Jacquemus continues its global expansion with the grand opening of its latest standalone store in London’s prestigious New Bond Street. Following successful launches in Paris, Dubai, and New York City, the new space is a testament to the brand’s soaring popularity and coastal aesthetic.

Creative director Simon Porte Jacquemus has launched the brand’s first flagship store in the UK, within a historic Victorian-style building adorned with an intricate frieze by artist Alexander Stoddart. Designed in collaboration with the renowned Dutch architecture firm OMA, the store’s interior juxtaposes the grandeur of Victorian architecture with a minimalist, Mediterranean-inspired makeover. Soothing, sunlit hues and organic textures evoke the essence of southern France, creating a serene escape from the bustling London streets. Angular forms blend seamlessly with soft, curving walls, embodying the effortless elegance of the brand. This London boutique delivers more than just a shopping experience—it’s a Provençal retreat.

Jacquemus’ playful designs—think the iconic Chiquito bags, double ballerina heels, and draped collar jackets —have long captivated British fans of the brand. For Simon Porte Jacquemus, who fell in love with London’s vibrant energy as a teenager, opening a store here is a full-circle moment.

With its doors opening this month, the London flagship solidifies Jacquemus’ reputation as a global tastemaker. It offers a thoughtfully curated brand experience where the charm of Provence meets the dynamism of one of the world’s fashion capitals.

London-based jewellery designer Solange Azagury-Partridge is known for her artful take on jewellery that incorporates provocative themes, often characterised by bold and playful uses of colours and gems.
Marking her time in the industry–over 35 years–she has teamed up with Rizzoli to launch her first book, SOLANGE: Jewellery for Chromantics. Inside, expect plenty of storytelling (as with her jewellery), an exploration of her enchanting jewellery world, and her fantasy-filled creations. It’s no wonder then, that her pieces has gained a following with fashion and jewellery enthusiasts from Julianne Moore to Sarah Jessica Parker–loved for her avant-garde designs that set Solange apart from the traditional jewellery houses.
Solange’s love of language and connotations have become central to her creative process, and as such, inform the names of her lauded collections: Scribbles, Chromance, Platonic, Supernature, Regalia, Poptails, Stoned, Sentimentals, Hotlips and Metamorphosis.

Solange’s expressive rings, full of life with colour, remain her most famous creations, cue the Hotlips ring that was first designed in 1995, and has established its legacy in the permanent collections of the Victoria & Albert museum and the Musée Art des Décoratifs in Paris, amongst

other Solange pieces.

“Her brains, impeccable eye and ability to continuously think outside the box are qualities to
be marvelled at. There are no jewels that make me more excited than Solange’s. Never boring, always innovative and unlike any other,” says Adwoa Aboah.
Solange: Jewellery for Chromantics is published by Rizzoli priced at £73.00.Available to purchase at Dover Street Market – 18-22 Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4DG and via solange.co.uk.

Written by Felicity Carter

Art Basel Paris 2024 has made a triumphant return to the iconic Grand Palais, reclaiming its spot after two years at the temporary Grand Palais Éphémère. Set against the Beaux-Arts grandeur of the venue, the event featured notable VIPs like Brad Pitt, Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, and Natalie Portman mingling among the art elite. Opening day buzzed with energy as sunlight streamed through the Grand Palais’s restored glass roof, illuminating 195 galleries from 42 countries, reflecting Paris’s growing global art scene influence. Expanded programming included a partnership with Miu Miu and off-site exhibitions at the Domaine National du Palais-Royal and Petit Palais, blending Parisian culture with the international art market.

The fair’s structure featured the main Galeries section, the Emergence section for young artists, and Premise, a new platform for nine galleries with curated exhibitions. Standout works included Barbara Kruger’s Untitled (Long Life), Kati Heck’s Tip-Toe Echo, France-Lise McGurn’s Feather Lite, and Jack O’Brien’s Allowance, all exploring varied themes from media critique to authority. Other highlights were Linder’s The Red Shoes, Shuang Li’s The Guillotine (Future) on dystopia, and Mathis Altmann’s Mid-City III (Dionysian Revel), a diorama evoking a decayed, chaotic warehouse. Paulina Olowska’s Laura with Wolves brought feminine energy to Pace’s witch-themed booth.

