Fashion Mannuscript October 2021

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EDITORIAL

Editor

Lauren D’Errico

Editorial Consultant

Debra Hazel

Associate Editor

Lauren Schuster

Senior California Editor

Daniella Platt

California Editor

Kimberly Goodnight

Director of Communications and Marketing

Penelope Herrera

Director of Newsletter Division

Cheri Phillips

Director of New Business Development

Lindsey Monte

PRESIDENT/CEO

Jeff Mann

ART

Art Director

Krystal Peguero

Associate Designer Ran Jing

CONTRIBUTORS

Michelle Alleyne

Amy Berkowitz

Howard Bader

Norah Bradford

Frank DeLucia

Rachel Evans

Erynn A. Gifford

Jordan Harouche

R. Couri Hay

Debra Hazel

Courtney Hazirjian

Shannah Henderson

Amanda Hodge

Eve Hodgkinson

Donna Johnson-Klonsky

Merilee Kern

Natasha Kersey

Michele Gerber Klein

Donna Leah

Nathan Liao

Krystal Peguero

Daniella Platt

Wilfredo Rosado

Sandra Roy

Benjamin Seigel

Annie Watt

Sabrina Zohar

BUSINESS

Technology Consultant

Joshua Fried

Distribution

Mitchell’s Delivery Service

California Distribution MD Service

West Coast Advisor

Ilse Metchek

DIGITAL & SOCIAL MEDIA

Lauren D’Errico

Debra Hazel

Penelope Herrera

Ran Jing

Krystal Peguero

Lauren Schuster

Web Developer CS Designworks

West Coast Office: 110 E. 9th Street CMC Suite A1169 Los Angeles, CA 90079 866-306-MANN (6266) mannpublications.com

East Coast Office: 450 7th Ave, Suite 2306 New York, NY 10123 212-840-MANN (6266)

We never left, and we never missed an issue, and as autumn is upon us, we are thrilled to see so many people return to New York. As we struggle to see what will eventually be considered “normal” during these strange times, Mann Publications has used this time to expand. We’ve taken on new hires due to our success in print, digital newsletters and social media, and we are expanding our ofces to locations in Palm Beach, Miami and Southampton.

Our cover story features White Oak Capital Group’s new e-commerce division, which is a creative, aggressive and organized model. I must admit, I have lunch with Bob Grbic once a month just to keep up with White Oak and to share insights to think outside of the box. The fashion industry has changed a great deal during the 100-plus years my family has worked in the Garment District, and I applaude White Oak’s new approach. As my father always said, “The only thing constant in life is change.” The fashion industry still generates billions of dollars in basic factor and ABL loans, but you must adapt — White Oak has, and it’s so exciting to share this change with you all.

The rest of this issue is filled with great content as always, as we strive to always share cutting-edge stories and think creatively to keep you informed, relevant and current. Welcome back, we’ve missed you!

“If you’re not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.”

— John Rohn

ONE MANN’S OPINION

When I observe the conversations that are swirling around me about sustainability in the fashion industry and the world at large — it is exciting to hear how much of this conversation is about change. The desire to do things differently, make a difference and change your own habits for the greater good is an intoxicating one —and it’s heartening to me that the way that I choose to shop (or not shop) can make more of an impact with each passing day.

This issue was such a fun and educational one to put together, and I’m so happy to be able to share some of the ways that the fashion industry is making change in the pages ahead with you. I was so thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with both Megan McSherry, a conscious consumerism and sustainability activist, and Elle B. Mambetov, a modest fashion designer and activist, about the various ways that they are serving as change-makers in the fashion industry with their creativity and passion. This issue also features highlights from New York Fashion Week and the Met Gala (both back in person again!) and the exciting ways that brands like Crocs, Sunies and XIVI are using technology to be more sustainable.

I hope you all enjoy this issue as much as I do, and the month ahead — my fi ngers are crossed that by the time you’re reading this, autumn weather has arrived in full!

The Athletic Side of Us’ Spring/ Summer 2022 Collection Marries Athletic Wear with Couture Sensibility

16

Mello Bello Swim Hosts First-Ever Runway Show

18

Grade A Fashion: Albright College Debuts on the Runways of NYFW

20

Gambino Medical & Science Foundation’s 26th Annual Charity Golf Outing 22

Chuks Collins Spring Summer 2022 Collection Merges Future-Forward Aesthetic with Global Roots

Building for a Brighter Tomorrow Benefit Raises Funds for Center for Jewish Life

Challenges = Opportunities

Marc Federbush, CPA, CGMA Partner and Fashion Industry Group Leader marc.federbush@anchin.com

Photo Courtesy of Diane Allford

IN MEMORY OF MY DEAR FRIEND

HAROLD WEST

7/20/46 - 9/9/21

Harold West is an iconic fgure and legend in the fashion industry and most importantly, a great friend.

Deepest condolences to Marilyn West, their children, Brian West and Kevin West, and grandchildren Andrew, Sydney, Shai, and Cooper.

The spring/summer 2022 collection runway show from athleisure company The Athletic Side of Us (TASOU) featured menswear and womenswear by designer and the brand’s founder, Chuks Collins. Set in the Ancient Benin Kingdom where transitional fashion meets the ancient civilization from southern Nigeria, TASOU celebrates the athletic side of humans with functional clothing that focuses on sustainability by being eco-forward.

“My idea was to do something very forward and comfortable that’s easy to wear, but also very summery and upbeat at the same time. My menswear is inspired by me and what I think about when I pack a backpack for a few days’ trip,” said Collins.

The two philosophies of “Art Self” and “Act Self” that are core to the brand act as the foundation of this collection; expressions of the soul acting in congruence with expressions of the mind and body. The looks are meant to be functional, fluid and forward, and work for both men and women to fit with the larger human experience. The TASOU Gra fti set for men, a shorts and top set, can be worn for any kind of activity or outing, including running, swimming or lounging at home.

For women, looks included mesh belting for comfort, as well as the TASOU Gra fti in black, white and orange. Most of the pieces in the men’s and women’s collections are also considered gender fluid, like the boyfriend t-shirt. “I wanted something that was functional for women that can be worn from day to night, from pants and dresses. I was also looking for colors that would transition with other items in a woman’s wardrobe,” said Collins.

Collins has also focused this collection to give back to those who desire to be athletic but have been limited due to limb deficiencies. To support the “Act Self” philosophy, the brand is facilitating a new way forward for those whose mobility has been limited, with proceeds from the collection going toward providing sustainable prosthetic limbs to children in Nigeria through The Irede Foundation, TASOU’s partnering organization.

TASOU’s debut allowed for Collins to present his fresh point of view and introduce the bridging of streetwear and active wear. The brand seeks to not only create looks that are stylish and feel good, but that are also good for the planet. All pieces of the collection are made sustainably with low carbon outputs from materials such as plastic bottles, organic cottons, hemp and repurposed fi sh nets.

Photos courtesy of Charles Benoit

Mello Bello, an international, Medellín, Colombia-based sustainable swimwear brand, hosted its first-ever runway show in collaboration with Badass Do-Gooders, a community of heart-driven entrepreneurs, creators and change-makers on a mission to make a positive impact across the globe.

The sustainable swimwear company took over the Popl Co. headquarters estate in Beverly Hills, California to showcase its collection launch as well as upcoming fall pieces. The show featured diverse models representing all diferent shapes, sizes, ethnicities and genders, and the line is curated for all body types in sizes XS to XXL.

AnnaLynne McCord rocked the runway while Anne Winters sat front row. Models including Oana Gregory, Katie Welch, Brittny Sugarman and Alexa May strutted down the runway along with Badass Do-Gooders members Adri Fernandes, Ashari Wallace, Amber Rose and Sissy Lee. LGBTQIA+ icon Brett Collins closed the runway show with a bang by showcasing a stunning, cut-out, green two-pieced bikini. The models walked to Katie Welch’s newest single, “Warm It Up.”

Other special guest appearances included director Penelope Lawson, actress Laura Samuels (Modern Family, Awkward), actress Veronika Dash (iCarly) and award-winning music video director Andrew Sandler (Justin Bieber, Chris Brown.) Those unable to attend the runway show were able to watch it on Maximo TV’s news outlet.

GRADE A FASHION: ALBRIGHT COLLEGE DEBUTS ON THE RUNWAYS OF NYFW

Fashion is an industry where new points of view are celebrated — and the industry had nine new reasons to celebrate when Albright College made its New York Fashion Week debut during the “9 Collections” fashion show. Every designer shown in the show had two things in common: none had previously shown during NYFW before, and they all have graduated or are current students of the fashion program based on the Albright College campus in Reading, Pennsylvania.

andl, who cited modern birds’ nest architecture and the Eifel Tower as her design touchpoint. Kaleb Murdock explored the minimal side of conceptuality with his collection Dissolved Girl, which sat at the crossroads of music, breakups and rust, and recent graduate Ashley Hilegass named the growth of the Agricus Bisporus mushroom as her design inspiration.

Found in the collections of the seven recent graduates and two current students shown on the Albright runway was a wide variety of collections ranging from Rose, a modern, graphic luxe swimwear collection by Josh Polk, to Tulú Resort Wear, an equally at home by the sea contemporary collection by Jess D’Alessio that was inspired by the beaches of the Mexican resort town of Tulum, and Whispering Wings, a resort collection that would prove more at home on the streets than on the beach, created by recent graduate Luisana Batista.

Albright College also has a robust theater costume design track as part of their fashion design program, which was highlighted through the collection of working theater costumes by Elizabeth “Liz” Polley, titled Homespun as a nod to the collection’s root inspiration, and current Albright student Amanda Castanon’s collection inspired by the Renaissance and the costumes from the era.

Several collections were more conceptual, like Versailles XVI, by Stephanie Vargas Hemmings, who channeled the extravagance of French maximalist designs and her Puerto Rican cultural eye, and an architecture-inspired collection by Mandy Bo-

“I’m so excited I could come out tonight and support my alma mater, Albright College, on their very fi rst New York Fashion Week show! I always love supporting emerging designers and am so happy to be here for these nine designers,” said Caroline Vazzana, infl author and graduate of Albright College. “The collections were so beautiful, and you could just feel the energy and excitement from everyone in the crowd as the models made their way down the runway! Congratulations to Albright College and to all of the incredibly talented designers, I can’t wait to see what each does next!”

Photos courtesy of Elvia Gobbo Photography

GAMBINO MEDICAL & SCIENCE FOUNDATION’S 26TH ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF OUTING

Photos courtesy of Howard Wechsler, Wechsler Photography

It was a fabulous day of golf, camaraderie and charity all wrapped up into one at this year’s 26th Gambino Medical Science Foundation’s (GMSF) Golf Outing, benefiting the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Medical Center at Northwell Health System. Breakfast and lunch were provided, which was followed by a gala dinner party, prizes and award presentations. The outing was co-chaired by Carl Gambino and Thomas Gambino, Jr.

The GMSF is committed to the treatment and eradication of pediatric cancers through its support of The Gambino Pediatric Trauma and Imaging Center, Stem Cell Transplant Unit and Behavioral & Development Health and Neurology initiatives.

Peter Tilles, Paul Hochenberg, Dr. Howard Kerpen, Dr. Steven Orshan

Sunny Young, Richard Lam, Peter Chau, Eric ChongHarold Nash, Scotty Fishman, Jeff Mann, Frank DeLucia

Donald Levy, Ben Groveman, Gary Levy, Simono ParkMike Krauss foursome with their caddy

Andrew Rotondi, Liza Diamond, Joseph Rotondi

CHUKS COLLINS SPRING/SUMMER 2022 COLLECTION MERGES FUTURE-FORWARD AESTHETIC WITH GLOBAL ROOTS

© Sharon Yang

With a focus on time and freedom, the Chuks Collins Spring Summer 2022 collection “Resurrection” draws upon human abilities and our desire to create infinite possibilities. Consisting of both bespoke design and seasonal readyto-wear collections, Chuks Collins was born out of a desire to create high fashion that challenges norms and expectations by combining vivaciousness, boldness and elegance in unexpected silhouettes, cuts, prints and fabrics. The designs honor the women and men who live their lives fully, unbothered by societal norms and with no choice but to self-express, the brand said.

Chuks Collins has quickly established itself as a one of the pioneers of cross-cultural high fashion, having dressed celebrities and change-makers like Kerry Washington, Quincy, Trevor Jackson, The Jonas Brothers, Miss Universe Andrea Meza and Terence Nance, among others. Since its inception, the Chuks Collins collection has shown and walked runways at the Fashion Weeks of New York and multiple international locations. The designs have also been featured in Hollywood movies.

Resurrection is something we rarely notice yet we see often: it happens in nature, in our parks and gliding in the air. It moves with time and, most importantly, takes place within our bodies daily. The beauty of these seemingly mundane yet exquisite happenings inspired the collection.

“I was in a place where I was thinking of how we can attain all that we desire through the abilities within us. I became obsessed with the word resurrection; what can feel like nothing even though everything is there. It took me on a journey towards a personal search for that which can be found within myself. The changes were in me, I just needed to look closer,” said designer and founder Collins.

Tapping into his creative spirit, Collins photographed cocoons to study the resurrection process of the butterfly and looked at the human muscular system for elements of strength and structure. These inspirations are realized through ethereal, flowy fabrics contrasted with organic structured cuts creating unforgettable silhouettes. The palette draws from the jewel tones with ombrés of yellows, royal blues, wine reds and browns, and has touches of African-inspired cocoon prints.

Collins has taken this concept of rebirth into the silhouettes through fabric manipulation with pleating, heavy drapery, knitting, corsetry and an emphasis on structured shoulders. For the couture looks, the designer tapped into his tailoring skills and included a number of hand beaded styles. His incorporation of the muscular nature of humans and the metamorphosis from cocoon to butterfly is woven into this collection’s theme.

© Sharon Yang

© Sharon Yang

© Sivan Miller

© Diane Allford

© Sivan Miller

BUILDING FOR A BRIGHTER TOMORROW BENEFIT RAISES FUNDS FOR CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE

Mindy and Jared Epstein were among those honored at the Building for a Brighter Tomorrow Summer Benefit to help raise critical funds for the Center for Jewish Life in Sag Harbor, New York. The event raised over $250,000 to support the redevelopment of the synagogue space. The evening was held at the estate of Maria and Kenneth Fishel in Bridgehampton, New York.

The benefit was chaired by Robby and Kimmy Morris; Jacqueline Muss; Michael and Rina Nessim; David and Melanie Shorenstein and Denis Wohl. The night honored real estate developer Jared Epstein, president of Aurora Capital Associates, and his wife Mindy with the Community Builder Award, and Jason Breitstone with the Young Leadership Award.

Midway through the night, Rabbi Berel Lerman took the floor to introduce Jared and Mindy Epstein. “Whenever communities are faced with challenges and whenever in life we are faced with challenges, Hashem always sends the right messenger to help not only solve the problem but make things greater than before,” Rabbi Lerman said. “I want to recognize Jared and Mindy in being those messengers.”

“This isn’t about me. There is no ‘I’ in team, but there is an ‘I’ in ‘community,’ ‘Judaism’ and ‘Jewish,’ in ‘building’ and in ‘being driven,’ and I’m driven for three reasons,” said Jared Epstein. “That is my family, my friends and my community, my Judaism.” He continued, “With all the anti-Semitism going on a couple of months ago, I don’t think a lot of us felt comfortable and it’s so important that we continue to support organizations that are here for us.” Epstein also asked for a moment of silence in honor of Maria and Ken’s late daughter Melissa Fishel.

Supporters of the event included Peter Thomas Roth, Jean Shafirof, Matthew and Marlene Baron, Nathan and Liza Berman, Jay and Terri Bialsky, Jeroen and Robin Bours, Erica and Dennis D’Antonio, Caryl Englander, Steve Fabrikant, David Fiedler, Dana and Adam Fine, Bradley Fishel, Jonathan Freeman, Dr. Ahron and Tania Friedberg, Isaac and Ana Fuhrman, Kimberly Gof, Amanda Goldberg, Denise and Marc Goldberg, Marc Goldman, Laurence and Sharon Greenberg and James Guarino, Sam Herzberg, Nathan Joseph Mendel and Devora Katz, Rabbi Berel and Brocha Lermam, Larry and Caryn Malitzky and Hy and Sharon Mariampolski, among others.

Photos courtesy of Lenny Sticke

Rabbi Berel Lerman, Mindy Epstein, Jared Epstein

Matthew Fox, Michele Kleger

Max Padway, Bridget Tess

MelanieShorenstein,DavidShorensteinMariaFishel,KennethFishel

MariaFishel,PeterThomasRothJeanShafiroff,JaredEpstein

NEW TORY BURCH STORE CONCEPT OPENS IN SOHO

The return of Tory Burch to downtown at 151 Mercer St. in Soho with a new store concept is also a love story between Burch and New York City. A native of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Burch moved to Soho right after college and in 2004, opened her first boutique just a few blocks from Mercer Street. The new location also reflects an evolution of the retail concept, while honoring the brand’s design codes and history of the neighborhood.

