The luxury goods market is rebounding from the slump caused by the global recession, but analysts say upscale sellers will be facing a hard slog due to changing demographics and lingering consumer caution.

Global luxury goods industry sales are expected to grow four percent in 2010 to 158 billion euros (195 billion dollars) after a painful 8.0 percent decline in 2009, according to the consulting firm Bain & Company.

Jean-Paul Gaultier, the enfant terrible of French fashion, is stepping down as designer of women’s ready-to-wear for Hermès.

He will be replaced by Christophe Lemaire, who has revitalised Lacoste since and has also worked under Christian Lacroix and Thierry Mugler.

The spring-summer 2011 collection, to be presented in October, will be the last designed by Gaultier for Hermès.

The French fashion house Hermès is offering an eye-catching new origami set paying homage to its iconic scarf designs.

The set features several sheets of origami paper adorned with scarf prints in various motifs on one side, and deep-hued Rothko-like color blocks on the other.

Encased in a handstitched black saddle leather envelope and presented in a black lacquer box, the set is priced at about $750.

Jean-Louis Dumas, who chaired the French luxury goods group Hermes for almost three decades until 2006, has died at the age of 72, his spokesman said on Sunday. He died on Saturday in Paris.

Dumas took over in 1978 as head of the illustrious fashion and luxury house, which was founded by his family five generations earlier, in 1837.

Under his leadership, Hermes became a global brand, turning over 1.9 billion euros in 2009, with wide-ranging interests including stakes in the prestigious German camera maker Leica or Jean-Paul Gaultier’s fashion house.

According to a study compiled by market research firm Millward Brown Optimor, the most valuable brand is Louis Vuitton with a brand value of $19.8 billion.

Hermes, with a brand value of $8.45 billion, landed in the second spot, followed by Gucci ($7.58 billion), Chanel ($5.54 billion) and Hennessy ($5.36 billion).

Brands that focused on heritage and history instead of high fashion did better.

Seems as if even Hermes is not recession-proof: according to shopping blog shefinds.com, a previously almost unattainable Hermes Birkin bag can now be bought by anyone — if you’re ready to spend $6,500 or more, that is.

The Birkin, one of the best-known statement bags, can cost up to six digits and is frequently worn by Hollywood A-listers.

“Then we called around to Hermès, and found out there is no more silly waiting list — they told us we could walk right in and get one today.”