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.

J Brand has collaborated with London-based fashion designer Bella Freud for a F/W 2017 collection. The latter consists of 25 pieces, comprised of 10 looks. In different denim styles are a jacket, 2 jeans, skirt and jumpsuit in mid to dark indigos and black denim. Furthermore the denim styles as contrasted with the classic cashmere and merino wool statement sweaters. A low-rise relaxed straight leg and high-waisted tailored wide-leg embody Bella’s favourite denim fits from the 70’s and are a nod to her tomboy-ish adolescence. The collection combines both the Bella Freud whimsical spirit and aesthetic with J Brand’s denim expertise.

The J Brand X Bella Freud collection will be available at select retailers online and globally, from July 25th, 2017.

The 83rd edition of theMICAM, at the Fiera Milano (Rho) from 12th to 15th February, will present exhibitors and trade visitors with a new concept and look.

A structural transformation that was already underway during the last edition but which has now been fully completed and takes the form of a new concept for pavilions 1 and 3 and various modern elements that represent a marked change with respect to past editions. Larger and more functional areas to facilitate interaction between buyers and exhibitors and a conceptual evolution made even more alluring and fashion-oriented. 

A change in image that is expressed most vividly in the new publicity campaign which has chosen the “Divine Comedy” to announce theMICAM’s new course which will have as its leitmotif the three canticles of Dante’s poem. A three- year long journey which starts in this edition in the circles of Hell, with the spotlight on the capital sin of “Lust”, followed by Seduction in September and continuing next year in “Purgatory” and ending in 2019 bathed in the bright light of “Paradise”. 

Another of the new entries at this 83rd edition is the Emerging Designer Area in Pav. 1 on the edge of the Fashion Square: a space entirely dedicated to emerging Italian and international designers and an indication of theMICAM’s desire to stay ahead of the game by nurturing new talent and potential future leaders in the footwear sector. 

Full rein is also given to the creativity of young students. At stand F02 in Pav. 1, top training schools specialising in the footwear sector will discuss the new aspects of their courses and how best to prepare to meet the challenges of producing and marketing quality footwear. 

The upcoming edition of Woman Paris, taking place from March 3rd till 5th, 2017, is moving to Place Vendôme. The garden will host both womenswear show Paris sur Mode and Premiere Classe.

The new WOMAN A/W 17 campaign is created by Malin Gabriella Nordin. She uses various mediums such as painting, illustration, sculpture and installations are all to be found in her body of work. Colours and composition are interchangeable but always distinctively emotive and dynamic.

With its current strategic approach as an innovation and communication platform MUNICH FABRIC START has set new standards in the face of challenging developments in the sector and on the market.

Reliability and continuity as well as an expanded portfolio with international brands are the key constants for the newly achieved growth at MUNICH FABRIC START in 2017. Expressed in figures: three very well-attended days at the fair and, in particular, a strong third day made for growth in visitor numbers of some 1% over the previous year reaching 20,100 international visitors by the end of the event

Once again meeting with wide approval was KEYHOUSE that kicked off last autumn. Equally high were the numbers at the two BLUEZONE halls ALL STAR MILLS and CATALYZER. With over 100 international brands BLUEZONE posted the highest numbers since its inception, both in terms of exhibitors and visitors. Optimism was spread by the over 1,700 very bold, imaginative and inspiring fabric collections and technical product developments from the over 1,000 suppliers. 

The highlight fabric and accessories developments staged in the TREND and COLOUR FORUM in the foyer of the MOC were able to create added appeal serving as an inspiration pool thanks to the extension and new interpretation of the ADDITIONALS TREND FORUM arranged in trend worlds.

Spring 2017 TOMMYNOW, Tommy Hilfiger’s second in-season fashion show, took place on Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 at “TOMMYLAND” in Venice Beach, Los Angeles. Celebrating the fusion of fashion with California-inspired music and creativity, “TOMMYLAND” became the ultimate West Coast fashion festival, set against the iconic backdrop of Venice Beach. Continuing Tommy Hilfiger’s leadership in the “See Now, Buy Now” runway model, all looks from the Spring 2017 show, including the second TommyXGigi collection designed in collaboration with Gigi Hadid, were immediately available to purchase across all sales channels in more than 70 countries around the world.

