Italian luxury goods firm PRADA has posted strong first-half sales growth, buoyed by 41% growth in directly operated stores.

Sales increased 18.7% in Europe, 29.9% in the US and 47.3% in the Far East.

Patrizio Bertelli, cheif executive of Prada, said: “The Prada Group’s strategy, aimed at growth in all markets, will be further strengthened in the following years through the development of our directly operated stores network.”