Shopify extends Shop Pay to enterprise retailers

Credits: Image: Shopify In response to demand from enterprise retailers, Shopify’s Shop Pay is being made accessible to e-commerce businesses not using the Shopify platform. By transforming Shop Pay into a commerce component, enterprise customers can add the feature without the need to completely replace their exisiting commerce infrastructure. The offering is available to enterprises based in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, Shopify said in a press release. According to a recent study conducted by one of the big three consulting firms, Shop Pay boasts a conversion boost of up to 50 percent compared to a guest checkout, surpassing other accelerated checkouts by at least 10 percent. Kaz Nejatian, VP Product and Chief Operating Officer of Shopify, commented on the significance of leveraging Shop Pay, stating, "Enterprises that do not take advantage of Shop Pay are essentially self-sabotaging. They are leaving money on the table." Nejatian emphasized that in a highly competitive retail environment, where large brands are fiercely competing to acquire customers, it is crucial for them to select the tools that can boost their top-line growth without requiring a complete platform overhaul. Shop Pay's effectiveness stems from its extensive identity network, unmatched scale, consumer trust, and velocity of innovation. When a user with a Shop Pay account visits an online store, Shopify recognizes them with a single click. If the customer has recently used Shop Pay, the checkout process can identify them without any action required. This allows Shop Pay to pre-fill all the necessary information, ensuring a seamless one-click checkout experience that is four times faster than a guest checkout.
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Imran Khan As a University Chancellor from 2005 to 2014 in London @Learn...

Ishaq Dar Wazeere Khazana ne Sahafi ko Taparh Mara @learnwithmoheet

Under Armour to cut corporate workforce

Image: Under Armour store | Credit: Liverpool One US sportswear brand Under Armour is cutting 50 roles across its corporate workforce. Confirming the cuts to Footwear News, the company said: “Under Armour made the difficult decision to eliminate certain corporate roles across several functions in the business. “We sincerely appreciate the commitment and contributions these teammates made and are supporting them during this transition.” It comes after the company announced in May that it swung to a net profit of 170.5 million dollars in the fourth quarter ended March 31, compared to a loss of 59.6 million dollars a year earlier. That came as revenue rose 8 percent to 1.4 billion dollars, with North America revenue increasing 3 percent to 862.2 million dollars and international revenue up 16 percent to 526 million dollars. Despite the growth, shares fell on the news as the company forecasted a weaker FY24 outlook than analysts had expected. The company said at the time it expects FY24 revenue to be flat or up slightly on the prior year, and for diluted earnings per share to be between 47 cents and 51 cents.
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Explosion at Paris American Academy international arts and design school, dozens injured

