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“Telfar Clemens, the Liberian-American designer, is known for his radical inclusivity, encapsulated by his slogan, “It’s not for you. It’s for everyone.” He only designs unisex garments and he deliberately prices his products to be more affordable than other designers. And now, he’s bringing his vision to activewear, with a new performance collection, inspired by his work sponsoring and designing the uniforms for the Liberian Olympic team at the Tokyo Games last year. These pieces were engineered for sports—with compression, sweat-wicking materials. But the brand makes it clear they’re designed for both “athletes and aesthetes,” and will look good outside the gym as well.” [H/T Fast Company]
Denver hires New York planner Eugenia Di Girolamo as its first chief urban designer.
“After an almost year-long search, the City of Denver has hired Eugenia Di Girolamo, an architect who’s currently the deputy director for urban design at the NYC Department of City Planning, as its chief urban designer. Di Girolamo will be Denver’s first employee to focus exclusively on urban design. When the city announced the job opening last July, Community Planning and Development said the department was “looking to elevate the role of urban design in preparing Denver for the future while preserving our historic buildings and staying true to Denver’s heritage.” Blueprint Denver, a land use and transportation plan adopted by Denver City Council in 2019, will serve as a guidebook for Di Girolamo.” [H/T Westword]
“In the Light of a Shadow” by Glenn Kaino at Mass MoCA, the recipient of a grant from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. Photography by Tony Lounge/courtesy of Mass MoCA…
The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation awards $3 million in grants for climate initiatives.
“The New York–based philanthropic arts organization established by celebrated American abstract expressionist painter Helen Frankenthaler announced today that it has awarded $3 million in grant funding to 49 visual arts institutions, including both museums and schools, for clean energy schemes, carbon footprint-minimizing building upgrades, climate resiliency projects, and related undertakings. The 49 visual arts institutions awarded during this second round of grant funding spans 19 states from Ohio (Cleveland Museum of Art) to Washington (Tacoma Art Museum) to Delaware (Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library) to Kentucky (Speed Art Museum) and beyond.” [H/T The Architect’s Newspaper]
New Zealand’s new royalty scheme gives artists five percent of all resale prices.
“A five-percent royalty payment will be made to visual artists or their estates each time their work sells on the resale market. The scheme will come into effect in late 2024, Arts Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced at {Suite} Gallery in Auckland on Thursday. The royalty will be available to Kiwi citizens and residents, and will also operate on a reciprocal basis for residents of the United Kingdom and European Union countries, meaning Kiwi artists will get a slice of the pie when their works are resold there, too.” [H/T Stuff]
Hanae Mori with her designs at the Iwami Art Museum in Hamada, Japan. Image courtesy the Yomiuri Shimbun …
Hanae Mori, the Japanese couturier who popularized East-West styles, dies at 96.
“Hanae Mori, the Japanese couturier who emerged from the ruins of World War II on the wings of her signature butterfly to build a $500 million fashion house that popularized East-West styles and symbolized the rise of postwar Japan, died on Aug. 11 at her home in Tokyo. From a dressmaking shop catering to the wives of American G.I.s in what had been a bombed-out section of Tokyo, Hanae Mori (pronounced HA-na-eh MO-ree), the daughter of a surgeon, climbed to global fame in a 50-year career that brought fabulous wealth; the creation of 20 companies; palatial homes in Paris, New York and Tokyo; and remarkable standing for a woman in a male-dominated profession and society.” [H/T The New York Times]
Estée Lauder Companies may soon acquire fashion label Tom Ford for $3 billion.
“The race to acquire Tom Ford, the US designer’s eponymous label, is heating up. But, how much is the brand really worth, and should frontrunner Estée Lauder buy it? Last month, Goldman Sachs was reportedly looking for buyers for the label, in a deal that could value the company at “several billions of dollars”, according to Bloomberg. Weeks later, Wall Street Journal reported that Estée Lauder Companies was considering a bid that valued Tom Ford from at least $3 billion.” [H/T Vogue Business]
As Inditex shares sink, Zara founder Amancio Ortega is investing in energy ventures.
“Zara founder Amancio Ortega’s personal investment firm is on a quest to diversify one of the world’s biggest fortunes away from linen suits, pearl-beaded handbags, and feathered sandals. Fueled by proceeds from his fashion empire, the billionaire’s family office, Pontegadea, has gone on a deals spree that shows no sign of abating. In the past year, it accumulated stakes in energy ventures worth more than $1 billion and spent almost $2 billion on real estate globally.” [H/T Bloomberg]
Emmett, a finalist in the kids’ division of the USA Mullet Championships. Image courtesy of USA Mullet Championships…
