Virgin launches fashion collection

RICHARD BRANSON'S Virgin empire yesterday launched its first fashion collection with a range of casual clothing. The launch of the Vie clothing range by Victory Corporation follows a warning from Victory, which so far has focused on cosmetics, that losses this year could be "significantly" bigger than market expectations.

Branson and Virgin Trustees upped their holding in Victory to 54.69 percent on Thursday from 51.2 per cent, saying Virgin was "totally committed to Victory". But even though Victory is only a small part of the Virgin empire, which stretches from airlines through trains to financial services, there are concerns among observers its struggles could impact on the Virgin image. Virgin has dispensed with its hallmark signature-style logo for the clothing and picked a modern, hi-tech typeface for its labelling, centred with a bold double "V".