Christopher John Rogers at the CFDA Awards. Image via Instagram/@CFDA…
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The CFDA Awards Makes Strides Toward Inclusivity
The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) is rearing its eyes toward inclusivity and openness. Earlier this week, the annual CFDA Awards bestowed its prestigious accolades to the fashion industry’s most notable names, both emerging and established. The ceremony, hosted by Emily Blunt and CFDA chairman Tom Ford, saw a star-studded crowd descend on the Seagram Building in headline-grabbing looks like Kid Cudi’s lace wedding dress by Eli Russell Linnetz.
This year, BIPOC designers took home a substantial amount of awards—a refreshing course correction for an industry that often honors the same names ad nauseum. Among the highlights were Theophilio’s Edvin Thompson receiving the American Emerging Designer of the Year; Telfar Clemens receiving the American Accessories Designer of the Year for his ubiquitous tote; Christopher John Rogers and Emily Bode receiving the Womenswear and Menswear Designer of the Year awards, respectively; and Aurora James being recognized with the Founder’s Award in Honor for the 15 Percent Pledge. The coveted Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, meanwhile, went to none other than Surface cover star Dapper Dan.
The Tulip Tower by Foster + Partners…
After years of speculation, London ends up shelving the controversial Tulip Tower.
The UK government has shelved plans for the controversial Tulip Tower designed by Foster + Partners. Though there was recent speculation that the newly appointed housing secretary Michael Gove would approve the scheme, it was ultimately rejected over climate change concerns. When the tower was first unveiled, London mayor Sadiq Khan commented that the design was of “insufficient quality” and would “result in an unwelcoming, poorly designed space at street level.”
UNESCO teams with a Saudi agency to foster the heritage of the AlUla region.
The UN agency signed a five-year memorandum with the Royal Commission of AlUla (RCA) to cement a “strategic cross-cultural partnership” that comprises dual programs to develop the culture within the Saudi province, beginning with a two-year collaboration with UNESCO’s Memory of the World Program that aims to market the scriptures of the Arab world. Additional schemes include an eight-month fellowship for five archaeologists slated for March 2022 alongside other long-term strategies such as biosphere reserves, geological parks, and spiritual heritage listings.
Lace by Jenny Wu in carbon fiber…
Jenny Wu expands her line of 3D printed jewelry with an all-new carbon fiber collection.
The co-founder of Oyler Wu Collaborative expands her collection of 3D printed jewelry, Lace, with Carbon—a dual effort with industrial 3D printing and materials brand Impossible Objects that saw the duo recreate four signature pieces from Wu’s previous offerings from carbon fiber composites, a less bio-reactive derivative that raises the bar of product durability and weightlessness “I’ve always wanted to design a collection using alternative high-performance materials like carbon fiber,” says Wu. “Previously, carbon fiber was only suitable in applications with simple, flat surfaces. But now we are able to produce unique geometries that have never been produced before.”
Sigur Rós frontman Jónsi’s new exhibition transports gallery-goers to an Icelandic volcano.
Sound and scent take center stage in the Icelandic artist’s first solo New York show as he imbued Tanya Bonakdar Gallery with the life-force of Fagradalsfjall, a dormant volcano that recently erupted in his homeland. Titled Obsidian, the darkened room features a central cloaked subwoofer encircled by 200 rumbling speakers that bellow Icelandic choir-inspired hymns. The smoky aroma drawn from fossilized amber completed his synesthetic approach, which swept beyond the ground floor into his sculptural exhibition that boasted a second burnt-birch scent and sonic system which echoed his original melodies that charged his display with the spirit of primal volcanic activity.
Shelter on the Ruins by WORS Architects…
WORS architects transforms a defunct fortress into an experiential museum in Portugal.
Nestled on the coastline of Peniche, the conceptual “nossa-senhora-da-luz” base is housed a waterside 17th-century defense citadel. Focusing on preservation, the firm proposed a reimagined site that features vertical and horizontal volumes connected by an underground exhibition space, an ascetic approach that offers sweeping views of the ruins and ocean from its watchtower and internal corridors. “The project is conceived as a way that runs through the ruins and connects the earth and the sea, memory and nature,” says WORS architects. “Simple monolithic forms open up new perspectives on the ruins and provide a direct connection with the surrounding natural landscape.”
After selling $1 million in one minute, rumors swirl over a second Fendi x Skims drop.
With many items selling out or already in low stock, it appears there might be a part two of Kim Kardashian’s Fendi x SKIMS collaboration. While the first drop included co-branded jumpsuits, dresses, and shapewear, the second one is rumored to be shearling sandals and new versions of Fendi’s First heel, the Peekaboo bag, and the Baguette. With the first launch drawing $1 million in sales within one minute, it’s easy to see why the two brands are set to drop even more merch.
