Pradasphere II Exhibition Is Coming
A Prada exhibition is set to arrive in Shanghai this December. The renowned Italian house will present the brand’s captivating history through the Pradasphere II exhibition, spanning from its establishment in 1913 to the present day. Pradasphere II will feature intimate narratives thoughtfully co-curated by creative directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons. From December 7th to January 21st, this exhibition will showcase over 500 artifacts, encompassing both physical and digital pieces sourced directly from the fashion archive. It will also shed light on Prada’s profound influence on luxury, beauty, fashion, as well as its contributions to art, architecture, culture, sport, and meticulous craftsmanship.The inaugural Pradasphere took place in 2014 at Harrods, featuring captivating short films by renowned directors such as Wes Anderson and Ridley Scott, along with a treasure trove of previously unseen archival items. This exhibition eventually journeyed to Hong Kong. Pradasphere II is poised to follow a similar path and will be accessible to the public. [WWD] [Prada]
Bottega Veneta Taps Shu Qi As Global Brand Ambassador
Italian luxury house Bottega Veneta tapped award-winning actress Shu Qi, who has appeared in films like the Millennium Mambo and The Assassin, as a global brand ambassador. In an exclusive campaign to announce their latest ambassador, Qi was photographed by Sander Muylaert and holds the new Gemelli shoulder bag while sporting a leather intrecciato weave button-up. The actress said, “Bottega Veneta inherits the classic spirit of Italian craftsmanship, invigorated with innovative creativity and a truly global outlook. There’s a cinematic quality to the design, with a beautiful sense of texture, detail and movement.” Qi now joins the ranks of the Bottega Veneta family under the creative direction of Matthieu Blazy, following in the footsteps of the first ambassador BTS pop-star Kim Nam-joon, also known as RM. [WWD]
PUMA Selects A$AP Rocky As Creative Director for F1 Partnership
Earlier this year, PUMA announced a multi-year licensing partnership to exclusively manufacture and distribute Formula 1 apparel at all races. Taking the helm of this collaboration, they brought on A$AP Rocky as the creative director, who will closely collaborate with PUMA’s CEO, Arne Freundt to create PUMA x F1 product spanning from racewear to fanwear to fashion. The plan includes releasing capsule collections throughout the 2024 race calendar, with A$AP Rocky making his debut in Miami curating activations. Rocky said, “working with brands as iconic as PUMA, and as innovative as F1, has been truly inspiring.” A$AP Rocky has ventured into design before, having co-designed collections with JW Anderson, Marine Serre, and Guess Originals. The debut of A$AP Rocky’s collection is eagerly anticipated in the coming weeks. [PUMA]
European Regulators Approve Farfetch Deal for Ynap
Farfetch is in the process of acquiring a 47.5% stake in online luxury fashion retailer, Yoox Net-A-Porter (YNAP) owned by Richemont. This move received approval from European Union antitrust regulators this past week. However, the announcement of the acquisition led to an 83% decrease in Farfetch’s share price, reflecting the complexity of the deal and the challenges faced by the luxury market, as reported by Vogue Business. As a result, there are expectations of renegotiations of the initial terms. Under the current agreement, Farfetch plans to compensate Richemont, the Switzerland-based luxury conglomerate, with 64.2 million Farfetch shares instead of a cash payment, resulting in a significant write-down of €2.7 billion by Richemont. This situation has raised questions about the value of Richemont’s stake in Farfetch, now estimated at $120 million, a substantial decrease from the previous $615 million, according to Vogue Business. Farfetch, previously recognized for its innovative approach that attracted numerous luxury brands to embrace online sales, is facing challenges achieving profitability due to evolving technology and rising marketing costs. [Vogue Business]
Anok Yai On Redefining A New Era Of Supermodels
Shot by Mauricio Sierra, Models.com spoke to supermodel Anok Yai in Paris during a hectic fashion week schedule to discuss the performance of runway, not being afraid to ask for creative control or be opinionated, and the importance of being her own business. Find the interview here.
How Set Designer Julia Wagner Executes Her Three-Dimensional Vision
Models.com spoke to set designer and art director Julia Wagner the creative force behind Studio Wagner and whose client list includes Ferragamo, Loewe, Burberry, and Wales Bonner. Wagner explains how she got her start from Europe to New York, how collaboration has been a central driving force in her career, and how a main character can trigger ideas for the set design. Find the interview here.
Model of the Week: Hollow Touete Went from Music Festival to Alyx Catwalk Debut
Models.com spoke to Hollow Touete about how he got scouted, his passion for music, and his monozygotic twin. Check out the interview here.
