Fashion News Alert: Kim K Launches Bangladesh Factories Continue to Battle Price Cuts, and Anne Klein to Provide COVID-19 Relief

April 16, 2020 by 1 Comment

Image courtesy of dailymail.couk

On this coming Tuesday, Kim Kardashian’s Skims Stretch Rib collection will launch and be available for purchase for consumers. And the timing is perfect!!

As more and more folks are sequestered at home or working from home, Kim K’s Skims Stretch Rib garments are perfect to wear around the house. The matching sets which are basically wear-around-the-house, comfortable sports bras and shorty biker shorts comes in three colors, soot, bone, and slate green.

You can mix and match the shorty biker shorts with sports bras that come in crewneck bra or halter neckline styles. And this collection comes in a wide range of sizes from XXS to 5X. Prices cap at $42.

Image courtesy of Atelier PR

Anne Klein gives back

Anne Klein’s granddaughter Jesse Gre Rubinstein is partnering with WHP Global, owner of the women’s wear iconic line, Anne Klein, to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic by purchasing 100,000 safety face masks. These safety face masks will be distributed to essential workers and community organizations.

“Uniting the brand Anne Klein with the founder’s family at this critical time and making a commitment to distribute 100,000 masks to those on the frontlines helping our communities, is a win/win. This is just the beginning of our planned collaboration with Anne’s granddaughter, Jesse. We’re thrilled to partner with her,” said WHP Chairman and CEO Yehuda Shmidman in a company press release.  

“I am honored to have the opportunity to play a role in supporting my grandmother’s legacy by highlighting inspiring individuals who even during this time of great uncertainty, embody the vision and strength to empower their community and uplift those around them,” added Jesse Gre Rubinstein, founder and CEO of social media agency, Hello There Collective. “My hope is that this initiative serves as the launch of a powerful network that can both support and inspire others to help not only in the present, but as we begin to rebuild.”

Image courtesy of theglobalpost.com

More financial woes for Bangladeshi garment workers 

Bangladeshi garment factories have achieved one coronavirus victory. Western garment companies have agreed not to cancel orders. And though this victory is significant, the victory has been set back by Western garment companies demanding a price cut of 50%.

“We are still observing their departure from original contract terms … which includes renegotiating prices as low as 50% of the original deal,” said Rubana Huq, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, in a recent fashionnetwork.com article. Kalpona Akter, a labor activist, warned that workers would bear the brunt of reduced or renegotiated orders. “We will be able to see the impact by next month, when workers will have to be paid their Eid bonuses and salaries,” Akter explained.

Bangladesh ranks behind China in garment manufacturing with its 4,000 factories employing mostly women, accounting for 80% of the country’s exports. The Bangladeshi government has come up with a $588 million package to help the crucial export sector pay its workers in March.

Though this package will help, labor activists say it is not enough to help garment workers. Hundreds of garment workers took to the streets to protest the cuts by Western garment brands and nonpayment of wages.

William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Naomi Campbell’s Talk Show, Bye Bye Claire Waight Keller, and Louis Vuitton Makes Free Masks

April 10, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of stylerave.com

Supermodel Naomi Campbell doesn’t let any grass grow under her feet. In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, Campbell finds ways to expand her empire and audience appeal.

Campbell has launched her own live talk show, “No Filter with Naomi,” from her New York City apartment. “No Filter with Naomi” appears to be a daily live talk show on Youtube with Campbell gabbing with fashion and entertainment friends that we all know and love.

Campbell’s first guest was iconic supermodel Cindy Crawford, followed on the next day by Marc Jacobs. On “No Filter with Naomi,” Campbell talks about everything from food to fashion to how to protect yourself during the coronavirus pandemic.

“No Filter with Naomi” launched on April 6 and streams daily on YouTube at 3pm.

Image courtesy of financialtimes.com

Claire Waight Keller moves on

British-born creative director Claire Waight Keller is leaving Givenchy. The 49-year old Keller came to Givenchy in 2017, replacing Riccardo Tisci, after working at Chloe.

