International Fashion and Models Portal

EXCLUSIVE: Pharrell Williams Features in Short Film for Chanel Collaboration

Posted: March 25, 2019

PARIS — Pharrell Williams has been a Chanel model, film star, composer and brand ambassador. This week, he will make his debut in his new role as codesigner of a capsule collection with the French luxury brand that is set to bow exclusively on Thursday at the opening of Chanel’s first flagship boutique in Seoul. […]

0 comments

Cindy Crawford Marks L.A.’s New Beach Glam Brand Le Superbe

Posted: March 25, 2019

OG L.A. fashion tastemaker Jeannine Braden is gilding the beach with her contemporary label Le Superbe, which had its coming out party last week at the Brentwood boutique Permanent Vacation, with Cindy Crawford, Jenny Belushi, Heidi Brooks and more in attendance. “She has always understood what makes L.A. style unique,” said Crawford of her pal, […]

0 comments

Influence Peddler: Giselle Soto, the Eyebrow Artist Behind a Viral Meme

Posted: March 25, 2019

Anastasia Soare built her billion-dollar empire grooming the eyebrows of Los Angeles’ elite. At 23, Giselle Soto is on her way to building a buzzy client list of her own, many of whom know about her because of a viral meme. In 2016, a meme featuring meticulously groomed eyebrows went viral among social media’s beauty […]

0 comments

Ryan Hurd’s Journey From Songwriter to Artist

Posted: March 25, 2019

Ryan Hurd is still figuring it out. The songwriter from Kalamazoo, Mich., who opted to try his hand at music after graduating from Nashville’s Belmont University with a degree in sociology, seemed to have made the right decision. Over the past few years, he has racked up some pretty impressive writing credits including chart-topping hits […]

0 comments

Eyewear Sales Veer Toward High Luxury, Contemporary

Posted: March 25, 2019

The eyewear industry is reaching calmer waters following a period of upheaval and consolidation. Safilo’s losses are narrowing and the company expects to return to profitability by 2020; Marchon expects 2019 to be its best year in a five-year period; Marcolin continues to invest in Thelios, a joint partnership with LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, […]

0 comments

Investment Fund to Support the Expansion of Footwear Label Manebí

Posted: March 25, 2019

MILAN — Launched in 2013 as a small brand offering revisited espadrilles, Manebí is gearing up to face new international challenges. The company established by Milanese friends Antonello Benati and Vera Drossopulo Bogdano has opened its capital to Milano Investment Partners — MIP, a fund management company specialized in venture growth investments. Details of the […]

0 comments

Puma & the Kooples Have a Fun New Collab

Posted: March 25, 2019

Puma and the Kooples are following up their initial collaboration with fresh takes on the Suede and the Thunder, two archival Puma styles. The Kooples version of the Suede comes in all-black, with a chunky outsole, a suede upper and co-branding at the heels and tongue. The twist comes courtesy of detailing on the lateral […]

0 comments

North West & Penelope Disick Twin in Workboots at Kanye’s Church Service

Posted: March 24, 2019

Kanye West’s Sunday church service was a family affair, and the kids’ looks were the most interesting part. West’s 5-year-old daughter, North, coordinated her footwear with her cousin, Kourtney Kardashian’s daughter Penelope Disick. North looked adorable in a snakeskin-print longsleeve T-shirt and matching bike shorts, teamed with a pale purple bow in her hair and […]

0 comments

Postelegant RTW and Men’s Fall 2019

Posted: March 24, 2019

Name: Postelegant Main message: One of the six winners of the 2019 Tokyo Fashion Award, Yuya Nakata’s fledgling brand (established only two years ago) aims to make “timeless modern wear with the best materials and details.” For the brand’s first collection shown on the runway, it did just that. The silhouettes were classic and refined, […]

0 comments

Cinoh RTW and Men’s Fall 2019

Posted: March 24, 2019

Name: Cinoh Main message: Takayuki Chino has been heading his own brands for over a decade, but as one of the winners of the 2019 Tokyo Fashion Award, he staged a runway show for the first time this season. With it, he showed his audience just why Cinoh has reached levels of popularity that many […]

0 comments

Could Lonzo Ball Be Headed to Nike? This Instagram Post Has Fans Thinking So

Posted: March 24, 2019

Lonzo Ball and Nike? The Los Angeles Laker sparked rumors of a move to the Swoosh with an Instagram posted yesterday. The post shows an image of the 21-year-old from the waist up, with text reading “It’s only a crazy dream until you do it” in a similar font to that used by Nike in […]

0 comments

Askale Merachi Sets Women’s LA Marathon Course Record Time, Elisha Barno Wins on Men’s End

Posted: March 24, 2019

The results are in from the Los Angeles Marathon — and it was by no means an easy contest as Elisha Barno and Askale Merachi claimed the top spots in the men’s and women’s contests, respectively. Barno’s race was the more dramatic of the two, coming down to the final stretch as just barely outran […]

0 comments

Serena Williams Leaves Miami Open With Injury

Posted: March 24, 2019

Serena Williams is out at the Miami Open. The tennis star was forced to withdraw from the tournament today due to a previously undisclosed knee injury. Williams has won the Miami Open eight times, with the most recent victory coming in 2015. The Nike-sponsored athlete would have played the Chinese star Wang Qiang, the No. […]

0 comments

Janelle Monae Goes Pantless in a Tuxedo Jacket With Louboutin Boots at the Kids’ Choice Awards

Posted: March 24, 2019

Janelle Monae often steps out in pantsuits on the red carpet — and at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in Los Angeles last night, Monae ditched the pants in favor of a tuxedo jacket worn as a dress. The singer made a statement on the red carpet in a black-and-white checked tuxedo jacket — worn […]

0 comments

Taylor Hill Looks Like a Rockstar in Head-to-Toe Leather & Edgy Moto Boots

Posted: March 24, 2019

Taylor Hill may be a Victoria’s Secret Angel, but she looked like a rock ‘n’ roll star as she stepped out to the Peppermint Club in West Hollywood, Calif. yesterday. The 23-year-old stunned in form-fitting black leather skinny pants, which she teamed with an oversized gray AC/DC T-shirt. Battling the evening chill, Hill draped a […]

0 comments

DJ Khaled & Son Asahd Twin in Off-White x Nike Sneakers at the Kids’ Choice Awards

Posted: March 24, 2019

DJ Khaled was host of the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards last night — and he made the evening into a family affair, bringing along wife Nicole Tuck and son Asahd. Khaled and his family sported color-coordinated looks on the red carpet, rocking patterned shirts with black bottoms. The 43-year-old hitmaker wore a floral button-down shirt, […]

