Online Fashion Site Moda Operandi Raises $100K For Expansion - pymnts.com |
- Online Fashion Site Moda Operandi Raises $100K For Expansion - pymnts.com
- Fashion magazines, influencers weigh in on coronavirus outbreak - NBC News
- Tallulah Willis to Debut First Fashion Collection at The Webster's New L.A. Store (Exclusive) - Hollywood Reporter
- Tan France Talks Netflix's Next in Fashion and Queer Eye Season 5 - HarpersBAZAAR.com
- Military May Be the Next Big Utilitarian Trend in Men's Fashion - Sourcing Journal
| Online Fashion Site Moda Operandi Raises $100K For Expansion - pymnts.com Posted: 31 Jan 2020 02:57 PM PST Online fashion marketplace Moda Operandi announced a $100,000 funding boost that it will use to invest in its technology and bolster business overall. Moda Operandi, which specializes in luxury fashion "right off the runway," raised the money from a mix of equity and debt, according to a report in TechCrunch. CEO Ganesh Srivats said in a statement that the investment would allow the company to continue its mission of "disrupting the way people shop for luxury fashion." He said the funding would help the firm invest more in its clients and platform. Financing is being co-led by NEA and Apex Partners, both of which have invested in Moda before. There was also participation by the Santo Domingo family, which is connected to Moda Operandi Co-Founder Lauren Santo Domingo. Comerica Bank and TriplePoint Capital were also named, and there were more investors that were not named. While the company's current value wasn't disclosed, it had post-money valuation of $650 million in 2017, according to data from PitchBook, and has raised $345 million to date. High-end fashion has been a bountiful market for the eCommerce industry. Those who don't have the time to attend high-dollar catwalk shows in person, or who live in out-of-the-way places, have taken to the internet to get their fix of fashion items. And they have the income to buy what they want, too. For that type of market, websites, apps and platforms like Instagram have been helpful. Moda has been reaping the rewards of the trend. But some fashion retailers have begun riding new trends, such as relying more on third party messaging apps to reach those interested, rather than traditional websites. Moda started in 2010 as the brainchild of Santo Domingo, who is a socialite, former model and former Vogue editor. Her idea, as someone immersed in the fashion world, was to offer a way to expand the access people had to a designer's runway collection — previously something only a small circle of people would've had access to. With Moda Operandi, that circle has been expanded to a wider audience and revenues have improved for designers and brands.   |
| Fashion magazines, influencers weigh in on coronavirus outbreak - NBC News Posted: 01 Feb 2020 01:34 AM PST  LONDON — How to remain safe and stylish in the midst of the rapidly widening coronavirus epidemic? Fashion magazines and influencers say they have you covered. Britain's Tatler — a Condé Nast publication — posted a story with the startling headline: "How to style an epidemic." The piece acknowledged the coronavirus anxiety by noting, "The social set are now rushing to get their hands on surgical-grade face masks." The story also explained that style-lovers may wonder, "How do I stay chic in the event of an epidemic?" In an examination of the utilitarian, post-apocalyptic look recently popularized on high fashion runways — as well as by global pop stars Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande — it notes that face masks are "preventative pieces available that won't jeopardize your style." It lists printed and luxury-fashion brand face mask options sold at British department stores. The new coronavirus has killed more than 200 and constitutes a "public health emergency of international concern," according to the World Health Organization. Netizens' alarm has mounted, meanwhile, with the #coronavirus hashtag reaching about 189,000 posts on Instagram. Let our news meet your inbox. The news and stories that matters, delivered weekday mornings. In a story headlined, "5 Ways To Avoid Freaking Out About The Coronavirus," British Vogue offered tips on how to stay comfortable and "keep calm and carry on." With health anxiety running high, the venerable fashion brand offered tips to stay healthy and de-stress, such as "honing your good hand hygiene," while also suggesting luxury soap to "make the job more enjoyable." Other suggestions included "Get under a happy lamp," "Reap the benefits of essential oils" and "Take a herbal hit." Condé Nast, which publishes both Vogue and Tatler, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. As the dystopian surgical-mask-as-fashion comes into vogue, combined with mounting anxiety over the virus, Instagram influencers have also been posting pictures of themselves wearing these and offering followers