Is Olivia Palermo rethinking the online shopping experience?
The fashion entrepreneur, whose collaboration with the late Karl Lagerfeld’s brand bows in June, is preparing to unveil an e-commerce platform, WWD has learned. The platform will live on Palermo’s web site and will have a multibrand boutique element. It will focus on bags, shoes and accessories to start, and will include collaborations that Palermo has created, including her forthcoming one with the Lagerfeld label.
A pop-up box on Palermo’s web site was an indicator that a change to its content was in the works. “Big things coming soon,” reads the box, which prompts users to sign up for e-mail alerts.
The web site currently includes clips of Palermo’s modeling and design work, as well as general information about her. There is also a link to her collaboration with sunglass brand Westward Leaning; however, users aren’t yet able to shop the collection on Palermo’s site and are instead redirected to Westward Leaning’s.
As the note on her web site indicates, big changes are in the works at Palermo’s brand. The forthcoming e-commerce platform is said to be complemented by and grounded in editorial content. It is not yet clear exactly what kind of content Palermo will

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

Ath-leisure be damned. Wolaco has its sights set on the true performance activewear market with the introduction of its first apparel collection for women.
Wolaco, which stands for Way of Life Athletic Company, was founded as a men’s active brand in 2015 by Terry White, who was frustrated by having to run with his phone in his hand and his keys in his sock because the major brands didn’t offer shorts with pockets to stash and protect his things.
So in the spare time from his corporate job, the former collegiate lacrosse player set out to design his own. It took him 1.5 years, but he finally perfected the North Moore short that features sweat-proof pockets and patented compression fabric. He launched on Kickstarter, and raised $122,000 within 48 hours.
Since that time, Wolaco has expanded its men’s offering to include a more-traditional running short, tights, tanks, T-shirts and long-sleeve technical tops as well as caps.
“I’d been an athlete my entire life,” he said. “I’m from New Jersey but played lacrosse for Harvard.” Once he left college and got a job, he was determined to stay fit and often ran around his home in New York. “But there was nothing in the branded

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

Five years ago, when Eileen Fisher was celebrating 30 years in business, she was interviewed about her career. She said she wasn’t looking for any accolades from the fashion industry. “I don’t care about that. It’s not what I do or why I do it. I’ve always been about real clothes that really work for real life. It’s not an art project for me. It’s real design, vision, solving problems — that’s what fascinates me,” she told WWD.
Fast forward five years and, although Fisher is proud to win Designer of the Year from the AAFA, it’s not what she’s about.
“It’s weird, it’s a little strange,” Fisher said. “I’m always like, wait a minute, ‘Who am I? What am I doing? What’s interesting here?’ But I’m honored, and I appreciate it, and I’m honored for all the people of my company. I get beyond me. What am I doing? I’m just doing my best every day, but I guess that’s good enough.”
For the past 35 years, Fisher has created an enviable $450 million apparel company that’s a leader in the sustainability movement. Her products are sold in more than 300 department and specialty stores across the U.S., U.K. and Canada, 65

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

Marc Jacobs and Char Defrancesco’s wedding this weekend brought out stars, models and fashion insiders — and their Instagram posts did not disappoint.
The fashion designer and his longtime partner — who famously got engaged via a Prince flash mob at Chipotle last year — hosted their wedding reception Saturday night in New York at The Pool, bringing together some of their famous friends, such as Naomi Campbell, Emily Ratajkowski, Kate Moss, Kaia Gerber and Gigi and Bella Hadid and more.

View this post on Instagram

Stepping out to the wedding of the year!! 🖤🖤🖤#MarcAndCharsWedding @themarcjacobs @chardefrancesco #CHOSENFAMILY ♥️♥️♥️ DANCED ALL NIGHT !! Wearing @Balmain @olivier_rousteing @lejenke
A post shared by Naomi Campbell (@naomi) on Apr 7, 2019 at 9:03am PDT

The star-studded affair also included many of Jacobs’ fellow fashion designers, like Dior Men’s artistic director Kim Jones, and Kenzo and Opening Ceremony’s Humberto Leon.
From an elaborate cake-cutting performance to the otter monogrammed sweatshirts given as wedding favors, many guests took to Instagram to document the night and to share their well wishes with the couple.
Read on to see more Instagrams from Marc Jacobs and Char Defrancesco’s wedding.