0 comments

The latest trend in skincare: anti-pollution makeup sales soar

Posted: March 24, 2019

By Lisa Niven-Phillips As city air becomes more toxic, sales of a new type of product are booming Demand for anti-pollution beauty products is soaring as Londoners wake up to the impact of toxic air on their complexions. Microscopic particles are second only to the sun in terms of their ageing effect, and there is […]

0 comments

Twitter Critics Mercilessly Mock Kid Rock And His Flag Pants Posing With Trump

Posted: March 24, 2019

Someone wanted to know if Trump hugged the pants. Via:: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kid-rock-donald-trump-twitter_n_5c9713e0e4b01ebeef104eb5       

0 comments
Stephen Colbert Has An Ingenious Plan For Democrats To Save The State Of The UnionStephen Colbert Has An Ingenious Plan For Democrats To Save The State Of The Union
‘Roma’ Actor Fears He’ll Miss The Oscars After Being Denied A U.S. Visa‘Roma’ Actor Fears He’ll Miss The Oscars After Being Denied A U.S. Visa
Gina Rodriguez Breaks Silence On ‘Anti-Black’ Controversy: ‘The Backlash Was Devastating’Gina Rodriguez Breaks Silence On ‘Anti-Black’ Controversy: ‘The Backlash Was Devastating’
In ‘The Cher Show,’ Broadway’s Michael Berresse Makes Bob Mackie More Than A NameIn ‘The Cher Show,’ Broadway’s Michael Berresse Makes Bob Mackie More Than A Name
Alec Baldwin Pleads Guilty In Parking Tussle, Agrees To Anger ManagementAlec Baldwin Pleads Guilty In Parking Tussle, Agrees To Anger Management
Jay Leno Expresses No Regret For Conan O’Brien ‘Tonight Show’ DramaJay Leno Expresses No Regret For Conan O’Brien ‘Tonight Show’ Drama
Kate Middleton Gets Real About The Struggles All Parents FaceKate Middleton Gets Real About The Struggles All Parents Face
Comic Kevin Barnett, Creator Of ‘Rel’ on Fox, Dies Suddenly At 32Comic Kevin Barnett, Creator Of ‘Rel’ on Fox, Dies Suddenly At 32
James Gandolfini’s Son Michael To Play Tony Soprano In ‘Sopranos’ MovieJames Gandolfini’s Son Michael To Play Tony Soprano In ‘Sopranos’ Movie
‘The President’s B***h’: ‘The Late Show’ Taunts Rudy Giuliani With Tombstone Epitaphs‘The President’s B***h’: ‘The Late Show’ Taunts Rudy Giuliani With Tombstone Epitaphs
Jimmy Kimmel Asks Kids To Settle ‘Sesame Street’ F-Bomb Debate Once And For AllJimmy Kimmel Asks Kids To Settle ‘Sesame Street’ F-Bomb Debate Once And For All
Taraji P. Henson Sparks Outrage After Comparing R. Kelly To Harvey WeinsteinTaraji P. Henson Sparks Outrage After Comparing R. Kelly To Harvey Weinstein
Jimmy Fallon Gets Inside Donald Trump’s Head And Reveals His Innermost ThoughtsJimmy Fallon Gets Inside Donald Trump’s Head And Reveals His Innermost Thoughts
‘Late Night’ Writer Has 1 Question For The ‘Children’ In MAGA Hats‘Late Night’ Writer Has 1 Question For The ‘Children’ In MAGA Hats
Chris Brown Plans To Sue Rape Accuser For SlanderChris Brown Plans To Sue Rape Accuser For Slander
Colbert Uses Giuliani’s Own Logic To Explain How Bad A Lawyer He IsColbert Uses Giuliani’s Own Logic To Explain How Bad A Lawyer He Is
Yalitza Aparicio Of ‘Roma’ Is First Indigenous Woman Nominated For Best Actress OscarYalitza Aparicio Of ‘Roma’ Is First Indigenous Woman Nominated For Best Actress Oscar
Your Incredible ‘Incredibles’ Theory Is Probably Incredibly WrongYour Incredible ‘Incredibles’ Theory Is Probably Incredibly Wrong
Anne Hathaway On Why She Plans To Stop Drinking For The Next 18 YearsAnne Hathaway On Why She Plans To Stop Drinking For The Next 18 Years
Bebe Rexha Says Designers Won’t Dress Her For Grammys ‘Because I’m Too Big’Bebe Rexha Says Designers Won’t Dress Her For Grammys ‘Because I’m Too Big’
Cardi B Slams Conservative Who Slut-Shamed Rapper’s ‘Twerk’ Video: ‘NO Still Means NO’Cardi B Slams Conservative Who Slut-Shamed Rapper’s ‘Twerk’ Video: ‘NO Still Means NO’
Spike Lee Finally Nominated For Best Director, Best Picture OscarsSpike Lee Finally Nominated For Best Director, Best Picture Oscars
Lady Gaga Makes History With Dual Oscar Nominations For ‘A Star Is Born’Lady Gaga Makes History With Dual Oscar Nominations For ‘A Star Is Born’
RuPaul Advises Meghan Markle To Shut Down Haters In A Very RuPaul WayRuPaul Advises Meghan Markle To Shut Down Haters In A Very RuPaul Way
‘Roma’ Ties ‘Crouching Tiger’ For Most Foreign Film Oscars Nominations At 10‘Roma’ Ties ‘Crouching Tiger’ For Most Foreign Film Oscars Nominations At 10
Angelica Hale Earns Second Golden Buzzer On ‘America’s Got Talent: The Champions’Angelica Hale Earns Second Golden Buzzer On ‘America’s Got Talent: The Champions’
Twitter Gives Rudy Giuliani Hell For His Imagined Talk To St. PeterTwitter Gives Rudy Giuliani Hell For His Imagined Talk To St. Peter
Chris Brown Detained In Paris After Rape AccusationChris Brown Detained In Paris After Rape Accusation
Trevor Noah Jokes That He Wanted To Punch The MAGA-Hat Kid, TooTrevor Noah Jokes That He Wanted To Punch The MAGA-Hat Kid, Too
Jimmy Kimmel Adds Donald ‘Jesus’ Trump To Mount Rushmore For Worst Possible ReasonsJimmy Kimmel Adds Donald ‘Jesus’ Trump To Mount Rushmore For Worst Possible Reasons
Seth Meyers Blames ‘President Werewolf’ For The Government ShutdownSeth Meyers Blames ‘President Werewolf’ For The Government Shutdown
Stephen Colbert Perfectly Sums Up Trump’s ‘Offer’ To End The ShutdownStephen Colbert Perfectly Sums Up Trump’s ‘Offer’ To End The Shutdown
Lady Gaga’s Moral Collision With Mike Pence Illustrates How Different Christians Can BeLady Gaga’s Moral Collision With Mike Pence Illustrates How Different Christians Can Be
Erykah Badu Clarifies Call For R. Kelly ‘Prayer’ After BacklashErykah Badu Clarifies Call For R. Kelly ‘Prayer’ After Backlash
Matthew McConaughey ‘Broke A Sweat Dancing’ At K-Pop Band BTS’s ConcertMatthew McConaughey ‘Broke A Sweat Dancing’ At K-Pop Band BTS’s Concert
Leslie Jones Slams New ‘Ghostbusters’ As ‘Something Trump Would Do’Leslie Jones Slams New ‘Ghostbusters’ As ‘Something Trump Would Do’
Trump Gets Razzie Nominations For Roles As Himself In Real LifeTrump Gets Razzie Nominations For Roles As Himself In Real Life
‘Lego Movie 2’ Promises Even Catchier Tune To Get Stuck Inside Your Head‘Lego Movie 2’ Promises Even Catchier Tune To Get Stuck Inside Your Head
Erykah Badu Says She’s ‘Putting Up A Prayer’ For R. Kelly At Chicago Concert. Twitter Erupts.Erykah Badu Says She’s ‘Putting Up A Prayer’ For R. Kelly At Chicago Concert. Twitter Erupts.
‘Glass’ Tries To Do What No Other Superhero Movie Would Dare, But It Comes Up Short‘Glass’ Tries To Do What No Other Superhero Movie Would Dare, But It Comes Up Short
Cardi B Torches Tomi Lahren With Savage Clapback: ‘I Will Dog Walk You’Cardi B Torches Tomi Lahren With Savage Clapback: ‘I Will Dog Walk You’
‘Weekend Update’ Rips BuzzFeed In Scorching Attack Over ‘Fake News’‘Weekend Update’ Rips BuzzFeed In Scorching Attack Over ‘Fake News’
Kate McKinnon’s Elizabeth Warren Is The Prostate Exam America Needs On ‘SNL’Kate McKinnon’s Elizabeth Warren Is The Prostate Exam America Needs On ‘SNL’
Kate McKinnon’s Nancy ‘Peloser’ Has A Real Deal For Alec Baldwin’s Shutdown On ‘SNL’Kate McKinnon’s Nancy ‘Peloser’ Has A Real Deal For Alec Baldwin’s Shutdown On ‘SNL’
Stephen Colbert Taunts Second Lady Karen Pence Over Teaching JobStephen Colbert Taunts Second Lady Karen Pence Over Teaching Job
The Great Movie Theater Mystery: Which Armrest Is Yours?The Great Movie Theater Mystery: Which Armrest Is Yours?
‘The Daily Show’ Unveils Perfect Credit Card To Pay For Donald Trump’s Wall‘The Daily Show’ Unveils Perfect Credit Card To Pay For Donald Trump’s Wall
Bill Maher Jokes About Penetration Between Donald Trump And Vladimir PutinBill Maher Jokes About Penetration Between Donald Trump And Vladimir Putin
Wendy Williams Takes Break From Show For ‘Significant Time’ In HospitalWendy Williams Takes Break From Show For ‘Significant Time’ In Hospital
Top Posts-Editor’s selected Article