“After three years, the womenswear show held on March 1, 2020 will be Clare Waight Keller’s last collection for Givenchy,” the 68-year-old Paris-based house announced on Friday morning in a press release. “The House’s new creative organization will be communicated at a later date,” LVMH stressed in its release. LVMH acquired Givenchy in 1988.

Though Keller successfully brought renewed attention to Givenchy—particularly, with Keller designing Meghan Markle’s wedding gown in her marriage to Prince Harry—the iconic fashion house sales in recent seasons has been lukewarm. Still, her collections for Givenchy received very positive press.

“As the first woman to be the artistic director of this legendary maison, I feel honored to have been given the opportunity to cherish its legacy and bring it new life,” said Waight Keller. “Focusing on a world based on Haute Couture has been one of the highlights of my professional journey. I have shared so many incredible moments with the brilliant Givenchy ateliers and design teams: your exceptional talent and dedication will forever remain in my memories. My heartfelt thanks go out to each of the unsung heroes and heroines behind the scenes, for their contribution from product to communications and retail, and every global team member, partner and supplier in between. Without all of you, I could not have brought my vision for Givenchy to life in such a beautiful way,” added 49-year-old Waight Keller, as reported in a recent fashionnetwork.com article.

Image courtesy of wwd.com

Louis Vuitton’s safety masks

On Wednesday, Louis Vuitton announced that five of its French workshops will start making masks for frontline health workers. In this respect, Louis Vuitton is following the House of Dior, who has been making masks for healthcare workers and hospitals since the end of March.

“In an exceptional show of solidarity, our wonderful petites mains (or “little hands”, as those who make luxury clothes are called) are working tirelessly” to protect health workers, the label said, as reported in fashionnetwork.com. Givenchy CEO Michael Burke explained that thousands of masks would be made in workshops that usually make luxury clothes and accessories.

—William S. Gooch

Weekend Fashion News Alert: Ralph Lauren and Abercrombie & Fitch Furlough Workers, The Modist Shuts Down Site, and Bangladeshi Garment Workers Are Ordered to Stay Home

April 4, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Ralph Lauren Purple Label Men’s Spring 2020

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and Ralph Lauren will temporarily furlough retail workers and cut corporate salaries because of challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. This announcement is in line with other retail giants who have put most of their retail workers on furlough.

Ralph Lauren closed its North America stores in mid-March while it kept most of its employees on full salary. This compensation also applied to some of the company’s stores in Europe.

That is all about to change. On April 11, Ralph Lauren will put its retail employees and some of its corporate workers on temporary unpaid furlough. Furloughed employees will continue to receive regular benefits and have access to the company’s Employee Relief Fund.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has also closed stores in North America and had kept its employees on full salary since mid-March. As of April 12, retail employees will be temporarily furloughed without pay and some corporate associates will receive a 15% decrease in salary.

Image courtesy of wwd.com

Another one bites the dust

The coronavirus pandemic has caused e-retailer The Modist to shut their site down permanently. “The global pandemic crisis that hit the world shifted our position entirely and rendered our young business very vulnerable, which left us with no choice but to close down,” explained The Modist founder and chief executive officer Ghizlan Guenez on Instagram.

Launched in 2017, The Modist was one of the most promising e-commerce luxury sites in some years with investment from Nicola Bulgari, Farfetch, the Chalhoub Group, and Valtier 7. In just a small amount of time The Modest stockiest lists included Jil Sander, Burberry, and Marni.

Still, The Modist was a small e-commerce luxury site compared to Modi Operandi and Net-a-Porter. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a deleterious effect on the fashion industry, and that includes brick-and-mortar stores as well as online stores and e-commerce. Unfortunately, The Modist has fallen by the wayside.

Image courtesy of npr.com

Bangladesh layoffs increases poverty

Thousands of Bangladeshi garment workers have been laid off as orders from Western fashion brands have dwindled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Garment workers had already experienced a 10-day break enforced by the government. When the workers returned to their factory jobs, they were expecting to be back to business as usual.

