Marc Cain chose the location of Tempelhof Airport to take its guests on ‘A New Journey’ for this latest runway show in Berlin. It was with this collection motto that the fashion brand presented its new looks for the F/W 2023 season. Hollywood actress Andie MacDowell and daughter, Rainey Qualley, were amongst guests at the Marc Cain Fashion Show in Berlin on the 18th January 2023.

The show included an excerpt from the poem ‘Wandered’ by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and was read by Marleen Lohse: this is how the stylish journey through the new collection took off. He departure hall of the former Tempelhof Airport was the perfect backdrop to start the ‘A New Journey’ Fashion Show and take the audience on the trip through the show. 52 models entered the catwalk from the original airline service boxes and presented a total of 65 outfits for the new season.

Opulent elegance with futuristic styling was the main character of the looks. Trouser suits hinted at uniform grace with a certain austerity. In contrast, the outfits were presented in rich fabrics such as brocade, velvet, silk, sequins and elaborate knits. Silhouettes enthused guests with new sizes from ultra-short skirts and jackets to long oversized coats. Silver and coloured accessories looked modern and lent the outfits the typical Marc Cain finish. The uniform wig look underlined the unique and futuristic aesthetics.

The 36th edition of Milano Unica will feature new special areas and content projects, along with the creative proposals for the SS 2024 season presented by the textile and accessory producers.

The StartUp Textile Connection area will present the most interesting research projects, focused on the main challenges facing the textile industry: from the search for new raw materials to the digitalisation of production processes, and from circular economy and sustainability insights to quality control.

Three Certifying Bodies will be present:

-FSC ITALIA (Forest Stewardship Council) is an international, nonprofit NGO that has created a forest certification system aimed at the responsible management of forests and the traceability of derived products. For some years now FSC® has also expanded to the textile sector, offering informational support to exhibitor companies and their customers in their search for applications that enhance the value of sustainable forest management solutions.

-ECOCERT: A leader in the certification of sustainable practices for nearly 30 years, ECOCERT supports the development of a more sustainable textile business by setting the goal of strengthening the bond of trust between suppliers, producers and consumers. Supporting more than 2,000 companies with the GOTS, GRS, RSD and RWS standards and also active in fair trade with Fair for Life, ECOCERT has increasingly developed environmentally friendly production processes to better manage the energy available and natural resources such as water, air and soil fertility, while promoting the most responsible sectors. All of these elements are essential to meet today’s economic, social and environmental challenges and build tomorrow’s world.

-OEKO-TEXT: for nearly 30 years, OEKO-TEXT has been committed to maximum product safety and to ensure, for textile and leather companies, sustainable and socially responsible production. It is fundamental for OEKO-TEXT to uncover compliance violations, particularly violations of the stated Code of Conduct.

For the third season, Milano Unica re-confirms Modular, an ITS TAM project, involving students of the ITS TAM schools of Biella and Verona, promoted by Fondazione Cariverona and Upskill, a spin-off of the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. The project will present a genderless outerwear item, namely a coat that turns into a jacket, vest or cape, which is entirely made of responsible materials provided by Càpe Concept, a Verona-based company that combines a passion for design with the use of sustainable materials.

Here is to a new year and a new edition of Pitti Uomo, which steadily grows back to its old glory. Pitti is still a key meeting point for the international fashion scene to meet, mingle and do business. WeAr is excited to support this with this season’s Buyers Guide.

IRL fashion gained new importance after the pandemic. People want to go out, experience a lifestyle. We, as an industry, need to inspire consumers with lifestyle and give them a reason to buy more fashion. WeAr’s editors will be at Pitti scouting for the latest trends and must-have brands. So even if you cannot attend in person, we are here to inspire you.

Follow along with the WeAr Buyers Guide straight from Pitti Uomo here

WeAr presents issue 73 with the latest trends, the must-haves and tips and tricks how to navigate the current climate and the upcoming season. Learn about how to best present IRL fashion and about the latest innovations from our editorial team and people that matter in the fashion industry.

Get the latest issue in digital and print here

Flip through a free preview here

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

Best Wishes,

The WeAr team

LuisaViaRoma has announced the second winter edition in Saint Barth for the charity event LuisaViaRoma for UNICEF. To be held at Emeraude St Barth, the event will be on Thursday December 29^th and will feature a cocktail reception, a gala dinner and a live auction of exclusive items, artwork and experiences conducted by Simon de Pury.

International celebrities, philanthropists, and notable guests from all over the world will attend the night in support of UNICEF’s work in providing care to and protection of vulnerable children across the globe.

The event will be hosted by Luisa Panconesi, President of LuisaViaRoma’s Comitato Evento,Paolo Rozera,UNICEF Italia Executive Director, andTommaso ChiabraFundraising Chairman UNICEF Italia, together with the generous support of the event’s founding partner, the Red SeaInternationalFilm Festival.

Highlights of the event include special performances by writer, producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Lenny Kravitz and Drake.

Disney x Givenchy have teamed up to create a capsule collection in celebration of Lunar New Year and 100 years of Disney. Givenchy Creative Director Matthew M. Williams sources inspiration from around the globe, from New York and Paris to Los Angeles, Shanghai, Tokyo and beyond. For this collaboration, the designer worked with Disney to create a “one-of-a-kind world tour” that fuses Oswald’s mischievous, high-energy spirit with his own directional aesthetic for Givenchy, in a capsule of collectible statement pieces that capture the spirit of adventure.

The campaign and Oswald’s world tour will come to life in a mixed reality short produced in collaboration with both Walt Disney Animation Studios and art director and photographer Julian Klincewicz. This all-new short will feature global talent Madelaine Petsch, Amber Liu and Alton Mason enjoying an adventure alongside the Lucky Rabbit. The journey will begin at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, and move through Shanghai, New York, Tokyo and Paris, where Oswald will end his trip at the House of Givenchy.

As the year draws to a close, Windsor sends a positive signal to the market by continuing to expand its internationalisation – threefold. With two new sales agencies and by returning to the Pitti Uomo in Florence, Windsor is writing a new chapter in the company’s history.

With the Antwerp Fashion Agency/Royal & Loyal, Windsor has found a strong partner in the Belgian market. With premium brands such as Tramarossa, Duno, Myths and Daniele Fiesoli, the sales agency offers a portfolio that is tailored to Windsor’s image.

But Windsor is also pursuing a consistent expansion strategy outside the European continent and, following its successful start in Canada three years ago, is now also establishing itself in the USA. With the New York agency JAMCC, they are now launching the first order phase for Fall/Winter 2023, thus successfully expanding the fashion company’s presence in North America. The showroom is prominently situated on Broadway in NYC and trade show appearances in Chicago and Dallas are also planned for the future.

Last but not least, Windsor is also returning to Pitti Uomo in Florence after eight years. From 10th to 13th January 2023, Windsor will be welcoming visitors in the Cavedio in the basement of the Padegio Centrale. The stand was designed by Liganova, Stuttgart. In addition to the new Fall/Winter 2023 menswear collection, windsor’s main focus at the fair will be the recycled cashmere capsule.