Credits: Smoke billows from the rubbles of a building at Place Alphonse-Laveran, location of the Paris American Academy, in Paris, on June 21, 2023. (Photo by Abdulmonam Eassa / AFP) A powerful gas explosion at the Paris Academy which houses an international fashion and design school, in the centre of the French capital, has left 37 people injured, as per reports from several news media. The explosion happened on Wednesday afternoon and severely damaged one of the school’s buildings. No students were present as it was after class hours. The search continued on Thursday morning for a person still missing in the rubble. The explosion left at least four people severely injured. "The number of absolute emergencies had not stabilised overnight", the Paris public prosecutor's office told French press agency AFP on Thursday morning. "The total number of victims is still around fifty". Paris American Academy, a fashion and design school, is located in Paris’ fifth quarter, also known as the Latin Quarter. Barricades erected on Saint-Jacques street, in front of the Maison des Mines student residence, kept onlookers and journalists away from the collapsed building, in front of which rubble was piling up. Explosion destroys building Paris American Academy, leaves 37 injured There were no vehicles in the street, and only a water hose was intermittently activated by the fire brigade to spray the ruins of the destroyed building. The shops in the street were open and people were moving around. Damage was reported over a wide area. A caretaker in the street perpendicular to Saint-Jacques street, Violeta Garesteaw throws broken glass into a dustbin on the pavement. "Many of the windows in the building have been broken, I'm cleaning up in the inner courtyard and we've already put up tarpaulins because it's raining", she told AFP. "It was terrible yesterday, I thought it was an earthquake. It was shaking,” she told AFP. The incident occurred shortly before 5pm in a building housing the private fashion and design school. Several witnesses and local residents interviewed by AFP said they smelled gas and heard a "big explosion". "One of my colleagues smelled a strong odour of gas and went to look under the porch to see what was going on", Philippe Delorme, France’s secretary general of catholic education, whose premises are in the immediate vicinity of the collapsed building, told French radio station RMC on Thursday morning. "Just as the accountant was dialling the telephone number" of the gas supplier's emergency service, "the explosion occurred", he continued. The Paris public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into "unintentional injuries caused by a manifestly deliberate breach of a duty of care or safety". “Initial indications (...) lead us to confirm that the explosion originated in the building", Paris public prosecutor Laure Beccuau said at the scene. "We are obviously relying on the victims in relative emergency to assist us with the initial elements of investigation and give us an understanding of what may have happened", she added. The Paris judicial police have been called in. The mayor of the fifth quarter, Florence Berthout, told BFMTV that she had been "very frightened last night" because "young people were looking for their mothers who were on the site of this American fashion school". "We always fear the worst in such cases", she continued, welcoming the fact that the mother had finally been identified at the Percy military hospital in Clamart, where she had been admitted after the explosion. Some 270 Paris firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to two adjoining buildings, which were seriously destabilised by the explosion" and "have been evacuated", the Prefect of the city Police, Laurent Nuñez, said in the early evening on Wednesday.
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Nike commits to cruelty-free wool

Happy lambs need their tails. Image: Four Paws US sporting goods giant Nike has followed its own motto (“Just Do It”) and simply done it, namely decided to do away with wool that causes cruelty to animals. This kind of wool uses a process called mulesing in which strips of skin from the rump and the tail of lambs are cut away, often without any anaesthesia or painkillers. The resulting pain, shock and stress for the only two to ten-week-old lambs is so enormous that many grow more slowly and their risk of death increases. Global animal welfare organisation Four Paws announced the influential company's move today (Wednesday), which it hopes will inspire others. Nike commits to Responsible Wool Standard According to Four Paws, Nike has changed its CSR policy and is committed to complying with the certified Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) in its product range, which the animal rights organisation calls a “groundbreaking moment” and a “huge milestone”. Four Paws has been campaigning against the cruel process for years and in 2022 targeted a campaign directly at Nike. More than 80,000 sports enthusiasts called on the sportswear brand to follow in the footsteps of Adidas and Puma, which have already opted for certified wool in the past. “We congratulate Nike on this important commitment which will benefit millions of lambs. With the upcoming mulesing season in Australia due to start, this news comes at a crucial time and sends a strong signal to the wool producers, being an influential brand with potential to inspire the entire apparel market. This win was only possible with the help of tens of thousands of supporters fighting together with Four Paws for better animal welfare in the sports apparel market,” commented Rebecca Picallo Gil, head of the wool campaign at Four Paws, in a press release. According to Four Paws, more than 350 brands and retailers now have a policy against mulesing, among them Aldi, Asics, Asos, Bestseller, C&A, Decathlon, H&M, Ikea, Inditex, Kik, Kmart, Otto Group, Primark, Tchibo, Tesco, Uniqlo and Zalando. Also read: * How brands can transition to pain free, non-mulesed sheep wool * Textile Exchange releases new Responsible Mohair Standard
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Antwerp Fashion Academy alumnus Brandon Wen presents first show as academy's department director