some stress-reducing tips. At first glance, the influencer view might seem inappropriate given the severity of the health crisis, with hashtags such as #travelblogger, #travel, #coronavirus, #coronavirusoutbreak, and #vlogger crop top-clad poses and muscle-brandishing mask make-out photos. But beyond that, many influencers — especially in regions currently most affected by the disease — are being highly health conscious and offering practical tips to their followers. Jada Hai Phong Nguyen, an influencer from Vietnam with 88,900 followers on Instagram, posted a photo wearing a trendy outfit and a sturdy face mask, accompanied by her dog. In an in-depth post on spreading awareness of the outbreak, she suggests wearing a mask, washing your hands often with soap, and drinking plenty of water, among many other things. Nguyen told NBC News that she wears a mask every time she goes out, but has recently resorted to something beyond a "normal mask," referring to the "Cambridge Mask N99 Pro" face mask she recommends in her post. She also wear glasses to protect her eyes and uses hand gel every few minutes. Influencer "@jeii_pong" struck a pose in a surgical mask in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, reminding her 422,000 Instagram followers to "put on your mask to protect yourself." Instagram user "@Ruckshiii" — whose photo in a velvet jacket and a face mask had been seen across social media platforms as a critical example of people capitalizing on hash-tagging coronavirus — defended her recent coronavirus-related post. "I didn't dress up for fun or put the mask on for attention. I am extremely health conscious if you knew me you'd know," she said on Twitter on Tuesday. "I do understand where this is coming from," she added. "But I've also seen people too eager to make controversy out of everything."  |
| Posted: 31 Jan 2020 05:27 PM PST The Wyllis line of kids and adults sweatshirts will be "adorned with imagery striking a chord for mental health advocacy and self-empowerment," says Willis. Dakota Fanning and costume designer Arianne Phillips will co-host the store opening on Feb. 6.Miami's The Webster has landed in Los Angeles, just ahead of the 92nd Academy Awards. Four years after debuting its first California outpost at South Coast Plaza, the South Beach-born retailer quietly opened a 11,000-square-foot luxury fashion mecca designed by acclaimed British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye — his first-ever project in the Golden State — at the Beverly Center in early January. Founder Laure Heriard Dubreuil is wasting no time tapping into her starry Rolodex. Tallulah Willis will debut her first fashion collection, Wyllis, at the L.A. boutique next week following the store's private grand opening party on Thursday, Jan. 6. The event will be co-hosted by Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star Dakota Fanning and its costume designer Arianne Phillips, whose work on the film earned her an Oscar nomination. "I met Laure through a dear mutual friend and I was instantly attracted to her light and shining energy. I think she has an incredibly sharp eye and is a massively talented curator. It's an honor to be included in her endeavor," Willis tells The Hollywood Reporter. The Webster's L.A. store will exclusively stock Wyllis' women's and kids sweatshirts ($45 to $800), which will be comprised of "statement pieces in colors and prints that were born in the '40s and '50s [that] call to me," Willis says. Expect vintage-inspired silhouettes emblazoned with her original designs that "strike a chord for mental health advocacy and self-empowerment," including pieces featuring phrases such as "yeah I'm fine" and "incredibly uncomfortable in my own skin." The collection will also include sweatpants "and an over 30-piece cut-and-sew line," says Willis; it will launch online Monday, Feb. 3. Reaching THR via email in between board meetings, Heriard Dubreuil explains: "When planning our opening, we wanted something that felt super authentic and connected to the roots of Los Angeles. To us, hosting our launch event during such an iconic time — award season—felt like that perfect moment." On her L.A. store's Hollywood co-hosts, she says: "Dakota and Arianne are trailblazers in their craft; they both inspire me so much. It felt like fate to have them both, given that they just created absolute magic in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." Covered in blush concrete inside and out, the "futuristic-yet-contemporary structure ... is truly a dream come true," adds Heriard Dubreuil. Nodding to the brand's sunny South Beach heritage, the store is punctuated by massive round pillars, curved walls that create sculptural space-bending corners, colossal rectangular display shelves, terrazzo flooring and brass fixtures. The front entrance's exterior features a sleek fountain and a terraced alcove, where digital art will