Prada x Theaster Gates Announce Design Lab Awardees
Theaster Gates has collaborated with Prada to start the three-year creative support program, Dorchester Industries Experimental Design Lab. The lab aims to support POC creatives by developing their skills and introducing them to organizations looking to work with diverse talents, like Prada. The inaugural committee included filmmaker and director Ava DuVernay, the late designer Virgil Abloh, and architect Sir David Adjaye who nominated 14 creative thinkers out of 200 nominees to the lab’s cohort. Each awardee will receive a sizable grant, but the primary mission is to “bring people together.” The cohort includes a diverse group of talents from architecture, fashion, accessories, performing arts, and tech backgrounds – Tolu Coker, Germane Barnes, Maya Bird-Murphy, Brandon Breaux, Norman Teague, Summer Coleman, Salome Asega, Kenturah Davis, Yemi Amu, Kyle Abraham, Damarr Brown, Catherine Sarr, Kendall Reynolds, and Mariam Issoufou. [Vogue]
Destinations Shows Are On The Rise
Destinations shows are back in fashion for luxury brands. Balenciaga just announced that their 2023 collection debuts in NYC on May 21; Louis Vuitton announced in February that its resort collection will show in LA, Chanel resort’s offering will be in Monaco, and now Dior wants in. For the women’s pre-fall collection, Maria Grazia Chiuri will showcase her collection at Ewha Woman’s University, a private women’s university in Seoul, on April 30th. As part of Dior’s women’s mentorship program, the luxury brand will partner with the university “on educational programs and events designed to inspire and nurture future leaders, and empower women to promote gender equality in the community.” On the menswear side, Kim Jones is headed to California, where Jones will debut Dior Men’s Spring 2023 pre-collection on May 19th, although the venue has not been released to the public yet. [WWD]
Models.com’s Icons Interview with Soo Joo Park
For our Industry Icon rankings, Models.com interviewed icon Soo Joo Park about her trajectory, the lessons she’s learned working with the biggest names in the business, and unleashing her alter ego. With an accompanied shoot captured by Peter Ash Lee. Check it out here.
Farfetch Invests in Neiman Marcus Group
E-retailer Farfetch is building on its luxury retail vision by investing a minority common equity of $200 million in Neiman Marcus. Farfetch also plans to bring the Neiman Marcus Group-owned company Bergdorf Goodman, to the platform. The deal includes Goodman using Farfetch Platform Solutions to re-platform the company and introduce a digital customer experience. CEO of NMG Geoffroy van Raemdonck said, “José (founder and CEO of Farefetch) and the entire Farfetch team have built a best-in-class technology platform and are the ideal partner to help us; grow Bergdorf Goodman to be an even stronger global digital luxury retailer.” [WWD]
Alexander Wang Returns To The Runway
Alexander Wang is set to showcase his eponymous brand’s pre-fall and fall 2022 collections in LA’s Chinatown on April 19th. The event is called “Fortune City” and is meant to celebrate “the significance of Asian American cultures and communities.” The runway show will be the brand’s first appearance on the runway since Wang’s sexual assault allegations came to light by models Owen Mooney, Gia Garrison, and others. In 2021, Wang met with the accusers represented by Lisa Bloom, and Bloom announced that the accusers had settled and decided to move forward. [WWD]
Thurstan Reddings New Book Kids of Cosplay
Models.com interviewed photographer Thurstan Redding about the process of creating his new book Kids of Cosplay, how essential the element of ‘play’ is, and getting rejected by Daenerys Targaryen. Check out the interview here. The book is available for pre-order here and will be sold globally this winter, and retails for $85.
Fiorucci Launches S/S 22 Collection At Fred Segal
Italian fashion house Fiorucci debuts its new S/S 22 collection and campaign with a pop-up at Fred Segal in sunny LA, just in time for the festival season. Artistic Director Daniel Fletcher was deeply inspired by festivals and nature for their latest line. Fletcher said, “I wanted to take a trip through Fiorucci’s hedonistic past with a collection inspired by its 1970s beginnings, which can be seen in the archive palm prints and sexier silhouettes reflecting the party spirit of the brand, but all still rooted in its connection to the earth.” The free-spirited collection features a range of accessories, such as matching bucket hats in bold prints — and a variety of versatile handbags with cross-body shapes, classic shoulder styles, and more. The pop-up/installation will be available from April 1st to April 30th, during the month of Coachella.
Frederikke Sofie and Simon Heger Knudsen Release “10 Ark” Booklet
Frederikke Sofie and photographer Simon Heger Knudsen collaborated to create the “10 Ark” booklet inspired by Japanese calligraphy paper and an old computer and printer that Simon’s mom had. The images were shot in a pine forest by the beach and document Frederikke’s affinity “to the forest and its surrounding, evoking the grounding that nature provides us during a time of change and uncertainty.” You can find out more about the book here.
