Matthew M. Williams exits Givenchy
The fashion landscape is no stranger to surprises. Every now and then, the scene is met with something new—from directional changes on the executive level, jaw-dropping collaboration announcements or the buzzy news of a fresh celebrity face set to represent one of the luxury maisons. With some of such news, the sartorial realm is bound to be roused, as conversation is steered towards what the change might mean for the rest of the designer world. Up top, a change in creative directorship is inevitably the most palpable—where house codes and signature silhouettes might discover reinterpretation in the hands of a new captain. The most recent of the lot? Think Daniel Lee’s debut at Burberry earlier this year or Pharrell Williams as Louis Vuitton’s latest menswear creative director.
In other cases, the fashion-forward will find themselves stirred by happenings closer to the ground—in terms of what they can admire, collect and own in their very own wardrobes. This might include the most covetable of collaborations—each one drawing in their own enthusiasts from various corners of culture. Just this year alone, we’ve seen Louis Vuitton drop their second collaboration with Yayoi Kusama, the Mugler x H&M collection and Nike drop its highly-awaited Kwondo 1 ‘Panda’ with Peaceminusone, G-dragon’s fashion label.
Amidst the buzz of affairs this month, it’s inevitable that you might have missed out on some significant drops and announcements over the past few weeks. Not to fret however, for with Vogue Singapore’s roundup, you can consider yourself all caught up. This week, celebrity ambassadorship announcements were aplenty, starting with Tang Wei for Burberry, followed by Nicole Kidman for Balenciaga. Executive changes were afoot as well, as Matthew M. Williams takes his final bow at Givenchy, after three years as its creative director. In more high-tech activations, Samsung has partnered up with Maison Margiela once again to produce a slick Galaxy Z Flip5, whilst Demna updates Balenciaga Music with an all-new collab with Archive, giving way to NFC-accessed music.
Catch up on all the fashion news to know, below.
Courtesy of Balenciaga
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Balenciaga partners up with Archive for an all-new music experience
A new phase of Balenciaga Music is here. Together with English music collective Archive, an 8.5-minute exclusive track titled ‘Patterns’ alongside a seven-hour playlist has been dreamed up for the house. But the trick of the trade here? It’s only accessible through a NFC (Near Field Communication) limited-edition chip that has been embedded in tags that are sewn into Balenciaga Music | Archive merchandise. Launched on 20 November, this is meant to offer an innovative 360° experience, on which Demna has commented: “Balenciaga Music was created to share my favourite musical artists and their personal tastes and influences. We have now expanded this project to give a more personal and complete music experience with exclusive content and interactive technology.”
Courtesy of Burberry
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Tang Wei is Burberry’s latest ambassador
Uncovering the new face of a luxury house is always a fascinating experience. In the past week, Burberry has contributed to this excitement, with its announcement of Tang Wei as its latest global ambassador. The Chinese actor, best known for her roles in Late Autumn and Cannes-favoured Decision to Leave, joins the house with anticipation for what’s to come. “Having known Burberry for many years, it feels as though we’ve become old friends, with its influence woven deeply into my life. I’m truly grateful for this enduring companionship. I adore Burberry’s distinct mastery of colour and lines, which exudes a sense of both familiarity and novelty. It’s a British charm that I’ve come to know and love, coupled with a timeless yet rebellious modern spirit. Fate brought us together. This friendship is like a rose, and I would love to see it blossom,” she offers in a press statement.
Courtesy of Givenchy
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Matthew M. Williams departs from Givenchy
Matthew M. Williams officially makes his exit from Givenchy after three years at its helm—where he has inspired a big part of the brand’s creative renewal, from modernising the house’s design identity to spearheading a number of notable collaborations during his tenure there. With the change set to take effect from 1 January 2024 onwards, Williams expresses: “Leading the creative direction of Givenchy was, as I said upon my arrival in 2020, the dream of a lifetime. Over these three years, I have strived to perpetuate Mr. Hubert de Givenchy’s legacy while bringing my own creative vision and I would like to sincerely thank the studio, Renaud de Lesquen, and LMVH for this incredible opportunity.”
Courtesy of Dior
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Dior to stage its men’s pre-fall 2024 in Hong Kong
A long-awaited return, Dior is making its way back to Hong Kong, with plans to stage its men’s pre-fall 2024 show in the cosmopolitan city. It’s the first time the brand is choosing to unveil its latest collection in the metropolis since eight years ago. Whilst the date and location remains to be determined, it’s clear that Hong Kong has established itself as a rising fashion destination, considering Louis Vuitton’s first-ever men’s pre-fall 2024 show was also recently presented there.
Courtesy of Samsung
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Samsung and Maison Margiela collaborate on the Galaxy Z Flip5
The next fashion phone? A special edition of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip5, done in collaboration with Maison Margiela. This furthers the innovative identity of both brands, as they work together to deliver a high-tech device that incorporates the aesthetic influences of the house’s design codes. Where a semi-transparent effect comes through in a rear glass that shows the inner workings of a Maison Margiela jacket enhanced by a prism of silver and metal. It also comes with a Flap Leather Case and Flipsuit Case that captures the artistry of the atelier’s craftsmanship with its handwoven stitching and distinctive numbering design.
Courtesy of Nike
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Timothée Chalamet has created an exclusive ‘Wonka’ Nike Dunks
Forget the chocolate factory, Timothée Chalamet is in the running to open a shoe factory. As part of the Wonka press promotions, Willy Wonka himself has joined up with Nike to create a delectable pair of the sports house’s famous Dunks—so limited, there are only five pairs available. In terms of visual design, the new kicks convey the same kaleidoscopic vibrancy as Wonka’s candy-coloured world, and most especially the character’s signature velvet plum jacket. The usual Nike tag has also been replaced by a cool ‘W’ that stands for Wonka instead. For exactly how one can get their hands on a pair? Fans can try to win a pair via a giveaway from the Pure Imagination Contest, organised by Warner Bros. themselves.
Courtesy of Balenciaga
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Nicole Kidman is Balenciaga’s newest ambassador
Balenciaga is adding to their ever-growing strength of house ambassadors. This time around, award-winning actor Nicole Kidman, joins the likes of Michelle Yeoh, Isabelle Huppert and PP Krit Amnuaydechkorn. As the latest face of the maison, Kidman also made her appearance at the brand’s recent pre-fall 2024 showing in Los Angeles, wearing a strong-shouldered, sculptural number. On her appointment, Kidman expresses her anticipation for the beginning of their official working relationship: “Balenciaga has been with me through some of the most memorable events in my life, from my wedding to the Oscars red carpet. I’m excited to work with Balenciaga as an ambassador and look forward to creating more memories together.”
