DENHAM the Jeanmaker has just opened its first store in China, located in Shanghai’s new HKRI Taikoo Hui Mall. The store showcases DENHAM’s collections for men and women, with the opening being an extensive rollout of DENHAM stores across China, reflecting the brand’s greater strategic commitment to expansion in the Asia region. 

Designed by DENHAM’s in-house team, the 160-square-metre store combines a clean, gallery-like aesthetic with authentic character and décor. Furnishings have been imported from Europe, including recycled and salvaged pieces like sewing machines, vintage lamps, and trolleys reworked into tables. The floor is made of wood that was reclaimed from a French farm, while walls are made from a special indigo concrete that has been developed exclusively by DENHAM. Graphic art includes the latest work by Anthony Burrill, a renowned English printmaker known for his eye-catching use of text and typography. 

Furthermore, DENHAM commissioned Shanghai-based studio JoMo Design to custom create a cash desk using vintage American yardsticks. Founded by furniture makers Moritz Spielberg and Jonas Merian in 2015, JoMo Design fuses contemporary design with uncompromising craftsmanship for signature collections and bespoke creations. 

The DENHAM Shanghai store has a full Service Co., which offers a hand-wash laundry service and a custom sewing area where DENHAM jeans can be hemmed, maintained and repaired for life. The change room features DENHAM’s unique 360-degree fitting mirror, which makes it easy for shoppers to see precisely how jeans look and fit, from all angles. 

LVMH is launching a multi-brand e-commerce site inspired by its exclusive Parisian department store Le Bon Marche. The new website called "24 Sevres" is named after the Rue de Sevres location of Le Bon Marche, will offer fashion, cosmetics and luggage products from LVMH's own portfolio as well as brands from outside the group.

LVMH, controlled by French billionaire Bernard Arnault, announced the new site would go live on June 6th in more than 70 countries.

On May 10th a select group of contestants of the Denim Design Award of the 2016 edition of ISKO I-SKOOL will put on a Dynamic Exhibition of the projects that had led them to the finale of last year’s contest – but with a twist: they have been revamped to reflect environmental sustainability. The students have re-thought their designs under a more conscientious approach, using Tonello’s treatments and the concepts from ISKO EARTH FIT for this special task. ISKO EARTH FIT is the green platform by ISKO that has already received two important recognitions: the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and the EU Ecolabel, for several of the platform’s products. The “responsible” outfits will be evaluated by very prestigious jury composed of fashion experts.

On May 11th, ISKO will host a breakdown session dedicated to “Technology innovation”, with Marco Lucietti. The group of experts will explore the new frontiers of the promising technologies that will change industry’s methods like 3D printing, robotics in cut and sewing factories and much more. They will give insight into the very near future from a courageous and critical perspective, examining the possibile social consequences that this kind of revolution might produce.

International knitting show, PH Value, with intertextile, will open on 11-13 October, in Hall 3 of National Exhibition and Convention Center ( Shanghai).

PH Value was officially launched in 2007, and named as China International knitting Fair (with brand name PH Value). The Fair is sponsored by China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC ) and organized jointly by the Sub-council of Textile Industry, CCPIT and the China Knitting Industrial Association. It aims to be an international business and communication corporation platform in knitting industry, and composed by Exhibition, Forum, Fashion Show, New Product Launches, etc. 

As a trade promotion and business platform, "PH Value" is committed to the knitting clothing and accessories, covering the full range of knitted products, including sweater, T-shirt, lingerie, underwear, loungewear, sportswear, hosiery and socks, knitting accessories and etc., showing the latest developments in product and technology, coupled with fashion highlights in trend forecast. It created a unique platform for the exhibitors to meet potential customer, explore new market opportunities, and learn the next season's trend. After years of operation, "PH Value" has become a "barometer" of the economic climate for China's knitting industry. In addition, the exhibitors will share more than 100,000 professional visitors synchronically with intertextile and CHIC shows, plus the targeted direct-link matching activities for these exhibitors and buyers at home and abroad.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute spring 2017 exhibition, Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between, on view from May 4 through September 4, examines Kawakubo’s fascination with interstitiality, or the space between boundaries. In Kawakubo’s work, this in-between space is revealed as an aesthetic sensibility, establishing an unsettling zone of oscillating visual ambiguity that challenges conventional notions of beauty, good taste, and fashionability. A thematic exhibition, rather than a traditional retrospective, this is The Costume Institute’s first monographic show on a living designer since the Yves Saint Laurent exhibition in 1983.

he exhibition features approximately 140 examples of Kawakubo’s womenswear designs for Comme des Garçons, dating from the early 1980s to her most recent collection. Objects are organized into nine dominant and recurring aesthetic expressions of interstitiality in Kawakubo’s work: Absence/Presence, Design/Not Design, Fashion/Anti-Fashion, Model/Multiple, High/Low, Then/Now, Self/Other, Object/Subject, and Clothes/Not Clothes. Kawakubo breaks down the imaginary walls between these dualisms, exposing their artificiality and arbitrariness. Her fashions demonstrate that interstices are places of meaningful connection and coexistence as well as revolutionary innovation and transformation, providing Kawakubo with endless possibilities to rethink the female body and feminine identity.

