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Photo: Courtesy H&M
Today, H&M drops a collection that’s unlike any the Swedish clothing company has released before. Full of statement-making elements, the new drop, which comes under the Innovation Stories initiative, spotlights the ever-merging worlds of our online and offline lives, blending the great craftsmanship that comes with high fashion, with the fantasy of virtual wardrobes.
How does that work? Combining inspiration from the Metaverse with the tactile beauty of the physical world we live in, H&M has created a ready-to-wear collection that seems to transcends across dimensions—three, to be exact. The first, a series of bold womenswear and menswear looks, complemented with accessories that focus on circularity and sustainability; the second, a special selection of creations that will be available to customers as part of a rental programme in select H&M outlets; and the third, a digital collection that has been co-designed and crafted by H&M and the Institute of Digital Fashion, the London-based digital atelier and thinktank.
Photo: Courtesy H&M
Along with the unique thought process behind the big launch, what makes H&M’s latest fashion baby so enticing is its statement-making aesthetic. Think unconventional silhouettes, lots of intricate embroidery, and eye-catching hues that demand everyone’s attention. Among the key pieces are a neon yellow corset-detailed dress from the womenswear section, and an oversized black beaded bomber  for men. Futuristic jewelry pieces take the line to the next level with their molten metal finishing.
Photo: Courtesy H&M
With each passing year, H&M has strengthened its focus on environmentally-friendly processes, and the new collection falls in line with this mission. A handful of pieces from the new metaverse-inspired collection feature recycled polyester fibres from old garments, and textile waste collected in partnership with H&M’s garment-collection programme in stores. After years of hard work, 100% recycled sequins also make an appearance in the latest drop—keep an eye out for them on sparkling dresses, leggings and a blazer + skirt combo.
Photo: Courtesy H&M
Coming to the digital collection, H&M is offering up five augmented reality filters to its family of consumers, all of which can be found via the H&M app. Designed in partnership with the Institute of Digital Fashion, the AR fashion lenses powered by Snapchat enable users to virtually try looks on. What could be better than that?
“The increasingly virtual dimension of fashion creates exciting future opportunities for H&M, allowing us to create vibrant, bold and daring virtual counterparts to our physical collections,” shares Ann-Sofie Johansson, creative advisor at H&M. “In addition to the endless creative possibilities, it also allows us to propose a more sustainable and inclusive fashion vision that can be accessed by anyone, anywhere in the world.”