A new addition, the Oh La La! initiative, encouraged galleries to rehang booths on Friday and Saturday, offering new works for discovery. As the fair rolled into the weekend, sales were successful, with White Cube leading with a $9.5 million Julie Mehretu sale. With its stellar programming, glamorous clientele, and buzzing atmosphere, Art Basel Paris 2024 solidified its place on the international art fair circuit.

Around Paris, satellite exhibitions echoed Art Basel’s energy. Highlights included Tales & Tellers by Miu Miu at Palais d’Iéna, a Chantal Akerman retrospective at Jeu de Paume, and the Reena Spaulings Collective’s critique on consumerism at Galerie Hussenot. The Surrealismé exhibit at Centre Pompidou also celebrated Surrealism with over 500 works.

With its stellar programming, glamorous clientele, and a buzzing atmosphere, Art Basel Paris 2024 solidified its place as a key destination on the international art fair circuit, blending Parisian flair with the unmistakable excellence of Art Basel.

Written by Sofia Hallstrom.

The Art Basel Shop, curated by Colette’s co-founder and creative visionary Sarah Andelman, was a standout feature at Art Basel Paris, bridging the worlds of art, fashion, and eco-conscious design. Located within the Grand Palais Éphémère, this unique retail experience presented a carefully curated collection blending artist-driven designs with sustainable craftsmanship.

Showcasing Andelman’s innovative approach, the shop featured exclusive collaborations that spanned sustainable fashion to one-of-a-kind art pieces. Key items included scarves by artists Claudia Comte and Marcel Dzarma, created in collaboration with Parley for the Oceans, an organisation dedicated to repurposing ocean plastic waste. Guerlain presented the world’s first signature art-fair branded fragrance, crafted in partnership with artist Julie Beaufils, which embodied a sensory experience inspired by art and nature.

Among the shop’s most compelling offerings was Martine Syms’ clothing line, developed with the support of Lafayette Anticipations. Syms’ collection brought a fresh perspective to wearable art, highlighting thoughtful, minimalist design that was both stylish and eco-friendly. Additional partnerships added unexpected twists: the Uniqlo x Musée du Louvre collaboration reflected a fusion of high art and accessible fashion, while Paris Saint-Germain Football Club joined in with art-forward pieces, showcasing its influence in both sports and contemporary culture.

By bringing together art and sustainability, the Art Basel Shop offered more than just merchandise—it embodied a movement toward mindful consumption. Andelman’s curation reflected a new chapter in retail, one that emphasised the values of conscious artistry. For visitors to Paris+, the shop provided a glimpse into a future where art and sustainability intersect seamlessly.

London Fashion Week marks its 40th anniversary this year, with thousands of city venues being transformed into fashion show spaces for one-night-only events. Stylish crowds have been out in full force for the Spring/Summer 2025 collections, showcasing both established and emerging talent for the upcoming season.

Here are some of Twin’s highlights.

Chopova Lowena

On Friday evening, Chopova Lowena invited guests to the derelict basement of Shoreditch Town Hall, and combined  playful references like the Wild West, can-can dancers, and Victorian Halloween costumes. Their signature carabiner clip kilts were ever-present, along with whimsical charm details. Titled “Chuckaboo,” the show had models racing through abandoned rooms accompanied by heavy metal soundtracks.

The English-Bulgarian duo debuted two collaborations: one with Asics, reimagining the GEL Quantum 360 VIII sneakers with butterflies, rhinestones, and flowers; and another with Hellmann’s Mayonnaise.  A version of the brand’s leather “Margaret” shoulder bag was designed to carry a jar of the much-loved condiment, complete with a Victorian silver spoon and Hellmann’s blue charm.

JW Anderon

At JW Anderson, restriction is liberation.

Grounded in just four materials—cashmere, leather, silk, and sequins—  Anderson’s SS25 collection featured echoes of previous designs, including optical illusion fastenings, buttery leather, liquid dresses, and oversized Argyle knits. 

The Irish designer’s typical absurdity shone through in structural dresses with exaggerated hems and oversized pullovers mimicking sleek bomber jackets.

Nensi Dojaka

Albanian-born designer Nensi Dojaka returned to the runway after a two-season break, unveiling her collaboration with Calvin Klein and launching her e-shop on the same day. Since her rise in 2019, including winning the LVMH Prize in 2021 and dressing celebrities like Beyoncé and Dua Lipa, Dojaka has quickly become one of fashion’s most sought after brands.

Her signature lingerie-inspired designs were on full display, featuring stretch tulle layers, micro-drapes, and intricate strapwork. Models also were seen sporting body-clinging knitwear dresses, and leather bustier dresses. 