Sônia Bogner, born in Brasil, who built and inspired the German label Bogner together with her husband Willy Bogner, sadly passed away yesterday at the age of 66. She set trends in the fashion world with her distinctive style, both nationally and internationally.  It did not take much to see that this woman had a passion for her business, the fashion industry and her creations. She was active as part of the board of directors at Willy Bogner GmbH &Co KGaA until the last moment. The fashion industry will miss this very talented woman. WeAr Global Magazine sends its deepest condolences.

Pure London has launched its new campaign, which will immerse visitors to the S/S 2018 show in July in ‘Oriental Futures’; a cultural fusion exploring Eastern-inspired arts and artistry with a futuristic and celestial approach. 

Unveiling its new theme inspired by WGSN’s S/S18 trend forecast, Pure London aims to create a fashion movement which ties together two fundamental ideas – the first being Oriental culture, the second being interplanetary travel. 

With a focus on unity and collaboration across cultures and galaxies, Oriental Futures explores the stratosphere where scintillating constellations meet Eastern-inspired arts. Delve deeper into a unified cosmos rich in tradition, yet contemporary and authentic. WGSN trends reference eastern artistry and discover new galactic realms inviting you immerse yourself in a journey of collaborative auras. 

The next edition of Pure London will take place from 23rd – 25th July at London Olympia.

UBM Fashion, the world’s leading organizer of trade shows for the fashion industry has announced a strategic partnership with Mirjam Dietz, who has been appointed as an official consultant for UBM Fashion in the European Market, focused on building awareness and sales in Europe for UBM Fashion events in the apparel and accessories sectors.  Mirjam Dietz’s extensive fashion background in the European markets will serve as a vital asset for growing UBM Fashion’s presence in Europe and developing its global portfolio. 

The scope of work of Mirjam Dietz includes building awareness of UBM Fashion and its apparel and accessories shows through public relations efforts as well as managing the activities of a new team of representatives for Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Furthermore, Mirjam Dietz will act as an ambassador in helping build relationships with European Government Trade Offices and Associations in addition to building relationships with key individual fashion brands.

US GROUP presented their collection at King Pins Amsterdam and Denim PV in Paris in April 2017 and will go to present the collection in Kingpins NYC in early May 2017.

The Umer Siddique Group was established by two friends, Mr. Mian Ahsan and Mr. Javaid Arshad Bhatti as a part time apparel trading business intended to finance their higher education abroad. The US Group opened their doors at a new regional office located just off Oxford Street, London. The group are continuing to expand US Denim Mills moving towards it’s first Leeds Certification in unit V. Today US Denim Mills and Apparel & Textiles form the US Group.

The lookbook shot by Nick Clements and Stephiane Sian Smith, present an overview of the collection highlighting several fabrics such as Selvedge, Feather Weave, Re:vive, Evoke, Black Concrete, Stretch, Stretch & Bi-Stretch Selvedge

Furla will be buying back its Australian distribution network from Luxury Retail Group. The distribution network will add to its strategy of strengheting its position in Australia and New Zealand. With this, Furla will be opening five new stores between the two countries and will also expand its existing Sydney boutique. 

Cartier will be launching a pop-up shop on Net-a-Porter in their first partnership with the e-commerce site. The pop-up will coincide with the launch of its Panthère de Cartier watch, a revived with from the early 80s.

The collection will consist of 12 different models in different variations such as rose/yellow/white gold as well as stainless steel, some embellished with diamond bezels, some without. 

Net-a-Porter will produce elusive content for its social media platforms to pay homage to the revived watch. The Cartier Panthère collection will be available on Net-a-Porter from May 2nd until May 31st, 2017. 

The core of AlphaTauri being the combination of sophisticated, forward-looking design and the latest technologies  are perfectly reflected in the collections, and now also in the new online shop.

The state-of-the-art online shop features a full-screen language, a sophisticated navigation and the latest e-commerce solutions. The homepage and all product pages are divided into four content blocks and allow you to navigate in all four directions. In terms of content, there is information on the technologies, videos, detailed views, other product recommendations or shop the look suggestions. The fully responsive design allows for an optimal display on all end devices, from the mobile device, tablet to the widescreen monitor. The product groups are navigated via the AlphaTauri stars constellation, as well as submenus on the individual product listing pages.

Replay has opened its first flagship store in, Sao Paolo, Brazil, on the central shopping street Rua Oscar Freire. The store concept designed by Studio 10, consists of 220 sq.m space featuring a giant 10 metre garden wall and an array of materials such as wood, raw concrete, leather and black iron. 

Avant Toi, innovative and avant garde Italian brand, launches its exclusive and first Home collection; hand painting, the iconic feature of the brand, decorates and enhances an infinite composition of blankets, covers, pillows, carpets, tablecloths and many other elements of design. Avant Toi experiments with passion, matching and blending materials to create unique, home-made pieces: needlework of vintage foulards on a light, impalpable knit, patchworks of cloths create colorful carpets with thousands of hues, mixes of furs on felted cloths, jacquard wall hangings in a chenille of silk, cushions and bedspreads in a furry stitch or jacquards which recall blankets of leaves, covers and carpets with rudimental seams. 

The Avant Toi showroom in Via Carlo Botta 8, staged for the launch with the exclusive collection, transformed into the “Avant Toi Home” in the occasion of the 2017 Fuorisalone, which took place earlier this month.

