From Partnerships to Advancements: Louis Vuitton, Maogeping, Heytea, and More in Today’s Highlights
Louis Vuitton Appoints Table Tennis Star Wang Chuqin as Brand Ambassador
Louis Vuitton has officially announced Chinese table tennis player Wang Chuqin as its newest brand ambassador. Recognized for his outstanding performance in the sport, Wang secured his first Asian Cup on February 23 with a 4-0 victory in the men’s singles final. Over the past year, he has collaborated with LV, appearing in the brand’s 2024 Fall/Winter men’s collection on the cover of magazine Another Man. This partnership marks a blend of luxury fashion and the sports world, with future collaborations expected.
Maogeping Launches First Fragrance Line
Chinese cosmetics brand Maogeping has officially launched its fragrance line after receiving approval from the Chinese National Medical Products Administration for 13 perfume products. The brand, which registered the trademark “MAOGEPING EAU DE PARFUM” last year, first hinted at introducing fragrances in its 2023 prospectus, aiming to diversify its product offerings and enhance its market appeal.
Heytea Opens First Overseas LAB Store in Times Square, New York
Chinese Bubble Tea Brand Heytea opened its first overseas LAB store in New York’s Times Square. The grand opening saw long queues, with over 200 cups waiting to be made within an hour of opening. The store features a localized product range, including 10 exclusive tea drinks under the “TEA LAB” series, priced between $6.9 and $9.9. The drinks are named with a “tea base + number” format, indicating the flavor intensity.
OpenAI Announces Free Access to Advanced Voice Mode for ChatGPT Users
OpenAI announced that it is now offering free access to ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, previously available only to paid subscribers. The feature, based on the GPT-4o mini model, optimizes computational efficiency while delivering performance comparable to the full GPT-4o model. Users can activate the voice mode by tapping the microphone icon on the screen and can toggle the microphone or end the conversation as needed. This update allows all users to experience more natural voice interactions.
Francesco Ragazzi Launches New Perfume Brand Réservation
Francesco Ragazzi, founder of Palm Angels, has ventured into high-end perfumery with a new brand called Réservation during Milan Fashion Week. The brand, inspired by Italian fashion, French expertise, and California’s spirit, features a collection of seven fragrances that evoke different moments in a luxury hotel experience. The perfumes, priced at €250 for a 100ml bottle, will be available on Réservation’s e-shop and select retailers.
Coupang’s Strategy Helps Farfetch Achieve Profitability in Q4 2024
Farfetch, acquired by Coupang at the end of 2023, reported a significant turnaround in Q4 2024, achieving $1.7 billion in revenue and narrowing its loss to $34 million because Coupang has focused on refining its technology and enhancing core operations. As a fashion e-commerce platform, it is now targeting profitable growth by offering luxury goods and expanding its customer base.
Nvidia Reports Strong Q4 2025 Results with Revenue Growth of 78 percent Year-over-Year
Nvidia reported $39.3 billion in revenue for Q4 2025, marking a 12 percent increase from the previous quarter and a 78 percent rise from the previous year. GAAP earnings per diluted share were $0.89, up 14 percent from Q3 and 82 percent from the previous year. For fiscal 2025, revenue reached $130.5 billion, an increase of 114 percent, with GAAP earnings per share rising by 147 percent.
Giuseppe Zanotti Buys Back Minority Stake from LCatterton
Giuseppe Zanotti has repurchased the minority stake in his footwear brand from investment fund LCatterton. LCatterton initially acquired a 30 percent stake in 2014, while the majority remained with Zanotti. This move comes amid a busy footwear M&A landscape, with other notable deals such as Caleres acquiring Stuart Weitzman for $105 million and Steve Madden purchasing Kurt Geiger for $360 million.
