Having trouble hearing? Just turn up your shirt. That’s the idea behind a new “acoustic fabric” developed by engineers at MIT and collaborators at Rhode Island School of Design. The team has designed a fabric that works like a microphone, converting sound first into mechanical vibrations, then into electrical signals, similarly to how our ears...
Fashion
As Luxury Brands Continue to Do Business in Russia, What About ESG?
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has posed difficult questions for governments and private entities, alike, which have been forced to face “uncomfortable questions about just how willing they are to cut off the flow of Russian cash” – and in some cases, access to Russian commodities. While export-blocking sanctions on things like luxury goods have not been...
Condé Nast Says Models Are “Inhibiting Free Speech” in Vogue Runway Lawsuit
Condé Nast is slamming the right of publicity lawsuit that nearly 50 models filed against it and Moda Operandi last fall for allegedly using photos of them walking in the Spring/Summer 2020 runway shows in order to sell runway garments and accessories without their authorization. On the heels of the high fashion retailer and the magazine publisher pushing...
In its Nascency, Virtual Fashion is a Burgeoning Opportunity for Fashion and Luxury Brands
Interest in virtual fashion is at a high, with a growing number of consumers looking to entirely-digital offerings as the way forward at a time when consumers can seamlessly navigate between URL and IRL. With enduring growth in the gaming market and with the rise of the metaverse (i.e., shared virtual environments that people can access...
What Do the Opportunities and Risks Really Look Like for Brands in the Metaverse?
The NFT acronym has entered the common lexicon in the last few months thanks to a series of ventures that have made non-fungible tokens – “NFTs” – something of an avant-garde symbol of wealth. Brands are eyeing NFTs with fascination, and the rise of these unique digital tokens are dominating headlines across the globe. Yet,...
The Enduring Rise of Chrome Hearts is an Exercise in Amassing and Policing Branding
Over three decades after its founding, Chrome Hearts is in the midst of a surge in popularity. Last year, men’s fashion and streetwear marketplace Grailed put Chrome Hearts in the number 10 spot on its annual “Best Brands” list, a nod to the fact that the Los Angeles-based brand – which Grailed says is difficult to acquire due to...
A Running Timeline of Fashion and Luxury Mergers, Acquisitions & Investments
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...
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...