May 5, 2023 |
TEN CRAVES IS OUR ONLINE SERIES THAT ROUNDS UP ALL THE BEST PRODUCT LAUNCHES AND MUST-KNOW FASHION HAPPENINGS WEEK IN, WEEK OUT.
GABRIELA HEARST BRINGS SUSTAINABILITY TO SELFRIDGES
Guilt-free handbags? Don’t mind if we do! Gabriela Hearst, the sustainability queen – who became Chloé’s creative director in 2021 – has opened a retail installation for her eponymous label in London’s Selfridges. Running from April 24 to June 4, its the brand’s second ever pop-up since it’s 2015 launch, and features Hearst’s classic, distinctive handbags in amongst furniture designed by frequent and similarly sustainable collaborators Antoine Dumas and Benji Gavron. The store’s oak shelves and neutral interiors mirror Hearst’s preference for natural and clean design practices, allowing customers to browse designs like the Nina, Demi and Diana in person. After Chloé’s AW23 collection encouraged a circular economy by attaching QR codes to garments as everlasting, cachet-retaining tags, Hearst’s collab with Selfridges is a welcome next step on her path to establishing sustainable luxury. With Selfridges’ history of exclusive partnerships, this is the perfect weekend activity for conscious customers looking to treat themselves. Bella Koopman
SAGE FLOWERS’ GUIDE TO BUILDING A BUSINESS
It’s not so often you see an empire built on floral arrangements, but Romy St Clair and Iona Mathieson, the young entrepreneurs behind Peckham’s beloved Sage Flowers, are the exception. Having already worked with mega brands such as Fenty, Prada and Glossier, these flower-powerhouses have released their debut book, a self-help title called The Art of Starting. The 250-page guide includes welcome pearls of advice ranging from tips for anyone starting a business from scratch, with no prior experience, to how to run a start-up once things get going, as well as conversations surrounding diversity, community, culture and confidence with creatives such as DJ Benji B, Ollie Olanipekun, Tiwalola Ogunlesi, Suz P and Peigh Asante. An inclusive platform, Romy and Iona have had a long-standing commitment to diversifying the floristry industry and have developed initiatives such as FutureFlowers, a three-month floristry training program for those unable to attend expensive University courses or undergo unpaid internships. A necessary addition to your bookshelf or coffee table, The Art of Starting can now be ordered from the Sage website and all major book retailers. Shop now. BK
NICHOLAS DALEY’S CALYPSO
Taking it’s name from Jamaican artist Harry Belafonte’s record-breaking album, Nicholas Daley’s SS23 collection, Calypso, has just dropped in stores. To celebrate, the LVMH prizewinner has released a must-see short film, underscored by a discussion between Trinidadian musician Fimber Bravo and DJ Zakia Sewell about the musical genre of Calypso and its cultural roots. Daley’s commitment to showcasing his community remain unwavering in this film, as he interweaves generations of tradition and features a number of frequent collaborators such as reggae artist Protoje, film director Don Letts and DJ Bradley Zero, who’s eyewear label Sub Sun partnered with Daley to create a unisex sunglasses capsule to accompany the collection. Shop the collection here. BK
SMR DAYS’S NEW SUMMER SUNNIES
It’s starting to smell like summer! To accompany the longer days and warmer weather, London-based menswear brand SMR Days have just launched their first sunglasses collaboration with Prism, a resortwear label founded in 2009 by Anna Laub. With featured styles named after idyllic holiday destinations – Mykonos, St Tropez and Ibiza – the drop, made from eco-friendly bio acetate, is not one to miss. Marking their expansion into sunglasses, this range, available to purchase now on smrdays.com or with exclusive retail partner Mr Porter, is for the dog days of summer. BK
SACAI AND GHETTO GASTRO ARE CRAZY FOR PAISLEY
On April 28th, Sacai, the Tokyo-based brand helmed by Chitose Abe, dropped its collab with Ghetto Gastro, the culinary brainchild of Bronx-born chefs and food enthusiasts Jon Gray, Pierre Serrao and Lester Walker. The collection, originally designed for the partnership’s Tokyo restaurant pop-up ‘Sacai Gastro’ in December 2022, comprises of an oversized T-shirt, trousers and apron made entirely of a black paisley material. With paisley bandanas having a “deep cultural resonance” with the Ghetto Gastro boys, as a symbol for “Bronx gangs in the 70s”, as well as nods to Japanese workwear and chef whites, the capsule seamlessly blends the cultural backgrounds of both brands for a truly unique and meaningful collaboration. After releasing their first cookbook, Black Power Kitchen in October 2022, Ghetto Gang continue to pay homage to their slogan, originally coined by Black Panther Stokely Carmichael, noting that “at the black power kitchen”, it was “only right” they donned the black paisley. Shop here. BK
BLUMARINE AND SUICOKE’S SUPER CHUNKY SANDALS
Function meets outright Y2K in this new capsule collaboration by Italian cult-label Blumarine and Japanese shoe brand Suicoke. Transforming Suicoke’s classic Moto Sandal with an all-pink colourway and rhinestone straps, this first-time collaboration is sure to be a summer go to for all Barbiecore obsessed fashion girlies. With its ocean inspired SS23 collection taking more of a gothic turn, this capsule pays homage to Blumarine’s ultra-feminine, fit-for-Paris Hilton alma mater. Featuring one flat model and one heeled, Blumarine’s creative director Nicola Brognano highlights that the collection reflects utility, without “turning a strong fashion content down”. Never being one to shy away from a collab, Suicoke maintains its aptitude for utility by including suede straps and a satin upper for upmost durability and comfort. Shop here. BK