“I could not be more excited about our Mercer Street store. It is an evolution of our retail aesthetic, and I have loved the creative process, combining a modern space with signature decorative elements and details that are personal to me,” said Tory Burch, executive chairman and chief creative officer of her eponymous brand. “The downtown location feels like a homecoming, just a five-minute walk from where we opened our first boutique on Elizabeth Street.”

The store’s ground floor is defined by four main areas and features. A specially designed parquet pattern floor, made with wood and ceramic, leads into the space. Baskets suspended from the ceiling form a canopy of natural texture above handbags and accessories, pulled from Burch’s memories of woven baskets from all around the world that hung from the kitchen ceiling in her childhood home. Beyond, a wicker honeycomb structure, inspired by her bee apiary in Antigua, is designed specifically for handbags, small leather goods, jewelry and other personal objects she has collected.

Work by women artists and local artisans is featured throughout the store. Francesca DiMattio, whose sculptures challenge traditional norms of femininity, was commissioned to create a chandelier suspended in the second-floor shoe salon and the hand-painted rails. A hand-hammered metalwork Tree of Life motif lines the underside of the staircase. Burch chose the pieces seen throughout the boutique, from copper resin-filled travertine tables to an Arts & Crafts chair and pottery and art that she found while traveling.

NEWLIGHT AND NIKE PARTNER TO REDUCE BRAND’S CARBON FOOTPRINT

Newlight Technologies announced a partnership with Nike to explore the use of AirCarbon, a carbon-negative biomaterial produced by microorganisms from the ocean. AirCarbon is currently used in fashion applications as a carbon-negative substitute to plastic and leather, including for eyewear, wallets and bags. Nike will explore the use of AirCarbon in a variety of applications, with the goal to advance Nike’s mission to create products that are better for athletes and the planet, the brand said.

“AirCarbon offers an opportunity to further reduce our impact on the planet,” said Noel Kinder, chief sustainability officer, Nike, Inc. “Materials account for 70% of Nike’s total carbon footprint, and we’re accelerating our efforts and exploring new opportunities in this space because, in the race against climate change, we can’t wait for solutions, we have to work together to create them.”

Newlight uses naturally-occurring microorganisms from the ocean that eat air and greenhouse gas and convert it inside of their cells into AirCarbon, an energy storage material, also known as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), that is approximately 40% oxygen from air and 60% carbon from greenhouse gas by weight, the company said. AirCarbon is certified carbon-negative by SCS Global Services, resulting in a net reduction in CO2e in the atmosphere through production, and can be melted into a

range of forms, from fiber and sheet to solid shapes.

“Our mission is change at scale, and there are few better partners in the world than Nike to help achieve that,” said Newlight CEO Mark Herrema. “We are excited to explore how AirCarbon can help Nike decarbonize its products and achieve its ambitious carbon-reduction goals.”

Photo

courtesy of Newlight Technologies

BANANA REPUBLIC DEBUTS NEW LOOK FOR FALL SEASON

Banana Republic reintroduced its new brand identity for the Fall 2021 season, positioning and brand promise, referencing the brand’s heritage while reinventing itself for today’s modern world. Inspired by its roots, the 43-year-old global lifestyle brand is reimagining every detail of the customer experience in the form of democratic, approachable and inclusive luxury, the brand said. From immersive product stories seen in-store and on digital platforms to the updated quality of product designs and fabrics, customers will see elevated experiences and details across all touchpoints.

L“We started with a very clear vision of what this iconic American company can be and what we need to do in terms of our product quality and design, packaging and service, our digital experiences and experiences in our stores to bring this vision to life in a way that excites culture and moves our business,” said Sandra Stangl, brand president and CEO. “This fall is just the beginning for Banana Republic. We embark on an adventure of our lifetimes, led by creativity, curiosity and a newfound drive. The excitement is palpable across the entire organization as we all dream about the opportunities to transform this iconic lifestyle brand into a forever brand: always relevant, always current, never not modern.”

The Fall 2021 campaign introduced “The New Look,” featuring leather and suede reworked in the form of a photojournalist vest and cargo pants, leather jumpsuits and suede separates. The collection also features shearling, suede trench dresses, Italian Merino wool, silk and cashmere.

As the brand elevates the quality of its collections, it is also focused on reimagining its digital platforms to be an engaging experience featuring inspirational imagery, video and music that immerses customers into the new world of Banana Republic, the brand said. The brand is also upgrading its fleet of stores across the country, from hospitality and styling services to store design and merchandising.

E-TAILER FORWARD ANNOUNCES KENDALL JENNER AS CREATIVE DIRECTOR

uxury fashion retailer Forward (Fwrd), part of Revolve Group Inc., announced Kendall Jenner as its new creative director. Jenner will be in charge of the look and feel of the site, curation of brands sold on the site, monthly edits of musthave trends, styles and looks, as well as marketing ideas, brand partnerships and brand activations.

“I grew up loving fashion and have been incredibly fortunate to work with some of the most brilliant people in this business. As Fwrd’s creative director, I am excited to help curate the site’s offering with emerging designers and brands,” Jenner said.

The celebrity, entrepreneur and supermodel paired with the always on-trend Fwrd make for a genuinely organic partnership that will deliver a next-level fashion experience for shoppers, the brand said. With her guidance, Fwrd said it will advance the future of luxury fashion commerce and the next wave of must-have designers and trends in the market.

“Kendall as the creative director for Fwrd is the perfect choice as we continue to invest in the next generation luxury consumer. We have always had an extreme admiration for Kendall’s style, creativity and overall exquisite taste,” said Michael Mente, coCEO and co-founder, Revolve Group Inc. “Her multifaceted experience in the fashion industry and the vision she has outlined for the Fwrd business has the potential to transform our business and the luxury business as a whole.”

Photo courtesy of Revolve

Photo courtesy of Banana Republic

IL MAKIAGE APPOINTS LINDSAY DRUCKER MANN AS GLOBAL CFO

Il Makiage, United States-based beauty company, announced an expansion of its leadership team with the appointment of Lindsay Drucker Mann as the company’s first global chief financial officer.

“We’ve already proven that we are committed to building the future of beauty and wellness through proprietary technology,” said Oran Holtzman, CEO and co-founder of Il Makiage. “Our existing technology and roadmap are unlocking an unlimited growth potential in the beauty and wellness industries and, as such, we continue to strengthen our leadership. I am thrilled to welcome Lindsay as our global chief financial officer. Lindsay’s strong capital markets experience and exceptional leadership capabilities will be an asset to

Il Makiage as we embark on our company’s next phase. We’re honored to welcome Lindsay to the Il Makiage family.”

Il Makiage is committed to revolutionizing the beauty and wellness industries through technology, the company said, and has recently acquired the deep-tech AI-based computational imaging startup Voyage81 to further enhance its AI and machine learning capabilities in preparation for upcoming brand launches.

“I am incredibly excited to join the Il Makiage family. The team has built a powerful engine that combines technology, data, best-in-class product, and brand, driving profitable growth at scale unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” said Drucker Mann.

MOOSE KNUCKLES ANNOUNCES EXPANDED LEADERSHIP ROLE FOR VICTOR LUIS

Canada-based luxury outerwear and sportswear brand Moose Knuckles announced that after several months working alongside co-founders Noah Stern and Ayal Twik, Victor Luis’ role of shareholder and executive chairman will expand to include CEO. He will drive the brand’s global vision, while Stern and Twik will lead the creative aspects of the business as chief product officer and chief marketing officer, respectively. This announcement comes after Luis’s recent appointment as executive chairman.

The brand recently announced a range of environmental and social initiatives focusing on the long-term sustainability of its global footprint, as well as the end of production with natural fur by end of 2022. This commitment, along with

Tbecoming a multi-season brand and leveraging new digital channels globally, are foundational pillars of its growth strategy, the brand said.

“There has never been a more exciting time for branded luxury outerwear and Moose Knuckles is poised to become the next big player in the global market,” said Luis. “My family’s increased equity investment is a reflection of our excitement over what we have learned during the last several months and the tremendous opportunity for growth ahead of us. Moose Knuckles’ recent organizational changes are built to capture and accelerate growth as we continue to recruit top talent and transform systems and processes to support the brand’s global expansion and elevate our capacity to execute at the highest levels.”

JOHANNA HANNEKE FABER JOINS TAPESTRY INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

apestry Inc., a New York-based house of modern luxury accessories and lifestyle brands, announced Johanna Hanneke Faber’s appointment to its board of directors.

Faber has nearly 30 years of experience in consumer goods and retail, having also held global leadership roles at Royal Ahold Delhaize and The Procter & Gamble Company. She is a board member at the World Economic Forum Food Stewards Board, Food Drink Europe and Leading Executives Advancing Diversity.

“We are delighted that Faber has agreed to join our board. She is a global executive with a proven track record of growth in consumer goods, retail and e-commerce,” said Joanne Crevoiserat,

CEO of Tapestry Inc. “In addition, she is a recognized brand builder, innovator and champion for sustainability and diversity. We are confident that her knowledge and perspective will prove valuable to us as we continue to execute our people-centered and purpose-led strategy while fueling long-term growth and profitability across our portfolio of brands.”

“I’m excited to be joining the board of directors of Tapestry, a company with three powerful global brands with deep connections to consumers and a commitment to people and purpose,” said Faber. “I look forward to supporting the organization as it focuses on strengthening its platform to drive brand growth while driving positive change for people, planet and community.”

Lindsay Drucker Mann

Photo courtesy of Business Wire

Noah Stern, Victor Luis, Ayal Twik

Photo courtesy of Moose Knuckles Canada

Johanna Hanneke Faber

Photo courtesy of Business Wire

REEBOK AND PRINCE ANNOUNCE COLLABORATION

Reebok, global athletic brand, and Prince, global racquet sports and lifestyle brand, debuted a footwear and apparel collaboration inspired by the tennis court and Miami, Florida. With Reebok and Prince’s shared tennis heritage, this capsule collection is a combination of pop culture, sport and lifestyle that is fitting both on and off of the court, said Reebok.

David Grutman, Prince’s creative director, partnered with the Reebok team to design the capsule collection. “Prince and Reebok have a great synergy;

they are both modern sportswear and lifestyle brands, with an authentic link to the old school throwback days of tennis,” said Grutman. “I love both of these companies, I love being on the court and I love vintage — everything about this overlap made sense from a personal standpoint, and it has been fun to work with the Reebok team on creating this collab.”

The gender-fluid collection features tennis-inspired elements that blend Reebok’s traditional design elements with Prince’s vibrant colors and logo. Each product was carefully curated to have a fresh, vibrant silhouette with a laidback feel that offers fans a way to uniquely style the one-of-a-kind pieces, the brands said.

There are two color offerings in the collection featuring the Club C Revenge and Club C 85 sneaker styles. The collection’s first color drop, which offers the silhouette in white, bright cobalt, green and yellow, is inspired by authentic on-court tennis colors. The collection also includes a T-shirt, long sleeve tee, shorts, jacket and polo shirt. The second color drop, inspired by Miami, features a jacket and T-shirt in white, rose, teal and chalk.

The first color drop is available now on reebok.com and in select fashion retailers. The second color drop will be available exclusively on reebok.com.

KEEN FOOTWEAR LAUNCHES UPCYCLING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Keen Inc., the Portland, Oregon-based global footwear brand, announced that it will expand its “Detox the Planet Initiative” with the debut of the Keen Harvest Certified Program, a tiered program designed to reduce industrial waste by upcycling it into shoes. The goal is to relieve pressure on global landfills and minimize the use of virgin materials and lower greenhouse gas emissions, the brand said. Keen intends to share the details of this process beginning 2022.

“We first launched Harvest products 15 years ago using industrial waste from the rice industry,” said Erik Burbank, vice president of The Keen Effect. “Harvest is about upcycling industrial waste that would otherwise go to landfills, instead creating something new and useful, while lowering the demand for new material in the production process. We’re certifying Harvest products to both provide transparency to fans and to demystify and encourage other brands to help attack the industrial waste problem.”

The Keen Harvest Certification Program features three levels of certification: Gold (greater than 50% upcycled materials); Silver (greater than 25%) and Bronze (greater than 10%). The ratings provide transparency to the percentage of waste upcycled into shoes. The first shoe with this certification, the Howser Harvest, is Gold-certified through its use of upcycled car seat leather in 80% of the upper, and launches in November 2021.

In spring 2022, The Harvest Collection will expand with the Howser Harvest Sandal for men and women, Elsa sneakers for women and additional Howser Harvest slip-on and lace-up styles for men and women. Select models will feature upcycled waste coffee grounds, the brand said, which keeps coffee grounds of out landfills where they can create methane, a greenhouse gas known to be more harmful than carbon dioxide, another greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

Photo courtesy of Reebok

Photo courtesy of Keen, Inc.

THE INDUSTRY’S

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THE BAY & SPACE NK ANNOUNCE LONG-TERM STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

The Bay, a Canadian luxury goods department store chain, and Space NK, a beauty and apothecary goods retailer, announced a strategic partnership through Space NK at The Bay. The “shopin-shop” concept will offer an assortment of both indie and premium brands on thebay.com and at flagship stores in Montreal, Toronto and

Vancouver, Canada. Twenty-five Hudson’s Bay stores will carry hair care products from brands such as R+co, Virtue, Christophe Robin and Phillip B, among others.

“This is a beauty game-changer for the Canadian consumer. With a digital-first approach, Space NK brings innovative and sought-after brands to The Bay. Customers will discover an array of skincare, makeup, haircare and lifestyle products,” said Jo Osborne, senior vice president, beauty at The Bay. “This transformative partnership reflects how we are innovating and expanding our beauty experience, for every Canadian, at every stage in their beauty journey.”

“Our ability to act as the ‘curator’ of some of the world’s most desired beauty brands uniquely places us to support the beauty businesses of our retail partners. The Bay’s customer profile and presence in the market make them the perfect partner to expand our department store business in Canada,” said Noah Rosenblatt, president, Space NK North America.

The assortment will launch with 17 brands never carried before at The Bay, including Sunday Riley, Aesop, Tata Harper, Chantecaille and Boy Smells, with plans to scale the partnership to include more brands in the coming months, the companies said.

SAM EDELMAN UNVEILS FIRST-EVER EAU DE PARFUM, SIGNATURE BY SAM EDELMAN

Sam Edelman, a women’s footwear brand, launched its first-ever Eau de Parfum, Signature by Sam Edelman. Fragrance designer Raymond Matts partnered with Firmenich principal performer Frank Voelkl to create a scent that evokes feelings of empowerment and accomplishment, akin to the effortless elegance and confident feeling of stepping out in a great pair of heels, the brand said. Sam Edelman is one of the Caleres brands, which also include Famous Footwear, Naturalizer, Allen Edmonds and Vionic, among others.

Signature by Sam Edelman combines florals with refreshing greens and warm wood notes. The woody base of the fragrance is made with sandalwood and heart woods that balance with mimosa florals and airy blooms. A unique sense of enticement is composed through an innovative capture of “margarita mist” enhanced by green florals, the brand said, which is a symbolic representation of Sam Edelman’s

signature Pantone color.

“My creative process with fragrance is the same as with fashion and footwear, the same inspirations and the same feelings and emotions,” Edelman said. “Signature by Sam Edelman is a scent for those who aspire, those who crave expression and those on a journey to find their own signature. The scent is uplifting, and just like your favorite pair of shoes, will carry you through the adventures of life.”

The brand created the Signature by Sam Edelman bottle using raw materials to design the sculptural top and bottle silhouette that embodies the irreverence, modern elegance and spirit that is essential to Sam Edelman, the brand said.

“ScentBeauty is thrilled to have partnered with Sam Edelman to bring his exquisite signature fragrance to the luxury market,” said Stephen Mormoris, CEO of ScentBeauty Inc. “I strongly believe that Sam Edelman’s rarified sense of craftsmanship is beautifully expressed in olfactory terms with his first Eau de Parfum.”

The launch of Signature by Sam Edelman further supports the brand’s sustained category expansion, joining the Sam Edelman Lifestyle collection including shoes, handbags, kids’ shoes, outerwear, dresses and sunglasses.

Signature by Sam Edelman is available at select Sam Edelman boutiques and Macy’s locations, and online at samedelman.com, scentbeauty.com and macys.com. The fragrance retails from $68 to $100.

Photo courtesy of Business Wire

H&M’S AUTUMN 2021 RECYCLED DENIM COLLECTION IS BRAND’S MOST RECYCLED COLLECTION TO DATE

For the brand’s Autumn 2021 collection, H&M continues its drive to make more sustainable denim. The 10-piece collection features baggy jeans, loose straight-leg jeans, a trucker jacket, an oversized overshirt, a bucket hat and shopper that are inspired by the looser, laid-back silhouettes of the 1990s. The collection is made

from 100% recycled fabrics, threads, labels and pocketing, and partly from recycled metal zippers and trims, the brand said, calling this its most recycled collection to date.

