Prabal Gurung makes a statement or does he?
In these uncertain political times, fashion should be using its platform to be making statements about how we should be pushing for a brighter (and more inclusive) future. Prabal Gurung used the finale of his autumn/winter 17 collection to send models down the runway in tees emblazoned with “Voices For Choices,” “Our Minds, Our Bodies, Our Power,” “Revolution Has No Borders,” and “I Am an Immigrant.” There was also one other tee, one with a more familiar slogan. “Our Future Is Female”, which was first produced in 1975 by New York’s first women’s bookstore, Labyris Books and popularised when Cara Delevingne wore a reproduction of the T-shirt on her Instagram. The tees are now being produced by Otherwild, who is donating part of the profits to Planned Parenthood. Otherwild’s owner Rachel Berks has said Prabal has not asked for permission to use her version of the tees and that while “there are no copyright protections or holdings for the slogan ‘The Future is Female’, I’m not personally aware of any charitable contributions connected to his use of the T-shirt, nor his thoughts on feminism or related political, ethical, or artistic beliefs.” Prabal has yet to respond to Berks.
Craig Green releases his new campaign
Craig Green goes from strength to strength. Hot on the heels of his menswear gong at the British Fashion Awards at the tail end of last year, Craig released his spring/summer 17 campaign lensed by rising photography star Jack Davison. Inspired by religious iconography and renaissance paintings, the images depict dancers’ bodies intertwined, while donning signature Craig Green pieces.
Adidas updates a classic
What Adidas do well is a classic shoe that we will wear for decades to come. Case in point, their classic Superstar shape. Worn by some of the most iconic figures in history (Run DMC and Missy Elliott anyone?), the shoe has now been given a 2017 update, infusing the shoe with Adidas’ modern BOOST technology. The campaign sees London tastemakers such as Jessy Linton + Taiba Akhuetie, the duo behind Keash Braids, photographed alongside fellow pairs who use the shoes as a way of communicating their creativity.
IMG signs the first hijab-wearing model
Model Halima Aden made history this week as the first major signing to leading modelling agency IMG who wears a hijab. Halima, who has already competed in the state round of the Miss USA competition in her hometown of Minnesota, has hit the ground running, taking part in Kanye’s Yeezy show yesterday at NYFW, and has an editorial lined up in Carine Roitfeld’s CR Fashion Book to be released in March. Halima said of her new platform this week, “I wanted to spread a positive message about beauty and diversity, and to show other young Muslim women that there is room for them.”
Valentina Sampaio became the first trans woman to appear on the cover of Vogue
The industry released a landmark cover this week as Vogue Paris became the first Vogue globally to have a trans woman grace its cover. The lucky lady chosen was Valentina Sampaio, who sizzles on the Mert and Marcus lensed shot, styled by the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Emmanuelle Alt. While Vogue has featured trans models Hari Nef and Andreja Pejic, they have never been given a cover until now. An exciting step forward for diversity in fashion.
Credits
Text Lynette Nylander