Below, Vogue Arabia chats with Johansson about the Innovation Metaverse Design Story line-up.
Congratulations on H&M’s latest collection— it looks incredible. How did the idea of putting together this line come about?
Thank you! It feels great to finally present this collection as we’ve been working on it for a long time. The initial conversations with the design team were focussed on the future of fashion and the increasingly virtual elements of the industry which will allow all of us to express ourselves in unique ways. We were also talking about circularity, which is a big priority for H&M – we have a company goal of net-zero by 2040, and circularity is a big part of that. We wanted to create a collection that approached circularity in a holistic way, with incredible material innovations and processes spotlighted in an eye-catching physical collection that felt really elevated and exciting, as well as a virtual extension that could propose more inclusive and more sustainable ways of enjoying fashion, and then also including some items for rental, which is another example of the circular economy.
Photo: Courtesy H&M
Even a quick glimpse through the new collection tells us that this series of creations blurs the lines between the present and the future. How did you go about selection of colors and techniques for H&M’s latest offering?
We wanted to create a collection that was visually impactful both online and in real life. And what was funny was, once we started talking about the digital world, the metaverse, and what our avatars would be wearing in the future, we also began to think about the beauty of the physical world, zooming out to look at the earth from space, and zooming in to see how incredible microorganisms can be. We wanted the physical garments to be tactile and rich, to echo that fascination with the natural world. And of course worked in lots of cutting-edge innovations, including 100% recycled-content sequins, which is something we’ve been working towards for a very long time; 100% recycled polyester made entirely out of old garments and textile waste; and considering trimmings and using monofibres so that garments can be recycled more easily once they reach the end of their life.
Photo: Courtesy H&M
This time around, H&M’s clothing can be bought, rented, or even experienced digitally. What, according to you, makes each section so special?
Well, I should point out that, although this collection is the first to unite these three particular elements in one project, we’ve been experimenting with them in other collections for a while now. We launched the rental programme in our Stockholm flagship store in 2019 and pieces from our Conscious Exclusive and H&M Studio collections are available to rent in four stores. Digital fashion is another element we have explored with projects including a catwalk show in the Animal Crossing game and releasing a Divided collection of entirely virtual pieces in collaboration with DressX. With this collection, I think the stand-out for me is that, in addition to all the incredible innovation at play, so much thought has gone into the construction of the garments, from hand-worked embellishments to beautiful boning. These are not just “wow” pieces, they’re also beautifully constructed and amazing quality. I think accessibility is something that H&M has always excelled in: if you don’t want to buy something, you can rent it for one special night, or you can try it on virtually and upload a picture to social media. We really feel it offers something for everyone.
Photo: Courtesy H&M
From using recycled fabrics to allowing people to rent pieces, H&M seems to be focusing more and more on sustainable practices. Can you tell us a little bit more about these decisions? What more can we see from H&M in the coming years?
Sustainability is obviously a huge focus for H&M but I have to say that this is not something new: we’ve been working with a sustainability strategy for over 25 years. We now have over 200 people globally who are working solely in sustainability roles across the business. And it’s something that is baked into the company at every level. By 2025, for example, we are aiming for all of our designers to be using the Circulator tool, which is something we used in this particular Innovation Stories collection, and which helps designers to make more circular decisions when they are designing a collection. We have set ourselves tough targets, including using 30% recycled materials in our products across the H&M Group by 2025 and achieving net-zero by 2040 (there is lots more information about this and all our other goals on our website). Of course, we know we need to do more, but we believe the key to positive change is collaboration – with government bodies, other businesses and other stakeholders. As a global company, we have a unique opportunity to make a difference and we are determined not to waste it.
Photo: Courtesy H&M
What inspired you to come up with special AR filters? What do you hope to achieve with them? What was the design process like here?
Coming back to the theme of the metaverse, we loved the idea of the boundaries of fashion being expanded, and the excitement that comes with being able to try on garments that you couldn’t wear in real life – for example, a dress made out of glass. We wanted to create a unique experience for our customers in a digital sphere, and we felt like AR filters were a fun way to do that. We workshopped ideas with the Institute of Digital Fashion in London and they helped to realize certain elements of our creative vision. It was an exciting process.

Actress Vanessa Kirby, the new ambassador for Cartier. Courtesy Cartier
At an intimate dinner last night in Paris, Academy Award nominee actress Vanessa Kirby announced her pride and gratitude to the French maison Cartier for her choosing her as its newest ambassador. “It is such an honor to become an ambassador and embody the wild feminine spirit behind the iconic scent of La Panthère. To be aligned with a house that has a real appreciation for – and commitment to – philanthropy, women’s empowerment, conservation, and arts and culture, powered by the extraordinary team at Cartier, is truly inspiring. They have become a family to me, and I am honored to be on this journey with them,” stated Kirby. The actress embodied strength and intention in a beige blazer and donning a dynamic Panther collier. Above her, the geometric, undulating roof of Le Grand Restaurant by chef Jean François Piège twinkled, a coincidental nod to the Cartier panther’s fierce lines.
As the face of Cartier jewelry, watchmaking and fragrances, the British actress is invited to embody the essence of the maison with her powerful and refined talent, character, and sensual femininity. Having burst on the screen in the role of Princess Margaret in Netflix’s The Crown, she received critical acclaim for her starring role in Pieces of a Woman, which garnered her Academy Award, BAFTA, Emmy, and Golden Globe nominations.
Arnaud Carrez, senior vice president chief marketing officer at Cartier furthered, “To express the force of attraction of La Panthère, our choice went spontaneously to Vanessa Kirby. Intense and magnetic, Vanessa Kirby is a free spirit who has the boldness of her convictions, both in her roles in cinema and in life. An actress who takes her destiny into her own hands, determined and ambitious. A strength that she shares with the emblematic panther.”
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Photo: Getty
Kim Kardashian, arguably Balenciaga’s most high-profile brand ambassador, has issued a statement about her relationship with the fashion house after disturbing ads featuring children were published online.
“I have been quiet for the past few days, not because I haven’t been disgusted and outraged by the recent Balenciaga campaigns, but because I wanted an opportunity to speak to their team to understand for myself how this could have happened,” Kardashian wrote in a statement published to her social accounts on Sunday, November 27.

