Following the 70th anniversary of its founding in 1953, the Missoni Group announces the strategic acquisition of 100% of Tricotex S.r.l., a leading Italian producer of high-quality Raschel fabrics for the luxury fashion industry.

The acquisition is aligned with Missoni’s long-standing commitment to maintain direct control over its value chain, ensuring transparency and traceability of materials and production processes. By integrating Tricotex, Missoni will continue to preserve the know-how and tradition of an Italian leader in the processing of fine yarns, safeguard the unique identity of its production process and accelerate its growth trajectory.

NAOMI: In Fashion explores the 40-year career of fashion model and cultural icon Naomi Campbell.

In a launch event that buzzed with creativity, HUGO brought the style and spirit of its new brand line, HUGO BLUE, with denim at the core, to Berlin on March 6th. Around 1,000 guests were invited to uncover the first collection, entering the world of HUGO BLUE in an immersive experience that combined product installations with the multiverses of entertainment and gaming.

Upon arrival at the venue, Wilhelm Hallen, guests entered a blue “tunnel” that transported them into HUGO BLUE’s world. Bold logo details and a color palette in various shades of blue amplified the effortless vibe of the new brand line, encompassing menswear, womenswear, and gender-neutral pieces. Its focus is on denim essentials and a variety of streetwear staples, including graphic T-shirts and hoodies, tops, shorts, trousers, outerwear. Key looks were displayed in a unique and unexpected way in three dedicated “closets” – each with differently themed décor, from playful inflatables to wall-to-wall denim and captivating LED panels – which provided perfect photo opportunities.

The event showcased a customization zone, where local artists Rafaella Braga and Max Teutsch worked live, adding personalized touches to guests’ HUGO BLUE pieces.

The event also marked the unveiling of PLANET HUGO, an ecosystem of unique, interconnected experiences on Roblox, a leading platform for communication and connection. PLANET HUGO’s first two 3D environments, HUGO HANGOUT and HUGO FASHION MATCH, were debuted at the launch event in a gaming zone featuring multiple screens that displayed several immersive spaces at once.

Sustainability, digitalization, innovation, Made in Italy, and tertiary as drivers for the development of the sector, with a focus on training to make footwear an attractive sector for young people. These are the guidelines until June 2027, of Giovanna Ceolini, who was confirmed as President of Assocalzaturifici by the Assembly of members. With more than 450 member companies, the Association, nationally represents companies of an industrial nature operating in the footwear manufacturing sector.

“It is indeed with great emotion,” Ceolini comments, “that I face this mandate of mine. We have a challenging job ahead of us. We have to respond to a conjuncture that is not easy, in a geopolitical framework dominated by uncertainty, with initiatives and projects that support our companies in international markets. Today, more than ever, it is important to put the interests of the industry, and therefore our Association, back at the center. We can do this by returning to frank and constructive dialogue and confrontation. In this I will not be alone, but supported by a team composed of professionals of undoubted value.”

Joining the President were Giuseppe Baiardo, Vice President for Training and Orientation, Luisa Benigno, Vice President for Business Culture and Productive Strategies, Giuseppe Camerlengo Vice President for International Affairs, and Valentino Fenni Vice President for Russia, C.S.I. Area and Made in Italy.

Ceolini, highlighted the most salient aspects of her program, from internationalization, to the promotion of Made in Italy footwear in the world, consolidating mature markets and seeking new opportunities in emerging ones, to the collaboration with the main technical institutes and professional schools to encourage generational turnover. Other objectives include the enhancement of third-party companies, better known as CDMOs (contract development and manufacturing organizations), to defend the traditional craftsmanship of Italian manufacturing. Profuse support is also given to trade fair policies starting with MICAM Milan, the world’s most important event in the sector. Among the projects in the pipeline are the reorganization of the pavilions, the strengthening of the MICAMX area, with a focus on seminar content, the section dedicated to the retail of the future, communication and events.

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France in 2024, Kering has partnered again with Tsinghua University and Institut Français de la Mode to launch a brand new online course – “Fashion Sustainability – Global Perspectives and China Practices”. This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is open to university students and people who are passionate about sustainable fashion worldwide.

For years now, Kering has been cultivating innovative talents with a commitment to empower young generations. Through the development of relevant educational programs in cooperation with internationally renowned institutions and universities, it aims to uphold true long-term sustainability.

With the educational resources of top universities and the support from industry stakeholders, this course presents a solid theoretical foundation, a broad international perspective, and cutting-edge industry trends. The curriculum covers diverse dimensions of sustainable fashion through holistic content providing a comprehensive understanding of the sustainability value chain operating model and pioneering insights into industry transformation.

“We are delighted and excited about this collaboration with Tsinghua University. We at Kering have the responsibility to encourage young people to actively learn and explore sustainability and advocate for it as a daily practice in their career development”, states Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer of Kering.

NATIVA, the world’s leading supplier of regeneratively farmed luxury fibers, is introducing cotton to its offer. Extending its positive impact within the global fashion supply chain, NATIVA Cotton accelerates the shift towards a more sustainable production system, from farm to brand. With cotton accounting for 65% of the fibers present in wardrobes worldwide it is a key component in the fashion industry’s commitment to transition further towards sustainability.

Made in Europe, NATIVA Cotton is a solution that certifies cotton growing, sourcing and production under the NATIVA Regenerative Program. The NATIVA Regenerative Agriculture Program is a robust system with a triple impact based on scientific research and backed by data.

NATIVA’s Regenerative Agriculture Program protects the land by bettering soil quality, safeguards crops by ensuring soil health, and supports farmers and local communities by improving their livelihoods. These multidisciplinary efforts further result in greater water quality and increased CO2 capturing levels. Measured over a five-year period, NATIVA aims to achieve a 20% increase of organic materials (natural nutrients) in the soil through its regenerative agricultural practices. This is supported by a 25% reduction in pesticides, with an eventual goal of zero pesticide use throughout time, and the effective eradication of tillage.

“As part of NATIVA’s goals of positively impacting the supply chain for a more sustainable system, we wanted to expand our reach from wool into new fibers. With cotton playing such a significant role in the fashion industry, it was only natural to extend our programme to this iconic fiber.” said Maria Estrada, NATIVA Global Director.

The first crop of NATIVA Cotton is being planted in the upcoming sowing season and will be harvested between October and November, this year. All NATIVA Cotton incorporates NATIVA Blockchain technology, which digitally tracks and logs every step of the fiber’s journey.

Stone Island presents The Compass Inside, a new short film by director Jeremy Elkin, featuring members of the brand’s global community, including director Spike Lee, footballer João Felix, actress Jodie Turner-Smith and fashion designer Germans Ermičs. Shot in 15 different locations around the world, the film is interspersed with footage from the Stone Island factories in Ravarino, Italy, to detail the unique connection between how Stone Island is made, and how it is worn.

“The Compass Inside is a film based on process, craft, art and community. It’s about the people who wear Stone Island every day and the artisans who make the garments, bringing Stone Island’s manifesto to life,” says director Jeremy Elkin.

The 38th edition of Milano Unica dropped the curtains on February 1. The number of international buyers increased remarkably by +26% with 1,903 participating companies. The overall figure was also positive with a total of 5,886 visitors, up 11% compared to the corresponding 2023 edition. 508 exhibitors presented their Spring/Summer 2025 collections, up 7% compared to the February 2023 edition.

The notion of creativity that combines indissolubly with sustainability is essential to Milano Unica’s vision. This has always been the guiding principle for the selection of fabrics and accessories of the MU Tendenze Sostenibilità Area.