That was not the case. Most garment workers were notified that they were laid off. “When they reached the factories this morning, most of the workers were told that they were laid off or that the factory would resume after the shutdown,” said Khadiza Akter, vice president of the union Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation. “They didn’t have to come back. They could have been told on the phone about the factory closures,” she said.

Bangladesh’s version of unemployment insurance pales in comparison to unemployment in Western countries. Though Bangladesh’s labor law guarantees to pay workers a portion of their wages until factories reopen, with wages being extremely to begin with, this protracted layoff will push impoverished workers deep into poverty.

Because of the impoverished state of garment workers, workers are call on the government and factory owners to help the factory workers until the pandemic passes. “Everything is more expensive because of the coronavirus as it is, and now if my salary decreases, I don’t know how I will survive,” said Babul Rahman, a garment worker.

Bangladeshi’s Ministry of Labour and Employment has asked factory owners not to lay workers off but pay them a full salary through April 12. “We know that there have been some issues, but we are hopeful that the owners will accept our request,” said a ministry spokesman Shib Nath Roy in a recent fashionnetwork.com article.

—William S. Gooch

Breaking Fashion News: Couture Fashion Weeks and Men’s Fashion Weeks Cancelled

March 28, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of popsugar.com

For those hoping for a return to normalcy in the fashion industry in a couple of months, your hopes may be dashed by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, the governing body of French fashion. This austere governing body announced on Friday that the upcoming Men’s and Couture fashion weeks have been cancelled.

The prospective French fashion weeks were to take place on June 23 to 28 (Men’s) and July 5 to July 9 (Couture). The Camera Nazionale della Moda, which oversees Italian fashion, has also just postponed its slate of men’s shows which will now take place among the women’s shows in September. Additionally, the CFDA is advising US designers to hold their Resort 2021 shows later in 2020. The CFDA has postponed Men’s Fashion Week which usually takes place in June.

“In light of the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic worldwide, strong decisions are required to ensure the safety and health of houses, their employees, and everyone working in our industry. The Fédération is actively working with its members on possible alternatives,” explained the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, as reported in vogue.com.

The Camera Nazionale della Moda detailed in a press release, “We are working on new digital formats and new ways of encounter, in order to create a new storytelling on the days originally scheduled for the Milan Men’s Fashion Week: B2B and B2C platforms for the benefit of brands, luxury companies, and all the other players in the fashion industry.”

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Armani to Produce Medical Overalls, Ralph Lauren Donates to COVID-19 Relief, Neiman Marcus on Track Toward Bankruptcy, and the Designers of “Making the Cut”

March 25, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of deadline.com

Amazon Prime’s “Making the Cut” airs on March 27. And unlike “Project Runway,” “Making the Cut” is more about branding than the creativity behind making garments.

“We decided very early in the development process that we wanted Making the Cut to focus on the branding element of creating a successful fashion business, not just the design element,” said executive producer Sara Rea in a fashionweekdaily.com article. “I worked with Heidi and Tim for so many years on “Project Runway” and there just weren’t many people on that show who were really able to build a successful brand afterwards. We wanted to make sure that wasn’t the case with “Making the Cut,” so we selected people with business and marketing skills as well as design skills; people we were ready to take their businesses to the next level.”

That said, Fashion Reverie thought it would be great to highlight some of the designers featured on “Making the Cut.” And surprise, surprise, Fashion Reverie has reviewed the collection of the two of the designers on the Amazon Prime show when they presented at New York Fashion Week (NYFW).

Rinat Brodach, New York City, launched her namesake brand in 2014. Fashion Reverie featured Brodach on the site several times.

Jon Cota, Los Angeles, launched SKINGRAFT in 2006 and was a regular presence at NYFW when NYFW was located at Lincoln Center. Fashion Reverie also regularly reviewed SKINGRAFT collections.

