European countries show: Prospects for trade fair admission are possible

AUMA: Reopening of German exhibitions could begin with model projects at regional level The exhibition industry in Europe is starting to get off the ground or at least gaining opening prospects, for example in Spain, Great Britain and the Netherlands - but not in Germany. In Spain, a first national trade fair has taken place in Madrid under state-defined framework conditions. In Great Britain, an opening perspective towards June has been defined and in the Netherlands model projects started in the area of congresses and other event formats, also with the aim of defining corresponding standards for exhibitions on the basis of the experience gained. In Germany, on the other hand, neither the individual federal states nor the Conference of Prime Ministers, which meets regularly, have so far dealt with the reopening prospects of exhibitions after the exhibition industry was sent into its second still ongoing lockdown at the end of October 2020. Jörn Holtmeier, Managing Director of AUMA - the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry, commented: "It is high time that German politicians seriously deal with how Europe's largest exhibition industry, which organises most of the world's leading events, should get back on track. Many of these trade fairs are world-renowned brands, often far beyond the industry communities. This position and the resulting high importance for the German and international economy must not be put at risk by a virtually unlimited lockdown for the exhibition industry." Treat trade fairs and retail equally Trade fairs with participants from all over the world can certainly not take place in the next few weeks, if only because of the numerous international travel restrictions. "But we must now start to rebuild confidence in a safe and successful exhibition organisation," said the AUMA managing director. Regional and national trade fairs are the ideal starting point for this. They have a manageable catchment area and can therefore be included in the model projects that have already been launched in some German federal states. In this way, experience can already be gathered in the second quarter and send a signal for the second half of the year. Holtmeier: "If model projects are possible in retail outside the food sector, this must also apply to suited exhibitions. In the retail sector, there are millions of customer contacts every day without a relevant influence on infection figures. Why should it be any different in the exhibition industry, which has comprehensive health protection concepts defined by the federal states and in normal times has about as many visitors per year as the retail sector has per day?" Author: AUMA Picture: Pexels
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Frame Denim launches virtual shopping

Via Pexels American fashion brand Frame, best known for its denim, has partnered with virtual shopping platform Hero to launch virtual shopping for customers online. According to the brand, the new virtual service has grown Frame’s average order values by 61 percent. Customers can chat and have live video consultations with Frame stylists. Stylists are able to follow what customers are shopping for in real-time, answer questions, and share personalized product recommendations. “At Frame, we pride ourselves on providing a best-in-class customer experience and are always looking for ways to enhance it by blending our online and offline channels in an engaging way,” stated Jens Grede, co-founder of Frame, in a release. “We’ve always believed that brands need to create an e-commerce platform that helps consumers shop on their terms. Through our partnership with Hero, we’re able to provide an authentic and easy virtual shopping experience for Frame shoppers from around the world.” In addition to Frame’s e-commerce channel, the brand currently has 15 brick-in-mortar locations across the US, plans to expand to London, and is sold at department stores and boutiques worldwide.
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Nike sets new sustainability goals

Nike After rolling out its new sneaker refurbishing program, Nike also has plans for furthering its sustainability goals. The company is currently exploring new business models to extend the life of their products, and the company has also joined the Science Based Targets initiative, which calls for business to lead the way toward a zero-carbon economy. By 2030, Nike has a set a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65 percent in their owned and operated spaces, and by 30 percent across the extended supply chain. Over the next five years, Nike is focusing on reducing 0.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions by increasing their use of environmentally preferred materials to 50 percent of all key materials, decarbonizing their supply chain, and using renewable electricity and fleet electrification. “As we move forward, we’ll draw on lessons learned journey so far — including setbacks as well as breakthroughs,” said Noel Kinder, Nike’s chief sustainability officer, in a statement. “Looking back over the past five years, for instance, we fell short of meeting our FY20 carbon reduction goals. Despite reducing material waste and expanding renewable energy, we faced challenges with shifts to more complex materials and product designs, inbound airfreight, and changes to the electric grid in some of our primary manufacturing regions. In relying on aggregate metrics, such as average product carbon footprint, we missed opportunities to sharpen focus our biggest carbon ‘hotspots.’” The three main pillars of Nike’s sustainability focus currently include sustainable materials, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. The company Is accelerating research and development around sustainable materials and is exploring opportunities to bring low-carbon alternatives to market at scale. In addition, Nike is pushing deeper into their extended value chain, which generates the vast majority of their greenhouse gas emissions, to slow the trajectory of emissions — even as their business grows. The company is looking at investing in solar power and alternative fuels to help curb their carbon footprint. Nike has also set accountability benchmarks, quarterly scorecards, and is even tying executive compensation to their progress. Kinder stepped into his role as Nike’s chief sustainability officer in 2018, and since then the company has incrementally become more sustainable through sustainably minded partnerships and reforming its supply chain.
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FW21: Womenswear essential items and silhouettes