As a mother of four, I have been shaken by the disturbing images. The safety of children must be held with the highest regard and any attempts to normalize child abuse of any kind should have no place in our society — period.
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) November 27, 2022

“As a mother of four, I have been shaken by the disturbing images. The safety of children must be held with the highest regard and any attempts to normalize child abuse of any kind should have no place in our society—period,” she wrote.
Last week, shoppers called out the Spanish fashion house for publishing photos of children holding teddy bears wearing leather harnesses and cuffs to its website. “Balenciaga using photos of little girls playing with teddy bears dressed in bondage gear on their website. Lovely,” wrote one user on Twitter. In another ad for Balenciaga’s collaboration with Adidas, documents pertaining to child pornography laws are clearly visible in the foreground. Observant users have since found even more references to the exploitation of children in campaigns published earlier this year.
Kardashian concluded her statement addressing her “future” with the fashion house. “I am currently re-evaluating my relationship with the brand, basing it off their willingness to accept accountability for something that should have never happened to begin with—[and] the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children,” she wrote.

As for my future with Balenciaga, I am currently re-evaluating my relationship with the brand, basing it off their willingness to accept accountability for something that should have never happened to begin with — & the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children.
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) November 28, 2022

In a statement posted to its Instagram Stories last week, Balenciaga condemned the “abuse of children in any form” and noted it planned to take legal action against the “parties responsible for creating the set and including unapproved items for our spring 23 campaign photoshoot.”
Originally published in Glamour.com

Photo: Courtesy of Printemps Doha
Today, November 25, marks the opening of Printemps Doha, the largest luxury department store in the Middle East. The Qatar capital is the first international outpost of the iconic Parisian department store, making it the second-largest Printemps worldwide. With its entry in the Middle East, the department store brings over 600 brands, with some of them making their regional debut. “The new Printemps store within Doha Oasis is strategic for a lot of Qataris as many old families in Qatar were living in this area. The emotional link between the customers is strong for both locations,” says Jean-Marc Bellaiche, CEO, Printemps Group.
Photo: Courtesy of Printemps Doha
Standouts of Printemps’ retail experience include exclusive offerings across a variety of categories from coveted brands like Coperni, The Attico, Ganni, and Sarah Lavoine, alongside pre-loved luxury concepts, and bespoke services. Designed by multi-award-winning studio Yabu & Pushelberg, the store features a three-floor elliptical structure spanning 40,000sqm, with an immersive shopping atmosphere that combines the style and essence of Paris with the culture and character of Doha. Exclusive brands are presented as boutiques or dedicated corners on floors that take on the personality of Doha via the soft and organic architectural forms of its landscape, and an earth-toned palette, while Paris is embraced by its urban refinement and an assortment of furniture the studio designed for iconic European houses.
Photo: Courtesy of Printemps Doha
Printemps has also joined forces with Qatar’s M7 on a three-month mentorship program. Named The Collective, aims to guide seven short-listedQatar-based established and up-and-coming designers through their creative process while enabling them to have a better understanding of the business of fashion – connecting them with industry experts, offering them one-on-one mentorship and ultimately, preparing them for their entry into the retail market.
Photo: Courtesy of Printemps Doha
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Photo: Getty
It’s pretty much a given that her relationship with Kanye West helped Kim Kardashian blossom into the fashion-forward figure we know her as today. Pre-Ye, Kim almost exclusively wore bandage dresses and nude pumps. But when they got together in 2012, he helped her gut her closet and bought her a new, more sophisticated wardrobe. The next year, she was his plus-one at the Met Gala. And thus, a style star was born.
A decade later, Kardashian doesn’t need her soon-to-be-ex husband to get into the Met, or to help her figure out her style. A recent episode of The Kardashians on Hulu finds all five sisters and their mom Kris Jenner headed to the 2022 Met Ball, and the Skims founder reflects on how her clothes and her personal journey have both evolved.
Photo: Getty
“At my first Met experience, Kanye was there to teach me so much about fashion, and I’m so grateful to him,” she said. “But now, it’s so fun and empowering to just try to do it on my own. And I just wanna make sure that everything is perfect.”
Perfect is the watchword! While getting ready, Kardashian treats her sisters to a tour of some other Marilyn Monroe items, plus the dress she’s about to wear, set up in her hotel suite, but warns them to touch nothing, bring no food or drink inside, and if they have to sneeze, step away. Yep, Kim Kardashian is truly running the show now, she needs no guide.
Photo: Getty
The fact that every sister got an invite this year points to just how far the family has come, celebrities in their own right as opposed to famous for the men they date. Not that the reality star is ready to walk the carpet solo. She attended the event with then-boyfriend Pete Davidson.
Originally published in Glamour.com