The recycled fabrics include pre-consumer recycled cotton from industrial waste cuttings and post-consumer recycled cotton from collected garments and some with recycled polyester; the accessories are made entirely from fabrics that have been cut and re-used from production rejections. Reusing from both production waste and collected garments is a vital part of one of the biggest ambitions at H&M, which is to move to a circular production system, said the brand.

With a focus on patchwork details and ‘90s denim washes including vintage light blue, mid-blues, dark vintage blues, blacks and cool grey, the new collection is about highlighting the possibilities of recycled materials and providing denim lovers around the world with even more choices in sustainability, H&M said.

The H&M Recycled Denim collection is available in selected stores and online at hm.com.

CHAMPION PARTNERS WITH THE RENEWAL WORKSHOP ON ECO-FRIENDLY APPAREL

As part of its global “Be Your Own Champion” campaign, Champion Athleticwear has launched Champion Renewed in partnership with The Renewal Workshop, a company that renews apparel that would have otherwise gone into landfill.

The partnership helps extend the lifespan of the brand’s apparel and reduce waste, while supporting the “Be Your Own Champion” campaign inspired by Champion’s consumers, the brand said; it also articulates the brand’s commitment to designing stylish, athletic apparel and footwear that enables everyone to be a champion by confidently expressing themselves, and feel good while doing it.

“To us, ‘Be Your Own Champion’ means encouraging consumers to do things the right way and do them with heart — both on and off the field,” said Jon Ram, group president of global activewear, Hanesbrands, Champion’s parent company. “Extending the life of apparel that would have likely ended up in landfill is part of that effort, and it gives our consumers yet another reason to be proud to wear our brand.”

The Renewal Workshop uses Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to measure the impact of the textile fibers most frequently received, such as cotton, polyester and wool. Using this data, in addition to each garment’s weight, the organization can evaluate energy savings, greenhouse gas reductions and water consumption decreases for each item

that is renewed. The partnership between Champion and The Renewal Workshop is part of the brand’s promise to increase the use of responsibly made fabrics and find ways to creatively reuse products to reduce energy use and water consumption during the manufacturing process, Champion said.

The Champion Renewed line features the brand’s Reverse Weave sweatshirts, which have been renewed by The Renewal Workshop. The collection ranges from $30 through $45 and is available for purchase now at renewalworkshop.com/pages/champion.

Photo

Photo courtesy of Business Wire

LOVESAC & FASHION DESIGNER

JEREMY SCOTT COLLABORATE TO CREATE EXCLUSIVE SAC COVER

The Lovesac Company, a home furnishing brand, debuted a collaboration with fashion icon Jeremy Scott. Scott has designed an exclusive, limited-release Sac Cover that features a premium patchwork design inspired by his family’s tradition of exchanging hand-sewn quilts. The Lovesac Company is a technology-driven company that designs, manufactures and sells high-quality furniture through the brand’s “Designed for Life” approach, which results in products that are built to last a lifetime, the brand said.

From being raised on a farm in Missouri to becoming the creative director of Moschino and sole owner of his namesake label, Scott is known for his signature style that includes kitsch, camp, neon and sparkle, and has dressed an extensive list of celebrities and A-listers including Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, Zendaya and

many more. Scott often takes fragments of pop culture and turns them into something unique, said Lovesac, which aligns perfectly with focus on sustainability in the brand’s design philosophy, making the partnership between Scott and Lovesac an easy decision for both parties.

“There are stories, emotions and memories inside each and every patchwork design,” said Scott. “This design pays homage to the quilted designs of the past, showing how pieces can be repurposed to create something useful and beautiful, while also bringing warmth, comfort and style to living rooms across America.”

Made from sustainably-sourced cotton and backed by Lovesac’s high durability standards, this collaboration provides a unique piece of furniture that marries the aesthetics of traditional quilting with the functionality,

coziness and comfort of modern seating.

“We are beyond excited that Jeremy designed this incredible Sac Cover for us,” said Shawn Nelson, Lovesac founder and CEO. “This is our first foray into the high-fashion space, and Jeremy is the perfect partner because our design philosophies are so compatible. We believe in taking a sustainable approach to creating products, and Jeremy really dialed that up with his beautiful patchwork design. We’re seeing it more and more, Sacs being used in the main living areas as the accent piece that ties the room together, and this Sac Cover is perfect for those looking to be both bold and cozy with their space.”

The limited release of SuperSac Covers, created by Lovesac based on Scott’s design, is available for purchase on lovesac.com and in Lovesac showrooms.

XIVI MENSWEAR Merges Style, Comfort & Sustainability

XIVI, a menswear and women’s/unisex brand that was founded in November 2020 by Taylor Rose, combines luxury apparel with loungewear. The brand features T-shirts, bottoms and outerwear for men and lounge sets and sleep sets for women and the brand’s unisex line. The line of Softer Briefs and Lounge Shorts are ideal for hanging around the house, while button ups and polos provide the perfect option for an outing. XIVI products are casual, sleek and comfortable, and switch between business and leisure to stay in comfort. XIVI clothing is designed for adults of all ages and gender, giving customers timeless style and class every day with a tailored fit of the highest quality and sustainable fabrics, the brand said.

Using a blend of Tencel — a cellulosic fiber obtained from eucalyptus pulp using recyclable solvents that is processed into fibers that are used to create yarn and fabrics —and cotton, a silky yet durable fabric was created for use in the brand’s loungewear pieces. Some key benefits of using the Tencel fiber are the fact that it is 100% recyclable and biodegradable, hypoallergenic and lightweight. By including eucalyptus in the fabric of its clothing, the brand says that its customers are able to achieve an eco-friendly lifestyle and also stay clean, because XIVI fabric features antibacterial, odor-resistant and temperature-regulating properties.

According to the brand’s website, XIVI follows sustainable practices throughout each aspect of the design process, including dyeing fabrics without added chemicals. Other green measures at XIVI include a partnership with Noissue, a sustainable, custom packaging provider, to provide 100% recyclable packaging and gift wrapping and planting one tree to match every purchase made from the brand.

XIVI is a partner of Career Gear and Good360, a program through which XIVI customers can return and recycle their gently-worn XIVI products and receive a discount on their next purchase in return. Career Gear is a not-for-profit organization based in New York City that empowers men of all ages, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds with the tools to achieve financial independence. Good360 is an Alexandria, Virginia-based charity organization that helps individuals, families and communities that are impacted by natural disasters or other challenging life circumstances.

To utilize the give-back program, customers can ship their worn in, gently-worn or unwanted XIVI products back to the brand’s headquarters and receive a unique discount code for their next purchase. This program helps to reduce the amount of clothes that ends up in landfills, said the brand.

Photo courtesy of XIVI

Photos courtesy of Josh Kim

ACTEEVISM: THE PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY

By Lauren D’Errico

courtesy

Photos

of Megan McSherry

My TikTok algorithm must know how much I love fashion — and how invested I am in chasing a good deal — because every time I open the app, I am inundated with videos on the very subject. The range of fashion and style videos on TikTok run the gamut in form, with content creators sharing links to a sale they just shopped, a local boutique that has yet to be discovered by the mainstream and modeling the splendors of a recent online shopping “haul.”

A large majority of these videos encourage the viewer to follow micro-trends set out by fast fashion companies — and what this usually means is a lot of spending, a lot of clothes sitting unused once that trend is replaced by the next, rinse and repeat. Fashion has been having a moment of overconsumption, and it’s hard to know where and how to start after one takes a hard look at their own personal consumption and decides that they want to make a change.

Sustainable life and style blogger and recent author Megan McSherry’s TikTok channel would be an excellent place to start. On her account, @Acteevism, McSherry shares her personal experiences with transitioning to a more sustainable wardrobe and lifestyle. In a sea of videos about finding the next best thing, discovering McSherry’s account — filled with practical, tangible, everyday sustainability strategies for people to keep up these habits long term — was a welcome change of pace.

“It all started in high school,” said McSherry. “I started a fashion blog when I was a freshman because I wanted free clothes. I really liked fashion, and I heard that fashion bloggers got free clothes.”

In college, McSherry experienced a turning point in her love for fashion. “In my first week of college, the first essay I was assigned was on sustainability in the industry that you want to work in,” McSherry said. “So of course, I chose fashion, because I loved being a blogger and writing about fashion. I learned about all of the ethical and environmental issues associated with the industry. I was like, ‘this doesn’t sit right with me personally as a consumer, and as someone who has a small platform on the internet.’”

This essay assignment was the driving force in the evolution of McSherry’s fashion blog to becoming the sustainable and ethical life and style platform that it is today, as well as the catalyst for “AcTEEvism,” her personal philosophy of activism that encourages social and environmental change through acts of conscious consumerism, which McSherry says started with her interest in charitable T-shirts.

“If you bought a T-shirt that had a cool saying on it, $10 or five dollars would be donated to a specific organization, and I thought that was

the coolest thing,” McSherry said. “As time went on, it became this example for me of what conscious consumerism can look like and how it begins. Not looking at fashion and clothes as just something you wear, but [thinking] about the impact that fashion has and the diferent ways it can engage people in activism or supporting charitable organizations.”

“I don’t think the way we’re going to solve the world’s issues is through selling T-shirts with five dollar donations,” McSherry continues, “but I think it is a really interesting way to think about how to engage people, especially younger people, to think about thew world’s issues instead of just mindlessly consuming things or feeling like they’re not able to engage in the world’s issues.”

McSherry understands all that goes into making the shift towards thinking more sustainably, and her motto is “progress, not perfection.” On her TikTok channel — which has a following of over 86,000 users — you can find videos of McSherry debunking the term “greenwashing,” insights on single-use items she avoids buying alongside her favorite brands for fashion and sustainability items, her finds while thrift shopping and an honest look at her continued journey as a conscious consumer. Watching McSher-

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ry’s videos make me feel like I’m sharing ideas about fashion, style and sustainability with a trusted friend.

“What I think really helps the sustainability movement is how unfiltered TikTok can be. I can say that I’m wearing a dress and it’s from Forever 21, but I’m a sustainable fashion blogger and I got it secondhand and this is why that’s sustainable,” McSherry said. “It’s hard to get that across on Instagram, where it’s all about the aesthetics and how a picture looks in your feed. Whereas, on TikTok, people love [more raw posts].”

A perspective that has really stuck with me from McSherry’s videos is that the most sustainable wardrobe is that one that you already have in your closet — rather than swapping out your old wardrobe with new pieces that are made by sustainable designers all at once, styling your longstanding staples in new ways can reinvent pieces that might feel stale and save you unnecessary shopping trips.

“When I started my blog, I was all about ‘fashion on a budget,’ which meant endless fast fashion items that were ultra-trendy,” McSherry said, touching on how she feels her personal style has changed through conscious consumerism. “I always felt like fashion equalled style, and whatever was cool or in fashion was how you had to dress to be stylish … Over time, especially as I’ve started thrifting more, buying secondhand items and vintage items, I don’t care what the trends are. I don’t feel like I have to dress like everyone else to like my style.”

When approaching fashion sustainability, McSherry says that something often overlooked is how shoppers can care for their clothes to extend their life. “If you learn to sew on a button, you can save so many items in your closet and keep them around longer, versus [not wearing an item] when the button gets loose,” she said. “There’s so much life we can continue to breathe back into the items that we already have that takes just a little bit of efort.”

These tips and much more can also be found in McSherry’s recently published e-book, “Make the Most of What’s in Your Closet.” The book is an interactive roadmap for sustainability beginners that is based on her own slow fashion journey and inspired by questions from her followers, who she says want to join the sustainability movement but don’t feel that they have the time, money or resources to do so. Since the book’s publication this year, McSherry says that those messages from followers now include the new ways that they see their closets and the fun ways they now style their clothes.

“It’s just cool to see that click happen with people,” McSherry said. “You don’t have to entirely change your approach to fashion, your style or where you shop in order for it to be sustainable. You can change your mindset, and that makes a huge diference.”

When asked what advice she would give to someone who is just starting out on their sustainability journey, McSherry emphasizes the importance of taking things slow.

“We live in a consumer society… There’s so much consumption going on, and it can be very overwhelming if you say you’re going to change completely the way [you] look at buying things,” said McSherry. “I started my sustainable fashion journey when I was a freshman in college in 2015, and I’m still on my journey. I will never say that I’m done [because] you’ll learn things along the way that will change the way you look at things, and that’s part of it. Don’t aim for perfection, just do your best and take it one step at a time.”

White Oak Commercial Finance:

Financing in the Age of Disruption in the of Disruption

Fashion is a glamorous business. It is also a tough one. There are long lead times, products sourced from around the world, big swings in seasonal demand and the constantly changing tastes of consumers that have to be anticipated. All of that uncertainty explains why banks traditionally have shied away from lending to the apparel industry, creating an opening for lenders like White Oak Commercial Finance. The firm has been providing capital to this industry for three decades, making sure companies striving for and deserving success have the cash flow they require when they need it.

White Oak Commercial Finance (White Oak) is an alternative lending company that began in New York during the 1980s as Capital Business Credit and, as an affiliate of White Oak Global Advisors, now provides its services to clients across three continents and in multiple currencies. The company’s experience and scale enables it to help businesses to tackle everything — from turnarounds to rapid expansion to acquisition.

Historically, much of the apparel industry’s working capital has come in the form of factoring and lending against receivables. Factoring remains an important tool for White Oak, but in the past few years — as the industry has responded to the pandemic and major shifts in technology — the firm has added more tools to its tool kit.

The pandemic has strained supply chains globally, driving up prices and stretching out delivery schedules. The growing popularity of e-commerce as a source of information and a go-to destination for retail shoppers has blurred the lines between manufacturers and retailers.

The changes have created challenges for the industry and lenders alike. White Oak has had to be creative and flexible, coming up with innovative solutions for new trends and marketplace demands. There has been no script to follow, because both lenders and the industries they serve are in unchartered waters. Consider a few examples of how White Oak has evolved to meet the shifting needs of customers.

The Explosion of E-commerce

The apparel industry was an early adopter of e-commerce. Even before COVID-19 struck, online retail accounted for 27% of U.S. apparel sales in 2018 and 30% in 2019. In 2020, that number leaped to 46% as consumers largely avoided the stores due to health and safety concerns, according to Digital Commerce 360, a research firm. It is not an exaggeration to say e-commerce kept the fashion industry afloat last year and this year.

But, e-commerce is a very diferent business model from brick-and-mortar. Instead of selling to big retailers, many apparel firms sell either through platforms like

Amazon and Shopify or directly to the public through their websites. The direct approach is appealing, because it cuts out the intermediary and ofers the promise of bigger margins.

However, it also requires a significant commitment from and increased risks to apparel businesses, who may feel it is the equivalent of operating without a net. Apparel makers who once received orders and a measurable degree of certainty from retailers now have make their own real-time decisions about demand. Will they make enough product? Will they get stuck with unsold inventory? Both the risks and rewards are higher.

The same holds true on the finance side. Because there are no receivables, lenders like White Oak have had to shift to a model in which they do more asset-based lending against inventory and other forms of collateral. That requires a deep understanding of a client’s business and management team and getting comfortable with the risks that are being shouldered. White Oak is also able to provide advice on the digital transformation based on its know how and hands-on experience in this area.

White Oak has gotten creative about the types of collateral it evaluates in making lending decisions. Successful websites can have value as collateral, as well as brand

names — even the brand names of companies that have gone out of business. You can’t run your hands over these assets the way you could with a sweater — they are in the realm of intellectual property — but in the digital era, intellectual property is a critical piece of the value equation. Lending against so-called intangible assets is a relatively recent phenomenon, but as these assets become a bigger part of a company valuations, this type of financing may become more important. In all cases, and with all types of collateral, White Oak’s goal is the same: to optimize the amount of available working capital that clients can use to run their operations.

Online retailing has had one more important impact: it has made everything go faster. Gone are the days when the fashion world had three predictable seasons. “Today, if a pop star or influencer on Instagram is photographed wearing a distinctive fashion item, it can become an overnight sensation, forcing the apparel maker to crank up production,” said White Oak Executive Vice President Gino Clark.

Similarly, the new work-from-home fashion trends that are made to accommodate the growing remote-yet-professional crowd have required quick pivots — the shorter the fashion cycle, the greater the risk that an apparel maker will get stuck with unsold inventory. The end result: both manufacturers and their lenders need to be very flexible.

It is worth pointing out that even as e-commerce expands, traditional in-store retailing remains an enormous business. In August, apparel sales climbed 43% from a year earlier, driven by big increases in both online and in-store sales, according to Retail Dive. For in-store sales, factoring remains a common form of finance for the same reasons that it has historically benefitted the apparel industry: it provides a quick source of cash, can be easily scaled for businesses of all sizes, helps companies deal with seasonal swings and outsources the jobs of credit checking and debt collection to those with the expertise to handle it.

