Daniel Arsham’s Fashion Label Isn’t Another Hype Project, and Other News

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Daniel Arsham’s Fashion Label Isn’t Another Hype Project

Few contemporary artists have permeated culture to the extent of becoming a household name, but Daniel Arsham falls squarely within that category. The in-demand artist rose to prominence with a concept he calls “fictional archaeology,” in which he uses materials like selenite crystals and volcanic ash to sculpt eroded totems of popular culture like Delorean hatchbacks and Pokemon characters as artifacts recovered from a lost civilization. The accessibility of his art—and his massive social media influence—has made him a frontrunner for high-profile labels (Dior, Tiffany, Rimowa) seeking buzzy collaborators for limited-edition drops. In late 2020, he was even named creative director for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Now, Arsham is putting his own fashion design chops to the test. This week, he launched a label called Objects IV Life whose debut drop consists of unisex workwear that reflects his own personal style: jackets, jeans, T-shirts, hoodies, boots, a cap, and canvas tote bag. Each collection will be presented as a “chapter” pegged to both art-world events and real-world seasons; work is already underway on the label’s second and third collections. It’s the product of a joint vision with Stefano Martinetto, co-founder of the brand accelerator Tomorrow, who describes the venture as a meeting of minds and dismisses notions that the label is simply a hype project: “The opportunity is huge,” he tells Business of Fashion. “The audience is really wide, from serious collectors to the kids.” The first “chapter” will be available at Kith’s Paris flagship and online. —Ryan Waddoups

Hailey Bieber’s new Rhode skincare brand is being sued for trademark infringement. 

“Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Skin brand—which launched June 15 to much fanfare—is being sued by the fashion label Rhode, which was founded in 2014 by Purna Khatu and Phoebe Vickers and is carried by retailers such as Net-a-Porter and Bergdorf Goodman. In it’s court filing, Rhode alleges Bieber’s unauthorized use of the trademarked “rhode,” which is also her middle name, represents a ‘textbook case of reverse confusion in which a massive junior trademark user threatens to trample a smaller senior user’s mark.’” [H/T Business of Fashion]

Hong Kong’s landmark Jumbo Floating Restaurant capsizes in the South China Sea.

“Hong Kong’s iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant has capsized in the South China Sea less than a week after it was towed away from the city, its parent company said Monday. The restaurant encountered “adverse conditions” on Saturday as it was passing the Xisha Islands, also known as the Paracel Islands, in the South China Sea, and water entered the vessel and it began to tip, according to Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises Ltd. The company said no one was injured, but that efforts to save the vessel failed and it capsized on Sunday.” [H/T NPR]

MAD Architects shares visuals for a 12-building affordable housing complex in Beijing.

MAD Architects is best known stateside for its completed and in-progress Los Angeles projects. Back home, the Ma Yansong–led firm recently revealed Baiziwan (Baiziwan Social Housing), a sprawling affordable housing development spanning 12 apartment towers and more than 23 acres on the fringes of Beijing’s central business district. MAD has heralded the project, which is open to young professionals and citizens receiving assistance from the state, as ‘an important step forwards [sic] ideal living in China.’” [H/T The Architect’s Newspaper]

Adam Sandow’s unicorn Material Bank acquires the architecture database Architizer.

“The architecture and design materials marketplace Material Bank has acquired digital architecture database Architizer. Material Bank purchased Architizer as part of the company’s expansion into the architecture space. The acquisition comes less than a year after Material Bank bought UK interior design procurement firm Clippings. Founded in 2019, Material Bank delivers samples of fabrics, woods, textiles and other materials to customers in the United States and Canada.” [H/T Dezeen]

Away is launching outdoor gear including duffels, backpacks, and messenger bags.

“Travel ground to a standstill during the pandemic, but it’s now back with a vengeance. Away is launching a new category of luggage to take advantage of this uptick. A week from today, the company is releasing a line of outdoor gear, called For All Routes (F.A.R), that includes duffel bags, convertible backpacks, and messenger bags made of water-resistant material, designed for hikes and road trips. Away is touting this launch as the next chapter in its brand evolution. After a damaging exposé about the brand’s toxic culture in 2019, followed by months of low sales when the pandemic hit, this new collection gives Away an opportunity to re-introduce itself to consumers in a post-pandemic world.” [H/T Fast Company]

The NFT.NYC conference gets off to an awkward start after crypto’s value plunges.

“This year’s conference, perhaps the largest in the ever growing circuit of NFT events that have popped up across the globe, comes at a difficult time. Since topping out in January 2022, the cryptocurrency market has been rapidly declining during what some experts have described as a crash. Yet the community has put on a brave face, remaining optimistic as naysayers say “I told you so.” More than 15,000 attendees have registered for the conference, up from the 5,000 or so attendees who attended last year, when the market was in a much different place.” [H/T ARTnews]

Today’s attractive distractions:

Craig & Karl gives mini-golf a psychedelic spin at Canary Wharf in London.

The pizza-famous Mystic, Connecticut, is becoming a culinary destination. 

Here’s how OXO salad-spun its way into the heart of the American kitchen.

The world’s most valuable sneakers are now worth more than a Porsche.