15 December 2023 |
And all the brands are getting in their final launches of 2023.
Technically there are two weeks left in the year but doesn’t it feel like we’re on holiday break already? Maybe that’s why our inboxes are more quiet than usual, with everyone getting in their last gasps before jaunting off. By the looks of it, heading towards the slopes ranks high on the list, with the likes of Brunello Cucinelli and Moncler Grenoble launching their ski capsule collections this week. For those not interested in the snow, other noteworthy news tidbits include special anniversaries for Dover Street Market New York as well as Echo, a New York City-based brand celebrating 100 years of silk scarves. And for those looking to visit some new shops, Dion Lee and Kith both opened up flagships. Read all about it below.
Brunello Cucinelli Hits the Mountains
‘Tis the season to hit the ski slopes and the latest to offer stylish cold weather gear is Brunello Cucinelli. Their mountain capsule consists of pieces that combine luxurious wool with technical specs like insulation and water-resistant coating. Whether you ski, snowboard, or prefer après, the mix of leggings, jackets, and bibs are ideal for a week in the Alps or Aspen. You can shop the entire collection here.
Louis Vuitton Sign RIIZE
If you’re a K-Pop fan, tracking debuts is second nature. Who’s the next big thing to come out of the major entertainment groups? In the case of SM Entertainment, they’re betting on RIIZE, a boy band that made their debut back in September of this year. After selling a million copies of their first single Get a Guitar within the first week and topping international charts, they’ve caught the eye of Louis Vuitton. The luxury brand signed the group as their latest house ambassadors this week. The guys aren’t the only idols on the roster – the brand also counts Felix from Stray Kids, girl group LE SSERAFIM, and Hyein from NewJeans.
Bottega Veneta Highlights Artisanal Workshops
Did you ever stop to think about what Bottega means? The word translates to workshop in Italian, producers of small runs of handmade items that reflect craftsmanship and creativity. It’s with that in mind that Bottega Veneta makes it a point to support other workshops across the world. Called Bottega For Bottegas, this is the third year of the initiative which features four artisans who hail from around the world. From China, Liu Wenhui creates woodwork inspired by ancient Chinese architecture while Taiwanese artist Cheng Tsung Feng studies traditional craft culture to inform his artworks. Third-generation South Korean artisan Kitai Rhee is honored for the studio’s work in making Bangpae Yeons, historic Korean kites made from bamboo and a paper called hanji. To round it out, Modiano is an Italian bottega specializing in paper products like playing cards, tarot cards, and more. You’ll be able to see all of these works online as well as in the window of their Milan flagship starting this month.
KITH Opens a Women’s Flagship in Soho
After opening a Williamsburg outpost earlier this year, KITH is expanding again, this time with a dedicated women’s flagship in SoHo. Located at 644 Broadway, it’s a full circle moment since it’s where the brand’s first location opened back in 2011. Featuring a warm and calm interior with touches of plaster and travertine marble as well as brass accents, the expansive main room houses the in-house label as well as other ready-to-wear and accessories from like minded brands. An adjoining footwear space includes a custom made Italian chandelier by Viabizzuno. Also unique to this location is a shop-in-shop outpost of PlantShed Cafe, which will offer food, drinks, as well as custom floral arrangements.
Moncler Grenoble Launches Their Ski Campaign
Speaking of luxury skiing, Moncler Grenoble just launched the ski campaign featuring their four ambassadors: Perrine Laffont, Richard Permin, Shaun White, and Cai Xuetong. The athletes model the brand’s best in performance gear, which is available in an array of bright hues like primary yellows, reds, greens, and blues. Made with all of the technical specs that they’d require, these pieces have strategic venting, powder skirts, Recco reflectors, and GORE-TEX fabrications to ensure they’re lightweight, warm, and weatherproof. Designed to be layered with knits from the brand’s après ski line, they’re equal parts style and function, made for the skier or snowboarder who demands to look good on the slopes.
Dion Lee Opens Up a Miami Flagship
Despite a cult following for his sexy designs, Dion Lee has never had a flagship store in the States – until now. The designer chose Miami for his first outpost, namely the Design District and naturally Art Basel was the perfect week to celebrate. Last week, Lee hosted a party at the Institute of Contemporary Art which included a performance by Kelela as well as DJ sets from the likes of Crystallmess, Mister Vacation, and Fashion. “We are thrilled to be opening our very first US flagship and this space will be a portal into the brand,” says Lee via the press release. The boutique is located at 115 NE 41st Street and will be open to the public later this month. Not in Miami? Expect a SoHo shop in early 2024.
Dover Street Market New York Celebrates 10 Years
Hard to believe it but Dover Street Market’s New York outpost is a decade old. To celebrate this momentous milestone, the concept store is launching an array of limited-edition products by the eight brands who have had spaces in the ship since day one. Featuring 2014-era reeditions by the likes of Simone Rocha, Rick Owens, and Undercover, DSMY also will feature other exclusives from friends and collaborators. You’ll find a Comme des Garcons’ Holiday’s with Freitag installation, a Sky High Farm Workwear x Nike KAWS collection, a Supreme DSMNY 10th Anniversary t-shirt, and more. To celebrate, stop by tomorrow, where they will be serving food, drinks, as well as a special Rose Café menu.
Echo Celebrates 100 Years With 100 Scarves
Another brand with a big birthday is Echo, a New York-based brand that started with a silk scarf back in 1923. To honor their 100 years in business, they decided to go back to their roots and tap 100 creators to design custom pieces, with $100 of each sale going towards their charity of choice. Among those asked to collaborate include photographer Steve McCurry, fashion designer Romeo Gigli, and New York Magazine editor Wendy Goodman. McCurry’s scarf will benefit ImagineAsia, an organization that benefits students in Afghanistan by providing them tools to create their own art while if you purchase Gigli’s style the money will go to the High Atlas Foundation, which promotes community-design initiatives for sustainable agriculture, women’s rights and youth empowerment in Morocco. As for Goodman, hers will benefit No Kid Hungry, which works towards eradicating food insecurity. You can shop these as well as other scarves here.
Hirotaka Launches High Jewelry
Fans of delicate jewelry may be well familiar with Hirotaka, a Japanese label best known for their wiry hoops and stackable studs but the brand is moving beyond that into high jewelry. Called Bricolage, which draws from the French concept of doing it yourself, the pieces combine chains with a variety of charms, so you can mix and match to suit your style. Made from 18k gold, there are necklaces, bracelets, and hoop earrings while the charms include everything from abstract stone scarabs to diamond snakes to wheels of fortune. You can view the pieces at the brand’s Maison Hirotaka boutique in Azabudai Hills, Tokyo but should you not have a trip to Japan in the works, you can also browse the collection online.
A Magazine Celebrates Their Latest Issue With Peter Do
Despite being the 26th edition, the latest A Magazine is full of firsts. For one, there’s a new editor-in-chief, Blake Abbie, who takes over following Dan Thawley’s departure. Second, Abbie’s inaugural issue features guest curator Peter Do, who is having a pretty spectacular year having just presented his first collection at Helmut Lang, in addition to helming his own label. The theme is home, as viewed through Do’s lens as Vietnamese-American and includes an array of collaborators including artist Anh Duong, poet Ocean Vuong, photographer Huy Long, and more. To celebrate the issue as well as Do’s collection with At.Kollektive, the two threw a party last night featuring a panel discussion, cocktails, and of course, Vietnamese food.