“Our customers still ship product to stores and we still do a considerable amount of factoring to finance those transactions,” said White Oak Executive Vice President Martin Efron. “Factoring and receivable financing remains a reliable form of working capital that can help businesses across

many distribution models."

COVID-19 and the Supply Chain

The pandemic has infected the global supply chain and the symptoms are easy to see: long delays in shipping products, unpredictable delivery schedules and soaring transportation costs. All have created cash flow problems for apparel makers and new challenges for the lenders they rely on.

The problems are most acute in Asia, where the vast majority of apparel is sourced. In August, China shuttered a key terminal at Ningbo-Zhoushan, the word’s third busiest port, after a single worker tested positive for coronavirus. At the end of August, Vietnam, a huge producer of footwear for U.S. markets, imposed strict lockdowns on factories. Those new bottlenecks came on top of another festering problem: a shortage of shipping containers that has dramatically boosted container prices when those containers are even available. Logistics experts say it may take until the first quarter of 2022 before the situation begins to resolve itself.

The resulting congestion means apparel producers cannot be sure when their goods will arrive or when they will be paid. To cope, many companies have been forced to order supplies much earlier than usual, which has meant they have had to borrow more money or borrow for longer than they normally would.

Once again, lenders have had to be flexible, creative and adaptable. One strategy that has become more popular is lending against goods in-transit. As the name implies, this is a type of loan that is tied to inventory while it is on a ship — say, while traveling from Shanghai, China to Los Angeles, California. This type of financing requires good visibility on the part of a lender who must have the ability to track the movements of products at every stage along the journey.

“Not all lenders are willing to do this,” said White Oak Executive Vice President Charles Sharf, “perhaps because they do not have the ability to monitor it. At White Oak, we are comfortable with the arrangement and have used it where appropriate.”

Advice has also been critical in this period. “We have used our sourcing expertise to make clients aware of suppliers in Mexico and Latin America that aren’t facing

the same degree of disruption as their counterparts in Asia,’’ said Efron. “It is one more way we can help customers navigate the current crisis as smoothly as possible."

Learning from Apparel Clients

If White Oak has learned one thing during this era, it is that its apparel clients are remarkably nimble. They have anticipated problems and reacted quickly. They have ordered goods earlier, found workarounds for bottlenecks and kept products flowing to market. When necessary they have cut costs on entertainment, travel and space — both for ofces and showrooms — and have found ways to stay in business.

White Oak has tried to take its cues from its customers. “We have asked a lot of questions and listened to what our apparel clients are telling us,” said Sharf. “We have come up with solutions and closed a long list of financing deals, sometimes with companies that may not have qualified for bank loans because they did not meet all the required metrics. If we are convinced a company has what it takes to survive and grow, we will find a way to supply the capital they need.”

Part of White Oak’s edge comes from experience. Team leaders on its New York sales team including Sharf and Efron, and its Los Angeles-based executives, Clark and Earnhart, have decades of proven success in both factoring and asset-based lending as well as a long history of working with the apparel industry.

White Oak has also deepened its national coverage with the addition of Bill Kearney and his team located in Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina and Boston, Massachusetts. “These professionals can call on the resources of the rest of our firm which has similar expertise,” said Gino Clark. “All of us have lived and worked through other periods of economic stress and disruption, and that experience has helped guide us this time around.”

The future remains unpredictable — and rarely more so than today. “No one can say how long the pandemic will linger, how long it will take for supply chains to return to normal or what the mix of in-store and online sales will look like,’’ said Efron. “But we are confident that our apparel customers will figure out a way to get from here to there and that we will be there — right alongside them — with the innovative solutions that they need to keep growing.”

ACE AWARDS 2021, 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Honoring our Industry’s Heroes

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

CIPRIANI

110 East 42nd Street, New York City

6:30pm Cocktails, Followed by Dinner and Awards Program Black Tie

HONOREES INCLUDE

CALERES/ ALLEN EDMONDS

CAROLINA HERRERA - WES GORDON, CREATIVE DIRECTOR

CHRISTIAN SIRIANO CROCS

QURATE RETAIL GROUP

LAQUAN SMITH

SHOPBOP - STEPHANIE ROBERSON

THE NPD GROUP - KARYN SCHOENBART

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

OPTICAL INDUSTRY

SPONSORED BY INFORMA, JUDITH LEIBER, MARCHON, SIGNAL BRANDS, VERA BRADLEY

For sponsorship, ticket and table information please contact LEENA GUREVICH-NUNEZ Leena@accessoriescouncil.org

Can You Protect Intellectual Property in Luxury Fashion?

Bernie Hung is the founder and CEO of BlueBox Rocket, an innovative vision-tolaunch service that helps pioneering entrepreneurs and CEOs transform their ideas into reality and scale up their businesses for massive expansion. This bespoke service combines Hung’s certified coaching, interdisciplinary business mentorship and strategic no-fuss legal expertise to help her clients skyrocket to success.

One of Hung’s many specialties is protecting and commercializing intellectual property (IP) within the luxury fashion and lifestyle space. Hung is no stranger to working with fashion’s elite, touting world-renowned luxury brands such as LVMH, Moncler, MCM, Marine Serre and more as clients. Another heavy-hitting client on her already impressive roster is global powerhouse Kering, who manages the development of a series of esteemed fashion houses such as Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Venata, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Brioni and Boucheron, among others. She’s internationally known for battling it out with trademark pirates and copycats in court; after a series of victories in trademark cases for Gucci in the China courts, she helped her team win the prestigious “World Trademark ReviewBest IP Team in Asia” industry award.

Hung, a Hong Kong, China native and

mother of two, read law in King’s College London, the city where she currently resides. When it comes to her luxury fashion clientele, she finds that many seek to tap into the exciting China and Asia Pacific markets, both online and ofine, but often don’t have experience or have heard too many horror stories. She diligently works to help them navigate the maze by putting legal structures in place, protecting intellectual property, establishing a team and operation, dealing with local business partners and more. Hung says that she enjoys working with brands and founders who are visionary, brave, authentic, open-minded and who do not compromise on quality, ethics and integrity in any circumstance. Hung embodies those qualities herself, which is how she earned the nickname, “The Rebel Lawyer.”

“A rebel is someone who pushes through to true innovation and authentic creativity. ‘Rebel lawyers’ are excellent, all-rounded, unconventional, fun-to-work-with lawyers with extreme professionalism, utmost integrity and immense passion in service. I am the Rebel Lawyer,” said Hung.

“I would like to challenge my colleagues in the legal profession to resist and refuse allegiance to the established, perceived stereotypes and contentions that lawyers are old-fashioned, arrogant, aggressive, rigid, boring, slow and charge exorbitant fees; that lawyers are rubber-stampers, deal-blocking cost centers or ‘just’ service providers, replaceable from one minute to the next,” Hung said. “Because the reality is that clients need us to be way more than

just being an excellent lawyer — that’s a given. What they need is for us to be maverick lawyers who speak human language.”

Protecting intellectual property is often viewed as an impossible feat, especially in the fashion industry. When asked if protecting IP in luxury fashion is feasible, Hung said, “Certainly! Depending on the subject matter and the country in question, there are various ways to protect your iconic brands, trademarks, logos, prints, copyrighted works, proprietary and confidential information, technologies, product designs, features, functionalities and technological inventions and many more. The key is to know the importance of IP protection, and put in place concrete strategies, action plans and budgets to implement it. IP rights are your company’s most important and valuable assets for decades and centuries to come.”

Hung also emphasized that “it is important to protect your IP in every industry. [Doing so] secures your underlying business model to enable you to survive and thrive. In the luxury fashion space, it is vital to protect very early on the brand and all iconic logos or designs in all the major markets that you intend to be present.

“The brand is very often the name of the designer or the founder, so it can get very personal and emotional if your own name is pirated by robbers out there who then hold you to ransom. If you are late in protecting your own IP in some countries, this can mean you are precluded from selling or engaging in other business activities in

Photos courtesy of James Wong

those markets, which translates to a phenomenal loss of potential revenues and business opportunities.

“If you have developed proprietary technologies or knowhow, for example, it is critical to thoroughly investigate on Day 1 whether and how you can protect them as patents or trade secrets, and of course to safeguard your position during business negotiations and in all contracts.”

So what are the first steps brands should take as they embark upon the Chinese market? Hung suggests:

Know your geography and customers. China is a gigantic country. Luxury brands have long gone beyond Tiers 1 and 2 cities, and many have nurtured loyal clientele in Tiers 3 and 4 cities as well. Before bringing your brand to China, research to find out where your target customers are and how they shop.

It’s all about relationships. In many Asian cultures, doing business is all about relationships and “face.” Face can be understood as a person’s or an organization’s social standing in the community. In China, for example, losing face means more than just looking bad — it may mean losing your ability to do business. So I’d suggest establishing some trustworthy and resourceful local relationships early on, and ensure you know and respect their culture.

Be prepared to localize. Anticipate adapting your business strategies, corporate policies, leadership style, branding and positioning, product and packaging, sales and marketing and communication to local needs to some extent.

Understand the risks and challenges of doing business. Again, do thorough research. Risks and challenges of doing business in China — and any new market for

that matter — include the government’s role in business, market entry barriers, intellectual property theft, data protection and cybersecurity issues, talent acquisition, management and upskilling, anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) requirements and due diligence on local business partners.

Realize the legal and compliance complexities. China is unique in many ways. It can be much more time-consuming for young foreign brands to find out about and to actually comply with local legal and compliance requirements. Key areas to pay attention to include corporate governance, company formation, directors’ liability, business and industry standards and regulations, opening bank accounts, laws and regulations in relation to dividends repatriation, employment, forex, tax, transfer pricing and many more areas. Seek professional advice and assistance to understand these areas.

Build a strong IP and legal foundation. It is astonishing how often intellectual property rights and the legal foundation on which a business is built is left out entirely when considering business expansion, or left until the very last minute. When exploring expansion to China, I would suggest performing a comprehensive audit on your worldwide registered and unregistered IP rights, all corporate structures and records, regulatory compliance, as well as employment contracts, other material agreements and disputes relevant or potentially relevant to China. Often it takes time to identify gaps in IP ownership and to close them, exit or renegotiate contracts, and resolve bad business relationships and disputes, so start early.

When asked how she helps clients navigate the ever-changing regulations when entering the Chinese market, Hung said: “Newsletters from your own government,

Chamber of Commerce, industry and trade associations, law firms and so on definitely can help you keep appraised on trade and legal developments.

"When I work with my clients, I help them understand how the laws and regulations are interpreted and applied in reality, how they may impact my clients’ businesses in the short to long terms, how to pivot and budget accordingly in order to be legally compliant and mitigate risks and whether they may be able to create or take advantage of new opportunities enabled by a change of regulations.”

How about brands that are already in the Chinese market, but are bound by their third-party entities? “This depends on how they are ‘bound’. Hopefully there are ways to exit the loveless ‘marriage’ contractually, legally or via negotiation,” said Hung. “But I can't stress enough the importance of getting all the facts right, securing all relevant evidence, researching, strategizing and tactically working on a couple of viable alternatives in parallel before you strike.”

Through BlueBox Rocket, Hung helps her clients from vision to launch through her formula: Belief + Action + Honesty + Fun = Success.

“First and foremost is belief,” said Hung. “Related to that is to help clients get their 'why' glaringly clear. Then I help clients have clarity on their 'what.' Next, I get clients thinking who should be in their team. Last but not the least, I highly encourage founders to be honest. And we do all of this while having fun in the journey, that’s the whole point of being your own boss!”

To learn more about Bernie Hung and BlueBox Rocket, including how to start your own vision-to-launch journey, visit blueboxrocket.co.uk/home.

THE TOP FIVE ESSENTIALS FOR SUCCESS IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY — WITH TAMARA ZAIKINA

The newly-launched fashion brand Tamaré Collection debuted its first collection, featuring luxurious options for chic women who dare to feel the freedom to go with the flow. The brand and its sophisticated styles are the designs of owner and founder, Tamara Zaikina, who describes her pieces as perfect for “the woman who wants to feel relaxed yet confident at the same time.” Zaikina utilizes lush, natural tones to craft designs that are easy to style and invite the wearer to enjoy the act of dressing and feel the freedom of going with the flow, the brand said.

“My luxe fabrics are so deliciously smooth that I want my customers to look and feel great — no matter her plans,” said Zaikina.

Tamaré’s inaugural collection is relaxed and comfortable, yet easy to dress up for a night on the town. The collection includes blouses, shirts, pants, dresses and track sets. Fabricated in French terry cotton knits and washable stretch silks, the airy, neutral color palette of blacks, whites and pinks allows the pieces to be seamlessly incorporated into the wearer’s wardrobe both as staple and statement pieces. Standouts from the collection include an amaranth pink silk blend shirt dress (also available in black, white and cream) and a super soft nude cotton terry tracksuit with a cropped zip front hoodie and matching joggers (also available in white).

In honor of the launch of Tamaré, Zaikina shared with us the top five tips that she has learned are essentials for success in the fashion industry:

Have patience from the beginning

Nothing happens overnight! When I first had the idea for my brand and was ready to get to work, I had all these unspoken expectations in my head that everything would fall into place and the brand would instantly succeed because I was so passionate. Starting a new brand takes more than hard work, though; it takes commitment and consistency as well! Be patient and keep going.

Take your time

There’s so much excitement in starting a fashion brand, but what you don’t realize until you’re in the trenches of a startup is just how much time it takes to get a new company of the ground. Every step of the process (developing your first collection, launching your brand, getting press, building your customer base) takes more time than you think it will. Nothing happens overnight, no matter how much you want it to!

Great product is key!

I’m so proud of the Tamaré Collection. The pieces are relaxed and sophisticated, but the fabrications are luxurious with a great hand. A lot of development went into perfecting the fits and fabrications of each piece we create. Always make a product that you will be proud to produce.

Keep costs front of mind

From developing patterns and samples, to production and sales to public relations and marketing, every step of the process costs money. Make sure that if you’re starting your own brand, you have budgeted for your first several collections and are ready to make the financial commitment it takes to support your brand. If you’re investing in a new fashion

brand, make sure the brand you’re working with has a clear, realistic understanding of the capital necessary to operate a business, because it takes time for any new business to turn a profit.

Always continue learning

Starting the Tamaré Collection was a baptism by fire for me. When you hear “fashion” you think designing, but there’s actually so much more to owning a fashion brand than just the creative side. In order to own a fashion brand, you must understand all the parts of the business you’re managing in addition to the actual designing: manufacturing, sales, e-commerce, accounting, public relations, marketing and distribution and more. Read and learn as much as you can — and know that you’re never done learning because the fashion industry is always changing.

Prices for pieces in the collection range from $195 to $360 and are available for purchase at tamare.us.

Photos courtesy of Lori Silverman

If there’s one fashion point that the pandemic has taught us, it’s that comfort is key. While slippers still haven’t made it as a stylish staple outside the house, sneakers definitely have — and the fashion industry has taken note. Designers from Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton and Jimmy Choo have been adding to their sneaker lines, while lines that were previously luxury-only, like Lori Silverman shoes, have been adding sneakers to their upcoming product line-ups. The result is a glorious new range of style additions to this wardrobe must-have.

The humble sneaker first took shape thanks to Charles Goodyear, the American scientist who in 1839 invented vulcanized rubber, which was waterproof and supple. Little did he know that his invention would soon inspire a shoe worn more than any other in every part of the globe. The precursor to the sneaker, known as “plimsolls,” appeared soon after Goodyear’s invention, destined solely for athletic use.

Plimsolls’ comfort and flexibility for sports quickly proved invaluable across the athletic industry. Spalding was widely selling athletic sneakers for tennis and croquet by 1907, and those sneakers were adopted by the British in the 1924 Summer Olympics, and were worn by the American basketball team and track gold medalists at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. The shoe eventually garnered the name “sneakers,” thanks to the fact that, compared to leather soles, they were so quiet that you could literally “sneak” up on anyone while wearing them. Converse, Puma and Adidas were among the first well-known sneaker brands for athletic use, and around the world the shoes were called everything from runners, sandshoes, trainers, joggers and gym shoes to tennies and even daps.

In the 1950s, sneakers became the coolest go-to shoe for hipsters in America. They appeared on the feet of movie stars like Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando, and by the 1960s, no teenager’s wardrobe was complete without them. Nike was founded in the 1970s to cash in on the new footwear craze, introducing creative new stylings that had pop culture icons like Farrah Fawcett rocketing them to new status.

But it was the combination of endorsements by sports superstars — think Michael Jordan’s Air Jordans — and hip hop and rap stars like Grandmaster Flash and LL Cool J that elevated sneakers to the level of art collectibles. Following collaborations with stars like Kanye West for Adidas and Jay Z for Reebok, the collectible sneaker has reached dizzying multi-million-dollar prices. The most expensive sneakers ever made are solid gold

OVO x Air Jordans that sell for $2 million.

