Pitti Uomo 99 to launch online in January 2021

Pitti Uomo 99 to launch online in January 2021

Pitti Immagine begins to reveal the events and special projects for the next edition of Pitti Uomo, which will physically be held at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence from 21-23 February 2021. Until then, the fair will kick off  – in a digital format – from 12 to 14 January on Pitti Connect, the platform launched by Pitti Immagine this past summer to support exhibiting companies in the presentation of their collections and in the generation of business contacts with international buyers.

A special “opening” will officially inagurate the digital fair. On January 12, Brunello Cucinelli, one of the brands and firms of reference at Pitti Uomo, will be featured in a live streaming from Solomeo to present the brand’s new fall-winter 2021 collection in a preview before its participation in the physical edition of the fair in February.

Raf Simons debuts self-curated e-commerce platform

Raf Simons debuts self-curated e-commerce platform

Raf Simons has launched a new e-commerce platform called History Of My World after his tenth anniversary collection from 2005. The new online retail platform will stock clothing, homeware, and literature products curated by Simons.

The new platform is separate from Simons’ own eponymous label, and has officially launched this week. The site debut features one-of-a-kind blankets made at the Raf Simons studio. For all products featured on the website, customers can request a special inscription handwritten by Raf Simons himself.

SUN68 presents Beach collection for S/S 21

SUN68 presents Beach collection for S/S 21

“Funky vibes” is the mood of the new SUN68 Summer 2021 Beach collection, which chooses California inspired imagery of the 70s as inspiration for its swimwear, T-shirts and sweatshirts. Swimpants feature bright colors, while hoodies, T-shirts and polo-shirts revisit the tie dye technique, featuring shades such as raspberry purple, aquamarine blue as well as fluorescent orange and yellow colors.

In addition to the Seventies focus, the wide range of bathing suits includes basics in a single color or with stripes, micro-patterns, Hawaiian-inspired florals in fluo versions, geometric textures, and “ethnic” swimpants, with an ironic interpretation of aztec and oriental symbols.

The Beach collection is completed with the classic beach accessories: beach towels, slippers, bags and caps.

The SUN68 Beach collection will be available on sun68.com from the end of February 2021, and in a selected network of stores throughout Italy.

 

A 100% digital edition of Première Vision Paris

A 100% digital edition of Première Vision Paris

While awaiting a return to physical events, which seems finally in the offing for the second semester of 2021, Première Vision Paris will be holding a digital show for its February edition, presaging continued health constraints on a global scale.

The digital show, a week-long event running from February 15 to 19, will introduce new services for the industry and reflects the marked acceleration of the group’s digitization. Première Vision will also be bringing online its new website, to be rolled out in several stages over the coming year, which will bring together all the trade shows and its Marketplace.

Since September, Première Vision has helped to maintain the industry’s business activity and motivate its community by successfully organizing 2 digital events and 2 shows, thus allowing creative fashion brands and manufacturers to continue to work and support their businesses:

– The Première Vision Made in France show at the Carreau du Temple on September 1st and 2nd: 98 exhibitors, a record attendance of 3,528 visitors.

-The Première Vision Paris Digital Show on September 15 and 16: 1,675 e-shops, more than 43,000 products, 19,500 unique visitors from nearly 120 countries, over 4,000 participants in the digital talks…

-Première Vision Shenzhen from November 25 to 27: this new event held in China is a side-by- side show located in the heart of Fashion Source – one of the leading textile and fashion trade shows in Asia, held twice a year in Shenzhen.

-The Digital Denim Week, an online event standing in for the Denim Première Vision show, from November 30 to December 4.

APROPOS THE CONCEPT STORE opens 6th branch in Gmund am Tegernsee

Photo Credit :Annika Feuss

APROPOS THE CONCEPT STORE opens 6th branch in Gmund am Tegernsee

APROPOS THE CONCEPT STORE ends the year 2020 with an exciting new opening of its 6th branch, in the Bavarian town of Gmund am Tegernsee, around 60 km outside Munich.

The new store concept developed by APROPOS impressively combines Bavarian tradition with modern forms and was executed together with the architectural office, Unzen.

The shop space covers around 420 square metres and reflects the well-known APROPOS DNA: a curated selection of high-end fashion for men and women, beauty products and key home highlights.

At the launch, the assortment includes the S/S 21 collections of internationally renowned designers such as Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Celine, Christian Louboutin, Zimmermann and Moncler.

Klaus Ritzenhöfer and Daniel Riedo, Founder of Apropos with stores in Cologne, Munich and more, deliberately chose Tegernsee as the new location.

“We spend a lot of time in the Tegernsee Valley throughout the year and especially in the last few years the number of new projects in the luxury segment has increased very strongly. For us as a concept store, we see a new and exciting opportunity here.”

Portuguese Mill Tearfil chooses Sorona for its future-oriented yarns

Portuguese Mill Tearfil chooses Sorona for its future-oriented yarns

DuPont Sorona and the Portuguese spinning mill Tearfil have announced a collaboration to develop sustainable and high-performing staple yarns for the apparel industry. Tearfil is committed to creating smarter, cleaner and more sustainable yarns, and choosing Sorona was a natural solution for the spinning mill. 

“We believe collaboration is the key ingredient to creating the best products. We recognize that our magic is only possible thanks to our trusted fiber and technology partners. Sustainability or performance: why not have it all? Through working with the Sorona team, we prove how future-oriented high-performance textiles can also be eco-friendly and eco-conscious,” said Maria de Belém Machado, CEO at Tearfil. 

Sorona is made up of 37 percent renewable plant-based ingredients. Offering a sustainable alternative to traditionally non-recyclable materials, the eco-efficient fiber is the choice of many renowned brands, such as The North Face, Helly Hansen and Stella McCartney. Sorona features many performance attributes, including softness, stretch, shape recovery, flexibility, ease-of-care and stain-resistance without the need for topical treatments. From flexible yoga wear to denim to everything in-between, Sorona can make any textile look good, feel good and do good. 

The Sorona fiber turns a formerly chemically-based process into a biological one, using 30 percent less energy and releasing 63 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than Nylon 6. Sorona is also a member of the Textile Exchange, The Sustainable Apparel Coalition and the Ellen McArthur Foundation. It is a USDA certified bio-based product and received OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certification.

MAISON KITSUNÉ x Goldwin limited edition capsule

MAISON KITSUNÉ x Goldwin limited edition capsule

Goldwin and Maison Kitsune have debut their first collaboration ever: a capsule of highly functional outerwear that showcases advanced silhouettes, for a high-level fusion of functionality and fashion.

The highly exclusive run of premium down jackets merges authentic outdoor style and rational attention to the details with French Maison design touch, delivering highly-functional outerwear that showcases advanced silhouettes and technical innovation.

Since its debut, Maison Kitsuné has collaborated with young, avant-garde labels and more established, prestigious brands: this collaboration is a perfect unity of the two brands’ areas of expertise, Goldwin’s minimalist, high-performance technical apparel, and Maison Kitsuné’s mastery of the Paris-meets-Tokyo lifestyle.

Neonyt on Air: shaping the future of sustainable fashion together

Neonyt on Air: shaping the future of sustainable fashion together

The Grüner Knopf (Green Button) government-run certification label by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, German fair fashion pioneer Hessnatur and the Oeko-Tex Association, partner for certification systems, are the “Presenting Partners” of digital community format “Neonyt on Air”. From 18-22 January 2021, representatives from these organisations and several other speakers from the sustainability fashion scene will be discussing a transparent textile value chain and everything it entails: from accountability, transparency and green financing to sustainable sourcing and blockchain solutions.

“Neonyt is a strong platform and we are delighted that our partnership is still active during these digital times,” said Andrea Sibylle Ebinger, CEO of Hessnatur. Following a welcome from the Neonyt organisers, she will be appealing to the sustainability community in her keynote to kick off the digital week on Monday, 18 January 2021: “When it comes to our future, we don’t have any time to lose. Only together can we ensure that respecting nature and treating people with fairness are no longer the exception but the rule. With “Neonyt on Air”, we are keeping the dialogue going and driving forward our common objective for a better tomorrow.”