View this post on Instagram

Congratulations @themarcjacobs

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

LIVING THE BRAND: Levi’s vice president of global innovation Paul Dillinger spoke quickly and passionately about how the fashion industry can take steps to become more sustainable, closing out the two-day Sustainable Business and Design Conference on Thursday night at F.I.T.
Wearing a white cottonized hemp jacket from the Levi’s Wellthread x Outerknown spring/summer collection, he told attendees that by touching it they would understand the possibilities of making the fabric into something lovely and soft (and not scratchy). The company’s first foray into the use of a new form of “cottonized hemp” denim — hemp that’s been altered to feel just like cotton, Dillinger’s embroidered trucker jacket has removable metal hardware for recyclability.
He also highlighted the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. Dillinger stressed the need to embrace circular industrial systems to reduce pollution rather than because “you want an excuse to grow.” Environmental issues such as deforestation and desertification are offshoots of overproduction. Dillinger suggested fashion companies and designers adopt the decluttering mantra from Marie Kondo, asking themselves pre-production if the item will bring people joy.
Dillinger spoke of how the fast-fashion industry has an incredible appetite “that is on steroids at this point.” In addition, the media reach of

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

Gloria Steinem talked passionately about what’s most important now at Eileen Fisher’s “Women Together” initiative Friday.
Steinem was the featured speaker at a full-day program intended to empower women to find their voices and connect with one another. The ticketed event, with 90 attendees, was also live-streamed before an audience of 235 people. It took place at the Eileen Fisher Learning Lab in Irvington, N.Y.
“I believe a collective energy emerges when women connect with other women,” said Eileen Fisher, founder and chairman of her brand. “Our Women Together events offer meaningful opportunities for women to connect more deeply — with themselves and one another.” She said her goal is to do these events once a month.
Titled “Revolution From Within,” the event was filled with women from several generations sitting in talking circles. The day also featured writer Jamia Wilson and international 5Rhythms movement leader Amber Ryan.
Steinem, who has been leading women in the movement for decades, was asked by Antoinette Klatzky, executive director and co-creator of the Eileen Fisher Leadership Institute, what’s important in this moment about women coming together.
“Well, that you do it,” said Steinem. “We are communal animals as human beings. We can’t function all by ourselves. There’s a

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka is now playing on Team Nike — although some were looking for her to go a different direction in the ultracompetitive world of sports marketing deals.
Nike revealed its partnership with Japanese-born Osaka, the world’s number-one women’s single tennis player, on Thursday. But fans will have to wait until the Stuttgart Grand Prix, which begins April 22, to see the 21-year-old tennis player on the courts in Nike gear.
The news came as a bit of a surprise as many thought Osaka was courting a new corporate beau.
In September, after Osaka nabbed the U.S. Open title from Serena Williams, Osaka was rumored to be in talks with rival Adidas for an apparel endorsement worth an estimated 6.5 million pounds, or $8.5 million. She already had a deal with Adidas, but the rumored arrangement would have made the tennis star the highest-paid female athlete ever to sign with Adidas. Osaka was also seen sporting Adidas apparel as recently as January while competing in the Australian Open.
While Nike nabbed Osaka, the jilted Adidas had some blockbuster news of its own — which it chose to release the same day the Nike-Osaka tie-up was announced.
The German sports apparel, footwear and accessory

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

Fur industry advocates plan to continue to turn up the heat on the New York City Council, in response to its proposal for a bill that would ban the sale of fur apparel.
Initially put forward by Council Speaker Corey Johnson and City Council members Mark Levine, Fernando Cabrera, Justin Brannan, Helen Rosenthal and Robert Holden, the proposal has since been moved to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing for further discussion.
If approved, violations would be punished by a civil penalty of no more than $500 for the first violation, and no less than $500, but no more than $1,500 for subsequent violations. Fur apparel sold or offered for sale would be subject to seizure and forfeiture.
Nancy Daigneault, vice president of the Americas for the International Fur Federation, said Friday that a number of furriers and other fur advocates have met with their respective council members and have contacted their offices. “In the last week, furriers have been picking up the phone and calling themselves and meeting with City Council members in their district, or sometimes staff if the members aren’t available,” she said. “We’re hopeful that the city will listen that it’s an ill-conceived ban. It will shut

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

TUCSON, Ariz. — Kathy Ireland pivoted from fashion model to selling socks in a move that earned criticism from some, but she’s having the last laugh as sole owner of a $2 billion business.
The chair, chief executive officer and chief designer of Kathy Ireland Worldwide capped the University of Arizona’s Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing’s annual conference Friday with a talk on how she grew her company into the 26-year-old behemoth that includes apparel, accessories, home, pet products and FinTech. There’s also interest in entertainment. But it all started with a commodity product she was asked to help sell.
“I was an aging, pregnant model at my kitchen table and, to tell you the truth, I was offered the opportunity to model this pair of socks,” Ireland said of the business’ start. “We didn’t even know if they were going to use my face but it was a job and it was a time when not a lot of job offers were coming my way…so we started with a pair of socks. Some said it was counterintuitive. Some said it was stupid.…We wanted to build a real brand. Something that was not dependent on any little smidgen of celebrity I might

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

People are willing to line up for hours these gravity-defying flapjacks.