TOMMYNOW is about inclusivity, celebrating pop culture, and connecting to our global consumers in an authentic, personalized and powerful way,” said Tommy Hilfiger. “We launched the TOMMYNOW platform in September because we are the brand that breaks conventions, puts the consumer at the heart of our business, and believes in creating fun, inspiring experiences that fuse fashion and entertainment. For February, we are pushing the boundaries even further with a one-of-a-kind festival event that celebrates the youth culture and California spirit that inspired our collection this season.”

On the 7th February 2017, related to the 67th of the Berlinale, the new exhibition of the photographer Anatol Kotte had its opening at the renowned Concept Store OUKAN in Berlin-Mitte. Under the title „Actors“ – the artist presents 18 of his famous portraits of actors, most of them were taken in black and white and they will show the national and international “Mimenriege”. Beside their German colleagues Til Schweiger, Natalia Wörner, Moritz Bleibtreu and Matthias Schweighöfer, many other iconic actors like Jeff Goldblum, Ewan McGregor, Geraldine Chaplin participated.

Anatol Kotte started in 1982 as a photographer's assistant before he attended his freelance work. Previously, Kotte found his passion for portraits and now with 20 years experience – definitely the artist belongs to the premier league of photographer.

Invista's Cordura brand and the global outdoor specialist Blackyak have collaborated on a collection designed by mountaineers for mountaineers. First partnering up in 2016 for BLACKYAK’s global market launch, the brands have expanded their offerings in the European market with the latest 2017 fall/winter apparel debuting right now at ISPO Munich (February 2017). 

The 2017 collection features insulation and mid-weight layers designed with Cordura fabric for enhanced durability and soft comfort. Pants, shorts, shirts and jackets engineered for use on the summit will hit stores for spring/summer and fall/winter 2017.

Inspired by the yak’s resilience, Blackyak clothing is crafted to withstand even the harshest alpine conditions. Prototypes are exposed to the extreme situations by the Blackyak athletes during training and on expeditions.

The official European launch is happening right now at ISPO Munich, until the 8th of February 2017 with an exclusive joint media event in conjunction with the show.

The world’s biggest trade show for sport-related gear has yet again opened its door on February 5th. 

The event features relevant brands in the active market from adidas to Helly Hansen to Fusalp. But also up and coming activewear brands like Beachbody will be exhibiting. 

Aside from the latest innovations and trends, visitors can also inform themselves on topics such as women in sports or new textile trends for sport and outdoor garments. 

Of course, new accessories and footwear is also presented alongside health and fitness trends. 

2017 the focus will be on classic fitness, healthy eating, mobile apps and running. 66°North from Iceland, Casio, Fila, Osprey, Salming and TomTom are some of the many brands presenting their latest innovation in this field. 

Industry veterans Killick Datta and Peter Koral use this year's ISPO to launch the apparel and footwear line of Beachbody with their company Global Brand Partners. 

The will be designing, developing and producing garments and shoes under the name of the renowned fitness and wellness expert. Beachbody is a worldwide leader in health and fitness headquartered in Santa Monica, USA. Founded in 1998 its goal was to help people achieve their fitness goals.   Its success stems from its ‘Beachbody on Demand’ streaming platform, workout regiments, such as Insanity, its super shakes and sport nutrition supplements. It has a network of 500,000 coaches and over 36 million views on YouTube. In 2013, Beachbody had 17 million customers. As the athleisure trend continues to grow, this is a strong brand to look out for. 

Both footwear and apparel products will be ready for delivery July this year. 

The line can be found at ISPO Munich HallB2 Booth 124 until Wednesday.

With the addition of an external team of Art Directors Delerue Roppel, a journey to editorialize Birkenstock begins with the S/S 2017 campaign. A renewed visual language is defined by Dan Tobin Smith – he creates the still life photography for Apple among a list of clients. 