For the new A/W season 23/24, JOOP! has launched an exclusive capsule collection together with successful Swiss rapper Loredana, which combines the characteristic design of the brand with the personal style of the musician.

“When developing the capsule collection with JOOP! I was able to contribute fully which was very important to me. My goal from the start was for the styles to be cool and casual and that I could end up wearing it myself. I am convinced that we have achieved this and that we are addressing younger people in particular with the Capsule Collection.” said Loredana on the development of the capsule collection with JOOP!.

The 16-piece unisex collection contains both high-quality basics as well as special design highlights such as a suit and jackets with a heat-sensitive thermal effect. In addition, there are boots, caps, gloves and a travel bag in the iconic Cornflower-JOOP! design. The selected materials focus on relaxed, modern fabrics such as nylon, sweats and jerseys that reflect the street-style character of the collection. The colors of the capsule range from bright tones like electric blue and orange to neutral shades such as white, off-white and black.

In August, this year, the first Neonyt licence was awarded to Igedo Exhibitions in Düsseldorf and will be held there for the first time from 28 to 30 January 2023 at the Areal Böhler. Messe Frankfurt now also announces not only the conclusion of the next partnership but also its first international licence award. In this case, Messe Frankfurt has entered into a partnership with WSN Développement, Paris, an exhibition company with extensive experience of the fashion sector, which will operatively plan and hold Neonyt Paris at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. From France, Neonyt can now expand its market coverage by opening up completely new catchment areas for exhibitors and buyers.

“We are very proud of our new partnership with WSN Développement, which now constitutes a striking, initial, future-oriented milestone in our strategic internationalisation pathway”, explains Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies, Messe Frankfurt. “Paris is a highly attractive, trend-setting fashion location. And, very popular in the sector, as well as having increasing links with the markets of southern Europe, Paris is for both us and our community the perfect choice for our first international licence location.”

In Paris, Neonyt licensed by Messe Frankfurt will be held annually at the end of January and the beginning of September, concurrently with the international Who’s Next. Well known throughout the sector, Who’s Next presents fashions, accessories and lifestyle, as well as the season’s trends, for buyers. Launched in 2019, IMPACT by WSN, which not only sets fashionable and ecological accents but also supports positive measures for speeding up the process of ecological change in the fashion sector, will also be held in the immediate vicinity of Neonyt. Who’s Next and IMPACT attract international buyers from abroad – especially those from the retail sector in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Belgium. The focus for all labels at Neonyt is speciality and multi-label stores, both of which attach great significance to sustainable fashions.

Italian luxury outerwear brand Parajumpers has been a staple of the outdoor lifestyle since 2006. With its unique take on American heritage, the brand’s innovative collections present performance and fashionable garments, from outerwear to sportswear and also include a variety of functional accessories. Paying homage to its American adventure story origins, Parajumpers opened its first flagship store globally in New York City’s dynamic Soho neighborhood. Harnessing the quintessence of autumn in New York, the store opened on November 28 with the full range of its Fall-Winter 2022.

Parajumpers has identified the US as a key growth market due to its catchment area broad, diverse and sophisticated consumers. Furthermore, the flagship store will strategically integrate its already well-developed domestic e-commerce and wholesale networks. The collaboration between Parajumpers and the Swedish architecture studio Stamuli (Acne, Ganni) results in a tailor-made concept for the store that highlights the essential elements of the brand. The elements natural (light wood) combine with industrial ones (sprayed concrete) mirroring the duality nature of the brand: adventure, both in wild and urban environments.

AVANT TOI has opened the doors of its Milanese showroom – an exhibition space for all men’s and women’s collections of cashmere clothing, with a ‘Tea Time’ event.

The opening included a live performance of hand-painting by Mirko Ghignone, Co-Founder and creative mind behind the brand. Handmade colouring gives each piece authenticity and unique character. This innovation, together with the
experiments in the processing of materials, confirms the brand in its role as a pioneer of colour, internationally.

In an engaging and immersive atmosphere, which characterises the ‘Tea Time’ tradition, hosts Mirko and Fiorella Ghignone (CEO) met fashion journalists, influencers and stylists who discovered through a ‘touch & feel’ experience, the AVANT TOI women’s and men’s garments and the Spring/Summer ’23 accessories. Seventies attitude and vintage atmospheres are also found in the Home Collection, where an explosion of colours can be seen on blankets in cashmere and cashmere-wool cushions, carpets, throws, tablecloths and other elements of design.

Jeanologia, a leading Spanish company in the development of eco-efficient technologies, promoted denim customization to create unique garments at Denim Première Vision Milan last week.

Under the slogan “You make your garment unique”, the company attended the event held in Milan from November 23 to 24 with its Nano Retail personalization laser technology. Its objective was to foster the creation of authentic in-store experiences and revolutionize the point-of-sale by improving customer experience.

Through the customization of garments with Nano Retail, the company enhances the connection of brands with their consumers, encouraging the co-creation of genuine looks and offering unique experiences to each client. Likewise, it cultivates the expression and creativity of the consumer, generating an emotional bond with the garment they are buying.

“The customization of garments enables consumer participation in the design and creative process. They can choose among many options including inserting inspiring phrases, their favorite songs, personal photos, tattoos or any other detail they can imagine. The personalized garment becomes an extension of their person, a way of expressing themselves through fashion” – highlighted Carmen Silla, Marketing Director at Jeanologia.

In the same vein, she underlined that through Nano Laser technology, brands can create a more personalized connection with the consumer since they place them at the center of the process and make them participate in the sustainable finishing of their garments with a fast, simple and visual process.

“It gives them the opportunity to come into contact with a live customization experience, to be part of that creation and to go home with a unique garment made by them,” she added.

Jan-Jan Van Essche is the Designer Project of the next edition of Pitti Uomo (taking place in Florence from 10-13 January 2023). The Belgian designer will be bringing his fluid and essential concept of fashion to Florence at a one-of-a-kind unique event, scheduled on Wednesday, January 11th.

The human collective culture remains an endless inspiration for Jan-Jan Van Essche to create new garments with each new design a genuine attempt to open up new perspectives and to push conflicting dialogues forward into unification.
Jan-Jan Van Essche continuously aims to develop new insights on contemporary yet effortless male and genderless elegance. The conventional silhouette is amplified, so that each individual garment literally leaves room for interpretation, engendering openness. Unlike classic Western approach to confine and shape the body, Jan-Jan provides the body the luxury and freedom to shape the garment.

The 36th edition of Milano Unica will extend over three days (January 31, February 1-2, 2023) at Rho Fiera Milano, and feature enriched exhibition routes along with the exhibitors’ new proposals for the Spring/Summer 2024 season, reflecting the anticipated creative suggestions, increasingly oriented toward sustainable creativity, of the MU Tendenze presented last September.

Milano Unica is a real reference point for the textile and accessories sector, an exclusive twice-yearly event attended by the leading and most significant Italian and European producers and also the producers of the Japan and Korea Observatories.

Artistic Milliners’ Cotton Projects team has been selected as a winner for Textile Exchange’s Ryan Young Climate+ Award 2022 in the Climate Leader Team category. The team’s collaborative, farm-centric and forward-thinking approach was highlighted as an example in the industry.