And our fascination with the sneaker isn’t slowing. The athletic footwear market is projected to reach $95 billion within the next five years, according to a report by Grand View Research Inc.

So, what’s currently hot in the sneaker market? Everyone needs one of the vintage-inspired, classic sneaker silhouettes for their wardrobe. Think Nike’s Air Max, Converse’s Chuck Taylor All Star or Reebok Club C. Adidas recently reissued a limited edition of the My Adidas Superstar sneaker, which first became popular in the 1980s. In addition to low-tops, you’ll also want a classic high-top and a platform sole version for the days when you need your sneakers to amplify your style and tie together your look. Note that cream has replaced white as the current go-to for the classic models to update their look.

Once you have your basics, you need to add the wow. Prada, Gucci and Chanel all currently show sneakers with their logos and creative new styling, and color-blocked styles are an exciting newcomer to the market. Check out Puma’s Hedra Chaos sneaker as an example of a retro style that can be the perfect statement piece to compliment any look.

A star player in the wow category is the Lori Silverman newly launched sneaker collection that has recently been recognized by the Fashion Accessories Council. In the collection, classic sneaker silhouettes come in patterns ranging from stripes to argyle on the trim and soles, with some even encrusted with crystals for an additional pop of glamour and elegance. Check out the brand’s Chase high-top and Blake low-top sneakers, two show-stopping styles that are comfortable enough to be worn every day and stylish enough to be paired with any look. The sneakers also make a perfect gift for brides-to-be who want to wear them to walk down the aisle under their formal gowns or to dance the night away at their receptions. These new takes on old classics ensure that you can be as stylish as ever — whether it’s the most important or the most casual day of your life.

No matter how the styles may change, the bottom line is that sneakers have a long and illustrious history and are here to stay. Their usage has expanded from scoring on the sports field to the ofce to adding a cool edge to a tailored pantsuit, a rock ’n’ roll sensibility to weekend denim, a chic finish to a pretty sundress and playful comfort to a bride’s big day. Be sure to add one of this year’s newest additions to your sneaker wardrobe and step out in style and comfort no matter what the occasion.

Bringing you the latest breakthroughs in software, I.T. & fashion technology. From creative solutions to insights from experts, we are the source for all things fashion tech.

THE FASHION MANNUSCRIPT PRESENTS:

TECHWEAR

COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR UNVEILS GOLD

Columbia, the flagship brand of the Portland, Oregon-based Columbia Sportswear Company, unveiled Omni-Heat Infinity, the brand’s next evolution in its thermal-reflective warmth technology.

Since 1938, Columbia has created innovative apparel, footwear, accessories and outdoor equipment by channeling the company’s passion for the outdoors and innovative spirit into technologies and performance products that keep people warm, dry, cool and protected year-round, the brand said.

Building on Columbia’s award-winning Omni-Heat insulation platform, Omni-Heat Infinity debuts a gold metallic lining material in a pattern engineered to optimize warmth and breathability. Inspired by the reflective technology used by NASA, the enhanced pattern of gold metallic dots reflect and retain natural body heat, delivering instant and lightweight warmth without compromising breathability or adding bulk, the brand said. The new patented technology is available in more than 80 styles of jackets, boots and accessories.

“Omni-Heat Infinity expands upon our best-selling platform of patented technologies and we’re looking forward to showcasing this revolutionary innovation in what will be Columbia’s largest campaign in our 83-year history,” said Joe Boyle, president of the Columbia Brand. “The campaign injects Columbia’s signature light-hearted style but makes it clear that there is a new gold standard in warmth.”

The inaugural season of Omni-Heat Infinity features an array of technical jackets, winter footwear, hats and gloves for men and women. Key Omni-Heat Infinity pieces include the Titan Pass Double Wall Hybrid jacket, which features a multilayered construction that blocks wind and rain while trapping heat, and the Aerial Ascender jacket with features that include dynamic stretch for increased mobility. The Labyrinth Loop Hooded jacket is a packable piece that features recycled synthetic insulation and a drawcord adjustable hem to seal in heat. The women’s Kettles Shorty Omni-Heat boots ofer lightweight comfort and versatility for a variety of cold-weather conditions.

The new Omni-Heat Infinity collection is available at select retail locations and online at columbia.com/gold.

STANDARD IN WARMTH WITH OMNI-HEAT INFINITY TECHNOLOGY

AUSTRIA-BASED BRAND SUNIES CREATES ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE FOOTWEAR

Based in Vienna, Austria, Sunies is a fashion footwear brand that specializes in handmade and hand-designed sandals, slides, sneakers and bags for women and children. The brand’s designs, which are finalized digitally in a 3D program, are carefully developed with a special emphasis on water resistance, comfort and elegance, Sunies said, and are designed in alignment with the brand’s core focus on creativity, design and sustainability.

The Sunies Sandals are available in three styles: “Hawaii,” featuring hibiscuses and other flowers, “Sea and Ocean,” which includes shells and starfish and “Butterflies,” which features a group of butterflies. The Sunies Slides are currently available in the “Hawaii” and “Butterflies” silhouettes, and feature the design on both the sole and the strap. Both shoes come in over 16 colors. The sandals and slides are comfortable, lightweight and stylish enough to be worn for a number of activities, including relaxing on the beach, elegant nights out and in the ofce, the brand said.

The Sunies Kids slip on sneakers are breathable, ergonomic and slip-free, and are available in five colors. The Sunies Bag, which also features the “Butterflies” print, is waterproof and features a flat fold-over top and adjustable top, and is available in six colors.

Sunies has dedicated more than two years to create the perfect eco-friendly material, the brand said, and only works with 100% recyclable, waterproof and vegan materials. Seventy-seven percent of Sunies’ sandals are made from natural resources that are produced and cultivated in several regions of Brazil, such as bamboo, sugar cane and coconut fibers, coconut oil, salt, recycled PVC granules and Vinyl-flex, a flexible and recyclable material. Additionally, Sunies sandals are PETA-approved to be 100% vegan. The shoes’ insoles are made from EVA-Foam to increase comfort, the brand said, and each of the brand’s sandals are hand-assembled with close attention to detail to reach the high value that Sunies strives for in a conscious way.

Driven by the idea of loving the planet and animals, the brand said, Sunies takes the responsibility of promoting sustainability from development, to production and to disposal. Sunies ofers a return program for customers whose shoes are at the end of their lifespan and a discount on future orders from the brand. Once a used pair of Sunies returns to the brand’s headquarters, the recycling process begins to create a new pair of sandals.

Sunnies’ sandals, slides, bags and children’s footwear are available for purchase at shopsunies.com.

Photos courtesy of Business Wire

THE LYCRA COMPANY INTRODUCES LYCRA ADAPTIV

FIBER FOR A BETTER WEARING EXPERIENCE

The Lycra Company, a company providing solutions for stretch and performance technologies for the apparel industry, introduced Lycra Adaptiv fiber, which allows garments to have a better fit for various lifestyles, movements and body types. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, The Lycra Company owns consumer and trade brands Lycra, Lycra HyFit, Lycra T400, Coolmax, Thermolite, Elaspan, Supplex and Tactel. Founded in 1958 with the invention of the original spandex yarn, Lycra fiber, The Lycra Company focuses on adding value to its customers’ products by developing unique innovations designed to meet the consumer’s need for comfort and lasting performance, the company said.

Made from polymer, the patent-pending, adaptive fiber has a unique chemistry that allows it to adjust to a wearer’s functional needs in a hybrid manner. This means that when the wearer is at rest, the polymer adapts its compressive holding force to deliver the right fit, shape and control, the company said, and when the wearer is in motion, the polymer adapts its elasticity to deliver improved comfort in motion and a second-skin efect that allows the garment to stay in place better. Garments made with fabrics containing Lycra Adaptiv fiber are durable and easy to both put on and take of

“Consumers are seeking garments that ofer greater versatility — from work to leisure to social, and also from season to season and year to year,” said Steve Stewart, chief brand and innovation ofcer at The Lycra Company. “They want garments that can adapt to their individual needs and lifestyle as well as ones that can adapt to their unique body type, even when their body size or shape may change or fluctuate. Lycra Adaptiv fiber is the answer to satisfy all of these consumer needs.”

The Lycra Company has conducted internal studies to assess wear performance by comparing fabrics and garments containing Lycra Adaptiv fiber versus the same fabrics and garments containing only generic spandex. Results show several advantages in using Lycra Adaptiv fiber, including comfort-in-motion and second skin performance accompanied by shape retention and greater freedom of movement with a comfortable hold. Size inclusivity is also a key benefit in that Lycra Adaptiv fiber promotes one-size-fits-more. The softer stretch within the wearing zone allows for a widened fit window that covers a broader range of body shapes within a given size. This makes the one-size-fits-more approach, and the potential reduction of SKUs, a practical possibility, the company said.

“Size inclusivity is not a buzzword — it is increasingly important to today’s consumers,” said Deana Stankowski, strategic marketing director for active, intimates and swim at The Lycra Company. “Every consumer’s body is unique and they want clothes they feel were designed for them — clothes that increase their personal comfort as well as their confidence level. Size alone is an inadequate indication of body type and body shape. Therefore, traditionally-sized garments may not fit every consumer within that size. That’s what makes Lycra Adaptiv fiber so revolutionary — it allows garments made with this fiber to adapt to many body shapes within a size range.”

Photos courtesy of 4FunkyFlavours

Lycra Adaptiv fiber will launch in the Asia-Pacific region at The Lycra Company’s pavilion at the Intertextile Shanghai trade event that is taking place this month at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China. Lycra Adaptiv fiber also launched in September at a trade event in North America to the denim industry via a number of exclusive, invite-only virtual meetings.

Crocs, Inc., a global casual footwear company for women, men and children, announced that as a part of the company’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, it has introduced a new biobased Croslite material into its product lines. The vast majority of shoes within Crocs' collection contain Croslite, a proprietary, molded footwear technology, delivering extraordinary comfort with each step, the brand said.

At 3.94 kg CO2 eq. per pair of Classic Clogs, Crocs shoes already have a low carbon footprint. In its broader sustainability eforts, the company is targeting a 50% reduction in its carbon footprint per pair of Crocs shoes by 2030 as part of its overall commitment to becoming a net-zero brand. The carbon footprint reduction is based on the Classic Clog’s footprint, utilizing the July 2021 footprint of 3.94 kg CO2 eq. as a baseline, which was calculated using the Higg Product Module.

With the introduction of the new bio-based Croslite, Crocs is uniquely positioned to create lower carbon footprint footwear by modifying its existing iconic product as opposed to creating a new and separate sustainable line, the brand said, resulting in a shoe that looks, feels and functions exactly like the Crocs that consumers know and love, but with fewer emissions.

In partnership with Dow, a global materials science company, the Classic Clogs incorporate new Ecolibrium Technology that transforms sustainably-sourced waste and byproducts into a shoe that retains the same level of comfort with less carbon. Dow’s portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of diferentiated science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer care, said the company. Dow currently operates 106 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 35,700 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $39 billion in 2020. Crocs is the first footwear brand to go to market with this new technology.

“At Crocs, we recognize the important role companies play in creating a world where everyone is comfortable in their own shoes,” said Crocs CEO Andrew Rees. “By starting with our iconic product, backed by a first-to-market solution, we're taking a bold step forward to create lower carbon footprint footwear while making it inherently simple for our partners and consumers to join us on our journey to net zero.”

The new Croslite material will be used in shoes that currently incorporate Crocs’ proprietary Croslite material, including the brand’s line of classic silhouettes, and is set to hit shelves around the world beginning in early 2022.

In July 2021, Crocs announced its commitment to become a net-zero company by 2030, noting that the commitment will address the entire value chain. In addition to introducing bio-based Croslite and becoming a 100% vegan brand by the end of 2021, Crocs is exploring sustainable alternatives for its packaging and working on ways to give Crocs shoes a second life through consumer-led donations, recycling and re-commerce programs, the brand said. Crocs will also invest in resource use, including transitioning to renewably sourced energy in its ofces and distribution centers. In addition to reduction eforts across the entire value chain, Crocs will purchase carbon credits to ofset any remaining emissions.

Photo courtesy of Crocs

RALPH LAUREN ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH ZEPETO

Ralph Lauren, apparel and lifestyle brand, announced the launch of Ralph Lauren x Zepeto, a new collaboration for the global social networking and simulation app, where users can immerse themselves in a fully-articulated virtual world with a personalized 3D avatar and socialize with other users. The Ralph Lauren x Zepeto partnership consists of a digital Ralph Lauren apparel collection and a thematic vir-

Vtual world, allowing users to wardrobe their avatars with exclusive products. The digital apparel is available for purchase, which is the brand’s first entrance into virtual economics.

“Ralph Lauren’s new partnership with Zepeto further demonstrates our belief that innovating in virtual worlds is essential to engaging the next generation of consumers. Ralph Lauren has always embraced new environments, and we’re excited to push the boundaries in this emerging arena. Making our product available to purchase and wear digitally and allowing consumers to experience the brand in immersive new ways is the next frontier,” said Alice Delahunt, chief digital officer, Ralph Lauren.

The Ralph Lauren x Zepeto collection features 12 looks, including 50 unique items that represent a mix of vintage Polo Ralph Lauren styles and pieces from Polo Ralph Lauren’s current summer collection. The collection also includes special items such as two limited-edition skateboards, designed exclusively for the virtual collaborations.

VANS LAUNCHES VANS WORLD SKATEPARK EXPERIENCE IN ROBLOX METAVERSE

ans, an action sports, footwear and apparel brand, and Roblox, a global human co-experience platform, announced the launch of Vans World, an interactive experience created by Vans on Roblox, a persistent 3D space where fans of the brand can skateboard, try on and purchase exclusive Vans gear and designs directly in the experience. The brand said that the digital experience was inspired by signature Vans locations such as House of Vans and the Vans Off the Wall Skatepark in Huntington Beach, California.

“Individual expression is deeply embedded in skate culture, and Vans has been supporting and enabling this exact type of creativity for more than 50 years,” said Nick Street, vice president of global integrated marketing at Vans. “With the Vans World experience on Roblox, we are empowering creative expression in the digital world, bridging the gap between virtual and real-world fashion and sports in an accessible, inclusive way. Vans is a global icon and advocate for youth culture, and we’re thrilled to bring this authentic brand experience to the millions of Vans enthusiasts where they are — on Roblox.”

The Vans World experience was created by Vans in partnership with Roblox community developers The Gang Stockholm. Roblox’s recently augmented physics layer helped to achieve the authentic sensation of

skating, the platform said.

“Vans is showcasing its commitment to empowering self-expression with Vans World,” said Christina Wootton, vice president of brand partnerships at Roblox. “By leveraging cutting-edge technology and partnering with the Roblox developer community to build this 3D experience, Vans is bringing brand enthusiasts together in an authentic and interactive way.”

VOGUE SCANDINAVIA PARTNERS WITH BAMBUSER FOR LIVESTREAM SHOPPING EVENTS

Vogue Scandinavia, the newest localized addition to the Vogue family of magazines, announced the launch of its live video shopping initiative. Powered by Bambuser, a livestream shopping technology company, the events will enable the magazine to better connect with audiences, offering insight into the publication’s editorial and the inspiration behind it, as well as opening new opportunities to drive revenue through merchandise sales and collaborations, Vogue Scandinavia said.

During the first live video shopping event, Vogue Scandinavia showcased the latest issues of the magazine while offering audiences the opportunity to purchase a limited-edition collection box. In future livestreams, Vogue Scandinavia will feature brand collaborations and topics reflective of

Belcorp, a beauty company and home to the Ésika, L’Bel and Cyzone brands, has integrated Perfect Corp.’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR)-powered virtual try-on technology to provide a personalized online shopping experience to their customers. The technology allows customers to select from the products that are available from the Ésika, L’Bel and Cyzone brands and virtually try on these products

each magazine issue.

For Bambuser, the partnership is an opportunity to demonstrate the potential impact of livestreaming for businesses beyond retail, the company said, positioning the format to be a powerful tool to engage with audiences in an interactive way.

“We are honored to work closely with this trailblazing new member of the storied Vogue magazine family as they leverage Live Video Shopping to bring the publication to life in a unique way,” said Maryam Ghahremani, CEO of Bambuser. “This implementation also demonstrates how interactive livestream commerce brings value to a host of different business types, and we’re confident that Vogue Scandinavia’s implementation will serve as an important benchmark moving forward.”

to find their preferred shade.

“Beauty and technology are like a marriage made in heaven. Beauty consumers have adopted new technologies such as AI and AR beauty tech much faster than other verticals,” said Venkat Gopalan, chief technology, data and digital officer, Belcorp. “The needs of our consumers change constantly and it’s more important than ever to provide them with personalized experiences across all touch points. Technology plays a very important role by providing the best experience to tomorrow’s beauty consumers.”