ISPO Munich Online 2021

ISPO Munich Online 2021

For the first time in its 50-year history ISPO Munich, the world’s leading trade fair for sports, will take place in a purely digital format from February 1 to 5, 2021. With nearly seven weeks to go before the start of the event, many international brands have already registered to present themselves and their products in the Expo Area. In addition, participants can also expect a comprehensive conference program. This is dedicated to a different key topic each day: from innovations and creativity to digitalization and health to sustainability.

The program schedule will follow a uniform model every day: After a short opening in the morning, there will be plenty of time to gain a market overview, maintain and expand networks and discover trends in the Expo Area. From midday, workshops and masterclasses by the exhibiting companies are on the agenda. Following this, there will be presentations, talks and panel discussions on the main stage. All of these program points will take place in front of the specialist audience.

Each day will end with “public streams” for end consumers with a love of sports and outdoors from around the world – from training sessions to product tutorials to live talks.

Micam Milano wins the ICMA Award

Micam Milano wins the ICMA Award

Scheduled for March 21 through 23, 2021 at Fieramilano (Rho), MICAM Milano, the world’s leading footwear trade show, promoted by Assocalzaturifici, is ready to serve a market that is responding with resilience, attempting to provide the right amount of space for all sectors of the industry.

The advertising campaign MICAM in Wonderland and the related integrated communication plan prepared by MM Company with accounting by Laureri Associates have won the gold medal at the ICMA International Creative Media Award for best social media project of 2020.

MICAM Milano succeeded in the enterprise of using an ironic approach and a metaphysical fairy- tale world to re-enact some of the most significant moments in the best-known and most universal of fairy tales in a series of photos and videos. The creative idea, which made its debut in February 2020, has been nicknamed #micamtales: a collection of fairy-tales reinterpreted with a contemporary twist.

Hyve Group announces Scoop X Pure

Hyve Group announces Scoop X Pure

UK trade show organiser Hyve Group has announced that its trade shows Scoop and Pure London will collaborate for a September 2021 concept show.

Scoop X Pure will take place on 12th till 14th September 2021 at London’s Saatchi Gallery.

Designed to offer a “department store” atmosphere, Scoop X Pure will not only showcase both emerging and established UK and international designers but will also feature a selected edit of home and lifestyle products. Following the cancellation of Jacket Required’s July edition, Scoop X Pure will also feature a selected menswear edit, with a view to showcasing labels with both a men’s and womenswear offering.

Berlin becomes the European Capital of Creative Industries for a Sustainable Future

Berlin becomes the European Capital of Creative Industries for a Sustainable Future

Berlin Fashion Week: Berlin becomes the European Capital of Creative Industries for a Sustainable Future. With a cross-disciplinary concept, Berlin focuses on its DNA as the European Capital of Creative Industries and continues to focus on a more sustainable future. The state of Berlin is supporting the realignment of Fashion Week with 3.5 million euros in 2021 alone. Berlin Fashion Week is repositioning itself and entering 2021 stronger than ever: with the next Fashion Week (January 18-24, 2021), the German capital is positioning itself as the European Capital of Creative Industries.

With a forward-looking interplay of cross-disciplinary formats, the creators of Berlin Fashion Week create a visionary and globally relevant concept that focuses above all on innovation, sustainability and digitalization.

App-date: Supply chains and carbon footprints

App-date: Supply chains and carbon footprints

In this section, WeAr reviews the best apps and software platforms used by retailers and brands. Some of them are available to all stores; others are exclusive to one retailer or territory, but will hopefully inspire others and help them keep abreast of changes in the digital fashion landscape.


The High Index

The Higg Index is a suite of sustainability measure- ment tools for brands, retailers and facilities of all sizes in the apparel and footwear industry. Developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), these tools span design to end of use in three catego- ries: product, facility, and brand and retail. The first includes the Materials Sustainability Index, which allows designers to create materials and understand their overall environmental impact. Brands can employ other modules to measure product sustain- ability and life-cycle, and contextualize this with their internal system to generate analytics. The Facility Tools focus on environmental and labor impacts, determining, for instance, measures of emissions, facility safety, waste management and worker liveli- hood. Finally, the Higg Brand & Retail Module analyzes data to give companies a wide glimpse into the supply chain to see how they rank in sustainability – from manufacturing metrics, transportation of goods, and packaging, to measuring the environmental cost of office headquarters.


Cogo

CoGo is a UK app that connects consumers and businesses that strive to become more socially and environmentally responsible. Users sign up to the app by connecting their bank account and stating the social and environmental issues they care most about helping. The app then calculates a person- alized carbon footprint that is based on spending transactions and lifestyle choices, and offers ways to take action and make simple lifestyle changes to reduce the score. An ethical recommendation engine will point the user towards UK businesses that score best on the social and environmental issues the user shows interest in; these 20,000+ rigorously approved businesses exemplify ethical or sustainable prac- tices. When criteria are achieved, businesses earn at least one of twelve CoGo accreditation badges – badge examples include, but are not limited to, offer- ing fair trade, organic or vegan products, paying a living wage or actively pledging to reduce waste to landfill.

Post-lockdown inventory problem: sustainable solutions

Post-lockdown inventory problem: sustainable solutions

According to research undertaken by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2017, disposed excess inventory had been causing almost 1.2 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. In the years since, increased press coverage on burning and other forms of clothing disposal has spurred efforts to re-channel this excess stock. But the pandemic is testing these sustainable options. With consumer spending on non-essentials down and many stores around the world still closed, the fashion industry is facing an unprecedented oversupply of goods, from S/S 2020 in particular.

Some companies including Ralph Lauren, Next, adidas and Gap are putting aside a portion of their Spring inventory to sell off next year. Any items that fall within non-seasonal or trendy categories may also be re-sellable for later periods. There are many shoppers who – after months of staying at home – are now eager for goods, and for finding deals. Currently, we are seeing re-opened off-price stores reaping the benefits of this market. Brands and retailers should consider selling through these channels.

Don’t want to simply sell at a loss? There are companies who work with clients to manage excess inventory and customer returns in ways that generate profit and brand value. One good option is the UK-based company Parker Lane Group.

With a global reach, they help retailers find resale markets for unsold garments and recycle the rest. They recently launched the Coronavirus Support Service to deal primarily with unsellable S/S 2020 inventory, lack of warehouse space, and accumulating unmanaged returns. The US company Optoro offers similar services. They use AI and machine-learning software to generate real-time brand analyt- ics, which helps them organize garments into recommerce (to Optoro’s resale site Blinq, or elsewhere) or donation options. Both companies primarily work with activewear and high street brands, but also accommodate image-sensitive luxury brands who don’t want to sell in discount markets. The re-sale marketplace Tradesy opened a business unit in April 2020 to cater to brands who have excess stock due to cancellations.

There are also companies that can help with charitable donations specifically. Gift- ing Brands works with retailers to resell their private label and upscale brands, and donates the profits to charity. Soles4Souls also accepts inventory donations, and has a portfolio of brand partnerships. It is now connecting essential work- ers with donations: an action and message that resonates loudly during these unsettling times.

Stone Island joins Moncler

Stone Island joins Moncler

Moncler S.p.A. and Sportswear Company S.p.A., that holds Stone Island brand, announced today that they have reached an agreement as a result of which Stone Island joins Moncler to develop together a new shared vision of luxury.

The acquisition will consist of 2 parts where Moncler will buy 70 percent of the company from Chief Executive Carlo Rivetti. It will then buy the remaining 30 percent from Temasek, the Singaporean state-backed investor.