A new layout deletes any unnecessary graphics, allowing for a sole focus on the product and branding that appears exclusively on the product itself. The campaign reflects on the wide appeal of Birkenstock. It will appeal equally to a younger client that has just discovered that the Birkenstock footbed and stylish shoes go together perfectly as well as the traditional client that has been a loyal Birkenstock wearer for many decades. 

A confident, focused approach that sets the tone for a dynamic year ahead. Birkenstock has entered the Bedding / Home category at the furniture fair in Cologne this month, is set to launch an extensive NATURAL CARE cosmetics line later this year and will start to build a global press agency network in all key markets starting February 2017. 

The Supreme Group by munichfashion.company GmbH came to a positive conclusion in its anniversary year with the Supreme Women & Men Düsseldorf, which ended yesterday. The organizer has registered a very strong rush of visitors at the ordering fair. In addition to numerous foreign buyers, all the well-known German retailers from all the federal states were on-site and used the platform several times in the fashion district of the showrooms around Kaiserswerther Straße.

The Supreme Group has been cooperating with the trade publication TextilWirtschaft since this season, which installed a lounge for the first time in the foyer of the B1 location, where Supreme Women&Men has been held. This was actively used by the visitors and offered customers an additional relaxing meeting point within the framework of the Supreme Homebase.

In just under two weeks, the order business moves on to the next round with the Supreme Women&Men Munich, which takes place from 11 to 14 February 2017 at the MTC, world of fashion, House 1

ISPO, the largest international exhibition for the sports industry, is the perfect setting to experience ISKO ARQUAS, the revolutionary activewear fabric platform conceived by ISKO, the world leader in denim production and innovation, and CREATIVE ROOM, its Italian style and design think-tank. 

Athleisure, one of the most viral trends, is radically rewriting the codes of fashion and lifestyle, and it’s the genesis for the ISKO ARQUAS platform: the boundaries between formal occasions and sports activities are less and less indistinct while not so long ago, being fashionable at any time seemed impossible. These advanced textile concepts and innovations combine one-of-a-kind aesthetics with unexpected features that stand up to even the most dynamic and energetic situations, because they are the essential ingredient for activewear that delivers sports-level performance along with incomparable style. 

To show the wide and inspirational range of technical and stylistic applications, ISKO and CREATIVE ROOM developed three main moods to express the soul of these multifaceted fabrics: 

Sport, dance & fitness – High performance with a trendy flair

Urban tech – Maximum freedom with contemporary attitude

Blue Outdoor – The top of fashion for the open air.

Ahead of London Fashion Week, Cheap Monday will celebrate the 5th anniversary of its London flagship store on Carnaby Street on Thursday 16^th. The event will present an intense live set from indie rockers Tall Ships, a selection of free drinks and an exclusive 20% of all product in-store discount.

Following on from the success of the recent Sundara Karma and Dead! performances, the London store is partnering up again with Clash magazine to bring back another instalment of their live gigs with the Brighton based band ahead of the release of their second album ‘Impressions’.

As well as the 20% off everything in store all day, the brand will be carrying on the celebrations with exclusive free goodie bags on every purchase as well as the latest issue of Clash.

Texworld Paris will be holding its 40th edition from February 6th till 9th, 2017 in Le Bourget, Paris. Presenting 730 exhibitors, the show will see previous exhibitors returning after missing several seasons. China is the first represented country, followed by Turkey, South Korea and India. 

The show will also host the third edition of Frankfurt Style Award, an international fashion competition that has been promoting young designers. The Trends Forum sector will present several lectures and catwalk shows. The Elite sector, a global platform for purchasing materials, fabrics and supplies, will present 21 exhibitors. 

Brunello Cucinelli has opened a new boutique on via Monte Napoleone 27, Milan. The store hosts a contemporary environment displaying precious simplicity and blending together culture, heritage, love for the land and modern concepts of hospitality. 

From the window at the entrance that shows the Solomeo skyline, to the small kitchen crafting the tastes and scents of nature; from the living room -where you can refreshen your soul with a graceful conversation, to the changing room – where you can take your time to create an elegant yet relaxed style. The new opening confirms and deepens the philosophy underlying all of the 122 Brunello Cucinelli monobrand boutiques, which spread the heritage, the ideals and the results of the work of the humanistic enterprise in the most important cities worldwide.

