The textiles and fashion sector is currently undergoing a fundamental revolution – driven by sustainable and technological innovations, new value creation models are reaching the mass market. It is precisely these topics that will be at the focus of Fashionsustain, the international and multidisciplinary conference format of Neonyt, which is taking place from 6 to 8 July 2021 and, for the first time, during the digital FFW STUDIO of Frankfurt Fashion Week. In the form of panel discussions, talks, keynotes and interactive formats, it will present fascinating, in-depth insights into the ongoing transformation process of the industry. Represented are, amongst others the Grüner Knopf, Oeko-Tex and PwC. 

3 days, more than 20 individual formats, a multitude of insights: the varied and multidisciplinary line-up of Fashionsustain will cover the State of the Industry, Innovating the Industry and State of Retail as its central topics. The focus of the content will be on Fashion Design & Circularity, Values & Diversity, Digitisation, Textile Certifications and Cotton & Denim. In various talks, discussions and presentations, the community will become aware of the challenges currently facing the sustainable fashion sector, of how the stakeholders involved are pushing ahead with their visions and how they can be applied to bring about real change within the industry. 

ALBERTO’s 2022 summer collection integrates technology at every level: from the high-tech icon Hybrid Sports Pants to digital prints that stretch all aesthetic boundaries in a resource-saving way to the Red Selvedge, which is produced on narrow looms in the old Japanese tradition.

‘In 2022, we’ll be celebrating 100 years of Alberto, an emotional event. Instead of an anniversary collection, we prefer to keep doing what has made our company successful for 100 years: giving tradition a new face by modelling the future with innovative products.’-Marco Lanowy, Alberto

A quick word with Marco Lanowy:

 Mr Lanowy, what’s the ALBERTO ‘idea’?
It’s the common thread that runs through everything we do. We work up close to real life, observing emerging trends – by no means just in fashion – but also how people’s everyday lives are taking shape and what social and societal movements are emerging. Obviously, this is reflected in the development of our products. For us, the focus is on finding out what people need a pair of pants for, and we use this as a starting point to develop the necessary innovations for the product in terms of details and benefits.

In the process, ALBERTO is visibly merging the various styles of pants.
Right. Nowadays, a pair of pants should ideally be an all-rounder and not just look good when you’re switching from the job to the couch, from the couch to the bike and from the bike to the golf course, but also function well. This is a transformation process that began with the development of our first golf collection.

It’s a theme that has led to the development of the Hybrid Sports Pants, after all.
Cyclists, golfers and hikers appreciate the Hybrid Sports Pants mainly because of their features, but at the same time more and more customers are turning to the styles for purely fashion reasons. For me, the new ‘Pack’, which can be rolled up and packed into the zipper back pocket, is a real highlight of the collection. I’m curious to see what kind of feedback we get here.

ALBERTO is successively working on producing the collections more sustainably …
Yes, we already work very intensively with organic cotton and recycled yarns on the basis of the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 label, but it’s always an ongoing process. I find it very exciting how much is currently happening in the area of sustainable materials and finishes. This gives us the opportunity to close our gaps in sustainability bit by bit. We think it’s important to develop a long-lasting, unique product in an ecological, humanly respectful and fair way. For us, these are self-evident facts. We don’t really want to emphasise them any more, not least because we don’t deal with the issue of sustainability for marketing reasons, but because we consider it our duty to do our best in this area.

A closing word about digital prints …
… aren’t just the visual highlights that we also base our colour concepts on, but also open up more creative freedom and even more individual production for us. We really enjoy that!

Always key players, the combinations and pairings of cottons, jersey and lyocell for even more optimal performance, reveal a Richard J. Brown man and woman that is sophisticated and tough, elegant and impeccable. Combinations of cashmere, silk and linen, light and refined, complete traditional outfits with the most sophisticated outerwear. For him, traditional jeans jackets in form but different and innovative in the search for materials and the quality of the trim, offered in a new summer version. For her, refined kimonos in cotton and denim.

For S/S 22, the colour palette of the garment-dyed pieces is entirely inspired by nature and the art of riding, recalling evocative and enchanting scenarios. From sage green to military green, from beige to maize and ice, from red clay to chestnut, from blue in all its variations to lilac and petrol green. The naturally derived mineral dyes are new, which emphasize and highlight respect for an increasingly sustainable and environmentally conscious management.

The accessories, more and more lively and personalized are systematically exclusive and identifying. New colours have been added to the more traditional suede labels with copper or silver plating for an even richer and more varied range. For those who are daring, the new fabric labels made with a thermo-application technique and launched in the previous winter collection offer an intriguing choice.

Quality, passion, love for nature and animals. Available in the showroom, or through the network of agents and through the online platform, the new RJB collection is ready to be discovered like a pleasant outing on horseback.

“Isabel Marant is launching a vintage website fo add to the luxury fashion good industry’s growing circular economy. Donators of used clothing from the label will receive vouchers; proceeds will go to an endowment fund supporting artisan craftsmanship.

In addition to vintage items, deadstock clothing, shoes, and accessories from prior collections will be sold on the vintage platform. As brands work on finding ways to become more sustainable, they are betting big on the circular economy. Last year, Gucci launched a circular economy partnership with The Real Real.

“The two trade shows, MAN/WOMAN and Revolver, have had a strong, personal and respectful friendship for many years and the upcoming season requires innovative solutions in order to offer our exhibitors the best possible sales and presentation platform”  says Antoine Floch Founder and CEO MAN/WOMAN as he continues:

“Revolver and Copenhagen Fashion Week is scheduled in August, which is a great window to wrap up the menswear season and at the same time kickoff the womenswear season, especially because Denmark and Copenhagen is in a very safe and positive situation taken the pandemic into consideration,- meaning, the decision to go to Revolver and Copenhagen was not an hard one to make”.

Simultaneously with the Revolver trade show, Copenhagen Fashion Week will be hosting more than 30 physical shows this season.

Revolver Copenhagen Int. Fashion Trade Show will take place from Wednesday, August 11 – Friday, August 13.