Hudson’s Bay Company has announced the appointment of Dr. Wolfgang Link as Chief Executive Officer of HBC Europe, effective May 1st, 2017. Dr. Link will lead the company’s expansion and growth strategy for the European business including Galeria Kaufhof, Galeria Inno, and the entrance of Hudson’s Bay and Saks OFF 5TH. Reporting to HBC’s Chief Executive Officer, Jerry Storch, Dr. Link will oversee the European management team.

Jerry Storch, HBC’s CEO, stated: “We are pleased to welcome Wolfgang to the HBC family during this new phase of development for our European business, as we prepare to launch two new banners in the region. Wolfgang is an accomplished leader with a proven track record in the retail sector in Germany and throughout Europe. His experience in both digital and traditional channels and profound knowledge of the European market were key in selecting him for this role, and will help foster the expansion and success of HBC Europe, including our significant investment in Germany.” 

Robinsons has opened its new flagship store at Al-Futtaim, one of the most progressive regional business houses headquartered in Dubai. The latter brought the leading fashion department store Robinsons to the GCC and the Middle- East through a joint venture agreement with the Chalhoub Group. 

The store is redefining fashion retail with its unique interior design featuring vertical gardens on all levels created by Patrick Blanc, the globally renowned visionary designer, as well as an array of natural elements from wood to marble. The visual merchandising is giving a completely new look and feel to the store and inspirational experience to its customers. The launch thematic, “URBAN ROMANCE”, celebrates the greenery and freshness of fashion, a new urban-green attitude with a nod to the Singaporean heritage of Robinsons. 

Spreading on three levels, across 200,000 sqft and with 600 brands, this will be the largest department store in the region giving home to 90 exclusive fashion and beauty brand, as well as John Lewis home collections, available only at Robinsons, on top of the large variety of carefully selected international and local labels.

Boulevard Prêt-à-Sale, the brand new trade platform serving the off-price and value retail industry, opened its doors to exhibitors and attendees alike on Tuesday, March 21st, 2017, featuring more than 60 men’s apparel and accessory brands. As the brainchild of industry veterans Arnold and Bruce Zimberg, in cooperation with international trade show organizer Messe Frankfurt, this first-of-its-kind trade show focused on building a business platform for the fastest growing yet under- served segment of the apparel market: off-price retail. 

Over the course of three days, Boulevard Prêt-à-Sale exhibitors showcased a variety of current, past season, and future inventory and made it available to attending buyers at discounted prices. Additionally, select exhibitors provided information on private label services and available FOB factory to retail programs. 

“We’ve curated a tightly edited group of exhibiting brands for our first menswear edition and have been very focused on quality over quantity.” said Bruce Zimberg, Co-founder and Sales Director, Boulevard Prêt-à-Sale. “The biggest challenge off-price retail buyers are facing is repetitiveness across all categories, including menswear. Our ultimate goal is to help these retailers differentiate themselves by introducing them to new upscale brands – both emerging and established.”

The Stone Island Prototype Research Series are native limited editions. They feature garments in fabrics and/or treatments born from research and experimentation processes that have not yet been industrialized. Dyneema is the strongest and most durable lightweight fibre in the world. This super light yet extremely tough Dyneema Flexible Composite fabric has increased tear, puncture, and abrasion performance.

Stone Island has engineered a ready to dye version by bonding it to an exclusive performance membrane with an ultra-light nylon tela backing. It is a reversible jacket: one side shows the Dyneema face, the other side shows the ultra-light nylon tela which takes the dye color as do all the other nylon components of the piece. The garments are cut and sewn, the seams are entirely sealed by hand with Dyneema re-enforced tapes.

This limited edition is made of 2 sets of 50 items that are garment dyed with 50 color recipes in the Stone Island Colour Laboratory.

Jil Sander has announced the appointment of Lucie and Luke Meier as its new creative directors. With immediate effect, the couple will create their first collection for the S/S 2018 season. Lucie comes from a position at Dior as co creative-director, also previously working for Balenciaga and Marc Jacobs. Luke has been the head designer for the brand Supreme for a duration of 8 years, before finding his own menswear line OAMC.

Vital energy and the beauty of flowers has provided inspiration for “BOOM, PITTI BLOOMS”, the leading theme of the Pitti Immagine summer trade shows. 

New creative ideas that blossom just like flowers: improbable, effervescent and ironic. Sometimes in the form of macro inflatable flowerbeds, odd sculptures or flying bouquets. A fantastic world of original patterns blended with colour contrasts on façades, in areas and on objects. 

Layout, creative direction and Fortezza da Basso's setting by lifestyler Sergio Colantuoni. This introduces the overall topic relating to the new digital art project accompanying the exhibitions’ advertising campaign. An Art + Vibes production, directed by Valentina Be, Executive Producer Max Brun and Sound Designer Lorenzo Confetta.

Four denim fabrics developed by Prosperity Textile have been named top products & selections of the ISPO TEXTRENDS 2017 Fall/Winter. The total selection was on display at ISPO MUNICH from February 5th to 8th and then later at ISPO BEIJING. 

ISPO TEXTRENDS is the platform for textile innovations and components. Twice a year, ISPO honors innovative fabrics and components that are used to manufacture sports apparel with ISPO TEXTRENDS. Designers, product managers and media representatives consider ISPO TEXTRENDS a valuable platform for pioneering textile trends and innovations. It also gives designers and product developers a comprehensive overview of exciting innovations, but it is also a unique opportunity for networking and sourcing. 

