May 12, 2023 |
TEN CRAVES IS OUR ONLINE SERIES THAT ROUNDS UP ALL THE BEST PRODUCT LAUNCHES AND MUST-KNOW FASHION HAPPENINGS WEEK IN, WEEK OUT.
CECILIE BAHNSEN’S BEADED ASICS KICKS AT DOVER STREET MARKET
In celebration of the eighth Photo London edition – showing at Somerset House from May 11 to 14 – Denmark-based womenswear brand Cecilie Bahnsen has partnered with Dover Street Market and Japanese activewear brand Asics on a limited collection of 150 one-of-a-kind Asics Gel-NYC trainers. Hand beaded and embroidered with love in Bahnsen’s Copenhagen atelier, the collection is comprised of three enigmatic colourways – blue, silver and black – and is available exclusively at DSM London. Made especially for the occasion with an eclectic, collage-style campaign, ad images will be artistically referenced throughout the space in a nod to Photo London. Since founding the brand in 2015, Bahnsen has been committed to mixing elements of romance with simplicity to create a unique vision of femininity and this collection, with its elegant floral patches, is no different. This isn’t the first time Bahnsen and Asics have collaborated though, having created a limited-edition, upcycled collection of similarly embellished trainers for SS23. Hopefully, there’ll be slews more shoes to come. Shop the exclusive trainers here. Bella Koopman
Photography by Freja Wewer
INCOMING: A GREAT BRITISH BURBERRY SUMMER
It’s set to be a Great British Burberry summer! Daniel Lee, the house’s creative director who took the reins from Riccardo Tisci late last year, has just released his debut swimwear campaign. Photographed and filmed by Tyrone Lebon, the campaign showcases sexy swimsuits, shorts, robes and even life jackets decked out in Burberry’s iconic check. Accompanied by an original score from music producer Vegyn, known for his work on Frank Ocean’s Blonde, and a spoken word piece by London-based DJ Covco, the campaign video features rising stars Angelina Kendall, Tess Carter and Alex Schlab among others. Its an idyllic, sun-soaked summer – essential watching for any Brits looking to transport themselves away from rainy days. Discover the collection here. BK
GUCCI’S SUMMER STORIES CAMPAIGN
As the days get longer and nights get warmer, Gucci presents a collection designed to perfectly capture the spirit of summer, exploration and escape. The Gucci Summer Stories campaign encapsulates timeless classics, such as the Jackie 1961 and the Horsebit 1955, in woven raffia with leather details, coming in tranquil, earthy hues of aqua blue, crisp white and terracotta. Gucci’s ready-to-wear poolside looks emulate the warmth and joy of summer. The Jumbo GG leather duffle and tote bags of different sizes and colours from the Gucci Valigeria selection combine the house’s beloved motifs with its heritage, creativity, and innovation. For women, the collection features a variety of matching silk shirts and shorts in jacquard, graphic and floral prints, as well as swimsuits and bikinis with sparkling details and the iconic Gucci logo. For men, a selection of seasonal looks in cotton and linen, patches and embroidery, provide all the essentials for your coastal getaway. Chrissie Trappl
GCDS’S FANG-TASTIC HEELS FOR MEN
GCDS has just made its classic Morso heel range unisex, now stocking sizes ranging from 36 to 46 EU. After debuting the Morso range as part of its Dracula-inspired FW22 collection, these fang-tastic heels have become a cult favourite, with fans ranging from pop princess Dua Lipa to Euphoria breakout star Chloe Cherry. Speaking on the expansion, co-founder Giuliano Calza noted that having “the opportunity to make such accessory versatile and available to everyone” is like having “a little dream” come true. Having pivoted away from its usual shock-factor approach (with SS23’s Spongebob-inspired collection being one for the books) and using its AW23 collection to refocus on wearability, this launch resonates as another welcome shift. The ultimate club shoe, these boots bite back. Shop here. BK
KNWLS TAPS ANDY WOLF FOR A CYBER-SPORT SUNNIES COLLECTION
Hello sunshine! Knwls, the brainchild of CSM grads Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault, has just launched its Glimmer sunglasses collection in collaboration with Austrian-based label Andy Wolf Eyewear. Dropping three bold colourways, the glasses are crafted using 100 per cent recycled acrylic, staying true to Andy Wolf’s dedication to conscious production. The shape of the glasses blends classic silhouettes such as the cat eye and square frames, speaking to Knwls’ classic design language presenting femininity through a tough and disruptive lens. With both brands having a global reach, this collaboration is the perfect addition to summer wardrobes the world over. You can cop a pair for yourself here. BK
MULBERRY’S BAYSWATER BAG GETS A REBOOT
An icon evolves, and it’s time to celebrate! 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of Mulberry’s infamous Bayswater Bag. Way back in 2003, when the Bayswater first appeared gripped in the arms of the likes of Sienna Miller, Alexa Chung, Rihanna and Kate Moss – whose personal Bayswater was included in the 2020 V&A exhibition Bags: Inside Out – the bag became an instant to-die-for the era. 20 years later, Mulberry’s commitment to quiet luxury and style rooted in function has meant the Bayswater bag is still as cherished as ever. Looking ahead, three new styles have been unveiled: the compact East/West Bayswater, playing on noughties nostalgia in the most Mulberry manner, The North/South Bayswater Tote, a multifunctional shoulder bag, and the spacious and adaptable Zipped Bayswater Tote, all within a vibrant palette of geranium pink, acid green and pigment blue. The Mini Bayswater is reimagined too, with a slick, set-for-summer attitude. Shop here. CT
TOM OF FINLAND’S ARTS AND CULTURE FEST