be projected. The store is stocked with womenswear, menswear, handbags, footwear and accessories from a mix of luxury fashion houses and cult-favorite labels, such as Burberry, Gucci, JW Anderson, Off-White, Palm Angels, Rhude and Johanna Ortiz. A center seating area displays shoes and bags by Chloé, Loewe, Saint Laurent, Pierre Hardy and Salvatore Ferragamo. At the front of the boutique, a semi-circular fine jewelry display holds pieces by Statement and Beirut-born designer Ralph Masri, and reworked vintage watches by La Californienne; just beyond are charming fortune cookie-like bags by Emma Charles. Coming soon are the the latest offerings from Bottega Veneta and Dries Van Noten, to name just a few. The store is also available for private shopping hours for VIP clients and stylist pulls. A fresh LA transplant, the Paris-bred Heriard Dubreuil tells THR: "California has always been on my mind. I love being back in the sunshine, watching my Northern California-bred husband teach my son how to surf on the weekends. There are so many exciting things happening in L.A., especially within the art and fashion world, the energy is amazing! I have only been here a little over six months and already feel so at home, connected to this great city. Now it is time for The Webster to start its rooting process here." Up next for the Beverly Center space is an official partnership with the upcoming Frieze L.A. art fair. "We will be hosting a conversation next week to kick off the fair with Adjaye and Kahlil Joseph," who created the LA space's first commissioned installation. The panel will be moderated by LAXART executive director Hamza Walker. "There are many more exciting activations, installations and moments to come for The Webster in Los Angeles," she says. The Webster at the Beverly Center, 8500 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles; thewebster.us  |
| Tan France Talks Netflix's Next in Fashion and Queer Eye Season 5 - HarpersBAZAAR.com Posted: 31 Jan 2020 12:00 PM PST Trends bloom, and trends die. But if there's one thing that's certain about fashion, it's that it doesn't stand still. Such is the premise of Netflix's first fashion competition series, aptly titled Next in Fashion, which dropped earlier this week. Bringing together talented designers from all across the globe (some of whom have already dressed the likes of Beyoncé), 18 contestants battle it out to prove they have the ideas and talent to forge the industry's future. For much of the show, they compete in pairs of two. Partnered either with someone they know or with a complete stranger, the teams work to blend their visions seamlessly while simultaneously making runway-worthy creations within the span of two days.  Adam Rose/Netflix There are tears, tension, taffeta, and—most importantly—a grand prize of $250,000 and the chance to sell their collection through premiere global luxury e-retailer Net-a-Porter. To host and judge the show, Netflix corralled two industry powerhouses: fashion It girl Alexa Chung and designer and Queer Eye fashion expert Tan France. Below, BAZAAR.com chats with France about his love for his fellow cohost, diversity in the industry, and what makes Next in Fashion unique. He also teases us with what we can expect to see in the fifth season of Queer Eye. The stakes are high in Next in Fashion. Not only is there the possibility of winning $250,000, but the winner also gets the chance to have their designs sold on Net-a-Porter. What's the significance of that opportunity for a newcomer?When I was starting out, it took me almost two years to get onto a major retailer site. There's a sea of wonderful designers, a sea of wonderful brands. You need a point of difference. And that's what we offer our contestants, is a chance to skip that part and just go–if you win the show–straight onto that site with the collection, and that offers so many eyes on their brand. And, don't get me wrong, it doesn't mean it's a guarantee of success. Net-a-Porter has hundreds of hundreds if not thousands of designs on there, but just getting your foot in the door at Net-a-Porter is such a great accomplishment. Yes, the $250,000 is wonderful. I actually think that's the smallest of all of the rewards. The biggest one is that they get to be on Net-a-Porter, which is invaluable. And the second thing, they get to be on a global platform like Netflix, and hopefully people will love the show so much, love the collection so much, that they will then go on Net-a-Porter to find that brand.  