This Week in Fashion: Kylie and Kendall Called Out, Fashionable Fundraisers & More.
Maggie Scaife breaks down the latest fashion industry news.
BRICKS Team· 26th June 2020
WORDS Maggie Scaife
Jason's Closet Takes to Depop to Host Designer Fundraiser
Fashion's fairy godmother Miss Jason set up a Depop page on Saturday under the username @comcwithmissjason. The DJ stroke presenter intends to raise thousands for UK QTIBIPOC Hardship Fund, who are committed to help all Black queer, trans and intersex people. Garments were gathered via generous donations from Miss Jason's expansive network of industry insiders. With a price range that suits all, happy shoppers can scroll down the feed of Jason's "fundraising extravaganza" to purchase the likes of Neneh Cherry's red poncho, Anacuta Sarca's repurposed Nike kitten heels, exclusive sets of press on nails by Sylvie Macmillan, a reversible Clio Peppiatt corset and much more, but items are selling fast. Miss Jason's shopping channel-esque delivery should become a regular.
Photography by Roxy Lee.
Burberry Announce SS21 Livestream Show
The heritage British Fashion house have made the executive decision to switch up their traditional runway approach and offer viewers an opportunity to see their collection like they've never seen one before. 'Burberry in Nature' intends to immerse an online audience set and documented on home soil in the British countryside on the 17th of September. Contrary to the notoriously private, exclusive nature of their previous London Fashion Week shows this season everyone has received an invitation. In a statement published on their website Burberry's Chief Creative Officer Riccardo Tisci said "Especially recently, we have all yearned to reconnect again. For this show, I wanted to celebrate these feelings by bringing our community together in a creative experience that takes place within the beautiful, natural landscape of Britain." The brand also affirms fans that the entire collection will be carbon-neutral and "remaining emissions will be offset through Burberry's Regeneration Fund."
Project Launches in Aid of Black Photographers and Not-For-Profits
A collective of Black photographers has been formed under the name 'See in Black'. The collective collates their work in one online sales space and simultaneously they "uplift and invest in Black visibility" whilst supporting four charities in need of financial aid. These organisations are – Know Your Rights Camp, Black Futures Lab, Yep Nola and The Bail Project. See in Black aims to dismantle white supremacy and systematic oppression with their work, "Through the sale of highly-curated original images from Black photographers, we raise funds to support causes that align with our vision of Black prosperity. We stand in solidarity with our greater Black family to take immediate action for the improvement of Black lives. Our intention is to replenish those we've been nourished by." Photographers involved include: Adrian Octavius Walker, Renell Medrano and Micaiah Carter.
Photography by Adrian Octavius
Photography by Adrienne Raquel
Virgil Abloh Auctioned Off-White Jordan 4's for UK Charities
Monday saw the eBay auction of an exclusive, unreleased and signed pair of one of the most sought after shoes in a cream colourway, currently at the time of writing they sit at 74 bids with a £16,000 price tag. Bidding closes on Thursday at 6pm and the trainers will be custom made in any size the winning bidder requests but will most likely remain box-fresh for many years to come and never make any contact with the pavement. All proceeds of the sale will go to both Inquest UK, who provide vital support to families of people bereaved by a death in state care and The Black Curriculum who since 2019 has been teaching Black British history to youth-based all over the UK using a range of art forms to engage the young audience and insight empathy and understanding from a young age.
Sustainable Bangladeshi Garment Factory in Jeopardy
The Fashion exposé film 'The True Cost' states that there are roughly 40 million garment workers making less than $3 a day. Annie Kelly of The Guardian reported on the Denim Expert Ltd factory this week who produce sustainable jeans for many UK high street stores. Based in the coastal port city of Chittagong, Bangladesh is "on the brink" due to Coronavirus implications. The pandemic has hugely impacted what we know as the traditional production line, owners of these sorts of fast fashion factories rely completely on prepayments to pay their staff wages so they can afford basic human needs such as feeding their families and providing them feelings of safety and shelter. There is a petition live on change.org we urge you to sign which holds 18 or more brands accountable, demanding they #payup, these include GAP, Acadia group, Levi Strauss, Primark and URBN which envelopes Urban Outfitters, Free People and Anthropolgie.
Image courtesy of change.org.
Kendall and Kylie Jenner's Clothing Line Won't Pay Their Factory
Two of the internet's favourite famous villains have been called out by Diet Prada this week, and we love to see it. According to charitable organisation Oxfam, it takes on average 4 days for a major fashion CEO to earn what a garment worker earns in a lifetime. Kendall and Kylie Jenner are not reimbursing the factory workers who produce the garments for their eponymous collaborative clothing label amidst a cancellation of orders, some of which had been produced already. The factory has suffered a loss in capital meaning they are without payment to support themselves and loved ones who relied on this income prior to Covid-19. Between them the sibling's net worth sits at a total of $745 M, but it was not surprising to see Kylie had disabled or deleted comments addressing the matter on her most recent Instagram posts. Their failure to step up and acknowledge their wrongdoing is not acceptable.
Designer Knitwear eBay Auction for COVID Charity
Seven designers have agreed to take part in a '7 days 7 sweaters' initiative this week, which was launched by @commuknitty_, an account co-run by Loop Studio, Knitster LDN and Kaysha Sinclair of Kaysha and Co. Each day one jumper is posted on eBay and all proceeds of the sales will go towards The Emergency Designer Network which consists of "London based designers galvanising local garment production to offer scrubs for hospitals" during the Covid-19 pandemic. Those donating garments include Central Saint Martins Knitwear alum and illustrator Paulina Russo, winner of the H&M Design Award 2018 menswear designer Stephan Cooke and LVMH Prize Finalist of 2020 Priya Ahluwalia's brand Ahluwalia Studio.
The Body Shop Take a Stand for Transgender Rights
At the beginning of the month, famed author J.K Rowling published a transphobic letter and several tweets in which she expressed having a problem with the phrase "people who menstruate" followed by her thoughts on biological sex aiming "It isn't hate to speak the truth" towards her critics. In response, many of her long-term fans spoken out against the woman who was once their literary hero and whose stories arguably shaped their childhoods. The Body Shop gave their two cents on the matter via Twitter this week, suggesting that Rowling should read Paisley Currah's Transgender Rights and attached a picture of their new campaign tote bag design printed with the slogan "IT'S BLOODY NATURAL" encouraging others to join #dropthePword. TERF's rallied together in support of Rowling and got a responding hashtag trending #boycotttheBodyShop labelling the ethical beauty brand a bully which led to some confusion.
Depop Are Hiring a London-based Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The social shopping app have developed a new role based in their London HQ. Some of the responsibilities for this job are: "Develop strong relationships with Depop's BAME and LGBTQIA+ employees", "Staying continuously up to date on the latest research and current affairs, spearheading specific mentoring / development for marginalised groups" and "Work closely with internal groups and external partners to help us put equity and inclusion at the core of internal processes including hiring, reward and progression." If you think you might be the right person for the job, access the application here.
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