The fashion industry has always been one that merges with other industries to create new designs. This week, it was at it again with exciting news from around the globe. In fashion news this week, Rise to celebrate sexual assault survivors with a runway show at NYFW, Mercedes-Benz partners with a fashion designer to create inflatable airbag clothes, and many more.
Kendall Jenner Lands Role As FWRD’s New Creative Director
Kendall Jenner has been named the new creative director of online retail fashion brand FWRD. This announcement came after the supermodel, reality TV star, and entrepreneur was hailed the “biggest fashion icon” in the world.
With her cult following on social media and her years of experience in the fashion industry, she is a good fit for the position.
“Kendall is the epitome of luxury fashion, and there isn’t a better fit for this position,” said Raissa Gerona, the chief brand officer of FWRD’s parent company, Revolve Group
As creative director, Jenner will be responsible for the “look and feel of the site”. She will, therefore, work with designers and brands to shape the boutique e-commerce site’s offerings. Alongside this, she will put together her edits of designers and trends for customers to shop.
“This position means an additional step in my journey with fashion, where I can work with the brands and creative teams I have admired in fresh, new ways,” says Jenner. “I see this as a great opportunity to put what I’ve learned into practice, and most likely learn even more.”
Civil Rights Accelerator, Rise, To Host First Annual Runway Show At NYFW To Celebrate Sexual Assault Survivors
Civil rights accelerator, Rise, is hosting its first annual survival fashion show on September 10 at the Museum of Modern Art. As part of the New York Fashion Week (NYFW), Rise wishes to celebrate sexual assault survivors.
This show which not only draws attention to survivors but also to those who support them will highlight a United Nations resolution championed by Rise and introduced by Sierra Leone that aims to give access to justice for survivors of sexual violence around the world.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 35 per cent of women around the globe, that is, 1.3 billion people are sexual violence survivors. At the show, survivors of sexual assault will walk the runway with a celebrity. They will don outfits from Chloe, Phillip Lim, and Diane von Furstenberg, amongst others.
According to Rise’s founder, Amanda Nguyen, after being asked constantly, “What are you wearing” at an NYFW show, she began to think. “In the context of fashion, it was really empowering and fun, signalling your agency, your choice to put together this piece and be present for this show. Those exact words I had heard in the polar 180 opposite context, which was after my rape — ‘What were you wearing?’” she said. “And in that context, it’s meant to shame and blame victims.”
This fashion show is aimed at arranging for survivors to walk the runway and reclaim that question “to be empowered instead of being victim-blamed”.
Mercedes-Benz Collaborates With Fashion Designer, Heron Preston To Create Inflatable Airbag Clothes
Recently, luxury car brand, Mercedes-Benz partnered with fashion designer, Heron Preston to create a new fashion collection. This collection, complete with jackets, trousers, and coats, transforms car airbags into inflatable clothes. Thus comes as the automobile brand celebrates the 40 anniversary of its airbag patent.
Since airbags, once deployed, cannot be used for much again, the brand decided to find ways to put them to use. Therefore, the car manufacturers sourced discarded airbags and with the help of Preston recycled them into a fashion collection. According to the brand, Preston was picked because of his reputation for promoting sustainability and his innovative self.
“Heron’s unique take on sustainability and the way he approaches the topic through the lens of culture is what made him an outstanding partner to work with on this project”, said Bettina Fetzer, Mercedes-Benz vice president of communications and marketing.
“The Airbag concept collection is inspired by two anniversaries of the life-saving technical innovation: the Airbag patent 50 years ago and the first serial introduction into our flagship model, the S-Class back in 1981. We are convinced that co-creation and collaborative projects create memorable and unique moments with our brand.”
However, not much has been said about the collection or its inflation property. Some speculate that the inflation is activated by its wearer and others say it is triggered by an accident. While the collection is not for sale to the public, it will be displayed from September 6th to 8th at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin. It will also be available through a giveaway at the global GOAT platform on September 10.
Prada Collaborates With Artist Theaster Gates to Launch Inclusive, Experimental Design Hub To Support Black And Brown Designers
Prada has teamed with artist Theaster Gates to launch an experimental design lab. This happens as the luxury fashion brand makes an effort to further support and counsel artists of colour. The mission of the collaboration is to expose underrepresented and formally-trained talent to big players in the industry.
The Dorchester Industries Experimental Design Lab, named after Theaster Gates Studio’s design and manufacturing branch, will serve as a platform for Black and brown artists over 3 years. It is located in Southside Chicago.
“This is about exposing the people who have great design abilities and ambition to a great design house,” Gates said.
During the three-year program, designers will have the opportunity to refine their skills, create projects of their own, and mingle in a larger, more professional network. The program does not stay in the fashion industry alone, but it extends to training and exposure in the furniture, industrial, and graphic design industries. This will give designers of colours a chance to be better represented in various industries.
British Fashion Council Partners With 50:50 The Equality Project To Increase Representation In The Fashion Industry
The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced a long-term partnership with 50:50 The Equality Project on an initiative. This initiative, created by the BBC for the media industry is aimed at increasing representation and creating content that fairly represents the audiences it serves. It is set to launch during the London Fashion Week.
The BFC and the 50:50 The Equality Project will ask designers taking part to collect diversity data from their event. This will include data from design teams, hair and makeup, models, production, and communications.
All this data will be used to benchmark and track progress to reflect the audiences, consumers and communities they serve and employ, as part of the BFC’s strategy to positively impact representation across the fashion industry. The BFC will also be collecting, benchmarking, and tracking its progress.
“We look forward to seeing the success we have seen of 50:50 within the BBC, positively impact London Fashion Week. 50:50 will encourage all businesses to make more conscious choices around the teams they employ from full-time employees to the freelancers employed at shows, from models to stylists, hair and make-up artists, communications and production teams,” said June Sarpong, director of creative diversity at the BBC and board director at the BFC in a statement.
Some of the designers who have signed for the project include Anciela, Anna Mason, Carlota Barrera, Edward Crutchley, Eirinn Hayhow, amongst others. The BFC stated that findings from the project will begin to be published 18 months from the start, which will be used for continued benchmarking and monitoring purposes.
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