💜 Entrepreneurship Towards Improvement in the Fashion Industry
Recently, Jessica was able to moderate a talk between Sophia Scott, Georgia Scott and Nina Scott, the founders of GROUNDTRUTH, in regards to entrepreneurship towards improvement in the fashion industry.
Recently, I had the honor to moderate a FASHINNOVATION talk between Sophia Scott, Georgia Scott, and Nina Scott, the founders of GROUNDTRUTH, whose selection of sleek, chic, and sturdy backpack, totes and bags are crafted from 100% recycled plastic fabrics. Their honest and frank discussion about their goal to make a 100% sustainable brand is inspiring and shows a clean and clear path forward for the fashion industry.
💎 Under The Radar Elegance
If you are looking for exquisitely made, under the radar elegance in your accessories, might I suggest taking the time to discover Moynat. I recently became the proud owner of one of the brand’s Quattro totes.
If you are looking for exquisitely made, under the radar elegance in your accessories, might I suggest taking the time to discover @moynat. I recently became the proud owner of one of the brand’s Quattro totes. What I love about it, besides the unmistakable quality of the leather used and the solid construction - is its unique shape and atypical color combos. I mean it takes a certain sort of sophistication and daring to combine the colors of blush pink and khaki in one bag. The bag does come in different shapes and sizes. But I love the “Vertical” version. Maybe it’s because I feel so at ease with the vertical shape (thanks Instagram stories) or the way it so perfectly holds my MacBook Air. Somehow it looks both cute and professional.
Speaking of professional, the fact that this bag is reversible also makes it ideal for my globe trotting life. A life endlessly spent trying to fit everything into a carry-on bag. It is so easy to turn the bag inside out, back and forth, until I figure out which hue works best with my outfit.
I also have to give a big shout out to designer @rameshnair_ for his clever choice to create two sets of handles. One short, so the tote acts like a handbag, and a longer one for some over the shoulder action. And for those of you that are always concerned about bags that have no closers, well Ramesh thought of that too. All you have to do is weave the bigger handles through the smaller ones and - voilà - the bag closes up beautifully.
Here, instead of me posing with both versions of my Quattro bag I thought I would let my two kittens Sven (in the khaki) and Maxscu (in the blush pink) make the bag look even more adorable! And you can see - in action - the transformation of this wonderful tote bag just below!
P.S. if you want to learn more about Moynat and Ramesh Nair just click here to listen to my #fashionyourseatbelt podcast with him.
Enjoy!
💜 Fashion Leads the Way for Change in Saudi Arabia
Earlier this month, something unprecedented happened in Saudia Arabia. The country held its first ever fashion conference: Fashion Futures. Over the course of the two days a veritable who's who of international leaders and decision-makers in the field of fashion visited the Kingdom with the unique goal of educating and inspiring the fashion-loving citizens about the global billion-dollar industry.
Earlier this month something unprecedented happened in Saudia Arabia. The country held its first ever fashion conference: Fashion Futures. Over the course of the two days a veritable who's who of international leaders and decision-makers in the field of fashion visited the Kingdom with the unique goal of educating and inspiring the fashion-loving citizens about the global billion-dollar industry.
His Excellency Mr. Hamed M. Fayez - Vice Minister of Culture, (Fashion Futures Twitter).
The conference acted as a launching pad for Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture’s robust commitment and investment into the local, regional and global fashion industry – with education, sustainability and the digital world as the cornerstones of this major initiative. Keynote addresses were made by heavy hitters like Ravi Thakran, group president of LVMH South Asia and South-East Asia, Australia and Middle East, who pledged – on behalf of LVMH – a $500 million dollar fund to help support and invest in designers and creatives in the GCC. And Supermodel Halima Aden, who is known for proudly wearing her hijab while she walks the top fashion runways around the world, who gave a moving speech entitled "Don’t be afraid to be the first".
Halima Aden, (Fashion Futures Twitter).
There were also one-on-one onstage interviews with designers like Iris Van Herpen, Giles Deacon and the iconic stylist Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele, and round table discussions on the topics of communication in the digital age, sustainable fashion and the evolution of the beauty sector that featured respected speakers such as Olivier Bourgis, Maria Cornejo and Frederic Fekkai.
