We expected spring 2022 to be another step forward, a glimpse of fashion's earth-friendly future after 18 months of lockdowns and climate disasters. Often, though, the general feeling was that brands were more focused on the media impact of their shows than the environmental impact of their collections. Remember sustainability a colleague laughed at New York Fashion Week. A term abroad spent studying art and fashion at Central Saint Martins completely transformed New York-based jewellery designer Shana Cave's approach to creating. It was life-changing, the 23-year-old explains excitedly via Zoom from her Valentino Sneakers New York apartment, while sporting one of her own gemstone floral necklaces. Their third-storey apartment in a 60-year-old block was by means of a hardworking hunt for a walk-up apartment.
As has been the case in today's eye-centered beauty Valentino Shoes landscape, there was no shortage of unexpected takes on pitch-black and brightly coloured eyeliner. Among the most standout were the punk-leaning, Siouxsie Sioux-worthy designs See Chloe's surf punk slashes, Dior's razor-sharp double liner, Balenciaga's jagged cybergoth flicks and, of course, the different exaggerated spiky shapes at Valentino. Some might argue that we shouldn't expect a fashion show to do both to feel emotional and transportive and make a statement about fashion's role in climate change.
In the fashion world's heated atmosphere of digital innovation, ambitious ventures have sprouted up, looking to capitalise on the demand for virtual threads. One such company is Singapore-based Republiqe, run by James Gaubert, which was launched in August of 2020. The world's first digital-only luxury fashion brand, Republiqe is founded on a bedrock of Gaubert's experience in analog fashion. You nod absently and your eyes glaze over when they start going on about augmented reality, blockchain and cryptocurrency. A groundbreaking formula, this foundation gets its unique balance from the highlights of two existing products, the Maestro Fusion Makeup and Eye Tint liquid eyeshadow. To deliver long-lasting glow without any greasiness, creasing or dulling, a delicate balance of ingredients including a concentration of oils guarantee effortless glide and application, as well as true-to-colour Valentino Pumps full coverage that lasts all day long.