But First, The News: Week 2, For Fashion Fiends

This week’s theme: Fashion! Enjoy!

Giorgio Armani No Longer Using Fur In Products:

Effective the Fall/Winter season of 2016, the Italian fashion house announced Tuesday that it will no longer be using fur in any of its products.

According to British Vogue, the following Armani collections will fall under the the new fur free policy: Giorgio Armani, Armani Privè and Emporio Armani.

In a statement posted to the Armani Group’s official website, the fashion house states that it is “in agreement” with the Fur Free Alliance. The  Fur Free Alliance  is an international group of 40 animal protection organizations who seek “to end the exploitation and killing of animals for fur.”

Further on in the online statement, the eponymous designer of the fashion house said the following, shedding light as to why the Armani Group was moving in this direction:

“Technological progress made over the years allows us to have valid alternatives at our disposal that render the use of cruel practices unnecessary as regards animals. Pursuing the positive process undertaken long ago, my company is now taking a major step ahead, reflecting our attention to the critical issues of protecting and caring for the environment and animals.”

Finally, the statement also includes the Armani Group’s definition of fur as it relates to this new policy. These are the key points of this definition:

• Fur is defined to pretty much be any animal skin or body part that contains “hair or fur fibers” that comes from an animal that was specifically killed to get its fur.
• Animals are defined specifically to be the following: mink, fox, rabbit, karakul lamb and raccoon dog.
• The definition of fur does not cover the following:
  • Animal skins that already have the hair/fur fibers removed, and will be converted to leather.
  • Synthetic materials that are created to look like fur
  • Material that has been sheared or clipped from an animal (like shearing sheep)
  • Animal skins or leather that still have hair or fibers on them (The example given is “cowhide with hair attached.”)
• The fur free policy does not cover animal skins that come from certain animals that “are understood to typically be a by-product of the meat trade, or another industry.“ (Think cows and sheep.) The Armani Group does make sure to say, however, that if they find out these animals are being specifically killed for their fur, then they will “choose to avoid these products where possible.”

 

HBO Movie “The Battle of Versailles” Gains Director, Ava DuVernay

HBO has found a director and co-writer for its movie “The Battle of Versailles” and it’s Ava DuVernay, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The director of Selma is expected to helm the movie about a fashion show held in 1973 at the Palace of Versailles, an event considered to be revolutionary for American fashion.

The movie will largely be based on the events described in Robin Givhan’s book “The Battle of Versailles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled into the Spotlight and Made History.”

In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar published in July 2015, Givhan notes that the 1973 fashion show fundraiser for the Palace of Versailles was “notable” because five American designers were  invited to show their designs next to the top French designers of the day “during a time when the French fashion industry was really overwhelmingly dominant”  and also because the American designers brought along 36 models, 10 of whom were black “which was also unusual” for that time.

Givhan also went on to discuss the cultural significance of the fashion show (in the Harper’s Bazaar interview):

“So much of what happened at Versailles was really a reflection of the times. It was a reflection of what was going on politically and socially in terms of race relations.”

The American designers featured in the Versailles fashion show were: Anne Klein, Bill Blass, Halston, Oscar de la Renta and Stephen Burrows. The French designers were Emanuel Ungaro, Hubert de Givenchy, Marc Bohan of Christian Dior, Pierre Cardin and Yves Saint Laurent.

A release date for the movie has not yet been announced.

 

Nike Announces Self-Lacing Sneakers

 

Ever thought about having a pair of sneakers that laced themselves?

Nike has. And, according to the Associated Press, Nike announced their newest creation last Wednesday: the Nike HyperAdapt 1.0.

The shoes tighten their laces once the wearer’s heel touch an inner sensor. And, in an attempt to achieve the concept of “adaptive lacing,” the wearer can also adjust the tightness of the shoes to their own preferences by pressing two buttons on the side.

According to Nike’s website, the HyperAdapt 1.0 is just the beginning, as they hope to improve this technology to create a more “automated” shoe that could make those lacing adjustments by itself.

You can view Nike’s introductory video for the HyperAdapt 1.0 above. (You’ll notice that on one of the shoes, the acronym “E.A.R.L.” is printed. According to  Cnet.com, E.A.R.L. stands for “Electro Adaptive Reactive Lacing.” And yes, these shoes will need to be charged, every two weeks.)

The HyperAdapt 1.0 shoes are slated to be released during the 2016 holiday season. The shoes will only be available to Nike+ members. Prices are not yet known.

 

Video of the Week: 

This week’s Video of the Week is an insightful interview from PBS NewsHour.

The interview is conducted by award-winning journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault and features modeling agency owner and former model Bethann Hardison discussing how she’s working to bring more diversity into the world of fashion.

You can view the video here.

 

Podcast of the Week: 

This week’s Podcast of the Week is a fun look back on one of fashion’s earliest historical figures; so early in fact that she’s been deemed the world’s first fashion designer: Rose Bertin.

Ever wondered who designed many of Marie-Antoinette’s gorgeously decadent gowns? Then “Rose Bertin: The First Fashion Designer” is the perfect podcast for you.

You’ll learn all about the queen’s bad-ass stylist from this episode of How Stuff Works’ “Stuff You Missed in History Class,” hosted by Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Frey.

You can listen to the episode here.

That’s all the fashion news I’ve got for you this week! Catch up on last week’s topic here. 

I hope you’re all having a lovely week so far!