DESIGN DISPATCH

Kim Jones Steps Down From Fendi, and Other News

Plus, Phoebe Philo expands her label to the Asia-Pacific market, and revenue falls at Ikea.

Kim Jones. Credit: Nikolai Von Bismarck

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As Kim Jones steps down from Fendi, LVMH announces he will remain at Dior Men’s.

Kim Jones will leave his role as Fendi’s artistic director after four years. The designer is credited with reshaping the brand’s haute couture and ready-to-wear collections, leading to revenues that nearly tripled during his tenure. Despite his departure, he will continue overseeing Dior’s men’s collections.

Phoebe Philo’s namesake label expands to the Asia-Pacific market with wholesale.

Phoebe Philo is expanding into the Asia-Pacific market, offering products through online sales and new wholesale partnerships with Dover Street Market Ginza and Shinsegae International in Seoul. Select retailers will start carrying her collections by the end of October.

Tesla's Robotaxi. Courtesy of Tesla

Melike Altinsik Architects’ “smart” museum of robotics and AI opens in Seoul.

Melike Altinisik Architects (MAA) has completed the Robot & AI Museum (RAIM) in Seoul, an institution dedicated to robotics, artificial intelligence, and innovation. The museum’s spherical design incorporates smart systems in both its architecture and operation.

Revenue falls at Ikea after the Swedish retailer slashes prices amid high inflation.

Ikea experienced its first revenue drop in four years, despite surging orders. Its 2024 revenue fell by four percent to $49.3 billion, as price-cutting by the company increased in-store and online traffic but impacted overall sales.

At its “We, Robot” event, Tesla and Elon Musk reveal an autonomous taxi and Robovan.

Tesla has unveiled its long-awaited Cybercab taxi alongside a surprise launch of the larger Robovan, designed for group transportation. The fully autonomous Cybercab lacks a steering wheel and pedals and is priced at $30,000 with wireless charging and unsupervised self-driving capabilities. While no pricing details were provided for the Robovan, it can accommodate up to 20 passengers or large cargo.

The “brat wall” in Brooklyn. Image courtesy of Colossal Media

Today’s attractive distractions:

Restaurants are increasingly withholding posting their menus online.

Charli XCX reveals that she chose Brat’s slime-green cover art to save money.

Freeman’s Hindman auctions the first known interracial couple’s photo.

“They’re just like us,” New York City’s rat czar says of her subjects.

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