Vegan Fashion Week still scheduled to return despite coronavirus concerns

Despite the cancelation of major events, Vegan Fashion Week will still occur in Los Angeles in April to showcase Fall 2020 collections from participating brands and designers, according to an announcement from the movement.

“Now is a very important time to share our message and draw connections between sustainability and ethics,” shared the movement’s founder Emmanuelle Rienda in a statement. “Animal exploitation is directly linked to the virus outbreak, the Australian bushfires, the Amazonian forest fires, and our current global environmental crisis. I want to inspire positive change and elevate the conversation through fashion, because fashion is activism.”

The theme for this year’s Vegan Fashion Week is Expansion and will explore challenges surrounding climate change from the perspective of fashion, ethics, sustainability, and animal rights.

The event will include a designer showroom, a panel series, and a collective fashion show. Taking measures to protect the health of event participants, the event will take place in an intimate setting by invitation only while also reducing its carbon footprint.

Image: Courtesy of Vegan Fashion Week

* This article was originally published here

In pictures: JW Anderson opens flagship store in London's Soho

British fashion label JW Anderson has opened its first flagship store in Soho, London.

The two-floor 1300-square-foot space carries the brand’s entire range of products including menswear, womenswear, small leather goods, shoes, handbags, accessories and special collaboration products such as its recently unveiled line for Moncler Genius.

The store spans two addresses on the corner of Brewer and Wardour Street - part of a building constructed in the Victorian era. The Wardour Street space is a light and airy high-ceiling exhibition-like space with bright floors and modular aluminium shelving. It will showcase special collaborations and projects from the brand.

The Brewer Street side has been inspired by Saville Row tailor’s shops, with faux wood veneer on the walls and furniture, cabinets featuring interior pops of colour, brass trim and subtle JWA Anchor Logo details. On the lower level, thick cream-coloured, fluffy carpeting is surrounded by hanging fabrics in similar hues.

JW Anderson has a long history of championing diversity and queer culture through his approach to non-binary fashion, making Soho, with its diverse local and tourist populations, a natural location for the brand’s first flagship.

“Ever since I moved to London from Northern Ireland I have been in love with Soho. There is an incredible energy in the area. It feels quintessentially London to me,” founder and creative director of the label Jonathan Anderson said in a statement.

Photos courtesy of the brand

* This article was originally published here

Introducing Fibersort, a post-consumer textile sorting machine looking to clean up the industry

A cutting edge machine looking to revolutionise textile to textile recycling by automatically sorting large volumes of post-consumer garments is now up and running in Wormerveer, just outside of Amsterdam.

The Fibersort machine, a Near Infrared (NIR) based technology, is capable of sorting around 900kg of post-consumer textiles per hour in 45 different fractions based on their fibre composition and colour. Fibersorted materials have been validated by project partners and are now ready for the market.

The technology, which has been several years in the making, is part of a wider Fibersort project funded by Interreg NWE and comprising a consortium of companies including Dutch-based impact organisation Circle Economy, as well as Valvan Baling Systems, ReShare, Procotex, Worn Again Technologies and Smart Fibersorting.

The project looks to tackle the fashion and textile industry’s issue of excessive waste. In North-West Europe alone, around 4,700 kilotonnes of post-consumer textile waste are generated every year, according to Interreg NWE. Only 30 percent of that is collected separately - the rest is thrown into household waste.

The opportunities to scale the use of recycled textiles are becoming increasingly acknowledged in the fashion and textile industry as the notoriously wasteful sector attempts to clean itself up and meet growing consumer demand for more sustainable products and services.

“There are clear opportunities to successfully integrate automated sorting technologies and recycled post-consumer textiles across the value chain. Over the past years, innovation has spurred across this sector of the industry,” said Circle Economy. “However, several challenges remain to ensure the long-term implementation of these technologies in relation to financial and technical feasibility as well as the opportunities to scale. Collectors, sorters, recyclers, manufacturers, brands and policymakers have both opportunities and responsibilities to address these challenges.”

Read more:

• Switching Gear: Inside the first masterclass of Circle Economy’s new circularity project
• Biggest textile polluting nations in the EU listed, UK ranked 4th worst

Photo credit: Circle Economy

* This article was originally published here

Primark is first fashion firm to get vegan certification from TÜV Rheinland Group

Primark has become the first company in the world to receive vegan certification for fashion products by independent inspection firm TÜV Rheinland.

