Fashion

Middle Eastern retail operator Chalhoub is launching Sol3mates, its first Web3 sneaker brand. Countering recent negativity around sneakers and Web3, Chalhoub Group is betting on an innovative, consumer-centric approach to attract communities.
Photo: Courtesy of Chalhoub Group
Chalhoub Group, the largest retail operator in the Middle East representing the likes of LVMH and Christian Louboutin, is launching Sol3mates, a Web3-native sneaker brand.

The date of its first drop of sneakers, which will come as physical and digital wearables, and have NFC chip-enabled authentication, will be announced on 12 April at Sol3mates.xyz. The focus of the brand is threefold: boosting sustainability (and exclusivity) by never producing more than it sells; empowering designers to be “creative directors” of their own brands within Sol3mates (and paying them accordingly with royalties); and empowering community via co-creation.
Consumers will be encouraged to vote on decisions such as colorways or who the next Sol3mates designer should be. This co-creation element appealed to Sol3mates’s first designer, Kacimi Latamène, from France. It redefines the relationship between brand, designer and consumer, says Olivier Moingeon, CCO and co-founder of Web3 platform Exclusible, which is hosting the drop. “It’s one step closer to ultra-personalization,” he says.
This is not Chalhoub Group’s first venture into Web3. In May 2022, the company dropped a series of 500 NFTs, “925 Genesis Mood”, also in partnership with Exclusible. After this drop, Nick Vinckier, head of Chalhoub Group’s corporate innovation, began ideating Sol3mates. “After selling out in five minutes, I thought, this is crazy. We all underestimated the power, the size, the impact of Web3,” he says. “I thought, we need to do something with more impact at a bigger [scale].”
Through Sol3mates, Chalhoub Group is working to iron out identified pain points. One is overproduction — big industry players have a profit to make and shareholders to keep happy, Vinckier says. He also notes limits on sneaker designers executing their vision: “We’ll see big brands create an innovative silhouette every now and then, a crazy colourway with an artist, but pushing the boundaries of what is possible is not really happening [beyond] smaller niche brands because the crazier the silhouette, the lower the margin.”
The group faced challenges in its search for a manufacturer to produce the physical sneakers, with multiple factories saying likely quantities were too low. The solution has been to partner with a local factory in the UAE.
The mechanics
The first drop of what have been labelled “OG NFTs” is designed to “get the community together”, Vinckier says. Ownership will act as a ticket to the Sol3mates community. Crypto and fiat currency will be available, and the price point (not yet confirmed) will be pitched relatively low to broaden access. Membership perks will include merchandise, physical and virtual event access, and whitelists for future drops. There are four rarity levels — the rarer the NFT, the more utility attached.
Future bonuses are likely to include recurring raffles where community members win access to selected hype sneakers as well as weekly offerings for community members to purchase sneakers at retail prices, rather than the more inflated prices typical of the resale market.
OG holders will receive priority access to the first sneaker drop in April via a one-week window. The drop will then be shared for one hour with partner retailers (to be announced 12 April) before opening to the wider public. A two- to three-month lead time is envisaged between the closing of the pre-order window and the shipment of the physical shoe in the fourth quarter of 2023. OG holders receive their shoes a month before the public and also receive a complimentary digital wearable when they pre-order that can be worn in 3D virtual world Decentraland.
Sneakerheads and Web3 denizens: a perfect match?
Web3 is big on sneakers. Balmain’s first phygital collection is sneakers, created in partnership with digital fashion company Space Runners. This was a carefully targeted decision, aiming to link sneaker enthusiasts with NFT collectors, Balmain CMO Txampi Diz told Vogue Business. Rtfkt has also dropped phygital sneakers, including its Cryptokicks IRL.
The Sol3mates launch takes place at a time when formal eveningwear and casual luxury are leading the fashion conversation, with question marks over whether fashion’s sneaker bubble has burst. But many in the Web3 space remain committed to the sneaker. Vinckier sees a “natural overlap” between the two communities. “There’s a big affinity between sneakers and Web3,” he says. “Much more than if we were to go into Web3 heels or handbags.”
Sneaker enthusiasts say fluctuations in the hype cycle should be ignored. “I think that there’s a tendency in this generation to think that just because something isn’t hyped anymore means bad,” Danish sneaker collector Rebecca Hyldahl recently told Vogue Business. “Hardcore sneakerheads have always been there, and they’ll continue to be there.” In Web3, which has seen a similar cooling, entrepreneurs see value in this period of downtime and remain committed to blockchain’s potential.

