In November, a $1.15 billion deal came to light, bringing together Cartier’s parent company Richemont, Chinese e-commerce titan Alibaba, and fashion retail platform Farfetch. The headline-making transaction followed from reports that a “mega deal” was in the making. In addition to proving noteworthy because it brought together three very big names in the fashion sphere...
Art & Style
As Brands Adopt New Bangladesh Accord, a Look at How Disputes Are Handled by the Legally-Binding Pact
An updated version of the Bangladesh Accord will get a two-year term, following months-long back-and-forth between international brands and retailers, and local trade unions, in furtherance of the aim of “working towards a safe and healthy garment and textile industry in Bangladesh.” Primarily governing factories producing Ready-Made Garments, such as those used by H&M and Zara’s...
The Potential Downside of Design Competitions? The Risk of Rip-Offs
Chinese fast fashion giant Shein is making headlines this week after revealing that it is debuting a design contest of its own, one that will see emerging designers compete before a panel of judges, including Khloé Kardashian, designer Christian Siriano, former J. Crew creative director Jenna Lyons, stylist Law Roach and InStyle director Laurel Pantin, in order for...
New Algorithm for Modern Quilting
Stanford University computer science graduate student Mackenzie Leake has been quilting since age 10, but she never imagined the craft would be the focus of her doctoral dissertation. Included in that work is new prototype software that can facilitate pattern-making for a form of quilting called foundation paper piecing, which involves using a backing made...
Technique Inspired by Lace Making Could Someday Weave Structures in Space
Lauren Dreier was paging through a 19th century book by the German architect Gottfried Semper when she spotted some intriguing patterns inspired by lace. A professional artist and designer who often incorporates technology into her work, Dreier, who is also a doctoral student at the School of Architecture at Princeton University, decided to recreate the...
Women ‘Risk’ Grey Hair to Feel Authentic
Many women “risk” allowing natural grey hair to show in order to feel authentic, a new study shows. Researchers from the University of Exeter surveyed women who chose not to dye their grey hair, and found a “conflict” between looking natural and being seen as competent. Participants in the study – mostly from English-speaking countries...
Independent Music Squashed Out of Streaming Playlists and Revenue
Bands and artists on independent record labels get less than their fair share of access to the most popular playlists on streaming platforms such as Spotify – argues a new paper from the University of East Anglia. The paper looks at whether streaming platforms offer a level playing field for artists and record labels. It finds...
America’s Hidden World of Handmade Pornography
“To live among the handmade,” philosopher and antiques dealer Leon Rosenstein once said, “is to live among the human.” Well, there’s nothing more human than handmade pornography. When you hear “pornography,” you might think of Playboy and Penthouse, X-rated movies and internet porn. But one type that has been largely hidden and forgotten is the...
African Science Fiction: Rereading the Classic Nigerian Novel the Palm-Wine Drinkard
In 1952 The Palm-wine Drinkard became the first West African novel written in English to be published internationally. That it was written by Amos Tutuola, an unknown Nigerian clerk who took to writing to alleviate boredom, meant the book caused a stir. To this day, it’s celebrated as a key example of African fantasy. But...
Arte Y Moda
November 2019, Londonberry Media, in collaboration with Fábrica de Arte Cubano, hosted Arte Y Moda. The series of shows and exhibits celebrated the ingenuity of Havana’s creative class.