“I think femininity is about embracing the contrast that lives within us: the balance between softness and strength,” Dojaka said in the show notes. This balance was undoubtedly at the core of her SS25 collection.

Scottish designer Charles Jeffrey has marked a significant milestone in his career, celebrating the tenth anniversary of his brand, Loverboy, by taking over Central London’s Somerset House. In a turbulent period for the UK fashion industry, Jeffrey’s infectiously joyful brand offers a beacon of innovation. 

Loverboy originated as a queer club night in east London, and has since evolved into a celebrated fashion label with a dedicated following.  Jeffrey has dressed notable figures like Tilda Swinton and Harry Styles.

The SS25 showcase was a testament to Loverboy’s signature queer-meets-punk identity, presented with unapologetic flair. Models, as if struck by Cupid’s arrow, tumbled down the runway in a captivating display. The collection featured oversized jumpers, shirts with arrows shot through, reimagined army and sailor uniforms, paired with Loverboy’s distinctive animalistic headgear, with peeling banana boots adding a playful touch.

Somerset House, which has housed his studio since 2016, was a fitting venue for this celebration. The event also inaugurated The Lore of Loverboy, a retrospective exhibition in the Terrace Gallery, chronicling the brand’s evolution from a queer club night at Vogue Fabrics in Dalston to a fashion powerhouse.

As the music dimmed and models exited backstage, American icon Beth Ditto returned to deliver a rousing rendition of Patti Smith’s “Gloria.” The 41 looks then danced up and down the runway, honoring Charles Jeffrey Loverboy’s decade-long journey. The SS25 collection celebrated bright, queer identities, encouraging bold self-expression and cherishing life’s fleeting moments.

Visitors can view The Lore of Loverboy exhibition from 8 June – 10 September 2024 at Somerset House. Tickets operate on a pay what you can scheme to ensure accessibility.

In her Autumn/Winter 2024 show, Dilara Fındıkoğlu unveiled 36 captivating looks, weaving a narrative of feminine allure and sensuality. Titled “Femme Vortex,” the collection was showcased within the unlit confines of St Luke’s Old Street Anglican church, a powerful setting for a collection aimed at dismantling patriarchal structures.

The runway spectacle featured a concoction of deconstructed tailored jackets, form-fitting corsets, and avant-garde accessories. Actress and style icon Hari Nef opened the show, dressed in a sheer white corset paired with a button-up shirt and blazer cinched together with a bold safety pin, accentuated by lace-up chokers and eye-catching belts.

Nodding to a lack of pockets in womenswear, the look, entitled “Female Territory” saw objects like a pen, lighter and watch stuffed in the bra cups.

Another look titled “Man License,” featured disheveled business attire juxtaposed with sheer corsets and latex opera gloves as the model carried a handbag cleverly crafted to resemble folded newspapers. On it read “OMG Dilara is doing a satanic orgy at a London Church.”

Each ensemble, meticulously curated by Dilara, exuded an aura of subversive elegance. In her show notes, the Turkish-British designer elaborated on her vision. “This is a manifesto for a world order born of an unrelenting vortex of femme energy; a way of being and feeling that transcends the parochial strictures of conventional masculinity.”

Amongst the stunning cast, notable personalities such as Richie Shazam and Lana Rhoades made appearances on the runway.

Dilara’s distinct aesthetic, characterised by its ethereal beauty tinged with an edgy and provocative undertone, evoked memories of fashion icon Alexander Lee McQueen’s groundbreaking work. Again, Dilara Fındıkoğlu has succeeded in crafting a collection that not only captivates with its aesthetic brilliance but also serves as a poignant reflection of societal norms and values, urging us to reconsider our perceptions of beauty and the feminine identity.

Reebok and London-based fashion label Aries have cast their creative forces together, unveiling their first footwear collaboration. 

 Since its founding in 2010, Aries has been renowned for its bold, genderless design philosophy and nostalgic nods to ’80s and ’90s culture. This January, the homegrown streetwear brand seamlessly joins forces with Reebok, a hallmark in global sportswear. The collaboration pays homage to the timelessness of the Classic Leather, a quintessential symbol of British style.

Drawing inspiration from mystics, wizards, and magicians, the Aries x Reebok Classic Leather features the Mystic’s Shoe tinted with Aries’ signature aqua and adorned with gold. Premium leather, nubuck accents, reflective features, and Aries’ gold foil wizard graphic are just a few of the design elements that make this collaboration truly mystical.