Trendstop brings FashionUnited readers the key silhouettes and essential collection items for apparel, direct from the Fall Winter 2021-22 Women’s Fashion Week presentations. Apparel undergoes a revolution for Fall Winter 2022-23 as traditional dressing is reconfigured and hybridised silhouettes make their mark. Underpinned by the core seasonal themes of comfort, vintage and gender neutrality, formal and casual blend together, masculine merges with the feminine, and classics are revamped for the modern consumer in mind. The Playful Vintage Dress The seasonal reimagining of the vintage trend sees a playful twist applied to classic dress silhouettes. Longline, maxi, pleated shapes with full sleeves, shirt collars or blouse-inspired high necks channel quiet luxury and modesty, combined with a fun, contemporary flavour coming through in vibrant solid colourways, accent highlights or bold geometric patterning. Masculine Comfort Tailoring Tailoring takes its cue from the masculine wardrobe, emphasising the continued blurring of gender boundaries. For FW22, pantsuits are given a softer look with comforting felted wool fabrications and languid silks in slouchy, oversized proportions. The less structured approach introduces elements from loungewear into tailoring as consumers seek easy wearability over strict formality. The Top-To-Toe Twinset The notion of a twinset is turned on its head as designers explore translating classic codes for the contemporary market. Knit pieces are coordinated with longer lines taking inspiration from loungewear, urban and athleisure categories. Dresses and capes in lightweight yarns are layered over fluid pants that puddle and pool around the feet whilst matching pattern separates can also be used to create a head-to-toe look. Exclusive Offer: FashionUnited readers can get free access to Trendstop’s Spring Summer 2021 Key Apparel Directions report, featuring all the key apparel items from the SS21 runways. Simply click the banner 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.
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Upcycling designer Nicole McLaughlin creates a collection with JanSport

JanSport American backpack retailer and VF corporation owned JanSport has linked with sustainable designer and upcycle artist Nicole Mclaughlin to create a capsule collection of apparel made from upcycled backpacks. The Nicole McLaughlin Upcycled JanSport Collection highlights a six-piece avant-garde style apparel collection starring a bra, shorts, vest, slippers, multipack, and a director’s chair. Fashion enthusiasts have a chance to win one piece from the collection by purchasing a five-dollar sweepstakes entry ticket. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the ticket sales and collection will be donated to the Slow Factory Foundation, a nonprofit focused on climate change and supporting environmental impact through education. “We are thrilled to be working with Nicole to further our message and mission of making fashion more sustainable,” stated Roger Spatz, president at JanSport, in a release. “By transforming samples from our warehouse and pre-worn packs sourced from warranty centers, we are able to keep the product out of landfills and support the Slow Factory Foundation with some of our most recognizable and iconic imagery.” McLaughlin stated the collection brings attention to the environmental benefits of upcycling within the fashion industry. “My love for JanSport has only grown over the years. It’s my earliest backpack memory, so to work with them on this capsule collection using samples and worn pieces to highlight sustainability feels predestined,” said McLaughlin. “I hope when people see the pieces, they not only understand the importance of extending the life of products through repair and upcycling but how much you can make with them.”
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Luxury fashion M&A reactivates in 2021 with five deals in March

