Linden Leaves has been trying to solve the problem of entry into the Chinese market for some time. To sell in China, conventional wisdom was that animal testing is required, and when Lucire approached experts in China, they found no way round it. This was in spite of a free-trade agreement between New Zealand and the People’s Republic of China—it was accepted that all would have to undergo the same procedure.
The good news, announced this month, is that Linden Leaves has, after some persistence, found a way to enter China without animal testing, thereby staying true to its ethos. The company has managed to secure exclusive authorization by the Chinese government.
Founder Brigit Blair says, ‘I feel so proud that we did not bend our own company ethics and policy for the greater lure of the Chinese dollar due to their animal testing policy. It is so exciting that we have managed to enter the market in a way that means we are able to stay true to what we stand for, not only as a company, but also as a cruelty-free nation.’
Linden Leaves’ skin care and body care ranges are now stocked at Shanghai’s largest Duty Free Downtown store, with over 2,000 people attending the opening event of its new counter, with further forays into China, through domestic stores and Duty Free stores, planned.
H&M will retail the Kenzo × H&M collaboration announced last month, with the line joining its Sylvia Park store on November 3. With the time difference, this means the New Zealand store is the first to carry the line.
Since joining Kenzo in 2011, Carol Lim and Humberto Leon have set their own fashion agenda with collections full of bold colours and vivid prints, revealed through high-impact shows, artist collaborations and creative digital campaigns. Global influences and traditions are remixed and fused with the energy of the street, resulting in collections that are both inspirational and accessible to their fans around the world. At Kenzo, fashion expresses freedom, joy and individuality for all.
‘We can’t wait to share with everyone the world of Kenzo × H&M, with all of its creativity, fun and love of fashion,’ said Ann-Sofie Johansson, creative adviser at H&M.
Last month, the brand revealed the four first looks from the collaboration which combine vivid personalities and bright prints of the clothing for a fun atmosphere.
Amy Sall, a student activist based in New York and founder of SUNU: Journal of African Affairs, Critical Thought & Æsthetics is photographed beside Juliana Huxtable, a 28 year old artist, poet and DJ also based in New York, wearing tiger-print jerseys, roll-neck tops and matching high-waisted leggings. They also wear black leather gloves containing a pink logo print and jacquard knitted tiger-sock shaft boots.
The second look shows the 19-year-old musician and performance artist based in Paris, Oko Ebombo. He wears a parka with a removable printed collar, block colour tiger-print jeans, plus padded flip-flops with tabi socks. Ebombo also wears a tiger-printed cap with an attached scarf, a printed woven scarf and the tiger-printed cross-body bag.
The third look shows Isamaya French, a make-up artist based in London, part of the London-based collective, Theo Adams Company. She wears an oversized leather jacket with pink faux shearling lining, with a matching tiger print jersey roll-neck top, and high-waisted leggings.
The final look is revealed on Anna of the North, a 25-year-old Norwegian musician who gained global attention earlier during the year with her track ‘The Dreamers’. She wears a fresh interpretation by Kenzo’s creative directors, of an iconic design by founder Kenzo Takada: a short folkloric ribbon dress featuring various prints from the collection.
‘With this collaboration with H&M we want to think big, push the boundaries and bring the new energy of Kenzo to everyone around the world,’ say Lim and Leon.—Bhavana Bhim
International Swedish retailer, Hennes & Mauritz, will open in New Zealand on October 1.
The new store will be located at Sylvia Park, Auckland, and span two storeys and 2,300 m². The new store will have men, women, youth and children’s apparel and accessories. The H&M Studio collection for autumn–winter 2016–17 (above) will appear at the store, as well as the Modern Essentials by David Beckham collection.
‘We are excited to be making progress on our arrival in New Zealand and look forward to welcoming customers through the doors of H&M at Sylvia Park on the 1st of October,’ said Hans Andersson, Country Manager for H&M Australia and New Zealand in a release.
The store will open at 10 a.m. on October 1. Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. all days, except for Thursday and Friday, when it will close at 9 p.m. Lucire has been covering the growth of the retailer since 1998, and noted its pioneering programmes in corporate social responsibility and designer collaborations.
Look Good Feel Better, the charity that helps those diagnosed with cancer experience transformational workshops so they can feel normal and treated as an individual, has its Feel Better Month in July.
The month, which seeks to raise funds to host workshops for thousands of women, men and teenagers, aims to help Look Good Feel Better increase the number of workshops it can hold. Last year’s campaign raised funds which added three in Auckland, plus additional workshops in Kapiti, Hawera, Taumarunui, and Kerikeri.