Mr. Xiang Gu, General Manager of Prosperity Textile, said, “We are proud to have our denim fabrics been selected as the top products & selections of ISPO TEXTRENDS again, for our commitment to innovation and sustainability. Over the years, we have been developing denim with upgraded performances, interesting surfaces, soft touch and eco- friendly ingredients, to meet the growing demand of sportswear and outdoor apparels customers. We will continue our efforts to relentlessly drive the innovation of denim.”

During Who’s Next trade show, which took place from the 20th to 23rd January 2017, Citadium had the idea to create an exclusive space where 11 young designers could showcase their collections to professionals in the fashion industry. Following the success of the space at the trade show, Citadium has decided to host a pop-up store for these young labels in the heart of its Parisian flagship, Caumartin.

From Wednesday 29th March to Wednesday 12th April the window display at the Citadium Caumartin is merchandised with the collections of these young designers. Afterwards, the collections will be showcased and distributed in the Bordeaux and Marseille branches of Citadium, from 15th May to 4th June.

By highlighting their work and coaching them in business development, Who’s Next and Citadium are coming together in their commitment to discovering young designers and supporting the growth of their brands.

Balmain has named Massimo Piombini as its new CEO, effective immediately. Piombini takes over from Emmanuel Diemoz as the brand prepares to position themselves as a larger global luxury presence with their new Qatar owners. The new focus will be on casual luxury and more jersey, denim and knitwear.

Eastlake has launched its new premium LAB Collection, focusing on design and a variety of material such as neoprene and mesh. The collection is divided into 5 different categories: Oily LAB, Tailored Lab, Welded LAB, Tech LAB and Neoprene LAB.

For Spring 2017, Tommy Hilfiger continues to work with tennis pro Rafael Nadal as a global brand ambassador for the brand's tailored collection. Nadal's energy and determination are reflected in the THFLEX Tailored line, which offers high-performance suits made from the Woolmark-certified Merino wool; In the spirit of the motto: Tailored to Move.

Three innovative suits ensure a sophisticated look of relaxed ease: the Performance Suit, the Travel Suit and the Ultra-Light Suit; perfectly adapted to Rafael Nadal's active lifestyle.

The launch of Confindustria Moda, the new federation of fashion, textiles and accessories, representing more than 67 thousand Italian enterprises that generate a turnover in excess of 88 billion euros and give work to over 580 thousand works, was announced today in Milan. The Confindustria Moda member companies represent outstanding Italian craftsmanship, lead the international markets and in 2016, their exports accounted for 62% of turnover.

Claudio Marenzi, President of SMI – Sistema Moda Italia – since 2013, was voted in as the Federation’s first President, while Cirillo Marcolin, President of FIAMP – the Italian Federation of Fashion and Personal Accessories – and of ANFAO – the Italian Association of Optical Goods Manufacturers – is the Federation’s new Vice President.

Confindustria Moda groups together the member companies of SMI and FIAMP – which comprises AIMPES (the Italian Association of Manufacturers of Leather Goods and Substitutes), AIP (the Italian Fur Association), ANFAO, Assocalzaturifici and Federorafi (the Italian Federation of Goldsmiths and Silversmiths). Membership of UNIC (the Italian Tanning Industry Union) will also be formalised very soon.  The federate Associations will maintain operational autonomy on vertical themes specific to each industry, for example with regard to events and trade fairs, while Confindustria Moda will offer its members, for now, cross-cutting legal consulting services, industrial relations management and a research department.

Moreover, Confindustria Moda has already sealed the purchase of a new site in Milan, which will bring together all the associations, the trade fair events and the offices of the newly-formed Federation. The move to the new site is expected to take place at the start of next year

Attendance was good at the 45th edition of the Obuv’ Mir Koi international footwear and leather goods show, which closed on March 24 at Expocentr in Moscow. The number of buyers was up over the previous edition, and 130 exhibitors (including 18 new entries) were represented in 3200 square metres of display space.

“We are finally seeing an upswing of orders in Russia and the CIS area. Buyers are still prudent, but better prospects are emerging for the months to come, and we look forward to seeing greater stability on the market in upcoming seasons,” says Arturo Venanzi, director and coordinator of Assocalzaturifici's Russia and CIS Laboratory of the Russian event. “We're still far from recovering the level of exports we saw in 2013, but what we were looking for at our event in Moscow has come true: Obuv’ Mir Koi is still an event of central importance for Italian companies working in Russia and the CIS area, the most important event after theMICAM in Milan, positioned towards the end of the season”.

At this edition ITA brought 25 selected customers from a number of regions in the Russian Federation to the event and set up a lounge where Italian exhibitors could network with buyers.

Assocalzaturifici's programme in the CIS area will continue with two additional series of events promoted and organised in partnership with ITA Agency: Shoes From Italy Almaty, from April 5 through 7 in the financial capital of Kazakhstan, and Shoes from Italy Kiev, April 12 and 13 in Ukraine

The Spring / Summer 2017 collection from Uniforms for the Dedicated brings both uniforms and contemporary classics in structured, lightweight and sustainable fabrics. Other than 100% GOTS certified cotton and linen, outerwear and board shorts consists of a Swedish made alternative to polyester: biological polymer.