It’s one step closer to ultra-personalization.”

To tap the existing dedicated community, Sol3mates is hosting a pop-up on Exclusible’s Discord ahead of the drop. It’s also a practical decision. “We are not a native Web3 fashion group. We want to make sure we leverage the expertise and experience of people like Exclusible,” Vinckier says.
“What we want to do is set something in motion,” he explains. “I believe we can be the snowball to push the boundaries, be more sustainable, more creative and pull the community closer into what we do.”
For Exclusible’s Moingeon, this is a moment he’s been waiting for. Sol3mates is the first Web3-native brand to come out of a luxury group, he says. “And it won’t be the last.”
Originally published in Voguebusiness.com
Read Next: Alberta Ferretti on Her Four-Decade-Long Career, a Sharp Eye for Business, and Spending Time in the Middle East

Fashion

by Ruman Baig
1 hour ago

Marli New York’s Ramadan edit features designs from the iconic  TIP-TOP and Cleo collections.
The Cleopatra line is edgy, daring and distinctive — as was the woman, who it was inspired by. While it’s strong, it also has a hint of elegance and rare sophistication. With a myriad of colours to choose from, the Cleo by Marli collection includes signature pyramids sets, carved in lustrous 18k gold.
The Tip-Top collection challenges tradition and encourages  individuality. The unrivalled silhouettes are eye-catching and display the label’s high craftsmanship effortlessly. You can stack them or wear them separately — it allows to wearer to have the luxury to style it according to their taste.
The exquisite bejewels are crafted to enhance the radiance of  your festivities. Intricate designs in tones that can complement looks from day-to-night, will work well with a host of different ensembles. Bracelets, rings, earring and pendants in unusual shapes and colours will instantly become the focal point of your attire. Whether you’re opting for a simple silhouette or a jazzy number, the Marli Ramadan collection will juxtapose easily with both.
Marli New York’s Ramadan Campaign

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Images: Supplied/Instagram

Influencers and Asian celebrities helped fuel a 24.2 percent rise in the media impact of the four international fashion weeks showcasing fall 2023 collections, versus the fall 2022 season.
According to Launchmetrics tallies of New York, London, Milan and Paris fashion weeks, influencers accounted for $140 million of the total $731 million in MIV. The data was released Tuesday.

RELATED: Dior and Lancôme Garner Most Media Impact Value in Second Half of 2022

Launchmetrics’ proprietary media impact value figure, or MIV, tallies the impact of relevant media placements on all channels (online, social and print), inclusive of paid, owned and earned mediums.

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Dior came out on top of the biggest fashion week of all, Paris, winning $42 million in MIV, and outpacing its competitors by 62 percent.

Blackpink member Jisoo, whose full name is Ji-soo Kim, brought in 23 percent of Dior’s overall MIV via the echo around her, while a single Instagram post of her before the show, the Louvre and a Gothic church visible through the window behind her, scored 8.2 million likes and $1.8 million in MIV.

Chanel moved up to second place from seventh place last season, also thanks to the echo around its South Korean stars, Blackpink member Jennie and actor Park Seo-joon, who accounted for 27 percent of the total $25.8 million in MIV.

Louis Vuitton also moved up the Paris rankings to third with $25.5 million in MIV thanks largely to leveraging the power of celebrity. According to Launchmetrics, five of the top posts from the brand were thanks to Deepika Padukone, Sakura Miyawaki, Rayssa Leal and Urassaya Sperbund, aka Yaya.