Apps of my life

Posted: February 3, 2019

By Anna Katina Hello my friends! First of all, thanks a lot for the feedback regarding my car:). For those who haven’t read the news, you can read it here. Today, I am sharing with you my favourite apps I use on my iphone. Since I received the new iPhone XS Max, I decided to […]

0 comments

She got her first car

Posted: January 31, 2019

By Anna Katina Hello my friends! The time has come… I talked a lot about it on Instagram, I asked your opinions, I made you guess the colour.. and today, the waiting is over.. today, ANNA GOT HER FIRST CAR. Some of you may know that it took me some time to get the driving […]

0 comments

Cuba 2018

Posted: December 30, 2018

By Anna Katina Peeeeeps! Hello! It’s Sunday, December 30th and I promised you to publish my trip to Cuba before 2019, so I will keep my promise!! 😀 Where should I start… Cuba was an amazing experience this Summer. I travelled a lot this year but did not publish any travel posts… Shame on me. […]

0 comments

Christmas Gift Guide 2018

Posted: December 12, 2018

By Anna Katina Hello my friends! The waiting is over, my Christmas Gift Guide 2018 is live!! I worked two entire days on the photos after collecting all the gifts I wanted to feature. In my selection, I present classic presents but also less classic ones, amazing deals I found etc. For example I had […]

0 comments

Save the date! Troc’n’Brol 2018

Posted: December 3, 2018

By Anna Katina Yes, that’s my twin Xenia a few years ago with black, long hair!! 😀 TROC’N’BROL – an alternative Christmas market! It’s that time of the year again and I’m so excited!! December 14, I’m getting ready!! Every year, I participate to Troc’n’Brol. For me, it’s the coolest yearly event in Luxembourg! First, […]

0 comments

My skincare routine

Posted: November 13, 2018

By Anna Katina Dear friends, first of all – I can’t believe I did not blog since July. What the.. But I’m back and I will blog once a month at least from now because I missed this so much. So, after many request and questions about my skin I decided to write about all […]