The colors run in off-white, dark navy and a saturated green, and selected styles carry a signature unicorn patch as a tribute to the brand’s creative legacy. Some key pieces include deconstructed suits made of textured cool wool, field bomber jackets, tapered and cropped trousers, piqué t-shirts, just to mention a few.

Ever since it's establishment in 2008 by a collective of snowboarders and creatives, Swedish brand Uniform for the Dedicated has been pursuing a holistic approach on how to reduce its impact on the environment: From launching The Rag Bag concept— a shopping bag that turns into a parcel addressed to charities — to launching full suit collections in recycled wool. 

DENHAM Group B.V. and Trendy Fashion Co., Ltd have announced a joint venture agreement, to operate and manage the distribution of the DENHAM brand in greater China — including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan — and drive business growth in the region. 

‘Our joint venture with Trendy International Group will allow us to expand our business in China, building upon the strong momentum we’ve already established in regions like Japan and the Netherlands,’ said Ludo Onnink, CEO of DENHAM Group B.V. ‘China is a large and diverse market where we plan to drive significant and strategic long- term growth. Trendy International Group has fantastic commercial and distribution experience, and we are confident in their expertise and support as we realise the full potential of our brand.’ 

The DENHAM China joint venture will oversee the opening of approximately 40 DENHAM stores in the market by 2020, and safeguard the brand’s positioning in the premium denim segment. The first DENHAM store in China will open in May 2017 in Shanghai Dazhongli, followed by three additional locations this year including Beijing Wangfu Central. 

‘We are proud to have created a partnership with such esteemed and successful leaders in our industry,’ said Jason Denham, Chief Creative Officer of DENHAM Group B.V. ‘Jacky Xu, Chairman of the Board & CEO of Trendy International Group, is an energetic visionary and a pioneer in our field. We had an instant click and a like-minded vision, both on product and how to take our business model in to the future.’ 

‘We’ve identified an incredible opportunity to expand the value and reach of DENHAM in China,’ said Andre Chen, Senior Vice President of Trendy International Group. ‘We believe the brand has huge potential, and we look forward to making this a reality by maximising our well- established infrastructure and regional leadership expertise.’ 

DENHAM will continue to showcase its collections at Lane Crawford stores in Hong Kong and China. 

SCAD Fash Museum of Fashion + Film presents "Shoes: Pleasure and Pain," an exhibition organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, that explores the creativity, cultural significance and transformative power of shoes. The exhibition displays more than 200 pairs of shoes, from ancient Egyptian slippers embellished with gold leaf and the seductive signature red soles of Christian Louboutin heels, to cutting-edge designs created by contemporary designers experimenting with new materials and the latest technology. 

In addition to the range of historic footwear, the exhibition also features platform boots worn by Elton John, Princess Diana's shoe lasts, and David Beckham's soccer cleats. Styles by numerous celebrated designers and labels such as Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Nike and Vivienne Westwood, as well as two iconic pairs of shoes from film history — the famous red ballet slippers from the film "The Red Shoes" (1948) and the Swarovski crystal slippers featured in Disney's "Cinderella" (2015) — are also included.

The exhibition is curated around five different themes: ”Transformation," "Status," "Seduction," "Creation" and "Obsession." Designers' sketches, shoemaking materials and historic fashion illustrations provide a deeper understanding of the exhibition's themes. Debuting with the exhibition is "Touching the Sole," a special interactive tactile display that enables visually impaired visitors to engage with replicas of many of the shoes displayed.

Committed to innovation, INVISTA, presents LYCRA MADE TO FIT YOU technology for knee-highs, a new garment construction designed to deliver an improved balance between force and compression, resulting in a product that offers all-round comfort for all sizes, with no garment slippage and less digging in. 

“We are delighted with the outcome of this new technology and the results from our wear test have exceeded all expectation,” states Jane Gwyther, Marketing Segment Manager for Legwear at INVISTA. She continues: “Two out of three non-wearers from our study said that they would now start wearing knee-highs with LYCRA MADE TO FIT YOU technology, highlighting its potential to grow the category and build consumer loyalty. This new technology truly delivers a new standard in comfort.” 

Issey Miyake announced the opening of its first flagship store in Italy. Milano has been chosen for the location, and the store will be located in an historic building, Palazzo Reina, at Via Bagutta 12, in the Quadrilatero district. 

Approximately 500m² in size, and spread over the most prominent floors of the Palazzo, it is the first time that Issey Miyake has chosen an historical building for its new flagship store. 

"Design is an act of discovery, making things, making reality, freedom, innovation. Design is work that brings people joy. For me Milano is already the city of all creativity. I am proud to be part of it." Issey Miyake 

The store space is designed by TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA. 

“A unique aesthetic is created when historical townscape and futuristic interior panels come together to express the passage of time. 

We are attracted to a past enriched by layers of history as well as an opaque future not yet realized. The space exists within a 19th century building located near Via Montenapoleone, Milan's sophisticated street famous for historical architecture. It expresses the contrast between history and future showing the many layers of time in the texture of the interior walls juxtaposed with futuristic colored aluminum. 

The floating sculptures of round aluminium are colored like pieces of dyed cloth. The blue, orange and green symbolize the energy of nature, and also delivers a sense of translucency. The essence of design harmonized with technology and handwork is projected into the shop space, reflecting the philosophy of Issey Miyake's creations.”

