UAE to develop world's biggest mall

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: A Dubai-based investment company has announced plans to develop what it claims will be the world's biggest shopping mall in the desert of Dubai. The mall, projected to cost 10 billion dirhams ($A3.9 billion) and will feature 376,000sqm of shop space. The mega mall project will be developed in partnership with Al Ghurair Investment, a closely held Dubai-based trading group with interests in real estate, retail development and manufacturing.

FRANCE: Paris-based fashion house Vionnet and its creative director Sophia Kokosalaki have parted ways. The house said it has appointed former Hermès and Prada designer Marc Audibet to replace Kokosalaki, who joined Vionnet only last year. It is understood Kokosalaki left to focus on her own label. Audibet, who has worked at many fashion houses, including Hermès, Prada, Trusardi and Ferragamo, will show his first collection for spring/summer 2008 in July.

Zara no no
SPAIN: Fashion retailer Zara was forced to apologise to ultra-Orthodox Jews after its Israeli stores sold a men's suiting line with a mix of materials that are considered non-kosher to some Jews. The label took out a series of adverts in Israeli newspapers to apologise for the error, which it claimed happened after a mistake in one of its factories. It is understood the suit contained a combination of cotton and linen that some rabbinical authorities class as an "unnatural" blend. Zara has promised to refund the cost of scientific checks for shatnez, which Orthodox Jews routinely carry out when they buy clothes.

Harrods growth
ENGLAND: Luxury department store Harrods has opened a new dedicated designer room for childrenswear. Designed to better utilise the space available, the room showcases upscale brands such as Armani Junior, Dior, Ralph Lauren and D&G Junior. Childrenswear general merchandise manager Kirsty Vinten said the sector has been growing very healthily at Harrods for the past eight years. The idea was to create a mini-me department for people who are shopping for womenswear and menswear at Harrods with two to 10-year-olds the key market. Harrods will relaunch its babywear department during spring/summer 2008.

Head safe
ITALY: Valentino Fashion Group's new owner, private equity fund Permira, has announced it intends preserving the status quo at Valentino and Hugo Boss just days after its offer to buy a majority shareholding in the group for $US2.6 billion was accepted. Although Permira hasn't discussed its intentions publicly, media speculation suggested Valentino's chief executive officer, Stefano Sassi, is "highly regarded" by Permira and likely to stay.