Esther Perbrandt, Berlin, launched her eponymous brand in 2005. Her design aesthetic is a mix of Parisian chic, Berlin hipster, and Moscow avant-garde, and always in black. Salute the urban street warrior!!

Martha Gottwald’s brand Neubryne is known for unexpected silhouettes in bold color.

Megan Smith launched her Los Angeles-based brand in 2007. Smith distinguishes her brand by centering her collections on bold color, feminine silhouettes with sexy details, and girly whimsy.

Joshua Hopper is a part of the design duo behind Babyghost. The 10-year old brand is based in Shanghai.

“Making the Cut’” is co-hosted and executive produced by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn. “Making the Cut” premieres of Amazon Prime on March 27 in 10 episodes.

Image courtesy of harpersbazaar.com

Ralph Lauren does his part

As the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to cause havoc to public health systems globally and global financial markets, some folks in the fashion industry have committed to try to stem the tide of this pandemic with some financial assistance.

The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation, in a series of commitments, will aid the World Health Organization‘s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Additionally, the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation will provide financial assistance to all Ralph Lauren colleagues who are facing financial, childcare, eldercare, and health-related challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. This combined financial contribution will be a commitment of over $10 million dollars.

“At the heart of our company, there has always been a spirit of togetherness that inspires our creativity, our confidence and most importantly: our support for one another. In the past weeks and months, that spirit has never wavered,” said Ralph Lauren, executive chairman and chief creative officer, in a recent press release.

“In addition, the Ralph Lauren Corporation is starting the production of 250,000 masks and 25,000 isolation gowns with our [US] manufacturing partners,” stated the brand, as reported in fashionnetwork.com. “We recognize that this is an unprecedented, multifaceted crisis which demands different responses for different needs in different places. That is why we are funding multiple activities to support our teams, our partners and our communities around the world,” said Patrice Louvet, president and chief executive officer. 

Image courtesy of lofficielusa.com

Armani to produce medical overalls

Armani jumps to the help and assist with the global coronavirus pandemic by producing single-use medical overalls at the company’s Italian production plants. The lack of enough disposable medical overalls has been one of the challenges in Italy’s fight against COVID-19.

Armani, early on, has been in the forefront of fighting COVID-19 in Italy. The company has already donated 2 million euros to Italian hospitals. A group of Italian textile manufacturers and fashion designers are coming together to produce millions of protective face masks to combat COVID-19 in Italy.

 

Image courtesy of somersetcollection.com

Trouble for Neiman Marcus

American megastore Neiman Marcus is saddled with a $4.3 billion dollar debt load. Neiman Marcus’ debt load stems from its 2013 leveraged buyout by Ares and Canadian public pension fund CPPIB from other private equity firms.

According to Bloomberg News, Neiman Marcus is in talks with lenders about a potential bankruptcy loan. This loan with keep the financially burdened megastore’s doors open while it comes up with a company restructuring plan.

Like many major US retail megastores—JC Penny, Sears, Barneys New York, and Lord & Taylor—Neiman Marcus has been struggling for some time with declining sales. And the temporary shutdown of most US retail stores due to the coronavirus pandemic will not help Neiman Marcus’ challenge.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Kylie Jenner to Assist Surgeon General, Bangladesh Factories Suffer, Heidi and Tim Are Back, and JC Penny, J. Jill, and Skechers Temporarily Close Stores

March 19, 2020 by 1 Comment

Image courtesy of detroitnews.com

If you have missed Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn on “Project Runway,” there is no need to fret. The duo is returning to reality television, but not on “Project Runway.” On March 27, “Making the Cut” will debut on Amazon Prime, and Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn will be the hosts. There will also be some outstanding judges—Chiara Ferragni, Joseph Altuzarra, Naomi Campbell, Nicole Ritchie, and Carine Roitfeld.

This new venture for Heidi and Tim will showcase 12 fashion entrepreneurs who are competing and positioning their fashion brand as the next great fashion brand. The winning design from each episode will be available for sale on the “Making the Cut” store on Amazon. The winner will receive a $1 million dollars and have the entire collection produced and sold exclusively on Amazon.