Botier, founded by Marina Botier in 2014, embodies the history of the gold and diamond industry in Belgium, the luxury of Moscow and the fast-paced life of New York. All the three cities, experienced first-hand by Marina Botier, have resulted in a line which creates timeless pieces created for the modern woman. Furthermore Botier is fueled by influences and inspiration from around the world, striving to be a global brand attracting women and men with all different backgrounds.

Each Botier piece can be recognised by it’s craftsmanship and high quality diamonds which can only be found in the ateliers in Antwerp. Authenticity and quality are key to create the said timeless pieces. Each piece is handcrafted and designed with a clear vision of what it represents for the individual wearer. Every piece is made from 18 ct. gold and is set with diamonds and precious stones straight from the diamond city.

The newest Botier collection ‘Eyes Wide Shut’, features a new type of double ring, earrings and chokers. The double rings are set with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and different kinds of precious stones. The particular setting gives the ring an impression of having a set of eyes.  

The collection was first presented during Paris Fashion Week and has since proven to be very successful. The designs have been picked up by various high-end retailers all around the world.

Who's Next and Premiere Classe held at the Porte de Versailles have closed the doors to their first event in 2017 on a positive note. Many different exhibitors from a range of sectors have noticed the arrival of new accounts as well as the upholding of their "regular" visitors. Also worth noting, is the arrival of new french buyers, new regional boutiques and/or e-shop’s, and also important orders placed by department stores.

On an international level, there is a consistency in european buyers and above all the return of outside-Europe, with a notable 27% increase in Japanese and 8% more American buyers. Those from the Middle-East also placed some big orders. Among the conferences, three in particular were a great success: "The new fashion business models", "The women who are shaking up the lines" and the conference on e-commerce, led by the director of Alibaba. 

Connected to the Premiere Classe trade show via its young designers corner, the Fame area and its mix of established brands and new innovative designers has united a large number of qualitative buyers. The tradeshows saw record breaking crowds at the 25 conferences and the 44 workshops, including those given by the six experts from the Retail Expert Club.

The next editions will take place from the 2nd to 5th March 2017 for Premiere Classe Tuileries and Paris sur Mode Tuileries and from 8th to 11th September 2017 for Who's Next and Premiere Classe.

ISKO and its platform dedicated to sustainability, ISKO EARTH FIT, are the first and only denim mill in the world to have received the prestigious certification EU Ecolabel. This is yet another confirmation of ISKO deep commitment to responsibility that earned it the 2016 Nordic Swan Ecolabel for several products of the ISKO EARTH FIT line.

EU Ecolabel is the official environmental label in the European Union, and is based on a commitment to environmental sustainability. The criteria have been developed and agreed upon by scientists, NGOs and stakeholders to create a credible and reliable way to make environmentally responsible choices.

The ISKO EU Ecolabel products will be launched in May 2017 as part of the new collection. 

“Being conscientious comes from research, attention, deep commitment and pointed awareness about what is happening to our planet” explains Fatih Konukoglu, CEO of ISKO Division and board member of SANKO Group. “Here in ISKO, to produce means to care: care about people, environment, products. This firm belief is the heart of our nurturing approach. We believe in the future: that’s why we continue to invest in protecting our planet”.

Lardini has opened its first Italian flagship store in Milan. After the recent openings in Seul, Busan and Deagu in Korea, Xi’An in China and important international corners, Lardini now strengthens its footing on the international market with its first direct point of sale in Italy, by choosing the heart of the high-class Fashion District of Milan in via Gesù 21, otherwise known as the gentleman’s street. 

With a sales area of 300 sq. m. located on two floors, the flagship store will carry both collections of the fashion group from the town of Filottrano: Lardini and Gabriele Pasini – the namesake line from the designer who has already two single-brand stores, one in Modena (Italy) and another in Los Angeles. 