Step aside Berghain, there’s a new hedonistic art scene hitting the streets of Berlin this weekend. From May 12 TO 14, the Tom of Finland Foundation presents the Tom of Finland Art and Culture Festival 2023: GlobalSexual – its set to kick off in Berlin this weekend, before moving on to London and Los Angeles in July and October respectively. The yearly festival brings together erotic artists, vendors, performers, DJs and galleries from all over the globe in a socially friendly setting, hosted this year by PrideArt Berlin at The Knast, a historic women’s prison turned events venue. “It is said that Berlin is the centre of the Queer world – what better place to have a celebration of all things beautifully erotic in the gayest of ways,” says ToFF CXO S.R. Sharp. Key creatives in the male fetish scene that are set to appear include Gerardo Vizmanos, Mike D’hondt, Rinaldo Hopf and Effenberger Couture – whose design inspiration emanates Berlin’s infamous Queer party culture. Get ready for a dynamic weekend of queer celebration and erotic liberation. Secure your spot here. CT
KELLY LEE OWENS’ HAECKELS SCENT
London-based holistic skincare brand Haeckels has just dropped their first collab with award-winning, multidisciplinary musician Kelly Lee Owens – a new parfum entitled Scent08. Highlighting its belief that scent can act as a form of therapy, Haeckels has worked with Owens to establish eight scents rooted in memories and emotions. Featuring notes ranging from Petrichor, the smell of rain-soaked tarmac which also appears in Haeckel’s classic Pluviophile scent, and English Rose, to signify the flowers grown in Owen’s grandad’s garden, the partnership plays on the similarities between scent and music in their power to transport you to another place. Owens notes that music can “hold us in and through our emotional landscapes”. Made using renewable energy and recyclable parts, Scent08 is available for purchase here. BK
JW ANDERSON’S NEW NEON FLAGSHIP IN MILAN
Jonathan Anderson fans – rejoice! The Irish designer’s namesake label, JW Anderson, has just opened a flagship store in the heart of Milan’s central shopping district, Quadrilatero. The store, which expands 53 square meters across one floor, is the brand’s first Italian flagship, second only to its retail space in London’s Soho. Designed by the brains behind the Soho store, 6a Architects, the space features JW Anderson’s signature aluminium scaffolding and neon display sign mixed in with Milanese design elements like a handmade, terrazzo tile flooring. The interior mirrors Anderson’s own creative process of drawing on a multitude of stimuli – which for his AW23 womenswear collection ranged from Michael Clark Company to “British culture at large” – featuring side tables reminiscent of a Milanese salotto and soft green canvas paintings by artist Hongyan. The opening represents JW Anderson taking one more step towards its inevitable place as one of fashion’s most dominant houses… and we can’t wait. BK
UGG’S OPENING CEREMONY SLIPPERS
Comfort meets cool in a new collaborative offering from Ugg and Opening Ceremony, as the NY-based brand founded and led by designers Carol Lim and Humberto Leon celebrates its 20th anniversary. Ugg’s top-selling Tasman Slipper has been reimagined by the design duo, to now feature a chunky buckle, leather upper, high platform and exposed shearling lining. Coming in four colourways – oxblood, white, chestnut and black – the collection is another notch on Ugg’s collab-heavy belt, with brands such as Palace Skateboards and up-and-coming Parisian brand Vaillant being former partners. A wardrobe essential for the cozy-core obsessed, buy yourself a pair here. BK
‘AI WEIWEI: MAKING SENSE’ AT THE DESIGN MUSEUM
Ai Weiwei is back, middle fingers blazing, in a unique partnership with Avant Arte – responsible for organizing the print sale as well as fundraising – for his first ever design-led exhibition at London’s Design Museum. The collaboration comes as a revival of his iconic photographic Study of Perspective Series (1995-2003), which depicted the artist flipping off a host of iconic global landmarks. The middle finger – universally understood as a mega offensive gesture – makes challenging, humorous and powerful statements on political opposition and freedom of speech. The exhibition, entitled Making Sense, will feature works never shown before in the UK alongside thought-provoking new pieces, and runs from April 7 until July 30 of this year. Weiwei is selling silkscreen prints of his most iconic pieces, as well as encouraging people to participate in the movement by using his interactive tool, which allows people to use his middle finger template to flip off locations of their choice. Money raised from the partnership will go towards supporting the Design Museum’s mission to make the impact of design visible to all. Get your tickets here. CT
WEEKEND MAX MARA’S PASTICCINO BAG HOMMAGE À LA FRANCE TOUR
Weekend Max Mara’s beloved Pasticcino Bag – named after the Italian word for “small pastry,” – has embarked on a cross-seasonal world tour and its second anticipated stop is France. Following on from its debut stay in Venice, Italy, the Hommage à la France Tour kicks off, and on its travels, the label is set to celebrate the country’s artisanal excellence and unique craftsmanship. Paying tribute to the country’s storied, centuries-old heritage in the art of lace and beautiful ceramics, the iconic Pasticcino arrives in the French nation with a citrusy colour palette encapsulating citron, rose, graines de courge, cassis violette and reglisse, and beautifully combines delicate Guipure lace with exclusive enamelled ceramic clasps handmade from Faïence. All in all, its a richly textured homage to France’s century-old heritage, resulting in a light, refined and feminine accessory we’re buzzing to follow ‘round the globe. Vive la France! Shop now. CT
Top image: Photography by Tyrone Lebon for Burberry.