MAN/WOMAN expects to execute as normal in Paris for the FW 22 season in October 2021. 

Louis Vuitton is expanding its pop-up network and is partnering with Lake Como, Italian retailer Tessabit for a summer pop-up shop.

The temporary store will be housed in Villa d’Este, a historic hotel that has been used as a celebrity and loyalty resort. Among the pop-up’s offering, the “Summer by the pool” capsule includes garments and accessories where the brand’s signature monogram and damier motifs are rendered in a vibrant color palette, while men will be able to buy the sporty collection that Louis Vuitton developed in collaboration with the NBA.

NuORDER is joining Lightspeed, the one-stop commerce platform for merchants around the world to simplify, scale and create exceptional customer experiences. This unlocks NuORDER’s vision to connect brands and buyers around the world with a single, integrated solution for commerce and discovery. 

This partnership unlocks…nur

• Single B2B2C Platform: A single platform will connect brands to retailers to consumers.

• Data-driven B2B: Make more informed buying decisions with access to sell-through data within NuORDER. Tap into real-time data and insights to determine what products to buy, trigger automatic reorders, swap out underperforming styles on the network, and identify new products and/or brands that fit demand.

• Global Marketplace: With NuORDER and Lightspeed’s combined global reach, you will be able to discover and connect with brands across a global marketplace. You will be able to search by product/part, trend (e.g. sustainable), or brand category to find the right products for customers.

• Financing Solutions: Through NuORDER and Lightspeed’s centralized financing solution, brands will be able to get paid efficiently on invoice while retailers will get the time they need to sell products to support the invoice payment. 

JOOR has announced the opening of its office in Shanghai, China. This announcement builds on JOOR’s strong global footprint and is the company’s third office in Asia-Pacific, following JOOR’s expansion in Melbourne and Tokyo. With more than 12,500 brands and over 325,000 retailers from around the world using the platform today, JOOR is the world’s premier wholesale management platform and the first to establish a presence in China.

JOOR has seen a significant increase in wholesale transactions being placed on its platform from the APAC region and has opened an office to fuel this continued growth and provide a high level of customer service to its client base. In 2021, wholesale volume ordered by APAC-based retailers is +139% YoY and wholesale volume for APAC-based brands is +419% YoY.

“As the leading global player in our space, we realize the importance of a strong presence in Asia-Pacific, notably in greater China,” explained Kristin Savilia, CEO of JOOR. “The establishment of JOOR Shanghai will allow us to provide frictionless wholesale management to the range of fine brands and retailers across the country. It builds on our existing leadership position in North America and Europe, and we expect continued expansion across the Asia-Pacific region.”

With Pitti Uomo 100, the Fortezza da Basso becomes once again the platform for presenting new collections and new trends in international menswear. At this edition it will also be the main location of the program of events and special projects, that will take place live, within its spaces, from 30 June to 2 July, and that will be amplified digitally by Pitti Connect on the same days.

South African designer These Magugu, winner of the 2019 LVMH Prize, will be the Special Guest of this edition and will present a special menswear collection of the brand that bears his name with a special event in a dedicated space inside the Fortezza da Basso.

“Thebe Magugu won us over immediately, ever since we began following his career, as a result of the freshness of his multicultural and multidisciplinary creativity. Thebe creates a fashion that is continually suspended between art and craftsmanship, education and ancestral practices. We felt that his work was perfect for extending an invitation, in an unconventional way, to a new beginning that is rich in young, energetic awareness” – Lapo Cianchi, Pitti Immagine’s Communication & Special Events Director

#LesMarins Ready-to-Wear collection by Jean Paul Gaultier is a collaborative project between the House and 5 talented designers.

“Pitti 100” is the title-theme of the summer editions of the Pitti Immagine trade shows. The idea was first conceived and developed thinking about the 100th edition of Pitti Uomo and then extended to Pitti Filati and Pitti Bimbo, with the “100% Filati” and “100% Bambino” formats.

A multifaceted graphic sign by designer Francesco Dondina – author of important fashion, design, and art and culture projects – will characterize the ad campaign and color the Fortezza da Basso, involving the fashion community in a creative experience. A milestone and a new beginning, together in a single message.

“100 is a strong, important, round, and promising number. It is undoubtedly an end, but – if it is read backwards, 001 – it becomes the symbol of a new beginning. Right from the start, it appeared to us as a great opportunity for expressing the mood with which we design and organize our summer shows, which have now finally returned to a physical format” –Agostino Poletto, General Manager of Pitti Immagine

Kingpins is making a visit to Australia on June 23rd and 24th at 2pm Sydney time. Each day will contain two hours of denim stories, conversations and seminars celebrating the Aussie industry and supply chain which contains segments from farming to retail. “Australia being a diamond in the Asia Pacific region, we will also touch on the important influence of Asia for Australian businesses – providing insight into production opportunities through to the digital marketing frontier in the region”

More details on the event will be revealed soon.

At the end of May 2021, the Danish department stores’ chain Magasin du Nord will become part of the Peek & Cloppenburg Group. The group operates around 140 P&C and Anson’s stores in 15 countries as well as various international online shops through its subsidiary Fashion ID. With the acquisition of Magasin du Nord, Peek & Cloppenburg strengthens its position as one of Europe’s leading multi-brand omnichannel fashion retailers and adds a successful Scandinavian retailer to its portfolio.

“Magasin du Nord, like Peek & Cloppenburg, is a retail company with a long tradition,” said the management of Peek & Cloppenburg KG. “Due to the current market dynamics, the opportunity has arisen to bring Magasin du Nord under our umbrella and we are convinced that both companies will benefit from this new partnership. With the acquisition, we are entering a new European market where we see great potential, and we look forward to the future together with Magasin du Nord.”

Peter King, part of the management of Magasin du Nord: “We are pleased to have found a trustworthy and long-term partner in the family-owned company Peek & Cloppenburg, which sees the potential of Magasin du Nord and appreciates its entrepreneurial roots. Our two companies have many things in common and have around 275 years of combined experience as multi-brand retailers. We look forward to shaping the future of retail together and delighting our customers.”