Packaged in an exclusive custom shoe box with additional gold detailing, the Aries x Reebok Classic Leather invites wearers to embrace the mystique and craftsmanship of this iconic collaboration.

Aries Creative Director and Founder Sofia Prantera expressed her excitement, stating, “Reebok’s Classic Leather is such an important symbol of British style, so it was very flattering to be asked to interpret it.” The challenge, as she sees it, is to infuse an Aries twist without compromising the shoe’s inherent simplicity.

The Aries x Reebok Classic Leather is available January 19 exclusively from

Aries (ariesrise.com) and the Aries flagship store followed by a wider global release on January 24 from Reebok.com and select specialty retailers.

East London-based rapper Chase Tha Worst has been catching the internet’s ear with a stolid and infectious flow. Hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, he’s carved his own distinct aesthetic and sound; an intoxicating blend of hip hop and funk, challenging conventions and offering a fresh perspective. That same spark is on display on No Friendz, his new single and video out now.

Last week, the rapper and producer released his debut album Tha Worst Mixtape. Tongue-in-cheek lyricism and effortless delivery can be heard drifting across his 10 self-produced songs, crossing into different genres. In No Friendz, Chase channels an energetic and laid back flow, coupled with striking visuals shot in London. 

“I think in current times, music alone is not enough. I wanted to use all the creative fields I love- music, creative direction and comedy to bring the project to life and create a world around it,” says Chase.

Speaking further on his debut, “I hope that it inspires others to do the same. I hope to bring some originality and craft to not just the music but all that surrounds it – the promos, the videos, the visual identity. I think that a lot of people are caught up with trends and numbers. How do I get famous? How do I make my next song blow up? A lot of people are trying to use a formula but it’s killing the art form. I hope to inspire other artists to stop trying to feed algorithms, stop jumping on trends, and make what they really want to make.”

You can watch the official No Friendz video here, out now.

Designer Yasuko Furuta’s Tokyo-based luxury label, TOGA, is set to launch a collaborative collection with the American workwear brand Dickies. The lineup showcases timeless silhouettes infused with a Japanese Americana flair, drawing inspiration from TOGA ARCHIVES.

The collection is available from October 27. Click here for more details

Hypha Studios (HS) and Creative Land Trust (CLT) have come together to unveil MELT as part of Frieze 2023. The exhibition shines a light on 32 artists and creatives who have flourished through the support of these visionary organisations

The brainchild of Camilla Cole and Will Jennings, Hypha Studios emerged as an idea during the pandemic, prompted by the three-sided problem of increasing high street vacancies, loss of community spaces and deteriorating conditions for artists and creatives.

Set against the backdrop of London’s effervescent creative landscape, MELT stands as a testament to the city’s vibrant artistic spirit. The exhibition’s centerpiece features CLT’s remarkable studio holders from the Wallis Road site, including luminaries like Shiori Akiba, Enej Gala, and Zarina Khan. Notably, CLT’s esteemed ambassadors – Adelaide Damoah, Haroon Mirza, and Emmanuel Unaji – also take center stage, championing the cause of creating fertile ground for artists to thrive. Augmenting this eclectic gathering are Hypha Studios’ very own talents, comprising Margaret Ayres, Luca Bosani, and Kialy Tihngang.

The exhibition’s title, MELT, pays homage to the legendary FREEZE exhibition curated by Damien Hirst in 1988—a pivotal moment that reverberates through the current era of creative evolution.

Creative Land Trust’s mission revolves around the acquisition, preservation, and protection of long-term affordable workspaces for artists, while Hypha Studios facilitates free short-term studio and exhibition spaces for artists, in exchange for a public program that enriches local communities.

MELT marks a significant milestone as the inaugural exhibition at Hypha Studios’ brand-new central London location, Regent’s Place, as part of a transformative three-year partnership with British Land.

MELT will be open to public Monday 9th – 22nd October 2023, 12 – 6pm daily at Unit 3, Euston Tower, 286 Euston Road, London NW1 3DP

British shoe and accessories designer, Sophia Webster has just released a coffee table book.

Famed for her iconic butterfly heels, Webster’s eponymous footwear label was dubbed the shoe world’s new rising star since its inception in 2012, counting fashion’s key retailers -Dover Street Market, Harvey Nichols and net-a-porter.com as stockists. 

