Estee Lauder Names Amanda Gorman First Global Changemaker, TikTok Announces #TikTokFashionMonth and More

Even in slow weeks, the fashion industry is never without hot news brewing for fashion lovers. This week, TikTok announces its plans for the #TikTokFashionMonth, H&M collaborate with fashion icon Itis Apfel on a new collection, Amanda Gorman joined the Estee Lauder Makeup family and more.

TikTok Announces Events For #TikTokFashionMonth

With most major fashion weeks happening in September, TikTok has announced its #TikTokFashionMonth program. The program will see the platform highlight a range of fashion influencers in the app and host various live-streams and events, aligning with community interest.

To kick-off, TikTok has named 10 of its most prominent fashion influencers its “Fashion & Beauty Frontrunners”. All of these influencers represent a diverse group of users in the app. They will participate in various fashion month activities to give TikTokers an inside scoop into the latest trends in the industry.

“What’s special about this year’s Fashion Month is that we’re putting our creators at the forefront with the Fashion & Beauty Frontrunners list,” said CeCe Vu, Fashion Content Partnerships Lead at TikTok. “Our community has come to know and love how we bring them the behind-the-scenes moments from top fashion shows while also helping them get up close with designers. And now, we’re also spotlighting a group of talented and diverse creators we can all look up to and aspire to be.”

Additionally, TikTok found a way to include users in its fashion month. Users can participate by sharing their best runway looks, favourite aesthetics, and more by using #TikTokFashionMonth and following Rate My Outfit and Aesthetic Challenge.

H&M Collaborates With Fashion Icon, Iris Apfel, On New Collection

H&M has announced a collaboration with fashion icon Iris Apfel in celebration of her 100th birthday. The brand will also be celebrating and hosting Iris’s 100^th birthday on Thursday evening during New York Fashion Week 2021, honouring the beloved fashionista who has been a major source of style inspiration for decades.

The Iris Apfel x H&M collection pays homage to her unique style and is to launch in select H&M stores and online in early 2022. The brand was inspired to work with her because of her eccentric style and influence on the fashion community. With her colourful and bold fashion choices, she personifies what it means to truly be a style icon.

“Iris epitomises personal style – a style that is both beautifully flamboyant and eclectic as well as being totally ageless,” says Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative Advisor, H&M Womenswear. She shows what fashion is all about – a means to express yourself, who you are or want to be and having fun at the same time – a true inspirer!”

The collection will include a stunning assortment of clothes and accessories designed for everyone. Every item in the collection is made from recycled or sustainably sourced materials and was made with circularity in mind. In the collection are colourful coordinating sets, floral suits, tiered ruffle dresses and bright printed dresses, featuring a mix of textures, interesting cuts and patterns.

Amanda Gorman Named Estee Lauder’s First-Ever Global Changemaker

American poet, Amanda Gorman, has been named the first Global Changemaker for Estee Lauder. The fashion brand will use this partnership to nurture future leaders and talents to empower them to use their voices loudly.

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“Amanda embodies a new generation and demonstrates the importance and influence of voice,” said Fabrizio Fredo, the CEO of Estee Lauder Companies. “As a company, we are committed to nurturing the leaders and talent of the future, empowering them to use their voices—and to use them loudly.”

The 3-year partnership will kick off with founding the Writing Change initiative by The Estee Lauder Companies. This initiative is aimed at helping advance literacy as a pathway to equality, access and social change. With funding of $3million from the company, the initiative will support grassroots organisations dedicated to literacy, locally and globally.

Not Just Amanda Gorman, Harlem Fashion Week Returns After Covid-19 Break

Harlem Fashion Week has returned for its ninth season after a year’s break due to the covid-19 pandemic. The fashion week will feature featuring a Black Lives Matter fashion exhibition, a Femme Forward awards ceremony and a fashion show with a virtual broadcast.

The festivities include “A Celebration of Black Lives in Fashion,”. This will feature 10 avant-garde garments created by designers across the country inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. With the Femme Forward awards, the brand will honour several women for helping to progress culture, commerce and community through their work.

This will include Nikoa Evans-Hendricks, executive director, Harlem Park to Park; Chivona Renee Newsome, co-founder, Black Lives Matter, Greater New York, and Dionne Williams, producer, Emerge Fashion Show and principal, D. Williams Public Relations. Finally, Harlem Fashion Week: The Runway Shows will present 22 collections.

Vestiaire Collective Achieves B Corporation Certification

Vestiaire Collective has become the first resale fashion platform to receive B Corporation certification. According to the company, this achievement is part of its sustainability and inclusion roadmap. The achievement follows a rigorous certification process from B-Lab, which assesses social and environmental performance, transparency, accountability, as well as demonstrating that they use profits and growth to a greater end.

The assessment also included significant achievements in the ‘Workers’ and ‘Governance’ areas. In 2020, the company appointed a chief sustainability and inclusion officer and launched five employee diversity and inclusion task forces, including Ethnic diversity, LGBTQIA+, Women empowerment, Disability and Equal opportunity. The company boasts 500-plus employees across France, Germany, the US, Hong Kong and Singapore. 60 per cent are women with all staff being from 48 nationalities.

“We are incredibly proud to become the world’s first globally operating and large B Corp Certified resale platform! It’s a huge step on our way to transforming the fashion industry. Vestiaire Collective was born with the idea that we can drive change for a more sustainable future,” said Fanny Moizant, Vestiaire Collective co-founder and president in a statement. “Today, this recognition is more evidence that we can make it. We are extremely honoured to join a growing and pioneering community and we hope it is only the beginning of a broader movement that will trigger even more commitment among our industry and community of fashion activists.”

With this certification, the brand is challenging other resale platforms, fashion brands and industry players to join in.