Chanel Files Lawsuit Against 399 Websites And Louis Vuitton Now Owns Bulgari

Chanel Inc. has filed a cyberpiracy and trademark infringement lawsuit against 399 websites the company accuses of selling counterfeit items bearing the luxury retailer's name.

The suit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas seeks unspecified damages from unnamed operators of websites that the New York-based fashion house alleges operate from China, the Bahamas and other overseas jurisdictions where trademark enforcement is lax.

LVMH (Louis Vuitton) said  it now controls 98% of Italy’s Bulgari after minority shareholders tendered their shares as part of its 3.7 billion euro offer for the high-end jeweler. The deal will double LVMH’s watch and jewelry business to make up around 10 percent of its sales and about 6 percent of operating profit, according to analysts.

Bulgari Sells 56% Of Its Company To Louis Vuitton For 5.2 Billion Deal

LVMH said in a statement it will exchange 16.5 million of its own shares for the 56% stake in Bulgari owned by the company's founding family. Bulgari will be paid with Louis Vuitton shares worth 5.2 billion.

LVMH will offer the remaining Bulgari shareholders $17.10 per share in a public offering. After the deal, the Bulgari family will own 3% of LVMH.

Bulgari was started in 1884 by Greek immigrant Sotirios Bulgari, who opened the flagship Via Condotti store in Rome in 1905
 and has expanded to more than 260 stores.

Bugalri Launches Its New Handbag "Isabella Rossellini"

The handbag created by Bulgari is a tribute to Isabella Rossellini, a swedish actress. Her extraordinary career multifaceted personality, one that continues to grow: from the spotlight of growing up with famous parents to the front row of the fashion catwalk, from the success of cinema stardom to the commitment she has always made to social, humanitarian and environmental causes. Read more or shop the collection.

Matthew Williamson To Design For Bulgari

Matthew Williamson left his post at Pucci in 2008 to focus on his eponymous line, but now he’s been tapped to design for another house again: Bulgari. Williamson will design a collection of handbags for the jewelry brand for Spring 2011, to be presented at Milan’s next Fashion Week in September.

Julianne Moore New Face Of Bulgari

Bulgari has just announced that actress Julianne Moore will be the face of its new Spring/Summer 2010 jewelry ads, set to debut in February. This campaign marks a new artistic direction for the jeweler, focusing less on the products and more on the feel of the brand and an overall Bulgari lifestyle, which the company describes as 'Eccentric Charisma.' I so love Bulgari jewelry.