British luxury handbag maker Mulberry posted surging Christmas sales and raised its annual profits forecast Thursday.

Retail sales at the group jumped 41 percent in the six weeks to January 14 from a year earlier on strong Asian demand, Mulberry said in a trading update.

“I am delighted that trading during Christmas and the New Year has been strong and consequently the results for the year to 31 March 2012 are likely to exceed our earlier expectations,” said Mulberry chairman and chief executive Godfrey Davis.

Rising London-based designer Mary Katrantzou has collaborated with French label Longchamp for a collection of Eastern-influenced handbags.

Designed with the vision “When East meets West”, the line continues Katrantzou’s signature patterned aesthetic, and includes an array of totes adorned in Eastern-inspired motifs such as orchids and paper lanterns.

With a pre-exclusive launch scheduled January 23, the line will be available at Parisian boutique Colette, whose e-commerce site offers international shipping.

Louis Vuitton has collaborated with Yayoi Kusama on a series of products including leather goods, ready-to-wear, accessories, shoes, watches and jewelry.

Marc Jacobs worked with the Japanese artist on the range, which hits Louis Vuitton boutiques early July. Special window installations are also scheduled.

The artist is best known for her interest in polka dots, which she has famously applied to tree trunks, entire rooms and even people.

American actress Mila Kunis has been named as the new face for the Spring Summer 2012 campaign of luxury brand Christian Dior.

Kunis is the latest in a long line of movie stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly, to be associated with Dior.

The 28-year-old actress is thrilled with her appointment, although admits her day-to-day style doesn’t always match the luxurious Dior aesthetic.

In celebration of the Year of the Dragon, Coach has collaborated with Chinese artist Zhang Lan to put his stamp on a collection of exclusive items.

Mr. Lan’s dragon illustration, in the traditional style of ink painting, adorns Coach’s iconic tote shape, as well as an assortment of matching small leather goods.

The gold design pops against a backdrop of the brand’s Signature pattern in mahogany.

A proud collaboration between Barking Irons & Bombay Sapphire, the Bar Bag is inspired by classic gentry style of 19th Century London.

This highly-limited item was modeled after antique medical kits from the age of home-visiting doctors.

The Bar Bag simultaneously references the early medicinal remedies attributed to gin as well as the pride and skill that modern cocktail culture commands of its distinguished purveyors.