January 17, 2025 |
TEN CRAVES IS OUR ONLINE SERIES THAT ROUNDS UP ALL THE BEST PRODUCT LAUNCHES AND MUST-KNOW FASHION HAPPENINGS WEEK IN, WEEK OUT.
Bao & Friends’ Dover Street Market Pop-up
Starting this Thursday, January 16, Bao & Friends is slithering its way onto the shop floors of Dover Street Market London, Ginza and Singapore to kick off 2025’s Year of the Snake in style. Inspired by the humble Taiwanese convenience store, visitors to the pop-ups can shop shelves stacked with exclusive merch, all whilst sipping on their choice of Weeping Sake or Umeshu Negroni.
Shop limited-editions items including embroidered baseball caps, engraved Zippo lighters and Bao’s new ‘Chili Crisp Oil’ made with black beans and crispy shallots, a crunchy and spicy gamechanger for noodles and dumplings. Guests can also expect to find some limited-edition collaboration pieces that pack an equal punch. These include Lunar New Year T-shirts and totes from Carhartt WIP, an ultra-cool snake necklace by Simone Rocha and an exclusive Vera bag from Hai. Saskia Lewis
John Alexander Skelton’s AW25 show
John Alexander Skelton’s latest collection is Victoriana galore, complete with technicolor tweed tailoring, top hats and endless rows of black buttons. Taking inspiration from Christopher Wood’s book (1850-1914) showcasing Victorian era paintings of the English Countryside, Skelton creates garments that honour the natural world and rural traditions. Like the painters who took solace in the pastoral scene, this collection is a quiet celebration of the outdoors, featuring button-down overcoats fit for wandering the meadows.
The fabrics of Skelton’s designs sit in perfect harmony, featuring khaki corduroy trousers paired with terracotta plaid and a black and red tartan suit finished with a floral cravat. However, despite its beautiful curation, the collection remains raw and honest, with exposed visible stitching and exposed hemlines. His designs are imbued with the spirit of midwinter festivals and the cyclical rhythms of nature, paying homage to both its beauty and resilience. SL
Loewe’s ‘Crafted World’ Exhibition
Loewe’s first major brand exhibition is swapping cities. Showing in Tokyo’s Harajuku district and running from March 29 to May 11, the display, dubbed Crafted World, sets out to celebrate the Spanish house’s rich history, 179 year heritage and unfettered commitment to the handmade. Conceived as a travelling exhibition, Crafted World first launched in Shanghai in 2024, and is dedicated to the joy of making things by hand.
On view, expect to see iconic designs and crowd-pulling collaborations from Loewe’s start as a leather-making collective founded in Madrid in 1846, to its recent link-ups with Studio Ghibli and Kyoto-based ceramics studio Suna Fujita. The colourful space, designed in collaboration with OMA – the studio behind some of the most ground-breaking buildings of the 21st century – functions to backdrop the expressive ensembles and accessories on view. What’s more, in a series of interactive rooms, visitors will be taken on a captivating journey starting with the vibrant essence of Spain and moving seamlessly into the glamour of a Paris fashion show.
Crafted World Tokyo also presents a thoughtfully curated selection of works and architectural pieces that celebrate Loewe’s partnerships and cultural initiatives across Japan and beyond. Among the highlights is a film showcasing the Loewe Foundation’s support for the Ōnishi family, masters of crafting ceremonial Kama tea kettles in Kyoto for over four centuries.
The exhibition also features creations by Loewe Foundation Craft Prize finalists Tanabe Chikuunsai IV, Moe Watanabe, and 2019 winner Genta Ishizuka, along with contributions from artist collaborators like ARKO, Hafu Matsumoto and Jirō Yonezawa, who have participated in Loewe’s annual Salone del Mobile exhibition. Discover the exhibition here. Emily Phillips
Georg Jensen’s New Bond Street Store
New year, new store… ish. This week marks the grand reopening of Georg Jensen’s Mayfair store located at 108 New Bond Street. Holding historical significance for the Danish design house, Georg Jensen first opened a Mayfair store in the 1920s.
To celebrate, between January 16 and February 16, the newly refreshed shopping space will host an expansive exhibition of mid-century designs from the brand’s archives. Curated by newly appointed creative director Paula Gerbase, pieces span the mid-1940s to the late 1960s, and work to explore how the function-focused mid-century movement shaped Georg Jensen’s oeuvre. “We have an incredible wealth of objects that demonstrate how Georg Jensen has consistently been at the forefront of some of the most significant global design movements of the past century, always with a bold and forward-thinking approach,” Gerbase says. On top of all that, the store will present an exclusive textile design by Danish artist Kim Naver, which it notes is the first in “a planned rotation of in-store displays of contemporary Nordic art.”