To continue the brand’s expansion into the Latin American market, Belcorp plans to integrate this technology across the market. With the adoption of Perfect Corp.’s virtual try-on technology, Belcorp is reinforcing its brand vision to bring its consumers personal fulfillment through beauty in a highly digitized world, said the brand.

“We are thrilled to partner with Belcorp to integrate Perfect Corp.’s AI & AR-Powered virtual try-on technology,” said Perfect Corp. Founder and CEO Alice Chang. “It’s a pleasure to partner with such a forward-thinking and innovative company like Belcorp and help guide beauty consumers on their shopping journey with beauty tech.”

The Chinese Communist Party recently unleashed an unprecedented regulatory crackdown on some of its most profitable companies. Understandably, many U.S. businesses are wondering if they may be affected. The good news for the fashion industry is that the impact appears to be minimal, at least at this time. While the Chinese government is cracking down on Internet and other technology businesses, it is seeking to strengthen its manufacturing industries.

Chinese Regulatory Action Targeting Internet Companies

In recent weeks, several of China’s most successful technology companies have come under intense scrutiny by the country’s communist government. The crackdown is part of a broader plan to overhaul how the country regulates key industries. Under the Chinese government’s 10-point plan, private enterprise will become increasingly controlled by the Communist Party in the name of “public good.” The government plans to address monopolies, having already fined several of the countries’ largest companies for engaging in anticompetitive behavior. Alibaba is facing a record $2.8 billion fine, while social media and gaming company Tencent must terminate its exclusive music licensing deals with global record labels.

China has also already targeted after-school education and private tutoring companies, as well as online food delivery platforms. Moving forward, other areas of concern identified in the Chinese government’s regulatory reform plan include internet finance, artificial intelligence, big data and cloud computing.

Not surprisingly, shares in many Chinese

WILL THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT’S REGULATORY CRACKDOWN IMPACT THE FASHION INDUSTRY?

By Howard D. Bader

tech companies have fallen in response to the crackdown, sparking unease in investors around the world. Businesses with extensive dealings in China are also following the situation closely. For U.S. fashion companies that rely on China for production, the good news is that its government has stated that it wants to prioritize the manufacturing segment of its economy. China’s textile and apparel industry has grown to become one of the largest suppliers of global fashion brands. The country plays a key role in several parts of the supply chain, including the furnishing of raw materials, designing and development, weaving, dyeing and processing and garment making.

While many other industries are coming under fire, China is expected to dedicate more resources to its manufacturing sectors and has identified solidifying its supply chains, improving resiliency and becoming more self-sufficient as key priorities. In a 2020 speech, President Xi Jinping stated that China “must accelerate construction of the digital economy, digital society and digital government,” according to a translation by Georgetown Universityaffiliated researchers. “At the same time, it must be recognized that the real economy is the foundation, and the various manufacturing industries cannot be abandoned.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has likely solidified the government’s commitment to strengthening its manufacturing industries. Like other countries, China is motivated to not only ensure that it can continue to produce and distribute goods during times of global strife, but also decrease its reliance on the outside world.

Wealth Redistribution’s Impact on Luxury Brands

The Chinese government is also targeting wealth inequality. According to President Xi, the Communist Party will pursue “common prosperity” by putting pressure on businesses and entrepreneurs to help narrow the country’s growing wealth gap.

China’s wealth redistribution initiative may impact luxury brands. China is one of the largest markets for luxury goods, and was

projected to expand even further in the coming years. According to a 2020 report by Bain & Company, consumers in Mainland China will account for the largest share of luxury spending globally by 2025.

On August 17, 2021, President Xi Jinping’s specifically called for regulation of “excessively high incomes” with the goal of prioritizing “common prosperity.” While the government has not taken any specific actions, potential measures include higher taxes on luxury goods, restrictions on influencers and daigou (personal shoppers) and tighter control over online sellers like Alibaba.

Even without measures in place to address what China perceives to be “excess wealth,” some analysts predict limitation of luxury purchases to avoid scrutiny. Yet other analysts have suggested that a larger and more affluent middle class may benefit the luxury goods sector in the long run. Businesses may want to reconsider how heavily they plan to rely on China to fuel the growth of their luxury brands.

Outlook for Chinese Manufacturers

As of now, China’s crackdown does not appear to be impacting the manufacturing sector, including garment factories and other key components of the fashion industry supply chain. Accordingly, there should be no delays and increased costs as a result of the current regulatory reforms. Of course, Chinese garment companies are not untouchable, and it remains to be seen exactly how far the Chinese government plans to expand its reforms.

Howard D. Bader serves as general counsel for clients in a wide range of industries on an international scale. With over three decades of legal experience, he has represented clients in numerous legal matters, including commercial litigation, intellectual property, bankruptcy and creditor’s rights and mergers and acquisitions, as well as numerous corporate transactions and business law matters.

hbader@sh-law.com (212) 784-6926 www.sh-law.com

As companies around the world begin to create structures for post-pandemic work — whether it’s remote, physical or a hybrid of both — it is important to examine certain patterns that have emerged over the last year. These patterns, which predominantly involve how employees are making use of their workspaces, help landlords develop a clear understanding of how occupants interact with their buildings on a daily basis.

Pre-pandemic, most real estate owners and asset managers could bank on at least 70% of their user base being in the office at any one time. Occupancy was largely predictable and reliable, meaning that putting on a community event was straightforward; planning improvement works was straightforward; managing car park usage was straightforward. But whereas pre-pandemic certainty came from the stability of the old 9-to-5 working week, now certainty comes from having the tools in place to both manage and measure the fluidity of the post-pandemic week.

Across our own global workspace operating platform, it’s been fascinating to see a number of patterns emerge when it comes to postpandemic workspace usage. Over the summer, our team analyzed usage of the platform by

PATTERNS IN THE POST-PANDEMIC WORKPLACE

By Thijs Van der Burgt, CEO of Office App

over 1,700 people, from Q1 2020 to Q2 2021, revealing fundamental changes in the way that people are now interacting with workspace, compared with pre-pandemic usage.

One key finding was how the purpose for workspace usage appears to have changed. With many companies implementing hybrid working and people spending less time in the office, the overall number of users booking meeting spaces through our platform decreased by 30% from Q1 2020 to Q2 2021. However, whilst people may be coming into the office less, they appear to be much more focused on collaboration and co-creation when they do. Meeting space bookings for each person coming into the office over that same period rose by 75%. What we’re seeing is that there are some things that home working cannot replace. People put huge value on the office as a place for collaborative group work and are booking both the time and the facilities to help them accomplish that whenever they come in.

What we’ve also seen is that the shape of the week appears to be changing. For those who implemented hybrid work models over the summer, the patterns in terms of when workers come into the office give an indication as to what the new working week could look like going forward.

Pre-pandemic, Mondays were typically a day for in-person team meetings and team planning. However, what we’ve seen is that in-person team meetings on Mondays have now dropped by almost 15% from Q1 2020 to Q2 2021. Postpandemic, there seems to be an ever-increasing

lean towards Mondays as a day for remote work, perhaps allowing workers the time to clear their in-trays and prepare for the week ahead.

Conversely, mid-week group meetings appear to be on the rise. Space bookings on Tuesdays and Thursdays have both increased substantially, with in-person, collaborative group work now seen as the centerpiece of the working week. Generally speaking, people seem to want that physical, human-based interaction as their focal point, with only the office able to facilitate that.

These are broad trends, and clearly every company and every office operates differently, but the message is clear: landlords must analyze changing workspace usage across the working week in order to suitably cater to demand for facilities like meeting spaces and break-out zones. With people now coming into the office for more focused, group work, operators must ensure that they facilitate that goal in the most seamless and efficient way possible, if they are going to keep their occupiers happy.

Predictability of workspace usage is still possible, but only with the tools in place to record changing occupier behaviors. Real certainty, however, comes from technology and systems that make sense of the evolving workplace. Those who hope things simply return to pre-pandemic days will struggle; those who are willing to monitor, analyze and adapt will provide the post-pandemic workspaces today’s occupiers need.

Thijs Van der Burgt Office App thijs@getofficeapp.com

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There seems to be an 800-pound gorilla in the room! Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we all created our three- to five-year strategic plans — and now, it seems that we must look back as we look forward as our industry continues to grow and change amidst continued uncertain times.

As I look toward the future, the following observations have jumped out in real time:

Future Office Culture

As we revamp business plans, refocus our goals and assess head counts, there seems to be a glaring question looming: how do we hire and ensure success for new sales managers, directors and similar titles as we hire from outside our current firms? With most businesses still working remotely, building a “new” culture for our businesses will be a real challenge. Respecting historical knowledge and marrying these well-trodden concepts with new technology and futuristic mindsets will become our new juggling act as we move forward. Will it all drill down to our customer relationship management (CRM) data as we slowly remove all personal interactions of being together in an office environment? (Successfully navigating leadership through Zoom should probably be the next Ted Talk).

Circularity & Changing Consumer Habits

Consumer demand for product is ravenous. We all need to ensure that we are working the “circular” channels effectively in order to stay relevant as we promote new products

LOOKING FORWARD

By Leslie Gallin, former president of footwear, Informa Markets - Magic & Coterie

and ideas to younger audiences. Experts are needed now more than ever in understanding Gen-Z and Gen-X customers — while keeping in mind that this next generation is debtadverse. Determining trends in fashion specifically for the coming year will need to rely on clever design, functionality, ecoconsciousness, quality and, let’s not forget, the “celebrity” factor.

We are seeing Mother Nature wreaking havoc and as a direct result, consumers will be out seeking replacements for and remodeling that which has been destroyed. Now, winning will ultimately be judged on speed to market and getting product into the hands of consumers — quickly and with a smile. Logistics and consumer loyalty should be top of mind. Rewarding your customers and cultivating them to be your nano-influencers through sharing products online and on social media platforms have now become part of the circular equation.

Looking forward, I believe the casual trend of athleisure will be a consistent growth category as we continue to live with COVID-19. The descriptors which represent style and fashion are being redefined, and it is a fascinating and exciting time which will offer great opportunity; change came to this industry and our world seemingly overnight and at lightspeed. Shopping local will be the new buzz. Driving through Beverly Hills and the San Fernando Valley in California six months ago, one would have seen store after store closed and boarded up. Today, I drive the same streets and the glimmer of new life is emerging as new retailers are beginning to open. Each new door represents new assortments of products and commitments to community.

Cause-Driven Reinventions

Hailing back to the days of “Gordon Gecko” with a new twist, we are now seeing a

“mission-driven” approach to organizing an IPO. Today’s new standards focus on environmental issues, social governance and worker satisfaction, creating public benefit corporations’ adoption or maybe spurring a debate on tensions surrounding profit versus purpose. For companies that are not nimble enough to quickly reinvent themselves and/ or embrace their eco and social identity, perhaps the positive upshot of this movement will be to shine a light on creating a cleaner world; I have seen many companies putting thought and research into neutralizing their manufacturing carbon footprints. Given the lightning speed of change in our world today, perhaps together we can make change for a less polluted world.

I also should address that 800-pound gorilla as it relates to bringing back manufacturing in the United States. Automation has streamlined operating and manufacturing, interest rates are at their lowest and with all of the tax incentives available nationwide for companies to headquarter in one of the 50 states, the U.S. has never been more attractive. Why not invest in our youth with apprenticeship opportunities? Craftsmanship is important to spur entrepreneurial thinking and the development of new ideas — it is “The New Industrial Age,” as I like to say.

As we all scramble to navigate supply chain issues and increased costs in today’s landscape, what seems to shine through and support the hope for a silver lining will be whether one has a product or concept with a purpose and value that can be explained clearly, along with an actionable strategy addressing the new circular format and a love for their industry. This, along with determination and thoughtfulness, will hopefully be what wins as we continue to move forward.

Broadway is back, the holidays are approaching and retailers and restaurants are coming back. Take a look at what’s new and upcoming in this final quarter of 2021. (When did that happen?)

All About Apparel

T-shirt and casual clothing brand Goodlife has relocated and opened its first flagship store at 375 Bleecker St., a space more than twice the size of its boutique at 400 Bleecker. It joins units in Arizona and Texas. Independent apparel and accessories boutique (with some other home goods as well) Tangerine has come to 616 Lorimer St. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. John Elliott debuted its third store, at 270 Lafayette St.

On the accessories front, Moscot is under construction on a new home at 94 Orchard St., which its CEO purchased in May, according to published reports. Italian sneaker store P448 has come to the U.S. with its first store, at 587 Fifth Ave. The pop-up allows visitors literally to make their mark on the space, offering paint to shoppers for them to draw on dedicated fixtures within.

Food, Glorious Food

Food Garden Market will take the entire retail component (8,000 square feet on the ground level and 3,000 square feet in the basement) of the St. Marks Place condo development in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. The unit will be its

DEB’S RETAIL DISH AND DEALS: HEADING INTO THE HOMESTRETCH

By Debra Hazel, president of Debra Hazel Communications

second, joining a store in Crown Heights.

Wining & Dining

La Casa del Mofongo, an authentic Latin cuisine eatery from restaurant/nightclub operator Felix Cabrera, has signed for 7,500 square feet at Gun Hill Commons at 1780 Gunhill Rd. in the Bronx, New York. The location, its fifth but first in the borough, will open in the spring. The Ten Bells wine bar is coming to 65 Irving Ave. in Bushwick, Brooklyn; its original location at 247 Broome St. remains.

Hand Hospitality will open a two-level restaurant (name TBA) at 44 East 21st St., joining the lively restaurant scene near Gramercy Park by next spring. PF Chang’s To Go will come to 885 Eighth Ave., its fifth New York City location for the take-away concept. Overstory, a cocktail bar, rises high above the Financial District on the 64th floor of 70 Pine St. Albert’s, a gastropub from the owners of The Penrose and the Spaniard, will open at 140 East 41st St., reports Commercial Observer.

Where was this when I had an office at 14 Wall St.? Australia’s Ten Thousand Coffee will open its first location in the United States at the Lower Manhattan building just off Broad Street and across from the New York Stock Exchange. Continuing on the caffeine front, New Jersey’s Afficionado Coffee Roaster will open a café at 750 11th Ave.

To Your Health

Wilson Sport Goods will open a unit at 594 Broadway, its first location in Soho. It also debuted a pop-up in August to coincide with the U.S. Open.

That’s Entertainment

The Macy’s Parade is back, and the Force is with it! After being truncated for television

only last year due to the pandemic, the 95th annual parade will march down the streets of New York on November 25, with a new addition: a Funko Pop!-inspired balloon featuring Grogu (but let’s face it, we call him Baby Yoda), from the Star Wars series The Mandalorian. The balloon will measure 41 feet high, 29 feet long and 37 feet wide joining a line-up filled with Macy’s traditional mix of giant character helium balloons, fantastic floats, marching bands, performance groups, celebrities, clowns and Santa Claus.

With new safety measures in place, Spin, a ping-pong social club, reopened its doors to the public. Ping pong tables, the company noted, are nine feet long, making it the perfect socially distant sport. Each venue features ping-pong courts, a full-service bar, restaurant, private rooms and event spaces that attract guests of all kinds.

Beyond Retail

In a September investor presentation, Urban Edge Properties announced plans to add non-retail uses to area projects. Bergen Town Center in Paramus, New Jersey may see residential, office and other uses; Yonkers (New York) Gateway Center may see residential as well. Hudson Mall in Jersey City, New Jersey will be de-malled, and industrial or self-storage space added.

Happy Halloween, the second biggest shopping holiday after Christmas!

Debra Hazel

Debra Hazel Communications New York, NY (201) 618-5247

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The link between well-being and purpose is strong. People who say that they are ‘living their purpose’ at work report levels of wellbeing that are five times higher than those who say that they are not. Research shows they are also healthier, more productive and more resilient,” according to an article in McKinsey & Company titled “Future Proof: Solving the ‘Adaptability Paradox’ for the Long Term.”

Like how misaligned tires can make a vehicle harder to control, tasks or projects that are not aligned with our higher purpose will impact our effectiveness, resilience and well-being. In the last article, “Leaders — Stand on Truths,” I shared the most significant characteristics of the change proficiency, Stand on Truths. This article will introduce the next change proficiency tool, “Purposeful Intentions,” to help you strengthen the link between your higher purpose and your projects to achieve greater success.

Embrace “Purposeful Intentions”

To embrace “Purposeful Intentions” is to form a continual connection between our higher purpose and the work necessary to achieve our objective. In most careers or businesses, some assignments fall under our responsibility that we may not want to do, even though those tasks may be essential to achieving our dreams. When you embrace the change proficiency tool “Purposeful Intentions,” you create and sustain a bridge between your end goal and the projects that make that vision a reality.

