These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Thursday.
Fashion’s former stars get sidelined
To quote a certain leggy blonde: “In fashion, one day you’re in and the next you’re out.” Though often used to cut a “Project Runway” disaster, this statement rings true for the big names in fashion. In recent years, a number of top design talents — Riccardo Tisci, Alber Elbaz, Hedi Slimane — are no longer working in the 24/7 glare of the industry. Some say their departures stem from an inability to keep up with the pressure of delivering multiple collections and substantial sales growth season after season, while others attribute their disappearances to big ego demands, such as generous salaries, lavish perks and too much creative control. Therefore, it’s no surprise that some headliners have been replaced by younger, hipper and less expensive talents who don’t feel the need to control every aspect of a brand’s identity. {WWD}
Meet the “mad scientist” behind Nike’s “Back to the Future” sneaker
Tiffany Beers is a 37-year-old senior innovator at Nike, who spends her days engineering futuristic sneakers and studying people’s lace-tying behavior. She has achieved “wonder woman” status at Nike after developing the self-lacing McFly shoe, which references the seemingly unimaginable moment in the 1989 film “Back to the Future Part II”, in which Marty McFly puts on a pair of self-lacing Nikes in 2015. Beers hopes more affordable future models of the HyperAdapt shoes — they currently retail for about $720 — will make life easier for pregnant women who struggle to bend over and for people with special needs. {The New York Times}
New no-brand beauty brands offer high-quality goods without the marketing markup
It’s rare to walk down a beauty aisle without hundreds of flashy shampoo labels competing for your attention. Gone are the days when beauty products, personal-care items and cleaning supplies came in bare white packaging. However, brands like Brandless and Public Goods are cutting costs on marketing and bringing simplicity and low prices back — it’s time to ditch the label. {Racked}
A$AP Ferg collaborates with AGOLDE for an exclusive Fall 2017 unisex collection
The “Trap Lord” partnered with the premium denim label for the second time after a successful first collaboration for Spring 2016. This time around, the capsule expands outside of denim and takes on a unisex design approach. The collection will offer 12 pieces total, which include five jeans, four outerwear styles, a graphic tee and a unisex tracksuit. All styles retail between $58 to $350 and will come out Thursday at the Webster Miami and TheWebster.com. {Fashionista Inbox}
A$AP FERG x AGOLDE Campaign. Photo: AGOLDE
Luka Sabbat talks style inspiration and future creative plans with SSENSE
During a recent trip to Montreal, Luka Sabbat met up with Canadian Retailer SSENSE to discuss his unabashed obsession with video games and Comme des Garçons‘ Rei Kawakubo. The model — whose social media savviness has made him a fashion wonder boy — {Hype Beast} also talks future plans for “Hot Mess,” his genre-defying creative endeavor with budding photographer Noah Dillon. {Hype Beast}
Massimo Nicosia leaves role as Pringle of Scotland’s men’s design director
After seven years as men’s design director at Pringle of Scotland, Massimo Nicosia is resigning to pursue a new opportunity in Milan. The Spring 2018 season will mark the end of Nicosia’s reign at the luxury cashmere label. His final knitwear touches for the brand include a cotton linen sweater that resembles bits of fraying rope and an abstract fisherman knit covered with pixelated stitches and patches. {WWD}
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