While it has taken a few months to take off, major investments, merges and acquisitions within the fashion and luxury industry seem to have started to flourish in 2021. From divestments to major acquisitions, these are the five deals that have the industry talking: Dondup, OAMC, Louboutin, Jil Sander and Vestiaire Collection. Confirming the rising interest in the so-called circular fashion, Kering and U.S. investment firm Tiger Global Management led a new funding round for secondhand marketplace Vestiaire Collective. They participated alongside existing investors, including its CEO Max Bittner, Vogue’s parent company Condé Nast, and the Eurazeo Group, among others. This 216 million dollars’ worth of new funding have given the Paris-based company the coveted 1 billion-plus dollars valuation. From venture capital’s strategic investments to founders’ buy-back Barely days later, the Japanese apparel group Onward Holdings announced that it will sell the Jil Sander brand to Renzo Rosso’s luxury group, owner of Diesel, Maison Margiela, Marni, Amiri, and Viktor & Rolf brands for an undisclosed sum. That same week, the Dutch investment firm Exor Group, announced it has acquired a 24 percent stake in the independently-owned Louboutin for 541 million euros. The deal has pumped the footwear company at 2.3 billion euros. On March, 25 Made in Italy Fund confirmed the acquisition of Milan-based fashion brand Dondup from fellow LVMH’s private equity division, L Catterton, for an undisclosed sum. Per Reuters, the fund said it aims at creating a fashion conglomerate with Dondup and other fashion brands it owns – linen clothing line 120%Lino and jewellery and accessories maker Rosantica. Dondup’s new owner plans to expand its footprint in Europe and the United States, added Reuters. Meanwhile, Luke Meier and Arnaud Faeh, the co-founders of Paris-based menswear brand OAMC, repurchased the minority stake in their company they sold to Onward Italia back in 2018. In comments published by ‘WWD”, they explained that they “felt that this was the right time to regain full control over the company, and to put ourselves in the best position to bring the brand to yet another level.” Image: Jil Sander, SS21 Collection. Jil Sander official website.
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& Other Stories launches collaboration with Rejina Pyo

courtesy of & Other Stories South Korean-born, London-based Rejina Pyo is collaborating with retailer & Other Stories for spring/summer 2021. Launching on April 15, the Rejina Pyo co-lab collection will feature “versatile, wearable ready-to-wear pieces,” explains & Other Stories, which will “stay relevant and testify to their quality over time”. Inspired by the strength and creativity of women going about their busy lives, the collection includes relaxed suits and signature dresses, made from a combination of premium silk and sustainable materials such as organic cotton and wool from the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). Pyo, a rising star on the London fashion scene, is known for bold colours alongside strong and flattering silhouettes, and has brought that to her collaboration with & Other Stories with highlights including modern, sculptural dresses in midi and mini lengths made from organic cotton or premium silk blends, a sleeveless top with a knot front in silk and tailored jackets with matching shorts or maxi skirt in RWS wool or organic cotton blends. courtesy of & Other Stories Details such as exaggerated puff shoulders, ruching, pleats and dropped waists complement the organic lines, shapely necklines and soft tailoring and the colour palette featuring dark grey, black, white, sandy khaki, tangerine and saffron yellow. Rejina Pyo unveils affordable collection with & Other Stories on April 15 courtesy of & Other Stories Commenting on the collaboration, Rejina Pyo, said in a statement: “With the co-lab, I wanted to create an accessible and versatile collection, but crucially, to craft it from a combination of sustainably sourced and long-lasting premium materials. I had the busy woman in mind – constantly on the go, moving from work to play, day to night – and wanted to offer a selection of designs inspired by signature Rejina Pyo pieces. “I was also keen to include women I find inspiring in the campaign: Lotta Klemmings, Sweden’s only female oyster diver, Brittany Asch, an incredible LA-based florist, and Poppy Okotcha, a UK-based grower and forager. Together, they express the strength, passion and connection to nature that I relate to.” courtesy of & Other Stories Rocky Ekenstam af Brennicke, head of brand and creative at & Other Stories, added: “Rejina Pyo has this wonderful sense of colour and texture that she plays with in unexpected combinations, but it’s always timeless, versatile and most importantly, wearable in so many different situations. You can really see all the thought and hard work that goes into every piece of the co-lab, which we hope the & Other Stories woman will cherish and wear for a very long time.” The Rejina Pyo co-lab collection will launch in select & Other Stories stores and on stories.com on April 15. courtesy of & Other Stories
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Contemporary Designs Created in Chile

