Henry Zankov Is Diane von Furstenberg’s First-Ever Artistic Director
Diane von Furstenberg has appointed Henry Zankov as its first artistic director, a newly created role that puts him in charge of the house’s full creative output, from collections to visual identity. It is in many ways a homecoming, as Zankov first joined DVF in 2014 as design director of knitwear, spending four years there before launching his own label, Zankov in 2020. Just last year, in September he designed an exclusive capsule for DVF that debuted at Bergdorf Goodman, and the success of that project appears to have led directly to this appointment. He will debut his first full collection at New York Fashion Week in September, while continuing to run his eponymous label. Nathan Jenden, who returned to the brand in January 2024 as creative director, stays on and will now report to Zankov. “The DVF woman is a rebel — confident, curious and independent,” Zankov said. “It is an honor and privilege for me to build on Diane’s legacy.” Diane von Furstenberg herself offered her blessing saying, “I am excited to watch Henry’s designs, sense of color, and effortless sensibility seduce a new generation.” [WWD]
The Face Magazine Returns
Two months after Wasted Talent confirmed that The Face’s Spring 2026 issue would be its last, citing sustained financial losses and the difficulties of an advertising-led publishing model, the title has found a new home. C86 Holdings, the Singapore-based private investment vehicle founded by entrepreneur Kuok Meng Ru that also owns NME, has acquired The Face from Wasted Talent. The magazine’s website now carries a single message: “The Face will return.” No relaunch date has been announced. Founded in 1980 by Nick Logan, The Face was one of the defining cultural titles of the last century, covering music, fashion, and youth culture across two decades before closing in 2004. Wasted Talent relaunched it in 2019 as a quarterly, famously opening with Harry Styles on the cover, before financial pressure caught up with it again earlier this year. “Some brands matter more than others, and The Face is undeniably one of them,” said Kuok Meng Ru [Business of Fashion]
Camera Moda Fashion Trust Names Its 2026 Grant Recipients
Act N.1, Institution by Galib Gassanoff, and Materia are the recipients of the sixth edition of the Camera Moda Fashion Trust grant, announced at a gala dinner at Milan’s Fabbrica del Vapore this week. The three brands were selected from a shortlist of 11 finalists drawn from 80 applicants, each receiving a grant of 70,000 euros alongside a bespoke business mentoring programme from the Trust’s network. Act N.1 and Institution are both returning recipients, while Materia is a new winner. Founded in 2023 by Francesco Saverio Matera, a graduate of Milan’s Istituto Europeo di Design who previously worked on footwear at both Moncler and Stone Island, Materia designs garments built around ergonomic principles and utilizes regenerated wool from traceable supply chains. The jury included, Sara Sozzani Maino, Anna Dello Russo, Suzy Menkes, Edward Buchanan, Beka Gvishiani of Stylenotcom, Sabato De Sarno, and president of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana and a trustee of the Camera Moda Fashion Trust, Carlo Capasa. “Supporting young designers today means giving space to the future of Italian fashion.” said Capasa. [WWD]
Industry Access: Nick Knight and Tom Wandrag
Artificial intelligence is changing fashion image-making fast and not without controversy. As brands experiment with AI-generated campaigns, conversations around authorship, ethics, and the future of creative jobs continue to intensify. For the latest Industry Access conversation, legendary image-maker Nick Knight joins creative technologist Tom Wandrag at SHOWstudio in London to discuss the promises and limits of AI in fashion. With Knight’s groundbreaking work shooting stars like Björk, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Iman and A New Plane’s experiments with emerging technology, the pair explore whether AI can expand creativity without replacing the human instinct behind great images. Moderated by Models.com Editorial Director Irene Ojo-Felix, listen to the full conversation here.
MDC Selects: These New Faces Are the Next Wave of Asian American Representation
These new faces are the next wave of Asian American representation in modeling. From a software developer helping advance neurosurgical technology to a die-hard Los Angeles Lakers fan, these rising rookies arrive at Models.com to share interesting facts about themselves, their essential morning routines, and more. Click the link here to read the full interview.
Models.com x Mentoring Matters Presents an Industry Access Panel on “Who Gets In?”
Highlights from “Who Gets In?” an Industry Access panel at Soho Works in collaboration with Mentoring Matters. The panel, which included the founder of Mentoring Matters, Laura Edwards, and past Mentoring Matters mentors, top hairstylist and co-founder of Echelon Noir, Jawara, Executive Digital Director of Harper’s Bazaar US, Lynette Nylander, Director of Strategic Costing at Supreme, Jessica Lin, and Models.com host, moderator, and MM alum Anire Ikomi. Sparked insightful conversations about building creative careers in fashion, beauty, and media, about mentorship, and access.Thanks to everyone who came out and made the night a success! Stay tuned for the full conversation coming soon, here only on Models.com. Special thanks to Doladira, Diptyque, and Sohoworks.