Calvin Klein’s latest campaign is a celebration of defining moments in the queer and trans journey. A continuation of the #proudinmycalvins movement, the campaign revisits the transformative events that shaped the lives of talent from different parts of the world at different moments in time. 

Six photographers captured eight cast members in pared-back, intimate settings. The short films document the cast’s relatable stories and experiences with a range of emotions. 

While each of the cast stands out for their highly individual background and rare talent, they are all united in their shared passion for – and impact on – the LGBTQIA+ community. 

The campaign takes an authentic approach to styling, featuring key pieces from Calvin Klein’s Pride 2021 capsule paired with denim and underwear essentials that showcases each talent’s own style. This year’s Pride collection features classic silhouettes including the Modern Cotton bralette and boxer briefs with the Brand’s logo waistband in a limited-edition palette. Cropped t-shirts and crewneck sweatshirts are also featured in the campaign, as are denim bottoms, truckers, and the iconic white tee. 

The global campaign will launch on May 26th with an anthem video that brings together a montage of stories and footage from the campaign. A series of short films that feature each cast member’s individual story will rollout throughout the year on Calvin Klein channels alongside extended #proudinmycalvins content. 

Calvin Klein partners with multiple non-profit organizations in support of LGBTQIA+ advocacy, equality, and safety. This year, Calvin Klein has announced a two-year partnership with The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning young people. Through the partnership, Calvin Klein will use its platform to increase the knowledge of Trevor’s essential 24/7 crisis services and other mental health resources to help promote inclusion for the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Tom Ford and 52HZ are offering $1.2 million to the innovators who create the best replacement for thin-film plastic: one that can be used in everything from polybags to single-use etc. The Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize is a two-year competition, followed by three years of support for competition finalists designed to incentivise the development and adoption of these alternatives to thin-film plastic. 

The prize will catalyse the use of scalable, biologically degradable thin-plastic alternatives through an open innovation process, rigorous scientific and technical analysis, and in-depth partnership and facilitation activities.

The first round of the competition involves an initial submission where teams will be required to complete a detailed Submission Template outlining their innovation and describing how it aligns with the competition criteria. Up to 10 competitors will be selected as finalists and share in a milestone prize award of $200,000 to encourage the development of their technologies. Finalists will participate in the final round of the competition by providing samples of their materials for third-party lab testing. Prize winners will be selected based on a review of these results plus supporting materials. Three prize winners will share in a prize pool of $1 Million in investment capital and then move into the Accelerator phase of the competition.

From 30th June until 2nd July at the Fortezza da Basso, Pitti Uomo’s 100th edition will take place.

The events calendar, the guests, and the special projects are being finalised currently, but it has been confirmed that the setting will be very different from the usual: a new concept of distances, movements, interactions, and the enhancement of the Pitti 100 sign. And as always, the center of attention will be the best international brands that at each edition choose Pitti Uomo to express their vision of today’s and tomorrow’s fashion.

The collections will be organized into three macro areas, three special itineraries dedicated to the different souls of menswear: Fantastic Classic (the evolution most innovative and contemporary versions of the evolution of classic style), Dynamic Attitude (where a passion for the outdoors meets sportswear and streetwear), Superstyling (a focus on the new stylistic codes that anticipate trends). In addition, the fair will present independent exhibition spaces where brands can express themselves and show their collections.

To inspire real change in the world of fashion, Pitti Uomo 100 will present the third edition of Sustainable Style, a special project that has attracted the attention of the press and key buyers since its launch. Giorgia Cantarini, fashion journalist and curator of the project, will present a new selection of innovative brands that create and produce according to eco-responsible criteria. Sustainable Style is one of the projects supported by the collaboration between Pitti Immagine and UniCredit, focusing on sustainability and innovation.

Pitti Studios, an entirely new project will launch at the summer editions of the Pitti Immagine trade shows. Pitti Studios is a content production service (photos, videos, and storytelling) designed to enhance the brands’ proposals in a cross-channel perspective social and digital media on Pitti Connect and the exhibitors’ platforms.

Avery Dennison, a global leader in innovation and materials science, branding, and manufacturing, has announced its partnership with Ambercycle, a Los Angeles-based, post-consumer garment recycler. The collaboration demonstrates Avery Dennison’s complete digital care label solution. This sees intelligent care labels being attached to Ambercycle’s garments. The labels feature a QR code that links to an app offering a digital experience that details how that specific garment was produced and how it should be looked after. The app is powered by Avery Dennison’s powerful data platform.

Legally, all garments sold must have a physical care and content label to communicate product information, such as washing instructions and material composition. This information is not just helpful for consumers, it is also vital for recyclers and resellers as it allows them to easily identify what the garment is made of after the original owner has disposed of it. 

Avery Dennison’s new digital care label solution is a significant innovation as it allows for traceability and transparency across the supply chain. In addition, new digital revenue streams become possible for the brand as additional products can be marketed to the consumer via this new direct-to-consumer touchpoint.

Ambercycle, Avery Dennison’s first partner for its digital care label, converts end-of-life textile ‘waste’ into new yarns for apparel brands and manufacturers. Its garments are created from polyester textiles that were destined for landfill, but are instead broken down to a molecular level, turned into pellets, and then spun into Cycora yarns which can be processed by garment manufacturers in the same way as virgin yarns.

This partnership is the first in a series of innovation-based collaborations that underscore Avery Dennison’s commitment to a circular apparel supply chain and support its 2030 sustainability goals.

LVMH has for the first time published a consolidated report on its social and environmental commitments and initiatives. Opening with an editorial by Bernard Arnault, the report details the many initiatives that embody LVMH’s strong commitment to responsible growth against the backdrop of the global health crisis. This consolidated approach provides a clear overview of the Group’s actions and facilitates engagement with stakeholders.

The social and environmental responsibility report concludes with a section called “In Finer Detail” dedicated to the Group’s social and environmental responsibility governance, social and environmental indicators, responsible sourcing policy and other significant metrics.

