IMG, Joan Smalls And Black In Fashion Council Team Up To Launch #ChangeFashion, Uniqlo Surpasses Zara In Worth And More

With our Global Fashion Roundup column, we bring to you fashion news from around the world weekly. This week in fashion; sustainable fashion brands join forces to request President Biden appoint a Fashion Czar, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund will be tweaked this year, and more.

Fashion Joins Forces to Ask President Biden to Appoint Fashion Czar

Last week, Elizabeth Segran, senior staff writer at Fast Company, raised the idea of a fashion czar to the public. This week, many in the sustainable fashion world have received the suggestion with open arms. The fashion czar will serve as a high-level policy adviser in fashion.

“Individual brands can only do so much, and I’m a little bit tired of hearing the same story over and over that they’re trying to push things in the right direction when at a global level we’re confronting climate change, we’re seeing all of these microplastics end up in the ocean. These are enormous consequences that the fashion industry is wreaking havoc on the world,” said Elizabeth Segran.

The article took off and was supported by many in the fashion industry. Sustainable brands like Allbirds, Reformation, Cuyana, and Mara Hoffman have all signed the petition. At the forefront of the effort is lawyer Hilary Jochmans who specialises in sustainable fashion policy.

“Fashion should be asking what kind of change they want to effect and with their industry and with their government,” Jochmans said. The letter will be sent out on Friday to the President and Segran remains hopeful and optimistic about his response.

The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Will Be Tweaked in 2021

The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund this year will take a different turn from other years. To support the industry in 2021, all 10 finalists will receive financial and mentorship support, not just the top 3. Previously, the winner of the Fashion Fund received $400,000 and $150,000 went to the 2 runners up.

This change serves as an evolution from 2020’s A Common Thread initiative which had over 160 grant recipients and raised over $5 million. This change is welcome at a time when most designers can use the help to grow their business.

“The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund began in a time of crisis, and given where we are now it’s important that we continue to give back like never before,” said Anna Wintour, editor in chief and global editorial director of Vogue and global chief content officer for Condé Nast. “After last year’s A Common Thread initiative, we decided to rethink our 17-year fund to serve our designers in the best and strongest way possible.”

The finalists would be chosen by a panel of judges that comprises some new faces. Some of them include Tom Ford, Anna Wintour, Chioma Nnadi, and so on.

IMG, Joan Smalls, and Black In Fashion Council Collaborate with Color Of Change for #ChangeFashion

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IMG, supermodel Joan Smalls, and the Black in Fashion Council have partnered with Color of Change. Together, they will launch #Change Fashion, a series of initiatives to fight racism and systemic issues in the fashion industry.

“The #ChangeFashion Roadmap is the resource we’ve been needing, for both my industry peers and the brands and executives we collaborate with,” Smalls said in a statement. “We have to start putting actions behind our words. We cannot sit back and hope that change will come, we must be the force that makes it happen. Making changes can be difficult but the purpose behind the #ChangeFashion Roadmap is that no one person or organization has to act alone. This resource will push the boundaries of what fashion is capable of, empowering all of us to be the force for good we desperately need.”

#ChangeFashion is the third iteration of a multi-industry racial accountability franchise from Color of Change. The first was #ChangeHollywood with Michael B. Jordan in close partnership with WME and Endeavor. The second is #ChangeMusic is being executed with the Recording Academy.

Uniqlo Surpasses Zara in Worth

The value of Uniqlo‘s owner Fast Retailing has surpassed Zara‘s owner Inditex for the very first time. This makes the Japanese holding company the highest market cap within the fashion industry.

According to reports, Fast Retailing is now worth $103 billion as of Tuesday, while Inditex sits at $99 billion. This success by Uniqlo is due to investors’ interest in Asian markets.

Machine-A Creates Augmented Reality Shopping Boutique

The London-based concept store, Machine-A has created an augmented reality shopping boutique. This idea came up to recreate the in-person experience the lockdown took away from shopping.

Developed in partnership with the Insitute of Digital Fashion, the virtual store will coincide with London Fashion Week’s start date. The store will showcase the work of emerging UK designers like Martine Rose, Richard Quinn and A-Cold-Wall, to boost visibility during the digital fashion week.

To enter the store customer will have to scan a QR code to prompt the digital rendering of a sales floor. They will then be able to view the Autumn/Winter 2021 collections, unfinished pieces and personal messages from the designers. The QR code will be embedded in fly-posters and billboards across London from Peckham to Notting Hill and Soho, where Machine-A is based.