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Louis Vuitton Stages Paris Events in Run-up to Men’s Show – WWD

2 weeks ago

PARIS — After taking its men’s shows to Shanghai and Tokyo last year, Louis Vuitton is ringing in the new year with a series of men’s fashion events in Paris this month, culminating with the presentation of its fall collection on Jan. 21.

Dubbed “Louis Vuitton: Walk in the Park,” the mix of physical and digital experiences kicks off with a temporary store, open from Jan. 8 to 31 at 28 Quai de la Mégisserie, offering a selection of reissued and new limited-edition sneakers, jewelry and sunglasses designed by Virgil Abloh, men’s artistic director at Louis Vuitton.

From Jan. 18 at the Vuitton flagship on Place Vendôme, meanwhile, visitors will be able to interact with the animated characters known as “Zoooom with friends,” introduced in July as a taster for the brand’s itinerant spring 2021 collection. Through a filter on the LV app, the cartoon figures come to life and take over the facade of the building.

A rendering of Louis Vuitton’s “Zoooom with friends” characters on the facade of the Place Vendôme flagship. 
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Using advanced facial tracking technology, the app also allows users to trigger different animations and photographic content featuring

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Filson Taps Paolo Corinaldesi as Chief Executive Officer – WWD

2 weeks ago

Heritage outdoor outfitter Filson has tapped Paolo Corinaldesi as chief executive officer.

The sixth ceo in the Seattle-based company’s 124-year history, Corinaldesi joins as part of his role with WP Lavori, the international apparel brand licensee, distributor and retail group, where he served as global strategist. WP Lavoli made a multimillion-dollar investment in Filson in 2020, acquiring 10 percent of the company, to partner with Bedrock Manufacturing Company, the parent company of Filson.

“WP Lavori identified Filson as a brand with universal appeal. Even in a year like 2020, Filson proved its resiliency, with double-digit e-commerce growth amid a global pandemic and economic crisis,” Corinaldesi said.

Heading into 2021, the ceo said the brand is in a great position, “thanks to the leadership of Tom Kartsotis and Alex Carleton [founder of Bedrock and chief creative officer of Filson, respectively], who have built a phenomenal foundation for our business.” In the immediate future, he said the brand plans to invest in e-commerce and retail locations, with new customer acquisition earmarked as a priority.

“We also see a huge opportunity with international expansion,” he said. “WP Lavori’s investment in Filson brings us the ability to tap into the European market, as they

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Emma Heming Willis Introduces Body-care Brand to U.S. Market – WWD

2 weeks ago

When Emma Heming Willis was pregnant with her first daughter, Mabel, she turned to coconut oil to help reduce stretch marks.

“I was looking for a clean, effective skin-care line,” she said over Zoom. “I’m just genetically prone to stretch marks. I didn’t see anything on the market at the time that was what I was looking for, so I went toward an old family favorite which was just coconut oil. My grandma used it for cooking, for everything. My mom used it on me.…I came out stretch-mark-free and was just shocked.”

With Cocobaba, a direct-to-consumer body-care brand, she hopes to offer mothers and moms-to-be the benefits of coconut oil in elevated products formulated with other rich, natural ingredients. The entire line is vegan, using certified organic coconut oil, dermatologically tested and free of silicones, parabens and mineral oils.

Cocobaba’s U.S. launch features a body scrub, body oil and butter mousse, all made using organic coconut oil. 
Courtesy

Willis — a model, entrepreneur and the wife of actor Bruce Willis — launched the brand in Germany, where it’s made, in 2016. (“Their beauty standards are so high when it comes to formulation,” she said of the European country). For its

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Where in the World Is Pedro Barrios? – WWD

2 weeks ago

After years of gallivanting the globe and exploring art in different ways, former WWD fashion illustrator Pedro Barrios continues to draw and paint in his Miami home. Even though he is technically retired, he is occasionally commissioned to do paintings for residential clients.

Using all of his savings, Barrios left the U.S. in the late Seventies and spent years living in different countries — first Greece, then Spain, Italy and England. After a respite in the U.S., he relocated again to Puerto Rico to live in the Caribbean National Forest.

“I was never afraid to take a chance. Traveling to different countries is something that most people won’t do,” he said. “I even killed a boa constrictor in my house in the rainforest. The animal got in through one of the upper windows and was in a bookcase. I wasn’t going to sleep with her. Frankly, she was a little taller than I am — almost six feet long.”

A saber alone was not enough to solve the problem. Barrios added, “But when you live in a place like that you have tarantulas in the house, bats and stuff like that. But it was fun. I had this fantasy of

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Penney’s Hit With Exec Departures – WWD

2 weeks ago

The shake-up at J.C. Penney Co. Inc. continues.

Bill Wafford, executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Steve Whaley, controller and principal accounting officer, have left Penney’s.

As previously reported, Jill Soltau, Penney’s chief executive officer, also left Penney’s and the department store’s new owners — the Simon Property Group, Brookfield Asset Management and Authentic Brands Group — have launched a search for a new ceo. Stanley Shashoua, Simon’s chief investment officer, became interim ceo on Jan. 1. The owners also said a temporary office of the ceo, to include key members of Penney’s current leadership team, has been established.

The sole remaining officers of the company are Alan Carr, chief restructuring officer and vice president, and Steven Panagos, secretary.

As to be expected with its ownership, Penney’s is creating a new board. Carr and Panagos have been named to the board, while B. Craig Owens, Lisa Payne, Leonard Roberts, Javier Teruel and Ronald Tysoe have all left the board. Penney’s said the board resignations were not the result of any disagreement with the company or the board on any matter relating to the company’s operations, policies or practices. Penney’s has not provided explanations for the departures of Soltau,

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Alexander Wang Responds to Sexual Misconduct Claims, Dispute Continues – WWD

3 weeks ago

After days of being accused of sexual misconduct by unidentified individuals in social media posts, fashion designer Alexander Wang has broken his silence and is striking back regarding the allegations.

Earlier this week a spokeswoman for the designer declined comment and other employees at the New York-based company did not acknowledge emails. But on Thursday afternoon an unsolicited statement from Wang was sent out.

”Over the last few days I have been on the receiving end of baseless and grotesquely false accusations. These claims have been wrongly amplified by social media accounts infamous for posting defamatory material from undisclosed and/or anonymous sources with zero evidence or any fact-checking whatsoever. Seeing these lies about me being perpetuated as truths has been infuriating. I have never engaged in the atrocious behavior described and would never conduct myself in the manner that’s been alleged. I intend to get to the bottom of this and hold accountable whoever is responsible for originating these claims and viciously spreading them online,” Wang said in the statement.

Although the number of accusers and their identities have not been publicly revealed, the Model Alliance offered its support earlier this week by posting a message of solidarity on its

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