Credits: COURTESY OF ROYAL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS ANTWERP In Pictures On Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10, the fashion department at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts presented its end-of-the-year student fashion show entitled ‘Show 23’, directed by former student and the department's new creative director Brandon Wen. The show took place in Antwerp, where 5,000 fashion enthusiasts from the Belgian city and abroad descended upon the impressive spaces of the Waagnatie, located on the banks of the Scheldt river, to discover the creations of the international graduating fourth year (master) class of the academy and its current (bachelor) students. ’Show 23’ was the first show of the Academy to be directed by US fashion designer Brandon Wen, who was appointed creative director upon the departure of Belgian designer Walter van Beirendonck. Van Beirendonck announced his retirement as head of the fashion academy in May 2022 and stepped down in June of last year. In addition to the show, students also presented their creations to industry professionals and the public in an exhibition. Wen graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp himself, and apart from his experience as a fashion designer, he also has a background as a performance artist. This was very apparent in this year’s fashion show which was at times -more specifically in the first 25 minutes or so of the show- a mix between a traditional fashion show format and a dance performance. A group of models dressed in traditional ball gowns created by the academy’s bachelor students opened the show as they moved elegantly to classical guitar music. This was followed by more energetic dancing and dance routines to alternative pop and punk rock while the male dancers/models, dressed in historical costumes, came onstage and the female performers stayed in character. In addition to the show, students also presented their creations to industry professionals and the public in an exhibition. The fashion show was divided into two parts. During the first part, the first year, second year and third year bachelor students of the Antwerp fashion academy showcased their collections. The sound of a loud horn followed by a deep male voice that seemed to come straight from a science-fiction movie announced the study year of the designers and their names. The students’ names were also projected on a digital panel above the stage. During the second part of the show, the World Costumes collection was presented. This was followed by the collections of the graduating master students of 2023. Credits: COURTESY OF ROYAL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS ANTWERP The names of the graduating master students of the Royal Academy of Arts Antwerp 2023 are: Laura Meier Hagested, Aaron Hüttenmeister, Marcel Sommer, Cezary Zalit, Jiawen Gong, Xuewen Chen, Antonia Vera Kannefaß, Tim Stolte, Ashton Lang, Yue Kong, Victoria Lebrun, Juyoung Ahn, Violette Des Roseaux, Frederik Liederley, and Jiayue She. Credits: COURTESY OF ROYAL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS ANTWERP Read more: * Interview - Meet Brandon Wen, the new creative director of the Fashion Department at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp
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Power and ease define Net-a-Porter’s upcoming AW23 season

