May 26, 2023 |
TEN CRAVES IS OUR ONLINE SERIES THAT ROUNDS UP ALL THE BEST PRODUCT LAUNCHES AND MUST-KNOW FASHION HAPPENINGS WEEK IN, WEEK OUT.
AN ARMANI-FIED FILM FEST
If anyone knows how to put on a red-carpet worthy event, it’s Giorgio Armani. Maintaining his reputation for cinematic glitz, Armani will bring the 7th round of his One Night Only series – One Night Only Venezia – to the 80th edition of the Venice International Film Festival. Debuting in London in 2006, the event has travelled to major cities like Tokyo, Bejing and Dubai and focuses on bringing the Armani universe to different corners of the world. This time around, the glamourous event will celebrate the Venetian influence on cinema, consisting of a haute couture show followed by an elaborate evening party.
The relationship between the luxury house and annual festival has been longstanding – first established in 1990 when the Italian designer hosted an honourary party for director Martin Scorsese after the premiere of his documentary Made in Milan. Since then, the pair have taken their relationship to the next level, with Armani Beauty becoming the main sponsor of the festival in 2019 and providing its official make-up service for guests for the past six years.
Taking place against the backdrop of Venice’s historic Arsenale, the event has also been designed to minimise its environmental impact. With concerns surrounding the ecological state of the Venetian lagoon, Armani Group have promised to offset residual greenhouse gases and support environmental projects in tandem with the event.
Never one to do things in halves, this edition of Armani’s series is sure to be a feast for film and fashion fanatics alike.
MARTINE ROSE’S SWOLLEN SOLES IN COLLABORATION WITH CLARKS
Martine Rose and Clarks have just updated their relationship status to *sole* mates. After having been named the British shoemaker’s first ever guest creative director in a recent WWD exclusive, the London-based designer’s inaugural move has been to reinvent three of the brand’s timeless silhouettes – the Classic Oxford, Woman’s Loafer and Sandal.
Inspired by Erwin Wurm’s Convertible Fat Cars – wherein the Austrian artist plumped up classic sportscars as a commentary on obesity, power and wealth – these cartoonish models will adapt blown-up appearances, padded leather covers and a puffy footbed.
After an impressive roster of sell-out collaborations with brands such as Stussy, Nike and Tommy Jeans, Rose is the perfect choice to steer this ship. Speaking on the collaboration, the menswear designer highlighted that she was “proud to be working with a company that has such a rich heritage in British and Jamaican street culture” – an area of inspiration which Rose herself regularly draws on since starting her eponymous label in 2007.
The three swollen styles will debut on Martine Rose’s SS24 runway at London Fashion Week this June and will be available for purchase in March 2024.
DR MARTENS AND A COLD WALL’S SUPER STOMPERS
The long-standing partnership between British heavyweight Dr. Martens and London-based label A-Cold-Wall* has, once again, booted it out the park. Releasing a new collection of leather stompers, the release stays true to the brands’ shared design language that champions utility, durability and urban brutality.
Revisiting the classic 1461 Oxford silhouette, originally released for the collaboration’s AW21 season, the drop includes two leather colourways – a black or dark grey – with both styles sporting a central zip branded by an ‘ACW’ puller. The shoes are also equipped with Dr. Martens’ classic elevated sole, with the black pair donning their trademark yellow stitching and the grey pair opting for a tonal ecru.
This satisfying union, which has undergone a previous redesign of the 1460 as well as the 1461, is quite the match made in heaven. By aligning ACW*’s creative output – which draws heavily on founder Dr. Samuel Ross’ working-class childhood – and Dr Martens’ heritage amongst blue collar workmen, this well-honed collaboration showcases a stylish elevation whilst staying true to the central ethos of each partner. The drop was also accompanied by a campaign featuring Jenna Fletcher, a furniture curator whose brand, Oswalde, focuses on uplifting underrepresented designers.
Keen to put your best foot forward? The shoes are now available for purchase from ACW and at Dr. Martens. Shop here.
GET YOUR SUMMER STYLE STARTED WITH GUCCI VAULT
Gucci’s experimental online store, Vault, has just announced the arrival of its summer collection. A blend of products from eight brands across the globe, the shop – which acts as an intermediary for the luxury house’s presence in the metaverse – features a variety of menswear and womenswear offerings, from ready-to-wear, jewellery, shoes and accessories.