Joshua Williams of Fashion News Bytes Each month Sass Brown, an expert in ethical fashion, sustainability and craftsmanship, shares a fashion brand that approaches business differently and innovatively or operates outside of the main fashion systems and capitals. Sass is the former Dean of Art and Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology and the founding Dean at Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation. VOZ is a New York City based brand launched in 2021 by Jasmine Aarons, with the mission to honor and empower Mapuche artisans, in Chile, by supporting them economically and culturally. The VOZ collection is built around their core traditions of handweaving and hand dying, using cotton and alpaca from that region. Would you rather listen to this story? Find the podcast by clicking here. Sass explains that the Mapuche people are the largest indigenous group in South America and were never conquered by the Spanish. She states, “The Mapuche people have a very long heritage of working with natural fibers, local materials, both animal and vegetable, as well as hand weaving and hand spinning. Like many indigenous groups, there are stories and meanings intrinsic in the patterns and symbolism that’s embedded within the things that they weave. It’s very graphic visually.” She explains that the Mapuche typically work with black on a off-white or a beige base, but it can be other colors as well. She continues, “If you look at Jasmine’s work, she often incorporates all sorts of different shapes. It’s usually very graphic patterning on a hand-woven base.” Because VOZ is based in New York City, and working with indigenous peoples in Chile, Sass underlines that Jasmine’s work is all about celebration of culture, rather than appropriation. “She doesn’t appropriate. She works directly with the artisans. And it’s a partnership to the degree that it’s a collaborative process,” says Sass. And she explains that many of the artisans use their own familial patterns handed down through generations and that those are sometimes incorporated into more contemporary pieces, as well as fairly traditional styles, such as panchos, or wrap some scarves. “It’s the hand weaving and the patterning that’s really beautiful and individual and specific to the families or the communities that produce the weaving. The artisans are accredited in everything Jasmine does.” VOZ is also operated as a benefit corporation, which requires fair wages and is effectively a triple bottom line incorporation. Sass explains, “A benefit corporation has to equally favor people and planet to profit. So, it is by default, politically and economically supportive of the indigenous people from those regions.” And Sass acknowledges how difficult this can be when working with people dispersed in rural regions and working in informal economies. “She spends a lot of time in Chile working directly with them.” While this type of business model might not be possible for larger fashion companies, Sass underlines the importance of honoring tradition, suggesting that VOZ can provide an example of how to do that authentically. As an example, Sass illustrates how the store in SoHo became a nexus of conversation and experience around sustainable fashion, gender equality, global culture and ceremonial crafts, all tied to the communities Jasmine works with. Sass describes it as “both a showcase for the work of sympathetic designers, such as Maria Cornejo, and a community for workshops and events. This has continued through the pandemic as a digital space.” Another example is VOZ Woman, a network of brand ambassadors that Jasmine created to showcase her work. Sass emphasizes that these ambassadors “are really inspirational characters in their own right. They’re not models purely chosen because of their physical beauty. They are brand ambassadors who are making a difference in their own way in some shape or form. A true celebration of humanity.” To learn more about VOZ, you can visit their website at MadeByVOZ.com, or visit their New York City store location in SoHo.
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Gucci remains most popular luxury brand online

