The eighth sale by the British auction house Kerry Taylor, hosted in partnership with Maurice Auctions in Paris, offers a selection of more than 400 avant-garde fashion pieces and accessories, split into two sessions (at 10.30am and 3.00pm on November 6). The second session will be devoted entirely to the ‘Penelope Archive’ collection by Roberta Valentini, a leading figure in the development of fashion in Italy.
Maison Martin Margiela Artisanal: papier-mâché vest, white label, spring-summer 1990
With her avant-garde boutiques in Italy, Roberta Valentini is internationally recognised as a pioneer and trendsetter, and has assembled a collection of 237 rare pieces in excellent condition. These were pieces that Valentini — who in the 1970s was the first to bring names such as Margiela and Rei Kawakubo to Italy — deemed too important to sell, choosing instead to preserve them as a testament to fashion history and to her personal vision.
By contrast, the first session will present around 200 lots from various sources, including a significant collection of Maison Martin Margiela pieces, as well as a selection of designs by John Galliano for Christian Dior and for his eponymous brand. The sale will also offer a wide selection of ready-to-wear and leather goods from Chanel and other major maisons.
Roberta Valentini – @Penelope Archivio
Roberta Valentini (whose birth name is Cesarina; she changed it as an assertion of her identity) began her career in the fashion world in 1969, working in the family footwear business. After her father’s death, she and her sister opened a small boutique in Contrada Cavalletto in Brescia, offering cutting-edge fashion to an increasingly discerning clientele. Today she runs three boutiques in Brescia: ‘Penelope’, ‘Boysloft’ and ‘Penelope Sposa’.
Describing herself as a “disruptor”, Roberta Valentini has become a true style icon, recognised for her flame-red hair, and has been invited to prestigious events, including dinners with the British Royal Family.
Highlights among the top lots at the Paris auction of the ‘Penelope Archive’ include: from Maison Martin Margiela Artisanal, a papier-mâché gilet, white label, spring–summer 1990, made from layers of advertising posters (estimated at €15,000–€25,000), as well as a top made from a plastic bag, a spring–summer 1994 reissue (€4,000–€6,000). From Yohji Yamamoto, a grey-and-silver striped silk taffeta suit, spring–summer 1999 (€3,000–€5,000), and a rare hat in wood and black felted wool, autumn–winter 1991–1992 (€1,000–€1,500). From Vivienne Westwood, the auction will feature a suit in wool, velvet, and faux fur, autumn–winter 1996–1997 (€700–€1,000).
In the first half of 2022, the Paris-based auction house Maurice Auctions entered into a partnership with London-based Kerry Taylor Auctions. Together they organise two annual sales devoted to fashion and haute couture, with a highly curated selection.
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In another change to Kering’s organisational structure: the group has announced that Bartolomeo Rongone, CEO of Bottega Veneta, will leave the group on March 31, 2026 to pursue new career opportunities.
Bartolomeo Rongone and Remo Ruffini – Moncler
The executive will step down from his role at Bottega Veneta on March 31, 2026, and will be appointed CEO of the Moncler Group with effect from April 1, 2026.
Under the Moncler Group’s new organisational set-up, Remo Ruffini will serve as executive chairman, retaining responsibility for creative direction and continuing to play a central role in governance and in shaping the group’s strategic direction.
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Puma will supply team kit to Formula One champions McLaren this season in a multi-year global deal that also covers activities in IndyCar, World Endurance from 2027, virtual racing, and the all-female F1 Academy series. No financial details were given.
Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 7, 2025 McLaren’s Lando Norris celebrates after becoming the 2025 Formula One World Champion – REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki
“Our sport is in incredible shape, and it’s been fantastic to see an influx of major fashion and lifestyle brands who are looking for deep and meaningful ways to engage with our growing global fanbase,” said McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown.
McLaren previously had a deal with Castore, with some media reports suggesting that was worth 30 million pounds ($40.41 million) a year.
Puma also equip Ferrari and Aston Martin. Williams have meanwhile switched to US lifestyle brand New Era.
Estee Lauder was sued by a self-described “disruptive” startup that accused the cosmetics giant of effectively putting it out of business by stealing technology to boost sales from jet-setting travellers in hotels.
Nomi has accused Estee Lauder of stealing its technology – Bloomberg
In a complaint filed on Friday night in Manhattan federal court, Nomi Beauty said Estee Lauder has been “driving literally billions in new revenue” to itself after abandoning contracts in 2018 and 2020, including means to determine consumers’ actual preferences for cosmetics instead of their stated preferences.
Nomi- the name is a homophone for “know me,” as in the customer- said its “secret sauce” was intended to help the parent of Clinique and MAC lipstick generate more revenue from luxury hotel duty-free shops and in-room purchases, and become less dependent on traditional retail stores. Rather than honour its contracts or follow through on discussions to purchase Nomi outright, Estee Lauder allegedly starved Nomi’s hotel partners of products, while rolling out competing programs in China, Costa Rica, Malaysia, the UK and the US.
These programs “rely on the very same trade secrets Nomi had been educating Lauder about for years,” the complaint said. Nomi is seeking unspecified compensatory, punitive, and triple damages. Estee Lauder did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“Nomi’s stolen innovations brought Estee Lauder into the information age, and Estee Lauder continues to profit from them wildly,” Nomi’s lawyer Matthew Schwartz said in an email. Both companies are based in New York.
Since last February, Estee Lauder has pursued a “Beauty Reimagined” strategy, including prestige launches and a streamlining of its supply chain, to revive sliding sales. The strategy also called for up to 7,000 job cuts.