Beauty giant Estée Lauder Cos Inc. has purchased luxury American fashion, cosmetics and fragrance brand Tom Ford. The deal sees Tom Ford himself remaining as the brand’s creative director until the end of 2023, when the newly-minted billionaire plans to move on. Already responsible for the license for Tom Ford Beauty, overseeing the distribution and management of the designer’s luxury fragrances and makeup – a profitable collection which saw an almost 25 percent net sales growth in a combined Q1 and Q2 this year. The deal ensures that Estée Lauder will completely acquire the well-performing Tom Ford Beauty, as well as add a fully-fledged fashion house to its portfolio for the first time, a move that experts say mimics similar moves made by other major luxury groups.
Gigi Hadid for Tom Ford SS19
First prominent as the boundary-pushing creative director for Gucci, then Yves Saint Laurent, Ford opened his eponymous fashion house in 2005. Tom Ford Beauty first launched in 2008 with the iconic Black Orchid EDP, a spicy floral created by David Appel and Pierre Negrin. Released the following year, the brand’s Private Blend collection cemented Tom Ford Beauty as a chic and sexy companion to Ford’s sultry fashion aesthetic. Color cosmetics followed in 2011, with a skincare line named Tom Ford Research launching in 2019.
While Tom Ford Beauty is predicted to continue its upwards success, Estée Lauder has seen multiple beauty brands in its stable close recently. Female-founded brands Rodin Olio Russo and Becca Cosmetics both shuttered in the last two years. Its designer fragrances division which holds the licenses for Donna Karan, DKNY, Michael Kors, and Tommy Hilfiger will be closed in June 2023, leaving the brands to seek new agreements elsewhere.

Garments inspired by the abaya boost a creative industry.
Photo: Courtesy of Prada
Miuccia Prada is beloved for her merging of traditional and modern styles, to craft understated, tasteful glamour. Now, in an affirmed gesture to the Middle East, fashion house Prada announces an exclusive collection of garments inspired by the abaya – with 20% of the proceeds set to go toward a Qatar Museums’ fund to support its flourishing creative industry.
Photo: Courtesy of Prada
Meanwhile, a dedicated Prada installation for the Qatar Museums’ project will stand inside the fashion house’s new store in the Doha Place Vendôme mall. Prada revisits the traditional abaya in three ways. The voluminous garment is made of Re-Nylon Piuma, taffeta, or technical pongee. The hues range from black, to blue, laurel green, and sand. Complementing the abayas are elegant silk twill scarves with a small, all-over triangular pattern and a triangle brooch to accessorize the scarf.
Originally published in the November 2022 issue of Vogue Arabia
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Naomi Campbell and HE Sheikha Al Mayassa. Photo: Instagram.com/naomi
Naomi Campbell‘s charitable organization Fashion for Relief has partnered with Qatar Creates, under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa, on a new global program named Emerge. As part of the initiative, the British supermodel will co-host a fashion show and charity gala to uplift “young creative and business talent from emerging regions, with a focus on Africa, the diaspora, and developing communities around the world.” As a whole, the program also aims to “create new apprenticeships, after-school programs and university programs focused on creative and alternative industries such as general education, fashion, technology, art, sustainable innovations, and agriculture.”
Emerge will take place in three main events—Art Exhibit, Fashion Exhibit, and the Emerge Talk—leading to a couture show featuring regional designers as well as international fashion houses Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, and more. The Art Exhibit will highlight acclaimed young artists, while the Fashion Exhibit will see participation from a number of renowned designers from Africa, the diaspora, and the Middle East, such as Thebe Magugu, Bianca Saunders, and Abdel El Tayeb. The Emerge Talk will begin with a conversation on the power of creativity in business between Campbell, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa, and Kehinde Wiley followed by a panel discussion by professionals on the future of alternative industries.