Photo credit: Gucci, Facebook Gucci has remained the number one most popular luxury brand online, new data reveals. The Italian label received 15.2 percent of the total search interest for luxury goods in 2020, according to luxury good magazine Luxe Digital. Chanel and Hermès followed close behind with 11.6 percent and 10.2 percent, respectively. Next came Dior, Louis Vuitton, Rolex, Tiffany, Prada, Versace, Armani, Valentino, Balenciaga, Cartier, Burberry and Omega. That’s according to the latest annual study by Luxe Digital, which analysed over 3,000 data points from Google, website traffic, and social media reach to find its results. Versace and Hermès shine Italian label Versace and French label Hermès saw particularly strong growth during the year, gaining 10 and eight points respectively. Luxe Digital said Gucci came first because of its “constant drive to experiment and innovate online”, from digital gifting with split payments to AR-powered try-on features on Snapchat and the Gucci App. One of the keys to success for brands this year was adapting to the new stay-at-home economy and launching more casual looks, with Luxe Digital highlighting Versace’s bathrobes worn by Drake and Jennifer Lopez and the Nike-Dior sneakers. Unsurprisingly, sustainability was also key, with every luxury brand that in the ranking this year currently running some form of sustainable efforts. Meanwhile, brands Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Balenciaga saw their online popularity declining compared to last year. Balenciaga lost six points in this year’s ranking to end number 12 on the list. “This is mostly driven by the declining popularity of the brand’s designer sneakers,” Luxe Digital said.
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Patagonia appoints new EMEA general manager

courtesy of Patagonia by Eva Roefs California-based outdoor apparel manufacturer Patagonia has named Matthijs Visch as its new general manager of EMEA. Visch joins Patagonia in May 2021 and will oversee the brand’s business in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, which currently includes more than 230 employees and 11 standalone stores. In a statement, Patagonia said that Visch will “build on the success and strong environmental position” established by previous general manager Ryan Gellert, who has transitioned into the role of global chief executive of holding company Patagonia Works, after six years of leading Patagonia’s team in EMEA. Visch will be based in the company’s Amsterdam-based EMEA headquarters and will report to John Collins, vice president of global sales. Collins said in a statement: “Meeting Matthijs, I was impressed by his compassionate, authentic approach to leadership and team-building. He has lived all over the world and brings rich experiences and diverse perspectives to his work. “He is a trail runner and skier, shares Patagonia’s commitment to protecting the wild places around us and brings with him a dedication to social justice. As we continue to grow our business and our environmental activism, throughout the EMEA region, I feel confident that Matthijs is the right person to lead the business and our people on the journey ahead.” Visch joins from Nike, where he spent 19 years, most recently as general manager of EMEA East. Commenting on his new role, Visch added: “It is a humbling experience to be joining Patagonia, a company I have long admired, and to become part of this dynamic community. Throughout my career, I have made it a priority to empower the individuals I work with, in order to achieve great things, collectively. “In my new role, I look forward to building on this important work. From a very young age, I have felt most at home in nature, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help to bring to life the mission statement: We’re in business to save our home planet.”
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David's Bridal appoints new vice president of global creative and brand marketing

Image: David's Bridal, Facebook David's Bridal has named Bryan Dow as its new vice president of global creative and brand marketing. Dow has over 20 years of strategic creative and brand marketing experience having held multiple leadership roles at brands including OshKosh B'gosh, DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, and Lands' End. In his new role, Dow will lead the brand and creative teams and will report to chief marketing and IT officer Kelly Cook. Cook welcomed Dow to the company and described him as a leader “with the rare combination of creative passions, business acumen, digital prowess, and content innovations”. She said: “This approach ensures we are always rethinking how we are delivering magical moments. We are absolutely thrilled to have him on our team.” Dow commented: “I am honored to join a powerhouse like David's Bridal during such an exciting time of transformation. I look forward to working with an incredibly talented team to continue building on the success David's has established in serving today's modern bride.”
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Four fabric and colour trends for fall-winter 2021