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced that the next edition of London Fashion Week will take place from Saturday 12^th to Monday 14^th June 2021. London Fashion Week will combine menswear and womenswear collections and run as a digital-first event on www.londonfashionweek.co.uk with a number of Covid-secure physical activations in line with Government guidelines.

London Fashion Week September 2021 will run from Friday 17^th to Tuesday 21^st September, with a combination of physical and digital activations, marking a long-awaited cultural reopening of London.

Taking place after the Institute of Positive Fashion Forum (IPF Forum), a thought leadership event bringing together key voices from the fashion industry and beyond on June 10^th, London Fashion Week will emphasize the three IPF pillars: Environment, People and Community & Craftsmanship.

Due to the ongoing global pandemic situation, Frankfurt Fashion Week will be taking place digitally from July, 5-9 and will launch FFW STUDIO – a digital streaming platform that offers curated and unique insights into trade shows, conferences, experiences as well as arts & entertainment. Always highlighting their key motifs of sustainability and digitisation while inspiring and stimulating new discussions.

“Now it’s time to look ahead. We set out to make Frankfurt Fashion Week and its ecosystem the driving force of the fashion and textile industry and to add relevant future issues to the industry’s agenda. And we still have our sights set on achieving this. For example, the new Frankfurt Fashion SDG Summit presented by Conscious Fashion Campaign in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Partnerships and “The New European Bauhaus – Workshop of the Future” conference inspired by the European Union’s “New European Bauhaus” initiative, organised by the Fashion Council Germany in cooperation with Frankfurt Fashion Week, promise a high-profile digital offer. This means that, even under these challenging circumstances, we will live up to our intention of completely reinterpreting a Fashion Week in Frankfurt and providing new momentum for transforming the future of the fashion industry,” says Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt. “It breaks my heart to have to cancel our tradeshows, conferences and events, as well as the planned collection presentations and shows, for the third time in a row. Let’s make no mistake here: the repercussions for the fashion industry are dramatic. But we are left with no other choice but to face up to the facts, take the necessary actions and plan the physical elements of a Frankfurt Fashion Week – which we are all looking forward to so much – for January 2022. For July we will now pool all our strengths to fulfil our responsibility to the sector digitally and without a get-together in person: in the FFW STUDIO, we will offer inspiration, while highlighting and discussing the topics of sustainability and digitisation at the highest level in corresponding formats. It’s about creating a kind of pre-season taster of our vision of a new Frankfurt Fashion Week, despite COVID,” says Anita Tillmann, Managing Director of the Premium Group. “Now more than ever!”

“The government’s recent announcement of a date for starting physical trade fair events again makes us cautiously optimistic about the future,” says Assocalzaturifici and MICAM Chair Siro Badon. “Starting up this virtuous system again, at the service of enterprises and the exports that result from trade fairs, means relaunching the whole industry on world markets,” explains Badon. “We’re working on an edition concentrated in a new three-day formula rather than the usual four days, guaranteeing perfect safety under protocols developed with Fiera Milano. MICAM is the first business opportunity of decisive importance for our member companies, a privileged venue for negotiating orders and opening up opportunities for growth and penetration of new markets. It is essential for relaunching a crucial sector of Italian industry and our economy, a sector of production that suffered great difficulty in 2020 as a result of the pandemic”. 

While awaiting the resumption of physical trade fairs, MICAM has reinforced its digital event. MICAM Milano Digital Show was held from 8 March to 8 May 2021 with the participation of more than 90 brands; over 5,000 buyers from all over the world visited the platform and used it to conduct business. This digital tool will continue to be an essential part of an advanced strategy for adaptation to the changes on the market requiring planning, organisation and an ability to continue restocking and renewing the product assortment more frequently, rapidly presenting new products to customers at various times throughout the year. 

“We’re happy with the second edition of MICAM Milano Digital Show,” comments MICAM CEO Tommaso Cancellara. “We implemented communication initiatives focusing buyers’ attention on the brands in the platform. More than 5000 buyers registered, visiting over 35,000 pages and generating almost 2,000 requests to connect with brands; traffic was 60% higher than in the previous edition. We noted a lot of interest in winter footwear, particularly boots and ankle boots, but also on comfortable shoes and sports footwear, demonstrating that the pandemic has truly changed the way we work and live our lives. In addition, the range of goods on offer was flanked by top-quality virtual content thanks to MICAMX, MICAM’s laboratory for innovation in footwear. Over the eight weeks we broadcast more than 50 presentations based on the 4 pillars of MICAMX: sustainability, trends and materials, the future of retail, and art, fashion heritage & future. MICAM Milano Digital Show will continue in the seasons to come, alongside the physical trade fairs that are so important to our industry”. 

MICAM Milano’s physical edition will take place from 19 to 21 September 2021 at Fiera Milano Rho.

Fashion Takes Action is a non-profit established in 2007, with a mission to advance sustainability in the fashion industry through education, awareness, research and collaboration. Since 2014, their World Ethical Apparel Roundtable, or WEAR conference and webinar series, has brought together the entire fashion system to learn, network and collaborate. Each month, they address the barriers to sustainability through their WEAR webinar series.

On May 19th, 2021 at 12 PM – 1 PM (EST) WeAr Magazine’s Shamin Vogel will moderate the discussion session around Luxury and Innovation: The benefits of bio-based fur.

Browns has relaunched Browns Focus, the once physical home to new talent within the Browns family. This new initiative will celebrate Browns’ legacy of supporting new talent and the ongoing commitment to nurture innovative designers and creatives.

Released as a series of concepts driven by Browns’ design community, to celebrate both their individuality and creativity, Series One will launch as a program of digital creative experiences and exclusive capsules produced in collaboration. The line-up includes womenswear designers Commission, Conner Ives, MAXIMILIAN and Mariah Esa alongside menswear designers Bianca Saunders, Labrum, LUEDER, Saul Nash and TSAU.