J.W. Anderson has been selected as Pitti Uomo’s Special Guest for its June 2017 edition and will present on June 14th, its new S/S 2018 collection.

“We have been keeping a careful eye on Jonathan Anderson’s career for several seasons,” says Lapo Cianchi, Pitti Immagine Director of Communications and Events. “Above all, we are drawn to the creativity and eclecticism he expresses in his collections that are further enhanced by high-quality manufacturing and – in menswear — by undisputable sartorial skill. The way he reinterprets elements from the contemporary art scene and from the youth culture, alternating emotional impact (such as out-of-scale volumes) and transgression that are projected towards anticipating the future leaving little room for nostalgia, is very interesting. And his shows are always surprising, with great communicative strength.”

Exploring windswept beaches, unspoiled woods and imposing rocks and discovering rare wildlife and the unique heritage of the Inuit and Aleut people, the new episode of Stories by Parajumpers is dedicated to Kiliii Yuan, the founder and owner of Seawolf Kayak, a company that started as a survival school for ancient skills and that celebrates the traditional art of building skin-on-frame kayaks. 

But the beauty of Yuan’s handmade kayaks lies not only in the celebration of heritage, but also in his dedication and passion for state-of-the-art craftsmanship. In order to satisfy the needs of the modern-day adventurer, Yuan took up the challenge to build complex yet easily manoeuvrable shapes of kayaks that are both functional and desirable. All the kayak models undergo extensive quality tests and are each designed with a particular set of needs in mind, such as the functional requirements of long expeditions, fishing, surfing and exploration trips. The five steps of building a kayak seem simple at first glance, and yet they require a high-quality craftsmanship and precision that ensures a lightweight, high tech and long lasting design of premium quality. 

“I spent the majority of my life chasing after my culture and my culture’s tradition,” explains Yuan, whose mission was inspired by his Grandmother’s stories and who dedicates his life to the Inuit and Aleut people from the far north of North America, Greenland and eastern Eurasia ever since. “My ultimate aim is to learn how indigenous people understand nature as a way of life.” he continues, adding that his aim resulted from the willingness to reconnect with the land of his ancestors, while teaching others how to build a kayak in a traditional way, thus making the magical moments of kayaking happen. 

The Premiere Classe Tuileries and Paris sur Mode Tuileries trade shows closed their doors last week on a positive note, with a steadily growing crowd which saw the return of a number of Japanese, South Korean and American buyers, as well as some big orders from Russian and Middle-Eastern buyers.

The quality of the visitors increased, confirming the coherence of the strategic choices made for the Tuileries trade shows:

a more selective offer concentrated in Place de la Concorde at Paris Sur Mode Tuileries has won over a high quality crowd, keen to discover the new brands showcased in the spirit of a quintessentially Parisian showroom.

Thanks to its inspiring choice of designers, Premiere Classe has affirmed the variety and legibility of the offer and an efficient set up design.

Supporting the common theme of «Escale à Paris», the two trade shows have chosen to give the spotlight to Paris’s creative spirit as the fashion capital of the world, catalysing the creative scene for international professionals, buyers, trend offices and media… Paris was inspiring, stunning and dynamic.

In conclusion, more than ever, reunion and creativity for this second session seem to be imperative for Paris to maintain its international appeal. As a continuation of the success of this reunion, WSN Développement, the organiser of the two trade shows is already working on the next edition in October in the Jardin des Tuileries and Place de la Concorde (Thursday, September 28th to Sunday, October 1st).

The meticulously organized, modest closet in which Sara Berman (1920–2004)—an immigrant who traveled from Belarus to Palestine to New York—kept her all-white apparel and accessories both contained her life and revealed it. The artists Maira and Alex Kalman (who are also Berman's daughter and grandson) have recreated the closet and its contents as an art installation. Opened on March 6th at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the exhibition 'Sara Berman's Closet' represents Berman's life from 1982 to 2004, when she lived by herself in a small apartment in Greenwich Village. With its neatly arranged stacks of starched and precisely folded clothing, the closet will be presented as a small period room in dialogue with The Met's recently installed Worsham-Rockefeller Dressing Room from 1882, which will feature clothing from the 1880s of the type that Arabella Worsham, a wealthy art patroness, might have worn.  Despite vast differences of scale and ornament, and the separation of 100 years, the two rooms show there were similarities between the life stories of Sara Berman and Arabella Worsham (c. 1851–1924). Both began as women of limited means who, by their own ingenuity, created new lives for themselves in New York City.

For S/S 2017, Stone Island presents a series of items with sharp design activewear references, fully expressing the functional and creative philosophy of the the new collection. This aesthetic is developed in all the product categories.

The new Reflective Jacket is made with an innovative fabric engineered to be garment-dyed.

Its nylon tela base is plated with a highly reflective resin coating, while the details in Mussola Gommata and fabric mixes highlight the garment-dye technique.

RUCO LINE, the historic Italian brand of accessories, celebrates the opening of its new flagship store in Milan Via della Spiga 48. 

The 200 m2 concept store developing on two levels is designed by essential and contemporary spaces, where every single item is enhanced. A contrast of matte and glossy surfaces takes its origin from granite, iron and wood selected for the traditional black interiors. 

The new store lies on a continuum with the shop opened in October 2016 in Ginza, Tokyo after an idea of Japanese designer Tetsuya Chihara. 