The late Ryan Young, (Textile Exchange COO from 2017-2020), is the inspiration behind Textile Exchange’s Climate+ Strategy, which is for the organization to serve as “a driving force for urgent climate action,” with a goal of 45% reduced CO2 emissions from textile fiber and material production by 2030. “Climate Leader” awards are dedicated to individuals, teams, or departments within an organization displaying an overall commitment to meeting the Climate+ strategy goals.

A statement from La Rhea Pepper, CEO, Textile Exchange read, ‘We would like to recognize the Artistic Milliners cotton team, made up of Mian Saqib Sohail, Akbar Ali and Anum Zahid for their work in building strong partnerships through the Milliner Cotton Initiative (MCI). The initiative includes partnering with WWF to create projects to improve soil health and promote better land management practices, as well as two mobile apps used by more than 500 farmers and 6 ginners which help them more easily collect transaction data between the parties involved, improving transparency and communication. They demonstrate progressive thinking ahead of their time – one comment we heard in the application process is that if someone is thinking about implementing something, Artistic Milliners is likely already doing it.’

‘Being planet-positive is a value that Artistic Milliners lives by and is intrinsic to all initiatives by our Cotton Projects team.’ says Mr. Omer Ahmed, CEO, Artistic Milliners. ‘We thank Textile Exchange for recognizing our efforts, as we continue to foster an inclusive ecosystem conducive to climate positive actions and social fairness.’

Saqib Sohail, Lead Cotton Projects team adds, ‘We would like to thank Textile Exchange for recognizing our efforts that align with late Ryan Young’s vision in industry transformation. Under the leadership of Mr. Omer Ahmed, our team will continue to play a meaningful role in tackling climate change, and forging better connections with communities.

For the Fall/Winter 2022 season, GUESS presents the new Capsule Collection inspired by Banksy’s graffiti. This capsule collection was developed in collaboration with Brandalised, an urban graffiti license whose mission is to bring collectible graffiti to Banksy fans. The collection brings modern clothing for men, women and children from GUESS as well as unique accessories.

For this capsule collection, iconic motifs from Banksy’s graffiti have been taken and combined with the recognizable GUESS style in t-shirts, sweatshirts and coats for men, as well as cropped sweatshirts and t-shirts for women and children. Each piece from this collection brings its own unique touch to the mix of styles with vintage washes, faux fur, ribbed cuffs and GUESS logo details.

Pitti Uomo 103, taking place in Florence from January 10 to 13, announces Martine Rose, founder and creative director of her namesake brand, as its Guest Designer.

The designer of Anglo-Jamaican origins, acclaimed for her underground cult credentials inspired by her cultural heritage, will present her label’s Autumn/Winter 2023-24 collection with a special event in Florence at a location yet to be revealed.

About Martine Rose
Martine Rose established her eponymous label in London in 2007. It has since evolved from a tightly edited shirting collection to an internationally renowned and critically acclaimed brand. Her innate authenticity and commitment to modernity have helped to create collections that retain their underground cult credentials while achieving global success. In addition Martine has become one of the most in demand consultants and collaborators in fashion – and for many years now has consistently influenced the direction of contemporary menswear.

Martine Rose is inspired by her Jamaican-British heritage and her deep interest and personal involvement in the music and high / low melting-pot cultures of London. Family and community are at the heart of the company – famously her shows have been held in spaces such as the covered markets of Tottenham, a neighbourhood cul-de-sac in Camden and Torriano primary school. Martine Rose’s unique aesthetic is informed by an investigation of proportion and silhouette, surprising textures and fabrications and fluent referencing of subcultural contexts. There is always a tension between attraction and resistance to the accepted codes of menswear. Her exploration of masculinity, the sexual edge of the collections and sensitivity to character and mood define her work.

FASHIONCLASH Festival is a 3-day hybrid festival, taking place from 25 until 27 November 2022 in Maastricht (The Netherlands), where a new generation of designers and performing artists from all over the world are given the opportunity to show their work to a broad (inter)national audience.

The program with exhibitions, performances, talks and fashion film screenings and awards, showcases projects that explore, contextualize and celebrate contemporary fashion culture.

This latest collaboration connects with both Web3 enthusiasts and RIMOWA aficionados, featuring an NFT collection, a limited-edition suitcase, and a collectors edition of RTFKT x RIMOWA WorkerBot collectibles, creating a captivating metaverse experience. Combining time-honored German craftsmanship and cutting-edge metaverse techniques, the RIMOWA x RTFKT Original Cabin suitcase is being forged in a limited edition of 888 pieces, a number symbolizing luck in the crypto community.

“This is a space that takes creativity and collaboration to great heights and offers new ways to engage with different audiences,” says RIMOWA chief marketing officer Emelie De Vitis. Benoit Pagotto, co-founder of RTFKT, commented that working with RIMOWA was a chance for the team to put amazing immense passion into a project and really push boundaries.

This collaboration underlines RIMOWA’s forward-facing ethos of blending a heritage of artisanal craftsmanship with the precision of modern technology.

The Stone Island research and development path in the world of footwear takes the subcultural strands of the brand as a reference, investigating some of these cultural icons.

In this journey, the brand takes as its reference a football-inspired icon, and pays homage to the UK’s Rock and Grime music scene with three different models of sneakers.

77FWS0101: classic low-cut mixture of 70‘s retro sneaker. The lace tips are referring to Stone Island’s iconic black metal trims.

77FWS0202: sneaker inspired by evergreen football styles, celebrating Stone Island’s philosophy of monochromatic colour and materials blends.

77FWS0303: sneaker that takes inspiration from silhouettes celebrated by UK’s Grime culture. With Stone Island archival cues, like the molded rubber tongue and the artisanal stitched nylon fabric.

AlphaTauri opened its first mono-brand store in the UK early November with a big bash. Celebrities from the world of fashion, sport and music were part of the guestlist in the new flagship store positioned in Knightsbridge a minute a way from the prestigious Harrods department store. Singer Raye performed for the audience and DJ Lou Hayter and Nabhaan Rizwan looked after the right tunes.
Formula 1 legend and Red Bull veteran David Coulthard guided everyone through the evening and pointed out the current drivers of the F1-team Scuderia AlphaTauri Pierre Gasly und Yuki Tsunoda who clearly couldn’t stay away from the festivities. The new flagship store is conceived on 326 m2 in London’s Brompton Road. AlphaTauri CEO Ahmet Mercan points out: “It is a pleasure to see so many of the brand’s friends tonight to celebrate this milestone. I am very thankful for the support. With the opening of this flagship-store we are taking a big step to further internationalise the brand.”
AlphaTauri further hired a prestigious team for its UK operations headed by a sales veteran who worked amongst others with brands like Stone Island and led his own agency successfully over years.

The 326m2 store on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, designed by the Berlin, Vienna and LA-based Studio Riebenbauer, immerses the visitor in the AlphaTauri world and showcases the latest collections for men and women on two floors.

