Moschino Names Adrian Appiolaza as Creative Director, and Other News

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Moschino Names Adrian Appiolaza as Creative Director

Moschino has appointed Adrian Appiolaza, a highly regarded Argentine designer, as its new creative director. Appiolaza recently moved to Milan from Paris to work on his first collection, which is set to debut later this month. His appointment comes following the sudden death of Italian designer Davide Renne in November, who had started the role ten days prior. Appiolaza has previously worked at fashion houses including Chloé, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, and most recently Loewe, where he served as ready-to-wear design director for a decade.

In other people news, Nicky Dessources has been named the new executive director of collectible design fair Salon Art + Design; she succeeds Jill Bokor, who helmed the role for more than a decade. The Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation named SHoP Architects principal Angelica T. Baccon as its new Chair of the Board of Trustees. The artist Moridja Kitenge Banza recently joined Claire Oliver Gallery in Harlem and accepted a position at the prestigious McCanna House Artist-in-Residence Program in North Dakota. —Ryan Waddoups

The Pavilions at Glenstone will close for renovations for up to a year starting in March.

Glenstone, the acclaimed art campus in Potomac, Maryland, known for its 204,000-square-foot exhibition building called The Pavilions, is set to close for renovations lasting up to a year starting in mid-March. While neither the museum nor the architect, Thomas Phifer and Partners, has disclosed specific details about the renovations, the closure has raised questions about the reasons behind it. The building, which opened in 2018 and cost approximately $200 million, was the subject of a lawsuit in the past, with the contractor alleging breach of contract and project mismanagement. The lawsuit was settled in June 2023, with terms undisclosed. The museum aims to ensure the building’s continued service and plans to expand its outdoor sculpture program during the closure while keeping other areas accessible to the public.

Zaha Hadid Architects designs hydrogen refueling stations for Italian ports and marinas. 

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has unveiled plans for the world’s first green hydrogen refueling infrastructure for recreational boats, slated to launch in 25 Italian ports and marinas. Led by NatPower H, the $107 million project aims to establish 100 refueling stations across the Mediterranean by 2030 and eliminate 45,000 tons of carbon emissions from recreational boats annually. ZHA’s scheme integrates renewable energy sources to produce eco-friendly hydrogen, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable power in the boating industry. 

Christian Louboutin is venturing into eyewear thanks to a new partnership with Marcolin.

Christian Louboutin is venturing into eyewear through an exclusive global licensing agreement with Italian eyewear manufacturer Marcolin, covering the design, manufacturing, and distribution of the brand’s sunglasses and optical frames until 2029. The move aligns with Louboutin’s strategy to become a complete lifestyle luxury accessories brand. The first Christian Louboutin eyewear collection is slated to debut in spring 2025 and will be available in select stores worldwide. The eyewear is expected to incorporate signature elements inspired by Louboutin’s iconic red lacquered sole. The luxury label has lately expanded its product offerings, including beauty, kids, and pets, making eyewear a natural addition to its portfolio.

Plans to resurface Egypt’s ancient Pyramid of Menkaure in granite draw heated debate.

The Egyptian authorities’ announcement of plans to resurface the Pyramid of Menkaure, the smallest of Giza’s three main pyramids, with its original granite blocks has sparked controversy. While some archaeologists criticized the idea, likening it to “straightening the Tower of Pisa,” others were concerned that it could turn the historic Giza plateau into an ersatz Disneyland. The initiative, dubbed “the project of the century” by Mostafa Waziri, the secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, is led by a coalition of Egyptian and Japanese experts. It will begin with a year of study, followed by an international team deciding whether to proceed with restoring the granite blocks that once covered the pyramid’s bottom third. 

Peloton’s shares have tumbled by nearly a quarter as more users are returning to gyms.

Peloton’s shares have plummeted by nearly a quarter as the fitness company reduced its sales forecast due to lower demand for its high-end equipment. The company, which initially thrived during the pandemic, saw many of its users return to gyms, impacting the sales of hardware like stationary bikes and treadmills. While the connected fitness service had 3 million subscribers in the last quarter, Peloton warned of a potential 5 percent drop in revenue for the current quarter, estimating adjusted losses to increase from $18.7 million to as much as $30 million. Once valued at nearly $50 billion, Peloton’s current market valuation is $1.5 billion.

Today’s attractive distractions:

Why are so many smart people insisting that aliens have visited the Earth?

Thousands of Instagram users recently shared pictures of them at age 21.

Thanks to inflation and aspiration, $1,000-per-night hotels are standard fare.

A “priceless” John Opie painting is recovered 50 years after mobsters stole it.