Photo: Gotham/GC Images
These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Tuesday.
Designers remember M&J Trimming
M&J Trimming, a New York City showroom for ribbons, buttons, patches and other trimmings that first opened in 1936, is closing. The Garment District shop had a stacked list of fashion industry clients, and Curbed compiled quotes from designers such as Rachel Antonoff, Sarah Jessica Parker and Betsey Johnson to remember and mourn it: “I have a very long relationship with M&J Trimming,” Parker told Curbed. “It’s the only trimming store I’ve ever gone to in my whole life, and I’m religiously devoted. They had the best grosgrain for the best price, and I knew all of the people that work there by name, and I love them.” {Curbed/paywalled}
i-D Magazine names editor in chief
Thom Bettridge has been named i-D Magazine‘s editor in chief and chief brand officer. Bettridge, who previously served as Highsnobiety‘s editor in chief, will oversee all aspects of creative, editorial and brand for i-D. The print magazine will return in March 2025, and will move to a bi-annual publishing schedule. “No one embodies the future of i-D more than Thom,” Karlie Kloss, founder and chairwoman of Bedford Media, said in a statement. “His creative instinct and cultural fluency make him the ideal person to chart the magazine’s next chapter. I trust in Thom’s vision and know the magazine is poised to leave yet another indelible mark on the world under his leadership.” {Fashionista inbox}
Michael Kors testifies on handbag competition at FTC trial
As the Federal Trade Commission attempts to block Tapestry‘s $8.5 billion acquisition of Capri Holdings, Michael Kors testified during the antitrust trial on Monday. If approved, the deal would put Tapestry’s Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman as well as Capri’s Versace, Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors all under one company. Kors testified that legacy brands can struggle and lose consumers’ interest, as well as acknowledging that his label has “reached the point of brand fatigue.” {CNBC}
Inside luxury’s Italian sweatshops problem
An investigation by the Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office has linked Dior and Armani to sweatshop labor, including a building in Pieve Emanuele where workers allegedly packaged bags for Armani under exploitative conditions and a factory where workers assembled $2,865 Dior bags for €53 a piece. Court-appointed commissioners will now supervise Dior and Armani’s manufacturing units, but neither brand is facing charges related to these findings. Business of Fashion conducted a months-long investigation that found seedy practices embedded into the luxury system, which comes at a time when luxury is experiencing a market slowdown and growing online debate as to whether luxury brands are worth the high price tags. {Business of Fashion/paywalled}
Fashion’s luxury-tech era reaches the end of its road
Farfetch announced it would be discontinuing Farfetch Platform Solutions (FPS) last month, which marks the end of founder José Neves‘s vision for luxury’s future. As e-commerce grew for many luxury brands and they found themselves bringing operations in-house, the client lists of FPS and Yoox Net-a-Porter dwindled. Relying on external platforms for e-commerce leaves brands with less control, so many are taking the reins by building up their digital storefronts and independently managing their supply chains. {Vogue Business/paywalled}
Source: Fashionista.com