With a slick monochrome interior made of brushed aluminum – interspersed with natural materials and specially designed lights, the store aesthetic is an authentic homage to the design language of AlphaTauri. The combination of technical and natural elements combined with the interaction of digital, innovative and interactive elements creates a unique shopping experience and delivers an outstanding concept that focuses on the customer.

A two-storey, 6m high LED wall with immersive sound and content changes according to the time of day, allowing customers to immerse themselves in the AlphaTauri experience as soon as they enter the store.

In addition to the current product highlights for men and women, there are various elements in the Experience Area on the ground floor that invite visitors to explore the world of the brand. The two core competencies of the brand are reflected in a knit and a parka installation.

The knit installation, which extends over two floors, constructed from a myriad of threads, takes inspiration from AlphaTauri’s 3D knit products, which are made entirely in one piece. The parka installation, on the other hand, consists of individual technical parts attached to the wall, exhibiting the iconic AlphaTauri KOOV parka in an arresting manner. The in-store experience is rounded off with product installations specially developed for AlphaTauri and various digital screens arranged individually or as a collage, which can be used to display the latest content on the collection.

Held in Sugarcity Amsterdam October 19-20, Kingpins showed that its core strength is to bring together a denim community that is motivated in fostering and driving the industry.

The location, first presented for its April show in 2022, was better received after changes were done in terms of exhibitor location. Thereby visitors were distributed throughout the show. On three floors Kingpins presented yet again the denim industry’s finest. Bossa, Artistic Milliners, Kassim, Orta, and Calik presented their latest fabric collections alongside supply chain companies such as LAB102, the new denim focussed subsidiary of CHT, SOKO, DyStar, Wiser Wash, Sei Laser, etc. Of course, ingredient brands such as YKK were also present as well as Ribbontex or Lycra. Noteworthy was the attention to also smaller artisanal mills from Japan and other Asian countries such as Rainbow Textiles, Nien Hsing Textile, Kurabo Industries, and Japan Blue Collect.
On the top floor, multiple seminars took place with special attention on industry-relevant topics and trends. Underlining the show’s efforts to be a trend-setting destination.
Mills took extra care to present alternate fibers and tried to offer as many sustainability options as possible.
Mostly, however, it was visible that the attendance was higher than expected and that this event served as a community get-together, a trend service and a supporter of the entire industry.

Want to know more about Denim? Get all the latest information in our WeAr Denim supplement. 

For its 40th anniversary Stone Island has partnered with OMA/AMO to revolutionize its stores’ ID to create points of references, hubs for its communities, spaces transcending transactional activities designed to experience the wealth of the brand research and experimentation on design and product manipulation, to share experiences and interact with its fans.

The new store concept by OMA/AMO features altar-like spaces highlighting Stone Island’s devotion to technology and development, shared by its followers. Niches for archival pieces and prototypes – results of years of experimentation in Stone Island’s lab in their Ravarino headquarters – showcase past thinking and future ambitions about product design.

Beyond shop opening hours, the space will host public presentations, salons, workshops, and private events. The stores form a base for current and new customers, complementing the brand’s online presence. Stone Island’s approach in transforming materials from typical into unique inspires and informs the new stores’ architecture by OMA/AMO.

International footwear show MICAM Milano, international leather goods and fashion accessories show MIPEL, and TheOneMilano, an international showcase of outerwear and hauteà-porter fashion, will once again be held all together in a four-day trade fair.

The shows will be open February 19 through 22, 2023 at Fiera Milano, from 9:30 to 18:30 on the first three days and from 9:30 to 16:00 on 22 February.

The emphasis will be on Italian fashions, though there will also be plenty of interesting international designers skilfully combining different cultures.
The event will also overlap with the dates of HOMI Fashion&Jewels, confirmed for February 17 through 20, and Lineapelle, scheduled for February 21 through 23, offering dealers yet another opportunity to discover the latest new designs and trends.

WeAr global magazine’s Editorial Director asks Binita Bhuta, Vice President Marketing & Sustainability at CovationBio about its product Sorona®, the group’s future and their sustainability efforts.

What are Sorona®’s plans going forward after the acquisition?
Let me give you a brief intro of CovationBio and how Sorona® is part of newly launched CovationBio. Sorona® is part of CovationBio, a newly launched biomaterials company focused on making high-performance sustainable biomaterials accessible to all. CovationBio builds on Sorona®’s 20-years of experience delivering a successful, commercial business at a global scale.
As CovationBio continues to expand and diversify our business to displace fossil-based materials, we are finding ways to improve our environmental benefits while offering quality, value, and performance to our customers.

In addition to Sorona®, CovationBio has other biobased solutions to offer into the fashion industry such as Susterra®, and we continue to evaluate other scalable solutions to bring to market.

Scalability is fundamental to bringing a sustainable business model to our customers making a significant impact on the world. We are already operating at scale. Our success in scaling up the production of Sorona® is due to our close collaboration throughout the value chain.

Traceability and transparency are also fundamental to the work we do. We are working closely with our value chain partners to drive traceability through both our Common Thread Fabric Certification program and our Preferred Mill Network for Sorona®.

We recognize that moving the materials industry toward a more sustainable or circular production model is going to require a combination of bio-sourced and post-consumer recycled feedstocks as raw materials. Therefore, we do not limit ourselves to working in the bio-derived space only. For example, we are evaluating the state of technology and partners for recycled/ biobased and lower footprint options for our conventional raw materials.

Most recently, our focus has been on establishing our Common Thread certified fabrics—Sorona® Agile, Aura, Luxe, Profile, and Revive—and the global Preferred Mill Network. The Sorona® Common Thread Fabric Certification program enhances the transparency and traceability in the textile value chain and ensures quality products that customers deserve. The Preferred Mill Network is a global catalog of mills certified to offer the full collection of sustainable Sorona® subbranded fabrics.

In just our first year, we saw more than 43 million garments with Sorona® hangtags worldwide and more than 500 mills participated with Sorona® certified fabric to date. There is still more work to do and our team is expanding its reach into more regions and having conversations with apparel brands every day. We are excited for what is next as more brands integrate bio-based materials like Sorona® into their collections.

You mentioned lessening the impact on the environment. How is sustainability a core part of Sorona®? How does Sorona® in the future treat the topic of Sustainability?

As a biomaterials company, sustainability and product stewardship are core to who we are. Our Global Sustainability Leader Lauren Johnson ensures our program is science-based and focuses on the most relevant opportunities that will “move the needle” in advancing the materials industry toward a more sustainable state. CovationBio’s priorities are driven by data from life cycle assessments (LCAs) for our products, and our commitments naturally align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the following four: Decent Work and Economic Growth, Climate Action, Circular Economy, and Life on Land.

Sorona® is 37% bio-based, derived from annually renewable crops. Using renewable bio-based feedstocks is important because bio-based products contribute to the defossilization of the global supply chain—decoupling materials production from fossil fuel extraction and reducing global reliance on fossil resources.

I am excited to share about our recent membership in an agriculture program called Truterra designed to provide visibility into the environmental impact data on 100% of the acres supplying this corn. The participating farms use cutting-edge technology to improve soil health, protect biodiversity, and potentially sequester carbon. Through this program, farmers receive insights into their crop yields and resource consumption and output including greenhouse gas emissions, soil health indicators, wind and water erosion rates, and more.