Drawing on the idea of future icons, Browns looked not just to ‘icons’ in the world of fashion, but to designers who are icons in their communities. Joe Brunner, Menswear Buyer Next Generation said, “what was arguably just as important if not more important, was that they needed to have a voice on topics such anti-racism, social inequality and mental health. These conversations are incredibly important to Browns and we wanted to be a vehicle to drive these narratives forward through our community.”

With the recent opening of the new flagship Browns Brook Street, the relaunch of Browns Focus highlights the continued endeavours to champion the community celebrating the collaborations that go beyond product, bringing both local and global talent to new and established customers – pinpointing each designer’s unique story as well as overarching message of creativity.

Upcycled by Miu Miu continues to pursue a sustainable ideology, now giving new life to pre-loved denim in collaboration with Levi’s. A selection of classic denim pieces is re-fashioned by Miu Miu, seen through the brand’s maverick and determinedly playful eye and worn by Miu Miu muses, the actor Emma Corrin and models Lila Moss and Georgia Palmer, all portrayed by Johnny Dufort. 

A celebration of iconic garments, this project includes vintage MADE IN USA men’s 501 jeans and Trucker Jackets from the 1980s and 1990s. Born out of American workwear and, from the mid-1950s onwards, a symbol of youthful rebellion, these iconic pieces have been customised and personalised by Miu Miu, in a play between masculinity and femininity, and aimed squarely at an equally free-spirited Miu Miu woman. The vintage denim is hand-embellished with instantly recognisable Miu Miu crystal, pearl, floral and all-over diamanté embroideries, puffed sleeves and bold leather patches featuring Art Deco-inspired intarsia motifs. Jeans are cut off to the thigh or finished with ivory silk duchesse turn-ups while the Trucker Jackets are adorned with oversized white lace collars. 

The iconic Levi’s backpatch is re-invented in Miu Miu pink and carries the brand’s logo alongside. The finishing touch is a specially commissioned Miu Miu carrier bag stamped with the Levi’s logo in return. 

Upcyled by Miu Miu in collaboration with Levi’s will be unveiled in London Selfridges and Shanghai IAPM mid-May. Afterwards, the collection will also be available online at miumiu.com, 18 select Miu Miu stores worldwide and Dover Street Market Los Angeles. 

Frankfurt Fashion Week, organised by Messe Frankfurt and Premium Exhibitions, moved its physical launch to 2022. It was meant to take place early July 2021 but has not been granted permission by the German authorities to go ahead due to the current Coronavirus pandemic.

As such the organisers have decided to delay its physical launch to January 2022.

“The consequences of the ongoing pandemic spread of the coronavirus continue to govern our personal and professional lives. It is with a heavy heart that we must cancel the physical events in July, since these are not allowed to take place given the current legal constraints. Due to the lack of certainty for planning and new monthly evaluation we need to fulfil our obligations as event organiser and avoid unforeseeable risks for partners and clients.” Anita Tillmann, Managing Partner of the PREMIUM Group.

The event was meant to include different formats that include the visitors on- and offline. Amongst new formats such as “The Ground”, existing, successful formats like Premium and Neonyt were scheduled to take place. This came amid a move from Berlin to Frankfurt. Frankfurt Fashion Week had been announced almost exactly a year ago and was set to make Frankfurt a new fashion ‘hot spot’.

“A spectacular event like Frankfurt Fashion Week deserves an equally spectacular kick-off,” says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President of Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt. “Sadly, this won’t be possible for summer 2021 – but the team behind Frankfurt Fashion Week refuses to be beaten. We are working full steam ahead on digital components to convey the Fashion Week vibe to the community wherever they happen to be. Live and on demand: despite contact restrictions, the new FFW Studio enables the international fashion scene to come together in one place and gives us the chance to stream our community’s textile expertise to the whole world.”

Instead the Frankfurt Fashion Week Studio will become a digital meeting place for all fashion professionals. It will go live on the event’s website (www.frankfurt.fashion) in July and through live stream from 5th – 9th of July 2021 the international fashion community will be able to gather input from various channels all on the overarching themes: sustainability and digitalisation.

“Just imagine it’s Fashion Week and no one turns up – I heard these words at the end of 2020, the second time we had to cancel a physical edition of Neonyt,” says Thimo Schwenzfeier, Show Director of Neonyt. “At the time, they were probably meant as words of encouragement in light of yet another cancellation, but they take on an even greater meaning today. After a good one and a half years of no events and a forced break, we – the team and especially our cross-sector community – were all more than ready to kick things off in Frankfurt am Main. And the high numbers of registrations from our brands for summer 2021 proved that. But obviously everyone’s health comes first, which is why we are looking forward to the digital edition of Frankfurt Fashion Week, FFW Studio, and to creating a line-up of sustainability content that showcases the expertise of our brands and speakers.”

This comes as a blow to the European fashion industry amid trade shows such as Pitti Uomo, White and Who’s Next announcing their summer dates and seemingly are going ahead. WeAr will continue to report on this issue.

This September, Scoop and Pure London will unite for an exciting buying experience, hosted in the Old Truman Brewery. Designed to offer an exclusive and safe buying experience, Scoop X Pure will now take place on 7^th – 9^th September 2021, at the Old Truman Brewery in East London. Pure Origin will also co-locate with Scoop X Pure, to unite the entire fashion supply chain under one roof.

Curated by Scoop founder and MD, Karen Radley, Scoop X Pure will showcase the “best in show”, highlighting the most exciting collections and labels across the Scoop and Pure London rosters. Designed to offer a “department store” atmosphere, Scoop X Pure will not only showcase both emerging and established UK and international fashion designers across men’s and womenswear but will also feature a selected edit of home and lifestyle products.

Additionally, the change in date reflects the wider market, allowing those exhibitors who exhibit at international trade shows, including Who’s Next in Paris, to join the Scoop X Pure line up.

Joor, the world’s leading digital wholesale platform has announced a partnership with the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) to present ‘Showcase Japan’, a virtual fashion event featuring over 30 of the most directional and contemporary Japanese fashion brands globally.