Those wishing to support the cause can donate online at www.lgfb.co.nz/donate/ or offline at Farmers stores, add NZ$1 to purchases at Unichem or Life Pharmacy, buy selected lipstick or nail varnish from Farmers (for each lipstick sold, Farmers and the cosmetic brand will donate NZ$1), indulge in a mini-facial or purchase Look Good Feel Better merchandise, including nail files, butterfly bracelets and bookmarks, host mini-fundraisers on Fridays, or gift their time.
‘Our aim is that nobody should have to travel more than 30 minutes to attend a class, and we are determined to extend our programme to ensure we deliver on that,’ said Clare O’Higgins, Look Good Feel Better’s general manager. ‘To imagine putting somebody on a waiting list because we cannot provide a class for anybody is heart-breaking when you consider what they are going through. We never want that to happen. That means we need to provide more locations, more tutors, more make up volunteers and cosmetic products—and more funds.’
The charity believes there is an immediate need for more workshops in Christchurch, Rangiora, Queenstown and Wanganui.
An estimated 1,800 people will be diagnosed with cancer in July in New Zealand, and they will face 36,000 medical appointments during their treatment.
Above: Karen Walker Eyewear’s Cosmonaut style (NZ$409), part of its limited-edition Superstars releases for 2016.
Karen Walker Eyewear has just released its campaign imagery for its limited-edition Superstars range.
The campaign has been photographed and art-directed by Walker’s husband, Mikhail Gherman.
An additional video, called Karen Walker Dancing Heads, featuring choreographer–rapper Parris Goebel, has also been released, a collaboration between Goebel, Walker and videographer Barnaby Roper.
The brand releases a limited-edition Superstars line each year, which takes its most famous styles and re-releases them with new colours.
The Superstars line for 2016 comprise favourites Harvest and Super Duper, with new shapes dubbed One Orbit, Moon Disco, Cosmonaut and Star Sailor.
The company says this year’s range has ‘astronaut-inspired colourways’, with classic black, Crazy Tort (Karen Walker Eyewear’s popular tortoiseshell style), and yellow and rose-gold mirror with metal detail.
Superstars is available from Liberty in the UK (from May 5), Barney’s (from May 16), Karen Walker stores (from May 23) and other global partners (from June 1).
Mikhail Gherman
Above, from top: Super Duper, in gold (NZ$349). Harvest (NZ$349). Moon Disco (NZ$349). One Orbit (NZ$369). The remaining three photographs are of the Star Sailor style (NZ$409).
Online retailer Swimsuitsforall, which specializes in superior, well fitting swimwear for curvy women, has launched its summer campaign, hashtagged #MySwimBody.
Modelled by Sports Illustrated 2016 Swimsuit Issue cover girl Ashley Graham, activist and model Philomena Kwao, 56-year-old silver fox Nicola Griffin, photographer and mother Jessica Lavoie, and professional athlete and Olympian Amanda Bingson, the campaign kicks off with a video, designed to make women feel empowered, removing the dread many feel when shopping for swimwear.
Swimsuitsforall wants to encourage women to share a photo of themselves on social media with the #MySwimBody hashtag, proudly showing off their curves, challenge a friend to do the same—with the aim of having 10,000 women take up the cause, regardless of their shape, age or size.
Graham said in a release, ‘I love bikini season, and I hope the #MySwimBody movement helps every woman feel confident and sexy this summer. I’ll be sharing selfies of my swim body all season long and hope that women across the country feel inspired to do the same.
‘Beauty is beyond size, and we are calling on women everywhere to embrace their curves, especially at the beach or by the pool.’
‘This is the summer of #MySwimBody, when we are encouraging all women to let go of their inhibitions and lose the cover up at the beach,’ said Moshe Laniado, CEO and president of Swimsuitsforall. ‘Swimsuitsforall celebrates all different body types and we’re so proud to once again be leading a movement that inspires women everywhere to feel confident and comfortable in a swimsuit this summer.’
Swarovski will open on May 7 in St Martin’s Courtyard in Covent Garden.
The new 141 m² store will be situated on Long Acre alongside Barbour, L. K. Bennett and COS, and will stock the company’s jewellery and watches.
‘We are delighted to be opening our Swarovski boutique in St Martin’s Courtyard. By positioning ourselves at the heart of one of London’s key shopping scenes, our unique store concept and beautiful displays will hopefully inspire and introduce a new set of fashionable customers to the Swarovski brand,’ said Hayley Quinn of Swarovski UK and Ireland.
Meanwhile, last month, Sills & Co. opened its flagship store in Wellington’s Old Bank Arcade, with its labels Caroline Sills, Sills and Isaac & Lulu.
The newest label of the three, Isaac & Lulu, is a more fashion-forward brand, named for head designer Ange Todd’s daughter Lulu and Caroline Sills’ grandson Isaac, and is described as being feminine and youthful.
