Estée Lauder Signs Adut Akech To Beauty Ambassador Roster
Global beauty company Estée Lauder announced on Thursday that South Sudanese model Adut Akech will be their newest brand ambassador. Akech will feature in various makeup and skincare campaigns, with her first campaign set to launch July 1st. In a moving Instagram caption, the model said, “To now be the representation in the fashion beauty space I didn’t have growing up means everything to me.”[Vogue]
Alber Elbaz to be Honored During Paris Fashion Week
The late Alber Elbaz will be honored by his fashion startup AZ Factory this Paris Fashion Week with a celebration of his life. While there’s no word on the venue, WWD reports leading up to the event this Fall, two full product releases of handbags and leisurewear will roll out, the last ranges finalized by the designer before his passing. The first one will drop on June 12th on what would have been Elbaz’s 60th birthday and will be sold on AZFactory.com, Farfetch.com, and Net-A-Porter.com.
Christian Louboutin to Launch Charity Collection with Idris Elba & Sabrina Dhowre Elba
French designer Christian Louboutin is collaborating with Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre Elba on a philanthropic project that will support various organizations that prevent racial injustice. The collection “Walk A Mile In My Shoes” was developed to help call attention and keep the conversation going about the racial inequities that were highlighted last summer after the death of George Floyd. All proceeds will go to five charities: the Immediate Theater in the UK, The Somali Hope Foundation/Somali Hope Academy, Harry Belafonte’s The Gathering for Justice, Sierra Leone’s Be Rose International Foundation, and Purposeful. [BoF]
Print Sale To Help India Battle Delta Covid-19 Variant
Fashion photographer turned director Jam Patel started Creative Seva which means Creative Selfless Service to help India during their ongoing fight against the Delta Covid-19 variant. 88 artists including Inez and Vinoodh, Steve McCurry, and Bibi Borthwick have shown their support by contributing their artworks to the cause. All proceeds will be equally split up and sent to Khalsa Aid, Hemkunt Foundation, and Feeding From Far, which are all providing oxygen concentrators, cylinders, and food in Delhi and Mumbai. Prints are available on Creative Seva.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPoPi4lnLyT/
Woolmark Prize Reveals Solange Knowles Collab
The finale presentation of the International Woolmark Prize has been released, with visuals and a film made in collaboration with Solange Knowles and her Saint Heron studio. Entitled Passage, the stirring six-minute film—which is Solange’s first in two years—was directed by artist Wu Tsang and styled by Ib Kamara. Cast by Misha Notcutt, appearing in the Merino wool creations of the finalists is a multigenerational and diverse mix of Black talent, including the iconic Dionne Warwick, Pose actor Dominique Jackson, rapper SahBabii, Atlanta legend Joi (of the Dungeon Family), Chicagoan singer-songwriter Keiyaa and models Somalia Knight, Duot Ajang and Aheem Sosa. The winner of the Woolmark Prize will be announced on June 10. [Harper’s Bazaar]
ANDAM Finalists Announced
In other fashion prize news, the 14 finalists for the 2021 ANDAM Award have been announced. The majority of them hail from France—Egon Lab (co-founded by male model Florentin Glemarec), Charles de Vilmorin, Casablanca, Uniforme, Aswad, Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Samuel François are all Paris-based labels. Korean-born, America-raised Rok Hwang of Rokh joins Bianca Saunders and Wales Bonner as the London-based finalists. Also in the mix are GMBH (co-founder Benjamin Huseby is someone you may remember from his previous life as a photographer) from Berlin, Area from the NY, Ester Manas from Brussels and Published By from Vienna. The grand prize is 300,000 euros and a year of mentorship from Balenciaga’s Cédric Charbit. [WWD]