Credits: (From left) AW23 collections of Alexander McQueen, Ann Demeulemeester and Loewe. Images: Launchmetrics Spotlight It’s no secret that a fresh take on luxury was present during the autumn/winter 2023 runways, whether that be minimalist takes or wearable staples. It was these qualities, in fact, that Net-a-Porter let guide its buying period for the season, as it looks to cater more pointedly towards its so-called ‘extremely important people’ (EIPs), a group that make up 3 percent of its consumer base yet contribute to 40 percent of its sales. In order to build up this sector and ensure this “robust” consumer group invests more in their wardrobe, Net-a-Porter’s marketing director, Libby Page, said that it would be elevating its assortment, expanding its loyalty programme and growing its circularity offering. While all of these aspects are to be considered, the platform expanded on its efforts to define its product offering in a seasonal presentation on AW23 trends hosted by Page, who spoke on Net-a-Porter’s way of engaging with EIPs. FashionUnited took a closer look into Net-a-Porter’s defining trends for autumn/winter 2023 and what they could mean for seasons beyond. Wearable and minimal (From left) AW23 collections by Gucci, Loewe and Tove. Images: Launchmetrics Spotlight Much of Page’s focus was centred around a consistent “modern luxury” theme, which she said had been present both on the runway and in real life, whether that be media reports of “quiet luxury”, the final season of HBO’s Succession or the closely watched trial of Gwenyth Paltrow. Page added: “This mood has reached the peak of consumerism, and is showing no signs of slowing down for us. Though I have to say this is not a trend or a new wave, rather it's a shopping mindset that our trailblazing EIPs have had since SS23.” For the coming season, Page elaborated on this observation in what she dubbed the “wearable necessities” trend, with the likes of white shirts, black coats and tank tops exhibiting the epitome of luxury for AW23. While there were some established brands stoking the flames of this trend, it was newer labels that were really making waves, including the likes of Tove which made its debut in London. Similarly, Page’s “modern minimalism” trend also touched on clean cut fashion, albeit with references to eras of the past. She added: “Devoid of frippery, modern minimalism gave our favourite decade, the 90’s, a cool, architectural and elevated makeover. The silhouettes, monochromatic colour palette, and hardware details did all the talking, transforming 90’s inspirations and making them feel more modern than ever before.” (From left) AW23 collections by Ferragamo, Gabriela Hearst and Nensi Dojaka. Images: Launchmetrics Spotlight Effortless eveningwear (From left) AW23 collections by Loewe, Ann Demeulemeester and Tove. Images: Launchmetrics Spotlight Like the prior trend, Page also noted a distinct, effortless essence within eveningwear, as slews of designers used fashion weeks to present a fresh take on the category. Speaking on this, Page said: “In keeping with the simplistic tone of the season, we saw a continued paired back and sleek approach to eveningwear on the runway and this is already translating across to the red carpets where stylists and celebrities have taken a much more understated approach.” The likes of Ann Demeulemeester and Loewe each showed flowing silky gowns with simple silhouettes, forming what Page stated was a form of “old school Hollywood glamour”. She added: “The runway to red-carpet turnaround has never been swifter, it has become prime marketing real estate and designers who aren’t already known for eveningwear are recognising this opportunity.” Suiting and strong detailing (From left) AW23 collections by Proenza Schouler, Saint Laurent and Chloé. Images: Launchmetrics Spotlight A notable observation by Page was that over the fashion season, 13 different designers opened their shows with their own interpretations of a black suit and white shirt combo, setting the tone for tailoring’s return to the runway. She continued: “It was all about traditional suiting, taking cues from men’s tailoring – polished, precision cuts paired with black tie accessories. The looks felt fresh off Savile Row and had an extremely androgynous feel, promoting the idea of gender neutrality.” Page also stated that she expected this trend to appeal to both Net-a-Porter and Mr Porter clients alike, driving more crossover shopping. “This mood felt like a powerful nod to the acceptance of women taking inspiration from men’s wardrobing,” she added. Detailing was also an imperative part of the season, seen in the use of blanketing, cinched waists, hosiery and roll necks, among other things. Distinctly stepping away from the previously mentioned casual trends, Page said: “This season may have been one of simplicity, but it is the attention to detail that is making a big impact. Designers gave us interesting styling details and accessories to really bring their collections to life and show us new ways to wear these wardrobe staples.” At Net-a-Porter, the platform is hoping to aid shoppers in adopting this trend through upcoming features on its app, Digital Wardrobe. Via the service, customers will be able to utilise an outfit builder, allowing them to swipe and discover new pieces and learn how to style them with past purchases. “Once again, we’re showing our customers how to do more but with less,” Page concluded. (From left) AW23 collections by Alexander McQueen, Valentino and Versace. Images: Launchmetrics Spotlight Read more: * Quiet Luxury, the minimalist trend sweeping fashion * Red is the new pink: Why the Barbieocre trend is being replaced * Liberty womenswear buyer: ‘I am expecting customers to look for slightly more muted pieces’
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LuisaViaRoma and British Vogue host ‘Runway Icons’ catwalk show

Credits: Ray-Ban Reverse Garden. Image: Ray-Ban Italian luxury marketplace LuisaViaRoma teamed up with British Vogue and the media outlet’s outgoing editor-in-chief Edward Enninful for the open-air catwalk show, ‘Runway Icons’. Held in Florence’s Piazzale Michelangelo, the event drew in a star-studded cast and celebrity audience, with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Imaan Hammam, Eva Herzigova, Tobey Maguire and Irina Shayk among those to have descended on the occasion. The show itself looked to trace the evolution of global fashion and style through the decades, featuring looks from over 50 international emerging and established designers, each curated by Enninful. Credits: Looks from the 'Runway Icons' catwalk show by LuisaViaRoma and British Vogue. Image: Ray-Ban Over 70 models showcased the variety of looks, including the likes of Stella Maxwell, Winnie Harlow and Ashley Graham, while more than 1,500 guests from the fashion and creative industries were in attendance. Following the event, sunglasses specialist Ray-Ban was the host of an after-party and dinner, which were held in the Reverse Garden and celebrated the brand’s latest product, Ray-Ban Reverse. Credits: Ray-Ban after-party for 'Runway Icons' show. Image: Ray-Ban
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Saint Laurent, Versace and Jimmy Choo heading to Montreal

