Image courtesy of usweekly.com
The month of July is turning out to be a month of change. Several US cities are having serious conversations about defunding the police, and some US cities have even passed legislature to put police defunding in place. Also, several US cities are tearing down Confederate monuments.
Add to this incredible restructuring of police forces, and re-examinations of American history, Sports Illustrated has tapped into this era of change by putting the first transgender model in the coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. Trans model Valentina Sampaio will appear in the upcoming 2020 swimwear issue which will be available on July 21. Sampaio joins rookies Lorena Duran, Kim Riekenberg, Brooks Nader, Marquita Pring, Anita Marshall, Hyunjoo Hwang, and Josephine Skriver.
“The team at [Sports Illustrated] has created yet another groundbreaking issue by bringing together a diverse set of multitalented, beautiful women in a creative and dignified way, ”Sampaio says, as reported in fashionweekdaily.com. “I was born trans in a remote, humble fishing village in northern Brazil. Brazil is a beautiful country, but it also hosts the highest number of violent crimes and murders against the trans community in the world—three times that of the U.S.”
“Being trans usually means facing closed doors to peoples’ hearts and minds. We face snickers, insults, fearful reactions and physical violations just for existing. Our options for growing up in a loving and accepting family, having a fruitful experience at school or finding dignified work are unimaginably limited and challenging. I recognize that I am one of the fortunate ones, and my intention is to honor that as best I can,” adds Sampaio.
“We are deeply moved that Valentina was willing to put her trust in us and we didn’t think twice about wanting to amplify her voice, her message and give her a platform to advocate from on behalf of her personal aspirations and the trans community,” MJ Day, editor of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, says. “That is what we can do as a brand, especially during these uncertain times- support her and celebrate her.”
Image courtesy of thinknummedia.com
Bankruptcy for Brooks Brothers
In case you didn’t know, Brooks Brothers has been in existence for over 200 years. Unfortunately, the legendary menswear brand is on the precipice of closing.
On Wednesday, Brooks Brothers requested protection from its creditors in a Delaware bankruptcy courts. Brooks Brothers is currently looking for a buyer and closing 50 of its stores. As reported in the Wall Street Journal, WHP Global and Sparc Group LLC are poised to put in a bid for the menswear brand. If either one of the firms acquires Brook Brothers, either firm has confirmed that they will keep most of the Brooks Brothers’ stores open and shepherd the menswear firm through it Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
Brooks Brothers was founded in 1818 by Henry Sands Brooks and has dressed 41 out of 45 US presidents.
Image courtesy of high.org
Virgil Abloh gives back
Virgil Abloh has announced a $1 million scholarship fun for African American creatives. Abloh has come under intense scrutiny and criticism by many in the African American community for recent comments about not feeling connected to African Americans though the Ghanaian American designer is a native of Chicago. Also, Abloh was criticized for contributing only $50 to defense funds for Black Lives Matters protesters.
The Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund is financially funded by Abloh, Louis Vuitton, Farfetch, Avian, and New Guards Group. The Abloh Scholarship will work in conjunction with the Fashion Scholarship Fund—in operation since 1937—which creates opportunities for young American fashion creatives.
“By the metrics we’re projecting, we’ll put 100 kids, Black kids, through a wide spectrum of educational institutions. I started as a 17-year-old kid whose parents wanted him to be an engineer, but I wanted to be a fashion designer … I’m 39 years old and it’s taken me that time to work to get here and prove my pedigree and to be in a position to activate change, says Abloh, as reported in vogue.com.”
Abloh continues, “A benefit of this uprising is that we are paying attention to systemic problems … we can’t move on … It’s time for us not to make this industry about fashion, but about people… And I’ve been pouring that into my own work. I’m looking at this as a call to action for me to take on more challenges that don’t only end up on the runway, but that end up changing people’s lives.”
—William S. Gooch
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