‘Showcase Japan’ is being hosted on the JOOR Passport platform, providing the participating brands and designers with exposure to a vast network of international buyers from around the world. Retail buyers will be able to shop across a broad range of categories, such as sustainability, diversity, Japanese craftsmanship, and more. Featured brands include alpha showroom, EVOLG, Vlas Blomme, ne Quittez pas and COOHEM.

“Over the past year, virtual shows have gone from being relatively unheard of to the new normal,” explained Kristin Savilia, CEO of JOOR. “We’re thrilled to further expand our footprint in Japan through this partnership with JETRO, and look forward to connecting global buyers to the elite group of brands participating in ‘Showcase Japan’.”

CORDURA, a registered trademark of INVISTA, one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of polymers, intermediates and fibres, headquartered in Atlanta, GA, USA, celebrates the first decade of “Denim Durability” and launches CORDURA hemp innovations.

2021 marks the 10th anniversary of the introduction of CORDURA durable denim technology to the technical denim sector. Over the past decade, the denim world has been researched, developed, created and challenged to “enhance performance” and to “expect more from denim garments”. CORDURA denim is proven to be at least 4 times more durable than traditional 100% cotton equivalents and has found its fan base as a comfortable, rugged option for skateboarders, climbers, workers and motorcyclists. Always durable and long-lasting, CORDURA Denim offers an authentic denim look and feel with enhanced protective performance. 

Cindy McNaull explains, “We think working with hemp is especially valuable in our knitwear and denim apparel collection. Hemp offers benefits for increased abrasion, tensile and tear resistance – three properties that align with the CORDURA brand’s long-lasting performance platform. We look forward to exploring the aesthetic benefits and eco-efficient properties that hemp can bring to CORDURA technology developments.”

In response to consumer demand for comfortable, sustainable clothing, Eastman launched its Naia Renew cellulosic staple fiber in the growing women’s casual wear and loungewear market. Sourced from 60% wood pulp and 40% recycled waste plastics, it can be produced at scale to deliver sustainability without compromise to the fashion world. Naia Renew staple fiber has inherent softness, is quick drying and reduces garment pilling.

Naia™ is a sustainable fiber made from wood pulp harvested from responsibly managed forests and plantations. This biobased fiber is sustainable from its origin to end of life. For more information, visit us as naia.eastman.com.

After an Italian government announcement setting a date for possible trade shows, Pitti will hold its physical shows in July, with the exact dates yet to be confirmed.

Pitti Uomo, originally to be held mid-June was scheduled to be amongst the first fashion trade shows to hold a physical event after 2 seasons of digital-only events. As a leading menswear trade show, it was meant to be a meet-and-greet for the industry after the international lockdowns.

Kingpins Show goes digital with Kingpins24, featuring a variety of On-Demand and Live-Streamed content: Product Updates, Trend Info, Factory Tours, Live Conversations and Panels exploring New Technology, Innovations and much more.

We’re excited to be presenting WeAr Magazine’s *Past, Present & Future of Denim* on the The Kingpins Show KINGPINS24 Platform today (Tuesday, 20th of April at 1:40pm (EU) time).

Registert to tune in!

Adidas has unveiled its newest addition to its vegan shoe range: Stan Smith sneakers made in collaboration with US-based biotechnology company Bolt Threads, responsible for developing the mycelium material.

Mylo is a material created using the underground roots of mushrooms (mycelium), which has the look and feel of traditional animal-based leather. It is as soft and supple, yet a much more renewable alternative. Mycelium is a renewable fungal network that grows underground which looks and feels like soft leather.

The new mushroom-based Stan Smith includes a Mylo outer upper, perforated 3 stripes, heel tab overlay and premium branding, while the midsole of the shoe is made with natural rubber.

Incotex and Giada S.p.A. have entered into a partnership for the launch of a new denim line: INCOTEX BLUE DIVISION.

With this partnership, the two companies intend to merge their respective skills to give life to a new vision and create new aesthetic codes for the high-end Denim universe. The agreement was designed to combine the resources of the two companies and unite their respective strengths. On the one hand, the expertise of Incotex, already a manufacturer of the best trousers in the world; on the other, Giada S.p.A., with its supreme technical expertise and manufacturing capacity in denim and five-pocket product.

Manufacturing capacity, quality and design are all values that perfectly embody the two companies and form a solid common foundation on which they will develop their partnership. As is already the case for all Incotex trousers, the ambition is to become the market reference also in the denim world.

The first collection will be for Spring-Summer 2022, and it will be offered to the B2B market starting in June 2021.

Faithful to its values of artisanal craftsmanship and innovation, Louis Vuitton has revealed new watch creations for the online Watches and Wonders 2021 event. The Tambour Carpe Diem features bold high-watchmaking virtuosity, while the Tambour Curve GMT Tourbillon Volant, another high-watchmaking timepiece, is an invitation to new horizons. And with the Tambour Street Diver, Louis Vuitton continues its horological journey into the unexpected.

The highlight of Watches and Wonders week, the Louis Vuitton Tambour Carpe Diem, caught everyone’s attention. This virtuoso timepiece is the fruit of two years of technical development at the Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. It combines an exclusive high-watchmaking caliber with a Vanitas theme. This jacquemart (functional automaton) watch shows the time on-demand without using hands. Activating a push-piece in the shape of a serpent’s head brings to life a miniature tableau on the watch face. A lifelike rattlesnake slithers and its tail reveals the minutes. Monogram flowers appear in lieu of an eye in the skull showing the hour, while the  jaw opens and the poet Horace’s famous phrase Carpe Diem emerges.

“Our aim was to get off the beaten track,” explains Michel Navas, Master Watchmaker at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. “We wanted to bring to the jacquemart our vision of the 21st century with all the energy and creativity characteristic of our brand since it began producing watches in 2002.”

The Tambour Carpe Diem includes additional watch complications as well: a jumping hour, a retrograde minute, a power reserve display and the mechanism of the automata. The LV 525 caliber was entirely developed and assembled at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, and is currently the subject of several patent applications. Assembled in the shape of a skull, the caliber is visible on the back of this exceptional timepiece. Louis Vuitton called on artisans Anita Porchet for the enameling and Dick Steenman for the engraving, applying meticulous savoir-faire to create an audacious contemporary aesthetic.

