We took a week off for family and turkey so let’s get back to the news you missed!
First things first, Love is In the Air!
Congrats are in order as a few special model engagements happened over the week. Top 50 muse Selena Forrest took to Instagram to announce her engagement to fellow model, Aqua Parios after 4 years of dating. Victoria’s Secret model Josephine Skriver also announced her engagement to singer Alexander DeLeon, who got down on one knee in a balmy Finland setting, under the Northern Lights.
Dolce & Gabbana Draw the Ire of the Chinese
The debacle that was the cancelled Dolce & Gabbana Shanghai show unfurled over the Thanksgiving holiday and sparked a thousand think-pieces. Here were the facts: a since deleted (except on Diet Prada!), bizarrely narrated social media post depicted a Chinese model attempting to eat a giant cannoli with chopsticks. When audiences cried cliche and expressed their frustration at the distasteful depiction, an allegedly hacked Stefano Gabbana took to the DMs to direct his vitriol at those offended. And it was bad. Very, very bad.
In short, the day of the fashion show the Chinese government got wind of the exchange and ordered the production shut down. Since then the storm of dissenting consumers have burned D&G products, celebrities have sworn off the brand, and commerce has been affected with Luisa Via Roma, Lane Crawford and the Chinese platforms of Yoox Net-a-Porter Group pulling the brand’s products. The designers have since issued out a statement but it might be too little too late. See the video below
Condé Nast to merge US and International operations
Megapublisher Condé Nast announced this week plans to consolidate its US-based and international operations and that current CEO Bob Sauerberg would be stepping down from the role he’s held since 2015, potentially leaving the company he’s been with since 2010 (no word on if he’ll be staying on in a different capacity). Jonathan Newhouse, current CEO and chairman of Condé Nast International, will give up the CEO title to become global chairman of the entire group, operating just as Condé Nast. The new development adds to a running list of current changes including closing titles like Glamour Magazine’s print edition, eliminating staff and shrinking teams, and the potential rumor of Anna Wintour’s departure from American Vogue. [WWD]
H&M to close down Cheap Monday
As the retail market tries to stay afloat this holiday season, H&M announced that there would be one fewer brand to compete with the shuttering of Cheap Monday. The world’s second-biggest fashion retailer bought the skinny-jeans line back in 2008 saying the line had “a traditional wholesale business model, which is a model that has faced major challenges due to the shift in the industry.” A complete the closure of the brand is expected by the end of June 2019, which affects around 80 employees. [REUTERS]
Tory Burch buys back minority stake
Following the footsteps of brands like Stella McCartney and Proenza Schouler who recently bought back shares of their companies, the American lifestyle brand Tory Burch bought stake back from a minority holder of its own–Mexico-based Tresalia Capital, which acquired the shares in 2009. Stakes in the billion-dollar company are still held by General Atlantic and BDT Capital Partners. Burch, who is the CEO and designer of her company, launched Tory Burch 2004 and has since grown the company to 250 stores across the world. As reported by The Business of Fashion, there is some speculation the company could be an acquisition target for PVH. [The Business of Fashion]
Naomi launches Youtube channel “Being Naomi”
Stans of Naomi Campbell rejoice, the iconic supermodel, activist and contributing editor of British Vogue (and now vlogger) has launched her Youtube channel “Being Naomi”. On her Instagram post which also announces the channel, she wrote, “It’s amazing that I have the opportunity to tell you my story, show you who I really am, and inform you about the issues that are close to my heart.” Amongst her many super feats, she’s involved in charitable causes that range from the poverty-focused Global Citizen, Nelson Mandela’s Children Fund, Made in Africa Foundation, amfAR and more. In this first video Campbell preps viewers on what to expect, and slated next is a video on Campbell’s discovery titled “My Journey”. [WWD]
Pre-fall’s Tokyo factor
Resort shows have become synonymous with passports, bringing throngs of people to the far corners of the world, but what about Pre-Fall? One need only look to Tokyo’s luring of high fashion brands to see the Pre-Fall has a wanderlust all its own. That’s just where Pierpaolo Piccioli took Valentino, further evidencing Tokyo as an important luxury market. The show was opened by Bomi Youn and closed by Kaia Gerber. Following that, Kim Jones created a cyborg spectacle for Dior Homme, with an 11-meter high statue of a female robot by Hajime Sorayama as the show’s centerpiece.
i-D bids goodbye to fashion director Alastair McKimm
Announced today, on both i-D and McKimm’s personal Instagram account, the stylist ends his role as fashion director, a position he has held since 2013. Holly Shackleton, i-D’s editor-in-chief, wrote, “During Alastair’s five years as Fashion Director we have transitioned i-D from a small independent style magazine into an award-winning global fashion media brand, and I can’t thank him enough for the pivotal role he has played in that journey.” McKimm offered gratitude to Shackleton and Graham Rounthwaite for the experience, “I started collecting i-D as a teenager and the magazine is the very reason I became a stylist,” while also thanking Edward Enninful for hiring him in 2001, referring to his position as assistant to Enninful back when he was i-D fashion director. No word yet on what’s next for the stylist. You can see all the covers he worked on in his post.