Our participation in Truterra actively promotes transparency about our supply chain and educates farmers using a science-based and data-driven approach to improving farming practices. Improvements in farming will lead to reduced footprints for the farm, our raw materials, and ultimately the apparel that is made using bio-based resources.

Are there any new product groups that will become relevant for Sorona®?

We have a rich pipeline of products that we are hoping to commercialize in the next couple of years. Our strength is providing a quality, sustainable alternative to traditional materials and we will continue to find creative ways to do this in apparel.

One segment where we are seeing success and growth is with footwear. The launch with Puma for a football (soccer) shoe made with a Sorona® upper along with Susterra® was our first entry into athletic footwear. Other brands like EcoAlf use Sorona® in footwear as well as apparel.

Because Sorona® offers many exciting performance attributes, we see it used across many different applications.

Within apparel, we have a broad range of growth opportunities. Brands like Stella McCartney and Maison Atia value the bio-based faux fur Sorona® made with Ecopel. Blauer USA uses Sorona for insulation, Lilly Pulitzer has incorporated Sorona® into tops for the soft handfeel and shape retention, and LIVE! in Brazil launched a capsule collection called LiveBIO! that’s entirely made with Sorona® Agile fabric. We look forward to strengthening these relationships, establishing new ones, and developing in areas where we can make an impact at scale.

We are focused on and committed to delivering on our promise for a sustainable alternative to traditional fibers like spandex and nylon. As you may know, Sorona® is proven to keep garments looking new for longer and can be used for spandex replacement. It offers outstanding comfort stretch, an ultra-soft hand feel, and dimensional stability. These qualities are meaningful for designers as they look to strengthen the sustainability standards of their collections, and we look forward to supporting them in their journey.

How will Sorona® continue to help educate the industry about general trends and also its own products?

It all starts with our team. We are transparent, honest communicators who understand what drives profits for our customers and genuinely care about our impact in the industry and on the world. This knowledge and openness allow us to be nimble and bold when we are innovating or addressing a challenge.

It is in our CovationBio culture to ask ourselves and others tough questions. We recognize that the topic of sustainability is a complex area and advances in one impact could have unintended consequences elsewhere. We make the time to be engaged and have exchanges with leaders and drivers in the textile and fashion industry via organizations such as Textile Exchange and Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI).

We believe education is central to driving innovation and creativity. With that in mind, we are continuing our support of the Central Saint Martins’ first year students. We donate two types of fabrics made with Sorona® to create original pieces for their annual White Show. The results are breathtaking. It is the perfect place to start a conversation about source materials, quality, sustainability, and performance.

It is also so refreshing to meet up in-person again! We have enjoyed reuniting with our friends and colleagues at shows around the world this year. We will continue to have a presence both virtually and in-person at events including trade shows and speaking engagements.

We are committed to working through the value chain and offering our team as a resource for questions. We welcome questions about performance, sustainability, and distribution to better support your goals.

I believe with the momentum we are building for biobased materials through CovationBio brands— Sorona®, Susterra®, and Zemea® and our pipeline products —will be a catalyst for global change.

Naia is celebrating its 5th anniversary, starting this milestone celebration with a happy birthday singalong in many languages from their team around the world!

Made with sustainably sourced wood, Eastman Naia cellulosic fiber brings the richness of nature to comfortable and effortlessly luxurious fabrics. The Eastman Naia filament yarn transforms into luxurious, soft, and easy-to-care-for fabrics, while their staple fiber creates eco-conscious blends that are supremely soft and quick drying and consistently reduce pilling, giving designers more choice.

Most recently, Eastman, maker of Naia Renew sustainable fibers and yarns, has announced that it has collaborated with Patagonia to offer a limited run of T-shirts made with Naia Renew ES — Eastman’s latest fiber offering made with increased recycled content — for the outdoor apparel retailer’s Workwear line.Named for its enhanced sustainability, Naia Renew ES is made with 60% recycled content. Unlike other cellulose-based yarns and fibers, this option requires fewer virgin materials to make an environmentally friendly product. Naia Renew ES is made from a combination of molecularly recycled waste material (40%), recycled cellulose (20%) and renewable wood pulp (40%).

WeAr x JOOR BeFAB Award

For the first time, leading global fashion trade magazine WeAr global magazine together with the world’s premiere wholesale ecosystem JOOR gave the BeFAB Award – Best Fashion, Art and Brands and celebrates the runner-ups and winners on multiple pages in this special issue filled with the best the industry has to offer coupled with outstanding arts.

In issue 72 you can also find reports about sustainability, store design, the latest trends, designers and best stores. Get your copy in print or digital here

AlphaTauri has opened the brand’s first pop-up store in Japan on the ground floor of ISETAN MEN’S in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district this month. The pop-up was open from 5 October to 18 October 2022. On the opening day of the pop-up store, Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda, drivers of Scuderia AlphaTauri, a Formula 1 team of which the brand is the main sponsor, did not miss out on the opportunity to visit the exclusive pop-up. They were both wearing the latest AlphaTauri Autumn/Winter 2022 Collection.

The AlphaTauri pop-up store invites its visitors to explore the unique combination of functionality and design by presenting AlphaTauri’s advanced fabric technologies and signature smart designs. The Autumn/Winter 2022 collection combines progressive innovations and fashionable design while placing a high emphasis on comfort. For the duration of the pop-up store at ISETAN MEN’S, all AlphaTauri Fall/ Winter 2022 collection items will also be available on ISETAN’s online store. The pop-up store will then move to ISETAN’s Haneda Stores in Tokyo’s Haneda Airport from 26 October to 6 December.

Timberland announces its first-ever collaboration with Los Angeles-based, Danish-born creative Veneda Carter, featuring new spins on the brand’s Original Yellow Boot for a new generation of fashion-forward enthusiasts.

One of the world’s most in-demand stylists, Carter has a unique aesthetic that blends Scandi minimalism with ’90s cultural references. As a longtime fan of the brand, she has collected a massive collection of vintage Timberland® boots and hikers over the years, and fondly recalls growing up with the original 6” yellow boot as an icon of hip-hop style. Her innovative mindset and personal style unmistakably influence the collection.

“Growing up in the ‘90s and 2000s, I was super fascinated by hip hop culture and how Timbs were styled and worn by some of my favorite artists,” said Carter. “To have the opportunity to work with Timberland to create my own personal spins on their icon has been such a cool experience. This is a brand I’ve loved for years – they really created boot culture and I’m excited to be part of it.”

The Veneda Carter x Timberland collection features two lace-up silhouettes inspired by the icon: the Women’s Tall Lace Boot with stiletto heel, and the 6” Patent Leather Boot. Each style comes in the brand’s signature wheat color and includes a co-branded metal ID tag in place of the traditional leather “badoink.” In line with Timberland’s obsession with leather craftsmanship, the tall boot is made using the same premium, buttery nubuck leather uppers as the original.

Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), the nonprofit organization dedicated to mobilizing climate action in fashion, today announced that The PVH Foundation is joining the catalytic $250M Fashion Climate Fund as a lead funder. This advances the Fund’s aim to drive industry-wide convergence to modernize the fashion industry supply chain and meet the industry’s ambition to halve carbon emissions by 2030.