Part of the store’s broader vision to go beyond just being a retail space for jewellery, homeware and silverware, and to become a showcase for works by some of the Nordic region’s most visionary artists, Gerbase adds, “We are entering a new chapter for the house, where the true depth of the archives will be unveiled.” EP
‘From the Heart to the Hands: Dolce and Gabbana’ Lands in Paris
An open love letter to Italian culture, Dolce and Gabbana’s exhibition From the Heart to the Hands: Dolce and Gabbana (Du Cœur à la Main: Dolce & Gabbana) has landed in Paris. The exhibition, which takes a dazzling look back at the pinnacle of its design excellence, will run until March 31 at the Grand Palais, following a successful debut at Palazzo Reale in Milan where it not only consistently sold out, but also garnered international acclaim.
A toast to the house’s Alta Moda, or haute couture, arm which made its debut in 2012 with a breathtaking catwalk presentation in Taormina, Sicily, expect to see exceptional fashions pulled from past Alta Moda, Alta Sartoria, and Alta Gioielleria collections, whilst the exhibition is split into a series of themes that explore the specific inspiration of each collection. This includes visual arts, architecture, artisanal craft, Italian cities and their regional topography, music, opera, ballet, theatre, folk traditions, innovation and of course la dolce vita. Amid sumptuous sprawls of the most luxurious materials and decadent embroidered dresses, the showcase, curated by Florence Müller, also features previously unseen works by a number of visual artists who’ve been commissioned to enter into a dialogue with Dolce and Gabbana’s lavish universe. Discover the exhibition here. EP
Bvlgari Celebrates Serpenti Collection With Shanghai Exhibition
Bvlgari celebrates the Year of the Snake with the Serpenti Infinito exhibition, running until February 16 in Shanghai’s revitalised Zhangyuan district. Though a mixture of jewellery and art, the showcase explores the serpent’s profound symbolism in art and culture, bridging the past and present, East and West, through Bvlgari’s iconic Serpenti collection.
Divided into three chapters – Crafting Serpents in History, Snakes in the Arts, and Contemporary Transformations – it delves into the snake’s metamorphic essence. Highlights include Refik Anadol’s Infinito: AI Data Sculpture, an innovative blend of AI and art, and works by Luo Ming and Qiu Anxiong, offering a contemporary lens on the snake’s symbolism.
Visitors can also marvel at Bvlgari’s historical and modern Serpenti jewellery, including exclusive high jewellery pieces. Meanwhile the immersive Serpenti Experiences invite guests to explore Serpenti’s endless transformations through virtual reality and interactive displays, making this exhibition a must-see for any art and luxury enthusiast. Discover the exhibition here.
Dover Street Market Celebrates SS25
New year, new season, new Dover Street Market activations. This winter, in celebration of the SS25 season, the conceptual London retailer will launch a selection of dedicated activations and launches in-store and on the DSML e-shop. Some of the key SS25 collections you can expect to find include Ashley Williams, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Craig Green, Completedworks, Dries Van Noten, Rick Owens and Simone Rocha amongst many others. Exclusive launches count Chopova Lowena’s debut fragrance, the book Everyth!ng 001 by Michella Bredahl and Lotta Volkova, a kitschy collection by BAO & Friends, and more. To discover the full programme, click here.
Dior is heading to Kyoto!
This spring, the French house will bring its fall 2025 collection, dreamed up by Maria Grazia Chiuri, to the emblematic garden of Toji in Kyoto, Japan. Scheduled for April 15, the decision celebrates the house’s strong ties with Japan and the show will function as a tribute to its passion for the fascinating country cultivated by Christian Dior and his successors.
Photography by Christina Fragkou
David Koma’s Debut Collection For Blumarine
David Koma’s first collection as creative director of Blumarine is a vibrant love letter to Milan’s effortlessly chic street style. Drawing inspiration from the city’s generational fashion exchange, Koma reimagines Blumarine’s signature pieces with a playful twist. The iconic fur-trimmed cardigan gets a luxurious upgrade in ostrich plume and sheepskin, setting the tone for a collection that oozes glamour and attitude.
Furry accents are everywhere, from plush knit jackets to tactile merino twinsets. The Milanese pet scene also leaves its mark, with leopard prints, cheeky “Woof” and “Miao” T-shirts and playful puppy motifs. Even the accessories get in on the fun, with leather waste-bag holders and rose-studded collars for stylish pups.
Koma’s cross-generational approach blends sporty scuba fabrics with classic lace, while denim transforms into distressed mini-shorts and shearling-collared jackets. The rose motif blooms across dreamy dresses, and Blumarine’s Kiss Me bag gets a sheepskin makeover.
The debut marks a distinct shift from the brand’s recent past, steering away from the Y2K nostalgia of Nicola Brognano and the demure tones of Walter Chiapponi. Instead, Koma brings in a fresh perspective. It’s Blumarine with a Milanese edge – less nostalgic, more forward-thinking and full of confident flair.
Top image: photography courtesy of Blumarine.