Pusha T, Queen Latifah and John Suh attend the Thom Browne fashion show at The Shed in New York. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)

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Launchmetrics highlighted that all four fashion capitals leaned into celebrities from the Asia Pacific region. While late to the party, designers showing during New York Fashion Week benefited from the presence of Twice and NCT, with South Korean celebrities jumping to the number-five position from 26th place a year ago.

Prada narrowly edged out Gucci for the most MIV during Milan Fashion Week at $29.5 million, with half of the top 10 posts made by South Korean celebrities Jaehyun, Song Kang, Twice and Ennik Somi Douma.

Although Gucci’s fall 2023 collection was designed by a studio following the departure of creative director Alessandro Michele and awaiting the arrival of his successor Sabato De Sarno, its show garnered $29 million in MIV, with media channels generating 52 percent of that, versus 14 percent from influencers.

This look from Gucci was the most downloaded for fall 2023, according to Launchmetrics.

Giovanni Giannoni/WWD

Fendi, whose runway set featured a dramatic tunnel of light, came in third with $15 million in MIV.

Thanks to strong engagement on TikTok and Facebook, New York Fashion Week garnered 47 percent more media impact than fall 2022 for a total of $172.3 million.

Michael Kors stayed on top with $17.7 million, while Thom Browne’s MIV jumped more than fourfold to $11.4 million thanks largely to the front-row presence and social-media posts of NCT, Lil Nas X and Queen Latifah.

London Fashion Week’s tallies rose 65 percent versus a year ago to $66.8 million, with Burberry ranking first as it unveiled creative director Daniel Lee’s first design effort.

Moncler, which decamped to the British capital to show the latest chapter of its Genius collaborations, came in second with $6.8 million in MIV.

Taiwanese celebrity Tia Lee helped nudge Richard Quinn into the third spot with $3.7 million in MIV.

In a separate report also released on Tuesday, Launchmetrics analyzed viewership, downloads and MIV data of fall 2023 collection images. Dior came out on top as the most downloaded and most viewed designer label, while Burberry ranked No. 1 in terms of online MIV.

Underscoring the perishability of fashion-week content, 80 percent of photo downloads happen within 72 hours of the show happening, Launchmetrics noted.

In addition, the first look of each show tends to generate the most views, with Chanel’s camellia-printed coat scoring the most views of all.

The opening look of Chanel’s fall 2023 ready-to-wear show.

Giovanni Giannoni/WWD

Fashion

by Camille Macawili
54 mins ago

This floor-sweeping trend is making a comeback: midaxi skirts.
Cozy by day and elegant at night, the midaxi (combination of midi and maxi) skirt is making a case for itself as a new closet essential – and it definitely delivers on versatility. From denim to silky satin, this modest skirt has many iterations. Here, we turn to your favourite style setters on how to elevate and modernize the look.
For daytime outfit inspirations, look to Swedish supermodel and designer Elsa Hosk for a 90’s grunge spin –  styling it up with an oversized bomber jacket, a vintage Hermes Kelly, mesh turtleneck top and low-heeled pumps. Pernille Teisbaek keeps it casual, classic and cool, completing the look with a pocket polo shirt, Prada hobo shoulder bag and a Gia Borghini faux shearling double strap sandals. Influencer Mimi Arr champions business casual in a coordinating blazer and split maxi skirt teamed with Adidas Samba OG sneakers.
For your after-work plans, take this trend up a notch and get styling cues from model Phoebe Torrance and wear it with a cropped long-sleeve top, velvet boots and a pearl necklace – or elevate a simple white T-shirt and maxi skirt combo with an oversized blazer, knee-high boots and a Bottega Venetta Sardine bag like Aureum Collective’s co-founder Cass Dimicco. Alternatively, for a more sophisticated take, look to Sophia Roe and pair it with a parachute sleeveless top and a slick bun.
Scroll through the gallery for more styling options.

– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Feature Image: @hoskelsa

Trust Bella Hadid to make a sartorial statement, all while supporting emerging talent.
Photo: Instagram.com/bellahadid
Promoting her beverage brand Kin Euphorics in Las Vegas this weekend, the part-Palestinian model championed an up-and-coming designer from the region. The bright red dress worn by Hadid for her attendance at the Stanton Social Prime at Caesars Palace had been picked from Egyptian creative Amy Shehab’s namesake label. Given that the model styled herself for the event, it makes sense that the long-sleeved, curve-hugging number with a drop waist buckle caught Hadid’s eye, as it falls in line with her penchant for 90s-inspired pieces.