Milano Unica’s event dedicated to young talents from fashion schools featured Sabato De Sarno, Creative Director of Gucci. “With extreme naturalness and authenticity, Sabato told his story,” getting very close to the more than 1,000 students in attendance, “speaking with empathy and emotion, conveying the values at the base of every path: passion, dedication determination and courage,” recalled Massimo Mosiello, General Manager of Milano Unica.

The next edition (39) of Milano Unica is taking place on July 9, 10, 11, 2024.

Rebekka Ruétz presented sneakers from the Skechers UNO and Court & Classics collections at her fashion show, incorporating unworn sneakers from past shows through upcycling as accessories and highlighting the longstanding collaboration with the Comfort Technology Company Special attention was given to the trademark Skechers UNO sneakers with visible air cushioning, as well as models from the new Court & Classics retro sneaker collection featuring high quality synthetic Dural leather uppers and unbeatable comfort thanks to Skechers Air-Cooled Memory Foam® insoles.

Rebekka Ruétz expressed her enthusiasm for the longstanding collaboration with Skechers as follows: “I love working with Skechers! Every season, I have the opportunity to unleash my ideas and creations anew, and it’s just incredibly enjoyable. The stylish sneakers and sporty look of Skechers are simply made for my collections.”

The presentation of the looks took place at the Verti Music Hall in Berlin and captivated the audience with muted tones, vibrant outfits and accessories.

Prada S.p.A and L’Oréal Groupe announced the signature of a worldwide long-term license agreement for the creation, development, and distribution of the luxury beauty products for the Miu Miu brand. Following the successful collaboration with Prada brand, Miu Miu is now joining the L’Oréal Luxe division for a new beauty chapter. The first fragrances under L’Oréal Groupe are expected to be launched in 2025.

Benedetta Petruzzo, Miu Miu CEO comments: “We are excited to announce this partnership with a distinctive and leading beauty player such as L’Oréal. This new chapter will sustain the brand’s growth and help to further untap Miu Miu’s full potential in the category”. Cyril Chapuy, President of L’Oréal Luxe comments: “Over the past years, we have successfully established a very strong partnership with Prada teams. We are now thrilled to welcome Miu Miu and unleash together its outstanding potential in beauty. With its unique positioning, fueled by limitless creativity and experimentation, Miu Miu will perfectly complement L’Oréal Luxe’s portfolio of iconic brands and reinforce our worldwide leadership in Fragrances.”

HUGO has entered into a new partnership with the Visa Cash App RB (VCARB) Formula One™ Team starting this season. This collaboration positions HUGO as the Official Apparel Partner of the team. With the ambition to be the premium brand of choice for the social generation of changemakers, HUGO – together with VCARB – inspires individuals to break free from convention, encouraging them to embrace the bold, disruptive spirit that defines both iconic brands.

“We are excited to deepen our involvement in motorsports by entering F1 with HUGO. Partnering with the Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team will enable us to connect with Generation Z on a global scale and in a powerful way. We look forward to further driving the synergies between sports and fashion, to offer consumers new and unique opportunities to immerse themselves in the HUGO brand,” says Daniel Grieder, CEO of HUGO BOSS. Peter Bayer, CEO of Visa Cash App RB Formula One™ Team comments: “We are very excited to welcome HUGO to the Visa Cash App RB family as the Official Apparel Partner of the team. HUGO is a brand that is synonymous with style and one that is able to elevate even the most humble to the lofty heights of sartorial elegance. We are pumped about the first collection that is set to drop and look forward to a long and creative partnership that will move the bar on the F1 aesthetic. This sport is all about speed and margins but expression and style are also critical and go hand in hand with success. Together with HUGO, we look forward to disrupting the fashion form of F1 and redefining the boundaries of what that means both at and away from track.”

From the beginning of the 2024 F1™ season, the HUGO logo will be featured on the race suit, teamwear, and the cars of the VCARB Team. The partnership will continue beyond the track with limited-edition capsules of bold styles featuring the sophisticated edge of HUGO´s tailoring, but also fashion-forward performance wear and stylish fanwear. HUGO will also design and develop looks for the VCARB Team, including formal apparel for drivers, Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda, along with a range of high-performance race and travel wear for the entire team. The race wear designed by HUGO, featuring graphic branding in bold colors and the logo of the signature metallic bull, is comprised of water-repellent soft-shell jackets, vibrant T-shirts, and lightweight stretch trousers, all crafted from track-ready technical materials. The teams’ official travel outfits are defined by understated, casual-cool style. These laid-back essentials follow the iconic HUGO codes, including metal stacked logos and signature red box branding.

HUGO’s entrance into the world of F1™ began with a bang at an event hosted by Visa Cash App in Las Vegas on February 8, where new car livery and teamwear emblazoned with HUGO branding were unveiled.

The 38th Edition of Milano Unica opened this week at Fiera Milano Rho with the Opening Ceremony addressing the topic of Artificial Intelligence, projections and future challenges for the textiles and accessories industry. The three-day event, running from January 30 to February 1, serves as the stage for an accurate selection of the best industry operators, showcasing their proposals for the Spring/Summer 2025 season.

The event has been growing organically in perception, quality of the proposals, the increased number of services offered and innovation. The MU Tendenze Sostenibilità area welcomed visitors through its evocative material paths and confirmed the sustainability-oriented approach of the previous edition. All the creative concepts presented for the upcoming Spring/ Summer 2025 are sustainable, testifying to an unfailing commitment to authentic product quality and respect for the planet and the people. In addition, to facilitate the visit and understand more about the vast array of sustainable products on display, all the products come with a tag that explains the relevant sustainability value pillars: Climate Action, Chemical Safety, Biodiversity Conservation, Circular Economy and Social Justice.

The women’s premium and luxury collections are gaining more and more ground in response to the evolution in market demand.

The Japan Observatory, first launched in September 2014 within Milano Unica, celebrates its 10th anniversary of participation in the event with a themed evening that combines quality, innovation, avant-garde and craftsmanship.

BOSS was once again the presenting partner of the legendary Hahnenkamm race in Kitzbühel. BOSS presented “Magic Moment”, the first project that uniquely uses smart technologies as an integrated solution in a physical products. The features included, among other things, access to the event, registration as the owner of the product and contactless payment. A unique experience awaited 30 VIP guests, during which their ski jackets from the latest BOSS x Perfect Moment capsule collection were transformed into smart devices.​​​​

EN: The renowned Brama Group has announced that starting from January 2024, it will function as the official licensee for AG Jeans in the EMEA region. This means that the Brama Group will take over all distribution and development activities for the brand.

The label’s collections are characterized by timeless designs, reflecting a modern vision of casual luxury and innovation. Founded in 2000 in Los Angeles by denim pioneer Yul Ku, the brand initially focused exclusively on high-quality denim products. Thanks to premium fabrics and special attention to the perfect fit, AG quickly established itself as a prominent provider in the market.

The FW24 collection of AG Jeans will be presented in the showrooms of the Brama Group in Düsseldorf, Munich, Milan, Paris, Madrid, and Antwerp from mid-January. The collection is scheduled for delivery from June to August 2024. This partnership marks an exciting new chapter for both the Brama Group and AG Jeans as they collaboratively work to establish the collection in the EMEA market.

DE: Die renommierte Brama Group hat bekannt gegeben, dass sie ab Januar 2024 als offizieller Lizenznehmer für AG Jeans in der EMEA-Region fungieren wird. Dies bedeutet, dass die Brama Group alle Vertriebs- und Entwicklungsaktivitäten für die Marke übernehmen wird.