Photo credits: fashion journal Kleur & Stijl The fabrics for the upcoming fall/winter season can be categorised in four themes: Reconsider, Reset, Reimagine, and Rebuild. The impact of the pandemic and its lockdowns and the way it has affected people’s day-to-day lives, as well as their new living conditions, will play a key role in these themes. Reconsider Fabrics have an enormous influence on the look and feel of a garment. Companies are increasingly looking for ways to incorporate sustainability when it comes to the production and design of fashion’s materials. An important aspect of this is reusing materials. Reset Covid spurred a desire for soft, warming materials to cherish - materials which may even offer consolation in such difficult times. It is time to reset our thoughts and consciously consider the choices we make. We spend more time at home than ever before, where we now work and even attend online virtual parties. Everyone stays within their own (safe) social bubble. So for this theme, think loungewear and athleisure wear, preferably made from comfortable fabrics. Puffy and fluid fabrics, fur and hairs, and soft curves are good examples. Key elements: 3D effects, teddy fabrics, flannel, wool with an angora texture, (faux) fur, velvet. Reimagine This theme is about dreaming of a (better) future in which each individual interprets fashion in their own way. Being confined to this home cocoon provides us with the desire to invest a little extra time in our appearance as the world looks to reopen. After the first shock of the lockdown, more and more people have realized that dressing up for work, or rather, making ourselves look presentable, continues to serve its purpose and contributes to feeling good. Fabrics in this theme emanate opulence and are decorated with handcrafted details, fantasy symbols and digital patterns. Flowers continue to dominate. The contrast between these different types of fabrics in terms of their aesthetics could barely be any bigger. Limits are tested in fabric design. Key elements: Lace textures, sheen, laser cuts, velvet, sequins, gold and silver thread, leather. Rebuild There are people whose lives have been destroyed because they ended up in financial hardship or have become socially isolated during the pandemic. As the world looks to recover, fabric designers seem to have listened to the call for treating the planet in a different way. This is visible in how they have executed their work: Distressed fabrics, the mix of different materials, watery stripes, pieces of fabric added on as if something has been fixed up. All of these elements serve to amplify the look and feel of this theme. An additional element within this theme is the tactility of fabrics, because we want nothing more than to be able to “feel”. Key elements: Destroyed looks, tie dye effects, different textures 2021 Colours: a large range of white tones to mix and match with grey tones, browns and other natural and pastel shades. Deep burgundy red, dark blue, and greens give everything a mystical touch. Red becomes very important this winter. Written by Carla van den Puttelaar, founder and Editor-in-Chief at Dutch fashion journal Kleur & Stijl , the magazine for stylists who want to provide their customers with a unique experience and expand their knowledge. Photo credits: fashion journal Kleur & Stijl This guest contribution has been translated from Dutch to English by Veerle Versteeg.
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Foot Locker links with FreedomPay for contactless payment in US stores

Via Pexels Sports and athletic retailer Foot Locker Inc. announced it has linked with FreedomPay to implement a contactless payment system in over 2,000 Foot Locker stores in the US. FreedomPay, the Next Level Commerce platform, lets customers choose between various in-store payment options through a touchless payment system. Customers can pay through their own digital devices, including Apple Pay, PayPal, and Venmo. “In today’s new digital world customers demand a tailored payment experience that is safe and secure whether in-store or in-home, and FreedomPay is proud to announce it will provide the in-store commerce solutions for Foot Locker in the US,” stated Chris Kronenthal, president at FreedomPay, in a release. Frank Bracken, executive vice president and CEO of North America, Foot Locker, added: “By investing in solutions that address the needs of today’s digital world and look towards the future, we are improving the in-store experience while providing our customers greater flexibility.”
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Legal and General re-imagining retail with rent-free UK high streets