Image: Carbonleo; A rendering of the Royalmount development in Montreal, Canada Royalmount, the 7 billion US dollar retail and leisure development creating a new midtown for Montreal in Canada, has confirmed that Saint Laurent, Versace and Jimmy Choo will be opening new stores. The development, being spearheaded by Quebec-based real estate development and management company Carbonleo, will have 170 stores and 60 restaurants, with 50 percent of the brands and retail concepts set to be completely new to the Quebec market. The first stores are set to open from summer 2024. Other brands that have signed up include Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Tiffany, David Yurman, Tag Heuer and Michael Kors. Andrew Lutfy, chief executive of Carbonleo, said in a statement: “We are delighted to welcome these world-class and category-leading brands to Royalmount, which will become the number one destination in Eastern Canada for retail, dining and entertainment. “Years of thought and planning have gone into bringing the right brands to Montreal. These arrivals represent an exciting future for Royalmount and will help bring our shared vision and values to life. We look forward to welcoming these brands and our valued guests and visitors next year.” Royalmount to give Montreal a luxury fashion boost Versace, Jimmy Choo and Tag Heuer will open their first stand-alone stores in Montreal, with Royalmount adding that Saint Laurent will be taking “a major presence”. While David Yurman’s flagship will be its largest store in Canada and its first in Quebec. Michael Kors will also be expanding its presence in the city with a new dedicated store set to carry the Michael Kors Collection line. Royalmount will be a mixed-use development in the heart of Montreal, featuring retail, offices, restaurants and entertainment, all surrounding a central park. The first phase will consist of an 824,000-square-foot, two-level retail and lifestyle complex. It will also be the first 100 percent carbon-neutral mixed-use development in the Americas and the largest LEED Gold retail project in Canada.
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London Fashion Week initiates ‘transformation phase’ with experimental format

