Top Fashion Stories of the Week: April 28

This week is in vogue, a new era begins, and another ends. After 13 years at the helm of his namesake label, Tom Ford has officially said goodbye to his last women’s collection, having sold the brand to Este Lauder for $2.8 billion USD in November last year. Meanwhile, the once popular and then maligned streetwear label VLONE returns under a mysterious new leadership, without its former boss: convicted sex offender A$AP Bari.

Elsewhere, Gucci launched its first iteration Gucci Cosmosexhibition in Shanghai, and Valentino is expanding its “Valentino Vintage” initiative worldwide. Paper Magazineon the other hand, laid off her entire editorial staff, marking the end of an era of iconic American fashion and pop culture publication.

Below, Hypebeast has rounded up the week’s top fashion stories so you can stay up to date with trends in the industry.

Tom Ford Walks Out From Named Brand With Final Collection Celebrating His Greatest Work

Steven Klein/Tom Ford

After 13 years on his eponymous fashion throne, Tom Ford is officially saying goodbye to his namesake label with its final women’s ready-to-wear collection, for Fall 2023. The line, which was released on the designer’s website earlier this week, comes alongside his final collection. . campaign, which sees Ford cinematically tracing its archives in three high caliber videos, shot by Steven Klein.

The delivery of the outfit starred several of Ford’s muse, namely Amber Valletta, Joan Smalls, Karlie Kloss, Karen Elson, and Caroline Trentini. Dressed in the cover collection, which houses archival reproductions of the American visionary’s favorite, each glittering cast member looks harkening back to a watershed point in the history of the Ford brand.

A celebration of his unwavering grip on fashion (and pop culture), Ford’s Fall 2023 collection marks his final outing for his eponymous label, having sold the brand to Este Lauderin in a $2.8 billion USD deal in November last year.

Read more, here.

VLONE Relaunched Under A Mysterious New Leadership

Vlone

VLONE, the once popular and then maligned streetwear label previously helmed by convicted sex offender A$AP Bari, is back under an enigmatic new leadership. In this new era, the controversial design label is looking to return to its former glory with a fresh look, having cut ties with Bari in 2022.

The revamped VLONE officially launched on April 21, with a collection titled Brick by Brick, in reference to mold’s attempt to rebuild itself. A note from the team behind the new VLONE on the brand’s updated website reads, In the new era of VLONE, our brand will embrace signature creatives that defy norms and inspire desire as we build our fashion house together, one brick at a time. .

Read more about the brand’s fall and return, here.

Gucci Opens ‘Cosmos’ Exhibition Exploring 102 Years of His Best Work

Gucci

In Shanghai, Gucci opened the doors of its newest exhibition,Gucci Cosmos. The expansive exhibition, open until June 25, explores Home’s most memorable designs from its century-old archive, offering a tribute to the Florentine Italian brand’s beginnings and a nod to its timeless creativity.

Designed by British contemporary artist Es Devlin, with curation from Italian fashion theorist and critic Maria Luisa Frisa, the exhibition contains eight worlds, each of which elevates treasures (many of which have never been seen before) from the Gucci Archives, located in the 15th century. Palazzo Settimanni in Florence.

Following Gucci Cosmos‘ closing at the West Bund Arts Center in Shanghai, China, the exhibition will tour the world. Look inside, here.

Prada Group Reveals Plans to Invest 60 Million EUR in Italian Factory

Robert Alexander/Getty’s image

ThatPrada The Group announced plans to spend 60 million EUR ($66 million USD) on industrial capital investments, with the aim of expanding its production capacity by 2023. Specifically, the Italian company will double its knitwear production plant in Torgiano, according to Reuters.

While the luxury group will focus on expanding its Umbria-based factory, it will also look to acquire smaller manufacturers. The company reportedly has its targets in mind, which likely exclude leather production outposts, as the group is already well equipped in the category.

However, the majority of Prada’s investment will go toward expanding and upgrading the company’s existing plants, along with the acquisition of the latest technology and a larger workforce.

Vivienne Westwood Starts a Historic Corset Exhibition in London

Vivien Westwood

Following the passing of Dame Vivienne Westwood earlier this year, the same designer brand, now helmed by widower Andreas Kronthaler, is paying homage to its founder’s pioneering work with an exhibition highlighting her classic corset.

TitleVivienne Westwood Corset 1987 to Today, the exhibition will open during London Craft Week in May, taking a deep dive into Westwood’s subversive lingerie and undergarments. It will include several pieces from the late designer’s runway run, dating back to 1987, juxtaposing the founder’s evolutionary approach to corsets with that of Kronthaler’s today.

That Vivienne Westwood Corset 1987 to Today the exhibition will be shown from 8 to 21 May in the brand’s London storefront.

Paper MagazineLaying Off Its Entire Editorial Staff

Picture of Rita Barros/Getty

Paper Magazinethe iconic American pop culture and fashion publication founded by Kim Hastreiter and David Hershkovits in 1984, laid off its full editorial team Wednesday.

The layoffs will affect between 20 and 30 full-time employees at the company, including writer, editor and editorial director Mickey Boardman, starting April 28, according toAdweek. The magazine’s editor-in-chief, Justin Moran, will remain at the company for another month to publish the rest of the magazine’s projects.

PerAdweeks, publisher Tom Florio is looking for ways to cut costs in the face of declining ad revenue. The alternatives include selling the company to potential investors who have expressed interest, according to the sources. It is currently unknown whether the publication will continue to operate in the future.

Valentino Vintage Opens Swap-Shops in London, Milan, Paris and Far Away

Valentino

Valentino Vintage has expanded its initiatives for 2023, with new exchange stores in Milan, Paris, London, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Seoul and New York. As part of the programme, Maison has teamed up with seven antique shops in the aforementioned destinations, along with education incubator London 1 Granary, in a bid to make luxury fashion more affordable.

Each shop is selected for its relevance in its city. Among them, Rellik London, which opened in 1999, is known for its 60s silhouette lines from the capital’s heyday, and Madame Pauline in Milan is highly regarded for its mix of styles across generations.

With 1 Lumbung, the program has partnered with several schools to gift archival pieces to students to better understand Valentino’s design process. Institutions included are IED in Milan, Institut Franais de la Mode in Paris, Central Saint Martins, in London, Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, Coconogacco in Tokyo, ESMOD in Seoul and Parsons School of Design in New York

For a complete list of Valentino Vintage locations, click here.