Institutional investor Legal and General Investment Management (LGIM) Real Assets has launched a new blueprint for the future of the high street, which includes rent-free shops, as part of its strategy to “re-invent and re-position” retail. The project kick-started with what it is calling a “curated shopping street,” called ‘Kingland’ in Poole, Dorset that is championing independent retailers. Forming part of LGIM Real Asset’s national strategy to future proof retail, 10 new businesses, run by “innovative young entrepreneurs” have opened on the boutique street, and each has been given a shop with no rent or business rates for the first two years. The idea is to allow the businesses, which include a fishmonger, coffee roaster, design studio, surfboard shop, zero-waste grocery store, art gallery, gin bar and store, home interiors specialist, restored second-hand furniture shop and perfumer, the chance to develop their retail offerings and to “flourish,” adds Legal and General. In addition to the new independent retailers, Legal and General is also planning to launch a local market for up to 15 vendors, as well as a calendar of 500 events across Poole. The initiatives form part of Legal and General’s ambitious national strategy to reinvent retail by re-imagining its retail assets, futureproofing them for the long-term. The boutique street is located adjacent to Legal and General’s Dolphin Shopping Centre and it hopes that the scheme will inject a new “identity and vibrancy” into the town centre. The redevelopment of Kingland Crescent is the first step in Legal and General’s long-term plans for the area, which also includes investment in the neighbouring Dolphin Shopping Centre, which it acquired in 2013. Within the next 12 months, further units are set to open on the shopping street as part of the project’s next phase, alongside an annual programme of local events. Legal and General looking to future-proof retail with new “curated shopping street” of independents Legal and General added in the press release that they are looking to roll out this blueprint across several UK locations, with each scheme to be “curated” depending on the needs of each community. Last year, LGIM Real Assets launched a flexible leasing model for retail and leisure occupiers, a commercial leasing framework focused on turnover based rent options. Bill Hughes, head of real assets for LGIM, said in a statement: “Following the launch of our flexible leasing model last year, the launch of Kingland is a further strand in our wider strategy to reframe and reposition our retail offering. As owners, investors, and innovators, we have a responsibility to ensure that we are delivering future-ready places. And, through supporting localism and regeneration, we bring significant positive social and economic impact. “Owing to changes in consumer trends, the UK retail sector has undergone a seismic shift in recent years. Traditional retailers have had to respond, or risk being left behind. LGIM Real Assets continues to shift the dial, stripping out the intermediaries and moving above and beyond the traditional retail model of ‘one size fits all’.” Hughes, added: “This approach is testament to our focus on both the occupier and final customer, and demonstrates our commitment to bring innovation to the real estate sector. This will be key to remaining relevant and resilient in a post-Covid world.” Denz Ibrahim, head of retail and futuring for LGIM Real Assets, added: “Kingland is a physical manifestation of what can happen when you offer deliberately ambitious, bold, creative, standout brands, who are doing something a bit different, a platform to launch their ideas and share their stories. It will deliver a market-leading environment jam-packed with hand-picked brands, programmed events and content all sourced locally. It’s a great example of our role as an editor of space, shaping environments to ensure we have the right content, at the right time, in the right places. “As retail owners, we want healthy, successful and profitable businesses within our schemes; by bringing 10 new shops, and injecting vibrancy and experience into the area, we are driving up footfall and delivering value to Kingland Crescent and neighbouring Dolphin Centre. Now, more than ever, consumers prioritise localism, convenience, variety and experiences.” courtesy of Legal and General Investment Management Real Assets
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LOFTY MANNER SS21 Collection

The new LOFTY MANNER SS21 Womenswear collection has been released. The collection is based on all the romantic and happy moments during this season. Whether you are at a party, a cute picnic for lunch or at your best friend’s wedding, this collection has an outfit for every occasion. To give a dreamy and feminine feel to the collection, we’ve played with different details and fabrics. The ruffle comes back more often, the knot cord detail, a nice lace fabric and a lot of small flower prints. Flowy dresses with bright flower prints and feminine ruffle details. This collection is definitely inspired by the long hot summer days! The theme of this collection is California Dreaming. She’s getting ready for a fancy get-together in a lavish vineyard with her friends. She likes to wear light but striking colours and loves to mix them together with beautiful flower prints. A pink floral dress, a stylish purse and a pair of heels is her outfit of the day. She loves to wander through the flower fields and hear the birds chirp while she’s out in the sun. In the evening they love having dinner outside, so that they can gaze at the starry summer night. Flowy Dresses with bright flower prints, feminine ruffle details and a pair of heeled sandals. They celebrate by having a cold rosé and toasting to a long, hot summer. The collections exist of 2 drops (Summer 1 & Summer 2). The main colours of the Summer 1 collection is pink combined with the colour green. For Summer 2 we’ve chosen a fresh mint colour combined with an orange peachy colour. By using different prints, it will reflect both colours so it’s made to mix and match with all pieces from the collection. The LOFTY MANNER SS21 collection will be delivered in April of this year with a total of 12 deliveries. “Effortless summer in style’’, says LOFTY MANNER. Read more about LOFTY MANNER on the brandpage: fashionunited.com/companies/lofty-manner
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Brioni unveils capsule collection with Brad Pitt