With this transaction, united by their “beyond fashion, beyond luxury” philosophy, these two Italian brands will strengthen their ability to interpret the evolving cultural codes of the new generations, reinforcing their positioning within the new luxury segment. This is a concept that embraces the search for experientiality, inclusivity, a sense of belonging to a community and the mixing of diverse meanings and worlds including those of art, culture, music and sport.

Remo Ruffini, Chairman and CEO of Moncler S.p.A. comments: “I have always worked to build a strong brand where uniqueness and closeness to the consumer have been the cornerstones of a development always beyond trends and conventions.”

Carlo Rivetti, Chairman and CEO of Stone Island continues: “Remo and I have decided to combine forces and visions to meet together and with greater strength than ever the challenges we all face. We share the same roots, similar entrepreneurial journeys and the utmost respect for the profound values of our brands and our people. And we are Italians.”

1.618 Paris x Future Fabrics Expo

1.618 Paris x Future Fabrics Expo

The Future Fabrics Expo is the largest dedicated showcase of globally sourced commercially available sustainably and responsibly produced fabrics and materials. Providing the tools for a responsible fashion industry, the Expo sources and curates materials with a lower environmental footprint, offering accessible and innovative sustainable solutions.

As part of their partnership with 1.618 Paris Biennale this December, The Sustainable Angle’s Future Fabrics Expo has curated a program of round table discussions dedicated to sustainable sourcing.

The three discussions will bring together spotlighted exhibitors from our Future Fabrics Expo. Discover ways in which they are bringing textile solutions for a more sustainable present now and for the future:

 

-December 9th : Challenges in textile recycling and how to overcome them with Recyctex and Kipas

-December 10th : Exploring new textile horizons through regenerative practices with Kering, Bananatex, UPW, and Cleric

-December 11th : New materials landscapes from the Future Fabrics Expo with Amanda Johnston

Stone Island opens in the Miami Design District

Stone Island opens in the Miami Design District

Stone Island has opened a store in Miami, thus expanding its presence in the North American market: it is the fourth store after New York, Los Angeles and Toronto.

Located in the Miami Design District, the space covers an area of over 3.000 squared feet (280 sqm) on two levels, hosting the Stone Island and Shadow Project collections.

The interior design follows the concept used for Stone Island flagship stores – created by Marc Buhre, industrial designer from Heidelberg (Germany) and founder of Zeichenweg TM architectural firm. Each element of the system has been created to work together in a highly functional design.

The bush-hammered stone flooring is also used on the walls, interspersed with parts in through-colour MDF and metallic mesh on a steel substructure. Furnishings are in black-stained natural oak, hangers are composed of carbon bars and anodized aluminium and shelves are in shades of anthracite.

Experimentation, function and use are the matrixes that have always defined Stone Island: since inception in 1982, the Italian brand has become a symbol of research and treatments in fibres and textiles applied to innovative design.

Frankfurt Fashion Week: hosting the future of fashion

Frankfurt Fashion Week: hosting the future of fashion

Frankfurt Fashion Week is positioning itself with a consistently sustainable agenda and propelling the transformation of a modern, resource-efficient fashion industry. The Conscious Fashion Campaign (CFC), working in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP), will be the presenting partner and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be a prerequisite for all exhibitors by 2023. And the Frankfurt Fashion SDG Summit by CFC is set to become the leading international conference for sustainability in the fashion world. The future of fashion has begun – and its key players will be coming together in Frankfurt am Main from 5-9 July 2021.

“Frankfurt will play host to the whole world. We are seeing a very positive response indeed,” confirmed Peter Feldmann, Senior Mayor of the City of Frankfurt am Main, at today’s digital press conference, before going on to say: “The fact that the initiators are able to rethink the concept of a Fashion Week in such a way is extremely impressive and proves that the fashion industry is correctly interpreting the signs of the present and future. The time has come for value creation and values to be reconciled. Consistent alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals is an important step in this direction.”

“We are committed to setting the wheels of transformation in motion. Not only does the overall mindset have to fundamentally change; the entire industry also needs to have the courage to be transparent and honest. It’s important to see values and value creation as opportunities rather than contentious. We are doing what we do best: connecting the relevant players at all levels. With its ecosystem, Frankfurt Fashion Week will become the enabler. We are creating a platform that will orchestrate industry-wide change. With this as our inspiration, we are also developing our tradeshow formats from a ‘marketplace of products’ to a ‘marketplace of purpose and ideas’,” explains Anita Tillmann, Managing Partner of the Premium Group.

Nobis Launches Capsule Collection with NBA Champion & Raptors Star Serge IbakaNobis Launches Capsule Collection with NBA Champion & Raptors Star Serge Ibaka

Nobis Launches Capsule Collection with NBA Champion & Raptors Star Serge Ibaka

Canadian premium outerwear and accessories brand Nobis is
launching its first capsule collection designed in collaboration with Toronto Raptors centre and NBA champion Serge Ibaka.

Known for his #BigScarfEnergy, Ibaka teamed up with Nobis to help create a genderless collection that features nine limited-edition pieces, including a parka, anorak, bomber jacket, vests, hats and, of course, scarves. The highly anticipated capsule collection is available in store and online starting November 19, 2020.

“I’m thrilled to collaborate with Nobis on my first fashion collection. Nobis is very simple and chic, which made me really fall in love with the brand, making them the perfect partner,” says Ibaka. “Getting dressed to me is an art, and I wanted to express myself through this collection and share it with my fans.”

Second edition of #STRONGERTOGETHER project to take place in March 2021

Second edition of #STRONGERTOGETHER project to take place in March 2021

After the September edition of #STRONGERTOGETHER, the organisers of the 5 events have consolidated plans to repeat the #STRONGERTOGETHER project in March 2021. The trade fairs in the fashion system will once again be held on the same dates, March 20 through 24, 2021, at a single location, the Fieramilano Rho trade fair centre.

MICAM Milano (the international footwear show), MIPEL (the international event for leather goods and accessories) and TheONE Milano (the women’s haut-à-porter fashion event featuring the best fabric, fur and leather apparel) will all open from Sunday March 21 to Tuesday March 23, 2021, one day less than in the last edition. The #strongertogether trade fairs will be completed with LINEAPELLE, on March 23 and 24, 2021, featuring the most innovative and exclusive leathers, fabrics, accessories and components for fashion and design.

The successful format of #strongertogether will be repeated: the first edition in September welcomed more than 16 thousand visitors (25% of whom came from abroad) with the goal of giving enterprises a helping hand at a particularly difficult time. The organisers are already working on intercepting and selecting buyers with even greater precision thanks to support from MISE and the Italian Trade Agency, whose support has always been essential.

Gallery Fashion & Shoes prepares for January 2021 edition

Gallery Fashion & Shoes prepares for January 2021 edition

At the end of January 2021, Düsseldorf will once again aim to prove itself as a firmly established destination for international fashion orders: Gallery FASHION & Shoes, with the Fashion Bridge to Supreme Women & Men, is planning to hold its regular order event as scheduled.

“Here at Igedo we are optimistic that responsibly organised order events will be possible again from the end of January 2021. Like in March and September 2020, Gallery FASHION & Shoes obviously guarantees the strictest adherence to all official regulations and guidelines, while also ensuring a positive atmosphere for people to finally meet up in. As a partner of the industry, it is incredibly important to us to show consistency and to also continue offering a physical platform – and the Areal Böhler in Düsseldorf provides the best conditions for that.” – Ulrike Kähler Managing Director of Igedo Company

Digital Denim Week by Denim Première Vision

Digital Denim Week by Denim Première Vision

A few weeks ago, Denim Première Vision announced the launch of a new event format: the DIGITAL DENIM WEEK. This 100% digital show will fully replace the physical edition of the show initially scheduled for November 24 and 25 in Berlin, assisting and accelerating the industry’s growing move to digital, where initiatives are being strongly catalyzed by the health crisis.

