Abelson Brief

The 2024/25 Annual Report presents Burberry’s strategic evolution into a "Timeless British Luxury" brand, with a renewed focus on core categories such as outerwear and scarves to elevate brand desirability. The report acknowledges the challenges posed by a broader slowdown in the luxury market, particularly within soft luxury goods, which impacted sales and profitability. Burberry’s stro...

A comprehensive overview of Mercedes-Benz Group AG's performance and strategy for the first quarter of 2025 and the full fiscal year outlook. Key areas covered include the financial results of the Mercedes-Benz Cars, Vans, and Mobility divisions, highlighting revenue, EBIT, and free cash flow figures with year-over-year comparisons. The document outlines strategic priorities such as the evolut...

The 2024 Investment Stewardship Report from J.P. Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM), detailing their approach to investment stewardship. The report outlines JPMAM's commitment to responsible investing, focusing on financially material environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues to create long-term value for clients. Key aspects covered include their engagement with hundreds of companies on six...

The heirs and great-grandchildren of Jewish Belgian art collector Samuel Hartveld are set to receive a painting by Henry Gibbs currently in the collection of the Tate. The Henry Gibbs artwork, ‘Aeneas and his Family Fleeing Burning Troy’, is currently held by the Tate Museum, which acquired it in 1994 without knowledge of its complete provenance. The Spoliation Advisory Panel, a UK government body...

British Airways has announced a significant upgrade to its in-flight wine selection, particularly focusing on prestige cuvée English sparkling wines. The airline will be the first to serve these top-tier English wines in its First cabin, partnering with renowned producers like Nyetimber and Gusbourne.  Club World (business class) passengers will also see an enhanced selection of English sparkling...

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has announced the appointment of Christophe Cherix as its next David Rockefeller Director, commencing in September 2025.  Cherix, who has been with MoMA since 2007 and currently serves as The Robert Lehman Foundation Chief Curator of Drawings and Prints, will succeed Glenn D. Lowry after a six-month international search.  MoMA's board members highlighted Cherix&...

Maurice Lacroix is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025 with the launch of the 1975 collection.  This new range of automatic and quartz watches takes inspiration from vintage designs, specifically revisiting their Les Classique line from 1988, but incorporates modern aesthetics and materials. The collection aims to deliver Swiss craftsmanship and high perceived value, a hallmark of the brand s...

Piaget highlights their Altiplano Skeleton High Jewellery watch, a limited edition timepiece demonstrating a fusion of their expertise in ultra-thin skeleton movements, gem-setting, and Métiers d’Art. This new watch uniquely combines a diamond and sapphire-set skeleton movement with Grand Feu cloisonné enamel artwork by Anita Porchet, extending even to the back of the watch. Piaget's commitmen...

Watches and Wonders Geneva 2025, scheduled for April 1st to 7th, will host 60 watch brands, including Bvlgari and six new independents. The event will feature new product launches, ambassador appearances, and immersive experiences, with public access from April 5th to 7th. Attendees can expect personalised schedules, exclusive presentations, guided tours, and the innovative LAB showcasing future w...

Kering and Les Rencontres d’Arles are jointly announcing that Nan Goldin will receive the 2025 Women In Motion Award for photography, recognising her significant impact on the art form and her representation of women and marginalised communities. The award ceremony will take place on July 8, 2025, during the Rencontres d'Arles festival, where Goldin will also present her work, including  Syndr...

BOSS and Aston Martin celebrated the launch of their new Spring/Summer 2025 menswear capsule collection with an event at the grand opening of the first BOSS halo store in Shanghai, coinciding with the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix. The event featured Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, alongside VIPs, showcasing the new collection inspired by luxurious tra...

Breitling has announced its acquisition of Gallet, a historic Swiss watchmaker established in 1826 and known for its contributions to early long-distance travel timekeeping. This marks Breitling's second brand acquisition, following Universal Genève, and aims to revive Gallet as a luxury, entry-level sister brand. Breitling's CEO, Georges Kern, stated the long-term vision is to re-establis...

Kering, a global luxury group, held its inaugural "Kering Generation Award X Japan" ceremony in March 2025 to recognise and support innovative Japanese startups focused on sustainable solutions for the fashion industry.  The top prize went to Fermenstation for its fermentation technology using waste to produce natural ingredients. Other awarded companies included AMPHIBIO for PFAS-free t...

Oceania Cruises has announced its 2027 Around the World cruise aboard the Vista, a 180-day voyage departing from Miami.  This extensive journey will visit over 100 ports across 46 countries and six continents, offering immersive cultural and culinary experiences.  Passengers can explore numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites and benefit from inclusive amenities. The luxurious Vista boasts spacious s...

Porsche is updating its eBike range for 2025, enhancing both technical capabilities and aesthetic appeal. The eBike Sport has been refined with new suspension, lighting, and electronic shifting, expanding its suitability to include light trails. Additionally, the eBike Cross Performance EXC now offers five new exclusive Porsche paint colours. These updated models, alongside the standard eBike Cros...

Emirates has partnered with Parsys Telemedicine to introduce advanced medical equipment on their flights. This new telemedicine station enables cabin crew to gather vital signs and conduct real-time video consultations with ground-based medical professionals. The system includes portable devices, secure data transmission via a cloud platform, and software customised for Emirates' procedures. T...

Maserati unveils the first steps of a new collaboration with renowned Italian furniture house Giorgetti at the 2025 Milan Design Week, an annual international celebration of design attracting one of the most cosmopolitan and kaleidoscopic audiences in the world. The union of these two symbols of Made in Italy has given birth to an interior collection and a Fuoriserie bespoke car, creating a perfec...

Brand new bars, bespoke furniture, focus pods, improved menus and local artwork all feature as part of British Airways’ global lounge refresh programme, which has so far been completed in Singapore, Lagos, Washington, and London Gatwick in 2024, in addition to Edinburgh, London Heathrow Terminal 5B and Heathrow Terminal 3 in 2023 Its new-look lounge in Seattle has become the latest to reopen after...

Kering and Gucci are delighted to announce the appointment of Demna as the House’s new Artistic Director, starting early July 2025.  Demna, Artistic Director of Balenciaga since 2015, has redefined modern luxury, earning global recognition and cementing his authority on the industry. François-Henri Pinault, Chairman & CEO of Kering, stated: “ Demna's contribution to the industry, to Balenc...

Maurice Lacroix unveils the incredible AIKON Automatic Wotto Limited Edition! Limited to 1,000 pieces, this wearable masterpiece doesn't just shake up codes, it blows them out of the water. With the ultimate fusion of urban culture, artistic engraving, and Swiss watchmaking, this striking design marks its entry into the Urban Tribe series.