Italian luxury menswear brand Brioni has unveiled a capsule collection with Brad Pitt, expanding its partnership with the actor who has been an ambassador for the fashion house since 2019. The BP Signature collection marks the first time Brioni has partnered with an ambassador on a capsule and has been modelled after Pitt’s personal style to form a “well-rounded wardrobe”. The seven-piece collection in a muted colour palette includes a two-button suit, a featherweight long-sleeved cashmere polo sweater, a double-splittable cashmere sport jacket, a lightweight and unlined car coat, and a velvet evening jacket with matching wool trousers and a fine cotton evening shirt. Brioni explained on its website that the BP Signature evening pieces have been modelled after the outfit Pitt wore during the 92nd Academy Awards ceremony when he won an Academy Award for acting in Quentin Tarantino’s film, ‘Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood’. In addition, each piece from the collection also features an exclusive label designed by Pitt featuring his signature. Prices retail between 530 pounds for the white cotton smoking shirt to 3,940 pounds for the grey wool ‘Virgilio’ suit, the Italian brand’s newest suit model, launched to celebrate its 75th anniversary. The BP Signature collection is available at Brioni stores and through its e-commerce. "> Images: via Brioni Facebook
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Diesel to join Milan Men’s Fashion Week in June

Diesel has confirmed that creative director Glenn Martens will unveil his debut collection for the brand during Milan Men’s Fashion Week on June 21. In a short statement, Diesel confirmed that this will be the fashion brand’s first appearance on the Milan Fashion Men’s Week schedule. While the brand may be showcasing during Milan’s menswear event, Diesel added that the collection would be an “all-gender” spring/summer 2022 collection. “The show is a major step of Martens’ role in overseeing the brand’s creative identity, design, and communications,” added Diesel. The collection will reflect Martens’ design vision across Diesel’s entire range of product categories, added the brand, and will be for both men and women. Before he was appointed Diesel creative director in October 2020, Martens created a denim-focused capsule collection for the Diesel Red Tag Project in 2018. Image: courtesy of Diesel by Oliver Hadlee Pearch
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Tricia Smith replaces Hillary Super as Anthropologie Group CEO

Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) has announced a personnel change at the Anthropologie Group. The company said in a release that Hillary Super has stepped down as global chief executive officer. Beginning today, the company added, Tricia D. Smith, has replaced Super as the new global CEO. “We are pleased to welcome Tricia into the URBN family,” said Richard A. Hayne, chief executive officer, URBN, adding, “She is an accomplished leader with extensive merchant experience. She understands the Anthropologie customer, and I’m confident she will successfully expand the brand’s equity and reach. Smith brings with her over 26 years of experience within the Nordstrom merchant organization where she was executive vice president, general merchandise manager of women’s, young contemporary, designer, and specialized apparel. In 2019, Tricia left Nordstrom to become executive vice president, chief merchandising officer of Tilly’s. Separately, the company also reported that total retail segment comparable net sales thus far during the first quarter of fiscal 2022 increased by high single-digits. In North America, better sales were driven by double-digit ‘comp’ results at both the Free People and Urban Outfitters brands while Anthropologie sales improved substantially but remained slightly negative. The company further said that strong, triple-digital on-line sales increases have largely offset the loss of store sales. Image: Anthropologie, Facebook
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