0 comments
EXCLUSIVE: Pharrell Williams Features in Short Film for Chanel Collaboration
PARIS — Pharrell Williams has been a Chanel model, film star, composer and brand ambassador. This week, he will make his debut in his new role as codesigner of a capsule collection with the French luxury brand that is set to bow exclusively on Thursday at the opening of Chanel's first flagship boutique in Seoul. To mark the launch, Williams has stepped in front of the camera again for a short film featuring a gang of women and men on a nocturnal road trip, dressed in the rainbow outfits of the Chanel-Pharrell collection — think sweatshirts with embroidered graffiti, terry-cloth bucket hats and oodles of rhinestone jewelry. In behind-the-scenes footage shared exclusively with WWD, the multihyphenate explained the process that brought him together with the late Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel's creative director for 36 years, starting with their sneaker launch at the now-defunct Paris concept store Colette in 2017. “This campaign and this film are about a capsule collection, something that they've never done in the history of the brand. They do that not with a designer, but with a musician with ambition and dreams,” Williams said. The “Happy” singer, who has received 12 Grammy Awards and heads the multimedia collective I Am Other, was previouslyFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Cindy Crawford Marks L.A.’s New Beach Glam Brand Le Superbe
OG L.A. fashion tastemaker Jeannine Braden is gilding the beach with her contemporary label Le Superbe, which had its coming out party last week at the Brentwood boutique Permanent Vacation, with Cindy Crawford, Jenny Belushi, Heidi Brooks and more in attendance. “She has always understood what makes L.A. style unique,” said Crawford of her pal, whom she has known for 20 years, while dressed in the label's zebra-patterned sequined pencil skirt and silk top. “It's about West Coast beaches with Hollywood in your backyard.” That's how Braden describes Le Superbe's offering of feather-trimmed and sequined-dusted Hawaiian-print pencil skirts and minidresses (one named after L.A.'s famed Giorgio's nightclub), alongside Aloha shirts with crystal trim, palm-and-leopard-print pajama pants and kimonos, vintage-inspired “Cobain” boyfriend cardigans with jeweled shell patches, and baseball Ts with irreverent slogans such as “Nobody Owns the Beach.” The collection sells for $150 to $995 at 150 retail doors, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Ron Herman among them. Jeannine Braden and Cindy Crawford Michael Buckner/WWD/REX/Shutterstock Venice, Calif. native Braden has been a been a fixture on the L.A. style scene since the Nineties, when she started as a music video stylist (she and Belinda Carlisle were roomies), before launching into retail withFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Figure Skaters’ Costumes, Artistry Wins Them Celebrity-like Endorsements
SAITAMA, JAPAN — More than a dress, figure skating costumes are an opportunity to communicate a larger concept with viewers and judges — strategically designed to complement a routine's music and emphasize its theme. At Friday night's ISU World Figure Skating Championships — held at the Saitama Super Arena — this meant spandex, rhinestone-laden interpretations of famous stage works such as “Carmen,” “Chicago” and “Romeo & Juliet.” Skating enlists an extreme athleticism that sees athletes hurtling themselves three, and now increasingly four, rotations into the air and spinning so rapidly that their body encounters multiple G-forces. The sport is unique, however, in that visual presentation plays an equally important role in an athlete's success, placing costumes in a vital position. Skating's athletic romance and expressive fashions have helped create a significant fanbase for the sport in countries including Russia, South Korea and Japan — where figure skaters are becoming household names and are beginning to appear in high-profile campaigns for major beauty and fashion brands. “I think what differentiates skating from other sports is that it's also not only about athleticism. There is an artistic component, which complicates things enormously,” said designer Vera Wang, formerly a nationally ranked skater, who also creates costumesFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
John Nollet Wigs-out for Schiaparelli
If Elsa met John… Elsa Schiaparelli, the trailblazing designer who died in 1973, loved nature and the zodiac, and worked with artists such as Salvador Dalí. Parisian hairstylist John Nollet, whose client book reads like a list of Hollywood and French cinema A-listers, has a fondness for insects, the night sky and creating magic with whimsical wigs. Nollet on Wednesday was in New York for “The Secret Garden of Elsa Schiaparelli” held at Bergdorf Goodman‘s fourth-floor butterfly-festooned Schiaparelli boutique, where he launched a collection of hair accessories inspired by Schiaparelli's favorite themes — bugs, butterflies and shooting stars — and house codes such as padlocks. “I used the DNA of the House of Schiaparelli. The base of the creations is feathers,” Nollet said of the delicate hair pieces. Some hug the head like an open cap, but are made from thin metal worked like filigree with butterflies in the design. Others have sprays of feathers decorated with rhinestones, inspired by Schiaparelli's interest in the heavens. “I met the Schiaparelli dream team at The Salons boutique at 1 Place Vendôme. They were working on the clothes and there was a big butterfly and insects,” Nollet said, explaining that creative director Bertrand Guyon's spring haute coutureFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
John Nollet Wigs-out for Schiaparelli
If Elsa met John… Elsa Schiaparelli, the trailblazing designer who died in 1973, loved nature and the zodiac, and worked with artists such as Salvador Dalí. Parisian hairstylist John Nollet, whose client book reads like a list of Hollywood and French cinema A-listers, has a fondness for insects, the night sky and creating magic with whimsical wigs. Nollet on Wednesday was in New York for “The Secret Garden of Elsa Schiaparelli” held at Bergdorf Goodman‘s fourth-floor butterfly-festooned Schiaparelli boutique, where he launched a collection of hair accessories inspired by Schiaparelli's favorite themes — bugs, butterflies and shooting stars — and house codes such as padlocks. “I used the DNA of the House of Schiaparelli. The base of the creations is feathers,” Nollet said of the delicate hair pieces. Some hug the head like an open cap, but are made from thin metal worked like filigree with butterflies in the design. Others have sprays of feathers decorated with rhinestones, inspired by Schiaparelli's interest in the heavens. “I met the Schiaparelli dream team at The Salons boutique at 1 Place Vendôme. They were working on the clothes and there was a big butterfly and insects,” Nollet said. “It's very rare that Schiaparelli [is sold outside of] theFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
North Sails Sponsors 151 Miglia-Trofeo Cetilar Regatta
MILAN — Sailmaking specialist North Sails is supporting the 10th edition of Italy's 151 Miglia-Trofeo Cetilar regatta and has pushed the offshore competition to become completely plastic-free. “It's a partnership we care a lot about, because the 151 Miglia is one of the most important regattas in the Mediterranean Sea and also it allows us to stress our commitment to the sea and the oceans,” explained Elisa Riva, marketing director of North Sails, while unveiling the sponsorship at the company's showroom here on Thursday evening. “Starting from its 10th edition the regatta becomes plastic-free.” The sailing competition — which will take place on May 30 through the coasts of Livorno, Marina di Pisa, Punta Ala, Giraglia, Elba Island and Formiche di Grosseto, in the Tuscany region — has pledged to avoid the use of disposable plastics in all its catering services and replacing it with glass and compostable materials. “We never set up sponsorships but rather partnerships based on shared values,” explained Roberto Lacorte, founder of the regatta and chief executive officer of pharmaceutical company PharmaNutra, the main sponsor of the event. “We strongly identify with North Sails for the way they embody and represent the sailing world.” In keeping with its commitments to raiseFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Street Signs: The New Underground: Arab-Influenced Streetwear in Europe’s Fashion Capital