“With the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, we stand at the cusp of an incredible moment for our region,” HE Sheikha Al Mayassa said in a statement. “It is our responsibility to seize this moment and draw the attention of the international community towards causes that benefit marginalized people across the globe. I am grateful to Emerge for joining our efforts, and I am confident that we can harness this opportunity to uplift and empower those who need it most while creating cultural milestones.
The charity gala and fashion show is a ticketed event that will be held on October 28 at Qatar’s Ceremonial Court, followed by an auction and VIP dinner. Past editions of Campbell’s Fashion for Relief charity shows have featured a star-studded runway with Beyoncé, Kate Moss, Jane Fonda, Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Winnie Harlow.
Read Next: Qatar Museums Collaborates with New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art on an Exchange of Exhibitions, Artworks, and More

Photo: Courtesy Huda Beauty
Huda Kattan says she hopes to kickstart the next generation of entrepreneurs with Huda Beauty’s latest campaign. Inspired by her brand’s origin story, the new EM[POWER]ED makeup collection has launched alongside a one of a kind campaign. Aspiring entrepreneurs can win one of three start-up prizes, each including a US$6,000 prize to go towards their budgeoning business, along with an exclusive mentoring session with Kattan.
Photo: Courtesy Huda Beauty
“As I have been on the journey learning to love myself even more deeply, I’ve started to feel more empowered,” Kattan tells Vogue Arabia. Famously, Huda Beauty was founded after Kattan secured a US$6,000 loan from her sister Alya, funding what would become one of the biggest beauty brands in the world. “The loan from my big sister meant and means the world to me. Not only was it what I needed to create our very first product – and that was a lot of money for both of us at the time – but it was such an incredible symbol of support and belief in me,” shares Kattan. “That huge gesture gave me the courage and the resources to chase after my huge dream and that’s exactly what I want to empower other people to do. When I first started the Huda Beauty Blog, I never imagined that I could create a business and sustain myself from my passion, but Alya encouraged me to push the boundaries, take risks, and has been there for me every step of the way.” By paying this act of support on, Kattan hopes to fund another’s dream. “Because of my journey, I want to be that person for someone… a big sister for our community! Now it’s my chance to pay it forward and empower others all over the world,” she explains. “By doing this, I hope to encourage the development of new skills and the continuation of creative endeavors in the beauty realm.”
The lip kit trio. Photo: Courtesy Huda Beauty
Following the bold themes of empowerment and creativity, the new EM[POWER]ED collection includes a brush set, lip trio kit, face gloss and mascara, among other beauty essentials. “The EM[POWER]ED collection was inspired by my personal journey of self-worth, and this collection aims to empower everyone to dream big, believe in themselves, achieve it, and celebrate themselves and the people around them,” shares Kattan. The EM[POWER]ED eyeshadow palette includes 18 shades of golds, coppers, browns, and neutrals, plus a QR code that leads to the campaign entry page. “To me, empowerment is about accepting and embracing every aspect of who you are and then unlocking that superpower that is in in every single one of us,” Kattan tells Vogue Arabia. “By doing that, you have the power to change the world and everything around you for the better. This collection empowers me to live my best-life with versatile, buildable, and perfect-for-all occasions shades and formulas.”
Photo: Courtesy Huda Beauty
Future entrepreneurs can apply from the Huda Beauty EM[POWER]ED grant by scanning the EM[POWER]ED eyeshadow palette QR and completing the microsite application.

Vogue Arabia, November 2019 Photo: Elizaveta Porodina.
The MENA region is once again gearing up to host a major fashion spectacle as Dior announces Egypt as the venue of its next men’s show. Come December 3, the Giza Pyramids in Cairo will become the backdrop of the fashion house’s Pre-Fall 2023 menswear collection designed by artistic director Kim Jones.
According to a statement shared with WWD, “the celestial collection celebrates a lifelong passion for travel,” given that Jones spent his childhood years in Africa and is known for his love for globetrotting and staging his menswear designs abroad. Although the upcoming show marks Dior’s first in Egypt, the French fashion house’s relationship with the country dates back to 2004. It is when Dior’s then-creative director took inspiration from his travels to Egypt to create the iconic Spring/Summer couture collection replete with cultural details.
Dior Spring/Summer 2002 couture
The Pre-Fall show will also be the second one post-Covid after last year’s London presentation since Jones brought back traveling shows after halting them due to coronavirus restrictions. Previously, Dior has staged collections in Spain, China, Greece, Italy, South Korea, the UK, and the US.
Dior is not the only luxury fashion brand to have set its sights on the Middle East and North Africa in recent years. In 2021, the UAE hosted Giorgio Arman’s One Night Only show celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the first-ever Armani Hotel in Dubai, while Chanel later showcased its Cruise 2021/22 collection in the emirate, which was followed by Christian Dior’s first exhibition in the Middle East, in Doha, Qatar.
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