Lara Solanki/Netflix All the contestants came from so many different backgrounds, whether personal or professional, and they really represented this global love for fashion. What was it like witnessing that kind of diversity over the course of the competition?I was so happy to see that it wasn't just an American competition show. I think it makes for a much more interesting show to have it be global. Our audience on Netflix is global. It makes sense that we have people from the likes of India, South Korea, England. I'm hoping that that means that people from those territories really start to champion their designers from their countries or their continents. I also loved that it is representative of what a workroom looks like. You'll notice on this show that they pair people together who may not have ever worked together. Maybe they come from a different land, or their aesthetic is different. That is how a design workroom is. If you're going to any reputable designer's workroom, it's wildly diverse, because through diversity comes different perspectives and hopefully the best design possible, because it's so nuanced. So, that's what I think is so special about our show, is that we give the real world insight to what it's like in a design room. Was there anything that you saw come out of those partnerships that really surprised you?I think at the start, I was surprised by the fact that it didn't matter whether people knew each other or not. Just because they knew each other doesn't mean that they were necessarily going to work better as a team. And you'll notice that one of the finalists, they got there and they never worked with their partner before. They never really met their partner before. It's really interesting to show that it doesn't matter who you're working with. You always have to collaborate in a workroom, whether you're working for a brand or even if you are the creative director of a company.  Lara Solanki/Netflix There's a moment about halfway through the season where the judges have a hard time agreeing on who to send home. One of the contestants speaks up about how difficult it is to possibly be sent home, especially as someone who is not typically represented or seen in the industry. What did that moment mean to you, especially as a fellow designer of color who also entered a predominantly white industry?I sympathize and empathize with what they were saying, absolutely. I do feel like a person of color is working against so many factors to make sure that they are seen. However, in that episode in particular, it was difficult because, in my opinion, they did have the weakest design in the episode. But we couldn't all agree. I do think it's interesting or important to note that on that stage, the four of us [judges], none of us are white. Be it Jason Bolden, Kerby Jean-Raymond, Alexa Chung, and myself. Every one of us is a person of color. And so I think that's why it's important that we try to make them understand that this wasn't about color, it wasn't that we were sending somebody home based on the color of the designer. It purely was down to the design and the fact that it wasn't in line with the level of craftsmanship of the other contestants. But what I will say is that everybody's work had been equally wonderful. I do love to believe that I am part of a show that would never base a decision on the race or background of the designer. We like to believe that we're a very diverse show. A lot of high-profile judges appear throughout the season. Was there anyone you were particularly excited about working with?We had some incredible powerhouses. We had Monique Lhuillier; Tommy Hilfiger; Christopher Kane, who's a British icon, like a British institution. We had the likes of Elizabeth Stewart and Eva Chen more regularly. Eva Chen kind of molds the way Instagram sees fashion, and Instagram does mold the fashion industry so greatly at this point. I think the caliber of guests brings a level of credibility to the show that really sets us apart and hopefully includes the audience to see these opinions and our decisions at the end of each episode come from a place of absolute knowing and knowledge and are informed decisions. Because every one of us at that point within the judging panel is very well versed in what is going to work and what's not.  Adam Rose/Netflix What was it like working with Alexa Chung?It was really hard. Let me tell you why. [On Queer Eye], I'm on the show with four other boys, and we can get very close very quickly. Part of that is that we are all complete idiots, and we love to play all the time. That issue becomes really difficult when you're trying to film something and get your job done. And that I thought was only Queer Eye. Apparently, I'm the common factor, because it was exactly a problem on Next in Fashion. Alexa and I have the best time. But when we play so much that often, it would be very frustrating for people who are trying to do the show, like, "You gotta focus, we are trying to do a competition show." It was a blast. It was like playing with your best friend who you didn't know was your best friend and you met them and you instantly fell in love. I call her my work wife. She calls me her work husband. We got so close so quickly, and considering the fact that we've never met—well, actually we met like half an hour, an hour maximum, at a party before—and then we started shooting the show together. That chemistry was instant. You can't fake that shit. You can't feign that shit. You either have it or you don't.  