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Our take on what’s cool, trending and fashionable

Stopping Hunger Through Fashion
Michael Kors has announced the 2017 highlights of its efforts for its Watch Hunger Stop campaign which supports the World Food Programme (WFP). Funds go to support WFP’s school meals programme, which reaches over 16 million children in almost 70 countries each year with vital nutrition that helps them fulfil their potential. Thus far, Watch Hunger Stop has enabled WFP to deliver more than 15 million meals to children in need. World Food Day was in October and the brand dedicated the whole month to new products and activities to support the cause.

Actress Kate Hudson is one of those lending her support and this year she travelled to Cambodia to see the work being funded. The campaign, now its fifth year, features T-shirt artwork by distinctive ink-based artist Clym Evernden. And this year’s timepiece is the just launched Sofie touchscreen in a Make Hunger Stop version.

Weinstein Fallout
As sexual assault allegations mount against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, it seems two fashion houses could also be in the firing line. Celebrities have alleged he pressured them to wear pieces from his wife Georgina Chapman’s Marchesa fashion label and, though Ms Chapman has reportedly left the disgraced mega producer, it’s being suggested anyone now wearing the brand could be seen as offering support. Fashion insiders have long suspected Weinstein was instrumental in the rapid rise of Marchesa which was started in 2004 and was dressing A-listers within months. It appears they may have been correct.

Another fashionista feeling the heat is designer Donna Karan who defended Weinstein and suggested the women may have been “asking for it” in the way they presented themselves. Her comments have attracted a furious backlash with calls for a boycott of her products and a nearly 10 per cent fall in the share price of Donna Karan International in a week, despite an apology.

Karan stepped down from her leadership role at the company in 2015 but her association seems to be hurting the brand badly.
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Star Power
We’re rather excited to hear that Optica in Bahrain is now stocking these gorgeous Gucci sunnies for that movie star look that makes you feel like you’ve just stepped off the red carpet. They feature brown acetate temples with silver star-shaped crystals and the famous metal interlocking G.

New Face at Lanvin
Luxury fashion house owner Shaw-Lan Wang has appointed Simone Mantura as deputy CEO, a role in which he will manage all product departments (men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and accessories), production and sales departments as well as communication and human resources.

Mantura has vast experience in fashion and ready-to-wear. He was director licences and sales for Balenciaga and for GTR group (Helmut Lang, Vivienne Westwood and others). He has also held the position of managing director at Dirk Bikkenbergs, Calvin Klein Collection and Ruffo.
He took up his new role on October 1. Michèle Huiban retains the position of deputy CEO with responsibility for finance, legal department and IT services.

The move is the latest in a series of changes at the house which saw Oliver Lapidus brought in as artistic director in July and showing his first collection in the recent Paris Fashion Week (pictured).
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Good for Gucci
Gucci CEO Marco Bizzari chose the 2017 Kering Talk at the London College of Fashion and the International Day of the Girl to announce that the fashion giant is taking two massive steps towards its new 10-year Culture of Purpose sustainability plan. There was rejoicing at the news that the major house will ban fur beginning with its 2018 SS collection. It has joined the Fur Free Alliance and leftover fur items will be auctioned with proceeds going to animal protection organisations. The company has also pledged to donate almost USD1.2 million as a founding partner of UNICEF’s Girls’ Empowerment Initiative which will allow the organisation to reach out to more than 50,000 girls directly. Yayyy Gucci!

Name Change at Coach
November-2017_Fashion_Forward3New York-based luxury accessories and lifestyle brand Coach has changed its name to Tapestry, Inc., effective October 31.
CEO Victor Luis said that three years ago the company laid out plans to transform Coach and announced its intention to grow beyond the Coach brand. It has since acquired Stuart Weitzman in 2015 and Kate Spade & Company.

In a statement, he said: “We are now at a defining moment in our corporate reinvention, having evolved from a mono-brand speciality retailer to a true house of emotional, desirable brands, all leveraging our strong operational foundation.”

Tapestry, Victor explained, is a name that speaks to creativity, craftsmanship, authenticity and inclusivity on a shared platform and values, while also expressing the cultural diversity of the people and the brands the company represents.
Will this mean a rise in value of Coach originals, we ask?