Tag Archives: high fashion

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Maison Margiela Edition dips its toes into the haute couture world

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It was only recently that smartphones stopped being geeky gadgets and fashionable accessories, and that paradigm shift hasn’t been lost on the fashion and design industry. Smartphones have, in a way, become status symbols, or at the very least expressions of one’s tastes, interests, and even aspirations. In other words, they can become perfect fashion statements, and there have indeed been a few phone designs that try to present themselves as such with mixed results. After all, not all manufacturers are expert fashion designers, so it sometimes pays to have a collab with an industry giant, like this Maison Margiela edition for one of Samsung’s most fashionable phones yet, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldable.

Designer: Samsung x Maison Margiela

Clamshell or flip phones have always had this air of style surrounding them even back in the day. They appeared in plenty of TV shows and movies, and they have retained this image throughout the years. It’s no surprise then that phone manufacturers have been trying to revive design but with a slight twist: a foldable screen. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the latest iteration of that design, and one that has a very clear focus and target audience. Thanks to its design and accessory ecosystem, the foldable phone is aimed at fashion-conscious owners who love to express their style through their phones and might even change their preferences from time to time.

It is thanks to that customizable design that this Galaxy Z Flip 5 Maison Margiela Edition was made possible. It’s actually the second time that the atelier lent its name to this class of smartphones, but this is perhaps the most comprehensive set so far. In addition to the specially-themed phone itself, there is a Flap Leather Case and a Flipsuit Case with interchangeable plates, a.k.a. “Cards,” to match. It doesn’t stop with the contents of the box either, because the packaging itself is designed like an archival sample storage for fabric samples and threads. Everything about it screams fashion, including the paper-based woven book cloth fabric that covers the box.

Of course, most people will be focusing on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 itself, which comes with a striking and unique exterior right out of the box. It shows Maison Margiela’s iconic jacket underneath a transparent glass, revealing the structure and details of the garment. The Flipsuit Cases, on the other hand, come with two cards, one with a minimalist silver plate and another with paint splatters. Attaching either of these cards automatically changes the phone’s theme taken from Maison Margiela’s artisanal collection to match. Last but definitely not least, the Flap Leather Case represents the marque’s craftsmanship, incorporating handwoven stitches into the black leather cover and woven fabrics. When the phone is unfolded, it reveals a pocket design that adds a touch of flair to the design.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 Maison Margiela Edition is meant to showcase the fusion of technology and fashion in a way that’s not so different from how haute couture garments are made. It tries to push the boundaries of how smartphones are perceived, not just as productivity tools but also as tools of self-expression. The Galaxy Z Flip5 Maison Margiela edition will be available from November 30 in select markets.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Maison Margiela Edition dips its toes into the haute couture world first appeared on Yanko Design.

YSL menswear show gets a luminous ring backdrop in Moroccan desert

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When we think of fashion shows, long runways inside metallic or industrial fashion halls immediately come to mind. But there are also times when designers and show directors will want to do something different and have a show literally outside the box, or at least outside. For the Spring Summer 2023 menswear show of Yves Saint Laurent, they decided to go with Morocco as the backdrop and enlisted London-based artist and stage designer Es Devlin to design their “stage”.

Designer: Es Devlin

The Moroccan desert itself is already picturesque and can serve as a beautiful background for any event. But the atmosphere becomes even more dream-like with the centerpiece that was added just for this fashion show. There is a circular pond with a luminous ring rising from the center and with clouds of artificial, billowing mists surrounding the models as they strut the latest pieces in the Spring Summer collection. From afar, it looks like a desert mirage adding to its dreamy landscape.

They were of course careful to respect the ecological landscape of the area and that is why they also came up with a low-impact design. The pool used non-potable water and after the event, this will be used in the agricultural areas nearby. The design itself was inspired from the novel The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles whose setting is in the cities and deserts of North Africa. Morocco itself is part of the brand’s history as Marrakech is where Yves Saint Laurent went to “escape” Paris life when it became too overwhelming.

The rising ring from the pond looks to be something out of a movie like Dune, Blade Runner, or Mad Max but it also blends well with the menswear collection they are showing off. Because of this backdrop, you get something like a short film or a music video and is definitely more interesting for non-fashion show watchers like me.

The post YSL menswear show gets a luminous ring backdrop in Moroccan desert first appeared on Yanko Design.