See Bella Hadid strike a pose in her pick from Amy Shehab below

Amy Shehab is a US-based online brand founded in 2016, and born out of the designer’s love for fashion which bloomed when she worked in retail at the age of 16. Empowered by her mother’s advice to “never rely on anything or anyone, but God,” Shehab used the social skills and funds from the job to lay the foundation of her independence, and began making her own jewelry while in college. “I would walk around NYC to source materials and it brought me joy. I started wearing my pieces to work and customers would compliment me and ask me where they could buy them,” she tells Vogue Arabia. “Most of the time, I gave the pieces for free out of love, until realizing that I have the power to turn this into a business.”

It was a 2016 trip to her grandmother’s home in Cairo and exploring factories in the city that helped Shehab find the materials to launch her very own line of Egyptian-inspired jewelry which she later brought to New York. “That’s where I broadened my options and started selling all types of jewelry online. Four years later, I began to create clothing, as I love having my own individual style and try to buy pieces I don’t see on others.”
With the brand now finding a fan in one of the world’s most sought-after models, Shehab feels honored. “I love how Bella is her own person,” she says. “Not only is she beautiful, but beautifully places pieces together and creates her style with confidence, no matter what she wears. She is a major influence in today’s world—both, in being a top model in fashion, and also in choosing to shed light on the importance of what’s going on in the world.”
It is evident that a strong passion for individualistic style and faith in the transformative power of fashion has led Shehab to this moment. “Wearing the perfect piece of clothing can completely shift your mood. When a woman is confident it’s almost like a superpower,” she says. “So now, I’m on this journey. Excited to see where it takes me, as I have a big love for fashion.”
Read Next: Bella Hadid Celebrated Her 26th Birthday with a Kunafa Cake By This Palestinian Woman-Owned Bakery

Photo: Acielle / Style Du Monde
After a decade steering Moschino, it’s been announced that Jeremy Scott will be exiting the role of creative director at the Aeffe-owned Italian brand. “These past 10 years at Moschino have been a wonderful celebration of creativity and imagination. I am so proud of the legacy I am leaving behind,” Scott said in a statement. “I would like to thank Massimo Ferretti for the honour of leading this iconic house. I would also like to thank all my fans around the world who celebrated me, my collections, and my vision, for without you none of this would be possible.”
Scott presented his first collection for the cheeky Franco Moschino-founded label during the autumn/winter 2014 season. “Scott’s embrace of consumer culture in the name of Moschino was bright, brash, and ingenious,” wrote Tim Blanks in Vogue Runway’s review of the collection, which mixed McDonald’s logos, cow prints, and even Spongebob Squarepants. Scott’s penchant for mixing high and low aesthetics resonated with many of the decade’s most iconic pop stars. Everyone from Lady Gaga to Cardi B to Lizzo found a kindred spirit in his irreverent take on culture and fashion. Who else but Scott could dress Katy Perry as a literal chandelier (and a hamburger for the after-party) to attend the “Notes on Camp”-themed Met Gala in 2019?
Backstage at Jeremy Scott’s first show for Moschino
In 10 years, Scott’s Moschino runways riffed on the subject of Barbie (a full decade before Barbie-core took over), paper dolls (a playful dig at the superficiality of the fashion business), cardboard (in an apparent critique of overconsumption), and money. The autumn/winter 2019 Price Is Right show will go down in runway history as one the funniest shows ever. He once even staged a show on a New York City subway at the MTA Transit Museum – complete with “Showtime” dancers.
His ability to remix the zeitgeist through Franco Moschino’s vision made the brand a viral success many times over – though not without the occasional misstep. A capsule collection released for spring/summer 2017 called “Just Say MoschiNO” was pill-themed, and many took offense to bags shaped like prescription pill bottles, given the opioid crisis sweeping the nation.
Moschino, fall 2019
During most of his tenure at Moschino, Scott was also producing his eponymous label, which suddenly stopped appearing on the fashion show schedule in 2019. Vogue Business’s Christina Binkley brought up its absence from the New York calendar in a recent interview with the designer. Scott hinted that his Moschino schedule kept him too busy. “I want to be sure I have a nice life – I mean, quality time with people,” he told Binkley. The brand’s hiatus may not be an indefinite one. “I own the company, so I can decide,” Scott said.
In a press release, Massimo Ferretti, Chairman of Aeffe S.p.A, which owns both Moschino and Jeremy Scott’s label, said: “I am fortunate to have had the opportunity of working with the creative force that is Jeremy Scott. I would like to thank him for his 10 years of commitment to Franco Moschino’s legacy and for ushering in a distinct and joyful vision that will forever be a part of Moschino history.”
Originally published in Vogue.com