“Today with Fashion Futures we open a new chapter for the fashion industry in our country,” said Hamed M Fayez, Vice Minister at the Ministry of Culture. He also revealed that the Kingdom was in the final stages of launching a dedicated Fashion Commission, to foster the nation's design talent. “It will help unleash the creative potential of our fashion community by addressing the needs of our designers and discovering hidden talents. All of which will help Saudia Arabia’s fashion sector to grow, develop and compete on a global level,” he added as he announced that the country had decided to partner with the renowned Parsons School of Design in New York to send four emerging Saudi designers to study at the institution.
Local talents were also celebrated with Saudi designers Honayda Serafi, Arwa Al Banawi, and Hatem Alakeel, as well as Saudi photographer Hayat Osamah taking part in panels. At the same time, in an adjacent space to the main conference hall, packed workshops were running on different topics related to how to build a fashion business. Their focus, to educate and support Saudi Arabia’s fashion youthquake. Currently, more than 50% of the Saudi population of 34 million is under the age of 25. The meritocracy of the fashion industry has shown itself to be a very appealing avenue of self-sufficiency and self-expression to the country’s Gen Z and Millennial generations.
“By the very nature of attending, every single person here today is ambitious,” said her Highness Princess Noura bint Faisal Al Saud, an ambassador to the Minister of Culture, at the conference. “They all have dreams and they are gathered here to explore and craft ways to make them a reality.”
Another dream that came true during the 2-day conference took place at the Tuwaiq Palace cultural center. There, a private sit down gala dinner by three-star Michelin chef Yannick Alleno was held. It was followed by the first-ever western fashion show to take place in the country. In front of 300 guests, the expansive fashion show was filled with both cutting edge offerings from international labels like Givenchy, Off-White, Simone Rocha, Sacai and Stella McCartney, and leading local fashion designs.
For many of the women in the audience, the event was significant as an indicator of how far the country had come in such a short time. Many of them saying how one day they would tell their daughters and granddaughters that they were “there” on the night when fashion helped to bring about change in the Kingdom.
The entire event was seamlessly overseen by Richard Attias & Associates and it deftly illustrated that the company is skilled at bringing the right talents together to nurture key and original partnerships in the region. As the rules and codes of conduct are radically evolving in the country, it was encouraging to see such a momentous occasion go off without a hitch. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an unexpected country. Saudi citizens are leading the march to create multiple new industries and to lead them with passion and professionalism. Fashion is one of them!”, pronounced Richard Attias, the Executive Chairman of Richard Attias & Associates.
In her rousing keynote address to the conference Her Royal Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar al Saud, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United State, gave her countrymen a galvanizing call to action when she spoke directly to the designers and creatives in the Fashion Futures audience. “Tell us who you are, come and join our journey. Learn from our guests. And be the future. Be the future not just of fashion. But be the future and the face of this country.”
Her Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, (Fashion Futures Twitter).
💎 Too Cool For The Summer
My Parisienne born daughters want me to snap up this vintage “Bob” (AKA Bucket Hat) at the Brocante in town this week. The bucket hat is having a big fashion comeback this summer.
My Parisienne born daughters want me to snap up this vintage “Bob” (AKA Bucket Hat) at the Brocante in town this week.
The bucket hat is having a big fashion comeback this summer. And if you can get your hands on one that is vintage, or even better, features the logo of a well know or hipster brand, well that just makes them that much cooler.
The hat was first crafted at around the turn of the 19th and original was made from wool felt or tweed cloth (today a thick cotton is the norm). And thanks to the lanolin in the raw wool the hats- back in the day - were naturally waterproof, which made them very popular with fishermen.
They first became a fashion accessory in the 1960 and are having a Renaissance right now. I also happen to think they look as good on a woman in her 40s as it does one in her 20s. All you need to really make it work is to pair it with a big smile!
Click here to see the lovely selection of bucket hats Net-a-Porter has for sale!
💎 The Perfect Evolution Of The Classic Summer Hoops
My new Marc Deloche yellow gold Hyperbole slide on earrings are the perfect evolution of the classic summer hoops. And they just also happen to work for women with or without pierced ears!
My new Marc Deloche yellow gold Hyperbole slide on earrings are the perfect evolution of the classic summer hoops. And they just also happen to work for women with or without pierced ears!
What is great about these beauties is that their slide on design makes it so that they don’t pinch the ear. Rather, it’s more like a friendly hug. An embrace you are happy to have all day.
And you absolutely need to check out his beautiful new e-commerce website!