The PVH Foundation, which leads the global philanthropic efforts of PVH Corp. (NYSE: PVH), is the newest addition to the Fashion Climate Fund. PVH Corp., which owns iconic brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, joins Lululemon, H&M Group, H&M Foundation, and The Schmidt Family Foundation as a lead funder, with each committing $10M. This investment underscores PVH Corp.’s enduring trust and belief in Aii as a critical partner and intellectual clearinghouse that will help reach the fashion industry’s 2030 climate goals.

The first-of-its-kind Fashion Climate Fund is strategically designed to leverage industry treasury and philanthropic funds to execute foundational supply chain improvements; these include transitioning to renewable electricity, improving energy efficiency, eliminating coal in manufacturing, scaling sustainable materials and practices, and accelerating next-generation materials. In doing this work, the Fashion Climate Fund will also derisk investment opportunities, allowing the industry to engage larger financial institutions to unlock an estimated $2B in additional asset classes, including debt and equity. 

“The leadership shown by PVH Corp., a long-time partner to Aii, represents a big step forward in our work to tackle fashion’s supply chain emissions,” says Lewis Perkins, Aii President. “The PVH Foundation is helping to fuel the Fashion Climate Fund’s unique grantmaking engine to accelerate proven programs, solutions, and innovations into the supply chain to lower carbon emissions. 

“Our company purpose, to power brands that drive fashion forward for good, is at the core of our multiyear growth plan and has guided us for many years,” says Stefan Larsson, PVH Corp. CEO. “We know that collaboration and funding are critical to driving solutions that address the fashion industry’s contributions to climate change and are proud to be supporting the Fashion Climate Fund in this work.”

In the coming months, Aii will continue to deploy funding into supplier carbon target-setting and prioritization projects, Clean By Design efficiency programs, and renewable energy pilots, and build the “use of funds” strategy for 2023, while it convenes more partners into this Fund and grows strategic relationships with investment capital, both commercial lending and private equity, looking toward the $2B capital unlock.

Wolford has announced its collaboration with Mugler to launch a new skinwear capsule collection. The exclusive collection of 12 styles consists of bodysuits, dresses, gloves, leggings, cycling shorts with special shape lift construction, alongside enhanced tailoring features in special flocked patterns in high-quality sheer and innovative knitwear technology.

Mugler’s signature shaping hosiery is also available in a new range of colours. Wolford and Mugler have a history of collaborating with each other. The brands have previously worked in the 80s to launch an exclusive two-set collection at the time with the late Manfred Thierry Mugler.

Now, under the vision of Mugler’s Creative Director Casey Cadwallader, the new skinwear capsule collection aims to celebrate the body and excels in wearability by bringing together Mugler’s bold designs with Wolford’s innovative techniques.

“Casey’s unique sensitivity and personal vision have revitalised Mugler’s artistic and experimental heritage”, confides Silvia Azzali, CCO Wolford, “his talent honours the painstaking master craftsmanship required for such couture-level fabrication and together we will set Wolford’s avantgarde leadership bar in skinwear ever higher, valorising as always exceptional and exclusive collaborations”. 

On the occasion of Milano Moda Donna Spring/Summer 2023, the launch event of the first pop up store of Enterprise Japan, an Italian sneakers and streetwear clothing brand founded in 2021 by Eli Group, took place at 10 Corso Como, with the special presence of Blanco.

For the occasion, the pop up has been transformed into a real underground club thanks to the presence of Blanco, artist of the moment, fresh from a national tour.

During the event, the Enterprise Japan x 10 Corso Como pop-up store was stormed by Blanco fans to grab a sneaky photo with the artist, who for the occasion wore a preview of the Spring/Summer 2023 collection by Enterprise Japan.

The S/S 2023 collection opens with a big news for the brand, the introduction of cargo pants with maxi pockets combined with oversized jackets, also with maxi pockets, in faded cotton that are added to sweatshirts and t-shirts with colors tie dye.

Enterprise Japan, together with 10 Corso Como, has also developed a super limited edition capsule collection consisting of 20 pairs of sneakers with two models: a total white model with the 10 Corso Como logo printed with an airbrush and the other made with a special contrasting tag on the tongue, available only in the Milanese concept store.

International footwear show MICAM Milano and international leather goods and fashion accessories showcase Mipel joined forces with TheOneMilano, featuring Haute-à-Porter (part of the Confindustria Moda galaxy) and HOMI Fashion&Jewels Exhibition, an event focusing on quality jewellery and accessories, all held on overlapping dates to attract top-level buyers from all over the world, making all the events a great success. 35,470 professional dealers attended the fashion trade fairs held this month at fieramilano – Rho (+20% more than in March 2022).

Plenty of space was dedicated to the quality Italian footwear that is so popular abroad, sustainability projects for an increasingly responsible industry, initiatives aimed at showcasing young talents, and strong representation of international brands at the fashion trade fairs, which abounded in creativity and new trends with a pinch of glamour, anticipating the styles of the future. A packed programme of workshops and events ensured that the trade fairs offered not only concrete opportunities for buyers to conclude deals but a chance to assess new developments on the market and learn more about issues of current relevance to the fashion industry. These trade fairs represent only a part of the #finallytogether project, designed to boost the fashion industry by working together on joint promotional initiatives.

In addition to the events that have just concluded, last week saw the close of DaTe – Shaping Avantgarde in Florence, an event focusing on cutting-edge eyewear, attracting 1500 professional visitors. The final events of the season organised by the #finallytogether group open today at fieramilano: Lineapelle, an international trade fair for leather, accessories and footwear components, leather goods, clothing, and furnishings, began with a dynamic atmosphere and plenty of high expectations.

Also held recently are Simac Tanning Tech, an international showcase of machinery and technologies for the footwear, leather goods and tanning industries, and Mipel lab, an innovative trade fair format created by Assopellettieri to bring together supply and demand for the Italian leather goods.

The coming edition of MICAM Milano will be opening soo under the slogan #finallytogether, 1,012 brands, 54% from Italy and 46% from abroad (+23% over March 2022), will meet with buyers from all over the world at fieramilano (Rho) between 18 and 20 September, confirming the importance of MICAM Milano not only as the biggest footwear show but the biggest post-pandemic fashion show in the world. The Italian footwear industry continues to recover, recording further growth in sales (+14.5%) and in domestic consumption (+ 18.2% by value) in the first half of the year, following upon a total growth rate of +18.7% in 2021. But there are a number of unknowns looming on the horizon.

According to Assocalzaturifici Chair Giovanna Ceolini: “The industry as a whole has recovered significantly, but high energy costs, raw materials costs and the consequences of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine (with the value of exports to the two markets down -30%, a total drop of – 46% since the start of the war) are putting short-term growth at risk. Our member companies are satisfied with sales to North America and the main EU markets, though spring lockdowns slowed sales in China. While designer brands are performing very well, half our member companies have not yet returned to pre-Covid sales figures. We hope that MICAM will, as usual, offer a chance to take advantage of business opportunities and discover new trends and opportunities on world markets”.