“The opening of the new store at Via della Spiga is another exciting challenge for RUCO LINE to face – we'll propose an even wider range of products for men and women paying a strong attention to style, quality and accuracy”, explains RUCO LINE's CEO Marco Santucci.

Messe Frankfurt has joined forces with fashion industry veterans Arnold and Bruce Zimberg to launch Boulevard Prêt-à-Sale, a first-of-its-kind trade show, which will offer global retailers the opportunity to meet with brand-name apparel, accessory, and footwear companies all on one platform. Dedicated to showcasing value and off-price merchandise for the better market, Boulevard Prêt-à-Sale will be held twice a year in New York City. The first show, scheduled for March 2017 will focus solely on menswear merchandise. In October, the show will feature both menswear and womenswear together, an industry first.

Created with an eye on the present and future state of retail sales, Boulevard Prêt-à-Sale will aim to redefine the wholesale and retail experience and value sales for both brands and retailers. The show will serve as an international business platform, where the largest US and international better value price buyers can meet and network with prominent apparel companies in a welcoming and stylish environment.

Boulevard Prêt-à-Sale will be the newest addition to Messe Frankfurt’s global portfolio of textile trade shows under the established Texpertise network, which currently includes 50 trade shows around the world, over 19,000 exhibitors and half of a million international visitors annually. Boulevard Prêt-à-Sale will also expand Messe Frankfurt’s New York City show offering, which currently includes Texworld USA, Apparel Sourcing USA and Home Textiles Sourcing Expo, to 4 unique concepts and 7 total shows each year.

The first edition will take place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center’s River Pavilion, the 4th level exhibition hall boasting over 45,000 square feet, abundant natural light and sweeping views of the Hudson River. Boulevard Prêt-à-Sale’s event layout and ambience will capture the energy of downtown New York City, with impactful visuals and a modern booth design in which merchandise will be the focus.

From the 2nd till 5th of March, Paris sur Mode Tuileries will showcase the collections of 100 brands in the heart of Paris, in Place de la Concorde, facing the Jardin des Tuileries. 

These are the trends for Autumn/Winter 2017-18 that you can expect to see at brands who will showcase their collections:

-Pyjamas as daywear in traditional or alternative prints, as an addition to an outfit or a look in itself.

-The Neo-Green movement prioritising ethical production, sustainable development and respect for the environment. 

-To stay current, the vegan trend which has taken centre stage for several months will now grace the aisles of Paris sur Mode Tuileries.

-The bohemian-chic trend is also on the rise.

La Maison Frankie Morello last night opened the Milan Fashion Week dedicated to women with the inauguration of its first Flagship Store.

An exclusive cocktail party, animated by DJ sets Natasha Slater and enriched from installation art dedicated to the preview of the FW 17/18 collection has signed the return of the brand in the heart of Milan with a large multifunctional space overlooking the famous Piazza San Babila.

White and black are the predominant colors that form the basis of the Frankie Morello collections ensuring exhibition spaces maximum mimetic skills that will make them perfect, season after season, to absorb and enhance the character and the mood outfit meant to be protagonists.

A language in black marble marquinia, material with a shiny surface with white veins in contrast, creates the illusion of a walkway, reinforced by continuous projections of the brand parades realized through a particular LED technology.

Following the integration of Show&Order into the Premium Group’s trade show portfolio in October 2016, founder and CEO Verena Malta has chosen to leave the company of her own volition in order to pursue new projects. 

“After six intensive years as the founder and CEO of SHOW&ORDER I have decided to change professional direction. I would like to thank all those involved including business partners for our many years of working together; I am now leaving SHOW&ORDER in the safe hands of the PREMIUM GROUP.” – Verena Malta

Show&Order was founded in 2011 by Verena Malta from Cologne who, over the past six years, has transformed the platform to become a fixed element on Berlin’s trade show scene. After SHOW&ORDER was acquired by the PREMIUM GROUP the concept was redesigned and repositioned in collaboration with Verena Malta.  Premium’s Sales Director, Niki Lampadius, who has worked for the company for many years, will take over responsibility for Show&Order’s sales area and the newly established sales team with immediate effect.

Levi's, Schott NYC & Liberty Fairs #brandtogether in an effort to raise funds for 14+ Foundation. With help from Paddle8, 12 artist-designed jackets are currently being auctioned off online and will be on display one last time at Liberty Las Vegas. Start Bidding Now and See Your Favorite Piece in Person at Liberty Fairs! Bidding ends February 22nd.

ISKO I-SKOOL, the competition created by ISKO, global leader in denim production and in textile innovation, along with CREATIVE ROOM, its Italian style and design think-thank, will confirm for the fourth year in a row its global potential in the education and specialization of young talents, again with its two main application fields: on one hand the Denim Design Award, launching now and dedicated to fashion students, and on the other the Denim Marketing Award, organized for marketing students. Once again, the most talented students on a global scale will have the outstanding opportunity to access the one-of-a-kind fashion network and professional expertise made available by the ISKO I-SKOOL project, with the possibility to be awarded with prestigious internships and mentions within the industry and beyond.

This edition’s creative theme is ‘Genderful’: a celebration of the new and inclusive ways to conceive the multiplicity of models of self expression, that are now overtaking normative gender categories for a promotion of new and evolving forms of identity. Young designers are asked to design one outfit for two different directions:

– From unisex to multisex: both contemporary men and women in order to create a new gender category, multisex.