A mixture of upcoming and established brands, customers can now shop beachwear embroidered by Colombian artisans from Italian brand Agua by Agua Bendita or a collection of bedazzled clutch bags by American luxury label Judith Leiber Couture. Other featured brands include upcoming New York-based Connor McKnight, Parisian menswear label Husbands, hatmakers Maison Michel, responsible jewelry brand Prounis Jewelry and Rowing Blazers, an American store known for their signature rugby shirts. Skate-wear classic Vans also joins the eclectic line up for their second season since Vault’s launch in 2021, debuting a range of items in vibrant prints and colours.
Accompanying the release is a campaign shot by Gucci go-to Max Siedentopf, upholding the Italian house’s recognisably elegant yet exuberant aesthetic. With the imagery including landscapes ranging from sailboats at sea, poolside evenings and luscious floral gardens, this new drop is sure to have you in a summer state of mind. Shop here.
TAG HEUER’S NEW NEED-FOR-SPEED TIMEPIECE
Unveiled at Monaco’s 80th Grand Prix on May 26, Tag Heuer announced the latest addition to its series of timepieces paying homage to Italy’s famous racing city. Releasing a set of three chronograph watches sporting a modern frame with a choice of an ‘original blue’, ‘racing red’ or ‘turquoise’ colourways, the drop reinvents Tag Heuer’s classic Monaco model first introduced in 1969. Marking the first time the Swiss brand has used the skeleton dial in its Monaco collection, this new release marks an elevated chapter in a long-standing relationship.
Arguably one of the most iconic watches in the brand’s arsenal, this bold silhouette has been seen on the wrists of many racing stars, including Jo Siffert, Jochen Rindt and Steve McQueen. With McQueen wearing the watch in the 1971 film Le Mans for his role as Michael Delaney, this special model was solidified as a cultural icon.
Constructed using high-performance titanium, the new timepiece is both strong and lightweight, as well as being resistant to corrosion – a key element in all Tag Heuer products. Time to purchase? Shop here.
A DIESEL ‘TRACKS’ RAVE WITH NTS
Die-hard ravers, this one is for you. Diesel and NTS – the global radio platform known for celebrating international music culture – are currently undergoing the next stage of their beat-driven series Tracks. The program, which was announced at the beginning of May, consists of monthly mixes, playlists and roundtable discussions, as well as raves – one of which took place in Rome on May 19 and lasted an impressive 12 hours. Free to the public and curated by three Italian-based creative collectives – Nero Editions, Club Adriatico and Slipmode – the party mirrored the partnership’s successful 17-hour rave that took place in London last November, with attendees dancing the night away to sonic selections from artists such as Upsammy, DJ Bone and Pandora’s Jukebox. In keeping with NTS’ central ethos, mixes were, and will continue to be, produced by DJs from all over the globe, including South Korea artist Kitty, Denmark-based Ryong and Indian native Lush Lata, creating a map of worldwide counterculture.
Since undertaking the Italian brand’s creative directorship in 2020, Glenn Marten’s has had a similar commitment to platforming nonconformist subcultures and NTS – manifesting in his AW23 show as a pile of 200,000 Durex condoms to highlight the importance of exploring your sexuality safely. Speaking on the project, Martens highlighted, “The energy and community of rave culture is everything to me. I believe in the freedom to party, at the core of the Diesel global democracy”.
Missed out on the bash? Not to worry – the radio mixes are all available to stream here, on diesel.com, as well as Spotify and here, on NTS – enjoy!
THISTLE BROWN’S SUMMER SUNNIES
Your summer wardrobe is about to get a whole lot cooler. New York-based photographer and stylist Thistle Brown – known for his gritty and contemporary style of photography that attracts clients like The Face, Proenza Schouler and Acne Studios – has just launched his own collection of sunglasses, eponymously entitled Thistles. Out now, the collection is inspired by Brown’s creative relationships and is accompanied by a sleek campaign reflecting this, with friends of the brand such as Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Dev Hynes and Lili Sumner being shot on the streets of New York by the photographer himself.
Each set of sunnies boasts a frame made from the plant-based plastic known as cellulose acetate, with five-barrel hinges for durability and CR-39 lenses for UV protection. Launching with one style called ‘The AL’ – named after long-term collaborator Alexandra Spencer – these sexy shades combine a classic 60s silhouette fit for Jackie Onassis with a sprinkle of 90s edge. Available in a black, dark turquoise or light turquoise – with a variety of lens shades to boot – the brand’s debut offering is poised to slide right into any summer wardrobe. Available now from thistles.nyc, further styles are set to launch throughout the upcoming season.
Top Image: courtesy of Diesel x NTS.
