French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH – Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy has paid US$200 million for a 10 per cent stake in Chinese fashion brand Ochirly.

The buyout gives L Capital, LVMH’s private equity arm, to hold a direct stake in the family-owned Ochirly which has total value of US$2 billion.

The investment gives L Capital an opportunity to break into China’s strong fashion industry while Ochirly gains recognition through having a global investor.

Heritage French and Italian fashion brands make up a list of the world’s most valuable labels following a compilation by the World Luxury Association (WLA).

The World’s Most Valuable Luxury Brands Top 100 provides rankings in areas including yachts, cars and resorts, although a large focus is on the fashion arena.

The Top 100 is based on luxury brands’ influence on a global scale and they take into account factors such as market share and consumer feedback.

Bing, the decision engine from Microsoft, recently pulled together its search trends for 2011 and below is the top 10 searched fashion brands of 2011.

Gucci reigns supreme for a second year in a row and beat out top brands including Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Y-3 and Louis Vuitton.

Guess and J.Crew proved to be forces amongst the high-end labels that made the list, taking the number 6 and 7 spots respectively.

French luxury products giant PPR said on Tuesday it was acquiring Italian high-end menswear brand Brioni, in line with the restructuring of its business.

PPR has “signed an accord with Brioni shareholders to acquire 100 percent of the capital,” it said in a statement, without giving a figure for the deal.

PPR head Francois-Henri Pinault said this acquisition “completes our portfolio of luxury brands … in the mens’ ready-to-wear segment,” which is growing fast.

Prada hits the Hong Kong bourse on Friday, but the luxury brand may see its share price sag thanks to choppy global conditions.

Concerns that Prada’s stock is overpriced, and a tax hurdle that could shrink investors’ profit, may also dampen enthusiasm for the Italian company.

Prada last week reportedly sold 423.2 million shares at HK$39.50 ($5), raising a less-than-expected $2.14 billion.

Labelux, the European private luxury group that owns Bally, has acquired Jimmy Choo for over £500m from TowerBrook Capital.

Jimmy Choo was founded in 1996 in London by Mellon, a former Vogue editor, and shoemaker Jimmy Choo, who sold his interest in 2001.

TowerBrook Capital Partners bought Jimmy Choo in 2007 for £185m. It has developed the company into a global brand.