“Oriental is the new black,” as Christian Marie, one of the founders of Paris-based streetwear label Ldn-istan likes to put it. And he is confident of that. So confident in fact that he and the label's creative director, Hamida Aman, are betting their business on it. It could turn out to be an excellent wager. In Europe, a multicultural movement — which includes everything from hipster falafel shops to Arab-inspired techno and pop music — is the result of second- and third-generation Europeans rediscovering their Middle Eastern roots, as well as new waves of migrants finding their place on the continent. In the clothing business, signs include the increasing importance of the Middle Eastern market for streetwear — especially hyped and hard-to-find labels — as demonstrated by the success of events like Sole DXB in Dubai and various high-profile collaborations, with brands like Puma, Nike and the NBA teaming with Arab designers. In its fourth season now, Ldn-istan sells out of a boutique in Paris' Pigalle neighborhood. Marie and Aman have also been touring various trade shows, including Sole DXB, Who's Next in Paris, Seek in Berlin and Pure London. On Thursday, they hosted a showcase and party at well-known Parisian nightFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Is L.A. the Future of the American Runway?
LOS ANGELES — Has the time come for Los Angeles to take the lead? Hollywood hero Tom Ford being elected chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and L.A.-born label Rodarte staging a spectacular flower-filled February runway show at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, Calif., are two signs that the industry could finally consider having an organized fashion week or series of runway events here. The idea is especially compelling now that the next Oscars date — Feb. 9, 2020 — will overlap with New York Fashion Week's fall 2020 season, and sponsorship opportunities for shows in New York are becoming harder to find. “The talent is here,” said Elyse Walker, the longtime L.A. retailer with luxury multilabel boutiques in the Pacific Palisades and Newport Beach, and the fashion director of online site Fwrd by Elyse Walker. “And everyone wants to be in L.A. or come to L.A. I think, if you build it they will come.” Seven years after Hedi Slimane brought his Saint Laurent atelier and international attention to the SoCal style scene, L.A. is still rising. The Frieze L.A. Art Fair had a successful debut in February at Paramount Studios with aFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
L.A.-Based Designers and Brands Who Are Moving the Market and Beyond
Los Angeles' design output has broadened far beyond early Aughts denim and casualwear — though it still has that, too, plus cutting-edge men's streetwear — to include red carpet brands, modern minimalists, resort lifestyle brands and more. A sampling of L.A.-based designers and brands moving the market and beyond. The red-carpet bold facers: Tom Ford Rodarte Monique Lhuillier Tadashi Shoji Haney Brock Jeremy Scott The Mod minimalists: Rosetta Getty Co Zaid Affas Jeana Sohn Juan Carlos Obando The arts n' crafters: Elder Statesman Libertine Greg Lauren RE:LA by Katherine Ross Jesse Kamm The resort lifers: Rhode Staud Rebecca de Ravenel Cult Gaia Le Superbe James Perse Trina Turk Aviator Nation Xirena Reyn Spooner The advanced contemporary set: ALC Equipment, Joie, Current Elliott The Great Vince Anine Bing Wolk Morais Jonathan Simkhai Simon Miller Apolis Jenni Kayne Icons Objects of Devotion Robert Rodriguez The boho brigade: Raquel Allegra Doen Natalie Martin Heidi Merrick For Love & Lemons The street/rocker beats: John Elliott Amiri Chrome Hearts Fear of God Enfant Riches Deprime Stampd Second/Layer Rhude Noon Goons Laurel & Mulholland Local Authority The do-gooders: Toms Reformation Everybody.World Outerknown Patagonia Industry Standard Los Angeles Apparel Atelier & Repairs Entireworld The accessories stars: Irene Neuwirth Jennifer Meyer Clare V Garrett Leight Sophie Buhai Annie Costello Brown Stance Carbon and Hyde Newbark Hoorsenbuhs Jacquie Aiche Spinelli Kilcollin Kendall Conrad La Californienne Gabriela Artigas Daniela Villegas Beatrice Valenzuela Sonia Boyajian George Esquivel Tamara Mellon Nick Fouquet Celeb-fronted: Yeezy Goop Draper James Rachel Zoe Denim/T-shirts: Cotton Citizen Mother Frame Universal Standard Re/Done Ayr Madeworn Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
What Should Tom Ford’s Top Priorities Be at the CFDA?
Designers reacted positively Wednesday to the news that Tom Ford has been elected chairman of the CFDA — and had a lengthy “to do” list of the challenges he faces when he takes over in June. While they praised the work Diane von Furstenberg has done over the last 13 years — working with Steven Kolb, chief executive officer of CFDA — to galvanize the American fashion industry, they say they are looking forward to Ford's tenure and what he'll do to bring a more global perspective to their businesses. New York Fashion Week remains one of the thorniest issues on Ford's plate, and a few women's wear designers had ideas on how he could make changes to the semiannual event. NYFW: Men's presents another problem, and some believe it got off on the wrong foot. They are hoping Ford, who has a luxury men's business, can improve the event and have some impact to help the men's business gain more respect. Continuing the work the CFDA has started on diversity, sustainability, body image and other important issues remain paramount, they stressed. But while the designers laid out the welcome mat, they had a lot to say about the tasks ahead for Ford: Prabal Gurung:Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Hailey Baldwin, Pro-Surfer Kelia Moniz Talk Roxy Sister Line
MALIBU — Hailey Baldwin and Kelia Moniz sat in the VIP offices of Palisades Village, fielding questions about their friendship hours ahead of a launch party for their new line from Roxy, called Sister. It's an apt name for a four-season collection inspired by the pair's friendship, which was evident as they did their rounds with press, sharing laughs as Baldwin passed a cell phone to Moniz to show her a series of text messages the two then giggled about. “We're friends, but we're a lot more than that and I think the next step of that is basically sisters,” Moniz said. “I don't have a sister so I feel like a lot of the girls in my life become sisters.” Moniz, who married one of Baldwin's friends, said that's how the two met and they instantly bonded. The deal with Roxy, which calls for four collections to be released across a two-year period, was celebrated at a launch party at the Little Beach House Malibu Tuesday evening. The first season is a highly curated assortment, Roxy global general manager Emilie Souvras said, using pale pinks and grays mixed in with some metallics and white across 15 stockkeeping units. The assortment is heavy on swim — one piecesFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
History Boy: Manolo Blahnik, The Wallace Collection Creates a Unique Show
LONDON — It's an aesthetic match made in heaven: Art, architecture and history buff Manolo Blahnik is teaming with the Wallace Collection, a trove of fine and decorative arts and Old Master works, on a show meant to spotlight some of the designer's great inspirations, WWD has learned. When he's not working or traveling, Blahnik likes to spend time wandering the grand rooms of The Wallace Collection, a few minutes' walk from his company's headquarters in Marylebone, taking in paintings by Rembrandt, Titian, Rubens, Velazquez, Canaletto and Boucher crowded onto the silk-covered walls. Frans Hals' painting “Laughing Cavalier” hangs there, as does Jean-Honoré Fragonard's Rococo work, “The Swing,” which shows a little silk slipper flying off a young woman's foot toward her lover. Built up in the 18th and 19th centuries by the Marquesses of Hertford and an heir, Sir Richard Wallace, the collection is among the most significant bodies of European fine and decorative arts in the world. “The Swing” by Jean-Honoré Fragonard at The Wallace Collection in London. Courtesy “They were the Gettys of the 19th century,” Blahnik said in an interview, referring to the family's impulse to collect, “and the collection is just extraordinary. It's like going to a private home, and wonderful inFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Bridget Foley’s Diary: Tom Ford on CFDA, Houses — and Melania Trump