Why You Must Embrace and Nurture

Your “Purposeful Intentions”

I remember how excited I was when I started

LEADERS – EMBRACE “PURPOSEFUL INTENTIONS”

By Donna Johnson-Klonsky, president of DJ Consulting Services Inc.

to write my monthly column on leaders and change. Although thinking about a successful outcome inspired me, I found certain aspects, like editing, boring. On occasion, that led me to focus more on the writing part that I loved and less on the tedious editing. When working on a project, we may be more driven by the end result than specific tasks. Or we may be so absorbed in completing a particular assignment that we lose sight of our higher purpose. Have you ever procrastinated during a project because you felt stuck or unmotivated?

The change proficiency “Purposeful Intentions” can help you to avoid procrastination, even when faced with tasks that you would rather not do. It will help you “see” your work through the lens of your higher purpose. Then, a stronger connection is formed between your dreams and each of the activities. The result? You will experience greater effectiveness and success.

Embracing “Purposeful Intentions”

To embrace “Purposeful Intentions,” you need to connect with your higher purpose, filter activities through your intention and monitor the connection.

Connect with Higher Purpose

What is your higher purpose? What end goal, when you think about it, makes your heart beat faster? Some of us can readily identify our dream, while others can only envision the beginning of the journey. Either way, the first step to embrace “Purposeful Intentions” is to identify and clarify your aspirations to the best of your ability.

Filter Activities Through Intention

When you filter your activities through your higher purpose, it creates a connection between your heart and mind, unleashing powerful motivation and energy. Imagine the fingers on your right hand represents your purpose and your left hand your activities. Now, interlock them. The closer your two hands are linked, the easier it is to form and feel a connection. What

happens if you spread your hands further apart? There is a loss of connectivity and stability.

Your higher purpose must be infused into everything you do. As mentioned earlier, I sometimes find editing my articles to be somewhat bland. So, before I start editing articles, I focus on my higher purpose, which is to help professionals approach, process and successfully master changes that they face in their lives and how my articles support that end goal. Likewise, the closer your projects are connected with your “why,” the easier it will be to channel your passion into more challenging tasks and overcome procrastination. You will be amazed at your results if you focus on how your activities relate to your higher purpose before you begin any task or project.

Monitor Connection

To achieve professional success, you must maintain a delicate balance between your activities and purpose. Too much reliance on your dreams could lead to a greater concentration on “feel good actions” and avoidance of other necessary tasks. On the other hand, being driven primarily by the pressure of endless assignments and deadlines can weaken your mental fortitude and negatively impact performance. Therefore, to embrace “Purposeful Intentions,” you must continually reevaluate the connection between your purpose and the actual work.

When you embrace “Purposeful Intentions,” you empower your higher purpose to support your goal and release energy from within to push past procrastination and gain momentum.

The next article will introduce the Change Proficiency tool, “Give Change A Chance.”

DJ Consulting Services, Inc.

East Fishkill, New York 12533 djohnson@djcsfirm.com 845-447-1037

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The past year has allowed parents and their children to spend more time than ever at home. Evaluating how we use our spaces and being more mindful about our purchases has been transformed into a wellness trend. Today, as consumers, we want to make purchases that are not only fashionable, but also do more. We want added functionality, and when it comes to our children, exceptional safety features as well.

For years, the press and parents were obsessed with the latest styles from Suri Cruise and Blue Ivy. We wanted to see their designer duds and what this mini-fashion set was wearing to school. Heated conversations focused on whether or not heeled shoes were appropriate for little ones, and if so, how high. But today, that’s changed. By spending more time at home, we have a new appreciation for family time and, in turn, different kinds of purchases. Even though it can often feel stressful, we want to hold on to more moments together, not just things. We are putting more thought into what our purchase does and are demanding that it looks great, too.

Looking for BPA-free plastic water bottles and paraben-free bath products has become second nature. We have grown accustomed to looking for organic cotton and fair-trade garments. With the yearly warnings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics about how dangerous traditional puffy coats are in the car, it is now time for parents to carefully examine our children’s outerwear as if it is a matter of life

FINDING THE PERFECT BALANCE OF FASHION AND FUNCTION IN CHILDRENSWEAR

By Dahlia Rizk, founder, Buckle Me Baby Coats

and death — because it is.

Style & Safety Drive Success

Children’s outerwear should be cute, warm and functional. Combining style and safety is essential. Buckle Me Baby Coats are designed with a front panel as part of the garment that pulls to the side. The shoulder seam is actually setback in the jacket so the car seat straps sit directly and safely on the chest and shoulders. Parents get the convenience of putting the coat on at home and keeping the coat on in the car, while kids get the same level of safety as if they are not wearing a coat at all.

Back with Data & Testing

Talking about function and safety is obvious, and it’s also important to back these statements with credible data. Buckle Me Baby Coats have been crash tested at an independent university crash test facility, where the coats not only outperformed traditional puffy coats, but also tested similarly to no coat at all. Buckle Me Baby Coats has collaborated with local New Hampshire Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs), firemen and first responders who physically examined the coat and found it to be a safer option to the puffy winter coat and agreed it is similar to no coat. Since our start, our coats have been evaluated in person by many CPSTs across the country, and you can read many of their reviews on our website. As a company, we don’t just talk about the safety features of our coats — we prove it.

Focus on Design Trends

There are so many exciting kids’ fashion trends for kids in the winter. Emphasis is often placed on creating a complete look, and with kids having their favorite color palette, designers have to make both the child and the parents happy!

Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and other social media outlets have trained us to appreciate

aesthetics. We want our children to look stylish from head-to-toe, and kids often like to have a say in what they are wearing. So, in addition to creating a childrenswear product that enhances safety, we know it’s essential to look great, too. Our designs include trendy colors and limited-edition graphic lining, as well as features like sleeve lengths that grow with a child and removable hoods. This year, we are embracing old-school classic primary colors like blue, red and orange that are a mix of the nostalgic and the modern. There are also fresh looks, like pink and gray, to inspire mini-fashion fans. We love these bright colors in saturating hues, as they are a nod to the brighter days ahead.

Maintain Your Mission

Ultimately, successful childrenswear brands will make their mark by offering something that is different and unexpected. The idea for Buckle Me Baby Coats was born more than two decades ago, and the idea was brought to dozens of coat manufacturers. No one thought that winter coat safety in the car seat was an issue, but the more parents that I spoke with, the more I realized how wrong those manufacturers were. It became a mission of mine to keep children safely buckled, secure, warm and happy while making parents’ lives a whole lot easier.

Whether it’s a new safety feature or an exciting functionality, parents and gift-givers are thinking carefully about what they purchase. The new normal includes responsibly sourced materials, great style and safety. By maintaining your brand’s mission, each passing month will have a new set of shoppers learning and believing in your product.

Dahlia Rizk is the founder and inventor of Buckle Me Baby Coats, a coat designed to be used safely in the car seat. Buckle Me Baby Coats was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank. Find out more information at bucklemecoats.com.

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The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines sustainable as “capable of being sustained, of, relating to or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.” The English Language Learners’ definition of sustainable includes the meaning, “able to last or continue for a long time.”

How these definitions relate to sustainable fashion may be difficult to comprehend. However, one thing is clear: Sustainable fashion is fashion that is here to stay — at least for a period of time, if not forever.

The best example that I can come up with is men’s suits. We look at drawings, photographs, artwork and portraits of world leaders and we see men in suits. The styles have shifted over the years, but they all have two pieces of clothing: pants and a jacket. Suit fabrics may have changed from basic cotton and wool to silk, rayon and a multitude of manmade fabrics created in manufacturing facilities throughout the world, but the suit is certainly a sustainable fashion investment. Men’s suits are sustainable because they have been around for centuries and will probably be around for more centuries in the future.

When we look to the sustainability of women’s fashion, there are never-ending categories of apparel from classic dresses to countless variations of shorts, mini-skirts, formalwear, recreational apparel and many other categories that we see women wearing every day.

The sustainable “looks” have been preserved by specialty shops and department stores, but recently we have seen a new category of retailers, the “fast-fashion business.” These retailers make use of the manufacturing facilities to turn

SUSTAINABLE FASHION

By Benjamin S. Seigel, Esq.

out new styles in minutes and get the latest innovations into retail stores overnight. It has become well-known to fast-fashion customers that if you see it and like it, buy it now because tomorrow it will not be there.

We have seen a new category of sustainability in fashion in the recycled or used clothing retailer — so many items of women’s clothing, for example, are worn once or twice and then stay hung in the closet forever. Another recent entry into the retailing industry is rental clothing. Wedding dresses and other formalwear are prime candidates of this recent retail phenomenon — instead of paying thousands of dollars for the dress of her dreams, a bride will likely be able to find the latest bridal fashion trends at a wedding rental store.

In an article published on March 29, 2021 in Conscious Life and Style titled “What is Sustainable Fashion and Why Does It Matter?” it was reported that the fashion industry was responsible for eight to 10% of global carbon emissions, and that fixing the fashion industry can mean “making significant progress on decarbonization and reaching global climate goals.”

The article advised that “[c]leaning up the fashion supply chain can also mean significantly reducing pollution in many communities throughout the world. Sourcing textiles for fashion from regenerative fiber systems can put us on a pathway to restoring the planet and our relationship to the land.” The article also estimated that roughly 430 million people work directly or indirectly for the fashion and textile industries and that “improving the supply chains of the fashion industry can mean significant improvements in the lives of many.”

On August 5, 2021, California Apparel News published an article written by Dorothy Crouch, titled “Carrying A Sustainable Message to DTLA [Downtown Los Angeles], Preface Hosts Onsite Event.” Crouch wrote, “Returning to Los Angeles, the Preface show hosted its July 28–29 event at the El Santee Building in the city’s downtown. Joining together under the mission of sustainability and circularity, textile manufacturers, printers, supply-chain services and gar-

ment businesses focused on green production methods were happy to finally meet within a space that afforded a tactile show experience.”

The article quoted Betsy Franjola, show founder and BFF Studio owner, who said, “When it comes to fabric, especially sourcing, they wanted to get to a place where they can touch and feel and talk about what they need with that face-to-face interaction. Normally I find that we have people who are really hungry for inspiration, and that is the main goal of our show, but this time I think it was paired with the desire to physically source and physically interact with mills that drove people to come.”

Crouch’s article continued, “Preface also hosted information sessions with industry leaders and an educational series that included dyeing and mending workshops. Preface’s commitment to sharing its trend forecasting with attendees is one of its most-anticipated offerings. All attendees receive a complimentary experience kit filled with an array of textile samples and the invaluable book containing Preface’s seasonal trend report. A premium version filled with the aforementioned items — and an extended rundown on trending inspiration, in addition to handcrafted mood boards, a master palette of swatches, gifting and a remote webinar — is available for $500.

“‘There are trend companies that I love, but it’s $10,000 per person to use them. Here, for $500, you can at least find out what’s going to be coming up,’ said Marge Pietrera, founder of the Charleston, North Carolina Fashion Index apparel-sourcing directory. ‘It’s a lot more tangible, especially if you’re starting out.’”

As shown in the examples above, sustainability can be defined in a myriad of ways, all of which tell us that the fashion trend is here to stay — at least for a while.

Benjamin S. Seigel, Esq. is Of Counsel to G & B Law, LLP specializing in matters related to the textile and apparel industries. He can be reached at bseigel@gblawllp.com.

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Citrin Cooperman is a leading accounting and advisory providers for manufacturing and distribution focus on fashion and apparel companies, providing assurance, tax, and advisory to both start-ups and well-established brands. Citrin Cooperman has a keen understanding of the industry and remains upto-date on market trends and changes that impact fashion and apparel companies, and translates this that help clients accomplish business goals and remain competitive in the market.

Home of the Brave Exploring American Fashion at the Met

Te anticipation for the Met Gala has been building since the start of the pandemic. Tis year’s delayed event started with the youngest co-chair in history, Billie Eilish, as she channeled icon Grace Kelly in an Oscar de la Renta gown. She was accompanied by many celebrities, designers, in fuencers and models who embraced this year’s Costume Institute fundraiser theme, “American Independence.” Gala guests explored what Americana truly means, from paying homage to American icons to making political statements. Let’s take a closer look at our top picks for the most memorable attire at the 2021 Met Gala.

Anok Yai Oscar de la Renta

Barbie Ferreira Jonathan Simkhai

Emily Blunt Miu Miu

Imaam Hammam Versace

Taylor Hill Atelier Versace

© Getty Images

Rita Ora Prada

Quannah Chasinghorse Dundas

Kendell Jenner Givenchy

Maluma Versace

Megan Fox Dundas

Carolyn B. Maloney Antonios Couture

Kaia Gerber Oscar de la Renta

Ayesha and Stephen Curry Versace

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ATLANTA APPAREL ANNOUNCES SPRING/SUMMER 2022 TREND REPORT

Atlanta Apparel’s in-house fashion ofce released its semiannual trend report, previewing the upcoming Spring/Summer 2022 colors, prints and styles retailers can expect to see while sourcing at the October Atlanta Apparel at AmericasMart Atlanta this month. Atlanta Apparel’s eight yearly markets feature the latest looks in contemporary, young contemporary, fashion accessories and more, plus specialty categories such as children’s, plus-size, bridal and social occasion.

“These trends reflect a year and a half of living through a pandemic. People’s priorities change and fashion evolves from what’s happening in our lives,” said Morgan Ramage, fashion director, Atlanta Apparel. “Spring/Summer 2022 will showcase mood-boosting colors and styles as we transition from a period of uncertainty to cautious optimism.”

The key colors for Spring/Summer 2022 includes shares of gender-neutral butter; bubblegum pink, Atlantic blue and preppy strong reds, which are bold and joyful shades; leafy greens and shades of brown which reflect the staple outdoor life and

shades of orange from mango sorbet to golden peach which exude warmth and happiness. Black, white and restorative pale shades will continue to remain as palette-cleansing neutrals.

Must-have apparel items for next Spring/ Summer include bold styles such as bubble-hem tops, graphic tees with positive messages, ruched bodycon dresses, shirred skirts and dresses, miniskirts and flare pants. Vintage and repurposed design will be back this season in styles such as white, scalloped, lace and crochet blouses, summer knit vests and repurposed polo tops. Leisurely business attire for hybrid work environments is important for transitioning between workspaces, with styles including loosefitting blazer, wide-leg, tailored work pants and joggers. Lastly, functional utility will be plentiful this season, thanks to its positive performance after a year and a half spending much more time outside, and popular styles will include garments with an excess of pockets, zippers, buttons and straps.

Upcoming footwear trends will reinforce apparel trends with styles including

platform slides, square-toe sandals, puf sandals, block heels and party mules to fit the desire to venture out; modern ballerina flats, career clogs and everyday mules for a simple transition from home to work and chunky wedge sneakers and craft sneakers for the utility and practicality of being comfortable inside or outdoors.

Accessories for Spring/Summer 2022 blend seasonal practicality with newness and desire to dress up again: bright colors, statement jewelry, pendant and beaded necklaces, chunky hoops, simple chains, nostalgic vanity style bags and bucket bags, beaded bags, scrunched shoulder bags, printed scarfs, leather belts, softrectangle sunglasses, oversized retro sunglasses, baseball caps, bucket hats and beach turbans.

“Our semi-annual trend reports aim to educate retailers about directional fashion trends to help them preview new colors, designs and styles for the coming season,” said Ramage. “October Atlanta Apparel exhibitors are preparing to showcase these trends in a few short weeks, and we hope retailers will join us to see these up-andcoming styles at market.”

COSMOPROF NORTH AMERICA ANNOUNCES NEW LOCATION & DATE FORMAT FOR 2022

Cosmoprof North America (CPNA), the B2B beauty exhibition, will host its 19th edition of the show July 12 through July 14, 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). The latest edition of the award-winning event was hosted on August 29 through August 31, 2021 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center and was the last edition hosted in the space. Cosmoprof North America is the largest and most awarded B2B beauty trade show in North America, encompassing all sectors of the beauty industry.

Cosmoprof North America is one of the destinations of the Cosmoprof network, a worldwide platform for the international beauty community, with shows in Bologna, Italy; Hong Kong, China; Mumbai, India and Bangkok, Thailand.

The LVCC relocation is not the only change for the 2022 event: Cosmoprof North America will also shift from a Sunday to Tuesday format to a Tuesday to Thursday schedule.

“After a successful 18th edition, Cosmoprof North America is excited to continue ofering domestic and international retailers, distributors, beauty brands and suppliers the unique opportunity to come together, make new relationships, foster collaborations and get inspired in a new space that ofers world class services,” said Enrico Zannini, general manager of BolognaFiere Cosmoprof.

The new LVCC West Hall Expansion will host exhibitors with finished products for retail, salons and more. The venue features include the Lobby Spectacular

screen (the largest digital experience in the U.S. convention and exhibits industry), 600,000 square feet of technologically advanced exhibit space, 328,000 square feet of column-free space and a 14,000-square-foot outdoor terrace. The show’s “Cosmopack” exhibitors, featuring companies providing services for the entire beauty supply chain, will be located in the North Hall.