Via an online platform, Denim Première Vision is set to run for a full week, from November 30 to December 4, to present the new collections of materials from over 50 exhibitors, and the very latest product developments for Spring-Summer 22. The DIGITAL DENIM WEEK will also showcase a dive into the heart of the specifics of the season – from trends to products and materials – featuring targeted talks by selected key players and experts, as well as a program of conferences and masterclasses to meet the industry’s emerging challenges.


To help the industry organize its plans, and because meetings and discussions between buyers and suppliers at physical trade shows is of the utmost importance for the sector, Denim Première Vision is committed to holding its two editions in 2021:

In Milan on May 25 & 26 at SUPERTSUDIO PIÙ,
for the autumn/winter 2022-23 denim developments.

In Berlin on November 16 & 17 at the ARENA BERLIN, to discover the spring summer 23 collections.

Winter editions of Pitti Immagine fairs moved to 21-23 February 2021

Winter editions of Pitti Immagine fairs moved to 21-23 February 2021

The winter editions of the Pitti Immagine fairs have all been moved to 21-23 February 2021: in Florence, along the Fortezza da Basso-Stazione Leopolda axis, keeping the focus on the individual identities of Uomo, Filati and Bimbo. A system choice in order to consolidate the Italian calendar of fashion presentations and valorize the qualities and integration of the production chain.

“Following the latest Prime Ministerial order extending the suspension of international trade fairs until 3rd December ” says Claudio Marenzi “ we began to reflect on the real possibility of organizing the fairs starting from 12 January, the date set for Uomo, concluding that the margin of time available was truly meager and the situation still too uncertain.  We had also received a lot of requests from exhibitors and buyers who, reiterating the need to return to a quality physical event, asked for more time to present the collections and organize their presence in Florence. Basically: in the face of these requests directed towards ourselves as well as the market, we decided to postpone the start of the cycle by five weeks and come up with an innovative formula for the ensemble of fairs in the hope and belief that, in the meantime, the conditions and authorizations for holding fair events would have been restored”.

“In order to identify the new dates and plan a rendezvous that would be capable of coping with the exceptional phase we are going through ”continues Marenzi “ we followed three criteria: the fairs should be held in a useful period for the sales campaigns; the identity of each fair should be preserved and, at the same time, it should give a strong system signal with regard to both the production-commercial chain which represents a specific value of Italian fashion, as well as the Italian calendar of fashion presentations (resulting in the decision to take the three days prior to the opening of the Camera della Moda fashion week in Milan). We were thus certain that we would also receive the strong approval of national institutions like MAECI and ICE (the Italian Foreign Trade Promotion and Internationalization Agency) – which have guaranteed their significant support, as well as local institutions”.

“We are aware that by around the third week of February the sales campaigns of the collections will already be at an advanced stage ”points out Raffaello Napoleone, CEO of Pitti Immagine“ but we know that there will still be good portfolio margins for buyers, especially all those who feel the need to have a precise, physical contact with stylish products of high manufacturing value.  And that’s not all: we will be opening the Connect digital platform to exhibitors well in advance.  We have been working very hard on this platform over the last few months in order to boost the collection of orders and expand the editorial coverage.  We are organizing a big promotion of our online sales system that will reach top buyers all over the world.  Finally, we have already prepared all the necessary safety measures, from entrance checks to the planning of visits to the stands, to a design of the layout furnishings that takes into account social distancing and constant sanitization.  An undertaking to which we have totally committed ourselves”.

2 key trends for S/S 2021

Photo Credit : [Left] Runway Look © Dior [Right] Etro

2 key trends for S/S 2021

WOMENSWEAR TREND: COUNTRY GETAWAY


[Left] Runway Look Dior [Right] Salvatore Ferragamo

 

Getting out into the country was a theme in multiple S/S 21 presentations. After months spent indoors, an emergence of such a sensibility seems almost unavoidable. Organic colors infused the collections, which used intricately detailed fabrics in simple silhouettes.

The Jacquemus collection, presented on a runway in a wheat field in the French countryside, used larger, looser silhouettes and unfussy tailoring. The collection was imbued with natural, muted colors like sage, ecru, black and clay. Flowing bias-cut dresses, oversized trousers and unstructured blazers recalled a simple country wedding, in designer Simon Porte Jacquemus own words.

The Dior Cruise 2021 collection, presented in the center of Lecce, Italy, was a spectacle that paid homage to the Italian countryside in the southern province of Puglia. With fringed skirts, headscarves and embroidered dresses, the collection featured a black gauzy material, warm whites and grays on intricately handwoven fabrics. Muted reds and greens rounded out the colors in the collection.

Salvatore Ferragamo used eco-friendly fabrics throughout an elegant and distilled collection comprising sleek silhouettes, clean lines and organic materials. Burnt orange, tan, beige and black infused a collection focused on sustainability with responsibly sourced materials like upcycled leather and cashmere, recycled nylon and organic cotton. Photographed in the countryside of Provence, France, the See by Chloé Resort 2021 collection imbued playful clothing designed for relaxing in with hues of sage, peach, burgundy and sand. And Ermanno Scervino Resort 2021, photographed in Tuscany, Italy, presented intricate knits and lace details, ruffled white dresses, and gauzy skirts with plissé inserts. Colors were whites, with a smattering of pastel pink, and pistachio green; perfect for getting lost in a field on a lazy summer afternoon.


MENSWEAR TREND: A LOVE LETTER TO NATURE


[Left] Etro [Middle] Ermenegildo Zegna [Right] Reese Cooper

 

“A moment like this can easily lead to a glorification of flawless precision of the machine but at Ermenegildo Zegna, with respect for a humanist tradition that is profoundly Italian, we believe that the human being always sits at the center, in harmony with nature.” This is how artistic director Alessandro Sartori explained the vision behind his S/S 21 collection that features soft and elegant knitwear with foliage-inspired patterns. The brand (which turns 110 this year) celebrates a strong connection with nature, seeing it not just as a provider of resources and raw materials but also recognizing the need to preserve its richness and diversity.

At Gucci, flower embroideries appear on a seventies-style sleeveless fur coat, a suit and a trench coat. Volumes are fluid like water at Etro, where shirts feature beautiful flower prints, too. Pebbles and stones seen in rivers have inspired a print in Reese Cooper’s accessories line; the models in the brand’s show walked barefoot through a brook in the wilderness, hinting at the need to reconnect with the Earth. His color palette comprised vivid green, orange and fruit colors.

The world of tailoring and classic menswear explored similar topics. Lardini is inspired by a bamboo forest through which the sun filters, by water games, by the intensity of hues seen in flowers and birds as depicted in Oriental art. Roberto Collina explores earthy shades – from cream to beige – and is enchanted with the shades of the sky: powder blue, navy blue and sapphire. And Paoloni proposed an unlined shirt jacket, both in cotton and light linen, with paintings in a bursting color palette of summer fruits.

Kering participates in the china international import expo

Kering participates in the china international import expo

Kering and all its Houses are participating in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) for the second consecutive year, presenting its corporate signature “Empowering Imagination” and strategic vision of “Modern Luxury”, as well as profiling its important work in the world of biodiversity.

“In attending the CIIE this year, we appreciate and value this important opportunity to present Kering’s vision for the ongoing evolution of the luxury industry, and the role it can play in helping ensure a sustainable future. Moreover, we hope to expand our partnership with our business partners and stakeholders in China to further craft tomorrow’s Luxury together,” said Cai Jinqing, President of Kering Greater China.

“Taking an evolutionary approach to the design initiated in 2019, Buro Ole Scheeren delivers the latest iteration of an immersive and distinctive environment for this year’s Kering pavilion at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) 2020. In keeping with Kering’s commitment to environmental stewardship, Buro Ole Scheeren’s semi-modular design has been refreshed, reshuffled and redeployed. The pavilion reuses 66% of the overall material weight. Consisting of a series of rose-hued display cubes, prismatic vitrines, multimedia installations and iconic works of fashion from the Kering brands, this year’s pavilion is an imaginative statement on sustainability with style.” Ole Scheeren, Principal of Buro Ole Scheeren remarked.