In Oh My Gosh, I Love Your Shoes!, Sophia shares an intimate narrative that unveils the highs and lows of a remarkable decade spent shaping the landscape of shoe-making and fashion. 

The book is part memoir, part homage to the world of high heels and haute couture. Sophia Webster takes the reins, recounting her captivating story in her own words. 

Oh My Gosh, I Love Your Shoes! launches October 5th. You can find out more here.

This coming fall, Offer Waterman Gallery will unveil On Foot, an exhibition curated by Jonathan Anderson. 

On Foot will bring contemporary artists into dialogue with iconic works of modern British art, from the likes of seminal artists Igshaan Adams, Frank Auerbach, and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye amongst many others.

Also on display will be Anderson’s pieces from recent seasons for JW Anderson and LOEWE, each hand-picked for its sculptural and transformative forms.

The exhibition transforms the galleries of Offer Waterman into the iconic streets of Mayfair and Soho, unfolding like a walk-through London. From your local watering hole to garden squares, the gallery’s corridors and stairways will transform into the city’s traffic-clogged streets, and busy pavements, with ceramics and sculptures representing the city’s energetic crowd. You may even spot JW Anderson’s pigeons taking over what was once the gallery’s storeroom.

British artist, Anthea Hamilton, has collaborated with JW Anderson to present a limited-edition version of the iconic pigeon clutch which will be available at both Offer Waterman and the JW Anderson Soho store.

The exhibition will open on September 18, two days after Anderson presents his S/S 2024 womenswear collection for JW Anderson as part of London Fashion Week on 16 September.

JW Anderson at Offer Waterman On Foot runs from 18 September – 28 October 2023. 

jwanderson.com

Highly acclaimed British artist, Tomo Campbell, has announced his latest exhibition, Spitting Feathers. From September 14th, the Cob Gallery will host Campbell’s exceptional works, marking his third solo exhibition at the coveted venue and promises to captivate art enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike. Spitting Feathers will showcase his most extensive collection yet, displaying an intricate fusion of past, present, and future themes.

Collected by notable figures such as Harry Styles and Alexa Chung, Campbell has garnered attention for his unique artistic voice that seamlessly blends the classical with the contemporary. His creative journey navigates the delicate balance between abstraction and figuration, weaving a narrative that delves into timeless subjects such as the hunt, parades, and exploration. What sets his art apart is his distinctive style, characterised by an interplay of bold and layered arrangements in soft pastel hues reminiscent of the elegant Rococo era.

Inspired by a diverse array of source material, the exhibition invites viewers to step into a realm where tradition meets innovation.

As we await the official reveal, it’s clear that Tomo Campbell’s creative prowess continues to make waves across London’s creative landscape. Spitting Feather opens to the public on Thursday 14 September and will be on view until Saturday 7 October.

Boiler Room and Umbro have teamed up to release their latest football inspired club collection. Reflecting the freedom, colour and vibrance of rave culture in the UK, it’s presented as the ultimate kit to wear from dawn until dusk, football to festival field.

An independent music platform and cultural curator, the collection follows a series of iconic collaborations Boiler Room has released with P.A.M. and Valentino in previous years. 

Designed to celebrate the early days of rave when music, fashion and football collided, the seven-piece collection features a black pinstripe tracksuit available as a drawstring short and jogger set with co-branded red vinyl gloss detail. Accompanied by a black and neon yellow oversized tee with a 3M Boiler Room x Umbro back print and matching OG sweat towel, to keep you cool from centre-pitch to centre stage. 

Hero styles from the collection take the form of football jerseys, in a neon green long-sleeve goalkeeper style and black short-sleeved option, printed with an x-ray design symbolising underneath we’re all the same, one world, one community, one team.

“Umbro is such an iconic brand, we thought it would be fun to come together to design a uniform for Boiler Room. What does our team look like? It’s constantly changing but it’s always open, energetic, & diverse. A hyperlocal crew with a global mindset,” says Amar Ediriwira, Boiler Room’s Creative Director.

British nightlife photographer, Ewen Spencer captures the campaign’s imagery, worn by an electrifying crowd during the final performances of Jyoty and DJ EZ at Boiler Room London. 

The Boiler Room x Umbro collaboration is available from 30 June available exclusively on the Boiler Room website.

Following this year’s CSM BA show, menswear designer Eden Tan was accorded the top honour of the L’Oréal Professionnel Young Talent. His collection, On Borrowed Fabric,  places heavy emphasis on sustainability and circular production.