– Identity beyond gender: create a totally new imagine of ourselves 

“GENDERFUL will be a must-have topic for the future: we believe in cross-fertilization as a way to anticipate trends and revolutionize style and fashion”, explains Lucietti.

Runabout Goods is a project by Michael Hodis. The brand’s wish is to create the finest traditional American outdoor gear. Drawing inspiration from their predecessors of decades past, they stride forth by combining modern day innovations with tried and true functional details. Technical expertise are at the root of the brand’s aesthetic, producing adventure goods of the highest standard. Runabout Goods can be found at Liberty Fairs Las Vegas.

The upcoming edition of MAGIC, will see many activities taking place during the tradeshows. Below are some of many covering the Las Vegas Convention Center shows including: WWDMAGIC, FN PLATFORM, SOURCING @ MAGIC, WSA @ MAGIC, CHILDREN’S CLUB MAGIC.

-WWD Magic: WWDMAGIC Accessories + ATS, have come together under one roof to create one cohesive accessories shopping experience, called AccessoriesTheShow@WWDMAGIC. An accessories marketplace is created with specific neighborhoods to make shopping time efficient and clearly defined for buyers.

-Revamp / Design of Look & Feel for WWDMAGIC = Modern, Eclectic, and Colorful. The new vibe will reflect the WWDMAGIC girl – with a modern, colorful, and eclectic environment with designs and initiatives that are inspirational, aspirational and elevated.

-WWD and WWDMAGIC Partner to Create a Content Studio at LVCC. This will be run by WWD studios.

-FN Platform/WSA: For the first time outside of PREMIÈRE CLASSE, they will have an organized grouping at FNP – so there will be a French Pavilion. We are proud to have ten brands coming from France under the prestigious guidance of ADC.

-Sourcing @ Magic: In general, expecting about 40 countries represented at Sourcing. February Focus continent is Africa regional focus, with spotlight on: Kenya. Furthermore with President Trump now firmly in office, SOURCING at MAGIC will take a look at how the Trump administration may impact various free trade agreements and international trade relationships.

Designer, Yuna Yang, showcased her F/W 2017 collection that was inspired by women taking a stand in troubled times.

Yuna Yang’s F/W 17 collection shows that “light shines brighter in the darkness.” She features both looks with bold prints and dancing colors and looks that play with chiaroscuro, such as dark velvet and light fabric. Women protesting in the streets of South Korea, the US Women’s March and elsewhere inspired Yuna Yang. With the F/W 2017 runway show, Yuna Yang celebrates women who make their social and political voices heard “the power of one person holding a candle.” 

Social and political movements have always expressed their inner light through fashion, whether suffragettes or hippies. YUNA YANG’s F/W 17 collection pays homage to people who hold on to hope and belief in shadowed times.

By the end of 2017 Victorinox will close its clothing division. With this the S/S 2017 collection will be the last of the traditional brands from Ibach-Schwyz, with the exception of Japan, where the A/W 2017 collection will be closed. The brand with this focuses on its core business and thus supports sustainable development.

"For more than ten years, the garment line has been a valuable asset for our brand," said Carl Elsener, CEO of the Victorinox Group. "Our priority, however, is to strengthen Victorinox's position in a constantly changing global market. Therefore, the focus is now on our main categories, which best reflect the values ??of our brand as well as the needs of our global customers."

Victorinox 'clothing collections were initially offered in the US, but they were also gradually sold in selected markets such as Japan and the UK as well as in their own sales in Switzerland and Germany.

Guess is launching an important strategic repositioning of MARCIANO GUESS under the new name Marciano Los Angeles. The goal is to open up new market opportunities, further expand the brand potential and position the brand in the fashion industry's top group.

The new focus is deliberately aimed at demanding, fashion-conscious customers. The new brand name Marciano Los Angeles refers to the origins of the brand in the Californian metropolis.

From the A/W 2017 collection, this new positioning will create a fashionable and trend-oriented collection with a more balanced price structure. A collection line should serve as a point of entry with basic travels and combine elegant styles with interesting materials. This more affordable collection segment is offered next to a higher-quality premium line.

In addition to North America and Europe, the brand strategy also seeks to penetrate previously untapped markets such as Russia, Turkey and Asia.

7th to 9th February 2017 saw the last GDS being held on the premises of Messe Düsseldorf. This was the 123rd edition of the tradition-rich event. With this, the tradeshow will not only change its organiser and venue but also the name. The Igedo Company will present its shoe trade show at Areal Böhler as Gallery SHOES. 

In keeping with this “passing of the baton” the evening event of GDS was also held at Areal Böhler on the first day of the trade show. Speaking before many representatives of the shoe sector, Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, President & CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, used the opportunity to acknowledge the efforts by the GDS team: “Kirstin Deutelmoser and her team have undertaken extraordinary efforts over the years and introduced innovations into the shoe shows time and again. And even the last event was designed with full professionalism and provided visitors with a comprehensive overview of the market. My thanks also go to the sector: GDS only managed to remain such an outstanding meeting point for decades on end thanks to the support from trade and industry. I wish the Igedo Company the best of success for its new concept.” 

The first Gallery SHOES will be held from 27 to 29 August 2017.