Mabel Casalini’s Post

How does fashion journalism influence the industry beyond trends and aesthetics? Meet Vanessa Friedman, the brilliant Fashion Director and Chief Fashion Critic at The New York Times. Her insights don’t just stop at runway shows—they explore the intersections of fashion, culture, politics, and sustainability. From her powerful critique of Melania Trump’s infamous “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” jacket to spotlighting emerging talents like Jonathan Anderson and Marine Serre, Vanessa Friedman has consistently reshaped how we view fashion and its broader impact. As she says, "Fashion is history you can see and feel. It tells us what people value, how they want to be seen, and what they aspire to." Curious about her journey and the profound impact she's had on the industry? Read the full article on our website to dive deeper into her career, the designers she’s influenced, and her approach to sustainability in fashion. https://lnkd.in/dnK2J4Hh What’s your take on the role of fashion journalism today? Let’s discuss this in the comments below! #VanessaFriedman #FashionJournalism #FashionCritique #TheNewYorkTimes #SustainabilityInFashion #CulturalCritique #FashionLeadership #FashionIndustryInsights #FashionAnalysis #FashionMentorship #FashionTrends

Fashion Revolution, the world's largest fashion activism movement, is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary with the Fashion Revolution Week 2024 from 15th-24th April. This decade-long campaign drives social and environmental justice in the fashion industry. It's a global initiative encouraging everyone to become a Fashion Revolutionary. With sustainability entering the mainstream, the fashion industry is witnessing transformation. Fashion Revolution Week 2024 will focus on interactive workshops and knowledge sharing to equip a new generation of activists. The week ends with the first Mend In Public Day on 20th April 2024, a global day of action against disposable fashion. Join the revolution and help drive systemic change. #FashionRevolution #FashionRevolutionWeek #WeAreFashionRevolution

HOW FASHION BRANDS CAN SURVIVE THE 2024 US ELECTION MINEFIELD The Business of Fashion: Few companies see an upside in wading into what’s shaping up to be a long, toxic campaign. But after years of socially conscious messaging they can’t fully disengage either. “Make America Ferrera Again.” In 2016, when Rebecca Minkoff debuted a T-shirt emblazoned with that phrase — a play on America Ferrera’s name and Donald Trump’s slogan — it “didn’t feel like a risk,” the designer said. The actress and designer posed in the tees at Minkoff’s Manhattan boutique; Allure dubbed the collaboration “amazing” in an October 2016 headline. Needles to say, Minkoff isn’t planning any Trump-themed novelty T-shirts this year. “We’re seeing a big shift right now in sentiment in terms of what everyone thought was the right platform,” Minkoff said. “[The T-shirt] felt right at the time … And I’m not saying I feel wrong about it at all ... but I’m of the mindset that people and things can change and shift as times change and shift.” As the presidential primaries ramp up — or more likely, wind down after Trump’s thumping of his opponents in the Iowa caucuses last week — Minkoff isn’t the only one inside the fashion industry who plans to tread gingerly around politics this time around. Politically outspoken designers like Minkoff and corporate behemoths like Nike have for years used progressive stances on hot-button issues to connect with consumers. But a conservative backlash and signs of audience fatigue around such messaging has raised the risk for engaging with topics like inclusivity, climate change and LGBTQ rights. A funny T-shirt is less likely to score points with young fashionistas, and more likely to trigger unfavourable coverage on Fox News and a boycott. This year is shaping up to be particularly toxic, politically. Few brands see an upside in wading into the debate around the war in Gaza, where opinions don’t fall along predictable red-blue lines. And they’re especially wary of getting swept up in the US presidential election — a likely showdown between Trump and the equally unpopular incumbent, Joe Biden — where both camps will be looking to tear down symbols of the other side, whether it’s a campaign poster or a Nike swoosh. “In the past, there were a lot of headlines that you could incorporate that were fresh and newer and safer,” said Stacey Widlitz, founder of SW Retail Advisors, a retail business consultancy. “This year, it feels, if you make a comment, it’s very polarising. And for larger brands, especially, you have to consider what is the upside if that goes wrong?” explore more: https://lnkd.in/gBpX4v5j #investment #fashion #web3 #ai #nft

