GUCCI AND SUPERPLASTIC TO DROP EXCLUSIVE NFTS AND CERAMIC ARTWORKS
It has been a year of collaborations for Gucci. After a co-branded collection with The North Face, the show on Hollywood Boulevard, and the creation of a hacking collection with Balenciaga that introduced the concept of partnership in the world of fashion, Gucci has teamed up with the leading creator of animated celebrities, limited-edition vinyl toys, and digital collectables Superplastic to unveil a collaboration featuring a series of CryptoJanky NFTs and handmade ceramic sculptures. Titled SuperGucci, the collaboration will arrive in three parts, marking the luxury fashion house’s expansion to the world of metaverse and NFTs. The first drop will feature 10 exclusive NFT pieces, which are each accompanied by a ceramic sculpture. It draws inspiration from Gucci’s signature patterns, icons, and symbols, reinterpreted through the lens of Superplastic synthetic celebrities and artists, Janky and Guggimon. As a part of the collaboration, Gucci Vault, created under the vision of Creative Director Alessandro Michele, will join the metaverse. The vault will also present its sixth drop of pre-owned vintage Gucci pieces, which was first launched in September 2021. All these items have been hand-picked by Michele and the archivists of the fashion house, which have been restored and reconditioned, bringing to light several one-of-a-kind pieces. Each vintage article is numbered, and gets a unique packaging.
LOUIS VUITTON PRESENTS VIRGIL ABLOH’S LAST COLLECTION AT PARIS FASHION WEEK
Louis Vuitton presented its Fall/Winter 2022 menswear — Virgil Abloh’s last collection — at Paris Fashion Week. The artistic director of Louis Vuitton passed away two months ago after a private battle with a rare form of cardiac cancer. For Fall-Winter 2022, the eighth chapter in his arc at Louis Vuitton, Abloh constructs a Louis Dreamhouse around a collection steeped in the core ideologies of his practice. A cinematic prelude, directed by Caleb Femi, imagines a metaphysical space of possibility: a mind-expanding interior of ideas, prospects, and encouragement, which opens a door to the runway. The collection featured pleated skirts, thick collars, silk and velvet tailoring in vibrant hues, washed-out monogram denim, floral-printed matching sets, riffs on varsity jackets and jerseys, Abloh’s original sneaker designs and reworked classic Louis Vuitton bags like the Louis Vuitton Keepall. Models strutted down the runway in colourful silk two-piece sets, fur jackets, and hats with cat-ear-shaped structures. At the end of the show, models came out dressed in all white, with intricate lacewings and veils reminiscent of angels.
DIOR COLLABORATES WITH INDIAN ARTISTS FOR SCENOGRAPHY OF HAUTE COUTURE 2022
At the Dior haute couture spring/summer 2022 show in Paris, Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri and Karishma Swali, Mumbai-based Chanakya ateliers and Chanakya School of Craft collaborated to showcase art installations, featuring award-winning contemporary Indian artists Madhvi and Madhu Parekh. The joint project developed as part of a years-long conversation between Swali and Chiuri. “Maria Grazia has always been a true champion for craft excellence, fostering, and preserving indigenous master techniques from around the world, and we are so grateful for her collaboration and mentorship,” said Swali in a statement. The works depict traditional Indian motifs and spiritual abstractions that celebrate the dichotomy between male and female, real and surreal, action and stillness. These dualities are seen as complementary, as opposed to forces that oppose.
FRENCH FASHION DESIGNER THIERRY MUGLER DIES AT 73
French fashion designer Thierry Mugler, who was known for his bold and risque designs and taking over the ’80s fashion scene, died on January 23 due to natural causes, according to his agent. He was 73. His official Instagram account put up a plain, all-black image with an accompanying caption that announced the passing of the legendary designer. Born in Strasbourg in December 1948, he arrived in Paris aged 20 and created his own label, Cafe de Paris, in 1973, a year before founding Thierry Mugler. He was known for organising spectacular public presentations of his creations, and was also celebrated for his ‘Angel’ scent. The designer was known for using plastic-like futuristic fabric in his sculpted clothing, which eventually went on to become his signature style. He defined haute couture over several decades, and his designs have been worn by the likes of David Bowie, George Michael, and Sharon Stone, among many others.