Bella Hadid made a case for red at Stanton Social Prime at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Bella Hadid at the grand opening of Stanton Social Prime at Caesars Palace on March 18 in Las Vegas.

Getty Images for Caesars Enterta

Hadid wore a long-sleeved red gown by Amy Shehab, which featured asymmetrical draped sleeves, a flowy skirt and a square buckle adorning her waist.

While at the opening, Hadid promoted Kin Euphorics, a nonalcoholic drinks and spirits brand she cofounded with Jen Batchelor. The beverage brand offers nonalcoholic alternative drinks and spirits infused with adaptogens, nootropics, botanics and vitamins.

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Bella Hadid at the grand opening of Stanton Social Prime at Caesars Palace on March 18 in Las Vegas.

Getty Images for Caesars Enterta

Hadid also continues to make ventures into fashion and beauty. The model was named as Charlotte Tilbury’s beauty muse in March, joining Kate Moss and Jourdan Dunn.

“To finally share my beauty partnership with @charlottetilbury feels like I’m living a dream! Chars products make me feel like the most confident version of myself and it’s an honor to start creating beauty Magic together…our minds together is kind of funny because it’s like two kids in a candy store ready to make fun, beautiful & exciting stuff for you all,” part of Hadid’s caption read on Instagram regarding the news.

The model also appeared in the campaign for the Yayoi Kusama and Louis Vuitton collaboration, toting the Neverfull MM and Nano Speedy bag, both featuring multicolored dots. Hadid also had a viral fashion moment at the Coperni show during Paris Fashion Week in 2022, where she had her dress spray-painted with liquid fabric. According to Launchmetrics, the media impact value of the moment generated $26.3 million.

Hadid was awarded model of the year at the British Fashion Awards in 2022. She also received the Golden Heart Award for Mental Health Advocacy during last year’s Golden Heart Awards, which was thrown by Michael Kors for charity God’s Love We Deliver.

Best believe Taylor Swift was bejeweled head-to-toe to kick off her long-awaited The Eras Tour—in a Zuhair Murad gown, no less.
Taylor Swift in Zuhair Murad. Photo: Instagram.com
For Night 2 of her sold-out concert in Glendale, Arizona, the Grammy Award-winning singer opted for a custom creation by the Lebanese designer: A romantic ball gown perfect for singing “Enchanted” in. The blush pink dress appeared to be straight out of a fairytale (or in this case, “Love Story”) with all-over embellishments in Murad’s signature sequins in a starburst pattern, while the back featured a cross strap detail. Styled by Joseph Cassell Falconer, Swift paired the dress with minimal jewelry and her unmistakable red lip and winged eyeliner.

