What’s Trending This Week?
10-12-2024
Plagiarism is just one of those things that happens (however subtly) in the fashion industry – the concept of trends mean everyone is constantly drawing inspiration from/copying (a fine line to cross) everyone to some extent, and counterfeits continue to fuel a whole new corrupt market of their own. However this week the on-goings regarding Gucci’s creative director, Alessandro Michele, were somewhat different. The brand has been criticised of plagiarising and “blatantly ripping-off” the work of Central Saint Martins student Pierre-Louis Auvray, regarding the fashion house’s alien video series which was released into the social-media sphere last week. “I am just a student working hard on building my own stuff and the last thing we need as young creatives is to be ripped off,” Auvray wrote on his personal Instagram account; a student CSM account also uploaded an image of Aurvay’s work next to a still from the Gucci film, captioned, “Look at both accounts and write below what you make of this. Wherever your influences come from, it is vital to credit. Young emerging designers and artists only have their ideas to trade.” Michele responded, telling the Buisness of Fashion, “It’s something that makes me feel really sad” and that he was unaware of Auvray’s work prior to the accusations. “It’s about my memories, some movies from the Seventies, including Star Trek: Lost in Space, that I saw many times. It’s more about space, we have the robots, the aliens… I tried to work with artistic director Chris Simmonds and the guys and photographer Glen Luchford on strong characters. I mean, it could be possible that you are thinking something that is in the mind of someone else. The idea that I’m 45 doesn’t mean that I have no creativity. I’m like a student, it’s the same, it’s not a war!”
It was announced this week that LVMH is integrating the Christian Dior label into its multinational luxury goods conglomerate, therefore bringing together Christian Dior make-up and perfume, haute couture, leather, men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and shoes businesses under one roof. The move will ensure “the strengthening of LVMH’s fashion and leather goods division thanks to the acquisition of Christian Dior Couture, one of the most iconic brands worldwide”, CEO Arnault explained. The €13 billion deal will be made through “a simplified public offer by the Arnault family group for Christian Dior shares — that it does not currently hold — and take form of a primary offer consisting of €172 per share in cash and 0.192 Hermès International shares for each Christian Dior share, and would be completed by two secondary offers, in cash and in Hermès shares respectively.” This very large deal is due to reach completion in May/early June, and is sure to only strengthen LVMH as the motherboard of the fashion industry further.
“To add to the celebration of the one-year anniversary of Lemonade, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter announces the establishment of Formation Scholars awards for the 2017-2018 academic year, to encourage and support young women who are unafraid to think outside the box and are bold, creative, conscious and confident,” read the statement released on the star’s website this week. Beyoncé has decided to collaborate with Berklee College of Music, Howard University, Parsons School of Design and Spelman College to run scholarships to further empower young woman pursuing careers in the arts; “four scholarships will be awarded, one per college, to female incoming, current or graduate students pursuing studies in creative arts, music, literature or African-American studies,” she explained. An absolutely brilliant initiative.
The nominees for the International Woolmark Prize 2017 were announced this week – including Helen Lawrence, Sadie Williams, Matthew Miller and Phoebe English Man. The designer will receive AU$2000 help them move to the second round where they will compete with finalists from Dubai, London, Milan, New York, Seoul and Sydney to win the regional prize of AU$70,000 in the respective categories; they will then move onto the global final to compete for the winner’s title and prize of AU$200,000. “Each year, I am truly amazed with what our finalists present to the judges. Just when you may think you’ve seen it all, along comes an exciting new fabric or innovative new yarn, and that’s why we have established the Innovation Award,” commented the Woolmark Company’s managing director Stuart McCullough. “It not only keeps competition fierce but it also allows for our prestigious trade partners to get global recognition and ultimately increases the market share of wool.”
