, and expertise,” adds Annalisa Paresi. “In a family business, passing the baton from one generation to the next is never easy, but in our case, it’s happening seamlessly, built on trust and shared vision.”
As the leadership transition unfolds, Malìparmi’s design studio is also undergoing a transformation. A new designer will take the creative reins, working closely with Virginia and Annalisa to shape the brand’s fall-winter 2025/26 collections.
A look from Malìparmi fall-winter 2025/26
This restructuring comes as Malìparmi focuses on growth after a challenging 2024. The company closed the year with €21 million in revenue but fell short of breaking even due to a sluggish second half impacted by macroeconomic conditions.
Looking ahead to 2025, the company expects financial stabilization amid an uncertain market and ongoing brand repositioning. Growth is projected to increase in 2026, driven by retail and e-commerce expansion.
In late 2024, Malìparmi opened its third store in Spain—following Madrid and Barcelona—bringing its total number of mono-brand stores to 18 (12 in Italy, 6 internationally). The brand also relocated its Bologna store to the fashion district and plans to open three more standalone boutiques by 2028—two in Italy and one abroad.
Currently, retail accounts for 30% of Malìparmi’s revenue, with Italy as its leading market (60%), followed by Spain (10%). The brand’s growth strategy will also focus on e-commerce, which currently makes up 5% of total sales. A new high-performance platform, developed in collaboration with luxury e-commerce specialist The Level Group, is set to accelerate international expansion, focusing on the U.S. market.