Die Kollektionen des Labels zeichnen sich durch zeitlose Designs aus, die durch eine moderne Vision von lässigem Luxus und Innovation geprägt sind. Das Label wurde im Jahr 2000 von Denim-Pionier Yul Ku in Los Angeles gegründet und konzentrierte sich zunächst ausschließlich auf hochwertige Denimprodukte. Dank hochwertiger Stoffe und besonderer Aufmerksamkeit für die perfekte Passform konnte sich AG schnell als herausragender Anbieter auf dem Markt etablieren.

Die FW24-Kollektion von AG Jeans wird ab Mitte Januar in den Showrooms der Brama Group in Düsseldorf, München, Mailand, Paris, Madrid und Antwerpen präsentiert. Die Lieferung der Kollektion ist für den Zeitraum von Juni bis August 2024 geplant. Diese Partnerschaft markiert ein spannendes neues Kapitel sowohl für die Brama Group als auch für AG Jeans, während sie gemeinsam daran arbeiten, die Kollektion auf dem EMEA-Markt zu etablieren.

Correction: In WeAr Showrooms #2, it was mentioned that AG Jeans is still available with previous agents. Please note that, effective January 1st, 2024, AG Jeans is exclusively available for the DACH Market through Brama.

American outdoor brand Woolrich has unveiled its new premium Black Label Collection by American Designer Todd Snyder for A/W 2024.

The Woolrich Black Label Collection embodies the fusion of Woolrich’s rich heritage and the contemporary aesthetic of the American designer. This collection skillfully merges the past and present, redefining the fundamental elements of style with a special emphasis on heritage, quality, and craftsmanship. The Woolrich Black Label comprises two distinct and complementary lines: Heritage and Technical.

Stone Island presents ‘The Compass Inside’, a monumental presentation featuring pieces from the AW ‘024’025 collection. The presentation also includes an archival look, representing the continual research that anchors the brand. Pieces are presented in multiples, to express the authority of communities and uniform.

METAL MESH PVD NANOTECHNOLOGY DOWN: A hooded down jacket with an effect like liquid glass, created from two layers of organza with a high tenacity nylon base. Nanotechnology is used to infuse aluminium in the polyester organza, so that the metal is attracted into the yarn. Layered over each other, the optical effect is as if the jacket is pure liquid. The jacket features the white Stone Island research badge on the left sleeve.

PURE METAL SHELL — STAINLESS STEEL (ARCHIVAL PIECE): An archival Pure Metal Shell parka from AW‘999 ‘000, from the first ever Stone Island collection to feature metal, presented here to highlight over twenty years of metallic research at Stone Island. The parka is made from 100% stainless steel mesh applied to a black nylon base. The metallic material is subject to oxidation over time, losing its shine, with creases and breaks that are unique to each jacket.

HEAVY MELTON_ STONE ISLAND GHOST PIECES: Two pieces – a peacoat and a single-breasted jacket – from the monochromatic STONE ISLAND GHOST collection, which this season enquires into wool. The pieces are made from heavy 95% wool and 5% cashmere, with a military uniform look yet a soft feel. The STONE ISLAND GHOST monochromatic badge on the left sleeve has been specially created to blend with the garment.

SUEDE SHEEPSKIN_ STONE ISLAND GHOST PIECE: A hooded suede sheepskin jacket from the totally monochromatic STONE ISLAND GHOST collection, treated with a PFC free anti-drop agent. The inside of the sheepskin has been treated for a smooth appearance. The jacket is zip-fastened, with hidden snaps to fasten its slanted hand pockets, to achieve a minimal effect.

GLASS COVER-TC, GARMENT DYED: Three pieces that highlight the use of transparency and mesh in Stone Island’s continual research. A parka and two hooded jackets are made from polyester mesh protected by a semi-gloss transparent polyurethane film, that’s moderately windproof and rainproof. Because the film is transparent, through garment dyeing, it creates an effect as if there is a layer of liquid glass underneath.

NYLON METAL IN ECONYL® REGENERATED NYLON WITH PRIMALOFT®-TC, GARMENT DYED: Three pieces made from Stone Island iridescent Nylon Metal fabric in a recycled version. This iconic Stone Island fabric now uses Econyl® regenerated yarns, with, pre- and post-consumer, recycled and processed to create a yarn with the same characteristics of nylon from fossil raw material. A light jacket if fastened with snaps, while two bombers are padded with PrimaLoft®-TC. One of the bombers has a black tape industrial zip, highlighting the inspiration this season from astronaut uniforms. Each of the three pieces has been garment dyed with a double colour recipe.

For the first time in January 2024 – during Pitti Immagine in Florence, GUESS JEANS presented its legacy as a fashion giant and pioneer in the denim sector.

GUESS AIRWASH™, conceived by Nicolai Marciano (Creative Director), embodies the evolution of the brand that once revolutionized denim culture. This timeless approach represents the authentic American West Coast style that GUESS stands for, with modern values ​​and vision. Building on four decades of experience, GUESS JEANS aims to position itself as a brand for the next four decades of American fashion history.

This innovative technology, developed by Jeanologia and available exclusively to GUESS, renews the classic stonewashed technique in an environmentally friendly way, reshaping the future of denim. Water consumption is significantly reduced through the use of air and bubbles, and the use of pumice stones is eliminated, which significantly reduces both water and energy consumption.

The GUESS JEANS collection features a full range with GUESS AIRWASH™ denim at its core. The Pre-Fall 2024 collection offers eight models with the new technology for jeans, denim shirts and jackets. Jeans will be available in three fits for women (Skinny, Mom, Midrise Straight) and four for men (Skinny, Slim, Straight, Relaxed). Inspired by GUESS designs from the 1980s and 90s, the collection combines the brand identity with contemporary fashion. Rooted in the casual ease of the Californian lifestyle, the collection is complemented by classic pieces that are part of GUESS’s heritage: including the essential T-shirt, the ideal hoodie, the archetypal bomber jacket and the elemental down jacket.

With fabrics made from organic or recycled materials, GUESS JEANS reinvigorates the brand’s heavily denim-influenced history through a young, contemporary mindset that focuses on sustainable manufacturing and authentic fashion. GUESS JEANS marks the first commercial project launched by Nicolai Marciano in his expanded role as Chief New Business Development Officer of GUESS. 42 years after the brand popularized Stonewash, the new technology-driven line symbolizes a full circle for the denim pioneer as it enters the sustainable era of GUESS AIRWASH™. Four decades after the brand set the trend for stonewashed denim, the launch of the technologically innovative line marks a return to roots for the denim trailblazer. With GUESS AIRWASH™ a new era of sustainability begins, closing the cycle of innovations and traditions.

The GUESS JEANS collection will be available in select wholesale stores and retailers worldwide and online from June 2024.

Special Edition on Tailoring and Customized Fashion

As always this issue of WeAr delivers you the best in fashion trends, latest designers, and what to look out for. This issue, which is published before Pitti Uomo, also features a special about the world of tailoring for both mens- and womenswear. Learn new advancements and trends and what other retailers pursue with reports, interviews and outlines as well as great Store features to help your business do the next step.

Get issue 77 in print and digital here

The WeAr team wishes their readers, clients and visitors a very happy holiday season! May these days bring you happiness, love and joy.

The ‘Made in Italy’ Richard J. Brown collection is presented for Fall-Winter 2024-2025 with a renewed and expansive personality.

In the foreground, Cashmere, iconic essence synonymous with luxury confirms its place with unmistakable softness and richness using increasingly personal and refined details created to celebrate each unique and distinctly exclusive model.