Tom Ford almost skipped over “Hello.” “Which one of these things do you want to ask me first?” he pretend barked over the phone from Los Angeles. Even by Ford's high-profile, high-glamour, high-newsmaking standards, there were several compelling boxes to check. On Tuesday, the board of the CFDA made it official in a unanimous vote: Ford will succeed Diane von Furstenberg as the organization's chairman. He assumes the post in June, after 13 years during which von Furstenberg has been the CFDA's face, its guiding light and its heroine. That sea change was the original and primary purpose of our scheduled call. But who doesn't love a tony real estate angle? Earlier in the day, WWD reported that Ford bought Halston's famed house on East 63rd Street in New York in a deal that closed in January, but he'd managed to keep quiet until now. It would have been nifty news even had Halston not been a major influence on Ford's career. Rounding out the topics: Tom's supposed slam at Melania Trump. It came from out of nowhere on Tuesday morning, swiftly reaching Twitter's number-two trending topic. Despite his opening question, Ford preferred to set the agenda himself. “Let's get the other stuff outFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
CFDA Awards: The Nominees Are…
The Council of Fashion Designers of America has revealed the nominees and honorees for the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards, which will take place June 3 at the Brooklyn Museum. The nominees for Womenswear Designer of the Year are Brandon Maxwell, Marc Jacobs, Kate Mulleavy and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte, Rosie Assoulin and Sander Lak for Sies Marjan. Vying for Menswear Designer of the Year are Mike Amiri for Amiri; Virgil Abloh for Off-White; Kerby Jean-Raymond for Pyer Moss; Rick Owens, and Thom Browne for Thom Browne New York. Jennifer Fisher for Jennifer Fisher Jewelry; Virgil Abloh for Off-White; Tabitha Simmons; Telfar Clemens for Telfar, and Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row are the contenders for Accessory Designer of the Year. The nominees for Emerging Designer of the Year are Emily Adams Bode for Bode; Beth Bugdaycay for Foundrae; Heron Preston; Catherine Holstein for Khaite, and Sarah Staudinger and George Augusto for Staud. The CFDA will also give out several honorary awards that evening. Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti, through their foundation, are underwriting the International Award. The nonprofit Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti is focused on charity and the promotion of culture and art. This year's Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti International Award will beFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Investors Said to Be Eyeing Etro
DEAL OR NO DEAL?: A decision on the Roberto Cavalli sale is imminent, a few days after Brunello Cucinelli revealed his succession plans and Furla's owner and president Giovanna Furlanetto admitted the brand has been courted but, at the same time, firmly denied the company is for sale. Last month, Trussardi was acquired by QuattroR Asset Management Co. against a backdrop that sees Italian companies tackle generational changes and merger and acquisition rumors swirl around other storied brands such as Buccellati. Last year, another family company, Missoni, sold a 41.2 percent stake to FSI Midmarket Growth Equity Fund, and Michael Kors Holdings bought Versace, renaming itself Capri Holdings. Now Etro is in the mix. According to sources, investors have also been looking at the fashion brand, which last year celebrated its 50th anniversary with an exhibition in Milan named “Generation Paisley” — a reference to the company's most recognizable pattern. Gerolamo Etro, known as Gimmo, founded the company in 1968 as a textile firm, and, with a forward-thinking initiative decided to invest in ready-to-wear and lifestyle in the Eighties, expanding into collections that ranged from perfumes to suitcases. The exhibit was conceived and put together by the family, which includes siblingsFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Tom Ford Elected Chairman of the CFDA
Tom Ford has been elected chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The appointment was ratified by the CFDA board of directors at a meeting Tuesday. Effective Jan. 1, 2020, Ford will succeed Diane von Furstenberg, who was named president of the CFDA in 2006 and became chairwoman in 2015. WWD broke the news last week that Ford was in line to succeed von Furstenberg. Under von Furstenberg, along with Steven Kolb, chief executive officer of the CFDA, the organization has ushered in a period of unprecedented growth for American fashion, followed by the current period of volatility triggered by seismic changes within and outside of fashion. Von Furstenberg had succeeded Stan Herman, who served in the role for 16 years. Ford is the 11th person to hold the position, which had previously been titled president until it was upgraded to chairman for von Furstenberg in 2015. The roster of presidents has included Herman, Sydney Wragge, Norman Norell, Oscar de la Renta, Herbert Kasper, Bill Blass, Mary McFadden, Perry Ellis and Carolyne Roehm. While the vote took place at the CFDA board meeting, most of the meeting was expected to focus on the upcoming CFDA Fashion Awards gala. Some 23 people serve on theFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Khrisjoy Shakes the High-End Puffer Market
MILAN — Spotted on street-style stars around the globe — including Vittoria Ceretti, Caroline Issa, Chiara Scelsi, Tamu McPherson and Candela Novembre — Khrisjoy padded jackets are stealing the spotlight in the urban outerwear arena. First introduced as a capsule in June 2017 at the Milan luxury retailer Antonia, the Khrisjoy brand officially made its debut on the international market with a sales campaign in January 2018. “The brand was born as my own personal fun project with no serious business plan or strategy involved,” said Khrisjoy founder Marzia Bellotti, who built her experience in different fashion areas, spanning from editing and styling to retail management, prior to establishing her label. “I had the idea of designing a puffer [that] could reflect my personal style.” An eclectic spirit with an international background — she spent years in London and Madrid — Bellotti, who has a weakness for Eighties fashion, created Khris, a versatile puffer showing a cocooning silhouette rendered in a range of variations, making it perfect for being matched with both the most casual looks and more elegant outfits. A style from Khrisjoy's fall 2019 collection. Courtesy Photo “For example, you can wear it ‘off-the-shoulder' on a night attire,” said Bellotti, who at the timeFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
ON STAFF: Gucci’s Marco Bizzarri Discusses Changemakers Project, Learning From Experience, Fostering Creativity
MILAN — “It's been a period of great learning. It's a little simplistic and easy to say ‘How could you not know?'” but it's not as evident as it could have seemed,” Marco Bizzarri observed on Monday. Gucci's president and chief executive officer spoke with WWD about his company's new global program called Changemakers that is part of its ongoing effort to foster unity through community action and opened up about the backlash the Italian luxury group experienced following accusations in February that a balaclava-style sweater evoked blackface. Gucci Changemakers follows the company's announcement last month of the first of four long-term initiatives to achieve cultural diversity and awareness throughout its organization and activities globally, and includes a fund for a total of $5 million over five years and a $1.5 million four-year scholarship program in North America. In addition, Gucci is fostering a global employee-volunteering framework that will fuel the company's commitment to creating lasting social impact in communities and within the fashion industry. “Gucci Changemakers is a project that accelerated after what happened — which caught us all by surprise — but it was announced internally last year and is part of our corporate culture initiative that we actually launched four years agoFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Seoul Fashion Designer Adds Modern Twist to Traditional Korean Dresses
