Plus the viral floral arrangement raising funds for women’s reproductive rights, and Virgil Abloh’s guide to starting a brand
Words by JAKE HEDDAEUS
Styles from the PRADA Re-Nylon collection.
PRADA GETS A SUSTAINABLE UPDATE
For the first time, the spectrum of Prada’s Re-Nylon collection has expanded into ready-to-wear, footwear and accessories for men and women, all available now.
The Italian fashion house’s memorable moments are innumerable. Most recently, the house debuted a meeting of minds between Miuccia Prada and recently appointed co-creative director Raf Simons. Well-crafted collections have ranged from retro to modern, playful to subtle, classic to hip — but no one collection, silhouette, embellishment, or more aptly, fabric, is more intrinsically linked to the Prada DNA than nylon, introduced soon after Muiccia took the helm of the family business in 1978.
Since then, the nylon handbags and backpacks have served as a subversive and utilitarian take on luxury, one that would be among the designers first commercial successes. Fast-forward some 40 years later, and the nylon offerings continue to be the house’s most coveted and recognizable, proving to be an enduring style that has transcended generational affinity.
After receiving a sustainable update in 2019, the material was dubbed Re-Nylon, and Prada released six unisex classic styles in “ecologically conscious” regenerated nylon. The fiber is produced by recycling and purifying plastic collected from oceans and landfills; a process that for every 10,000 tons of regenerated nylon created, 70,000 barrels of petroleum are saved.
The expanded Re-Nylon collection encompasses gabardine raincoats that could lend itself to a look a la Frank Ocean at the 2019 Met Gala; voluminous drawstring shorts fit for the boxing ring; and a pinafore dress with backpack strap details, a futuristic take on cottagecore. Combat boots include a small zipper pouch for carrying small necessities. Also included are Prada-branded stainless steel water bottles, a stylish solution to cutting back on single use plastic.
To fete the launch of an expanded Re-Nylon collection, Prada’s Rodeo Drive outpost features an updated window display and in-store installation showcasing the brands’ sustainable wares. The collection can be shopped online and at the label’s Beverly Hills store. 339-343 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, 310-278-8661.
Proceeds from ERIC BUTERBAUGH’s flower vagina sculptures go toward the advancement of reproductive rights.
A VIRAL FLORAL ARRANGEMENT IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN
Fashion’s favorite florist, Eric Buterbaugh, has partnered with social advocacy group RAD on a provocative floral arrangement to raise funds and awareness for women’s reproductive rights. Available in three colorways and priced at $250 per arrangement, the flower vagina sculptures have been embraced by a myriad of celebrities, popping up on the Instagram feeds of Demi Moore, Gwyneth Paltrow and Elizabeth Banks, to name a few. From the sales, 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to The Center for Reproductive Rights, a legal organization that uses the law to advance reproductive rights around the world.
“We hope that by posting photos of these gorgeous florals and sharing information that affects millions of us, we can help shine a light on critical healthcare issues women face every day,” says Carineh Martin, who co-founded RAD with Arianne Phillips. “Arianne, Eric and I want to reinforce the fact that reproductive rights are fundamental human rights, and we won’t stop fighting until we are protected and our healthcare is safe.”
Looks from AMIRI’s Spring/Summer 2021 fashion show.
MIKE AMIRI RETURNS HOME
California’s leading luxury brand Amiri returned to its roots for the opening of a Beverly Hills boutique, and to stage its first-ever fashion show in Los Angeles earlier this month. Founded in 2014, Amiri has rapidly ascended the world of fashion, picking up a CFDA nomination in 2018 and opportunities to showcase his seasonal collections at Paris Fashion Week. What started in a small studio on Sunset Boulevard is now a globally recognized brand stocked by prestigious retailers ad infinitum.
Lately, namesake designer and CEO Mike Amiri has been focusing on the place where it all began. Last month, he debuted the brand’s first stand-alone boutique, situated on Rodeo Drive, marking a new era for the company and establishing himself alongside the world’s leading luxury players.
On Oct. 16, the brand presented its Spring/Summer 2021 fashion show in L.A. at the Sheats-Goldstein Residence, a marquee structure designed by world-renowned architect John Lautner. The collection, which the brand has described as its homecoming and a tribute to West Coast culture, includes several variations of dungarees, elevated drawstring sport shorts in leather and paisley prints, varsity and moto jackets, and even a matching pair of shorts and a button-up shirt rendered in a dainty marijuana plant print.
Creative visionary VIRGIL ABLOH.
VIRGIL ABLOH’S GUIDE TO STARTING A BRAND
As the founder of Off White and the artistic director of Louis Vuitton Men’s, Virgil Abloh is among the leading creative talents in fashion right now. As a Black man, he is all too familiar with racial disparities within his industry. So, he’s created on his website a resource, titled “Free Game”, that lays out 12 steps to starting a brand, based on his own experience. For future generations, he spells out everything from obtaining a trademark and starting a Shopify store, to designing in Adobe Creative Suite and making a screen print.
“As part of my long-standing initiative to see design, art and culture more inclusive to young Black designers and those coming from nontraditional backgrounds, I wanted to assist in providing the means for them to advance on the road to ownership of their ideas and brands,” Abloh explains. “The exact notions and tools that I used to formulate my career [are] open to all. For free.” In addition to the mentorship series, the designer has established the Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund, which has committed $1 million to supporting scholarships and career opportunities for Black students.
Oct. 23, 2020
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