PARIS (Reuters) -Chanel and Dior are among a record number of top fashion brands that will introduce new designers’ collections on the catwalk in the coming weeks, aiming to reignite shoppers’ interest in a bruised luxury industry that lost one of its greats, Giorgio Armani, last week.

The stakes are high for the $400 billion sector which kicks off a month of fashion shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris on September 10. Brands have struggled to revamp sales since the post-pandemic boom wound down two years ago.

After averaging annual growth of 10% for nearly a decade, the sector slumped last year, triggering a flurry of changes at the leadership and creative level.

“The industry is facing troubled waters,” said Jonathan Siboni, CEO of consultancy Luxurynsight.

The Chinese economy

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