MICAM will showcase S/S 2023 collections with numerous styles for men, women and children for all occasions, from the best-known international names to Italian-made excellence.

Moreover, to help buyers in the choice of the season’s bestselling footwear, MICAM has come up with the first data-driven SS23 Trends Guide: a digital guide visitors will be able to download for convenient consultation on their smartphones to discover next season’s trends and optimise their purchases, made possible by a partnership with Livetrend.

MICAMX is back (pav. 1 stand H09), a meeting and convention area focusing on innovation, featuring numerous presentations in four main concept areas: trends & materials, sustainability, art fashion heritage & future and the future of retail. MICAMX will, as always, represent the common thread running through all MICAM content, produced with the help of internationally prominent guests, best practice and prestigious testimonials from all over the world. The issue of sustainability will also be the focus of the MICAM Sustainability Lab, an area powered by VCS (pav. 3 stand K11), the first sustainability certification mark for the footwear industry, focusing on an important project launched in March: VCS verified & certified steps. This mark is granted to enterprises that undertake a process of assessment, measurement and, above all, improvement of their performance in key areas of corporate sustainability on the basis of internationally recognised standards.

MICAM STARTUP: THE FUTURE IS HERE MICAM never stops looking forward to the future, and this edition features a Start Up area (pav. 1 stand H12) showcasing emerging new excellence: young Italian footwear makers with an optimistic outlook who express their revolutionary ideas through footwear and fashion.

Under a partnership with Italian Artisan (pav. 1 stand F11), the B2B platform connecting quality Italian manufacturers with international brands and retailers, “Italian Artisan Heroes – the ultimate manufacturing tradition” is back to underline the true essence of Italian craftsmanship. “We’re proud to continue working with Assocalzaturifici and MICAM,” says Italian Artisan founder David Clementoni. “This year, we are really putting ourselves on the line with an innovative stand in which technological evolution amplifies spaces and opportunities for our producers, who continue to be the focus of our corporate mission.”

The Emerging Designers area (pav. 1 stand F09 G10) will feature 12 up-and-coming designers from all over the world. The new designers’ talent is clearly visible in the styles they propose, which range from a return to ancient traditions to cutting-edge experimentation with forms and materials, in an original style, with a focus on sustainability abounding in inspiration from cultures all over the world.

From Paris, via Berlin, to Frankfurt and now worldwide. Over the last two decades since its launch, Neonyt has developed into the most important B2B community platform for fashion, sustainability and innovation. The international fashion business is big, as is the responsibility of the event as an order platform and trend spotter in the sustainability sector, and the interest in the brand around the world. Messe Frankfurt has recognised the potential of Neonyt as a beacon and pioneer, and plans to roll out the event internationally. The next German edition of this B2B event will be held in Düsseldorf from 28 to 30 January 2023.

Neonyt will take place as a B2B event in Düsseldorf from January 2023. Additional satellite events around the world are also in planning. Messe Frankfurt is taking the first step in Germany in cooperation with Igedo Company, which means: Igedo has assumed immediate responsibility for the operative planning and implementation of Neonyt in Düsseldorf. Since being founded in 1949, Igedo has gathered an extraordinary degree of expertise in the fashion sector and, with its events in Düsseldorf, plays a firmly established role on the international order scene at least twice a year.

In future, Neonyt will be held as a licence event concurrently with the FASHN ROOMS in the fashion metropolis of Düsseldorf, thus making Neonyt part of a successful international combination of some 600 international brands. The strictly sustainable spectrum to be seen at Neonyt will be held alongside the Agencies & Premium Brands (Showroom Concept), Avantgarde, Design & Contemporary and Accessories & Shoes segments of Fashn Rooms. This will benefit not only exhibitors and trade visitors because Fashn Rooms in Düsseldorf is also renowned for its content-creator segment, which is in line with the community DNA of Neonyt and offers significant potential as a multiplier.

“We are delighted that the Igedo Company is joining forces with us”, says Olaf Schmidt. “Neonyt and its cross-sector community are in very good company in Düsseldorf, which will be of great benefit to the trade-fair landscape and the sustainable textile and fashion scene – this is where expertise and professionalism meet innovative spirit and stability.”

The success of ‘Neonyt Lab’, the first direct-to-consumer (D2C event), which attracted visitors from 22 countries in June 2022, has encouraged Messe Frankfurt to hold more events of this kind in Frankfurt. The internationalisation of the brand and the decision to hold Neonyt as a B2B event in Düsseldorf in the future will by no means result in a lack of commitment to Frankfurt.

Mulberry chair, Godfrey Davis is stepping down at the end of September 2022.

Davis first joined the label in 1987 as finance director before moving his way up the ranks to become joint chief executive officer and chair in 2002.

“It has been a privilege to hold the position of chairman of this iconic British luxury brand,” Davis said in a release. “Over the past decade Mulberry has continued to innovate and thrive, resonating with a growing global consumer base that desires sustainable, quality craftsmanship.”

Andrew Christopher Roberts, currently a non-executive director at Mulberry, will take up the position of non-executive chairman from September 30, at which point he will resign from the audit and nominations and remuneration committees of the board.

Supreme Women&Men Munich, which closed its doors earlier this month, can be described as one of the most successful editions. Retailers were open to new collections and, above all, the majority was optimistic. For the majority of retailers, the platform represents the end of the season’s orders, but this edition was characterized by strong business with new customers.

A new generation of retailers is growing up. These are not necessarily located in the big cities, but mainly in smaller towns and cities and place a strong emphasis on individuality and personal interaction. Without doubt, the topic Made in Europe, which is practiced by the majority of the exhibitors, plays a very important role for the traders. individual retailers. Sustainability and quality are set as selection criteria for the product ranges.

Aline Müller-Schade, Managing Director of The Supreme Group: “The change in the retail landscape is clearly noticeable. It is not working the way it used to. The new generation of retailers is positioning themselves quite differently. We are pleased that so many new retailers have found their way to Munich.”

Stone Island Stellina: A series of garments branded with the small star embroidery, a recurring feature in past collections, now typifying a range of products with clean lines and urban performance.

The outerwear pieces are made in O-COTTON/R-NYLON TELA WITH PRIMALOFT INSULATION TECHNOLOGY: a lightweight canvas weave fabric with a matte appearance. Padded with an inner layer of PrimaLoft Gold P.U.R.E™, an exclusive 100% post-consumer recycled blend.

The embroidery can also be found in other product categories: sweatshirts, polo shirts, pants and wool beanies.

A provisional schedule for this year’s London Fashion Week in September 2022 has been released and announced that Raf Simons will be making his LFW debut with his Spring/Summer 2023 collection.

Through a new four-part video series, Burberry and global esports organisation Gen.G have come together to champion women and the importance of inclusivity in the gaming industry as part of Gen.G’s NetWork: Inspire programme.

In Episode 1: ‘My platform is my power’, Gamer, content creator and host Emily Mei is joined by esports entrepreneur and founder of Enlight Eunice Chen, streamer and cosplayer Krystalogy and Burberry’s Vice President of Brand Protection Melissa Roth Mendez.

