week 22.
Skepta x Puma ’Skope Forever’ capsule
Apart from being one of the UK’s best grime artists, Skepta is definitely growing his stamp on the fashion world. After showcasing his own MAINS collection at London Fashion Week, he has now strengthened his partnership with Puma. He has been one of the sportswear giant’s brand ambassadors for the past two years but has upped the game with a design collaboration in the form of a capsule called ‘Skope Forever’, heavily drawing on Puma’s archive. There is a shiny black tracksuit that is more stage than running track when it comes to stadium wear and a few accessories such as a backpack and beanie hat but the stars of the collection are sure to be the iridescent slip-on sneakers that definitely have rapper appeal.
COS x Tabata Shibori
Perhaps as a direct reaction against the deluge of AI and digital manipulation, traditional craftwork such as crochet, sashiko embroidery and tie dying is having quite a moment in the fashion world. Bringing that to the masses (at least as far as a limited edition capsule can) is COS who have released a 14-piece collection using fabrics dyed by Kyoto-based artisan Kazuki Tabata in the ancient shibori technique. Combining the brand’s cool urban sense of style and traditional Japanese skills is a very smart move and the results work both in the city and on the beach. Let’s hope this is the first of many such collaborations.
Fendi Fragrance Collection
Realising the HUGE market in niche perfumes (as opposed to the cookie-cutter licensed products that most fashion brands flog through Duty Free) Rome-based luxury giants Fendi have just released an elevated ‘fine fragrance’ line available only through their dedicated stores. Comprising seven scents, each inspired by a different member of the Fendi family or design team, the fragrances are presented in similar bottles (another key feature of niche fragrances) differentiated only by subtle changes in colour. The launch is part of a wider trend for luxury brands to offer premium fragrances that distance themselves somewhat from the mass market in terms of quality, price and sophistication. Expect to see more from the likes of Valentino in the very near future.
Fugazi bag
Remember that trend a few years ago, spearheaded by Jacquemus, where handbags were getting smaller and smaller until they could pretty much only hold a pair of Airpods? Well, not unexpectedly there has been a backlash the other way. First came Burberry’s ‘ludicrously capacious’ bag, made famous by an appearance on Succession, followed by a slew of other oversized shoppers but now it has hit its zenith with a bag by US brand Fugazi that you could probably park a car in. The brand specialises in irony (even the name is slang for ‘fake’) so don’t expect this to be a serious production but the Instagram photos of owner Trevor Gorji dragging the ‘Birkin-inspired’ orange bag around New York has raised a smile or two on our jaded faces this week.
Macallan The Reach Whisky
If it’s true that most things get better with age, then whisky lovers are in for a big treat this June. The Macallan, expert distillers of malt whisky for two centuries, are about to release a single-cask whisky that has remained closed since WW2 making it over 80 years old. Called The Reach, it comes in a rather ornate decanter held by three bronze hands and they had better not be butter-fingers as a single bottle costs an eye-watering €110,000. To celebrate the launch, you can buy tickets for a five-hour dinner at The Alchemist in Copenhagen which culminates in a snifter of this pricy drink. For goodness sake, don’t ask for a slug of ginger beer in it though.