Adam Rose/Netflix It's surprising to me that you and Alexa didn't know each other extensively beforehand, because that friendship was so palpable. It made me want to be friends with you both while watching.What I think is so special about Alexa is this: Yes, she's really buddy-buddy. Yeah, she's incredibly stylish. She's been a style icon for several years. But the reason why I so desperately wanted to work with her is because she felt like any other host in this sense. In America, I think a lot of male hosts get to be whoever they want. They get to be stocky and funny and kind of sarcastic, whereas the female hosts don't really get to be that. I tried to wrap my brain for the last two months, ever since we started filming Next in Fashion, thinking, Who are the female hosts who get to be that? They don't get to be that. They got to be twee and sweet and the all-American girl. And that's why it was so exciting working with Alexa, because Alexa's real. She's super chill, and she's gonna say whatever she wants to say, and sometimes it's not what you'd expect from these female hosts in the U.S. I think that's what makes her so special. You feel like you know her straightaway. You fall in love with her straightaway, because she is that girl you know. What can we expect from Season 5 of Queer Eye?All I can say is that it's fun and silly, it's already wrapped, and we always look to push diversity as much as possible and have people that we've not already had before. I think we've done that again in Season 5. I think it's a new show all of a sudden. I think you're gonna really enjoy it. Stream Next in Fashion on Netflix This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.  |
| Military May Be the Next Big Utilitarian Trend in Men's Fashion - Sourcing Journal Posted: 31 Jan 2020 10:00 AM PST Military influences are omnipresent in men's fashion. From cargo pants to bomber jackets, military fashion is part of the daily uniform of the everyday man. However, in "Jettison," one of Fashion Snoops' themes for Fall/Winter 20-21 men's wear, military takes a turn toward tailored luxury. In a recent webinar with Informa, Michael Fisher, Fashion Snoop vice president and creative director for men's wear, outlined a trend story that "shows how to add form, function and utility to reworked tailored clothing." The aesthetic is stuck between opposing ideas: the structure of brutalist architecture and the allure of regalia. The result is men's fashion that favors lustrous surfaces, sturdy knits that "stand the test of time" and garments with a subversive edge of surrealism, Fisher said. "This is about persevering heritage without churning out cliché archetypes each season," he said.  F/W 19-20 Kent & Curwen Jettison's color palette is based in utilitarian mid-tones and jewel tones like pine green, cerulean blue, scarlet and brown neutrals. White-casted powdery pastels add a jolt of energy. Oily prints invite a chance for brands to introduce metallics to this world. Grainy, washed-out textures are inspired by topography, while bolder prints are pulled from aviation dials, survival kits and transparent x-rays. F/W 20-21 is a chance for trench coats to become a winter staple, Fisher said. Sleek styles are updated with military details like oversized pockets, and a mix of waxed and non-waxed surfaces add tactile interest to others. Other key items are pulled directly from the bunker. The G.I. shirt is updated with an inside-out construction that Fisher said is all over the runway. Citadel sweaters boast oversized turtlenecks and heavyweight constructions. And pants are "military grade" with a higher waist and tapered leg. Add a self-belt, he said, for drama.  F/W 19-20 Miaoran In denim, the trend translates to hybrid jean and bomber jackets made with a denim and navy shell construction. Details like a pleated front placket with tack buttons ensure the jacket is "unmistakably" a Trucker jacket, Fisher said. Other Truckers are insulated with light padding in nylon or leather. Hidden pockets add a functional element. Straight-fit gray denim with heavy distressing and contrast brown stitching, or "fatigue jeans," according to Fisher, is part of the Jettison denim story. Meanwhile, plain-weave indigo shirt jackets with flap check pockets offer a touch of refined utility. Hi-top sneakers with a combat vibe and all-weather boots are weighty options that help ground the strong apparel silhouettes. Nylon waist bags worn over the check remain an important accessory, while backpacks and duffle bags are embellished with oversized squeeze buckles. That outdoor look, Fisher added, is carried into necklaces made with carabineers.  |
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