Fendi celebrates Italy’s artisanal craftsmanship with ‘Hand in Hand’ project

Fendi celebrates Italy’s artisanal craftsmanship with ‘Hand in Hand’ project

Fendi’s “Hand in Hand” project celebrates the vast diversity and unique quality of Italian craftsmanship. The Italian Maison invited 20 ateliers representing the country’s 20 regions to interpret the iconic Baguette bag – designed in 1997 by Silvia Venturini Fendi, Creative Director for Accessories and Men’s collections. The designer plans to expand this unprecedented project to pay tribute to the best artisans around the world. .

The first creation was presented in the Fall/Winter 2020-2021 runway show, a collaboration between Fendi artisans and craftspeople at the Florentine atelier Peroni in Tuscany. In the skilled hands of Peroni artisans, the Baguette is fashioned from a single seamless piece of molded vegetal-tanned leather with no stitches from bag to buckle, using an impressive traditional technique known as cuoio artistico fiorentino. The different Italian regions each contribute distinctive savoir-faire while sharing a passion for traditional craftsmanship and skillful handmade creations.

In Veneto, “Hand in Hand” spotlights time-honored craft. Working with Venetian artisans at Bevilacqua, which has been making jacquard for five centuries, Fendi goes back in time. The fabric is woven by hand on 18th century wooden looms by artisans who meticulously create a rich floral brocade motif, producing just a few centimeters per day. An interlaced satin strap and a buckle sculpted in jasper with lizard details further elevate the jacquard. The absolutely breathtaking result is an ode to patient talent, to experience,  and to the historic beauty of Venice.

About Time: Fashion and Duration exhibition at The Met Museum

About Time: Fashion and Duration exhibition at The Met Museum

The latest exhibition at the New York Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute traces a century and a half of fashion. About Time: Fashion and Duration, will be on show until February 7th, after a five month delayed opening from May due to the coronavirus.

The Costume Institute’s 2020 exhibition traces a century and a half of fashion—from 1870 to the present—along a disruptive timeline, on the occasion of The Met’s 150th anniversary. Employing Henri Bergson’s concept of la durée (duration), it explores how clothes generate temporal associations that conflate past, present, and future. Virginia Woolf serves as the “ghost narrator” of the exhibition.

All of the garments are black to emphasize changes in silhouette, except at the conclusion of the show, where a white dress from Viktor & Rolf’s spring/summer 2020 haute couture collection, made from upcycled swatches in a patchwork design, serves as a symbol for the future of fashion with its emphasis on community, collaboration, and sustainability.

Stone Island release new hooded jacket for A/W 20-21Stone Island release new hooded jacket for A/W 20-21

Stone Island release new hooded jacket for A/W 20-21

Stone Island’s latest hooded jacket release is made from suede sheepskin, manually sprayed for a cloudy effect. Part of the garment and the Stone Island logo are protected from the spraying to achieve a graphic effect, with an opaque overprint placed.

Levi’s opens new store in Stuttgart with special Indigo conceptLevi’s opens new store in Stuttgart with special Indigo concept

Levi’s opens new store in Stuttgart with special Indigo concept

Levi’s has opened a new store in Stuttgart at Königstrasse 29 on November 5, 2020. The highlight of the store, which is designed in the Levi’s Indigo style, is the Levi’s Tailor Shop, where customers can expertly personalize their Levi’s looks and upgrade old favourite denim pieces using a special upcycling method.

The Indigo elements are reflected throughout the entire store – from the translucent exterior façade to the 215.7 square meter sales area. The indigo design gives the Levi’s store a modern look. Personalization options in the Tailor Shop include embroidery, pins, self-selected color gradients, graphics, text and position, and various hems. With the upcycling method, our Levi’s Tailor helps to turn old denim pieces into something completely new and recycle them only when they are no longer needed. This extends the life of the styles and minimises the impact on the environment.

The current Levi’s collection is inspired by California’s lifestyle and covers a broad spectrum of the latest fashion trends. In addition to the timeless Levi’s icons – the 501 Original Jeans, Western Shirts and Trucker Jackets – you will find trend pieces, Levi’s Loose Fits, sustainable and innovative materials, logo shirts and seasonal looks.

VF Corp to acquire Supreme

VF Corp to acquire Supreme

VF Corp. is adding skateboard and streetwear brand Supreme to its line of recreational apparel brands. The parent company of Vans, Dickies, Timberland and The North Face has announced plans to purchase Supreme in a $2.1 billion acquisition deal set to be completed before the end of the year.

Founded in a New York skateboard shop in 1994, Supreme apparel has become popular with skateboarders, hip-hop fans and other Millennial and Gen Z youth cultures. In 2007, the Carlyle Group acquired half the company for $500 million.

“We are thrilled to welcome Supreme to the VF family and to build on our decades-long relationship as we create value for all of our stakeholders. VF is the ideal steward to honor the authentic heritage of this cultural lifestyle brand while providing the opportunity to leverage our scale and expertise to enable sustainable long-term growth,” said Steve Rendle, VF’s Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. “The acquisition of the Supreme brand is further validation of our vision and strategy to further evolve our portfolio of brands to align with the total addressable market opportunities we see driving the apparel and footwear sector. The Supreme brand will further accelerate VF’s hyper-digital business model transformation and will be a meaningful driver of VF’s commitment to top quartile total shareholder return and long-term value creation.”

Neonyt cancels physical winter edition in January 2021

Neonyt cancels physical winter edition in January 2021

The ongoing situation surrounding COVID-19 and the latest decisions made by the German government have brought NEONYT to come to the decision to cancel its physical event taking place from 19-21 January 2021. Instead the digital community format “Neonyt On Air” will be entering into its second round.

“After the COVID-19 situation eased in many places towards the end of summer and contact rules and travel restrictions were eased or lifted completely, the entire sector, and therefore also the trade fair and event industry, were looking ahead to a new start: “It wasn’t exactly “business as usual”, but we were hoping that there wouldn’t be a second lockdown,” says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President of Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt. “But this is precisely the scenario we are faced with now and of course had to make a decision to protect the health and safety our exhibitors, visitors and also our employees.” Due to rapidly increasing infection rates and the latest decisions made by the German government, the organisers have been left with no choice but to cancel the winter edition of Neonyt.”

“But the sustainability community doesn’t have to forgo Neonyt completely. “The need of our exhibitors and visitors to interact and cooperate in person has only increased during the past few months,” says Thimo Schwenzfeier, Show Director of Neonyt. “A need that, after a forced one-year break, we would have loved to fulfil with a face-to-face event, but now we are having to do that virtually and in a reduced form.” Like last summer, January will see the return of the digital “Neonyt on Air” format – in numerous talks, panel discussions and masterclasses the community will be discussing the latest developments and innovations from the sustainable fashion and textile industry in the week from 18-22 January 2021. Further information about the line-up will follow on the Neonyt website and in the newsletter in the coming weeks.”

LVMH and Tiffany & Co conclude an agreement with modified terms

LVMH and Tiffany & Co conclude an agreement with modified terms

LVMH and Tiffany & Co announced that they have concluded an agreement modifying certain terms of their initial agreement to reflect a purchase price of $131.50 in cash and to reduce closing conditionality. Other key terms of the Merger Agreement remain unchanged. Tiffany and LVMH have also agreed to settle their pending litigation in the Delaware Chancery Court.

Roger N. Farah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tiffany, commented. “We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with LVMH at an attractive price and to now be able to proceed with the merger. The Board concluded it was in the best interests of all of our stakeholders to achieve certainty of closing.”

Bernard Arnault, President and CEO of LVMH, commented: “This balanced agreement with Tiffany’s Board allows LVMH to work on the Tiffany acquisition with confidence and resume discussions with Tiffany’s management on the integration details. We are as convinced as ever of the formidable potential of the Tiffany brand and believe that LVMH is the right home for Tiffany and its employees during this exciting next chapter.”

