June 2025 News Roundup
A woman wearing the traditional costume of Zadrima, Albania. Photo by Cees Hillebrand.
1.
Even as fashion faces criticism for its often-disingenuous appropriation of traditional dress (and yes, I’m talking about Prada’s latest sandal scandal controversy), it doesn’t stop small-scale artisans from dreaming of one day collaborating with major brands. For these craftspeople, the prospect of their work gaining global recognition is a powerful motivator, and well worth investing time in explaining their unique processes and products. Take, for instance, the women silk weavers of Zadrima, a town in northern Albania. With know-how that goes back centuries, these women are not only reviving the practice of silk production, from raising silkworms to weaving the fabric, but expanding their capabilities in the hopes of capturing the interest of big fashion houses.
Goldwin clothing store in Shanghai, China. Photo courtesy of Robert Way / Shutterstock.
2.
I’m not a cold weather sports enthusiast, but even I am familiar with cult Japanese outdoor clothing brand Goldwin. In addition to being known for their technical, top quality, and high-performance clothing, Goldwin owns the Japanese licenses for The North Face, Helly Hansen and other Western sportswear brands. Plus, Goldwin is responsible for some killer brand collaborations (MAISON KITSUNÉ, Utah’s Actual Source design group, British brand Baracuta, and J.L-A.L). This story gives readers a tour of the brand’s Goldwin 0 research lab and the kind of experimental and environmentally responsible materials the group develops for its diffusion line.
3.
Jerusalem-based Palestinian glass artist Lameice Abu Aker discovered the art of glassmaking while working on a project about Palestinian heritage and identity. She learned that the ancient art of glassmaking–a craft that is believed to have originated in the region– has been practiced by Palestinian families for generations. Learn about Abu Aker, why she decided to launch her own company, Ornamental by Lameice, and how she crafts swirling, candy-colored glass into modern, domestic objects here.
Illustration courtesy of 3DJustincase / Shutterstock.
4.
As someone who gets annoyed by brands shipping small items in giant boxes (an eyecream I ordered this week arrived in a box that could fit four continental-size wallets stacked one on top of the other), responsible packaging is definitely on my radar. Last month, Bain & Company partnered with Fedrigoni Group, a global manufacturer of specialty packaging, to release a report highlighting how sustainable packaging is becoming essential for luxury brands to gain a competitive edge. In its report, Luxury Packaging: Resolving the Tension Between Creativity and Impact, Bain surveyed more than 500 companies spanning the luxury packaging value chain—from high-end packaging designers, manufacturers, and distributors to luxury brands—and concluded that consumers are demanding packaging that matches their growing concern for minimizing environmental impact.
House of Worth silk ball gown, ca. 1872. Gift of Mrs. Philip K. Rhinelander, 1946. Photo courtesy of The Costume Institute, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
5.
Paris is celebrating the legacy and work of 19th century couturier Charles Frederick Worth, widely regarded as the father of haute couture. The retrospective entitled, Worth: Inventing Haute Couture, is now showing at the Petit Palais and is the first in-depth look at the life and career of the British couturier. With over 400 objects borrowed from international museums, private collectors and Worth’s descendants, the exhibition sounds enormous. Learn more about the show here.