Guess has opened its first German activewear pop-up store in Oberhausen.

The shop located in the Centro shopping centre is one of Guess’ first European activewear pop-up stores. Currently, customers are only to shop by appointment.

“Customers want comfort and quality materials, so we are very excited to see how they respond to this new line in the Guess portfolio. We are very proud of this collection and the new pop-up store will allow us to closely monitor how our activewear offering is doing on its own,” said Paul Marciano, Creative Director of Guess.

Saks Fifth Avenue is going fur-free, becoming the latest fashion seller to take animal-fur clothes and accessories off its shelves.

Tracy Margolies, Chief Merchandising Officer, Saks, said, “Across the Saks Fifth Avenue experience, we evaluate a number of factors when making decisions about our assortment, including customer preferences and societal shifts. We recognize that trends constantly evolve, and that the sale of fur remains a significant social issue. As such, eliminating it from our assortment is the right step for us to take at this time.”

With this decision, Saks Fifth Avenue will eliminate the sale of products made from animals that were raised for the use of their fur or those made with fur from wild animals. Shearling, goatskin, cattle hide, down, feathers, leather and faux fur products will continue to be sold online and in stores.

The inaugural Yu Prize, launched to support emerging Chinese designers, has named ChenPeng as the 2021 winner at a gala dinner held during Shanghai Fashion Week.

The debut YU PRIZE is a fashion-focused annual award and program, dedicated to celebrating and supporting the journeys of the most promising and pioneering Chinese fashion talents. 

Especially developed to align with Yu Holding’s continued mission to ‘cultivate creativity’, the YU PRIZE will provide critical support for the burgeoning fashion industry in China and a bridge between East and West with international exposure and collaboration.

The Prize scouts for designers, who are pioneering culture shapers and pushing creative boundaries to successfully translate their aesthetic and voice beyond clothing, commending talents whose contribution and impact goes beyond fashion in the conventional sense.

Campomaggi is the scent of leather, absolute protagonist of each collection, it is the ability of working hands, it is the old and noble art of craftsmanship.

Driven by the idea of creating bags and accessories that mirror his philosophy, Marco Campomaggi thinks, dreams and designs collections which combine the ancient art of treating leather with creativity, precision and painstaking care in craftsmanship.

Each Campomaggi bag tells a story. Accuracy, care, attention and dedication are fundamental ingredients when creating the first prototype of each new model: a very delicate phase, the first step in transforming an idea into something tangible.

In a market dominated by brands, where everything is impalpable, digitised and elusive, Marco Campomaggi brings people, their identity and history back to the centre by making a precise choice that may seem almost anachronistic or perhaps romantic: to tell his own story. To write a book.

A book unhinges the pages of Google, the hasty likes of Instagram. A book takes those who hold it in their hands back to a dimension of re-appropriation and listening, of respect, care and conversation. All values that Campomaggi has always tried to convey through the product and its creation, which always passes through the hands of people.

The Campomaggi book “The Voice of Necessity” is available at all of the brand’s dealers. So that all those who are about to leaf through it can understand how Campomaggi bags are not just bags, but unique accessories full of history and passion.

“I started from nothing. It’s a catch phrase, but in my case it’s also the truth. All my equipment fitted in a shoe box: scissors, pinceres for holes and a few picks. My story comes from inexperience. I knew nothing about leather or fashion and i didn’t know anybody who did this job. But I wanted to find new solutions.  Convincing the costumer was the most challenging tests I’ve ever faced. Because I use to sell on the pavement under a street light on the stand in Cesenatico. I learnt so many things, people made their observations, gave advice. The fact that someone would purchase my bags seemed some kind of a miracle. If someone chooses something I have made, it is as if they are choosing me among the many who do the same thing.” – Marco Campomaggi

The LYCRA Company has announced the launch of its first performance offering made from 100% textile waste. COOLMAX and THERMOLITE EcoMade fibres made from textile waste are the result of a strategic collaboration between The LYCRA Company and ITOCHU Corporation, a trading company focused on consumer-related sectors such as textiles. The new fibre offerings combine the brand equity and performance attributes of these leading cooling and thermal brands with the sustainability benefits of textile waste. In doing so, they help meet an important need in the industry.

“We are pleased to announce our collaboration with ITOCHU. It helps us address the issue of textile waste, which is a major sustainability challenge as every second the equivalent of a rubbish truck full of textiles ends up in landfills or is incinerated1,” says Julien Born, Chief Commercial Officer The LYCRA Company. “This collaboration exemplifies the synergistic approach we are taking to develop products and technologies that support a more sustainable future for our large global customer base.” This is the first of several innovations The LYCRA Company is working on in the area of textile and apparel recycling. Laying the foundation for a more circular future is one of the main goals of The LYCRA Company’s Planet Agenda sustainability platform.

Far from the excesses of being trendy at all costs and from the clichés of the codified formal: the relaxed elegance of the new Italian menswear is conscious and devoted to the everyday. Loyal to the craftsmanship and Made in Italy values, the mantra is to experiment, with moderation and good taste, new declinations of classic must-haves. Through fabrics, fits, and treatments, but also prints with sophisticated color mixes.

For more style notes, visit the link.

Returning to the Las Vegas Convention Center this summer, MAGIC Las Vegas and PROJECT Las Vegas will run from August 9-11, allowing retailers to discover contemporary and trend brands and products spanning women’s, men’s, and children’s apparel, footwear, accessories, home goods, and gifts. Co-located at the Las Vegas Convention Center, SOURCING at MAGIC will run August 8-11.

DESTINATION: MIAMI by COTERIE will head to Eden Roc Hotel in Miami Beach July 10-12. This elevated women’s resort and swim event aligns with internationally recognized Miami Swim Week.

A large-scale COTERIE event will also return in September 2021, along with additional digital opportunities for the women’s elevated contemporary segment.