The restyling of the suede tag emphasizes the premium quality textile as well as the always- swivel buttons, which take on a new look in the “brushed brass” version, metal chosen to indicate garments from the most sought-after line. For the first time, it is presented in the coordinated version with the new knitwear developed with one of the best Italian wool mills and in collaboration with local artisans.

Beyond the Cashmere universe, there are also other proposals, also re-envisioned to be increasingly high-performance and trendy. Gabardine and the more classic Italian flannels are flanked by woven cotton fabric, a nod towards denim lovers, and the Japanese selvedges, also in the black and grey version given greater depth throughout the collection in response to an increasingly high market demand.

The key men’s models have also been updated, always with a view in line with contemporary style, for a sophisticated, agile and functional wardrobe.

In the women’s collection, keeping shapes and fits always up to date are the Olivia drawstring trousers re-proposed with a wider bottom; the new Patty model, with larger pleats and an oversized style; Giulia, palazzo style with slash pockets and wide leg; and Ale, 5 pocket in a cargo version, practical and very comfortable.

Celebratory events are being planned such as the relaunch of a more efficient e-commerce and the optimization of the presence in international markets. The sales campaign at the showroom in Via Manzoni in Milan will follow Pitti Uomo in Florence, taking place from 9th till 12th January 2024. You can find Richard J. Brown at PADIGLIONE CENTRALE at stand P/8 Q/7.

Stone Island’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection revisits the industrial theme, reframing it in a casual and relaxed key. Natural, light fibres are juxtaposed with evolved, tightly woven man-made fabrics. The historical archive inspires the color range of strong tonal contrasts, with dye recipes spanning from more muted tones to saturated and intense colors.

VINTAGE HUB Circular Fashion, a project launched in the previous edition of Pitti Uomo and curated by Angelo Caroli, the spirit behind A.N.G.E.L.O. Vintage Palace, returns to foster a contemporary approach to the vintage world at the upcoming Pitti edition. Located at the First Floor of the Arsenale, the project is particularly aimed at stores, increasingly interested in hosting second hand corners and vintage furnishings. In detail, the selected exhibitors are able to support stores in the inclusion of vintage products, in the presentation of samples of upcycled or re-worked garments, in co-branding operations with vintage brands, and in the modification and restyling of objects and furnishings into a new Art Design aesthetic. Their expertise also extends to the design of vintage corners, the rental of regenerated objects for new concept displays and cultural events, and space decoration.

MICAM Milano, set to take place from 18 to 21 February 2024 at fieramilano (Rho) is ready to unveil the upcoming footwear fashion trends for Autumn-Winter 2024-2025. The preview, created by Livetrend and powered by artificial intelligence, offers precise insight, particularly guiding buyers towards the ‘right’ products poised to become best sellers. It identifies 4 seasonal macro-trends, ensuring a stylish approach to navigating the future ahead.

The macro-trends presented by MICAM for women’s, men’s and children’s footwear all echo this concept of continual advancement. They articulate the drivers propelling progress. They outline diverse approahes to addressing challenges, spanning from heightened focus on products and details to exploring innovative methods of production and consumption through imagination and technology. Additionally, they advocate for embracing resilience and honing the skill of blending frugality with inventiveness.

TRENDS

Tender Frost
This trend is an ode to the delicate beauty embedded in our human vulnerability revealing the strength that emerges when we acknowledge our own fragility. These shoes epitomise grace and sophistication, serving as a poignant reminder to traverse life with resilience and an open heart. The pastel and off-white colour palette evokes the imagery of delicate winter frost. The materials for this trend create a tactile symphony, weaving a harmony between strength and fragility, mirroring the intricate balance that each of us bears. The looks are defined by the presence of satin, soft fabrics, supple leathers and knitwear. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, they feature laces, subtle gathers and delicate bows, which gracefully highlight the wearer’s softer side.

Highland Lodge
This trend serves as a gateway to a bygone era, immersed in nostalgia, bucolic tradition and timeless charm. Drawing inspiration from the #old-money trend, this collection seamlessly blends refined sophistication with rustic elegance.
The colour palette weaves a rich tapestry of earthy tones mirroring the open countryside landscapes and evoking feelings of warmth, comfort, and enduring style. The materials narrate a tale of craftsmanship, with patchwork and natural leather lending texture, while intricate fretwork patterns and embroidered elements pay homage to the past. The wooden soles embody the authenticity of the countryside, while delicate embroidery and tasteful metal accessories impart a touch of understated elegance. The slightly squared toe presents a timeless silhouette that seamlessly fuses tradition and luxury.

Lunar Realm
AI24 embarks on a space odyssey trascending the Earth’s boundaries and venturing into uncharted lunar and polar realms. Rooted in the essence of exploration, this trend envisions the future by blending engineering comfort with a dash of cosmic elegance. The palette, comprised of greys, dusks, mints and blues, mirrors the mysteries of the universe. Cutting-edge technical materials, metallic accents, and transparent fabrics serve as a testament to innovation and modernity. Padded details provide an indulgent and opulent comfort, evoking the sensation of a weightless journey through space. High-performance details such as soles or pullers, Velcro fasteners and anti-accident details recall the precision of futuristic design, while the spatial contours create a visual symphony. Collectively, the look of these lunar pioneers captures the allure of the unexplored and its latent possibilities.

Afterworld
This trend emerges from the remnants of OFF-GRID +79%, a post-apocalyptic realm of outlaws, rebellion and black magic. The shoes tell a story of resilience and adversity, encapsulating the essence of those individuals who thrive in the shadows. The colour palette vividly illustrates a gritty landscape with earthy tones, deep blacks and intense red hues—a warm spectrum that echoes a world forever altered. As if forged from melted and fractured materials, these shoes bear the marks of a journey, encapsulating the raw beauty discovered in the aftermath of the apocalypse, where every scratch and stain serve as a badge of honour. Buckles and protective straps, beyond their utilitarian function, serve as symbolic elements of survival, a harmonious blend of fashion and utility. Punk influence infuses a rebellious aesthetic, capturing the spirit of a world that is both resilient and defiant in the face of challenges.

As part of its partnership with association La Fabrique NOMADE, LVMH is supporting the launch of their new annual Traits d’union 7 collection, on the theme of Dialect. Designers from Vermont and Louis Vuitton worked exclusively with Ukrainian, Syrian, Sri Lankan, Venezuelan, Japanese, Lithuanian and Georgian craftsmen supported by the association. They worked for several months to prepare this collection, revealing the diversity and uniqueness of each artisan’s path. Made up of five embroidered accessories and three pieces of jewelery created with sapphires and pearls, it highlights precious and sometimes ancestral skills in a contemporary series. 

A partner of the association since 2019, the Group supports La Fabrique NOMADE by accompanying its refugee artisans so that they can continue to apply their skills and practice their craft despite living in exile. Through skills mentoring and by opening the doors of the workshops of its Maisons, the Group encourages the transmission of savoir-faire and exchanges to facilitate the integration of the association’s artisans.

PittiTime is the theme of Pitti Immagine’s winter fairs, taking place in January 2024, and the new Pitti Uomo ad campaign, directed by Leonardo Corallini and coordinated by creative director Angelo Figus. Perceived, intuited, tangible, virtual, fleeting, ungraspable: time is not something that flows uniformly from the past to the future, as strictly measured by clocks. It accelerates, it decelerates, always seeking its rhythm.