RBL AND RAHUL MISHRA SET TO LAUNCH A NEW BRAND
Fashion designer Rahul Mishra is set to partner with Reliance Brands Limited (RBL) to create a new ready-to-wear brand. The corporate giant and the design house will be launching a new ready-to-wear label in a 60:40 joint venture. The brand will grow both vertically and horizontally to cross-pollinate creativity further in the fields of accessories, footwear, home, beauty, and jewellery for a worldwide audience. Mishra will serve as the Creative Director of the new brand. Commenting on this partnership, Mishra said, “We are excited to have the wonderful opportunity via this JV to partner with the market leader Reliance Brands that brings with it strong know-how in the management of the luxury and retail landscape. The care they take to nurture the growth of some of the world’s best luxury brands, their understanding of every aspect of the business process resonates with our vision for growing the vistas for Rahul Mishra Design House. Reflecting on the critical and commercial success of Rahul Mishra couture collections, it has been our desire to equally focus on ready to wear business and extend our universe by democratising the fashion cultivated by us. With this partnership for the new brand, we are sure of achieving mindful growth while giving the process its due attention and care.”
RELIANCE INDUSTRIES SET TO LAUNCH OMNICHANNEL BEAUTY PLATFORM TO TAKE ON NYKAA, MYNTRA
Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries (RIL) is set to unveil its omnichannel beauty platform to take on cosmetics-to-fashion platform Nykaa, Walmart-owned Myntra, and others. The company’s two recent buyouts, retail tech startup Fynd and e-pharmacy marketplace Netmeds, will help in launching the beauty platform, which is being developed jointly by both companies, as reported by ET. While Netmeds will be responsible for the backend, warehousing, and data management from Chennai, Fynd is building the frontend and designing the customer interface. Reliance’s new brand is likely to be called Tiara, and RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani’s daughter Isha Ambani, Director of Reliance Retail, is closely involved with the project. The online store is expected to be integrated with Reliance’s fashion website Ajio, which is also overseen by Isha Ambani.
REEBOK AND BAPE UNVEIL ITS LATEST COLLABORATION
Reebok and BAPE have unveiled their latest product collaboration — a unique refresh of the Club C 85 and Instapump Fury. While the two brands have released several collaborations together throughout the years, this capsule marks their first time updating the well-known Instapump Fury, and third time designing a Club C 85. Combining Bape’s recognisable graphics and design sensibilities with the sports giant’s foundation and heritage, the highly-anticipated collaboration provides a fresh take on the iconic silhouettes. Specifically, the Club C 85 features several of its traditional design components blended with new details, including red and blue stitching and the Bape logo. The Instapump Fury showcases an exclusive combination of camo from Bape — a mix of the streetwear label’s colour camo and first camo prints — as well as other new design elements such as its signature ape head positioned on the silhouette’s “Pump.” The campaign creative is headlined by renowned recording artist, Bryson Tiller, along with label mates, Ryan Trey, and Nia Sultana. Bryson’s longtime collaborator, Ro. Lexx, led all photography, capturing both silhouettes paired with the streetwear brand’s apparel.
ADITYA BIRLA FASHION AND RETAIL ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH MASABA GUPTA
Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited has announced a strategic partnership with India’s leading fashion designer Masaba Gupta to build a gen-next focused fashion and lifestyle business under the popular and contemporary brand Masaba by acquiring 51 per cent stake in the entity. This partnership aims to create a young, aspirational, and digital-led portfolio play, across the affordable luxury segment in the fashion, beauty and accessory categories. Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Ashish Dikshit, Managing Director, ABFRL said: “As a new generation of young and digitally native consumers explore their needs within fashion and lifestyle, they actively seek brands that are colourful, vivid and digital. Masaba is a young, effervescent brand with a refreshing and innovative take on every lifestyle category.” He added, “This partnership is also an important step in building presence in the fast-growing beauty and personal care segment. This fits in well with our overall strategy to partner India’s top most designers to build a portfolio of distinctive and aspirational home-grown brands across fashion and lifestyle categories.”