Take a closer look at the bespoke Zuhair Murad gown worn by Taylor Swift for The Eras Tour below.
Photo: Getty
The rest of Swift‘s fashion-filled wardrobe for the tour includes equally noteworthy pieces that nod to her past musical eras. The gold, fringed Roberto Cavalli dress, in particular, is an updated version of another Cavalli number Swift wore during her Fearless tour in 2011. “We chose a beautiful champagne color, which is very Taylor,” Fausto Puglisi tells Vogue. The Roberto Cavalli designer has also created a black and red catsuit with snakes embroidered on it as a reference to her bold and daring Reputation era. “It’s more of a badass, rock and roll look,” he says.
So far, Swift has mirrored the pastel-hued aesthetic from her Lover album in a dazzling Versace bodysuit, performed Midnight’s “Lavender Haze” in an Oscar de la Renta faux fur lavender coat, and paid homage to Folklore in breezy prairie gowns by Alberta Ferretti and Etro.
See more looks sported by Taylor Swift during The Eras Tour below.
Roberto Cavalli. Photo: Instagram.com
In Oscar de la Renta. Photo: Instagram.com
In Nicole + Felicia. Photo: Instagram.com
Read Next: Taylor Swift Just Became the First Musician Ever To Claim Entire Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100

Design duo Yukiko Ode and Hideaki Yoshihara put their signature spin on modern femininity by incorporating elements from traditional menswear and vintage military pieces into their fall collection. They opened their digital show with a series of all-black looks, including a wide-ribbed jumpsuit with flared pant legs, which created a beautiful silhouette on the body when in movement. They paired the piece with a hip-length tailored vest for a professional look.

Among their neutral tones of solid black, khaki, olive, white and tan, they mixed in two versions of bold checked prints. A tight version of gingham in black and white resembled polka dots from a distance, while a much larger, more open check gave graphic detail to softly draped, ankle-length dresses. Faux shearling made several appearances, as vests, on shoes and as the lining of bags whose open weave mimicked the gingham print.

Inspired by vintage outdoor sporting wear, pops of color came from deep emeralds and a vibrant red, which Ode said is one of her favorite colors. “I’ve loved red since I was a child. I would love to use it every season, but this was the first time in a while that we’ve used it in a collection,” she said.

Echoing the wide ribs that opened the show, another theme was box pleats, which were used to create long dresses and wide-legged trousers with adjustable bands around the thighs. Another creative silhouette was a Nordic sweater with frills at the armholes, a fresh, softer take on the classic ’80s power shoulder.

Rebel Wilson attended the Women’s Cancer Research Fund’s Unforgettable Evening Benefit Gala on Thursday in Los Angeles wearing an ocean-inspired gown.

In honor of this year’s gala, the actress wore a royal blue cap sleeve formfitting evening dress. She accessorized the dress with a classic black clutch bag.

Rebel Wilson attends The Women’s Cancer Research Fund’s An Unforgettable Evening Benefit Gala on March 16 in Los Angeles.

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Wilson was accompanied to the event by her fiancé, Ramona Agruma, who wore a black cocktail dress with a feather-trim neckline and sleeves. Agruma coordinated the look with black peep-toe ankle strap heels. She accessorized with a pink geometric-style top handle purse.

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Ramona Agruma and Rebel Wilson attend The Women’s Cancer Research Fund’s An Unforgettable Evening Benefit Gala on March 16 in Los Angeles.

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Wilson revealed her relationship with Agruma on Instagram in June. In February, she announced she was engaged. Agruma is the founder and designer of Lemon Ve Limon, a sustainable Los Angeles-based clothing brand. The company was founded in 2021.

In November 2022, Wilson and Agruma launched a clothing brand together called R&R Club. The loungewear brand’s first capsule collection featured a white hoodie and sweatpants with the R&R Club logo.

Wilson and Agruma attended the Vanity Fair Oscars after party together last Sunday. For the occasion, Wilson took a sustainable approach to dressing by recycling a previously worn Oscars gown from the 2020 ceremony. The off-the-shoulder sparkling gold evening dress was designed by Jason Wu.

Wilson regularly works with celebrity stylist Elizabeth Stewart to create her event looks, including the re-worn Jason Wu gown. Stewart also works with Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth Olsen and Jessica Chastain.

The Women’s Cancer Research Fund hosted its Unforgettable Evening Benefit Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel. Proceeds from the event go toward supporting funding for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which is a program dedicated to ending breast cancer by advancing research across the globe. During the gala, Sharon Stone received the Courage Award for her support of breast cancer research and dedication to raising awareness for the course.