Top International Fashion News of the Week | 27.02.22

Milan Fashion Week is in full swing, and Barbie celebrates Black History Month with special edition dolls. Find these stories and more as we uncover the top international fashion news of the week.

London Fashion Week Wraps Up

London Fashion Week has come to an end, with trends and iconic moments on and off the runway. The week began with a blend of digital and physical events, starting on Thursday, February 18th, and finishing on Tuesday 22nd. Some of the most memorable runways included Matty Bovan, who channeled US football culture and Americana themes. LVMH 2021 Designer of Year, Nensi Dojaka, presented her second collection, including her signature string constructions with a mostly brown, neutral, and pink color palette.

In her latest collection, Simone Rocha channeled the Irish fable, The Children of Lir. The pieces featured a blend of ruffles, a royal blue color palette, layers of lace, and mesh overlays. “It’s a really old fable that everyone in Ireland knows,” she said. “The children become swans for nine hundred years, across three different lakes. And when they come back to human form, they pass away. I began loosely basing my narrative on that.”

Designers Showcase at Milan Fashion Week

From Versace to Blumarine, Milan Fashion Week has begun setting new trends. Some of the world’s leading supermodels, including Vittoria Ceretti, Bella, Gigi Hadid, and Adut Akech, walked the runways, showing off the latest designs for the season ahead. Fendi followed an ethereal nod to Karl Lagerfeld’s 1986 and 2000 collection, with a mix of light blush, pistachio green, gray, and seafoam. Kim Jones gathered structured tailoring throughout the collection, combined with overlays of soft chiffon, corseted layering, and a touch of fur. Moschino sought inspiration from the bedroom scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey. This collection was inspired by Chesterfield dressers, a golden harp, Persian rugs, and birdcages.

The big players of the week include Versace, Prada, and Gucci, which showcased its first gender-neutral runway. “Exquisite Gucci” had subtle nods to the ’70s disco era, with sparkling suits, and a bold array of clashing patterns. “I use the metaphor of the magical mirror to approach the phantasmagorical power of fashion,” said Creative Director Alessandro Michele of the collection. The designer also unveiled a collaboration with Adidas – the collection includes classic Gucci pieces decorated with the white sport stripes and logos on suits, baseball caps, and bags.

Brandon Maxwell Launches First Collections for Walmart Brands

Brandon Maxwell is the new Creative Director for Walmart’s elevate brands, Free Assembly and Scoop. As part of his tenure, he released the first collection for Free Assembly, featuring 500 pieces for women, men, and children. Prices range from $8-$48. For Scoop, prices begin at $18 and include dresses, denim, skirts, and t-shirts.

“Working with Walmart has long been a dream of mine. As a kid, growing up in a small town in Texas, Walmart was the destination for everything, including clothing,” he said. “I’ve so enjoyed working closely with Walmart’s design team and partners over the past year to bring this vision to life. There’s nothing more rewarding than clothing that helps people look and feel their best no matter where they come from, who they are or what their budget may be.”

Barbie Creates Collection for Harlem’s Fashion Row

Barbie is celebrating Black History Month by collaborating with Harlem’s Fashion Row. The collection includes some of the most iconic work by Kimberly Goldson, Richfresh, and Hanifa – a blue PVC coat and white boots, a multi-layered sunset dress, and a blue, orange, and brown tracksuit.

“Who didn’t love Barbie as a little girl?! I loved my Barbie Dream House with the most perfect elevator; it gave me the chance to dream in real life,” said Anifa Ivuemba, designer for Hanifa. “I’m so thankful for this opportunity to connect to my childhood, and I’m happy to see that little Black girls everywhere can see themselves starting with their favorite toy.”