Alessandro Bogliolo, Tiffany CEO, said, “We continue to believe in the power and value of the Tiffany brand and the compelling long-term strategic and financial benefits of this combination.

Hublot becomes Premier League’s official timekeeper

Hublot becomes Premier League’s official timekeeper

The first luxury watch brand to invest in football by partnering with the Swiss National Team in 2006, Hublot will become Official Timekeeper of the Premier League, the world’s most-watched football league, beginning this season. England’s Premier League matches are shown in 188 countries, reaching a cumulative global audience of 3.2 billion, bringing the Swiss luxury watchmaker high exposure.

This is a new historic milestone for Hublot, which already enjoys a ubiquitous presence in the sport through partnerships with the most iconic competitions (including the World Cup, the Euro and the Champion’s League), as well as some of the greatest European football clubs  (Juventus Turin, Chelsea, Ajax Amsterdam, Benfica Lisbon), legendary players (Pelé, Maradona), world-class stars (Kylian Mbappé) and decorated managers (Didier Deschamps, José Mourinho).

Kering’s held Women in Motion talk in Japan

Kering’s held Women in Motion talk in Japan

Kering held an exclusive Women In Motion Talk with movie director Naomi Kawase, leading casts Hiromi Nagasaku and Arata Iura at the Kering’s new headquarters in Japan. Streamed on the Group’s official website and YouTube channel from Oct 20th, the Talk coincided with the official opening of the Kering Building in Tokyo and the release in Japan of Naomi Kawase’s new film, True Mothers, on October 23rd.

Kering has been a partner of the Festival de Cannes since 2015, and Women In Motion is an integral part of the Festival’s official program. Its Talks are an opportunity for female and male guests to highlight women’s contribution to the cinema industry and the arts in general. In Japan, a Women In MotionTalk was part of the official program of the 32nd Tokyo International Film Festival in 2018, featuring 3 talented women: actress Shinobu Terajima, movie director Mika Ninagawa and artist Sputniko.

Phillip Lim collabs with K11 Musea

Phillip Lim collabs with K11 Musea

K11 Musea, the cultural-retail concept founded by Adrian Cheng, has teamed up with designer Phillip Lim on a limited-edition antiviral duffle bag.

The partnership marks the latest launch for Cheng’s #LoveWithoutBorders Covid-19 charitable campaign and has brought together the 2 to create an accessory that utilises a sustainably produced, textile-enhancing technology that eliminates bacteria and accelerates cooling and drying.

Premium Group cancels January 2021 events

Premium Group cancels January 2021 events

Read Anita Tillman’s (Managing Partner, Premium Group) below…

“We have carried out market research and surveyed exhibitors, partners and buyers on the current circumstances. The objective was to obtain a data-based assessment of the current economic situation, a summary of the success of the exclusively digital events, and insights into the requirements of our network with regard to the physical trade shows. Following analysis of the data gathered we have established that there is a personal wish for an event to happen inclusive of the appropriate hygiene measures however, this is unfortunately not currently possible from a professional perspective. As long as there are delays to production and constantly changing travel and contact restrictions in place, we cannot put on any trade shows, conferences or events that would meet our demands or the demands of our exhibitors.

We have therefore decided not to hold PREMIUM, SEEK, FASHIONTECH next January. This was an incredibly difficult decision to make. Especially because we didn’t want to say goodbye to Berlin without a fitting farewell.

Now, though, it’s about looking forward and concentrating on what is certain: Frankfurt Fashion Week, which we will be staging in July 2021 together with Messe Frankfurt, the City of Frankfurt and the region of Hessen. We have big plans and are working on a new, fresh start not only for us, but also for all stakeholders in the fashion industry, nationally and internationally.

Another press conference is planned for the end of November, when we shall be introducing new concepts, partners and event formats. Preparations are already in full swing: we are having numerous discussions, sitting in workshops, activating partners, designers, publishers, politics and society so as to get a unique, fully formed event successfully up and running. Expectations are huge and we intend to satisfy them. We are putting all our energy into this future-focussed project.”

 

ISPO Munich 2021 will take place virtually due to COVID

ISPO Munich 2021 will take place virtually due to COVID

In the coming year, ISPO Munich will take place February 1-5, completely online. In close cooperation with the branch and with consideration for the current development of the coronavirus, Messe München has decided to conduct the event completely digitally. By doing so, the world’s leading sports business platform will be beneficial for all participants, regardless of international travel restrictions. The event format will build upon the positive results of the virtual ISPO Re.Start Days in June 2020. It will offer opportunities for brand and product presentation, for discussion and networking as well as maintenance of international business relationships.

At the center of the five-day digital event stands the key topics of creativity and digitization, health and sustainability. The ISPO Munich Online conference program will offer numerous opportunities for discussion and interaction. In particular, the importance of sports and outdoor activities, and their connection to health, has been on the rise since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. In turn, this has increased the need for a platform where the core brands, key players and top athletes can connect and garner inspiration.

Jeanette Friedrich, Global ISPO Group Director, is optimistic about the digital format: “In the past ten years, ISPO has built vast digital competency and reach. We will now use this to offer an online event to the benefit of all participants. We are pleased that our plans for the digital event have been so positively received in the branch.”
Made For A Woman by Eileen Akbaraly wins the Green Award for sustainabilityMade For A Woman by Eileen Akbaraly wins the Green Award for sustainabilityMade For A Woman by Eileen Akbaraly wins the Green Award for sustainabilityMade For A Woman by Eileen Akbaraly wins the Green Award for sustainabilityMade For A Woman by Eileen Akbaraly wins the Green Award for sustainability

Made For A Woman by Eileen Akbaraly wins the Green Award for sustainability

The Hotel Splendid Royal in Lugano hosted, on October 20, the second edition of the Excellence Green Night, an event organized by the Swiss magazine Excellence and dedicated to the organizations that, in various sectors, have distinguished themselves for their commitment to social
responsibility and environmental protection.

Eileen Akbaraly, entrepreneur and CEO of the Made For A Woman brand, received the Green Award for sustainable fashion for her slow luxury fashion project, a social enterprise whose aim is to improve the lives of the most vulnerable women by giving them a voice through the traditional art of weaving.

“Made For A Woman is a luxury accessories brand founded in 2019 among the bright colors of Madagascar, my native country, a splendid garden of Eden whose population often lives in misery. I am convinced that women are the pillars of society and our mission is their empowerment. We want to give them a better future and help them achieve their goals through the creation of precious accessories in raphia”, comments Eileen Akbaraly, designer and founder of the project

Tommy Hilfiger launches Tommy’s Drop Shop

Tommy Hilfiger launches Tommy’s Drop Shop

On December 8, the first launch of Tommy’s Drop Shop, in limited edition, will be available on tommy.com. Tommy Hilfiger launches Tommy’s Drop Shop, a limited cooperation concept of the brand for creative people from all areas of the pop culture community. Tommy’s Drop Shop aims to demonstrate the importance of creative diversity by celebrating the rich diversity of people, voices and cultures that makes the world a vibrant and inspiring place. Each shared micro-capsule will focus on stories from a specific area of cultural creativity – all creative minds willing to express themselves through the canvas of t-shirts and hoodies can participate. 

The first release of Tommy’s Drop Shop will be available in Europe in limited quantities exclusively on tommy.com on December 8, 2020.

“We want to celebrate creative people in every discipline, from every community. It’s about providing a platform for artists to tell their stories and sharing this spirit of constant innovation and creative expression with their fans” – Tommy Hifliger

Silent MIPEL showroom: innovative format lands in Seoul

Silent MIPEL showroom: innovative format lands in Seoul

After the obligatory stop in March caused by the COVID-19 emergency, Mipel Leathergoods Showroom took place and became Silent Mipel Showroom in Seoul.