“This boutique has a special meaning for us. For some time now, we have felt the need for to showcase the fruits of our creativity in a city which is the capital of international and Italian shopping.” said Andrea Lardini, chairman of Lardini.

For S/S 2017, Stone Island used an artisan process with corrosive paste that makes garments unique and unrepeatable. Garments are dyed with special recipes and then faded by hand with a corrosive paste. The nbsp;Stone Island badge is attached to the pieces during the manual fading and features the same corrosion marks. Residual dye remaining on the surface highlights the architecture of the garments.

This artisan process – applied on outerwear pieces made in military-derived cotton satin, and on knits, sweatshirts and bottoms – is what creates the unique effect on each individual piece.

ETRO has recently opened its Etro boutique in Shanghai, located at Plaza 66. The 150 square metre boutique offers Etro menswear, womenswear and accessories collections. The interior epitomises the latest generation of Etro boutiques. The interior is characterised by sophisticated white marble, bright golden shelves and walls conceived in a warm gray, enhancing the bright tones of the furniture. 

The new boutique represents the world of Etro, synonymous with “Made in Italy”. High-quality materials, natural fibres are embellished by original designs and innovative colours, embodying the brand ideal. 

Joop! Jeans has collaborated with Candiani on a unique Capsule collection. The inspiration was a special project of Candiani where its staff members participated: each of them received a raw denim with the instruction to wear them for 6 months during their daily work at Candiani. After the half year, the results were authentic used denim with individual wear and tear designs. Joop! Jeans transferred these unique designs onto three slim-fit models. The latter consist of class five-pockets, well-thought out cuts with tapered legs and of course, authentic washes (such as whiskers, stonewash, destroys, tacking, brushing, tinting and indigo dyeing).

ISKO has been nominated as Turkey’s ’National Public Champion’ in the 2017 European Business Awards. Until March 1st 2017, will be open on the EBA official website, where voters can watch ISKO’s video on their unique approach to business. It’s an opportunity to discover closely the company’s identity, strongly characterized by actions that carry out responsible innovation, environmental protection and social commitment. 

ISKO is also participating in the special category “Award for Environmental and Corporate Sustainability”, that will be assigned during the Gala with the final decision of the prestigious jury consisting of several former Prime ministers, CEO’s and. Managing Directors.

“We are immensely proud to present our approach to the world. As you will see on the video that we made for this competition and entered into the category of Environmental & Corporate Sustainability, our guiding goal is to produce value through an effective combination of production performance, responsibility and sustainability. This goal is surely challenging, but I see that our daily hard work and positive results testify to our efforts”, claims Fatih Konukoglu, President of ISKOTM Division and board member of SANKO Group, echoed by Marco Lucietti, Global Marketing Director of SANKO/ISKO division.

Cristina Gavioli was founded in 1986 as a result of the meeting between Giuseppe Bertani and fashion designer Cristina Gavioli. It was the beginning of a partnership which combined passion and creativity; something the brand is known for till the present day. With production based on fine quality Italian craftsmanship, year after year, Cristina Gavioli has approached the large export market, creating a close-knit commercial network that boasts partners from Europe to the United States and from Russia to Asia.

Most recently the brand celebrated their 30th anniversary with a party in Italy a few days before leaving to showcase at PREMIUM Berlin. The presentation of their 2017-18 winter collection at PREMIUM was successfully received from local and international buyers alike.

Etienne Cochet, General Manager of Who’s Next and Premiere Classe, has opened the show saying: “There is an uplifting attitude in Paris as a whole and one can feel this positive atmosphere on our show. People are buying here and we still offer a return on investment for our exhibitors.”

There are a number of novelties introduced in this season’s show.

This year’s Who’s Next is under the Girl Squad theme to represent and highlight Generation Z with its girl's squad. This new consumer group is reinventing clothes, which can be seen throughout fashion and accessories. They are more positive and have an increased community thinking. At the same time, they are harder to understand for brands. Who’s Next continuously assists retailers and brands alike with conferences and guides to better understand and target this all important target group, which is the consumer of the future. All conferences can be followed on their Facebook page live.

