Top International News of the Week | 17.02.19

 

This week in fashion, Victoria Beckham released a beauty brand, Tommy Hilfiger has launched Tommy Sport, Zimmermann showcased a new collection at New York Fashion Week, and Prada supported a diversity council led by Ava DuVernay. Find these stories and more as we reveal the top international fashion news of the week.

 

Tommy Hilfiger Has Launched Tommy Sport

Tommy Hilfiger, the master of preppy Americana, has revealed Tommy Sport, its first athletics line. The collection will launch online and in store in Australia from April 1. It will feature the brand’s signature block colour aesthetic merged with practical design elements including stretch, wicking and compression properties. Hilfiger went back to his eponymous label’s roots for inspiration, drawing on classic oversized star motifs and the white, red and blue palette that became synonymous with the house throughout the ’90s. The collection features apparel, accessories and footwear for women and men. It could prove to be a strong contender on the luxe sportswear stage.

 

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Prada Launches a Diversity Council Led by Ava DuVernay

Prada has begun a diversity council co-chaired by the director, writer and producer Ava DuVernay, as well as an artist and activist Theaster Gates. The Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council aims to “elevate voices of colour within the company and the fashion industry at large”. The initiative will also team up with universities and other institutions to sponsor and spearhead apprenticeships, internships and training schemes that “close the inclusion gap in the fashion industry”.
 
Prada is committed to cultivating, recruiting and retaining diverse talent to contribute to all departments of the company,” Miuccia Prada said in a statement. “In addition to amplifying voices of colour within the industry we will help ensure that the fashion world is reflective of the world in which we live, and we are thrilled to be working with long-time collaborators, Ava DuVernay and Theaster Gates, on this important initiative. We look forward to working with the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council to help us grow not only as a company but also as individuals.” The fashion house was forced to pull products in 2018 after blackface comparisons. The label’s catwalks have also been criticised for their lack of diversity.
 

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Zimmermann Releases Their New Collection at NYFW

Australian label Zimmermann presented it’s Fall 2019 collection at New York Fashion Week earlier this week, and it didn’t disappoint. The range, titled “Eye Spy” was inspired by the story of Nancy Wake, a spy who helped thousands escape in Europe during World War II. “This story really set off my imagination — a mysterious and brave woman, a chameleon who moves around in secrecy, strong and resilient, always so evasive so as never to be caught,” explains Nicky Zimmermann, the label’s creative director. “I loved the idea of such a feminine, skilful and selfless figure – a woman who helped people in the most difficult of circumstances.”

 

This mood of excitement and secrecy was brought to life throughout the collection by way of buttery leather trench coats, military influences like utility pockets and belted waists on jodhpur trousers, all in camouflage-inspired shades including ocra, sand and mahogany. And as always, the tough, confident exterior was softened with feminine accents — a much-loved trait of the Zimmermann brand. Billowy sleeves and tiered gowns in an antique peony print injected a beautiful, romantic feel.

 

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Victoria Beckham is Launching her Beauty Brand

The former Spice Girl and fashion designer, has announced plans to launch her namesake brand, Victoria Beckham Beauty. She announced the launch on Instagram earlier this week, writing to her 28 million followers, “SO excited to announce that I will be launching Victoria Beckham Beauty later this year! Cannot wait to be able to share it with you!! Subscribe at the link in bio for exclusive news and updates”.
 

The announcement follows Beckham’s partnership with Reebok on a line of activewear and the 10th anniversary of her eponymous brand. She celebrated the occasion by showing at London Fashion Week for the first time. In a statement, Beckham said she wanted to give women the kinds of products she would like to use herself. “I want to take care of women inside and out, providing them with the must-have items in makeup, skin care, fragrance and wellness that I feel I need in my own life,” she said. The brand will be direct-to-consumer with the products to be sold exclusively through victoriabeckham.com.

 

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BBC Launches Eco-Friendly Fashion and Lifestyle Brand

The BBC is launching a sustainable fashion and lifestyle brand based on its Planet Earth and Blue Planet series, to capitalise on viewers inspired by the shows and presenter David Attenborough’s warnings about the effect humanity is having on the world. Eco-friendly homewares, clothing and books are being rolled out under the umbrella of BBC Planet, which will act as a sort of kitemark for those who want to change their buying habits and select more sustainably made products.

 

The label is kicking off during London Fashion Week with a collection of sustainable clothes. It will include sweatshirts from ethical producer Mother of Pearl, implementing a dyeing process that uses ten times less water than conventional methods.

 

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