Of Malaysian-Chinese and British heritage, Eden Tan was born and raised in London, a city celebrated for its highly innovative fashion and creative communities. His latest collection draws from his hobby of tinkering and developing new techniques, bringing renewed life to garments and fabric found in charity shops. On Borrowed Fabric follows a material’s journey from creation, to obsolescence, and ultimately, recreation. 

Utilising trompe l’oeil techniques, folds and a handful of slits, Eden had constructed a series of six looks that had been made entirely from one fabric roll -still attached to the garment.

“I don’t think my work is that deeply rooted in fashion culture, I just like to find a quirk in a piece of material and really elaborate on that,” Tan explained, “the motivation for the collection was the possibility of making clothes which could be as easily reprocessed into new garments as if the fabric had never passed through my hands.” 

Tan references Schrödinger’s Cat, a thought experiment, as a core principle he held during the creation process. “Basically, a scientist puts a cat in the box with a bunch of chemicals and puts a lid over it. We won’t really know if the cat is dead or alive until we open the box. This represents a paradox of quantum superposition, one I want to demonstrate in using the same roll of fabric that remains seemingly untouched though work has been done.”

Evidently, upcycling and rebirth are crucial themes at the forefront of Tan’s graduate collection, yet the designer is under no illusion that this project is going to save the planet. “I know it’s not a practical solution to fast fashion, but being as sustainable as possible and preserving the integrity of materials will always be important to me.”

“My work is never indulgent, it’s always restrained.”

And what’s next for Eden? 

“The truth is I’m taking the whole year to not worry about the deadlines someone else has set for me. This project is over and it was a success, and I now want to take each day as it comes.”

Tags: Central Saint Martins, Eden Tan

In ode to the ultimate summer muse

This June, Saatchi Yates presents ‘Bathers’– a summer group exhibition celebrating the rich tradition of Bathing scenes in the history of painting.

The exhibition presents a collection of contemporary art, alongside renowned Post-War and Historical Masters including David Hockney, Paul Cezanne, J. M. W. Turner and Pablo Picasso. 

Also presenting in the show are contemporary stars Hurvin Anderson, Peter Doig, Henry Taylor, Eric Fischl, and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, showcasing an artistic prowess that reflects the breadth and diversity of the Bathers theme. 

Pieces by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Damien Hirst, and Auguste Rodin will also be on display.

Speaking on the exhibition, Martin Gayford says: “Bathers in painting are both varied and fundamental to the human condition. The combination of unclothed bodies and water can evoke guilt-free primordial innocence: a sin-free Eden. On the other hand, the same visual ingredients can suggest the consequences of Eve and Adam’s Fall: guilt, lust, death. 

He continues “in either case, the subject combines in one neat package two of the major preoccupations of artists for many centuries – landscape and the nude. It is no surprise that bathers have preoccupied painters for so long, and it is likely that the combination of water and human bodies will continue to intrigue them far into the future.”

Six of Saatchi Yates gallery artists including Danny Fox, Benjamin Spiers and Ethiopian artist Tesfaye Urgessa, will pay homage to this tradition, each one exploring the Bather in their own unique artistic methods and styles. 

Bathers follows Saatchi Yates’ well-regarded Tesfaye Urgessa solo show in Miami in November 2022. The show also follows on from Macabre – the selling exhibition co-organised with Christie’s London in October 2022, featuring works by Otto Dix, Lucas Cranach, Andy Warhol, and Francis Bacon.

The exhibition will be available for viewing from June 1 until August 10.  Admission is free. Additionally, there will be weekly curator-led tours every Saturday throughout June.

#SaatchiYates

‘No posers. Locals only’

In collaboration with stylist Phoebe Arnold for streetwear brand Aries, David Ledoux has released Gnarly, a compelling documentation of youth culture, captured in the Basque country in the southwest of France. The cloth-bound hardback will feature 118 black and white lithographic-printed photographs, capturing sun-kissed portraits of free-spirited young surfers and skaters in the south of France. Ledoux’s imagery pays homage to what it’s like to live, surf and skate on the coast near Biarritz.

Aries’ vibrant essence blends seamlessly with Ledoux’s photographs of the carefree surf community in France’s Basque country, reflecting the brand’s deep connection to London subculture and founder Sofia Prantera’s adolescence in the 90s.