New pop-up stores throughout the show’s halls display especially home and lifestyle items. The aim was to highlight consumer worlds and connect B2B with B2C.

Together with Parisian streetwear retailer Citadium, the organization called for application for young designers and offered 10 of them space at the show but also at the retailer itself. That way the brands can experience B2B and B2C. The show aims also for the September show to minimize the gap between B2B and B2C.

Sylvie Pourrat, Show Director of Premiere Classe, highlighted that in the accessory segment, the classical trade show segment is not enough anymore. “We are right now in the progress to find new solutions. For now, we have created new layouts, creating new pathways through the shows but also different booth models to let the designer’s creativity flow freely. We highlighted accessories within the Urban hall to offer new formats to our exhibitors. An example is Mellow Yellow, which is presenting within Premiere Classe as well as in the Trendy area of Who’s Next, to link both, fashion and accessory, segments together. This is making the journey for buyers easier and their shop more dynamic. We want to help buyers to find new products and merchandise.”

In terms of brands, 70% are international, notably a big amount from Italy but also from India and South Korea, displaying highly creative collections at approachable prices.

Mixed within established brands are young talents to offer retailers an optimal brand portfolio to satisfy consumer’s demand for both – commercial brands but also individual outfits.

New features for buyers specifically are welcome desks, personal shopping for retailers, as well as frequently asked questions published two weeks prior to the show’s start. Topics such as activewear, big sizes, shoes and leatherware including price points and other buyer-relevant information are covered. There is also an easy to sell selection at affordable prices and good margins at the entrance of hall 7.1 where retailers can buy SS17 items and expect delivery within three weeks. Also introduced is a curvy section partnered with a blogger specialised in cool bigger sized brands. 

WeAr has cooperated with Who's Next – visit us in the Retail Expert Lounge. 

In the early 1990s, INVISTA’s CORDURA brand and Woolrich, America’s Original Outdoor Clothing Company, collaborated to create Wool-Dura, a specialty blend of iconic Woolrich wool and nylon 6,6 CORDURA fabric used in hunting apparel. 

Now, the two are back together for the 50^th anniversary of the CORDURA  brand with a newly reimagined Wool-Dura collection, taking inspiration from its hunting-centric predecessor while adding a modern, cross-functional twist. Wool-Dura is an authentic fabric that combines the durability of CORDURA fibre and the natural properties of Woolrich wool, produced in the historic Woolrich Woolen Mill, to create strong, enduring garments for the authentic outdoor lifestyle. The latest line of products featuring Wool-Dura fabrics are inspired by its hunting heritage, but are designed to function in both outdoor and urban environments. In addition to signature Wool-Dura fabrics, the collection also includes a coat, cap and blanket – all designed with a modern fit, style and attitude in mind. 

The Wool-Dura collection will be available immediately and signature garments available in Fall 2017.

In sunny and snowy Berlin the fashion crowd reassembled once again for the Fall/Winter 17 edition of Premium, Show and Order, Seek, Bright, Panorama and other events. 

This season the Premium Group separated the segments: womenswear talents are to be discovered at the newly acquired and revamped Show & Order while menswear brands primarily show at Seek. Obviously, the mothership at Postbahnhof Berlin is still filled with renowned brands such as Hudson, Peuterey, Joe's Jeans, European Culture, Bogner, Joop, Parajumpers, Colmar etc. Emerging talents, too, can be found here, as well as well established German heritage brands such as Heinz Bauer Manufakt, Handstich and Hemisphere Cashmere. As well as being the most important DACH event, international buyers from Japan, Russia to Italy were spotted discovering fresh talents and re-purchasing established collections.

At Panorama a slower start was seen, however influential brands such as Guess, Alberto, Wrangler and Lieblingsstück still displayed their collections and looked forward welcoming buyers to their booths. 

The PREMIUM GROUP’s forte is its international network and, twice a year, it brings together the right people at the right time in the right place. With the same aspiration in mind #FASHIONTECH Berlin connects the fashion community with startups at the conference and accompanying exhibition space. 