KIKO KOSTADINOV’S BALLET HYBRID KICKS
Serving the ultimate fusion of Balletcore and Gorpcore, Kiko Kostadinov’s Ballet Hybrid shoe is a must-have. Merging comfort with desire, it presents as a dainty slipper stacked on top of a sneaker sole and comes in two enigmatic hues – metallic moss and a matt russet brown. Using the iconic Asics Kayano-14 tooling in a one time non-collaborative kick for women, the criss-cross lacing system, gel cushioning and structures and subtle shimmer detailing make it the perfect shoe for pirouetting or hiking; wherever the day takes you. Shop the Ballet Hybrid here. Christina Trappl
ACNE STUDIO’S SUPER SPIKY PLATT BAGS
Acne Studios is bringing together the old and the new with its latest signature minibag – The Platt Bag. An instant classic with its rectangular, almost 2D shape, it lends itself perfectly to its original name “Platt”, derived from the Swedish word for “flat”. First seen on Acne’s SS23 runway, the collection has been developed to fit a multitude of variations and styles ranging from metallic spikes, chains and a monogram jacquard pattern. The bag also comes in three size variations: the already popular Platt Mini Crackle and the larger, day-ready Platt Crackle, with the Platt Crossbody Crackle bringing a fresh a breath air to the table. Each bag draws upon elements from the Acne archives and is sculpted from the highest quality leather, giving an organic, cracked feel that connects with some of the key themes from the summer collection. Soft yet distressed, feminine yet masculine, its a wish-list given. Shop here. CT
THERE’S A NEW INTERIORS MAG IN TOWN: TON MAGAZINE
In need of some home-decor inspo? Jermaine Gallacher is your new go-to girl. Vogue columnist and interior design connoisseur, Gallacher is extending her savoir-faire to print in the form of Ton Magazine, an editorial publication that is utterly individualistic, instinctual, non-prescriptive and absolutely unswayed by trends or perceived notions of good taste. Working alongside notable names such as art director Rory Gleeson, Ted Stansfield of Dazed, senior stylist Madeline Thornalley and photographer Oskar Proctor, the mag is set to be released bi-annually and will be perfectly curated to reflect the moment. Gallacher collates an eclectic mix of established personalities such as Issue One cover star Celeste, with new voices, and her own hilarious, unique experiences and perspectives to provide an important platform where all stories are heard. Get your copy here. CT
THE TOM OF FINLAND FOUNDATION’S ‘BOLD JOURNEY’ EXHIBITION
The nonprofit Tom of Finland Foundation, established by Durk Dehner and his friend Tom, is exhibiting a collection of works spanning across his six-decade career at the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma in Helsinki, Finland, and entitled Bold Journey, it marks a powerful moment for the queer community. On view April 28 to October 29, it explores topics of homosexuality and erotica, through groundbreaking illustrations of the male form “helping to fuel real-world liberation movements and enabling gay men to access their strength in new ways.” The pair are pleased to announce that they have also been awarded the title of ‘Knight of the Order of the Lion of Finland’, a huge cultural honour and fantastic advance for homosexual recognition. Discover Bold Journey here. CT
ARMAND BASI TAPS TANIA MARCIAL FOR AN EDGY CAPSULE COLLECTION
Armand Basi has just released a hot new capsule collection in collaboration with young, Barcelona-based designer Tania Marcial. The collection comes as a total reinterpretation of the brand’s long-standing legacy of structured, masculine designs, reshaping its iconic pieces and creating completely new pieces. Tania Marial’s BNC <3 Me (Barcelona Loves Me) limited edition collection exudes the ultimate gender non-conforming, european edge. Throughout, Armand Basi’s signature leather trench coat is transformed into a corset and mini-skirt, just as polos are reworked into second-skin tops. Marcial’s 10-plus-years of experience in upcycling and experimental home workshops lends it’s hand to a pure punk spin on the common tourist cap, adorned with spikes and chains. Shop now. CT
CAMILLE MICELI’S DEBUT PUCCI PROMENADE
One year after assuming her role of artistic director at the Italian house, Camille Miceli, the Parisian powerhouse who’s formerly held positions at Louis Vuitton and Chanel, showcased her debut Pucci collection. Held along the Arno River in Florence, the city where Emilio Pucci first started the house, the collection elevated classic Pucci prints and colours, using a variety of iridescent and silky materials undercut by bold silhouettes. Inspired by Emilio Pucci’s logo design for NASA’s Apollo 15 mission in 1971, themes of space and air were explored through flowing caftans, skirts and dresses sweeping their way down the runway. With an extended accessories collection, consisting of platform sandals and bright, printed floaters, the looks nodded to Miceli’s playful, Pucci-fied vision for summer. Entitled Initials E.P, this fresh and innovative debut leaves us excited to see what else the new director has up her sleeve.
Top Image: courtesy of Gabriela Hearst.
