Rosen found himself hamstrung by the label's owners, Frank Mori and Tomio Taki, despite their friendship.

WSJ: A Homegrown Fashion Mogul

In a bid to rekindle Comorian nationalism, and keep his job, Mr Taki has demanded the return of Mayotte.

ECONOMIST: Comoros Islands

The latest tremors in Comoros had less to do with Mr Taki's rule than with Mayotte, the fourth island in the archipelago, which in 1975 had voted to remain a French colony.

ECONOMIST: Comoros Islands