What an enlightening evening it was, as I attended the New York Fashion Week “Conscious Fashion” event. Organized by Britta Cabanos, Director of Inside Fashion Design & The Conscious Fashion Design Academy, the event brought together a range of speakers from the frontlines of socially-conscious creativity and fashion: Nova Lorraine, Catherine Roggero-Lovisi, Ajay Shrivastav and Siamanda Chege. (Disclaimer: I’m now assisting Chege as Global Communications Advisor to her #SocialEnterprise in #Kenya, Beberavi Collections.) Yet, as I listened to each speaker, I couldn’t help but silently wonder: “How effectively do you prove your impact?” With all due respect, it’s not enough to describe good deeds and meaningful initiatives, if you hope to persuade a smart-but-skeptical audience. So, how well do you illuminate your true results – and back it up with concrete, credible, even verifiable evidence? That’s why I advocate the need for evidence-driven #StrategicStorytelling – and why my partner, Peter McLaughlin, and I offer clients specialties like #SustainabilityStorytelling, #ESGStorytelling and #SDGStorytelling. Contact us if you’d like a free, 30-minute Consultation on how to publicly prove your organization’s impact, more persuasively. Photographed below (by me): Britta Cabanos introduces guest-speaker Catherine Roggero-Lovisi.

Fashion Revolution Week wraps up its runway today. Did you take part in the Revolution? ✂ What is Fashion Revolution Week? 🌍 Run by fashionrevolution.org, the annual campaign is the world’s largest fashion activism movement, exploring fashion’s role in driving social and environmental justice. How to get involved. 👗Transforming the fashion industry so it is part of the SOLUTION (rather than the problem) is a long-term challenge. It won’t happen overnight. This year’s theme invites the global community to share their learnings on what it means to be part of the fashion revolution - from their origin stories, to their lessons learned, hopes for the future and messages for Fashion Revolutionaries, new and old. As well as local events, Revolutionaries are invited to host their own event, learn how to mend their clothes at home (and share their work publicly) or simply spread the word about the Revolution. When we take individual action together, we harness the power of the collective and make a positive impact on our planet. #wearefashionrevolution

Title: Unveiling the Power of Modest Fashion: Beholding, Becoming, and Impaction Beholding: Modest fashion is not just about clothing; it's about embracing a lifestyle rooted in dignity, respect, and cultural appreciation. Taking a moment to behold the beauty of modesty, both in style and in substance. Celebrating the rich tapestry of cultures and traditions that shape our diverse fashion landscape. Becoming: As an advocate of modest fashion, Striving to become beacons of authenticity and confidence. Embrace my unique style, honoring my values, and empowering others to do the same. i embark on a journey of self-discovery, where i evolve not only as fashion enthusiast but also as individual committed to inner growth and self-expression. Impaction: The impact of modest fashion extends far beyond aesthetics; it's about challenging stereotypes, promoting inclusivity, and fostering positive change. leveraging om platform to amplify diverse voices, advocate for representation, and champion inclusivity in the fashion industry and beyond. I believe we can redefine the standards of beauty and inspire a generation to embrace modesty with pride and purpose. Are you ready to join the movement? Let's behold the beauty, become the change-makers, and make an impaction that resonates far and wide. #ModestFashion #Empowerment #DiversityandInclusion #FashionRevolution Share your thoughts and experiences as we navigate this empowering journey together!