“There is no single time common to all places; nor is there even a single time at any one place,” it’s the teaching of Carlo Rovelli, a theoretical physicist and author of ‘The Order of Time’, a treatise that inspired Liliana Cavani for the film of the same name. Time is also a reflection of our era. “Today, new technologies keep us balanced between the real and the virtual. Time and space can be stretched in a referral between reality and representation, the universe and the metaverse, human and artificial intelligence. At the center of all this is also our personal relationship with this time, which the pandemic has definitely changed, initiating a deep process of transformation,” explained creative director Angelo Figus.

“Thinking about our January edition, nothing captures the essence of Pitti Uomo more vividly than the rhythmic sweep of time. Like clockwork, each season arrives to suggest, showcase, contrast, anticipate, and innovate,” comments Agostino Poletto, general director of Pitti Immagine.”Fashion also mirrors the passage of time, speeding up its collections into syncopated sequences of capsules, eventually finding its groove in timeless designs. It defines the quiet luxury of enduring garments in the constant pursuit of a heritage identity as a sign of continuity. This journey is a constant to-and-fro, revisiting ideas and inspirations that once seemed unlikely to come back, in a world where traditional seasons are fading and shifting our points of reference.”

A new CEO has been named at Stella McCartney. Amandine Ohayon is set to be taking up the role from December 1st, 2023. Ohayon succeeds Gabriele Maggio, who had initially joined the company in 2019 as both president and CEO, and is expected to leave to pursue other opportunities.

Copenhagen Fashion Week has announced the line up for the A/W 24 edition, which will continue the raised momentum for the seasonal showcase. Presenting key international and Nordic established leaders and emerging innovators this season, A/W 24 will introduce new designers in the CPHFW NEWTALENT programme, returning brands to the schedule as well as a host of exciting new names across the 4 days of shows.

The presence of reputable Nordic names set against international vanguards curated across a four day programme of 31 shows further underline the international positioning CPHFW holds within the fashion calendar worldwide.

This coming season, CPHFW NEWTALENT supported by CIRCULOSE bursary recipient Nicklas Skovgaard shall present as the official opening show on the Monday after the official reception, building on the impact the brand’s first showcase for the August edition imprinted. The schedule will continue to hold a break across the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, allowing for further support towards the burgeoning schedule of presentations, events, showrooms and trade fairs.

For this coming edition, there will be three brands awarded the One To Watch recognition slot: Martin Quad, Sloth Rousing and MLGA. These brands will present their forthcoming collections through a variety of formats that they feel best encompasses their vision, from installations, presentations, events and showroom formats.

CEO Cecilie Thorsmark states: “The global reach that Copenhagen Fashion Week continues to garner is testament to the role a fashion week must play in expecting positive change from international and Nordic leaders in the fashion industry. By implementing Copenhagen Fashion Week as a key cultural activation we are proposing new definitions of what a fashion week can symbolise, with our continued growth only underlining this.”

The upcoming edition of Denim Première Vision will take place on 22nd and 23rd November 2023, in Milan.

The Trend Forum returns with a new concept. Discover the season’s creative trends and latest sustainable developments through a series of pieces created in collaboration with the show’s exhibitors.

Denim PV Denim expert, Lorenza Martello, will meet visitors every day for a denim fashion seminar dedicated to Spring-Summer 25 trends, followed by a visit to the forum for a more immersive experience.

Visitors can also take part in workshops, discover collaborative projects led by students and industry experts.

The PV Fashion District is a specially designed creative space within the show, featuring collections from upcycling labels, young designers, established brands and rising denim figures. This year’s participants include Daily Blue by Adriano Goldschmied, Hen’s Teeth, Anna Galaganenko, Maurizio Massimino, Fade out Label, Regenes, Leon Emanuel Blank, Gimmi Jeans, Blue of a Kind, HNST, Jonathan Christopher and Stripes Of-f Road.

As part of its ongoing growth and development strategy, Boucheron has recently acquired a High Jewelry workshop, renowned for its excellent expertise in traditional craftsmanship. The workshop is located just a stone’s throw away from Place Vendôme in Paris: this way Maison Boucheron can reinforce the production capacity of its historical High Jewelry workshop.

This workshop is composed of four companies: Blondeau, Belter, Chanson and FG Développement, which have worked together at the same address since 2017. They gather about sixty artisans (CAD designers, jewelers, lapidaries, setters and polishers) who are involved in each step of the process in the making of a High Jewelry creation.

This group was founded by Cédric Gangemi: a young French entrepreneur and a qualified jeweler himself, Mr. Gangemi had worked for Chanson and for Blondeau before taking over these companies and developing them. These new teams joined Maison Boucheron on October 31st 2023, working alongside the historical workshop of 26 Place Vendôme to give life to the Maison’s High Jewelry collections.

“The acquisition of this High Jewelry workshop writes a new chapter in the history of the Maison. It will reinforce the production capacity of Boucheron’s historical workshop on Place Vendôme, enabling us to meet the increasing demand of our clients while maintaining the excellence of our craftsmanship”
Hélène Poulit-Duquesne, CEO of Maison Boucheron

Kering and Alexander McQueen have announced the appointment of Seán McGirr as Creative Director of the House.

Seán McGirr was previously Head of Ready-to-Wear at JW Anderson. He joined JW Anderson in 2020 to head up the men’s collections, eventually adding womenswear to his responsibilities. Prior to that, he was Women’s Designer for Dries Van Noten in Antwerp. From 2014 to 2018, he was part of Uniqlo’s creative offices in Tokyo and Paris working on the men’s collections guided by Christophe Lemaire. He started his career assisting at Burberry and Vogue Hommes Japan.

An Irish national, born in Dublin, he is a graduate of Central Saint Martins in London, where he obtained a Master of Arts in Fashion in 2014.

Gianfilippo Testa, CEO of Alexander McQueen, said: “We are delighted to welcome Seán McGirr as Creative Director. With his experience, personality, and creative energy, he will bring a powerful creative language to Alexander McQueen while building on its unique heritage.”

François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering, added: “Alexander McQueen is a House we are passionate about, and we are confident that Seán McGirr will be able to pursue its journey with a new creative impetus. We look forward to opening this new chapter in the history of this unique brand.”

The format PREMIUM Berlin, which has been a success story in the fashion and lifestyle industry for many years, will not take place in January 2024. Its past success as a benchmark, the critical developments in the industry, and the changed global economic situation are presenting big trade fair formats with a new dimension of challenges.

Since being launched in 2003 PREMIUM, has shown that its original concepts and approaches were ground-breaking and therefore shaped the fashion world. The management team led by Anita Tillmann and Jörg Arntz recognised the ever-changing challenges within the industry and paved the way for SEEK, which was launched in 2009.

SEEK, which has focussed on its core segment in recent years and serves the streetwear segment, will continue its mission. The platform has not only established itself for forward-thinking brands, but is also the proud organiser of the “Conscious Club”, the largest hub on the topic of sustainability in the industry. Here, visitors and exhibitors will not only find the most important trends and ideas in the field of sustainability, but also the most exciting new collections from the pioneers who are responsible for the positive changes. Around 200 brands are expected again in January. With this, Berlin will continue to be a place where new trends are set, creative collaborations are formed, and business is done.

With a clear focus on product quality, community building and strong values such as honesty, creativity, and resilience, SEEK is able to meet the needs of its target audience. So far, the feedback from the committed brands has been consistently positive. 

Anita Tillmann: “PREMIUM was more than just a trade show. In 21 years, we have achieved a great deal, have been the stage for an incredible number of success stories in the industry and united the whole world to Berlin. In the process, we have become corporate and creative consultants, conference organisers, publishers, tech experts and retailers, established the first Fashion Week in Germany and entertained the entire industry. We have launched young talent awards, and during the years, we have seen many big players come and go. We have made friends and learnt so much, for which I am very grateful. But we are also entrepreneurs, and no concept lasts forever. Two decades is a long time, during which PREMIUM has absolutely outperformed against all odds.”