“Making the Cut” will premiere on March 27, running until April 24. Klum and Gunn are executive producers of “Making the Cut.”

Image courtesy of twitter.com

Three big US retailers temporarily close

JC Penny, J. Jill, and Skechers have temporarily closed their stores to help curb the growing spread of the coronavirus. They are not the only chain stores that are shuttering stores due to the coronavirus pandemic. Buckle, The Gap, Cato, Zumiez, and Destination XL are also closing stores temporarily.

JC Penny will close its 846 stores, as well as its business offices, until April 2. J. Jill has promised to continue to pay its employees as it shutters its 280 stores nationwide until March 27.

And Skechers will close its retail locations in North America and select European footwear stores until March 28. “We are monitoring our business and the impact of the virus in all countries and will continue to close stores as we feel needed,” commented Skechers COO David Weinberg in a release, as reported in fashionnetwork.com.

Image courtesy of pagesix.com

Kylie Jenner uses her social media reach

US Surgeon General Jerome Adams has enlisted the services of beauty mogul Kylie Jenner and other social media influencers to help combat the spread of the coronavirus. Prior to the urgings of Surgeon General Adams, Kylie Jenner had already implored her 166 million followers on Instagram to take note of the pandemic.

“Another daily reminder to take this social distancing serious and self-quarantine.” She added that she was already on day eight of her own quarantine, adding that her pregnancy prepared her for this. “I didn’t leave the house for months,” Kylie wrote.

Taking advantage of Kylie Jenner and other social media influencers significant following Surgeon General Adams explains, “What we really need to do is get our influencers out—[basketball players] Kevin Durant, Donavon Mitchell. We need to get Kylie Jenner. We need to get our social media influencers out there in helping folks understand that, look, this is serious, this is absolutely serious, people are dying.” Adams continues, “Think about your grandmother, think about your grandfather. You’re spreading disease and that could be what ultimately kills them.”

Image courtesy of worldeconomicforum.com

More woes for Bangladesh factory workers

Manufacturers expressed concern that orders in the amount of $138 million have been cancelled or delayed from Bangladesh factories due to the coronavirus pandemic. More than 100 factories in Bangladesh have lost orders, causing extreme economic hardship on Bangladesh factory workers.

“We are totally dependent on our export proceeds,” said Rubana Huq, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, which has more than 4,000 members. [Our] plea to the brands has been to continue taking our orders until June. And to support us in any form so that the workers don’t go hungry … how will their lives and livelihood be sustained if there are cancellations?”

Bangladeshi labor activists have confirmed that no workers have lost their jobs; but are afraid of layoffs due to the cancellation of orders. “These workers live hand-to-mouth and they are panicked because they have heard that orders are being cancelled,” Kalpona Akter, founder of the Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity, in a fashionnetwork.com article.

Bangladesh garment factories employ more than $4 million workers, mostly women, supplying 80% of the country’s exports. Bangladesh is the second largest garment supplier, behind China. Bangladesh has reported on 17 coronavirus infections, with one death.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: New York International Bridal Week Goes Digital, Sao Paulo Fashion Week Cancelled, and Donatella Versace Donates Money to Combat Coronavirus

March 12, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of marieclaire.au

New York International Bridal Week is going digital for the spring 2021 season. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, The Bridal Council and the CFDA that New York International Bridal Week, that was to take place April 16 through April 18 will be a digital experience for bridal editors, journalists, buyers and other fashion industry professionals.

In a press release from The Bridal Council, the Bridal Council states, “As everyone’s health and well-being is our main concern, this approach will allow for the designers’ collections to be seen by the retailers, media and other industry professionals, without needing to travel to NYC.

We ask the designers to present their collection via Zoom or Join Me technology, (allowing an audience of up to 500 to log on to their computers & see the collection at one time). The camera will become the audience and the designer or sales director can show the collection on a few models or from the rack.  This is a suggestion and realize that some brands may opt for an alternate way to present their collection.”