The Irish fast-fashion giant was awarded the certification for its clothing, shoes and carrier bags.

TÜV Rheinland Vegan Certification is tested and inspected by an independent third party and is certified to products free of all animal-derived materials such as silk, wool, leather, pearl, feather, down, bone, exotic skins or fur. The firm tests all materials either by microscopic analysis, fibre analysis or “other appropriate test methods.” Additionally, suppliers of process chemicals must provide a declaration of conformity stating that their products are manufactured without raw materials of animal origin.

As consumer demand for more sustainable and ethical fashion grows, so to does vegan fashion. A recent study by London-based market research firm Mintel found that over a third of fashion shoppers want to spend their money in stores that do not use animal products.

In February, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) launched new guidelines - called The Voluntary Guideline on Veganism in Fashion - to ensure that ‘vegan’ fashion items being sold in the UK are truly 100 percent free of animal products.

Photo credit: FashionUnited

* This article was originally published here

Esprit rolls out new digital platform to Europe

Esprit is rolling out its revamped e-commerce platform to Europe after its successful launch in the UK in January.

The new platform, which the retailer has invested around 40 million euros in, offers “a more inspiring way to connect with customers” and will be made available in Austria in the spring or early summer, then Germany in the summer, followed by the remaining countries next year.

Esprit said it is harnessing artificial intelligence technology to deliver more personalised communication to its customers, such as style suggestions and the possibility to filter functionalities like sustainable materials, style and fit.

The revamp has been made in partnership with customer relationship management firm Salesforce.

Leif Erichson, chief digital and operations officer at Esprit, said in a statement: “Part of our digital strategy is to build a site that continues to grow and delight our customers with our brand stories, and great product expression. The cooperation with Salesforce fits perfectly into this approach.”

Photo credit: Esprit, Facebook

* This article was originally published here

AFC NYFW FW20 Post-Show Press Release

The purpose of the Asia Fashion Collection is to discover and nurture young designers who are from Asia. Organized by Vantan Inc. and PARCO. Co. Ltd., AFC FW20 debuted February 10th 2020 at NYFW showing both menswear and womenswear.

Seven brands revealed their collections during the runway show. All of the brands and designers are from Asian countries.

1) KTOKA by Shiki Cara Kataoka - Japan @ktoka_garments
2) VEGAN TIGER by Yang Yoona - South Korea @vegan_tiger
3) ito by Kurumi Ito, Taisho Takenaka - Japan @iiitttooo
4) zizi shi by Chaohua Shi - Parsons (born in China)
5) chalisa by Chalisa Anekvorakul - Thailand @ccchalisa
6) SEANNUNG by Liao Sean Nung - Taiwan @seannung_official
7) ANANA tih sayim by Nana Miyashita - Japan @@nanatihsayim

Over 360 guests arrived consisting of press and buyers from all over the world attended the show and applauded each up in coming designers from Asia.

Notable attendees include:
Business of Fashion, WWD español, WWD Japan, Harper's Bazaar Italy, Glamour, Grazia, VICE, Dazed, Instyle Thailand, Salvatore Ferragamo, Estee Lauder, Covergirl, Briogeo, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks fifth avenue, Moda OPERANDI, Macy's, MTV, Fashion TV France, Fashion TV Latin America, Fox News, Huffington Post, Kamiah Adams (Spouse of NBA player Bradley Beal), Erin Gibbs (Fox News), Amir Arison (Actor, Director), Cognac Wellerlane, Chris Lavish (Fashion Week Online.com), Jason C. Peters, Ka Wa Key, Official Rebrand, Kanako Takase, Amin & Amir Butler's (@butlertwin_)

Asia Fashion Collection (AFC) NYFW FW19

Date: Monday, February 10th, 2020 at 8:00pm
Venue: Gallery II at Spring Studios
Format: Runway Show from representative Asian designers
Website: http://asiafashioncollection.com

PR/Beauty Acquisition & Creative: New York Tokyo
Show Production: Kuroko Inc.
Casting: Eric Cano
Hair: Kien Hoang for Oribe
Makeup: Chika Chan @Make-up Pro.
Bag: Parisa Wang
Photography: Hunter Arthur
Dressers: Parsons & Vantan

About Asia Fashion Collection (AFC)
An incubation project produced and supported by Vantan Inc. and PARCO, in cooperation with other Asia-based partners. AFC is passionate about widening the reach of the fashion industry by fostering the growth of the continent’s most promising up-and-coming designers.