The pandemic made it necessary to revise the well-established format created by Assopellettieri with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and ITA-Italian Trade Agency which is taking place from 20th to 26th October 2020 in High Street, Seoul and will see the participation of 21 Italian brands.

Companies are protagonists with their SS2021 collections exhibited in Seoul and entrepreneurs, even if not physically present, are able to “meet” buyers and the Korean press through virtual sessions of “Meet the Brands”.

“The Silent Mipel Showroom in Seoul is an example of how it is possible to continue to support companies and do business in this moment of profound crisis, while not moving from the national territory – comments President Franco Gabbrielli -, we are proud to say that this format, conceived by us together with the precious partnership with ITA- Italian Trade Agency and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, is the first ever in the Italian fashion scene to be landed across the border and come to life with these characteristics. Korean buyers and press will be able to enjoy live, in physical presence, the collections of our companies set up for the occasion in the spaces of the HIGH STREET Italia building in Seoul; the representatives of the brands, on the other hand, will connect in streaming according to a specific calendar and will have the opportunity to tell about themselves to the Korean world. An innovative format of which we are the forerunners and which we will certainly replicate on other international initiatives”.

APP-DATE: Bridge digital with physical

APP-DATE: Bridge digital with physical

Below we review some of the best apps and software platforms used by retailers and brands to bridge digital with physical customer experiences. The latter is crucial during unprecedented times as this is where all effort must go into optimising the customer journey and putting great emphasis on digital innovations.


STORE OCCUPANCY SOLUTIONS
Solutions that calculate the number of customers in your store are vital in a post-quarantine world. SmartOccupancy by retail tech firm Checkpoint combines the overhead people counting sensor Visiplus 3D with a cloud-based software portal, HALO. Similarly, Prodco, a company that specialises in footfall tracking, utilizes an advanced PC-3DR Stereoscopic camera at each entrance or interior zone, pushing entrance and exit count data (excluding staff and/or security guards) to cloud servers in real time. Suitable for buildings of all sizes, a SafeCount solution delivers live occupancy data with visual warnings and alerts when limits are approached or exceeded. If you are not yet ready for complex solutions but need to keep track of customers entering and exiting your store, there are plenty of simpler counter apps that work on Android, such as Counter Plus (free!), AllCounter or Klickr (under 6 EUR).

checkpointsystems.com/us/SmartOccupancy/
www.prodcotech.com
www.irisys.net

 

HERO
Aiming to make omnichannel easy for retailers as well as end consumers, Hero is a timely solution in an era when a lot of communications with customers need to happen remotely, yet need to feel personal. It allows staff to send photos, product videos and make video calls directly from the shop floor, giving shoppers the confidence they need to buy, and making them less likely to return items. Moreover, it enables the retailer to see what shoppers are browsing in real time as they move around the website and allows them send recommendations for other items straight into the chat. Already used by the likes of Harvey Nichols, Chloe and Diane von Furstenberg, Hero is backed by an impressive team of investors and advisors, including the former EVP, Technology at Macy’s and the Director of Commerce Partnerships at Google.
www.usehero.com

 

SHOEFITTER
The ShoeFitter app designed by German company Formigas aims to bring returns down and boost customer satisfaction. With the help of Apple’s FaceID sensor, a feature of recent iPhone models, customers can scan their feet and use the measurements to check whether the chosen shoe will fit. This technology can be integrated into existing shopping apps or be used as a link connecting users to the ShoeFitter app. The company offers multiple schemes to retailers: Rental for a software development kit option, where brands and online retailers pay royalties to use the ShoeFitter functionality in their own e-commerce channels; an Affiliate scheme where end consumers utilizing the app are forwarded to an online or offline retailer, who pays up to 12% commission on the generated sales; and a Data insights scheme for companies that need access to shoe fitting intelligence to optimize and develop better fits for their footwear.

shoefitter.io

Prada Re-Nylon collection 2020

Prada Re-Nylon collection 2020

The spectrum of Prada Re-Nylon expands for 2020, offering ready-to-wear, footwear and accessories for men and women. An expansion of ideas, a broadening of scope and a re-commitment to responsible retail and sustainable business practices. 

The Prada Re-Nylon collection is a groundbreaking evolution of the brand’s most recognisable signifier, nylon – an emblem of Prada’s distinct viewpoint on modern luxury, an industrial beauty, and contemporary life for more than four decades.

Re-Nylon is the next step in fabric technology and sustainable luxury – a textile that can be endlessly regenerated without loss of quality, a true cyclical luxury.

 Prada presents the Prada Re-Nylon collection through a series of installations in its stores and original pop up stores in collaboration with the most prestigious malls in the world.

Among the others, the installations at Beijing SKP-S, the Epicenters of New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo and the pop up stores at Seoul Shinsegae Gangnam, Selfridges Manchester, Xian SKP, Vancouver Holt Renfrew, Shenzhen Bay MIXC, Bangkok Siam Paragon, Seoul Hyundai Pangyo.

British Fashion Council announces new digital format

British Fashion Council announces new digital format

The British Fashion Council has announced a new digital format for The Fashion Awards 2020, due to the restrictions imposed because of Covid-19.

The Fashion Awards 2020 will honour and celebrate the designers, brands, creatives and individuals who have created positive change within the fashion industry this year; from those who bravely faced this challenging period with pro-active responses to the global pandemic, showed leadership and creative resilience, to the ones who stood up against prejudice within the fashion industry and fight for change. The BFC is looking to shine a spotlight on those who made humanitarian efforts, adapted their business models and responded to their community’s needs.

Twenty individuals and brands will be recognised and receive a ‘2020 Fashion Award’ in honour of their specific contribution. They will be announced as part of a short film that will document the fashion industry in this extraordinary year, while bringing together a list of next generation opinion leaders and creatives to share their personal vision on the most important moments of 2020.

Marketing: strategies to adapt during a crisis

Photo Credit :Services Généraux

Marketing: strategies to adapt during a crisis

The current consumer mood is anxious, and the messages that might appeal to a customer today are completely different from those that appeared just last quarter. Great sensitivity is necessary in all communications. In a recent article on health crisis brand strategy, e-commerce selling platform Shopify recommended that brands reconsider whether their message seems “appropriate and considerate of the context we’re in”. Sellers need to be responsive to the current situation without being negative, while also being reassuring and authentically empathetic.

Being authentic means going beyond mere product presentation to offer an online experience that communicates the spirit and ethos of your store or brand. Retailers and designers have been posting uncharacteristically personal stories: for example, the owners of London-based online retailer Scout & Co. have been documenting the lives of their kids in lockdown in Instagram Stories and sharing the struggles that come with balancing home schooling and running a business – a challenge that most of their customers can relate to.

It is telling that advertising spend on social media has declined since the start of the year, according to Facebook’s recently released revenue report. As they reduce their paid advertising budget, brands are relying on organic social media content shared with their followers on Facebook and Instagram. For example, Epoque Evolution, a US-based sustainable leisurewear brand, is using social media content on Instagram to educate customers about their product range. The brand shares yoga classes, product giveaways and recipes on Instagram Live, thus becoming part of household life in ways that extend beyond a simple sales transaction.

It is important to remember that online is not the be all and end all of marketing. With their lives mostly happening in the digital realm under quarantine, custom- ers are longing for physical objects. Now is the time to advertise in exciting print media. Also, put creative effort into designing the windows for your bricks-and- mortar stores to wow those customers hungry for real-life experiences once lockdowns ease.

E-Commerce: Platforms or a store of your own?

Photo Credit :Shopify

E-Commerce: Platforms or a store of your own?

When entering the world of e-commerce, retailers often have to make a choice: do they sell their range through a marketplace or set up their own online store? Boutiques can opt to sell through global fashion platforms, such as Zalando, ASOS, Farfetch and Lamoda. There are also national and regional marketplaces. All these platforms charge commission on each sale (usually 5-25% of the gross price) and may also demand a registration or monthly fee. In exchange, the seller can use the website’s infrastructure and client reach, and products can generally be listed quickly and easily. Before you know it, your ‘market stall’ is live and you can start selling.