This week is Fashion Revolution week, an annual global campaign bringing together the world's largest fashion movement for a week of action. April 24th will mark 10 years since the tragic collapse of the Rana Plaza in Dhaka, Bangladesh, killing over 1100 people + injuring more than 2500. This preventable disaster awoke the world to the poor labour conditions faced by many workers in factories across the globe. The movement that is Fashion Revolution, was born. ⁠ ⁠ Fashion Revolution has been an important cause for Sans Beast from the beginning, and this week we will be using our platform to spread + support this mission. We wish to add to the ethical conversation during Fashion Revolution Week + ensure that non-human animals are also deeply considered when contemplating the impact the fashion industry has. Billions of animals are bred and slaughtered each year for fashion, with massive environmental impacts + immense cruelty.⁠ ⁠ This year’s theme is How To Be A Fashion Revolutionary, inviting the global community to share a decade of learnings on what it means to be a part of the revolution. Everyone has a part to play in building a fashion industry that puts people, animals + the planet first, we encourage you to explore Fashion Revolution and reflect on where your clothes + accessories came from.⁠ ⁠

Our Contributing Editor, Arianne (Ari) Obi , makes her debut on NIGHTSTAND SERVICE with a timely and crucial article shedding light on the recurring issue of racist blunders within the fashion industry, particularly prevalent during fashion week. One glaring example is the recent misstep by Egon Lab, whose 'invisible t-shirts' debacle featuring both black and white models ignited rightful outrage, emphasising the urgent need for thoughtful representation and messaging in our industry. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. History is littered with instances where fashion brands have stumbled, often egregiously, on matters of race, ethnicity, and cultural appropriation. From Dolce and Gabbana's troubled past to H&M's regrettable misstep and Marni's recent controversy, the need for introspection and accountability within the industry has never been more apparent. So WHAT CAN BRANDS LEARN FROM THIS? 👽 Diversity need not be just on the runway or in campaigns, but in senior leadership. We know that fashion has a plague of white, male, directors, and this lack of diversity is reflected in senior leadership across the board. We need a myriad of perspectives in the boardroom to avoid errors like these, people’s whose voice and decision-making matters and can trickle down into entire organisations. 👽 Brands should test their campaigns on different types of audiences to ensure that their messaging is being clearly understood and is culturally aware. If necessary, they should adapt these for different platforms and local markets. 👽 Brands need to be accountable, proactive and self-aware, sometimes overly cautious to not make mistakes. This can have an impact on their reputation and revenue, especially if key audiences lie in emerging markets. 👽 Brands need to consider their audience. With Gen Z becoming the largest consumers and luxury whilst also prioritising liberal values, brands need to take a hard look at their choices to build trust and loyalty in their audience. Read here: https://lnkd.in/ePjfwbw2 #FashionIndustry #FashionWeek #EgonLab #MarketingInsights #FashionInsights #culturalsensitivity #NIGHTSTANDSERVICE #INDUSTRYBABY

Why does fashion matter? Why is fashion relevant beyond the shows, social media, and magazines? As a fashion researcher and teacher, I often hear comments such as: What exactly is there to teach about fashion? Does fashion have a history? And others similar. At first, I was surprised. How could people not be interested in such a fascinating topic? Then, I started to understand where this was coming from and questioned myself: Does fashion really matter? Should we rethink our relationship with fashion and what it represents culturally? The Fashion Culture Newsletter is coming soon! Subscribe to read the full text of this post, along with other discussions about the fashion system, its movements, history, and what's coming next. Join our community and co-create with us possible futures for our fashion industry, while addressing critical issues such as the impact of new technologies, business models, decolonization, and sustainability.

I'm attending this online on Thursday, an event to "deliberate on what collective action should be taken to support community-based non-extractive clothing systems". I'm not convinced that this participatory session post-working outdoors all day as a gardener will be conducive to a brain that wants to discuss heavy matters, but I appreciate that these spaces are created for the holding of reflections, so I'll show up however I can. I reckon if you're only just curious about what a fashion commons is, it's also a space for you. There'll be speakers first, and then small group discussions. #FashionCommons #Defashion