MadaLuxe Group on Thursday said it has acquired fine jewelry brand Ippolita, as the U.S. lifestyle group looks to bolster its portfolio and expand into the fine jewelry category.
Ippolita
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Under the deal, founder of Ippolita, Ippolita Rostagno, will continue in her role as chief creative officer, overseeing all aspects of design across the brand’s jewelry collections.
“I founded Ippolita with the belief that fine jewelry should celebrate the artistry of the hand and honor the individuality of the women who wear it,” said Rostagno. “Joining MadaLuxe Group opens an exciting new chapter—one that allows us to protect our heritage while embracing meaningful opportunities for growth. I am delighted to continue guiding the brand’s creative vision as we reach an even broader global audience.”
Launching in 1999 exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman, Ippolita is known for its sculptural jewelery that blends contemporary design with Italian craftsmanship. Today, the brand is sold through leading luxury retailers and boutiques worldwide.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ippolita into the MadaLuxe Group family,” said Adam Freede, CEO and co-founder of MadaLuxe Group, which added it will support the New York fine jewelry brand’s continued growth across key markets worldwide.
“Ippolita is an iconic brand with a rich artistic heritage, extraordinary customer loyalty, and a timeless visual vocabulary. We see significant opportunity to drive brand growth through strategic support and investment. Above all, we saw a great chance to add someone as talented as Ippolita to the MadaLuxe family, who views the importance of people and company culture the same way that we do.”
Montpellier-based group Socri Limited has announced a change of identity to become Ceiba, a name registered in around thirty countries to support the group’s international ambitions.
Ceiba
The group notably operates the Polygone shopping centres in Béziers and Montpellier, the Galeries Lafayette department stores in Avignon and Béziers, and the La Coupole shopping centre in Nîmes.
“Ceiba is a logical step,” explained its chairman, Nicolas Chambon. “We are not changing what we do; we are embracing what we have become. This new name allows us to assert an identity that is clear, committed, and true to our values.”
The name Ceiba, taken from the sacred Latin American tree, had already been used by the group’s U.S. subsidiary. Its adoption at group level “forms part of a deliberate international trajectory,” according to the company, which was founded in 2023.
The company’s new logo – Ceiba
The group’s Nîmes shopping centre recently welcomed the opening of a Galeries Lafayette store, inaugurated on October 2. The opening is reported to have delivered a 45% increase in footfall at the 13,500-square-metre shopping centre at the start of autumn.
Volcom and Boardriders brands are returning to Hawaii with the reopening of two flagship retail locations on O’ahu, marking a renewed commitment to the surf culture that has long shaped the brands’ identities.
Volcom and Boardriders brands reestablish retail presence in Hawaii. – Volcom
Boardriders will reopen its U.S. flagship in Waikīkī through Authentic’s partnership with BR Japan. Located steps from the Duke Kahanamoku statue, the more than 7,000-square-foot space will serve as a key global retail destination, offering a curated assortment of Action and Outdoor brands including Quiksilver, Billabong, Volcom, Roxy and RVCA.
“Our store sits right in front of the birthplace of surfing, the most important location in surfing history,” said Sammy Yoo, president of BR Japan.
“This is our flagship store, arguably the most important property in the surf industry, and we want it to feel truly original. The imagery we’re collecting, from Waikīkī’s early surf culture to iconic shots of our athletes, honors the past while inspiring the future.”
Volcom will also reestablish its presence on the North Shore with the reopening of its Haleiwa store through Authentic’s partnership with The Levy Group, which has teamed up with longtime Hawaii retailer Cycle City.
“Reestablishing Volcom’s presence in Haleiwa is an important milestone for us,” said Louis Levy, president of The Levy Group.
“Hawaii has always been central to the brand’s story, and we’re committed to building stores with a partner that reflects the energy, creativity, and authenticity that define Volcom. With our iconic Volcom houses at Pipeline only six and a half miles away, re-opening this location is another step in supporting Volcom athletes, consumers, and the community on O’ahu’s North Shore”
Authentic acquired Boardriders from funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., in 2023. Through this acquisition, Authentic expanded its portfolio with Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, DC Shoes, RVCA, Element, VonZipper and Honolua. Likewise, Authentic acquired the Volcom brand from luxury giant Kering in 2019.
Since acquiring the brands, Authentic has focused on expanding the Action and Outdoor Sports portfolio through partnerships that reflect the heritage of each label. The Hawaii openings follow the launch of 15 new stores across Western Europe and contribute to more than 20 new retail locations opened globally with partners to date.
Lululemon announced on Thursday plans to expand its international footprint in 2026 with six new market entries, marking the largest number of new country launches the brand has undertaken in a single year.
Lululemon to enter six new markets in 2026. – Lululemon
The expansion will be carried out through Lululemon’s new franchise partnership model and will include entries into Greece, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Romania, alongside a previously announced move into India.
The European launches will be executed in partnership with Arion Retail Group, while Lululemon’s entry into India will be supported by a partnership with Tata CLiQ.
Consumers in Greece, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Romania will be able to shop Lululemon’s full assortment online, while customers in India will have digital access through Tata CLiQ Luxury and Tata CLiQ Fashion. Physical retail plans, including store locations and opening timelines, will be announced in the new year.
Community engagement will remain central to Lululemon’s expansion strategy, with the brand planning to extend its ambassador network and host local events focused on movement and wellbeing as it enters new regions.
“As we continue to see strong demand for the Lululemon brand around the world, we’re thrilled to grow our presence and communities across Europe and Asia Pacific with entry into six new markets in 2026,” said Sarah Clark, senior vice president, EMEA, Lululemon.
“Each of these markets offer exciting potential for our brand, and we look forward to working with our franchise partners to introduce our innovative products and engaging guest experiences to more consumers in these regions.”
The upcoming launches represent the latest step in Lululemon’s international growth strategy. The company currently operates in more than 30 markets globally, spanning North America, EMEA, Asia Pacific and mainland China. The new entries follow Lululemon’s expansion into Italy earlier this year, as well as recent franchise-led openings in Denmark, Turkey and Belgium.