CREATION, OR JUST MORE PRODUCT? In Milan, instead, save for a bunch noteworthy exceptions…it looked like most designers and fashion houses have given up their role altogether, ditching the pursuit of genuinely new ideas for mere product design. [BUSINESSOFFASHION]

H&M EARNINGS DECLINE ON WEAKEST SALES GROWTH IN THREE YEARS. A cold, rainy spring has added to the challenges faced by European retailers as consumers curb spending on clothing. Still, the weather didn’t stop Zara owner Inditex SA reporting a 6 percent increase in earnings in the three months through April, aided by its fast distribution system. [BLOOMBERG]

OUT OF FASHION: HOW MEN COULD FALL OFF THE CATWALK. Fashion shows are not as cost-effective as they once were and that the industry has to pay greater attention to costs as world demand for luxury goods has weakened. Social media is also heavily influencing the industry, speeding up demand for new products but also allowing fashion brands to reach out to potential customers more directly and inexpensively. [REUTERS]

MENSWEAR: FIVE TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR NEXT YEAR. The Tuscan city’s menswear trade show, Pitti Immagine Uomo, is buzzy again. From sportswear to suits, this is the lowdown. [GUARDIANUK]

CAN FACIALS AND FITNESS REVIVE MACY’S? On June 25, the struggling department store chain will unveil a new prototype in a renovated store at the Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio, filled with lifestyle shops that play up services. [FORBES]

UNIQLO’S SEARCH FOR SELF…AND GLOBAL DOMINANCE. In the overcrowded, highly competitive casual fashion market, size is important but no guarantee of success: analysts say Uniqlo’s challenge is to carve out a brand identity of its own, going beyond its formula of delivering no-nonsense quality at good prices [ASSOCIATED PRESS]

RALPH LAUREN TO CUT 1,000 JOBS AND SHUT SHOPS. Ralph Lauren, like some other luxury brands, has been struggling amid sluggish spending on luxury apparel and accessories. The company’s margins have taken a knock as department stores discount heavily to get rid of excess inventory. [REUTERS]

CALLED OUT FOR COPYING, CHANEL DOES THE RIGHT THING. Intellectual property in fashion is notoriously hard to protect, as the constant “homages” to runway looks that appear in fast-fashion retailers attest. Brands have become more aggressive in trying to protect their work, but it remains a murky area. [NYT]

GO PRO’S FIRST DRONE, DUE OUT IN 2016, WILL BE CALLED KARMA. If you are a GoPro investor, Karma should probably give you positive energy. And such good mojo is much needed, as Wall Street recently soured on the company after the GoPro Hero4 Session mini camera fell short of expectations. [ADWEEK]

SWATCH IS SECRETLY STOCKPILING PATENTS. Swatch is developing mobile payment capabilities for watches based on technology similar to that in touch-enabled bank cards. The company says early next year it will introduce a $90 watch called the Bellamy that can be used to make electronic payments at stores. [BUSINESSWEEK]

WHAT ROUGH QUARTER AT LANDS END TEACHES US ABOUT THE CLOTHING BUSINESS. Competitors continued to offer the eye-popping discounts that have been de rigueur since the recession, shoppers balked when they didn’t see those types of offers at Lands’ End. [WASHINGTON POST]

INSTAGRAM TAKES ON GROWING ROLE IN ART MARKET. In the past few years, it has emerged as the social media platform of choice for many contemporary artists, galleries, auction houses and collectors. [NYT]

AFTER A BILLION SORE FEET, CONVERSE WANTS CHUCKS TO FEEL LIKE NIKE’S. Adding Nike tech will make Chucks more comfortable and conform to a footwear trend that has even seeped into dress shoes. [BLOOMBERG]

ALEXANDER WANG SET TO LEAVE KERING’S BALENCIAGA. The New-York based Alexander Wang brand, estimated to generate sales of around $100 million, just raised funds to finance its expansion and investors asked for Wang’s increased commitment, the source said. [REUTERS]

KERING EARNINGS BEAT ESTIMATES AS GUCCI RETURNS TO GROWTH. “We are particularly satisfied with the progress at Gucci,” Kering Chief Executive Officer Francois-Henri Pinault said. Kering is seeking to rejuvenate Gucci as demand for luxury goods slows in parts of Asia, where the French company got more than 40 percent of sales last year. [BLOOMBERG]

FROM CLEAN-CUT TO ROCK, NEW YORK WRAPS UP FIRST MENSWEAR SHOW WEEK. Fashion Week: Men’s, launched by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, was the first of its kind in New York, unlike other fashion capitals Paris, Milan and London which host their separate catwalk shows dedicated to men’s clothing. [REUTERS]

AT NEW YORK FASHION WEEK: MEN’S, CALIFORNIA WAS THE MUSE. An impressive percentage of the nearly 60 shows not only made a persuasive case for consolidating the men’s wear presentations but also for the robust health of men’s wear in general. [NYT]

SMOOTH DEBUT FOR NEW YORK FASHION WEEK: MEN’S. The inaugural event has lacked the frenzy and frisson of the women’s shows, but is compensating with good organization and industry support. [WSJ]

CRISP TAILORING AND IDENTITY PARADES AT FIRST NY FASHION WEEK. Colorful tops and cardigans, sleek trouser suits and sportswear mixed with crisp tailoring at identity parade mock-ups featured in New York’s first fashion week dedicated to menswear. [REUTERS]

LONDON MEN’S FASHION WEEK OFFERS DESIGNER, TAILOR AND HIGH STREET. London is seeking to rival designer cities Paris, Milan and New York as a capital for men’s fashion and retailers are increasingly turning their attention to menswear. According to figures cited by the British Fashion Council, menswear sales are expected to increase by 27 percent to $25.59 billion by 2018. [REUTERS]