Iris van Herpen created a dress from cocoa beans inspired by Magnum Vegan ice cream

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Chocolate is probably more universally liked than coffee, and it’s used as an ingredient in many more kinds of foods that go beyond desserts. Given that situation, it wouldn’t be a surprise if cocoa beans are in much greater demand than coffee beans, which is already quite a lot. Consequently, it also means that the byproducts of harvesting and using these cocoa beans could be exponentially greater than even the output of coffee bean grinds, creating both waste and opportunities. Admittedly, there might not be much use for cocoa bean husks as there is for coffee bean grinds, but it’s only a matter of thinking outside the box and utilizing the technologies already available today. They could, for example, serve as the raw materials that would become the fashion of tomorrow, like this magnificent dress that could have you breaking your diet and reaching for a chocolate ice cream bar.

Designer: Iris van Herpen

Haute couture luminary Iris van Herpen is known in the industry for two things. The first is her signature use of lines, contours, and forms inspired by or even mimicking the movement of plants. This dress that debuted at the Paris Couture Fashion Week definitely conjures up ideas of elegance and magnificence. The rich brown fabric looks as if it is flowing and unfurling with a gentle breeze, while the copper-coated embellishments are reminiscent of vines and plants and embrace trees and give them a sense of eerie majesty.

Van Herpen is also famed for her forward-thinking creativity, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the fashion world with the help of technology. While 3D printing is becoming more accepted even in the fashion world, Van Herpen embraces it wholeheartedly to make the impossible possible, like, for example, using organic material and literally weaving them into her dresses. As you might have suspected by now, this particular dress uses cacao bean husks that end up becoming those intricate and delicate embellishments that give the Vegan Dress its unique character.

The haute couture vegan dress was commissioned by Magnum, the famed ice cream brand that has been pushing its vegan line of sweet treats into the limelight. As one of the world’s biggest users of cacao beans, the company has been looking for ways to reduce its negative impact on the environment and support a more sustainable, circular economy, particularly in the fashion industry that often produces so many wasted materials. Like turning those unusable husks into fashion items, for example.

In this particular case, the cocoa bean pods are transformed into a biopolymer material that is fit for 3D printing into different forms. Of course, printing a solid object is one thing, but turning it into something exquisitely luxurious requires more than just technical know-how and 3D printers. It requires a delicate touch and an exacting eye like that of Van Herpen, ensuring that the vision of a sustainable future for fashion is easily translated from the sketch to the catwalk.

For its part, the Magnum Haute Couture Vegan Dress is just the first step in the brand’s newfound mission to create circularity in fashion. It is also partnering with the University of Leeds’ Institute of Textiles and Color to research more ways to create sustainable fashion from the biggest waste it generates. In the future, it might even be possible to turn these husks into the very fabrics and threads that will be used for couture creations and, just maybe, even be used for regular people’s clothes as well.

The post Iris van Herpen created a dress from cocoa beans inspired by Magnum Vegan ice cream first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Adidas X Mr. Bailey Sneaker Dives Deep For Its Oceanic Inspiration

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Imagine a sneaker that was completely different from what you’ve seen in athletic footwear. Imagine creating an entirely new shape for this standardized product. What would it look like? Pulling inspiration from the marine mollusks, Mr. Bailey, a renowned foot/streetwear designer showcases a shoe unlike anything we’ve seen with his project, the Ammonite Superstar: Evolution of the Shell Toe.

At first glance, the Ammonite Superstar looks like a relic in a museum. When I first found this piece, I didn’t even recognize it as a sneaker. Several design cues help reinforce the parallels between the Ammonite shoe and its marine roots. The faded coloring gives the impression that the piece is a fossil, or at the very least, a piece of bone. Additionally, the shoe’s rubber sole – its most distinct feature – mimics the splayed segments of an octopus’s tentacles. Viewing the Ammonite Superstar from above, the warped sole looks like it was cut into stubby, fringe-like pieces. Flip the shoe over, and you’ll see that these rubber “fringes” connect, forming a circular chamber underneath the main body. It’s a unique visual and a memorable walking experience. (After all, what is a sneaker that can’t be worn?)

I, for one, would not have imagined that a deep-dive into footwear design would lead me to bookmark several ocean life documentaries to watch later. Even though I can’t integrate this unique piece into my wardrobe, I can appreciate it as a work of art. Visually, the Ammonite Superstar is a captivating, unconventional tribute to the mollusk species. It is a piece that appropriately honors its real-life inspiration and sparks curiosity in marine life.

Designer: Mr. Bailey and Adidas

 

Louis Vuitton’s flexible-screen handbags are the definition of extra

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With flexible screens being all the rage nowadays, more and more companies are building products touting the technology. But there's an unexpected one joining the craze: Louis Vuitton. The luxury brand has introduced a set of handbags that feature bu...

Louis Vuitton’s flexible-screen handbags are the definition of extra

Posted on by
With flexible screens being all the rage nowadays, more and more companies are building products touting the technology. But there's an unexpected one joining the craze: Louis Vuitton. The luxury brand has introduced a set of handbags that feature bu...