Louis Vuitton "very optimistic" on Christmas sales

PARIS (Reuters) - French fashion and leather goods company Louis Vuitton, part of luxury group LVMH, said its sales remained on a rising trend and it looked forward to the end-of-year festive season.

"We are very optimistic on the Christmas season," Antoine Arnault, head of communications at Louis Vuitton, said on the sidelines of the brand's spring/summer 2010 womenswear show on Wednesday. "Sales are continuing on the rising trend."

While many luxury goods makers are declining to give an outlook for the crucial Christmas period, the head of Italian shoe and bag maker Tod's has said consumers should regain some confidence by Christmas and return to shops "to get what they want."

Antoine's father, Bernard Arnault -- the head of LVMH -- said last week that some of the group's brands such as Louis Vuitton, have not been impacted as much by the financial crisis as its rivals.

"(This year) is difficult, we can feel a little slowdown, but it is still another strong year for Louis Vuitton," Antoine Arnault said, adding the brand's policy not to carry out promotional sales and product quality were helping it.

LVMH shares were up 1.8 percent at 69.75 euros at 1419 GMT.

Antoine Arnault also said Louis Vuitton, for whom pop singer Madonna has modeled, would soon open a shop in Mongolia.

The Louis Vuitton show was broadcast for fans on social networking site Facebook. Inspired by street wear, Creative Director Marc Jacobs presented a colourful collection, featuring shorts and richly embroidered jackets and tops.

"The team and I decided we would do something real," Jacobs told reporters backstage.

(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Mathilde Gardin; editing by Elaine Hardcastle)