Trade fairs are an essential asset for SME’s and industry in Italy, and starting them up again would be an important trigger for recovery of the national economy.

This is why Italy’s biggest fashion trade shows, PITTI Uomo, Bimbo, Filati and Taste in June, Milano Unica (showcasing excellence in fabrics and accessories) in July and the September shows MICAM Milano (the international footwear show), MIPEL (the international event for leather goods and accessories), TheONE Milano (the women’s haut-à-porter show), LINEAPELLE (an exhibition of innovative leathers, fabrics, accessories and components), DaTE (an exhibition of advanced eyewear) and HOMI Fashion&Jewels Exhibition (featuring costume jewellery and fashion accessories), are asking the government for absolute certainty about when they will be able to open their doors again, holding their events in compliance with the health and safety regulations and protocols for both exhibitors andvisitors.

The trade fair organisers are asking the government to announce, in the next Decree of the Council of Ministers, expected to be issued on April 6, permission to organise trade fair events compatibly with protection of public health. Organising an international B2B trade fair, open only to professionals in the trade, requires a lot of advanced planning and set-up, and cannot be accomplished in a matter of a few days. Continued uncertainty could put the whole fall season at risk.

Vestiaire Collective, The leading global platform for desirable second-hand fashion has announced the completion of a new €178 million financing round, backed by global French luxury group Kering and US investment firm Tiger Global Management. Existing shareholders including Vestiaire Collective’s CEO, Max Bittner, Bpifrance (Large Venture), Condé Nast, the Eurazeo Group (Eurazeo Growth and Idinvest Venture) (RF.PA), certain funds managed by Fidelity International, Korelya Capital (backed by NAVER) (KRX: 035420), Luxury Tech Fund (LTF & Cuir Invest) and Vitruvian Partners also reinvest. Following a strong year that saw the platform’s transaction volume grow over 100% year-on-year, this financing round grants Vestiaire Collective unicorn status and ideally positions it for its next cycle of accelerated growth.

Founded five years ago by Inès Mesmar, La Fabrique NOMADE promotes the skills of refugee artisans by presenting collections created with support from volunteer designers and stylists. Its new Traits d’Union 5 collection will be launched online on March 23rd, featuring creations around the evocative theme of “Le Renouveau” (Renewal), proposed by creative directors Pauline Ricard-André and José Lévy.

“These are much more than simply fashion and décor items, they embody the tenacity that transforms beauty into esteem, esteem into hope, and hope into a future,” says La Fabrique NOMADE director Inès Mesmar.

LVMH is once again supporting the collection this year, in particular through the engagement of designers, artisans and experts from Celine, Chaumet and Louis Vuitton who are working with the craftspeople supported by the charity. LVMH’s Antoine Arnault underlines the importance of this support for the Group: “I am delighted that our Maisons have welcomed these artisans to visit their workshops and encouraged their contribution to joint projects. Sharing experience is a two-way process that’s extremely enriching for everyone involved. This partnership has also brought talented people together and resulted in very concrete achievements in terms of professional integration.”

More than a collection, Levi’s Wellthread is a laboratory for progress. It’s an effort to work through a set of design and manufacturing challenges in order to create a more sustainable future. For Spring/Summer 2021, progress comes in the form of exciting innovations and styles, including the introduction of 55% hemp blended fabrics, new natural-dye techniques, the expanded use of organically grown cotton, and the recyclability of every Wellthread garment.

This season, Levi’s Wellthread embraces looser silhouettes for women’s with the introduction of the High Loose, the flattering high rise fit with a loose long leg. The women’s Trucker Jackets also gets an update with a silhouette that is casually loose or one that’s adjusted at the waist for a fuller balloon like fit.

“Our Wellthread design methodology prioritizes environmental sustainability in the materials we use. This spring we conEnue to refine and develop hemp, seeking ways to optimize it for our collections. Our hemp denim products not only meet our customers’ expectations of authenticity and comfort but also reduce our garments’ water footprint.”—Una Murphy, Senior Innovation Designer at Levi’s.

For men, Levi’s embraces looser silhouettes for men’s, adding a new fit; the 551 Z, an authentic straight fit updated with a zip fly.

Levi’s Wellthread has been hard at work over the last few seasons developing ways to make hemp a much softer and more usable fiber solution for the Levi’s fans. Hemp generally requires less water and fewer pesticides in cultivation than conventionally grown cotton resulting in cleaner, healthier soils. The hemp blended into these garments comes from rain-fed hemp crops, which reduces water usage even further.

Also this season, the use of plant-based natural dyes for denim and tees are addressed. Traditionally, plant based-dyes can require the use of toxic chemicals to make the dye penetrate the yarn. But Levi’s Wellthread uses a technique by which ultrasonic waves are used to apply the dye to the fiber reducing the need for harsh chemicals, and reducing the garment’s overall environmental footprint. Every T-shirt in the Levi’s Wellthread collection this season features this innovative, water saving plant-based dye technique.

The LYCRA Company, a global leader in sustainable fibre solutions for the apparel industry, has completed the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) Self-Assessment at all six of its LYCRA fibre manufacturing sites. The robust impact assessment, which reviews environmental management systems, energy and water consumption, emissions, wastewater, and waste and chemical management at the plant level, helps manufacturing sites establish an environmental baseline to drive continuous improvement.

The pilot project at The LYCRA Company’s Maydown site (in northwest Northern Ireland) began more than a year ago. Based on the initial findings, the remaining five production sites conducted self-assessments at the same time.

“I would like to thank all the sites and the team that supported them for their efforts in achieving this significant milestone,” says Gary Huffman, Director of Operations Excellence, The LYCRA Company. The fact that all sites completed the module underpins our commitment to manufacturing excellence across a wide range of sustainability parameters and provides us with a framework for future improvement.”

The modules were published on the Higg portal in December 2020 and can now be securely shared with customers on request via the Higg platform. They provide insights into The LYCRA Company’s sustainability performance and underscore the company’s commitment to transparency.