HELLO! gives you the low-down on what’s making headlines in the fashion and luxury hemisphere.
FABERGÉ BRINGS GAME OF THRONES TO LIFE
Fabergé has immortalised HBO’s multi-award winning series Game of Thrones in an extraordinary collection of high jewellery. Developed by the London-based house in partnership with Michele Clapton, the Emmy and BAFTA-winning costume designer of the show, the collection features design details from GoT’s dramatic sets, costumes and characters, and the otherworldly landscape of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. It will be launched in a series of ‘chapters’ over the next two years, commencing with ‘Chapter One: Dragon’ that will bring to life Daenerys Targaryen’s incredible journey and passion for her ‘children’.
TUMI, MCLAREN BRING TOGETHER VARIED PROFESSIONALS
This winter, Tumi launched a global campaign with sportscar giant McLaren, chronicling the personal and professional journeys of four world-renowned sports and entertainment professionals — aptly named the Tumi Crew. Directed by Jessy Moussallem, the campaign features short films starring professional footballer Son Heung-min, singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams, actor and recording artist Anthony Ramos, and McLaren Formula 1 racer Lando Norris. Through each chapter, the Tumi Crew showcased the international travel brand’s 19 Degree Aluminium Tegra-Lite, and McLaren collections.
A LESSON IN SUSTAINABILITY: ONITSUKA TIGER’S MEXICO 66 CACTFUL
Onitsuka Tiger has reimaged its iconic Mexico 66 shoes — originally designed in 1966 for Japanese athletes to attend the 1968 Mexico Games — as the Mexico 66 Cactful. The Japanese brand tied up with Mexican entrepreneurs Adrian Lopez Velarde and Marte Cazarez to create the range from Desserto, a sustainable material engineered from Mexican cactus. An important cultural and historical symbol for the country, the Mexican cactus was transformed into highly durable, lightweight and UV-resistant fibres for the shoes. “Compared to genuine leather, the material used in the Mexico 66 Cactful lowers CO2 emissions in the manufacturing process by approximately 80 percent,” the brand said.
BUGATTI SENDS OUT ITS FINAL CENTODIECI SUPERCAR
French automaker Bugatti is rounding out its Centodieci sportscar line with the delivery of the 10th and final model, a coach-built special-edition version of the Chiron hypercar. The Centodieci (Italian for 110) was revealed in 2019 as a celebration of the EB110, the supercar of the 1990s that Bugatti built prior to its acquisition by the Volkswagen Group. The first Centodieci was delivered to its buyer in June. The final supercar features a white exterior with dark accents composed of bare carbon fibre. The brake callipers and a ‘Centodieci’ script lining the rear wing is rendered in light blue. Inside, the supercar features the same light blue on every surface, including the ‘chessboard’ upholstery meant to recall the quilted leather used in the original EB110.
GUCCI OPENS FIRST BOUTIQUE FOR VALIGERIA TRAVEL GEAR
Gucci has officially opened its first standalone luggage store in Paris on the coveted Rue Saint Honoré. The 2,900 sqft shop offers the full Gucci Valigeria range that’s been an integral part of the Italian luxury brand’s heritage — suitcases, trunks, bags and hat cases were the first items that founder Guccio Gucci offered when he opened his first store in Florence in 1921. “The opening of our first Gucci Valigeria boutique on Rue Saint Honoré represents the next stage in our ongoing strategy to reinforce our leadership in the travel category. Gucci Valigeria is a powerful reminder of our Florentine roots and our timeless craft,” said CEO Marco Bizzarri.
SAMSUNG’S GALAXY Z FLIP4 IS A GAME-CHANGER
Once again, Samsung Electronics has revolutionised the smartphone world with a groundbreaking model — the Galaxy Z Flip4. Compact and pocketable, the Galaxy Z Flip4 features a unique, horizontally foldable 6.7-inch display, perfect for multitasking, gaming and hands-free, remote photography at any angle. Built with water- and dust-proof aluminium frames and strong Gorilla Glass, the Flip4 has a game-changing ‘nightography’ technology, built in to capture vivid photos and videos at night. “We’ve successfully transformed (the foldable smartphone) category from a radical project to a mainstream device lineup, enjoyed by millions worldwide,” said Dr TM Roh of Samsung Electronics.
LOUIS VUITTON’S FIRST FURNITURE & HOMEWARE STORE IS IN SHANGHAI
Louis Vuitton has announced plans to launch a dedicated furniture and homeware store in Shanghai, a world first for the French luxury brand. With an eye on affluent Chinese clients, the by-appointment-only showroom will be located in a century-old three-storey mansion just behind Nanjing Road, the city’s premier upscale shopping district. The showroom will be trialled for several months as a pop-up, to be made a permanent feature if successful.
PRADA WELCOMES GIANFRANCO D’ATTIS AS ITS NEW CEO
The Prada group’s managerial reorganisation continues with the appointment of Gianfranco D’Attis as its new CEO. Previously the president of Christian Dior Couture Americas, D’Attis took over the top spot at the Italian luxury group this January. The position was created specially for him because until now, Prada was led by Patrizio Bertelli along with Miuccia Prada, while the Miu Miu line has been headed by Benedetta Petruzzo since 2020. D’Attis “will be in charge of the strategic development of the Prada brand in every market”, the group said, emphasising how “his proven experience in the luxury retail sector will help amplify Prada’s potential in all markets”.
RALPH LAUREN CAMPAIGN INVOKES HOLIDAY CHEER
This holiday season, Ralph Lauren embraced kinship in all its glory with a campaign titled ‘The Gift of Togetherness’. The glamorous campaign, promoting the sophistication of monochromatic dressing, featured Shalom Harlow, Tyson Beckford and Lucky Blue Smith, among others, to highlight the brand’s “core values of togetherness and timelessness, inspiring consumers to come together to celebrate one another”. Through engaging imagery, bespoke holiday retail incentives, charitable partnerships and gifting guides, the American label invited customers to experience “the aspirational world of Ralph Lauren” all through the holidays.
This story has been adapted for the website from a story that was originally published in HELLO! India’s January 2023 issue. Get your hands on the latest issue right here!