Qasimi SS24 at London Fashion Week June 2023. Image: BFC A quick glance at the schedule for the latest London Fashion Week would leave many with questions. The June 2023 men’s edition was highly limited compared to seasons prior, yet came in a format that still seemed more hybrid than ever. Over the course of the weekend, from June 9 to 12, London played host to a series of physical catwalks, digital presentations and a selection of talks and panels, despite just six designers taking part. While the city’s large-scale fashion weeks are typically scheduled in February and September, the four-day event is now acting as more of an experiment for the future, combining technology and culture while also continuing to bolster emerging British names. It comes as the British Fashion Council (BFC) repositions itself towards local talent in a bid to amplify the UK’s own industry, a move that was outlined last week prior to the event in a letter to BFC members from chairman David Pemsel. In the letter, Pemsel, who was appointed last October, said he wanted to aid UK-based brands in navigating the challenging environment they currently face, much of which has been brought on by Brexit regulations, the aftermath of the pandemic and other socioeconomic factors. His main focus points centred around commercial and cultural innovation, evolving the UK’s fashion narrative and fuelling responsible growth through accessible opportunities for next generation talent. Pemsel’s emphasis on backing new designers was already seen in the June edition with the inclusion of three universities, including University of Westminster, Ravensbourne University London and University of East London, each of which presented their own graduate shows. Next to this was two educational panels, one centred around the future of menswear, the other on The Asian Man, dubbed ‘An exploration into the forgotten style tribe’. Qasimi SS24 at London Fashion Week June 2023. Image: BFC Qasimi SS24 at London Fashion Week. Image: BFC Genderless fashion prevails In terms of the designer roster, the reduced schedule was purposefully dedicated to smaller brands and a broader audience, with less exclusive in-person events available in a bid to further democratise the platform. In keeping with its last rebrand in 2020, the showcase continued a gender neutral approach to menswear with the select participants opting to exhibit unisex and androgynous styles. The first to take to the event was Hoor Al Qasimi, creative director of Qasimi, whose men’s and women’s collection drew inspiration from Sudanese artist Kamala Ibrahim Ishaq, as reflected in the use of earth tones, traditional silk printing and intricate craftsmanship. Qasimi also used her opportunity to showcase the work of two designers from her ‘Qasimi Rising’ fashion incubator, Omer Asim and Salim Azzam. The same day also saw Los Angeles-based menswear brand Justin Cassin return to the schedule after having previously shown his AW23 collection in London. For AW24, however, the designer opted for an evening show at Soho’s The Vinyl Factory, where he once again presented his own take on British tailoring through structured silhouettes and experimental techniques. In contrast to Cassin’s clean cut line, Sagaboi brought an alternative tongue-in-cheek take on genderless fashion. Combining Trinidadian heritage with streetwear, the label, founded by Geoff Cooper, drew on its link to ‘saga boy’, a Caribbean subculture that formed in the 30s as a rebellion to overtly masculine ideals. Printed tees with phrases emblazoned on them, such as ‘Lawd ‘ave Mercy’, were paired with retro-inspired pants, while other references to fashion eras of the past were seen in co-ord suits and crochet knitwear. Sagaboi SS24 at London Fashion Week. Image: BFC The designer line up was rounded out by Woolmark International Prize winner and NewGen recipient Saul Nash, who stepped out onto the beach for his SS24 line. The ‘Intersection’ collection saw the designer pay tribute to the heritage of his parents, combining Guyanese, English and Mauritian roots to form a laid back curation of looks. Speedos were paired with matching knits and skin-tight tops contrasted embroidered sailor jackets, all in bold contrasting hues. Looking ahead With this short edition wrapped up, the BFC is now looking to the seasons ahead – the new strategy in mind. While the large-scale womenswear editions are likely to remain an integral part of the organisation’s operations, and therefore stay largely unchanged, CEO Caroline Rush told WWD in an interview prior to the June edition that the council was considering significant changes to its menswear schedule in light of the shifting needs of designers. Rush labelled this past weekend’s fashion week a “transition period”, noting that the next would look very different. She added that such changes could see the introduction of a new platform designed around the incorporation of menswear businesses that typically stray from the fashion show set up, such as Savile Row designers, many of which tend to favour events like Pitti Uomo over LFW. While not yet confirmed, measures could be drastic enough that LFW’s January edition, initially focused on menswear, never returns. Such efforts to bolster the industry were again backed up by Pemsel in his letter, where he stated: “We have unwavering belief in the UK fashion industry, its creative heart beat and London as a global fashion capital. Our businesses are innovators, challengers and provocateurs and our ambitions are too great to be constrained by the small team at the BFC. We as an industry showed our strength as a community through the pandemic, and harnessing that strength in community to collectively do what we all can to contribute to retaining and strengthening our pre-eminent position as creators, innovators and industry trailblazers.” Saul Nash SS24 at London Fashion Week June 2023. Image: Launchmetrics Spotlight Saul Nash SS24 at London Fashion Week June 2023. Image: Launchmetrics Spotlight
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THG Ingenuity partners with PwC to bolster e-commerce capabilities

Credits: Image: THG THG Ingenuity, the technology services division of British fashion and beauty retail group THG, has announced a partnership with international professional services firm PwC to bolster digital commerce. As part of the deal, “PwC will lead on the business strategy, research, and design of the brand web stores, and Ingenuity will provide the technology and operations to create a frictionless ecommerce experience”. Ingenuity was set up by THG to offer technology and operations capabilities to DTC and consumer brands. It currently powers the e-commerce growth of global brands including Coca-Cola, Kraft Heinz, Mondelēz, Homebase, and others. Ingenuity CEO Vivek Ganotra said in a statement: “We are delighted to form a strategic alliance with PwC that helps brands create engaging and relevant commerce experiences. “By bringing together PwC’s strategic and creative experience with Ingenuity’s proven ecommerce platform capabilities, our alliance will give in- house teams a launchpad to transform their digital operations whilst ensuring that the customer experience and customer-brand relationship remains at the heart of the purchase.” Ingenuity parent THG last month announced it had terminated acquisition discussions with Apollo Global Management, stating that the firm had undervalued the group. THG was approached by Apollo in April with a non-binding offer to acquire its entire issued share capital. However, THG ultimately turned the offer down, arguing there was “no longer any merit in continuing to engage with Apollo” due to “inadequate valuations”.
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Graduate Fashion Week kicks off in London, this is the 2023 schedule