Since the launch of the format in January 2015, the #Fashiontech Berlin conference and exhibition has grown into one of the most influential fashion tech events on the European level. The aim of the event is to showcase the latest developments at the intersection of fashion and technology and to provide visitors with a first-class programme that covers topics from the fields of e-commerce & the future of retail, wearables & smart textiles and digital marketing & communication. 

Guided through the day by presenter and co-initiator Ole Tillmann, top-drawer experts will offer their insights. In the exhibition area, international fashion tech designers will present their latest creations, whilst startups will be introducing their new business models.

The brand has a 179 square metre booth in the Nova Concept hall 9 and celebrates its 35th jubilee with the concept 'Dream on…', which is one of the favourite mottos of company founder and CCO Paul Marciano. The label will show diverse product lines as well as the preview on the F/W collection 2017. 

'Our presence at Panorama Berlin is an important step for our brand in the German market. With 30 stores in Germany and Austria and a solid basis in the wholesale it is an important moment to communicate the brand's initiatives and further steps, which we want to realize' – Victor Herrero, CEO of Guess? Inc.

As with every season, we bring to you the latest Buyer’s Guide coming to you straight from the shows in Berlin. The team at WeAr is scouting Premium, Panorama, Show & Order, SEEK and more to bring you all the latest impressions, innovations and voices! Check out our buyer’s guide to see what the brands, buyers, visitors and press have to say about this season!

Furthermore make sure to follow us on our social media channels where we’re posting exclusive content all around! 

The new SHOW & ORDER portfolio consists of feminine womenswear, accessories, jewellery and footwear, as well as a new, innovatively curated interior decor. The focus lies on translating global fashion trends into an overall feminine look.

In the apartment-like setting the new SHOW & ORDER will showcase a brand experience rich in emotions and different design concepts. Furnished with interior products from Westwing, the entrance area resembles a hotel lobby and cosy lounges provide an inviting place to relax. Two separate exhibition spaces, one in an avant-garde style, the other in a glitzy 1920s style, will represent an effective contrast to the industrial charm of the main hall. In addition, The Good Store, a curated area will showcase sought-after interior and product design and will present fashion retailers with a wealth of inspiration for their stores.

This concept approaches those retailers who identify the signs of the times and are well-informed about the changes in the market in order to offer their customers an individual range of products. 

Pitti Uomo 91 is over, now it's time for Milan Fashion Week to to show menswear collection for FW17/18. But we can still write about some special trends seen at the trade show, where more than 1200 brand participated. The focus is on outerwear: sartorial coats, ponchos and multi-functional jackets will be the next big things. Knitwear is becoming more and more important, and – obviously – many brands are embracing genderless. As some of the special guest of the edition. Sulvam presented his sartorial collection made in japan, for man and woman, and also the young talent Carlo Volpi show his no-gender collection. Tim Coppens – for the first time presenting in Europe – did a show with menswear and woman swear collections together, both inspired by bikers. The english designer Paul Smith presented his PS by Paul Smith collection with a special event: everything here is inspired by bicycle. While homewear is the main inspiration for Lucio Vanotti 's menswear collection, with lot of tartan for jackets and sporty pants. Now it's time for Milan and Paris to discover upcoming trends. 

Invista’s CORDURA Brand and Cone Denim, a global leader in denim authenticity and innovation, are collaborating on a first of its kind, vintage-inspired selvage denim for the 50^th anniversary of the CORDURA brand. The new CORDURA Selvage Denim is produced in Cone Denim’s legendary White Oak facility, drawing inspiration from its over 110 year history in textile production combined with 50 durable years of CORDURA brand heritage.

White Oak is the oldest operating denim mill in the United States, and the only mill producing narrow selvage denim on fly shuttle looms that date back to the 1940s. The collaboration celebrates the CORDURA brand 50^th anniversary theme of “heritage meets innovation,” as it reimagines the past to reinvent the future.  

Debuting at the Winter Outdoor Retailer Show, January 10-12, 2017, CORDURA Selvage Denim is the first of many projects to come from this legacy-in-the-making  collaboration with Cone’s global network of mills in the US, China, and Mexico.