Jörg Arntz: “Our flexibility and creativity allow us to react dynamically to changes and always offer innovative solutions. Together, we strive to continue to set standards in our industry while having a positive impact on the community. Our shareholder Clarion is the fourth largest trade fair and event organiser in the world and relies on the SEEK concept, which generated better results in direct comparison to PREMIUM last summer. The SEEK generation presents the future. With joined forces with our partners, we are ready to face the current challenges, and find solutions together, now and in the future.”

NATIVA, the world’s leading supplier of sustainable luxury Merino wool, has extended its partnership with purpose-driven lifestyle brand, PANGAIA. Known for creating clothing that uses innovative tech and bio-engineered materials to decrease its impact on the planet – PANGAIA is a materials science company designing an earth positive business model where its products are better for the planet than if they did not exist.

PANGAIA first partnered with NATIVA in 2022, sourcing the finest Merino wool from NATIVA via its certified farms, each committed to animal welfare. A year on, NATIVA and PANGAIA are excited to share the next step in their partnership — NATIVARegen.

NATIVARegen works from the ground up, bettering soil quality through a triple impact system that protects lands, safeguards animals and supports farmers by improving their livelihoods. Throughout the NATIVARegen journey, sheep are raised ethically in harmony with nature, grazing on native plants with enough space to roam. Each farmer has a management plan that assesses feeding, breeding, behaviour and health to ensure animal welfare standards are met.  This includes stress free shearing and the prohibition of mulesing.

The NATIVA partner farm supplying PANGAIA’s Merino wool is Cerro Bombero, a family owned NATIVARegen accredited farm based in Uruguay. Located 130km from the city of Paysandú, where Juan and his family live, 6,000 Merino sheep are ethically raised in open fields. The farm’s regenerative practices are measured through biogenic carbon and water footprint testing, meaning it is possible to monitor the positive impact at field level.

“We are so pleased to extend our relationship with PANGAIA, one of the most respected environmentally positive brands in the world. PANGAIA’s mission to design an earth positive business model where its products are better for the planet than if they did not exist perfectly aligns with NATIVA™’s. We are so proud of our NATIVARegen™ partner farm in Uruguay and we can’t wait for PANGAIA consumers to experience the world’s finest Merino wool knowing it has further improved the environment it came from.” said Nicolas Sapelli, NATIVA Sourcing Director.

Lukhanyo Mdingi has won the AMIRI 2023 prize. The AMIRI Prize is an inclusive annual award and incubator established to encourage, nurture and showcase up-and-coming talent from fashion and fashion-adjacent fields that otherwise might not have their voices heard.

Lukhanyo Mdingi’s eponymous label is an ever-evolving emergence of consideration, community and timeless design. Established in Cape Town, South Africa in 2015, the label exists as a space that moves deeply into the very essence of human ingenuity and the preservation of craftsmanship. Fundamental to the cosmology of Lukhanyo Mdingi, is the exploration of fashion as its current lexicon through which they harness the spirit of being human. In this way, the label re-imagines and reinstates dignity and notoriety in their garment production with a small team based in Cape Town, while continually collaborating with artisans on the continent such as the expert weavers from PHILANI in Khayelitsha, Cape Town to textile artisans at CABES GIE in Burkina Faso.

Lukhanyo’s approach to design is a practice that is centered around these relationships; it is from these symbiotic connections that Lukhanyo Mdingi conceptualizes collections, believing that beginning with human beings is where the essence is held for creating meaningful & intelligent design. In working with the notion of lineage-building; this is particularly noted in their partnership with the Ethical Fashion Initiative, as well as being the recipient of the LVMH Karl Lagerfeld Prize in 2021, leading on becoming a finalist of the ANDAM Prize 2022.

Supreme has worked with Stone Island on a new collection for Autumn 2023. Made exclusively for Supreme, the collection consists of a cowhide leather Bomber Jacket; reversible Down Puffer Jacket; cotton bull denim Trucker Jacket, 5-Pocket Jean, 6-Panel and Beanie treated with garment dye and reflective resin lamination; wool blend bouclé Cardigan; cotton S/S Top, Hooded Sweatshirt, Sweatpant, and Camp Cap with spiderweb printed graphic; and printed L/S Top.

New international contacts, inspiring business encounters and intensive networking: Heimtextil 2024 records strong registration figures across all product segments. With over 2,600 exhibitors participating, demand exceeds the number of exhibitors at the previous event.

“Heimtextil provides a bundled and therefore efficient market overview of all global trends in the home and contract textiles industry on a central platform over four days. In 2024, we are pleased to be able to intensify this experience with the launch of the new Carpets & Rugs product segment and an increased number of exhibitors,” says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies.

Heimtextil 2024 will be expanded by two new halls: Hall 5.1 for the new Carpets & Rugs product segment and Hall 10.4 for Asian Selection exhibitors in the home textiles segment. Hall 3, which will serve as a creative hub for the Heimtextil Trends 24/25 and exhibitors from the wall decoration, textile design and textile technology segments will also be reopened. In addition, the new Carpets & Rugs product segment, the realignment of the sustainable event formats under the title “Econogy” and the expanded range in the Fibers & Yarns section will provide fresh business impulses.

Heimtextil 2024 is expanding its portfolio with the new Carpets & Rugs product segment. Located exclusively in the new Hall 5.1, it showcases fitted, handmade and custom-made carpets, machine-made woven carpets, mats and dirt-absorbing carpets, as well as rugs and runners. Carpets are traditionally an integral part of Heimtextil, presented in various halls. Starting in 2024, this offering will be permanently bundled at the request of the industry.

For “Asian Excellence” and “Asian Selection”, both the house textiles (10.0-10.4) and home textiles (6.0, 5.0, 6.1) segments have a strong presence at Heimtextil 2024. Quality in all quantities meets private label excellence here.

At Heimtextil 2024, a realignment of all sustainable formats of the worldwide Texpertise Network will be launched with Econogy. Econogy standardizes the evaluation criteria of all Messe Frankfurt textile events for sustainability and clarifies the holistic connection between economy and ecology.

The Econogy offering at Heimtextil includes the Econogy Finder. The directory helps visitors find certified suppliers. Since many years, Heimtextil exhibitors have the opportunity to have sustainability checks carried out in order to be listed in special directories. In the future, these checks will be harmonized across all textile fairs of Messe Frankfurt. Econogy thus creates transparency and comparability across trade fairs with regard to criteria used to select resource-saving products and exhibitors. In cooperation with independent external sustainability experts, the current status of recognized seals and certificates are included and the SDGs are also integrated into the checks.

The Heimtextil Trends have been forming the heart of Heimtextil for many years. They translate megatrends into textile visions. A visit to the Heimtextil Trends is a must for all textile professionals who are constantly expanding their knowledge of textile materials. Under the overarching theme of “New Sensitivity,” textile transformation is the focus of the Heimtextil Trends 24/25, with three approaches showing ways to a more sensitive world of textiles: plant-based production of textiles, supporting textile circularity through technology, and the bio-engineered use of natural ingredients. In addition, the Future Materials curate regenerative materials and designs.

Heimtextil will be held from 9 to 12 January 2024.