Conversely, building your own online shop can take several months, depending on the desired level of customization. It’s relatively complex, expensive, and incurs marketing costs to attract customers. This approach entails a lot of preliminary research to decide on the right features for the store. Programmers or agencies then need to be briefed and you will have to oversee the development process. Once your shop is up and running, products need to be listed and updated – this also requires skills and time.

Good quality product images and descriptions are essential for both formats. Wheth- er your item is modelled or simply pictured on its own, be sure to create a style that customers will recognize. The more images in your store and the more detailed the descriptions, the better. A few garment measurements (e.g., total length, leg sizes) are useful and will reduce returns. It’s your shop, so the product range, response times, delivery terms and charges, as well as the returns policy, are up to you. On platforms it’s a different story: if you don’t fall in line with the marketplace rules, you’ll risk not only penalties but poor ratings. And your competitors are just a click away: if your range isn’t special enough, the competition can be fierce – as can the pressure to lower prices.

High traffic is a draw for well-known platforms. They are able to reach the kind of large customer bases independent online shops can only dream of, thanks to their generous marketing budgets. It’s challenging to attract new customers as a sole e-commerce store, but the individualized approach makes it easier to reach and retain loyal customers: after all, an online shop enables continuous access to customer journey data. Some platforms analyze this information so intensively that they are suspected of copying their retailers’ bestsellers, an accusation recently levelled at Amazon.

Examine the individual pros and cons for your business model, and the various options available in terms of time and budget for product sales through various channels. Perhaps the middle way is the best: you could start on one or two online marketplaces while you wait to launch your own online shop.

Stone Island launches STORIA

Stone Island launches STORIA

Since its inception in 1982, Stone Island has acquired a worldwide cult following for its cutting-edge outerwear. In the world where brands latch on to culture, through its almost four-decade existence Stone Island influenced it.

Storia captures the story of Stone Island, combining its history and ethos into one source. With never-before-seen images and three major texts by Eugene Rabkin, Paul Gorman and Jian DeLeon.

A special cover with slipcase and a poster depicting the history of iconic Stone Island badges has been produced exclusively for Stone Island stores and its websites.

Fondation Louis Vuitton reopens with major retrospective dedicated to American photographer Cindy Sherman

Fondation Louis Vuitton reopens with major retrospective dedicated to American photographer Cindy Sherman

Initially scheduled to run from April 2 to August 31 but postponed because of the health crisis, the “Cindy Sherman at the Fondation Louis Vuitton” retrospective is set to become a highlight of the Paris cultural calendar for 2020-2021. Dedicated to showcasing contemporary art, the Fondation Louis Vuitton is welcoming visitors back with an exhibition of more than 300 photos from various series shot by the 66-year-old photographer since the late 1970s.

Cindy Sherman is known for exploring female stereotypes through extremely elaborate self-portraits. Posing in her own photos is a hallmark of the artist’s work. And yet, in all her images, she never looks the same. Through the magic of makeup, costumes and wigs, the artist transforms herself into a myriad of characters of her own invention.

Designed in close collaboration with the artist herself, the retrospective also aims to highlight how Cindy Sherman’s work and technique have evolved over time: her transition from black and white to color, her choice of small and then large formats and, more recently, her use of image editing tool Photoshop and social network Instagram.

MYCLAH: E-Commerce specialised in Italian refined and artisanal collectionsMYCLAH: E-Commerce specialised in Italian refined and artisanal collectionsMYCLAH: E-Commerce specialised in Italian refined and artisanal collectionsMYCLAH: E-Commerce specialised in Italian refined and artisanal collections

MYCLAH: E-Commerce specialised in Italian refined and artisanal collections

The idea behind MYCLAH from an Italian entrepreneur, Claudia Gatti, whose aim is to give voice to talents and small made in Italy manufacturing companies and offer them greater international visibility by investing in a project to support the beauty of the Italian lifestyle.

MYCLAH presents itself as a container of high-level products, original and often unique, selected for quality, ability to transmit Italian mastery and know-how, without however neglecting the affordability of the proposal. The site develops as a portal to which, beyond the e-shop, it will be added a section dedicated to artisan start-ups and creatives who will tell their stories. An internal editorial staff will talk about travel, fashion, life style, food and beauty #allitaliana. This will be the common thread that will accompany the world of MYCLAH on social media.

Supporter of young talents and passionate about the stories that lie behind each product, imbued with quality and tradition but also with innate creativity, Claudia Gatti, creator of MYCLAH project, has seen how much the territory and the roots are fundamental for each of these companies: inside of MYCLAH it will give particular visibility to the relationship between product and land of origin. Furthermore, 90% of the brands featured in this first launch are led by women. A great pride for MYCLAH, whose team is all female: “I found great solidarity from everyone and an exchange of energy that feeds me and strengthens me every day”confirms Claudia Gatti. Among her future projects also the creation of a mini capsule of clothing and accessories branded MYCLAH.

For the first launch campaign, the MYCLAH project is inspired by Italian beauty and everyday life. Scenes of life with an ironic chic flair that recall italian places of art and vacation. The shots of the adv campaign were taken in a former 15th century convent, now a relais in Gradara, from photographer Vincenzo Traettino (model Claudia Capellini, set designer Mirna Casadei).

DFO launches NOVA by DFO with a strong international lineup at Shanghai Fashion Week

DFO launches NOVA by DFO with a strong international lineup at Shanghai Fashion Week

From October 9-12, DFO will debut NOVA by DFO, an official Shanghai Fashion Week event for its SS21 edition.

Hosted by DFO International, with 10 years of experience in the industry, NOVA’s hybrid sales platform combines Showroom and designer sections, showcasing leading international commercial and designer brands for the domestic retail market. Providing streamlined, in-depth sales and marketing services, NOVA’s innovative platform aims to maximize business opportunities and market engagement between brands and buyers.

Demonstrating its dynamic positioning in the Chinese market and strong digital strategies to respond to changing market needs, DFO’s sales has strongly surged by 30% compared to the same period the year before, despite the global coronavirus outbreak.

NOVA by DFO will make its debut by presenting a total of 40 fashion and lifestyle brands for the Showroom and Designer sections.


Key highlights…

-The SHOWROOM section, hosted by DFO Showroom, will feature 24 brands.

-The DESIGNER section introduces buyers to 16 global fashion brands that are new to the Chinese market.

-Cementing its role as brand accelerator, DFO and haute couture designer Wanbing Huang will jointly launch womenswear label AnOTHER MUSE. Creative Director Wanbing Huang brings her proficient haute couture design experience and DFO International’s deep market insight into life, experimenting with superb technology to improve the structure, fit and wearing experience of clothing, and the dedication to craftsmanship is highlighted in every piece of the collection.

Ze by SANKUANZ, the eponymous lifestyle brand by SANKUANZ, will make its first Shanghai Fashion Week debut.

Kenzo Takada: Japanese designer passes away

Kenzo Takada: Japanese designer passes away

The Japanese founder, Kenzo Takada of fashion brand Kenzo has died aged 81.

The family said in a statement to French media Sunday that Takada died from complications from COVID-19 in a hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris. A public relations officer for Kenzo’s brand confirmed that Takada died, but didn’t give a cause of death.

“It is with immense sadness that KENZO has learned of the passing of our founder, the fashion house said in a statement. “For half a century, Mr. Takada has been an emblematic personality in the fashion industry” always infusing creativity and color into the world.

Takada’s death came at the tail end of Paris Fashion Week, whose nine-day calendar is undertaking an unusual fashion season for spring-summer 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. It was only days ago that the Kenzo fashion house unveiled its bee-themed collection here.

The entire WeAr team is paying tribute to Kenzo Takada.