Nottingham Trent University at GFW22. Courtesy of Nottingham Trent University, Designer: Tanya Evans Lawes The 2023 edition of UK graduate showcase at the bachelor level Graduate Fashion Week, kicks off today. 27 GFW member universities will take part in the four day event which runs until June 15. The event, organised by non-profit organisation the Graduate Fashion Foundation is taking place at the Truman Brewery in East London. GFW23 will feature 17 graduate runway shows as well as this year’s GFW exhibition with work from the 27 UK member universities, industry talks, fashion film screenings and a daily awards show. This afternoon, Northumbria University was the first school to present its student graduation runway show, this way officially kicking off Graduate Fashion Week 2023. View the full schedule of GFW23 (UK) below. Monday, June 12 * 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM – GFW Exhibition * 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM – Judging Talk in the GFW Live! Talk Space * 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM – Talk - How to Be a Fashion Activist * 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM – Northumbria University Presentation * 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM – Talk - How to Build a Brand With Sustainability at its Core * 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM – Daily Awards Show and drinks * 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM – Fashion Reimagined Film Screening and Q&A Tuesday June 13 * 10:00 AM - 7:30 PM – GFW Exhibition * 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM – Judging Talk in the GFW Live! Talk Space * 10:30 AM - 11:05 AM – Joint Catwalk Show - University Of Derby & University Of Hertfordshire * 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM – GFW Live! Talk - Fashion Illustration and Collage Workshop with Illustrator Elyse Blackshaw * 12:45 PM - 1:20 PM – Joint Catwalk Show - Bath Spa University & Arts University Bournemouth * 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM – Talk - Why Good Culture is Good Business: A Deep Dive into PR and Purpose * 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM – Talk - Free Range: Framing Realities and Inspiring Young Creatives with photographer Serena Brown * 3:00 PM - 3:35 PM – Nottingham Trent University Catwalk Show * 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM – Talk - Zara Talent: Accelerating the Future * 5:30 PM - 6:05 PM – Sheffield Hallam University Catwalk Show * 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM – Daily Awards Show and drinks * 7:45 PM - 8:20 PM – Size? Homegrown Catwalk Show & Party Wednesday June 14 * 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM - GFW Exhibition * 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM – Judging Talk in the GFW Live! Talk Space * 10:30 AM - 11:05 AM – Winchester School Of Art Catwalk Show * 12:30 PM - 1:05 PM – Joint Catwalk Show - Birmingham City University & Glasgow School Of Art * 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM – Talk - Big Dress Energy: An introduction to Fashion Psychology * 2:30 PM - 3:05 PM – Joint Catwalk Show - University Of Central Lancashire & Norwich University Of The Arts * 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM – Talk - How to get a Job in Fashion * 4:30 PM - 5:05 PM – De Montfort University Catwalk Show * 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM – Daily Awards Show and drinks * 6:30 PM - 7:05 PM – Edinburgh College Of Art Catwalk Show * 7:45 PM - 8:20 PM – Untagged Catwalk Show & Party Thursday June 15 * 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM - GFW Exhibition * 10:30 AM - 11:05 AM – GFW Collective Catwalk Show * 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM – Talk - The Fundamentals of Starting a Brand * 11:45 AM - 12:20 PM – GFW Collective (Schools Only) Catwalk Show * 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM – Talk - How to Get a Job in Digital Fashion * 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM – Talk - How Digital Printing Can Transform Fashion * 2:00 PM - 2:35 PM – Manchester Fashion Institute at Manchester Metropolitan University Catwalk Show * 3:00 PM - 3:00 PM – Talk - Everything you Need to Know About Circularity in Fashion * 4:00 PM - 4:35 PM – Liverpool John Moores University Catwalk Shows * 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM – Talk - How to Be a Fashion Multi-Hyphenate * 6:00 PM - 6:35 PM – University For The Creative Arts Catwalk Show * 8:00 PM - 8:35 PM – Best of GFW23 Catwalk Show
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Lisaa Mode 2023 students to present collections in Paris