In its latest evaluation, adidas ranked the suppliers of chemical products and auxiliaries used in the manufacture of its products. CHT is top formulator with 98% ZDHC Level 3 auxiliaries and colorants in its portfolio. CHT is also the supplier of choice in this ranking. On the one hand, this pays off the high innovative strength of CHT’s research and development, and on the other hand, it shows that CHT is the preferred partner for the sustainable chemical treatment of certifiable brand products. CHT is also a leading partner for suppliers of adidas, this means that CHT is confirmed as the leading partner in the textile industry.

With this, CHT Group sees itself in a responsible position as a manufacturer and supplier of sustainable chemical products along the textile value chain. As a foundation-owned company, CHT has this responsibility firmly anchored in its strategy. CHT drives innovation According to its own self-image, being innovative means taking responsibility for the future. For this reason, the Tübingen-based company pursues a strategy of sustainable product ranges in all business areas.

In 2022, the CHT Group generated 77 % of its total sales with sustainably classified products. The company’s own research and development is working ceaselessly to make the entire textile value chain more sustainable. 2 of 3 customers from the manufacturing textile industry benefit from CHT’s comprehensive know-how and the highest technical expertise in machine application. The entire textile industry is now faced with markets and consumers that place the highest demands on sustainably produced textiles, want transparency with regard to materials and production, and demand proof.

Benoit Moutault, Group Vice President of CHT’s Business Field Textile:
“I am proud of this great achievement. Our strategy is consistently geared to the sustainability of the textile value chain, and our efforts have been impressively confirmed here. I am very pleased that this performance is underpinned by a major brand such as adidas. This motivates us to continue on our path to support and accompany our customers in producing more sustainable textiles.”

JOOR has announced their raise of $25 million in new funding led by Brightwood Capital and Tamarix Capital Partners. Existing investors Macquarie Capital, Battery Ventures, and Canaan Partners also participated in this capital raise.

“At JOOR, the mission remains the same–to drive innovation in service of our clients, and this additional capital will allow us to do just that. We will use these funds to deliver an increasingly enriched platform solution for brands and retailers. Alongside new data-led initiatives, we also plan to build upon the early stage success of our embedded checkout solution, JOOR Pay, and expand our footprint in categories like footwear, sports and outdoor. These enhancements will continue to elevate the JOOR experience, reinforce our position as the world’s most trusted wholesale solution, and help us further empower our brands and retailers to thrive in the global market.”

Stone Island has entered a multi-year global partnership with Frieze, commencing at Frieze London 2023, the twentieth anniversary of one of the world’s most influential art fairs. Stone Island is the Official Partner of Focus, the section dedicated to younger galleries at all of Frieze’s contemporary art fairs – London, Los Angeles, New York and Seoul. 

Stone Island offers each of the participating galleries a bursary, equivalent of up to 30% of each exhibitor’s stand fee. The support aids the chosen emerging galleries in Focus, each founded twelve years ago or less, to participate in the fairs. 

The Focus section is a crucial component of Frieze, ensuring that young galleries get to show their artists alongside some of the world’s most established gallerists. Focus creates a platform for emerging artists across generations, cultures and continents.

This year features the works of of Adam Farah-Saad at Public Gallery, Josefine Reisch at Galerie Noah Klink, Jordan Strafer at Hot Wheels and Heidi, Leon Xu at Helena Anrather and Jack O’Brien at Ginny on Frederick.

WeAr Global Magazine issue 76 is a special edition of Fashion x Sports.

As always this issue of WeAr delivers you the best in sportswear meets couture, latest designers, new trends and what to look out for. This issue also features a special Sports x Fashion Special explaining how to bridge best the gap between both categories with reports, interviews and outlines as well as great Store features to help your business do the next step.

Available now in digital and print from our bookstore

Loro Piana has reopened its flagship store in Dubai following an extensive renovation. The store is the first in the world to showcase the new Loro Piana concept, inviting customers to indulge in an unparalleled luxury shopping experience.

Located in the heart of Dubai Mall’s Fashion Avenue, the newly refurbished store now spans two floors with an elevator and a private entrance adjoining the two sections. The first floor is solely for VIP clients with dedicated salons where they can discover the Fall-Winter 2023-2024 collection and an exclusive Dubai Mall Capsule Collection with exquisite comfort and complete privacy. 

The new store concept and interior design showcase Loro Piana’s iconic style, preserving the core elements of natural materials, a warm color palette, signature oak wood and Carabottino marble details.  The renovation is a return to the heritage of the Maison and the legacy of Sergio Loro Piana, reworked in a timeless and thoroughly modern key.  

The façade of the store, inspired by the soft and wavy texture of Loro Piana fabrics, has been reimagined by architects Jun Aoki and Yoshihiko Takeuchi in handmade terracotta ceramic tiles from Italy.   

Better Cotton, the world’s largest cotton sustainability initiative, and Cotton Egypt Association (CEA), the organisation responsible for promoting and protecting Egyptian cotton worldwide, inaugurated the launch of their renewed strategic partnership at a multi-stakeholder event in Cairo earlier this month.

Uniting key stakeholders from across the cotton sector in Egypt and beyond, the event brought together representatives from Better Cotton, CEA, Better Cotton’s Programme Partners in Egypt (Alkan, Modern Nile and El Ekhlas), and a number of leading Better Cotton Retailer and Brand Members, as well as these members’ suppliers.

At the event, participants discussed opportunities to collaborate and what is required to increase the uptake of more sustainable Egyptian cotton. Attendees also visited a Better Cotton licensed farm in Kafr El Saad, in the north of Egypt, where farmers demonstrated sustainable agricultural practices. Better Cotton Members and others in attendance were able to engage with the farmers and workers, discussing key challenges and opportunities in adopting these practices.

Through a renewed strategic partnership, Better Cotton and CEA aim to further enhance the yields and sustainability credentials of Egyptian cotton while ensuring fair working conditions for farmers and workers.

Rachel Beckett, Senior Programme Manager at Better Cotton, commented: “The event was an important moment to reflect on the progress that Better Cotton and Cotton Egypt Association have made through our partnership so far, and the opportunities for further success going forward. It provided the opportunity for direct dialogue between Better Cotton producers, supply chain actors and key stakeholders from the British retail industry, and it is anticipated that it will result in increased demand for more sustainably produced Egyptian cotton.”

Khaled Schuman, Executive Director of Cotton Egypt Association, said: “I believe that we had a wonderful and fruitful event celebrating years of dedication, collaboration, and hard work that led to where we are today in driving the sustainability of ‘white gold’. The great interest shown today by retailers – and the support we have from all stakeholders in attendance – will pave the way for more success, more production of Egyptian sustainable cotton with Better Cotton’s standards, and more uptake from retailers.”

London’s Design Museum is opening a new exhibition on the history of Barbie next year to coincide and celebrate its 65th anniversary Through a new partnership with Mattel, the Design Museum has been granted special access to the Barbie archives in California.

Three years in the making, the exhibition will explore the design evolution of the famous doll. On view will be rare and unique items alongside other loans and acquisitions.

“Barbie is one of the most recognisable brands on the planet and as we’ve seen recently, her story evolves with each new generation,” said Tim Marlow, director and CEO of the Design Museum.

The Azzedine Alaïa Foundation in collaboration with Orveda has announced Luke Radloff as the winner of its fashion prize. The South African fashion designer Luke Radloff, founded slow fashion brand Uni Form in 2019, offers contemporary modular and trans-seasonal pieces that draw references from its location in Johannesburg, South Africa. Luke Radloff uses his local training and combines it with his experience of luxury European brand communication. He has spent time on all sides of the industry, including retail, design, production and creative direction, most recently as founder and Creative Director of UNI FORM.