Image courtesy of torontostar.com

Donatella gives back

Donatella Versace has donated 200,000 euros to the intensive card ward of Milan’s San Raffaele hospital. Donatella’s daughter Allegra Versace Beck is assisting her mother in this endeavor.

“In times like this, it is important to be united and support however we can help all those who are in the front lines, fighting every day to save hundreds of lives,” said Versace in a statement. “This is why, Allegra and I have decided to make a personal donation of 200,000 euros to the intensive care department of San Raffaele hospital in Milan. Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected by this disease and to all the doctors and medical staff who have been working heroically non-stop in the past weeks in the effort to take care of our loved ones. This is when we, as a society, need to stand together and care for one another,” said Donatella as reported in a dailyfrontrow.com.

Several Italian designers have contributed to Italian hospitals that are battling the coronavirus. That includes Giorgio Armani, Chiara Ferragamo, Sergio Rossi, Carla Fendi, and others. French fashion conglomerate Kering has made a 2-million-euro donation to healthcare institutions in areas key to the company across Italy. Italy has the most cases of coronavirus infection of any Western country.

photo courtesy of Gabriel Cappelletti/ FOTOSITE

Sao Paulo Fashion Week cancelled

According to WWD, Sao Paulo Fashion Week has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Sao Paulo Fashion Week was set to occur from April 24 through April 28. “Due to the recent announcement of COVID-19 pandemic, Sao Paulo Fashion Week has decided to cancel all shows scheduled for April 24 to 28,” co-founder Graca Cabral told WWD.

This cancellation comes on the heels of several fashion event and fashion week cancellations. Tokyo Fashion Week which was set to take place March 16 to March 21 has been cancelled. The remainder of Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival, which was already taking place, has been cancelled. And several fashion houses—Prada, Hermes, Gucci, Max Mara, Versace, and Giorgio Armani—have cancelled their upcoming Resort and 2021 Cruise fashion shows and presentations.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Revlon Layoffs, Tommy Hilfiger Celebrates 35 Years, Met Gala Not Afraid of Coronavirus, and Olsen Twins Sued

March 6, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of hypebae.com

Tommy Hilfiger is celebrating its 35th Anniversary with some very special friends. Inspired by Tommy Hilfiger’s love of sailing, the Tommy Hilfiger Icons collection has a red, white, and blue color palette and a more relaxed design aesthetic to reflect a modern sensibility.

The Tommy Hilfiger Icons campaign stars Winnie Harlow, Candice Swanepoel, and Hannah Ferguson with the campaign photographed by Oliver Hardlee Pearch. This collection will be available in stores and online this month.

Image courtesy of enews.com

Mary-Kate and Ashley in court

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are being sued by David Schulte, the former president of their brand, The Row. David Schulte was also a former boyfriend of Ashley Olsen. Their relationship ended two years before Schulte was promoted to president of The Row.

Schulte abruptly left The Row in October of 2019. The reasons were not apparent. Early this week Schulte filed a lawsuit against their company, Dualstar Entertainment, and both Mary-Kate and Ashley. The nature of the lawsuit has not been revealed. In fact, has been sealed from the press.

The Row has won several awards, including five CFDA Awards, after launching in 2006. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are sitting atop an empire valued at $400 million dollars.

Image courtesy of lofficiel.UK.couk

Revlon expects to save $230 million by the end of 2022 by laying off over 1,000 employees. This comes as the iconic brand is struggling to attract younger consumers.

Revlon’s sales have declined over the past five quarters with market share for the first quarter of 2020 down below expectation. 87% of Revlon’s stake is owned by billionaire Ronald Perelman, who stated last August that he was exploring options for Revlon.

Revlon’s expected layoff is a part of a restructuring plan. The restructuring plan is meant to lower the company’s selling, general, and administrative costs.

“The Revlon 2020 restructuring program includes rightsizing the organization and operating with more efficient workflows and processes that the company implemented during the 2018 optimization program,” the company said in a marketwatch.com article.

