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This week, fashion offered a slew of exciting collaborations and a number of executive changes. At the top, Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli stepped down as co-CEOs of the Prada Group, and Steve Rendle officially stepped down as CEO of the Vans, Supreme and The North Face parent company, VF Corporation. In another sphere, Gucci offered something to look forward to, revealing that it will stage its Cruise 2024 show in South Korea in May of next year. And on the collab front, Dickies teamed up with Gucci Vault, and Denim Tears stirred conversations with two joint collections, one with Stüssy and another with Dior.
Below, Hypebeast has rounded up the top fashion stories of the week so you can stay up to date on trends in the industry.
Miuccia Prada Stepped Down as Prada Group CEO
Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli stepped down as co-CEOs of the Prada Group on Thursday.
Business of Fashion reported that the luxury fashion house group is proposing Andrea Guerra, former Luxottica CEO and LVMH hospitality executive, for the top position. Guerra’s appointment will reportedly be confirmed in January 2023 during a board meeting. The Prada Group is also looking to appoint a new CEO for its flagship Prada imprint, with signs pointing to the Americas CEO of LVMH’s Christian Dior Couture division, Gianfranco d’Attis.
Don’t fret — Mrs. Prada will still remain the creative director of Miu Miu and co-creative director of Prada alongside Raf Simons.
Gucci Revealed That Its Cruise 2024 Show Will Take Place in South Korea
Gucci revealed that it will take its Cruise 2024 show to South Korea.
The exact location has yet to be announced, but the show itself will celebrate the brand’s 25 years in South Korea. Gucci first touched down in the country in 1998, when the brand opened its flagship in Seoul.
Last month, Gucci had planned to stage its repeat show in Seoul, but due to the tragic crowd rush that occurred on Halloween, the label canceled the presentation and instead pledged a three-year donation to restore and preserve the Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Gucci’s Cruise 2024 runway will commence on May 15.
Steve Rendle Stepped Down as CEO of VF Corporation, Parent Company to The North Face and Supreme
Steve Rendle officially stepped down as CEO of the Vans, Supreme, Timberland and The North Face parent company, VF Corporation.
According to a press release, VF Corporation will initiate a CEO transition while Rendle retires as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. Benno Dorer has been named the Interim President and CEO, effective immediately. Meanwhile, Richard Carucci, who has served as a director on Board since 2009, will become the Interim Chairman of the Board.
In a statement, Dorer said, “The Board thanks Steve for his many contributions and leadership during his nearly six years as CEO and nearly 25 years with VF. Steve’s commitment to the business, passion for building strong brands and focus on culture have helped VF evolve our portfolio of strong active-lifestyle brands and establish VF as a purpose-led company. We wish Steve well in his future endeavors.”
VF Corporation is actively searching for a CEO to replace Rendle.
Shein Was Named the Most Popular Brand in the World
As fast fashion continues to drive trends with cheap clothing, the controversial Chinese brand Shein has been named the world’s most popular brand of 2022.
The label, which was founded in 2008, was also named the most-Googled clothing brand in 133 countries around the world. For context, the brand earned $10 billion USD in 2020, while competitors ASOS and Boohoo made $4.4 billion USD and $2.4 billion USD respectively that same year. Today, Shein is valued at $100 billion USD, making it the largest digital fashion company across the globe, according to Euromonitor.
Shein is known for its string of controversies. On several occasions, the label has blatantly stolen design concepts from independent designers. If that wasn’t bad enough, the brand also upholds unfit working conditions in China, putting employees through 75-hour shifts with very little time off, and it has reportedly failed to compensate its employees properly.
Jerry Lorenzo Detailed a New Direction for Fear of God x adidas
Fear of God founder and designer Jerry Lorenzo offered an update on his label’s adidas partnership.
Following the unveiling of the adidas Basketball “Remember the Why” campaign last week, the Fear of God Instagram account shared a statement noting that the forthcoming drop is not affiliated with the aforementioned partnership. The statement confirms that the collaboration will have a wider focus on the Fear of God Atheltics line.
Jerry Lorenzo and Fear of God are not involved or connected to the adidas Basketball “Remember The Why” campaign and collection launching this holiday season. The partnership between adidas and Jerry Lorenzo has evolved over the past two years to a concentrated focus on the creation and development of Fear of God Athletics.
With the intent to maximize the opportunity with Fear of God Athletics, this unobstructed focal point, will provide Fear of God and adidas the necessary capacity to deliver against an uncompromised and unparalleled performance vision that is set to transcend both sport and fashion.
Both houses look forward to sharing more in the first half of 2023 and remain enthusiastic about the vision for our collective partnership.
Denim Tears Reconnected With Stüssy for Another Apparel Collection
Following a partnership with OUR LEGACY that included apparel collaborations in 2021 and earlier this year, Denim Tears and Stüssy have reunited for an additional apparel collection.
Stadnouts include matching denim jacket and pants, which arrive in light and dark washes with all-over Stüssy branding and Denim Tears’ floral motifs. There’s also comfortable knitwear iterations, one of which dons the African American flag on its left sleeve, and a quarter zip sweater that fronts “Jamaica Queens” lettering on its front.
The collection is available to shop at select Dover Street Market locations and on Stüssy’s webstore.
Dickies Got a Luxurious Studded Makeover From Gucci Vault
Dickies teamed up with Gucci Vault to create a high-end capsule collection of reworked staples.
Inside the collection, Gucci revamped the Eisenhower Jacket and the 874 pants with luxurious studs. Signature cotton-poly twill forms the base of both silhouettes’ construction, but the studs elevate the ensembles with a zig-zag pattern in varying sizes. Additionally, the collection includes Bermuda shorts and a work shirt, for the more casual dressers.
The collection reaches far beyond Dickes’ typical price point, with its ranging from $985 USD to $7,410 USD. The range is available exclusively via Gucci Vault now.
Dior Launched a Fall 2023 “Dior Tears” Campaign With Denim Tears
Dior revealed the full lookbook for its collaborative range with Tremaine Emory‘s Denim Tears. The project arrived after multiple Kim Jones-led collaborations, including those with Eli Russell Linnetz, Shawn Stussy, sacai, KAWS, and Daniel Arsham.
Dubbed “Dior Tears,” the range pays homage to Black artists and creatives including James Baldwin and jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. Among the designs, the line features varsity jacket and shirts donning fuzzy iconography, vests that reference basketball jerseys and mohair sweaters.
“I want to share that moment in time, that beautiful moment in time where black writers and musicians and artists were coming from America, running from America, and finding some level of acceptance in certain European cities and being able to have their art respected and who they are respected,” said Emory. “It wasn’t perfect but it was just a moment, a beautiful moment for blacks to have the privilege and opportunity to escape from the terror, the horrors of America, a segregated Jim Crow America. Artists like Miles Davis and writers like James Baldwin found refuge in Paris.”