Ledoux’s successful photography career spans both reportage and fashion, authentically capturing communities in a state of invisibility, filled with raw energy. reflects his keen sense of discernment and sensitivityThrough the years, his work has captured the eyes of iconoclastic publications like Vice, GQ and Dazed and Confused.

Phoebe Arnold first discovered Ledoux’s work on Instagram in 2020,  falling in love with his effortlessly bona fide approach to photographing the community around him. She proposed a collaboration, when Ledoux called the stylist with the news he was moving to Portugal. “It felt like fate,” recalls Arnold. “We met on a surf beach and road tripped together from Aljezur to Biarritz in his caddy van.”

Aries’s Soho flagship store is currently housing an exhibition which showcases selected images from Gnarly alongside a never-before-seen film documenting the book’s creation process. 

Aries has also partnered with White Claw to create a capsule collection of tees, sweats and shorts featuring Ledoux’s images.

#Aries

#DavidLedoux

Tags: Art, photography

The brainchild of Cyril Foiret, Maison Meta is behind some of the world’s first AI-generated fashion campaigns and collections. Across global brands like Moncler Genius, REVOLVE, and Pangaia, the creative studio is pioneering a new phase of fashion tech and the way brands interact with an increasingly digital clientele. In April, it launched AI Fashion Week at New York’s Spring Studios, showcasing selected submissions from 133 digital artists and designers worldwide. 

Maison Meta invited the public to take part by voting for the collections they liked the best on its website.

For some participating designers, the competition was an opportunity to explore sci-fi couture. Futuristic silhouettes and techy fabrics were paired with dystopian makeup looks, set within a desert or a runway underwater. Alena Stepanova and other designers instead presented intricate ready-to-wear garments, focusing on stacked layers, detailed knitwear and embroidery.

Rachel Koukal highlighted diversity in her collection ‘Soft Apocalypse’. In a series of images, she featured a culturally-diverse group of mostly curvy models, walking amidst a backdrop of sand dune, clad in otherworldly shapes and materials. In an interview with Vogue Business, Koukal explained that she wanted to create a size and body-type inclusive collection, one that she felt was lacking in the fashion industry. With MidJourney, an AI software allowing designers to prompt their creations through text, Koukal was able to feed her own images and re-prompt them to give her any imagined body she wanted, as well as new designs.

This week, Maison Meta unveiled the top 10 AIFW finalists, including Anya Klyueva and Ope, who will be judged by a panel of industry experts that includes Dame Pat McGrath, Vogue Japan’s head of editorial content, Tiffany Godoy, Céline casting director, Natalie Hazzout, and Erika Wykes-Sneyd of the Adidas Studio Web3, among others. The chosen three winners will then have their AI-generated designs produced and sold by REVOLVE for the real world. 

While still nascent, it seems that the future of fashion will be increasingly intertwined with generative AI, paving the way for new creative endeavours and global collaboration. Physical runway shows in future seasons are currently in the works for Maison Meta’s creative team, with products designed from previous collections said to be going into production. Maison Meta is also working on an incubator programme with REVOLVE to help designers launch their brands. 

#MaisonMeta

#AIFW

This April, Aries opened its first ever store in Soho, London. Designed in-house and in collaboration with Brinkworth and Wilson Brothers, the Aries Soho store will showcase Aries in-line collections in full for the first time in bricks and mortar and will function as a curated concept store and art space.

The store will feature exclusive brand collaborations, brought to life with installation pop-ups, as well as a rotating concept trading with collaborators, friends and like-minded international partners, from clothing and music to books and art, allowing visitors to immerse themselves into the Aries world.

With its own entrance on Bridle Lane, Parisian-born coffee shop Paperboy will also open its first official outpost in London, exclusively serving the brand’s own signature sandwiches and coffees, in collaboration with Aries and Dark Arts Coffee.

It’s also announced that the store will be housing exhibitions, alongside seasonal collections and store exclusives. Its rails will be rotating between pop-ups by South London’s leading vintage re-sell brand, JerksTM and London-based luxury unisex jewellery brand, Bunney.

Founded by Italian-born Sofia Prantera of Silas and Holmes fame, Aries was born out of an ongoing love of trash culture, outsider art, graphics and illustration. Since graduating from Central Saint Martins in the early ‘90s, Sofia has been an integral part of the skate and streetwear community for over 25 years with three successful brands under her belt.

The Aries Soho store officially opened its doors Monday 17th April 2023.