Matthew Williams to Givenchy
After much speculation, Alyx designer Matthew Williams has been named as the new creative director at Givenchy. The role, which has been empty since Clare Waight-Keller left the brand in April, will have Williams overseeing both men’s and womenswear. An American who got his start as a designer for Kanye West and Lady Gaga, Williams declared in a press release that he is “looking forward to working together with [Givenchy’s] ateliers and teams, to move it into a new era, based on modernity and inclusivity.” [VOGUE]
Sies Marjan is closing
After five years as one of New York’s most buzzed-about labels, Sies Marjan has made the shock decision to shut down. A highlight on the NYFW calendar, the brand has struggled to convert its cult following into commercial success. “Thank you to everyone who has given their time and talent to Sies Marjan over the years. We have built a singular brand whose legacy is not just in the clothes and collections but within each person who contributed along the way,” wrote head designer and brand founder Sander Lak. [The Cut]
Stephen Gan Leaves Elle Magazine
After a week of high controversy, sources are reporting that Nina Garcia, editor-in-chief at ELLE US, is pushing Stephan Gan out of his role as creative director at the magazine. This comes on the heels of allegations of widespread misogyny, homophobia and racism by Gan during his 20-year tenure at V Magazine, the title he co-founded in 1999. In a post by Diet Prada, former employees accused Gan of multiple instances of workplace misconduct. Gan refutes all claims, stating “It’s sad for me that many have fallen prey to vicious rumors.” [WWD]
Zara to Close 1000 stores
Spanish high street megabrand Zara has announced that it will close up to 1,200 stores globally over the next three years, and will instead focus its efforts on e-commerce. Set to invest $3 billion into digital operations, the company will “increase the online customer service teams and the dedicated packaging both from the specific online stockrooms and from the store.” This decision comes after online sales surged 95% over February until April, as the retailer closed 88% of their brick and mortar stores due to the coronavirus pandemic. [Today]
Black Creatives Call out the CFDA
On Monday, more than 250 black professionals called out the Council of Fashion Designers of America for “refusing to consider and implement key equity realization programs” and allowing “exploitative cultures of prejudice, tokenism, and employment discrimination to thrive, unbridled by the sort of watchdog intervention expected of an industry umbrella organization.” In the letter called The Kelly Initiative after designer Patrick Kelly, the first American to be admitted to the Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter in 1988, the group urges the CFDA to participate in a four-part program that includes an industry census to find out diversity numbers, an audit on the current system of headhunting and recruitment, and annual data disclosure.
[Reframing the Future]: A Photographic Print Sale
Some of your favorite photographic young minds are banding together to benefit two big causes. 50+ new and established artists, like Daria Kobayashi Ritch, Davey Adésida, Kyle Weeks, Peter Ash Lee, and more are contributing prints for sale to raise funds for both the National Bail Out and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute. Focusing on how divestment from the current system of policing and mass incarceration is essential to long-term community building, all of the works will be available for purchase at rtfprintsale.com through June 30th, 2020.
The See In Black Project Reclaims Its Time
In honor of Juneteenth, a collective of black photographers have decided to uphold the beauty of the black experience by selling prints for a good cause. Their mission? Raising funds for the five key pillars of advancement – civil rights, community building, criminal justice reform, education/arts, and intersectionality. Grab prints from some of your favorites like Micaiah Carter, Adrienne Raquel, Joshua Kissi, Dana Scruggs, Awol Erizku and more.
London’s First Digital Fashion Week
Last weekend amidst manufacturing delays and social distancing still in place, the British Fashion Council got creative, hosting its first-ever virtual fashion week for spring 2021 menswear. The Netflix-style interface featured video art, music playlists, and designer Q&A’s but notably absent were the British power players like Burberry that normally bring a bigger buzz. Yet, many designers stood up to the challenge that brought tens of thousands of viewers to view creative content featuring designers like J.W. Anderson, Wales Bonner, Ahluwalia, and Marques’Almeida. [NY TIMES]