Image courtesy of marketwatch.com

The Met Gala is still on, for now

Despite all the cancellations happening because of fears around the coronavirus, the 2020 Met Gala is still in place. The star-studded even is schedule for May 4 in New York City.

“We are proceeding as planned and look forward to a wonderful evening,” explained Nancy Chilton, chief external relations office of the Costume Institute. “We will continue of course to keep an eye on the situation.”

The theme for this year’s Met Gala is: “About Time: Fashion and Duration.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute curator, Andrew Bolton, as reported in Allure magazine, explained that fashion and time are inextricably connected. “It not only reflects and represents the spirit of the times, but it also changes and develops with the times,” he told the publication. The 2020 Met Gala co-chairs are Meryl Streep, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Louis Vuitton’s creative director, Nicolas Ghesquière.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Yolanda Hadid’s Runway Return, Corona Virus Prompts Layoffs at Asian Factories, and D’Angelo Russell Collabs with H&M

February 27, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of dailyfrontrow.com

Former model and “Housewives of Beverly Hills” reality television star Yolanda Hadid returned to runway during Paris Fashion Week. Yolanda Hadid walked in the Off-White fall 2020 runway show with daughters Bella and Gigi respectively closing and opening the show.

Yolanda Hadid wore a white blazer with black graffiti detail, navy trousers and sandals. She also rocked oversized angular earrings, sharp rectangular sunglasses and a black chain necklace, while carrying a large clutch. 

Yolanda Hadid, Yolanda van der Herik before marrying real estate broker Mohammed Hadid, was a fashion model in the 1980s. Discovered by the legendary Eileen Ford and signed to Ford Models. Yolanda modeled in Paris, Milan, Sydney, Cape Town, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles and Hamburg for 15 years before her marriage to Mohammed Hadid.

Image courtesy of quartz.com

Corona virus causes manufacturing disruptions

The Corona Virus is having a negative effect on the garment industry in Asia. Many factories all over Asia are experiencing a cancellation of orders from major retailers. Low-wage workers all over Asia are beginning to experience layoffs due to disruption of supply chains.

Asia supplies sixty percent of the world’s readymade garments, accounting for $290 billion dollars, according to 2015 statistics from the World Trade Organization. That said, because of the corona virus 10 factories in Cambodia have already applied to suspend operations and would pay partial payment to over 3,000 workers.

Bangladesh depends on the manufacture of readymade garments as a mainstay of their economy. Garment manufacturing represents 16% of national output and about $34 billion worth of exports. “Almost 70% of our woven fabrics come from China and naturally if goods do not arrive on time, the readymade garments industry will be affected. If the crisis in China is prolonged, the impact would be severe,” Nasir said as reported in a fashionnetwork.com article.

To produce readymade garments, China supplies much of the textile and products—such as buttons, zippers, clamps, hooks etc.—for these garments. Because of the Corona Virus, Asian factories are looking to other sources for these products. “It is not easy to shift the sourcing destination overnight. But buyers are currently looking for alternative sources,” said Siddiqur Rahman, a leading garment exporter.

Myanmar gets 90% of its fabric from China and the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association contends that 500 factories could shut down if this health crisis continues. A larger question is if consumers will be willing to pay more for garments as a result of this health pandemic? Time will tell!!

Image courtesy of fashionisto.com

D’Angelo and H&M

Minnesota Timberwolves Starting Guard D’Angelo Russell has snagged a fashion collaboration with H&M. Russell will curate a collection of fashion-meets-function menswear pieces to launch on February 27.

The curated collection will feature 19 pieces, ranging from athletic-inspired items and neutral-toned, polished casual pieces. “I’m honored to be able to share my personal style with fans and customers,” Russell said. “Can’t wait to see how people individually add their own take on ‘Spring Essentials Selected by D’Angelo Russell.’” 

Russell promotes the collaboration by starring in the ‘Spring Essential by D’Angelo Russell’ video and campaign. Price points range between $12.99 to $69.99.