Lisaa Mode Paris show 2022. Courtesy of Florence Julienne On June 13 2023, Lisaa Mode Paris, the fashion school of the Institute of Applied Arts (Institut Supérieur des Arts Appliqués), is organising two shows to celebrate the graduation class of 2023 in the bachelor of fashion design and styling programme. Does the younger generation hold the future of fashion in its hands? Undoubtedly, given the number of awards created to celebrate young talent, and the success of fashion school catwalks. This year, Lisaa Mode Paris is organising not one, but two shows at the Élysée Montmartre in Paris. The first show will take place at 6 PM for friends and family. The second will be for industry professionals and will take place at 8 PM. The school will showcase a selection of the twenty most emblematic collections of the Lisaa Mode graduate class of 2023, 40 percent of which are for men, even though artistic director Romain Boyer has been observing increasingly unisex silhouettes for several years. Nevertheless, out of 120 pieces, 59 are for women and 61 for men. The collections are accessorised and one hundred percent designed with CSR in mind, in terms of the choice of materials, prototyping, the sales system and marketing. Students are therefore required to possess global expertise and a 180-degree vision (it should be noted that there are more and more boys in the graduating classes). They can explore all market sectors, but must create a synergy between their creativity and commercially viable products./p> Each student is free to choose his or her own theme. In terms of emerging trends, Romain Boyer sees a return to tradition. "A lot of students are talking about their social, family and geographical origins, while at the same time being contemporary. But there is also a return to the great creativity of the 90s. Creation for creation's sake". Isn't freshness just what you'd expect from young fashion school graduates? This article was originally published on FashionUnited.FR. Translation and editing from French into English by Veerle Versteeg.
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Cordwainers Footwear Awards 2023 winners revealed

Image: The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers; Cordwainers Footwear Awards 2023 winners Footwear association The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers has announced the winners of this year’s Cordwainers Footwear Awards celebrating the best in young footwear talent. The event took place in London on June 7, featuring 15 student finalists from the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London and De Montfort University, who competed to win the coveted Cordwainers Footwear Award Trophy. The First Prize was awarded to Jihwi Ahn from De Montfort University, who receives 3,000 pounds, while the award's Second Place, worth 2,000 pounds, went to Daniel Charkow from the London College of Fashion. Commenting on his win, Ahn said in a statement: “It’s really a privilege to experience this event and to be a winner. It really means a lot to me! I think it will really encourage me to push forward and work in this industry.” Image: The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers; Cordwainers Footwear Awards 2023 winner - Jihwi Ahn from De Montfort University The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers celebrate young footwear talent This year also included two new awards, a new Sneaker/Athleisure Award recognising innovations in sneaker design and the Sue Saunders Award for Excellence, a lifetime contribution award named after the inspiring footwear teacher and mentor. The Sneaker/Athleisure Award was won by Bobby Nangla from De Montfort University. He took home 1,500 pounds. The Sue Saunders Award for Excellence was made posthumously to Sue Saunders herself, in recognition of her “immense contribution to footwear education,” explained The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers. In the future, the award will be awarded by nomination to an individual. Other wins for the London College of Fashion included Annie Purdy receiving the Sustainable Development Award and a cash prize of 1,500 pounds while Georgia Dalloro was recognised with the First Commendation and Barney Wardlaw the Second Commendation, and both take home 500 pounds each. The 2023 judging panel included Joanne Jørgensen, footwear design director at Nike's London design studio, Katie Greenyer creative director at Pentland Brands, Joachim Sedelmeier head of design of shoes at Paul Smith, and international footwear designer Charlotte Olympia Dellal.
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