Men’s fashion prices frozen

PRADA, Holding and Hugo Boss are among European designer-clothing brands freezing prices of men’s 2004 spring/summer collections, trying to spur sales as the dollar slides and shoppers from New York to Tokyo cut spending.

Some of the largest fashion houses showing at the Pitti Immagine Uomo men’s wear trade fair in Florence on June 19 to 22 and Moda Milano Uomo in Milan on June 22 to 26 said the cost of clothes won’t change.

Smaller rivals such as Ferragamo SpA and Ermenegildo Zegna Group, which can’t absorb the dollar’s effect on sales, will limit increases to 10% or less.