William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Rachel Roy’s Ex-Spouse Problems, Old Navy to Leave China, and FIT Fashion Controversy, and Hearst Execs Meet with Union

February 19, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of hotnewhiphop.com

Fashion designer Rachel Roy somehow manages to keep her name in the papers. Whether it is allegedly being “Becky with the good hair” in one of Beyonce’s songs, or the subject of a fight between Solange Knowles and Jay Z, or her courtroom battle to take back her fashion brand from Jones NY, Rachel Roy is always making headlines.

Rachel is making news this week as ex-hubby Damon Dash is pursuing a fraud lawsuit against Rachel Roy and her company, Rachel Roy Brands. Dash claims that Rachel Roy has been hiding “stacks of cash” that are rightfully his. Dash contends in his fraud allegations that Rachel Roy “manipulated, diverted, misappropriated, transferred, concealed and embezzled funds.”

Damon Dash was a co-founder of Rock-A-Fella Records with Jay Z and Kareem Burke, later serving as Jay Z’s manager. When Rachel Roy founded her fashion company in 2008, she was still married to Damon Dash, and according to Damon Dash he owned shares in her company.

Dash further contends that as a shareholder in his ex-wife’s fashion company he was owned royalty payments of $175,000 in 2014 and over $200,000 in 2015, the sums of which he was never paid. Dash claims that Rachel Roy got around paying these royalty claims by underestimating profits and filing misleading statements about her company’s value. Dash is also suing a host of accountants, lawyers, and others who he claims conspired with Rachel Roy.

Image courtesy of fashionweekdaily.com

The Union has it

Hearst executives have finally met with members of the Union Organization Committee and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE).  Hearst staffers and the WGAE contend that Hearst has been involved in staff intimidation and union busting by suppressing the labor rights of some staff members at Hearst. These allegations came to surface in December 2019 and since that time the National Labor Review Board (NLRB) has been called in to investigate the claims.

On Tuesday, some Hearst execs has a positive meeting with the Union Organization Committee and the WGAE; still, all parties are waiting for the NLRB to schedule a meeting for an election to unionize. The Hearst Media Union filed for an election in December, expecting an election to take place in January. However, Hearst executives claim that The Hearst Media Union is not a legitimate union organization.

Image courtesy of dailyfrontrow.com

Trouble for FIT

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) has come under scrutiny. The fashion industry and many fashion fans have expressed outrage at FIT’s MFA Fashion show, presented during New York Fashion Week (NYFW), in which one of the MFA design graduates (Junkai Huang) presented a collection with models wearing bulbous lips, wooly eyebrows, and monkey ears.

Some fashion industry professionals felt that Huang’s caricatures were reminiscent of Miuccia Prada’s 2018 controversial and racially insensitive, golliwog keychains. One black model, Amy Lefevre, staunchly refused to wear the racially insensitive gear, walking in only Huang’s garments. “As soon as I saw the pieces, I started shaking. I felt it was very racist,” Amy Lefevre, 25, told TODAY Style. “I made it clear that I was uncomfortable.”

FIT President Joyce F. Brown weighed in on the incident, “Regrettably, we failed in this instance to recognize a creative statement that could have negative consequences. There is no room for error, which can be interpreted as racism, homophobia, religious intolerance or any kind of bigotry.”

Image courtesy of cnn.com

Bye bye China

In less than two weeks, Old Navy will be exiting China. Old Navy will close all of its 10 stores, six which are in Beijing on March 1. The Chinese online retail store Tmall has already stopped selling Old Navy merchandise and products.

The decision was made to close Old Navy stores in China so that its parent company, The Gap Inc., can concentrate on stores in North America. Plans to exit China was announced by The Gap, Inc. in November 2019. Old Navy opened its first stores in China in 2014.

Wiliam S. Gooch

« Previous Page
Next Page »
Copyright © 2012-2025 | Fashion Reverie Publications, LLC - All Rights Reserved