“We’re thrilled to bring the 19th edition of CPNA to what is going to be the place to share visionary ideas, ignite change and promote success,” said Nina Daily, executive director, Professional Beauty Association. “We’re looking forward to hosting the best in beauty in a new space and format, designed for networking and building new strategic business relationships for future collaborations.”

Dresses to Dream About

By Christian Siriano (October

5)

In 2008, Christian Siriano’s eponymous label debuted at New York Fashion Week and burst into international stardom as a red carpet favorite for gowns with sophisticated structure and exquisite movement. In the pages of this updated edition of “Dresses to Dream About,” Siriano handpicked each dress that he featured to give readers an intimate view of his design process and creative journey.

Ganni: Gimme More

By Ganni,

Ana

Shazam,

Kra,

Richie

Rosie Marks and Jacqueline Landvik (October 5)

The Copenhagen, Denmarkbased global fashion brand Ganni has spent the last decade creating responsible and transparent fashion with a Scandinavian sensibility. This debut monograph from the brand features world-class photographers, stylists, designers and artists who have gathered to celebrate the brand’s unique, individualistic vision.

Making a Spectacle: A Fashionable History of Glasses

By

Jessica Glasscock (October 26)

From aviator to cat eye, rimless and Oxford, glasses are a billion-dollar business with the power to convey a range of vivid messages about their wearers. In this book, Glasscock traces the many styles of contemporary high fashion frames back to their origins and highlights today’s most cuttingedge, innovative ways to wear glasses.

Brussels Touch (Dutch, English and French Edition)

By

Lydia Kamitsis (October 27)

With personal contributions from influential creatives in the fashion and design industries including Jean-Paul Knott, Anthony Vaccarello, Annemie Verbeke and more, Kamitsis explores the influence of Brussels on contemporary Belgian fashion since the 1980s.

Exploding Fashion: Making, Unmaking, and Remaking Twentieth Century Fashion

By

Alistair

O’Neill (October 27)

Written by a professor at the world-renowned art and design college Central Saint Martins, this book offers unprecedented insights into pattern-cutting in contemporary fashion design by “exploding” designs by game-changing fashion designers from the world’s leading fashion houses to understand how they work.

TRENDS ACROSS TIME AND AROUND THE GLOBE

Covers courtesy of Amazon Books

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Contact your NPD account or email contactnpd@npd.com.

Source: The NPD Group/Consumer Survey, May 2021

RED CARPET ON THE

BY R. COURI HAY

Photo contributions by Patrick McMullan

Peter Alonso & Charles Fazzino

Bernie Williams

Cindy Sherman & Dianne Benson

Audrey Gruss, Arthur Dunnam & Katie Couric

Anne Heche & Peter Thomas Roth

Robert Wilson & Lady Gaga

Mets’ Pete Alonso @ Charles Fazzino: 9/11

Yankee legend Bernie Williams and Mets star Pete Alonso helped unveil Charles Fazzino’s new artwork titled “9/11: A Time of Remembrance” at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. After the event, a reception was held for the artist by Charles Safati at his gallery, Carlton Fine Arts on Madison Avenue memorializing the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Attendees included the Junior League’s Sofe Mählkvist, artist Linjie Deng, Paul Koenigsberg and dermatologist Dr. Marie Hayeg and her husband Will Jarosak. A portion of the proceeds of the sale from the 9/11 piece and limited-edition prints will beneft the museum.

“Tis takes me back to the time that I was in New York during 9/11 and I was questioning a lot of things about my work and the fact that we would just throw a ball, hit a ball and run the bases,” said Williams. “Tat kind of line of work seemed a little insignifcant in light of what was happening. Everything started turning around when we started visiting people at the Javits Center, the hospital and the armory; when they started saying ‘the Yankees are here, the Yankees are here,’ and it gave people a smile in that moment. It changed the whole thing for me and in the World Series we were playing, we were playing for something bigger than myself, bigger than the team, bigger than major league baseball. We were playing for the City of New York and the country.” carltonfa.com

Katie Couric Leads Race of Hope

Katie Couric told a crowd of runners in the Village of Southampton, New York, “I stink at running so I’m going walk at the back of the race.” Te TV legend, who will launch her autobiography “Going Tere” this fall, was decked out in a bright yellow and black outft of which she quipped, “My husband said I looked like a bumblebee.” Te star served as the grand marshal of Audrey Gruss’s Hope for Depression Research Foundation’s 5K Race, which raised $325,000. Participants included Karen and Richard LeFrak, Jenny and John Paulson, Jamee and Peter Gregory and a man who ran while pushing a double baby carriage. Tere was also a slew of runners and their dogs including Janna Bullock with her best friend Sebastian, a Bernedoodle. Although Couric fnished at the back of the pack, she received a gold medal modeled after the Olympics when she crossed the fnish line, as did all of the other fnishing racers. www.raceofhopeseries.com

Galerie House

Anne Heche and her boyfriend, skincare mogul Peter Tomas Roth, toured the new Galerie House of Art and Design in Sag Harbor, New York. Lisa Fayne Cohen, the founder and editor of the magazine at Galerie, hosted the stellar opening party which benefted the construction of the Stony Brook Southampton Hospital’s East Hampton Emergency Department. galeriemagazine.com

SOFO

Susan and David Rockefeller, John Paulson and Jean Shafrof were among the supporters of the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center’s (SOFO) 32nd Anniversary Beneft, “Te Journey Forward: Reconnecting Trough Nature,” in Bridgehampton, New York. Te event was hosted by Andrew Sabin, aka “Salamander Commander,” who founded the organization in 1988 to protect the ecosystem. Te event honored Kim and Greg Lippmann, Dr. Indy Burke, Michael B. Gerrard and Chef Kerry Hefernan. Hosts and guests included Bitcoin billionaire Brock Pierce, Carole Crist, Dottie Herman, Chef Alex Guarnaschelli and Diana Aceti. Also in the mix were Dick Grasso, Trammell Crow, Anke and Jürgen Friedrich and Jason Belkin. Te fun party was catered by Andrea Correlia’s Elegant Afairs. sofo.org

“Say Yes” to Longhouse

Photographer Cindy Sherman, Robert Wilson, Suzanne Vega, Faith Popcorn and interior designers to the rich and richer Tony Ingrao and Randy Kempner were in the glamorous mix at the “Say Yes” Gala at the LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton, New York. Te 400 guests meandered the 16-acre sculpture garden that featured works by Dale Chihuly and Willem de Kooning. Attendees sipped cocktails from the Hmptns CBD Bar while watching the dazzling Brooklyn Peaches, a synchronized swimming troupe, as they danced until moonrise to live reggae music next to Yoko Ono’s oversized chess set.

After dark, Soundwall presented a music and light show alongside Buckminster Fuller’s “Fly Eye Dome.” Leading the applause were Sylvia Hemingway, Victoria Wyman, Ann and Ralph Pucci and the organization’s executive director, Matko Tomicic. LongHouse explores the relationship between humanity and nature, and encourages people to broaden their imaginative and scholarly horizons. Te auction featured artwork by Ai Weiwei, Laurie Anderson, Lucy Villeneuve, Dawn Dedeaux, Kiki Smith and Sherman. LongHouse’s Diane Benson, who was adorned in a Joshua Werber headpiece, proclaimed of the event, “Tis is what happens when you say yes!” Te night raised a stellar $500,000. longhouse.org

Watermill Center

Nona Hendryx performed at Crossroads: Te Watermill Center Summer Festival in Water Mill, New York. Te event featured installations and performances throughout the 10-acre grounds to radiate ritual, healing and hope. Te festival began with a “drone-based sonic” performance titled “A Hole in the Sky” by Laurie Anderson and Shane Weeks. Avantgarde theater director Robert Wilson founded Te Watermill Center in 1992, a campus that ofers artists year-round residencies.

Wilson said, “One of the few things that will remain of this time is what artists are doing. Tey are the journal and the diary of our time.” watermillcenter.org

Jean Shafiroff, Dottie Herman, Brock Pierce & Carole Crist (Rob Rich, SocietyAllure.com)

Linjie Deng @ Carlton Fine Arts

libra

October brings love and luck, but only depending on your attitude and reactions to uncomfortable situations. Libras in love will have a great first half of this month, but will face disagreements in the second half of October. Family ties look to be a bit rocky — especially since the theme of this month is debates and discussion.

aries

Expect to take on new responsibilities at work this month; this progression will help you toward advances in finance and status at work. Those engaged in business and trade can also expect generous income. Amidst this train of luck, more expenses than the norm may heighten in October.

taurus

October is filled with positive health and good fortune, and taking the opportunity to travel is advised. This month, it seems that luck will naturally gravitate towards you — whether this manifest in extreme, great happenings or rocky, seemingly out-of-nowhere experiences.

Gemini

October’s planetary alignment urges Geminis to be prompt and take action in regard to their goals — this is not the time to drag out your obligations, because you may end up losing good prospects. You seem to be a bit unattached to your romantic relationships this month, so it is important to communicate your feelings to avoid potential friction.

cancer

Most Cancers can expect to see good health this month. Chronic conditions will be a bit suppressed and small health hazards can be cured with prompt care. New ventures are headed your way — continue the work to chase your goals and network through this month, as things seem to be continuing to go your way.

leo

Love is in the air, and for Leos, this seems to be the main theme for October. With a few serious conversations and necessary compromises, your relationships — romantic or platonic — appear to be growing deeper and stronger. This month’s planetary alignment brings you energy, initiative and self-confidence.

HOROS HOROS

Libra Tarot Card

The Justice card indicates that what is the fairest decision will always be made. Justice is the sword that can cut through any situation, and will not be swayed by outer beauty when deciding what is fair and just.

scorpio

Due to this month’s planetary alignment, Scorpios must be most focused on themselves — there is much to consider in relation to your desires and the range of your emotions. This is the time in which you are most enabled to achieve your dreams. With courage and dedication to your purpose and personal growth, you will be able to find success.

virgo

Virgos are feeling balanced this month due to the sun’s placement in Libra and social, thanks to Venus’s move into Sagittarius on October 7. This month, work continues to go well, and your health is not to be worried about. October’s planetary alignment encourages you to take self-care very seriously, as doing so will help to improve your overall mood.

sagittarius

This month, engagements in business, trade or past investments will manifest in positive results, and you may see a considerable increase in your finances in general. However, it is not advised to seek new investments in October — stay true to what you know well. Be sure to take extra precautions regarding your health as well.

capricorn

This month, romantic relationships will be successful for Capricorns. You are feeling the Libra energy, and exuding that balanced, extroverted energy into your love life. In October, single Libras are feeling mutual and e ffortless attraction with those who they are surrounded by. Be sure to also take time this month to tend to both your psychological and career needs.

pisces

Finances will be quite favorable for Pisces this month. But with that being said, career aspects appear to be a bit rocky; these situations will turn around with your patience and natural problem-solving skills. Tensions amidst your family can prove to be difficult this month, so try to remain as patient as you can through this time.

aquarius

It is strongly advised to pay close attention to your health this month — do not take anything lightly in this regard. Your goals seem to be nearly in reach, due to your imaginative mind and natural ability to bring your ideas to fruition. Devote your time to travel as much as you can, as this is how you will gain inspiration.

Scorpio Tarot Card

Scorpio is represented by the scorpion in astrology, a passionate water sign that is often associated with death — but not the tears and tombstones type of death. When it comes to Scorpio, this type of death represents regenerative powers and positive transformations.

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE GLOBAL FASHION INDUSTRY

Around the world, the state of the environment and climate change’s efect on everyday life and the future is at the center of many diferent conversations, and the fashion industry is no exception. As many consumers are becoming increasingly vocal against fast fashion retailers and for more ethically-made fashion staples, some brands have responded with sustainability initiatives and greater transparency in their manufacturing processes.

Here is a look at the fashion industry’s global environmental impact as change continues to be made — by the numbers.

92 million

Tons of industry textile waste created each year (The Global Fashion Agenda and Boston Consulting Group)

2,700

Liters of water to produce the amount of cotton necessary to make a single T-shirt (World Wildlife Fund)

49%

The predicted increase of the apparel industry’s global emissions by 2030 if there are no changes to industry practices (Quantis)

37%

Shoppers who say it is important that the clothing, shoes and accessories they buy are produced in a way that is not harmful to the environment (Fashion Revolution)

86%

8%

Percentage of greenhouse gas emissions created by the fashion industry globally (Quantis) 65 %

Percentage of consumers who planned to spend less on clothes in 2020 (McKinsey)

1.2 million

Metric tons of CO2 produced each year by the fashion industry (MacArthur Foundation)

Consumers across the European Union, the U.S. and the U.K. who want to see fashion brands more focused on sustainability and/or ethical labor practices this year (Retraced)

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AIMEE KESTENBERG: FINDING FREEDOM

IN DESIGN

Photos courtesy of Aimee Kestenberg

Launched in 2013, award-winning designer Aimee Kestenberg’s eponymous handbag brand combines Kestenberg’s Australian heritage with inspirations from New York City street style to create unique, bold, statement-making pieces to support its customers as they achieve the things that matter most. Kestenberg brings her background in industrial design to elevate the classic shapes of crossbody bags, backpacks, luggage and totes to ofer high fashion styles with engineered functionality. In just eight years, Aimee Kestenberg has garnered domestic and international recognition, with worldwide distribution and a NPD Growth Driver Award win in 2019.

The brand’s newest collection features a collaboration with Etta Vee by Jessi Raulet, an American-born and Strasbourg, France-based artist known for her bold and bright designs in optimistic color palettes. The Love Heart collection marries the artist’s hand-painted, multicolored Love Heart Print with biker chains and bold leather detailing on styles including a mini backpack, crossbody phone purse and fanny pack. For both Kestenberg and Raulet, at the core of this collaboration is a a desire to encourage wearers to love themselves and feel empowered.

Kestenberg spoke with us about the importance of giving back, her unique approach to functionality and design and the importance of independence for her customers.

What initially drew you to the fashion industry?

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment because fashion has truly always been a huge part of my life, but one of my earliest memories growing up is sitting on the floor and watching my grandmother who was a seamstress sewing, pattern making and hand embroidering for the women in our community. She would always teach me as she went along and inspired my creativity day in and day out — whether it was adding in ornate clip-on earrings to my school uniform or leaving my college program to pursue my fashion design degree in New York City!

Tell me about your collaboration with Etta Vee on your newly released Love Heart Collection. How did you arrive at incorporating art into your designs?

I’ve always been an artist at heart, and try to incorporate it as much as possible within my brand from designing colorful prints in the studio to intricate designs — I want the pieces I create to not only be functional, but also a little piece of art that you carry with you! So much of my inspiration comes from all diferent types of artists, and when I was introduced to Jessi of Etta Vee, the wheels in my head immediately started turning. The Love Heart Print felt so right both visually and in sentiment as well. We were aligned not only in being female entrepreneurs and artists, but also in our deep desire to bring joy and love to the lives of the women we create for.

I’d love to hear about your philanthropic work. Why do you feel that it is important for brands to have social responsibility at their core?

Giving back has always been very important to me, both personally and professionally. I worked very hard to get to where I am and believe that if I can get there, so can anyone else. But that being said, I have also had the luxury of a solid foundation in life that many others have not. After working closely with various nonprofits such as Comfort Cases, I was exposed to new realities and I realized how truly privileged my life has been with something as simple as having a loving family and education. As I continue to educate and expose myself to the struggles of other women and beyond, I strive towards supporting these causes and my community directly to empower women with the tools to thrive to achieve everything that they want and more.

What does independence mean to you and to your customer, and how do you embody that meaning in your designs?

Independence is having the freedom to express yourself in your truest form unapologetically. Everything I create is intended to be as bold as the women wearing them, designed with her everyday life needs in mind and always embedded with fierce designs and subliminal messaging to make her feel ready to take on whatever the

How does your background in industrial design impact how you approach designing your bags and accessories?

I think my background has given me a significant mindset that has truly helped shape my brand. In fashion school, I was taught to look at everything in 2D. My industrial design background taught me to take the approach of seeing everything in 3D and allowing my mind to focus not only on the artisanal look of a product but the ergonomics and functionality that women need in the pieces they carry and beyond. Women are multifaceted, and their bags should be too.

What’s coming up next for you and your brand?

How much time do we have? Let’s sum it up very quickly: a lot! The past few years have been a whirlwind, and I am continually blown away by the support. I just launched my eyewear collection (with sunglasses coming soon) in addition to finalizing multiple new categories and collaborations for the near future! Stay tuned with our journey on Instagram at @AimeeKestenberg.

Marcum’s National Retail/Consumer Products Group:

Ronald Friedman, ron.friedman@marcumllp.com

Lenny Gordon, lenny.gordon@marcumllp.com

Lori Rock, lori.rock@marcumllp.com

Ilyssa Blum, ilyssa.blum@marcumllp.com

Nick Antonian, nick.antonian@marcumllp.com