Nick Ramsey; Blenders

Blue light glasses are definitely a sign of our times, and that we may be spending far too much time in front of our screens. There are still many cellphones that don’t have blue light filters, and television manufacturers are obsessed about how bright their sets can go—just head into any retailer—and not about the long-term effects of living with their screens for years.
   So, instead of creating technology to serve and adapt to us, in comes another business to help us adapt to technology. Blenders Eyewear is the latest to get into the blue light glasses’ game, with two designs in four colour combinations as part of its introductory line.
   To Blenders’ credit, and in line with their existing sunglasses and snow goggles for those pursuing an active life, the designs are very stylish. The L Series features a square, lightweight frame, with bright colours. The Coastal has a rounder frame, with subtle splashes of colours on the arms. All are priced under US$50.
   Blenders began as a backpack business on the beach in 2012, and grew quickly to become a global brand. Find out more at www.blenderseyewear.com.

Austrian brand Stegmann, founded in 1888 and known for its comfortable wool felt footwear, will release an expanded EcoWool clog line on August 3.
   With an eye on species preservation and supporting heritage sheep breeds, the EcoWool clogs come in four colours: Stonesheep, made with wool from Tyrolean Stone sheep in Austria; Shetland, with wool from Shetland sheep in Scotland; Alpaca, with wool from Peruvian alpacas in the Andes; and Juraschaf, with wool from Juraschaf sheep in Switzerland. The latter two are new to the line.
   The uppers are all shaped and stitched by hand. They are then paired with a sustainably sourced cork–Latex footbed. Stegmann’s production line is carbon-neutral, chemical-free and zero-waste.
   The shoes themselves have been recommended by podiatrists, with their arch, toe, metatarsal bar and heel cup support.
   US customers are invited to place their orders at www.stegmannusa.com.

New Zealand-founded label Icebreaker has shown its autumn–winter 2020 collection, with the staples that we’ve come to love from this outdoor wear label, including tops, vests, shirts, puffer jackets, and leggings. The brand continues to incorporate super-fine merino wool, which in Icebreaker’s case is ethically sourced from growers who have banned mulesing. The wool is biodegradable and annually renewable.

   COVID-19 has forced many to slow down and appreciate what we have. Malo (www.malo.it), the cashmere brand from Firenze, Italy, agrees, with its chairman, Walter Maiocchi, noting: ‘Now it’s time to reflect and slow down. We need to grasp the positive teachings of this new global situation.’ He stresses that his company makes timeless garments that transcend seasons, and this is its contribution to sustainability. The Malo spring–summer 2020 collection, made in Italy, is based around a virtual journey around the country.

   Paradigm Eyewear’s sunglasses have become a favourite among Hollywood celebs, especially its 19-34 model. Both Sofia Vergara (Modern Family) and Hannah Ann Sluss (The Bachelor) have been photographed wearing their Paradigm sunglasses as they went out and about. The 19-34, available in different colours and lenses, retails at US$125 at baxterandbonny.com.

China may be opening up but there are still parties being very cautious, such as the Shenzhen-based fashion label Naersiling. Part of EEKA Fashion Holdings, Naersiling held its autumn–winter 2020–1 show virtually, and live.
   The collection, loosely translated as Urban Shadowcatcher, was based around the metropolis, its architecture, and the shadows and reflections that it casts, connecting them to the lives of contemporary women.
   On Monday evening, the label used lighting and musical effects to create three very different moods from the single catwalk, showing its collection’s simplicity and modernity. The palette is founded in black and white, with bright blue. The silhouettes are geometric and wide, with deconstruction and asymmetry.
   Naersiling’s Xu Zhidong said after the show that the show was its attempt to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. He added, ‘No matter how life changes, inspiring productivity with beauty is the proud mission of everyone in the fashion industry.’

Net-à-Porter had its first menswear day on its Tmall Luxury Pavilion shop on April 10, giving Chinese buyers a chance to check out what’s in trend for spring 2020.
   Since joining Tmall in September, Net-à-Porter has had plenty of attention from fashion-conscious online shoppers, and the menswear day sought to build on that, and Net-à-Porter’s Mr Porter brand.
   Net-à-Porter curated suggestions for men who wanted looks that would suit them for work, dating and fitness, and provided specials such as 15 per cent off new products, an interest-free period for menswear, free gifts for online orders, dry-cleaning coupons, and limited-edition notebooks.
   Brands included Fear of God, with its streetwear chic; Off-White, showing loose silhouettes and barbed-wire patterns; FengChenWang, with its focus on detailing; the emerging Chinese brand Staffonly, with a particularly ingenious diamond-patterned short-sleeved shirt; and Pronounce, with its terracotta warrior- and horse-inspired collections. Rick Owens, Common Projects, Thom Browne are also represented among Net-à-Porter’s spring menswear looks. The retailer expects plain, grey and khaki tones to be in, as well as neutral blues, and an overall sporty theme.

Fabletics, the athleisure brand co-founded by actress Kate Hudson, has announced that its Demi Lovato limited-edition collection will benefit COVID-19 relief efforts. The company says that US$5 for each item sold from the collection, amounting to a US$125,000 pledge from now through June 30, 2020, will support the WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, providing ‘crucial gear’ to front-line workers.
   The collaboration was originally created to ‘inspire women to channel their inner strength’, something which Fabletics points out is needed now more than ever.
   In a release, Lovato said, ‘Recently, we have watched our world change and have thought long and hard about holding off on this launch. After sitting down to reflect for a few days, we realized there’s no better time to inspire others with my capsule, which has always been about channelling your inner strength.’
   She added in a blog post, ‘In addition to lifting up those in need right now, it’s so important for us all to feel empowered, invincible, and strong from the inside out. My collection is designed to do just that—uplifting you with bold colours and amazing contouring for the biggest confidence boost. I love how these styles make you feel so supported when you put them on. Living an active lifestyle from home is all about wearing activewear, like comfortable leggings, bras, and tops you can wear from morning to night.’
   The range uses PowerHold, a proprietary contouring fabric, and includes the Mila pocket legging and Ultra High-Waisted Shine legging, T-shirts, layering pieces, and bras, promising versatility and suiting a broad variety of activity and body types. Sizes range from XXS to 4X.
   The collection is available from fabletics.com.