Radloff and subsequent winners will receive a one-month training programme and access to the foundation’s archives, as well as support from a reference tutor in collaboration with the Parsons School in Paris.

At the end of their residency at the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation, each selected talent will create a mini collection inspired by Azzedine Alaïa and the fashion masters in the foundation’s collection. That fashion collection will then be exhibited at the Foundation Azzedine Alaïa before being presented in the Orveda Maisons around the world.

Under a sculptural tent fashioned in the grounds of the École Militaire in Paris, the silhouettes in the Givenchy Spring-Summer 2024 women’s collection presented the vision of contemporary elegance of Artistic Director Matthew M. Williams. Inspired by a chrysalis, the work designed by Gabriel Calatrava created an intimate space where draping, hand-painted flowers, lace and pearls all bloomed.

Throughout the collection, the silhouettes oscillate between structure and ease, black monochromes and gracious pastels, thick and diaphanous fabrics. Gentleman’s tailoring is set off by the delicacy of the skin. Plays of layered transparency are sprinkled throughout the collection as gloves highlight the curves of the arms, and pointed pumps are encased in translucent stockings.  Lace volants reveal the beauty of a neckline. Day appropriates evening codes in draping re-energized by flou techniques. Overlays are spliced in chiffon, taffeta, organza or mud silk, a technique for dying silk from river mud inherited from the Ming Dynasty, creating a leathery effect.

Matthew M. Williams shares Hubert de Givenchy’s passion for flowers, which embellish leather and materialize in rose formations, almond green prints or on the bustier of a spring evening gown. Symbols of the ephemeral, hand-painted flowers, including irises, seem to leave their imprint on the skin. Jewels transform the clothing, covering the body in latticed pearl and crystal. Chokers, hoop earrings and rings celebrate the perfect sphere of the pearl, imagining new ways to wear the jewelry. Mules play with ruching, while the signature Shark Lock boot is reinterpreted in an open-toe version. The Voyou line introduces sliding chain straps, and a new trapezoid flap bag is framed by imposing chunky buckles.

Meta, in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, announced the next-generation Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses collection. Re-designed from the ground up, improving all the core features of the first generation while adding new capabilities that have never been seen on a pair of smart glasses before.

Since launching their first-generation smart glasses built in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, millions of moments have been captured and shared. From music festivals and birthday parties to first steps, graduations, and beyond, Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses free you from the constraints of a hand-held camera. Instead of keeping the world at arm’s length (or worse, missing out on the action completely as you struggle with your smartphone’s lock screen), Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses let you snap a photo or video clip from your unique point of view.

The Ray-Ban Meta collection features 21 styles, colors, and lens variations, giving consumers powerful technology without compromising aesthetics or comfort.

Lapo’s love for nature began in his early childhood spending time in the garden with his grandmother, Marella Agnelli. His journey began as the mind and one of the creators of the Fiat 500, which was the car that released the least amount of CO2. In the creative center, Garage Italia, he has given new life to iconic vehicles of the past by retrofitting them with an electric engine. In all his creative endeavors with important international brands, he has always preferred to use materials with a low environmental impact.

Placing the planet at the core of everything they do, Ecoalf was the natural choice when it came to co-creating together. Born in 2009, with the vision to stop using natural resources in a careless way to ensure those of the next generation, Ecoalf’s mission has been to create a new generation of recycled products with the same quality and design as the best non- recycled. After a conversation between Lapo and Ecoalf’s founder Javier Goyeneche, they decided to bring to life a contemporary suit collection that would create a new standard for the industry, one designed for the current and future generation.

These technical suits are no exception offering a low-environmental impact without compromising on design or quality. As part of the brand’s premium line, Ecoalf 1.0, the suits are made with a regenerated nylon made from fishing nets, fabric scraps and carpets destined for landfill to reduce CO2 emissions, prevent marine pollution, and promote circularity.

“With this limited edition collection of suits, we wanted to bring elegance and style to the sustainability world which isn’t sexy or dapper yet, to bring it to a market that is growing, but also key for our world and planet. Sustainability is fundamental for a better quality of life, but that should not mean boring.” – Lapo Elkann

These genderless suits are designed for those who live an active urban lifestyle, and constantly on the go. The casual chic look seamlessly transitions from the office to afterwork. Comfortable and lightweight the suit also features optimal elasticity and recovery to make it the perfect companion for the smart traveler. Like the individual they’re designed for they are ready to adapt to any situation or event coming in an array of neutral and bold colors.

With its recycled nylon composition and being made in Portugal, where the Elkann couple lives, but passionately inspired by the great suit tailors of Italy, they saved 243,000 liters of water and reduced CO2 eq. emissions by 58% with this limited-edition collection. While reducing CO2 from our atmosphere and giving a second life to discarded fishing nets, nylon is also the synthetic material that releases the least amount of microplastics to combat microplastic pollution in our oceans. In addition to the positive environmental impact, it has a positive social impact. Education has always been a fundamental value for both Ecoalf and Lapo Elkann. Ecoalf invests in talks that help raise awareness and inspire change across the globe while this limited edition collection will go a step further and donate 10% of the proceeds to LAPS Foundation to continue to support Children and Young People to give them knowledge and consciousness about the values of life. Its actions aim to support Children and combat situations and/or environments of educational poverty, prioritizing projects in favor of children with special educational needs (disabilities, learning-specific disorders, addiction, social deviance, protection from abuse and maltreatment, social and economic fragility, etc.).

“In 2009 we began with developing backpacks made with recycled materials and over the past 14 years we have expanded into other categories to offer a complete sustainable lifestyle. To design our first collection suits I couldn’t think of a better person than Lapo. His creativity, taste, and vision adds an incredible value to create a purpose driven suit that embodies his style while minimizing the environmental impact” – Javier Goyeneche, Founder & President of Ecoalf

Transnomadica, a project by Maurizio Donadi rooted in an archive of vintage objects and apparel, announced its partnership with Parks California, a nonprofit organization and California State Parks’ official statutory partner.

Under this collaboration with Parks California, Transnomadica has secured the unique global license of Parks California branding for use on secondhand and vintage products. A significant percentage of all sales will be donated to Parks California to support its work of ensuring that California’s 280 state parks are welcoming, inclusive and climate-resilient spaces where all can truly thrive for generations to come.

Transnomadica’s first-ever collection for Parks California, called “Return to Nature,” will feature vintage one-of-a-kind, restored and customized t-shirts, sweatshirts, outerwear and accessories. The collection will debut on September 14, 2023, at a special event held at Ron Herman, the influential Los Angeles-based retail innovator known for introducing the shop-in-shop concept. This curated collection of vintage apparel embodies Transnomadica’s aspiration to transform excess and leftover textiles and goods for purposeful experimentation and redesign.

“Parks are an integral part of California’s identity. They are natural treasures, historical records of our people and living reminders of our global reputation as leading environmental stewards,” said Maurizio Donadi. “My personal mission and that of Transnomadica is to inspire and develop methods for creative waste reduction through recycling and restoring vintage and textile products of value. These activities aim to question – and hopefully improve – the way we relate to our natural environment and guide us to live in symphony with nature.”

“We’re excited to launch our partnership with Transnomadica and introduce the new collection, “Return to Nature,” for the first time in the U.S.,” said Kindley Walsh Lawlor, President and CEO of Parks California. “As the official nonprofit partner to California State Parks, we are working to ensure everyone can experience the wonders of nature, while helping to adapt and innovate state parks so they are relevant, thriving spaces for generations to come. We are grateful to Maurizio and the Transnomadica team for helping us connect community to the outdoors and for supporting our efforts to
reimagine parks for the future.”