Interview news and archive

Marimekko CEO on modernising the brand while keeping Unikko-heritage alive

If you know Marimekko, then you are likely already familiar with the brand’s bold graphic poppy print, suitably titled Unikko – the word for ‘poppy’ in Finnish. Initially created by the brand’s designer Maija Isola, it has now become synonymous with Marimekko’s design language, and is recognisable on a global scale. Celebrations ahead of the...

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Ba&sh CEO Pierre-Arnaud Grenade: ‘We weren’t born sustainable, but we take it seriously’

French fashion brand Ba&sh is one of those names in the premium segment that is enjoying success despite inflationary pressures. Beyond its products, its desirability stems from a well-honed and constantly evolving CSR policy. In 2022, while its sales increased by 22 percent, Ba&sh's carbon footprint decreased by 15 percent – data shared with...

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BAPE’s Tokyo homecoming looks back on 30 years of leadership in streetwear

In the heart of 1993’s Harajuku, Tokyo’s home of outlandish fashion and subcultures, A Bathing Ape – more commonly known as BAPE – was born, a lifestyle brand that promised to offer up a renewed take on streetwear through the eyes of its already acclaimed founder Tomoaki Nagao, or Nigo. As a devout hip hop fan, Nigo formulated the brand through...

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Westwood and Galliano: Ahead of her designer auction, founder of PR house 2e Bureau reminisces

From Vivienne Westwood to John Galliano to Azzedine Alaïa, the auction of pieces from the collection of Sylvie Grumbach, founder of the press office 2e Bureau, entitled "From the avant-garde to today", is an opportunity to revisit her past. Through her story, a whole era of fashion comes to the forefront, with its variables (Paris’ place in...

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Meeting with the archives manager of a major fashion house

Fashion archives are often a little-known department, overlooked by students in favour of more creative sectors, but they are brought to life by passionate professionals. As documentalists or archivists, they contribute to the reputation of luxury fashion houses and work with cultural institutions and creative departments. To better understand...

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Amsterdam Fashion Week: 'It is not our ambition to be like Paris or New York'

The new edition of Amsterdam Fashion Week (AFW) is once again upon us. The Dutch fashion event is becoming an increasingly recognisable face within the industry, traditionally taking place at the end of summer. "We want to grow in individuality," explained creative director Danie Bles of AFW. With several editions in recent years, fashion week...

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How Levi's conserves and preserves the iconic look of its 501 jeans

When you think of Levi's, you think of 501 jeans, the brand's signature piece. With its high waist and straight legs, the cut of these trousers has looked the same for 150 years. Yet it has changed more than you might think, with Levi's recently introducing the 'Plant-Based 501', made of 97 percent plant-based material. On this innovation and...

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How Esprit is gearing up for a major relaunch after years of brand degradation

Esprit is originally an American brand, but its heritage of 'California cool' has almost been lost over the years. After thoroughly reshaping the company over the past three years, the brand is going for a major relaunch this autumn. In the brand’s European office in Amsterdam, CEO William Pak spoke about the company's journey and what to expect...

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Behind Von Dutch’s surprising return to the luxury market

A powerful fashion brand of the 2000s, Von Dutch (Royer Group) made a strong comeback with the 2020 launch of Von Dutch Paris, a clothing and accessories line that is about to gain visibility in the French market. "The idea of doing Von Dutch Paris actually goes back to 2017," Earl Pickens, Von Dutch creative director, confided by phone. “We...

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How ‘Islanders’ have helped spur on Ebay’s pre-loved fashion push

“The fact that we made front page news when we first announced that the Islanders would be wearing secondhand clothing shows how ingrained fast fashion had become in society,” said Kirsty Keoghan, global general manager of Pre-Loved Fashion at Ebay UK, when asked about the platform’s ongoing partnership with Love Island. Initially teaming up for...

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Five years on: How AI and eco-values have defined 8 by Yoox

Back in 2018, the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) was not a one creative industries such as fashion were entirely familiar with. Yoox, however, was among the few preparing to step into these unchartered waters. It was during this period that the Italian fashion retailer launched its innovative fashion brand 8 by Yoox, which took the...

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CEO Peter Graschi: Arena increases market share and wants to make swimming better known

For its 50th anniversary, Italian swimwear specialist Arena is going big – parties, fashion collaborations such as those with Woolmark and Marcelo Burlon , and an extravagant stand at the Pitti Uomo men's fashion fair. The brand, which was founded in 1973 by Horst Dassler - son of Adidas founder Adolf Dassler - also has some plans for the...