SEOUL — Few foreigners know about the hanbok. It's the traditional Korean wedding dress, dating as far back as the 14th century. The floor-length gowns are best known for their empire waists, fitted jackets and vibrant colors. These days, walking through Seoul's many palaces, visitors can catch a glimpse of women donning hanboks in pretty pastels while trying to capture the perfect photo for Instagram. But visitors to South Korea's sprawling capital likely won't see a hanbok anywhere else, despite the pleasing aesthetics. Even some modern-day Korean weddings opt to go hanbok-free, as the dress becomes a relic of the past. Korean fashion designer Hyunsook Park wants to change all that. She wants hanbok fashions to break into mainstream couture, in both Korea and abroad. “If the hanbok is not in everyday fashion, then it will disappear,” Park told WWD. “I want to keep the hanbok alive for other generations.” Park's been designing hanboks since 2014. But her designs aren't of the traditional kind. The designer often wears pieces from her collection around Seoul and said her clothing can easily be mixed and matched with more casual attire, like jeans or shorts. “You can wear it casually; you can wear itFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Rei Kawakubo to Be Presented With Isamu Noguchi Award
Rei Kawakubo will receive the 2019 Isamu Noguchi Award from the Noguchi Museum. The award, which will be presented at the museum's annual benefit on May 2, is given to individuals who share Isamu Noguchi's spirit of innovation, global consciousness and commitment to East-West cultural exchange. Kawakubo, founder of Comme des Garçons and cofounder of Dover Street Market, is also involved in graphic design, advertising and interiors for her businesses, which she considers to be inextricable components of her aesthetic vision. Her work has appeared in several exhibitions, including a solo exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2017, which was only the second monographic show awarded to a living designer by The Met. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Comme des Garçons. According to The Museum, “Rei Kawakubo has consistently defied notions not only of beauty, but also of what fashion can be, at once confounding our expectations for clothing — and like Noguchi — challenging the idea that design and art are inherently different endeavors.” Kawakubo received the Fashion Group International Award in 1986 and the Excellence in Design Award from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design in 2000. In 1993, she was named a Chevalier in the Order ofFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Giorgio Armani Designs Off-Field Uniforms for the Italian Soccer Team
MILAN — Giorgio Armani has unveiled on Monday a new partnership with the Italian Soccer Federation. In particular, the designer and the Italian sport institution have signed a four-year partnership that will see the country's national soccer team wearing formal off-field Emporio Armani uniforms. Previously, the Armani company created the uniforms for the Italian national soccer team for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and for the 1994 World Cup. In addition, the fashion house designed the official uniforms for the Newcastle United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich soccer teams. In all the official occasions, the members of the team will sport an Emporio Armani jersey suit, a shirt and an overcoat with detachable linings, all embellished with the Italian Soccer Federation's shield. In addition, Armani designed shoes, a kit bag, a backpack, a belt, small leather goods and a pair of sunglasses. Emporio Armani uniform for the Italian soccer team. Courtesy Photo “This agreement makes me particularly happy: I am returning to football after my experience with Chelsea and Bayern, and once again I am dressing the Italian national team, as I did for the 1994 World Cup,” Armani said. “I am proud to partner with the FIGC and to offer our athletes my idea of softFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Geraldina Brings Timeless, Seasonless Fashion to Milan
MILAN — Geraldina, the women's wear label founded by Geraldina Bassani Antivari and Michal Saad, has opened its first flagship in Milan's Brera district. The brand started taking shape four years ago when Bassani Antivari was still creative director of outerwear label Mr & Mrs Italy and Saad, a former associate fashion editor at Vogue US, was working at Loro Piana as an e-commerce project manager. Based on an antifashion idea, transcending the concept of trends and seasons, Geraldina wants to offer women “beautiful and flattering clothes, with great quality,” said Bassani Antivari seated in an armchair in the brand's new Milanese store. This occupies a unique three-story town house, which stands out compared with the stately Milanese buildings that generally line the Brera streets. The venue previously housed a Massimo Piombo boutique was the studio of iconic Italian architect Gae Aulenti. The Geraldina store in Milan. Federico Lomartire “The last thing I had in mind was to open a store in Milan because people here know me for my family and they might have thought, ‘here is another daddy's girl,'” said Bassani Antivari, referring to the fact she is the daughter of Luca Bassani Antivari, founder and president of Monaco-based maritime design company WallyFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Dior Reprises Circus-Themed Couture Show in Dubai
PARIS — Dior on Monday reprised its circus-themed spring haute couture show in Dubai as it seeks to reinforce its ties with Middle Eastern customers with special initiatives, including the launch of a gold-themed capsule collection featuring brand icons such as the Lady Dior and Saddle bags. Egyptian actress and singer Yousra and Saudi Arabian singer Aseel Omran were among the guests who gathered in a big top in the city's verdant Safa Park for the show, which was slightly tweaked for the local audience. Instead of the all-female Mimbre troop that performed in Paris in January, guests were entertained by fire acrobats and performers perched on balls and unicycles. Maria Grazia Chiuri, artistic director of women's collections, designed 15 new looks for the presentation in Dubai, including metallic pleated gowns, embroidered playsuits worn with long sheer skirts and fitted wool redingotes with hand-embroidered frogging. Dubai is the sixth most-visited city in the world, with 15.9 million overnight visitors in 2018, up from 15.8 million in 2017, according to Dubai's Department of Tourism. Construction is booming as it prepares to host a World Expo in 2020. It remains the top-ranking destination city based on overnight visitor spend, with visitors spending a whopping $537 a dayFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Elizabeth Emanuel Launches Couture Label Worn by Priyanka Chopra, Cher
LONDON — What do Priyanka Chopra, Cher and Princess Diana have in common? They've all been dressed by Elizabeth Emanuel. While her name is most often mentioned in the same sentence as the late princess, there's a lot more to Emanuel than the famous, 25-foot-long wedding gown she created with her then-husband David Emanuel. In the years since that iconic wedding dress, Emanuel has kept rather quiet, working on a variety of retail projects, designing for the theater and building up a high-profile clientele for her one-off designs. Now she's launching a couture line named Elizabeth, Paris 1902. “I think of it more as launching with a full collection, whereas before I'd do a capsule collection and a few outfits. This time, I've created pants, shirts, gowns etc.,” she said, adding that she added the Paris 1902 for aesthetic flourish. “I started doing calligraphy and I found something that said Paris 1902 and it just looked nice. It doesn't really mean anything.” Emanuel describes the collection as “discovering a future vintage outfit,” and, to wit, her inspirations are mined from history, including Virginia Woolf's novel “Orlando,” vintage Lanvin silhouettes and the film “Death in Venice.” During an interview at her basement studio in Maida Vale, sheFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