AFC’s Judge includes: Kaname Murakami (Editor in Chief, WWD Japan), Masaya Kubota (Director of First Business Affairs Department, BEAMS), Daiki Nakane (TOKYO BASE STUDIOUS Brand Director/ Buyer), Chihiro Sekine (Women’s Merchandiser, Isetan Mitsukoshi), and Fumiya Yoshinouchi (Editorial Board/Director, fashionsnap.com) http://asiafashioncollection.com/

About Vantan Inc.
The history of Vantan began over 53 years ago in a small garage in Ebisu, Tokyo. Led by a team of visionary professionals, Vantan now provides a wide range of programs in the Creative Arts. These include fashion, hairstyling, makeup artistry, cosmetology, graphic design, film, photography, game design, animation, manga, sound design and culinary arts. With over 195,000 graduates to date, Vantan's unique approach to hands-on, business-oriented education has solidified it as a vanguard institution.

Notable alumni includes: Kunihiko Morinaga (Designer/Owner, 2019 LVMH finalist ANREALAGE), Kanako Takase (Makeup Artist), Daiki Suzuki (Owner/Designer, Engineered Garments) http://www.vantan.jp

About PARCO CO.,LTD.
Since the establishment of Ikebukuro PARCO in 1969, they have actively sought to showcase culture in all forms. Though they deal primarily in fashion, they are also involved in music, visual art, drama, and have brought a splash of color to consumer culture, as a whole. These initiatives have established PARCO as a creative space, allowing them to attract a great number of people with enormous talent. Together they are enlarging a circle of creativity that’s paving the way for the next cultural movement. http://www.parco.co.jp

* This article was originally published here

Fall/Winter 2020-21 Paris fashion week overview

Trendstop brings FashionUnited readers a first look at the event highlights of Paris Fashion Week.

Despite challenging conditions and some cancelled shows, Paris Fashion Week still provided attendees with a spectacle worthy of a major fashion capital. As the industry continues to tackle issues around the topics of the environment and diversity, designers showcased their visions of the future, their commitment to these causes and the progressiveness of their individual houses. Our comprehensive, global catwalk coverage and accompanying trend galleries evaluate each trend’s commercial value and longevity, giving you the best possible basis for your decision making.

This week, FashionUnited readers get an exclusive look at three of the key collections from the Fall/Winter 2020-21 edition of Paris Fashion Week. Stella McCartney championed the natural world and biodiversity while Balenciaga shone a light on the effects of climate change. Valentino reflected the move away from long held industry tropes, advocating for increased diversity and inclusivity in fashion.

Balenciaga

Demna Gvasalia put the climate crisis at the forefront of his collection, with a flooded catwalk and front row that forced show goers to watch from afar. A backdrop of LED screens displayed an apocalyptic vision of the future of our planet as models in futuristic black leather, priestly robes and branded football strips splashed through across the watery runway. Exaggerated shoulders and oversized accessories subverted scale while

Images courtesy of Trendstop, left to right: all Balenciaga Fall/Winter 2020-21.

Stella McCartney

A leading industry light on the subject of sustainability, Stella McCartney encouraged her audience to help offset the show’s carbon dioxide by gifting saplings in branded paper bags. Her animal-free collection of relaxed pajama and kaftan silhouettes, accented by wild animal themed jewellery, included a collaboration with Erte, making use of the illustrator’s archive to produce a jellyfish motif that highlighted the designer’s commitment to conservation.

Images courtesy of Trendstop, left to right: all Stella McCartney Fall/Winter 2020-21.

Valentino

Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Valentino show promoted inclusivity on the runway with a diverse cast that ignored gender categories and stereotypical model body types. Sleek silhouettes with pared back detailing, statement pieces in Valentino house red and sequined eveningwear were worn by both men and women with looks from the previous men’s show reappearing on female models.

Images courtesy of Trendstop, left to right: all Valentino Fall/Winter 2020-21.

Exclusive Offer:

FashionUnited readers can get free access to Trendstop’s SS20 Key Colour Directions report, featuring all the essential shades for the upcoming season. Simply click here to receive your free report.

Trendstop.com is one of the world's leading trend forecasting agencies for fashion and creative professionals, renowned for its insightful trend analysis and forecasts. Clients include H&M, Primark, Forever 21, Zalando, Geox, Evisu, Hugo Boss, L'Oreal and MTV.

* This article was originally published here