From being a force for change – big or small – to dealing with toxic online environments, our panel unpacks the idea that platforms have unmatched power in creating real change for the future, all the while posing the question: who are the women championing change in the industry, and more importantly – could it already be you?

The American collections will return at New York Fashion Week with Proenza Schouler kicking it off on Friday, September 9, and Tom Ford closing the week on the evening of Wednesday, September 14, 2022.

The preliminary schedule features over 110 confirmed designers, including returning brands Altuzarra, Batsheva, Brandon Maxwell, Carolina Herrera, Christian Siriano, Coach, Dion Lee, Eckhaus Latta, Gabriela Hearst, Jason Wu, Jonathan Simkhai,KHAITE, LaQuan Smith, LUAR, Maryam Nassir Zadeh, Michael Kors, PatBO, Peter Do, Prabal Gurung, Sergio Hudson, Theophilio, Tory Burch, Victor Glemaud and Willy Chavarria.

Tommy Hilfiger, AREA and PUMA return to NYFW after a hiatus.

First-time additions to the schedule’s in-person activations include AnOnlyChild, ASHLYN, Foo and Foo, Midnight Studios, ONE/OF by Patricia Voto, and Tia Adeola.

The CFDA is also welcoming international brands Fendi, Marni and COS to the week.

This year’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists Fe Noel, Sukeina, No Sesso, Elena Velez, Judy Turner, Wiederhoeft and BlackBoyKnits also join the week with collection showcases.

“This year marks the 60^th anniversary of the CFDA, and as the organizer of the official NYFW schedule, we are incredibly proud to release a lineup that reflects our founding principle: to promote American fashion on a global scale,” said CFDA CEO Steven Kolb. “We celebrate the collective excellence, diversity and resilience of our industry and look forward to a strong American collections season alongside our esteemed international guests.”

This year’s LOEWE FONDATION Craft Prize has been awarded to Korean artist Dahye Jeong for her work A Time of Sincerity (2021). Jonathan Anderson, Creative Director of LOEWE, and a jury of leading figures from the worlds of design, architecture, journalism, criticism and museum curatorship, selected the winner and two special mentions from among 30 finalists.

The finalists for the LOEWE Fondation Craft Prize were shortlisted in January 2022 by a panel of experts who chose from among more than 3,000 submissions from around the world. Representing 15 different regions in the world, the 30 finalists work in diverse mediums including ceramics, woodwork, textiles, leather, basketry, glass, metalwork, jewelry and lacquer. Winner Dahye Jeong crafted a piece in the form of a basket from horsehair, using a 500-year-old hat-making technique thought to be a lost skill in Korea. In addition to the delicate lightness of her sculpture A Time of Sincerity, the jury praised her for reviving the age-old tradition.

The annual LOEWE FONDATION Craft Prize was launched in 2016 by Jonathan Anderson to recognize excellence, artistic merit and innovation in modern craftsmanship, and as a tribute to Loewe’s beginnings as a collective craft workshop in 1846. “Craft is the essence of LOEWE. As a house, we are about craft in the purest sense of the word. That is where our modernity lies, and it will always be relevant,” said  Jonathan Anderson.

From 21 – 25 July, Areal Böhler is all about fashion and focus on fashion, talks and inspiration. Forming the origin and heart of the Düsseldorf fashion scene is be FASHN ROOMS with integrated showroom concept. “Here it’s all about experiencing, discovering and coordinating. The size of the store does not matter – because here especially small and medium-sized retailers find the products that make up a good mix and thus the store of the future,” says Igedo CEO Ulrike Kähler. 

Along the lines of a modern concept store, the newly created GREEN ROOM platform opened its doors too: with a diverse range of sustainable, fair fashion – perfectly integrated into the FASHN ROOMS space. 

Interest in fairly produced fashion continues to grow and good design and sustainable values are by no means mutually exclusive – on the contrary: fairness and environmental friendliness are reflected in daily lifestyle as well as in favourite looks. “Sustainability is becoming a matter of course,” Ulrike Kähler is convinced. GREEN ROOM is the answer to this trend. “It is still a small plant, but it is growing steadily,” Ulrike Kähler describes the long-term project. As a mixture of sustainable fashion, creative store design and inspiring panel talks, GREEN ROOM builds a bridge between conventional fashion retail and sustainability. GREEN ROOM offers retailers a great opportunity to extend their ranges to include sustainable, fair fashion. On top of this, many hands-on tips on how to present sustainable products attractively in the store will be shared. “The mix is perfect. We bring together what belongs together and all of this in a single, very inspiring place,” says Ulrike Kähler explaining the innovative, sales-expanding concept. The cooperation with selected, competent service partners and inspiring lectures will provide the concept with additional energy. “We regard the new FASHN ROOMS as a blueprint for concept stores – retailers should take advantage of this special opportunity for inspiration,” Ulrike Kähler appeals to retailers. 

Furthermore, by introducing ADDITIONALS, FASHN ROOMS also open up a space for beauty and lifestyle products, including skincare and decorative cosmetics, oils, fragrances, wellness articles as well as stationery, candles etc. The core products of FASHN ROOMS, i.e. hats, accessories and bags, are also given a perfect stage there. Beyond the product, it is also about an appealing, purchase-inspiring presentation in the shop. “With attractive products that encourage impulse buying, we open up new possibilities for retailers to surprise and sustainably inspire their shoppers and generate more sales,” says Ulrike Kähler. 

Agenzia ICE and Zalando collaborate together for the first time by activating “Made in Italy” Gallery: an exclusive partnership that aims to promote the style and tradition of Italian fashion and cosmetics, as well as helping a selection of 40 Italian brands to expand abroad through an investment of over 1 million euros. This project involves the offer of Zalando Partner Program platform services that will allow brands to connect to beyond 49 million potential customers in Europe. In addition, a dedicated virtual gallery in Zalando will be launched to celebrate the best of Made in Italy, involving both new brands and Italian brands that are already partners by Zalando.

“We want to keep the world’s attention on fashion and cosmetics, two sectors among them most significant ambassadors of Made in Italy “says Carlo Ferro, President of the ICE Agency.

“The partnership with such an important player as Zalando in Germany, a proximity market which together with the other European countries represents a point of reference for our companies, it goes seen in this perspective, and is part of our broader support plan which includes 33 agreements with the main international e-commerce platforms. With the aim of accompanying them on the markets in a global context where e-commerce plays an increasingly central role, especially in the current one geopolitical and post-pandemic situation. I send my best wishes for this new business project and to the whole Zalando team ”.

ICE will mainly provide support to brands through an investment to develop marketing campaigns dedicated to maximizing the visibility of the offer through Zalando Marketing Services (ZMS).

“I am particularly proud of our collaboration with ICE Agency and to announce the beginning of a new opportunity for companies of Italian excellence to grow in the world of digital with Zalando. Made in Italy represents an added value, not only in our country, but especially abroad. Italian brands have always stood out as a synonym of quality, of craftsmanship and creativity, and today more than ever, this aspect is a competitive value where we want invest “- concludes Riccardo Vola, General Manager Italy and Spain Zalando.