EXCLUSIVE: Patricia Field Gives Iconic Carrie Necklace a Modern Update
Carrie Bradshaw's name necklace is getting a modern refresh. Patricia Field, the celebrated costume designer behind HBO's “Sex and the City,” is launching an updated version of the iconic TV character's signature necklace. Called the Carrie 2.0, the necklace retails for a base price of $320 and is available now via Field's web site. The campaign features Caroline Vazzana, fashion blogger and author of “Making It in Manhattan.” The Carrie 2.0 name necklace, modeled by fashion blogger Caroline Vazzana. Ronald Flowers “I grew up watching ‘Sex and the City' and subsequently launched my career as a writer in New York inspired by Carrie Bradshaw, so when Pat and her team asked me to be the face of the Carrie 2.0, I was so honored,” Vazzana said in a statement. “It was a true dream come true collaborating with [Field] and her team. Between the ‘SATC' nods and splashes of color from my wardrobe, it made for the perfect modern-day Carrie Bradshaw moment.” In a statement, Field wrote that the Carrie necklace has been a staple of her brand “for many years.” The updated version, she wrote, is “a modern-day twist” that adds hearts and curves to the bottom of the nameplate. In the campaign, Vazzana wearsFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Gucci’s New Changemakers Project Commits to Diversity
MILAN — Gucci is launching a new global program called Changemakers in its ongoing effort to support a shift in the industry and to foster unity through community action. This follows the company's announcement last month of the first of four long-term initiatives to achieve cultural diversity and awareness throughout its organization and activities globally, following accusations in February that a Gucci balaclava-style sweater evoked blackface. Gucci Changemakers includes a fund for a total of $5 million over five years and a $1.5 million four-year scholarship program in North America. In addition, Gucci is fostering a global employee-volunteering framework that will fuel the company's commitment to creating lasting social impact in communities and within the fashion industry. The Changemakers Fund will invest in community-based programs in cities across North America. In particular, it will focus on building strong connections and opportunities within the African-American community, among others. To this end, the Italian fashion group will rely on advice from and support of a Changemakers Council, which is being formed, made up of community leaders and social change experts. It is being conceived to ensure transparency, accountability and long-term impact. At the moment it includes the following: • fashion activist Bethann Hardison, who attendedFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Ones to Watch: Phyllis Chan and Suzzie Chung of YanYan
Can sustainable fashion be both polished and quirky? Hong Kong-based designers and childhood best friends Phyllis Chan and Suzzie Chung are banking on it with their premium knitwear brand YanYan, which utilizes deadstock and leftover yarns from mills and knitwear factories. The two are aiming to create a youth factor around sustainability, blending grandma elegance with a playful spirit in their designs, and simultaneously touching on hot-button issues facing the fashion industry — including low-waste production, experimental retail strategy, reacting to the pace and competitiveness of fast fashion, and putting out product with more long-term, less trend-driven, potential. “We thought about what's a good and interesting way to create product,” Chan said on a call with Chung from Hong Kong, adding: “We didn't want to put stuff out there that doesn't contribute anything new. We wanted to make sweaters that were special. We wanted to challenge ourselves and make sweaters that aren't traditional. The knitwear market is starting to grow. It's a space for people to have fun and experiment.” Knitwear was a natural venture for Chan, too, who moved back to Hong Kong after spending nearly a decade at Rag & Bone in New York, most recently as the director of knitwear untilFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Filling Pieces Sketches Its Flagship of the Future
Guillaume Philibert was 19 when he started Filling Pieces. A student of architecture, he was listening to a lot of Pharrell and Kanye West rapping about designer labels. Philibert couldn't afford the pieces at the time so he set out to create something in line with his wallet but also his interests in design and DJing — something he still does. The brand asserted itself in the market with high-end footwear and one and a half years ago got into ready-to-wear presenting a minimalist line of well-constructed pieces — think funnel neck puffers and gaberdine trenches with a punch of colorblocking in the back paneling. Now, at nearly 10, Philibert's line is ready for retail with the planned opening of Filling Pieces' first flagship in Amsterdam in the fourth quarter of this year. That's expected to be the start of a number of branded doors rolling out in key markets over the next few years. “In the past couple years, I personally really found out how to run a business,” Philibert said. “So my background in design gave me the ability to design products, but I learned so much more about how to build a brand and how to build a company, soFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Adidas Taps Stylists to Put Spin on MLS Jerseys
LOS ANGELES — Soccer jerseys in suiting, as eveningwear and patched into new life forms. Adidas charged four stylists and designers, each hailing from different backgrounds in fashion, to put their spin on Major League Soccer's jerseys. The results bore out in an interesting display of fashion that marched down the runway Thursday evening at City Market South in downtown Los Angeles. Adidas' Seams event was the latest in a long-running partnership between the brand and Major League Soccer that was most recently extended to 2024, with the sportswear firm providing the league's 24 teams with uniforms, footwear and training gear, among other things. “The idea was to launch the 2019 MLS jerseys in a new creative way,” said Jennifer Valentine, senior director of soccer at Adidas. “We want to celebrate the culture of each individual city that the jerseys represent.” The idea was to pull together individuals in fashion as deemed by the brand to be creative and authentic with varying ties to streetwear, Valentine said. Pierre Davis, founder of the gender-neutral brand No Sesso, turned to something more formal through the use of patchworking and hardware to create trains and volume for dresses. “My idea was to take athletic wear and turn it into moreFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]
Saks’ Roopal Patel and FIT’s Valerie Steele Talk Fashion Shows and Trends
After a whirlwind month covering the fashion shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris, Roopal Patel, senior vice president and fashion director of Saks Fifth Avenue, gave the lowdown to Valerie Steele, curator and director of The Museum of FIT on Thursday afternoon. The conversation, which took place at the third annual winter luncheon of the Couture Council of The Museum at FIT, was held at Avra Madison Estiatorio and sponsored by Saks. By way of introduction, Kathy Reilly, luncheon chair, said Patel has driven the transformation of Saks since 2015, with responsibility for trend forecasting, spotting emerging designers and honing the seasonal fashion message. Steele then kicked off the discussion, asking Patel to describe her primary day-to-day responsibilities and strategic point of view. Patel, who oversees men's, women's, accessories, jewelry and beauty, said, “When we look at fashion, there's a lot of storytelling that goes on. Our job and my responsibility is to be the translator and curator. Taking what we're seeing on the runways in London, New York, Milan and Paris, and making sure that that vision and the trend direction is translated for the Saks customer to experience.” One of Patel's goals is to make sure they're making shopping at SaksFollow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More... [...]