Lanvin Taps Peter Copping as Artistic Director
Last week, the French luxury house Lanvin announced that British designer Peter Copping will be its new artistic director, starting in September. Copping is best known for his earlier roles as creative director at Oscar de la Renta and Nina Ricci. Recently at Balenciaga, Copping directed the ateliers for the reintroduction of the couture collection. Since 2022, he held the title of Head of Special Projects and VIP Atelier. Copping will start immediately working on Lanvin’s pre-fall 2025 collections for women and men. His runway debut has not yet been announced. Siddhartha Shukla, Lanvin’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, described Copping’s arrival as “an important milestone in the renaissance of one of the great French maisons. I am confident that with Peter’s vision and technical rigor and the continued perseverance of our teams globally, we will identify a new frontier in fashion and deliver beauty and results in equal measure.” Lanvin’s previous creative director, Bruno Sialelli, who had a four-year tenure, parted ways with the French house in April 2023. [WWD]
Christopher Esber Wins The Andam Prize
As couture week concluded, the jury for the 35th-anniversary edition of the Andam Prize announced Christopher Esber as the winner. Esber, who founded his eponymous brand in 2010, won the Andam Grand Prize for Fashion. The prize includes a €300,000 reward, a year of mentoring, and a Swarovski trophy designed by Anthony Vaccarello, creative director of Saint Laurent and president of the 2024 Andam Prize jury. The jury’s special prize was awarded to 3.Paradis, founded by Emeric Tchatchoua in 2013. The brand’s ethos is rooted in gratitude and the loss of Tchatchoua’s brother to street violence; its symbol is the dove. The Pierre Bergé Prize was awarded to Pièces Uniques, the Accessories Prize to Maeden, and the Innovation Prize to Pauline Weinmann, founder of Alternative Innovation. Each award carries a grant of €100,000. All 12 finalists will receive extensive support and benefits for their upcoming collections. This includes access to deadstock and materials from Balenciaga and Longchamp, digital support from Google, and private visits to the Musée Yves Saint Laurent and the Swarovski showroom. They will also receive hands-on mentoring and workshops from Mytheresa (on communication), OTB (sustainability), and Tomorrow (merchandising). Additionally, WSN and Première Classe will support the winners’ next PFW event. The finalists will have access to the IFM Accelerator programme and receive financial guidance from the IFCIC, a credit institution specializing in the cultural and creative sectors. A roundup of looks by past winners is currently on display on the second floor of the Galeries Lafayette flagship in Paris. On September 30th, the MAD Museum will feature an exhibition showcasing looks by each of the previous 35 grand prize winners. [Vogue Business]
Male model Renauld White Passes at 80
Renauld White, a trailblazing model and actor, passed away at 80. Throughout his decade-long career, White graced the covers of Essence, Ebony, and others and became the first Black male model to appear on the cover of GQ in November 1979. White starred as William Reynolds on “Guiding Light” across seven episodes from 1986 to 1992, with other acting credits in the TV movie “Gun Hill” and the 2017 horror thriller “Central Park”. Ray Volant, founder of Bella Agency, said, “We were so honored to have represented Renauld at Bella Agency New York over the past 10 years. He will be truly missed in the fashion world but not forgotten for all the trailblazing moments he accomplished. Renauld’s passion and perseverance was an inspiration for many. He helped young models find their place in the industry. He was one of a kind.”
The Upcoming Show Season is Already Buzzing
Summer may be amping up, but next season’s shows are already being announced ahead of the S/S 2025 calendar. This week, the king of Americana, Ralph Lauren is back on the calendar September 5th to kick off New York fashion week with a destination show in the Hamptons. Alaïa announced that on September 6, designer Pieter Mulier is bringing the storied maison to New York for the winter/spring 2025 collection. The show marks a return for the French brand who last showed in the 80s and it’s creative director who last lived in New York during Raf Simons’ tenure at Calvin Klein. Looking in the not too distant future, Chanel already announced plans for its Métiers d’Art collection to roll out in Hangzhou, China on December 3rd. As the brand continues to search for a creative director with Virginie Viard’s departure, the Métiers d’art collection, unique to Chanel, honors the Maisons d’Art artisans and has been hosted in Dakar, Manchester, and its home base of Paris in the past.
From Runway to Film: Cherif Douamba & Ottawa Kwami on their Directorial Debut
Stepping off the runway and into the director’s chair, Ottawa Kwami and Cherif Douamba are proving their skills behind the camera. Having worked with Louis Vuitton, Balmain, and Calvin Klein, the Top 50 models are shifting the conversation towards a cause close to their homes, redefining Africa’s portrayal through their cinematic lens and creative collective Sioh. With the release of their short films “One Day” and “Kubolor,” the duo have been committed to building community and breaking down stigmas while filming in their home countries of Ivory Coast and Ghana. Created in collaboration with Kloss Films and Hale Zero, Models.com spoke to Douamba and Kwami, fresh off men’s fashion week, about how they met, learning from creative legends like Paolo Roversi, and the standout highlights of their careers. Check out the interview here.
How Amidat Giwa Went From Studying Law to Being a Hairstylist
London-based hairstylist Amidat Giwa naturally gravitated towards hairdressing after watching her mother in her shop, which led her to high profile work with Gucci, Calvin Klein and Pop Magazine. For the latest segment of Behind the Image, learn about Amidat’s biggest challenges, one thing outside of work that she would like for us to know, and who’s one to watch. Find the full interview here.
Malcolm Edwards is the Visionary Behind Fashion’s Boldest Hair
With over two decades of experience, hairstylist Malcolm Edwards has played a transformative role within the images of photography’s renowned. Beginning his career in the beauty industry in 1980’s Scotland, he aspired to be a hairstylist for photographers going from local salons to London beauty elite. After assisting hair legend Guido Palau, he perfected his craft backstage at shows for Helmut Lang and Calvin Klein, and went on to work with photographers like Tim Walker, Solve Sundsbo, and Mert and Marcus. Models.com spoke to Edwards on London’s influence on his aesthetic, how a late ADHD diagnosis changed his perspective on work/life balance, and the importance of being prepared to put in the hard work. Click the link here to read the full interview.
MDC Selects: These Model Rookies Are the All-American Dream
This week’s MDC Selects are an all American group of new faces. Find out what inspires them, how they were discovered, and what interesting facts you should know about them by clicking the link here.
