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The Launch: Fashion News to Know This April
April showers bring...new must-haves!
Welcome back to another edition of The Launch, where we seek out the best of the best in fashion news, collaborations, openings, and launches each month. April promises to be rife with hot weather and even hotter news: Danish cool-girl brand Ganni collaborates with Copenhagen-born, L.A.-based creative Veneda Carter on jewelry, Balmain teams up with Evian (yes, that one) for a second time, and more. Keep your eyes on this space as we round up everything you didn’t know you always needed this April.
Ganni Recruits Veneda Carter for Gold Jewelry Line
Ganni Recruits Veneda Carter for Gold Jewelry Line
Who: Ganni
What: Jewelry capsule with Veneda Carter
Where: Online at ganni.com, venedacarter.com, and in select Ganni stores
Why: For those who aren’t familiar, Veneda Carter is a multi-hyphenate creative who was born in Denmark, where cult fashion label Ganni operates out of, and has traveled the world since, working with legends like Kim K to refine their aesthetic. She’s a jewelry designer, so it’s fitting that Ganni tapped her for its first foray into the category. The three-piece collection melds Carter’s love of crushed gold pieces with Ganni’s subverted minimalism. The pendant necklace (pictured here) is our pick for the ultimate summer stack starter.
Bloomingdale’s Partners With Anna Dello Russo on European-Inspired Pop-Up Shop
Bloomingdale’s Partners With Anna Dello Russo on European-Inspired Pop-Up Shop
Who: Bloomingdale’s and Anna Dello Russo
What: Pop-up shop
Where: Online at bloomingdales.com
Why: Just in time for summer, The Carousel @ Bloomingdale’s joined forces with veteran fashion creative Anna Dello Russo on an exclusive pop-up shop inspired by chic European getaways (the Amalfi Coast, the South of France, etc.) Expect everything from crochet dresses to tote bags emblazoned with “CIAO” (pictured here). The assortment “features a twist of Mediterranean flavors with joyful colorful items from different designers,” Dello Russo tells ELLE.com. We’re ready to book that trip now.
Madewell Teams Up With Chava Studio
Who: Madewell and Chava Studio
What: Limited-edition collection
Where: Online at madewell.com
Why: Madewell keeps it in the family. Case in point: the retailer’s latest collaboration with one of its own alums, Olivia Villanti of Chava Studio. The resulting limited-edition capsule includes oversized shirts, pull-on shorts, and scrunchies—all made in her family’s atelier in Mexico City using deadstock fabric. Villanti calls the collection an “elevated and timeless take on patchwork” and emphasizes the sustainability aspect: even the scrunchies and size tags were made using remnant fabric. “Finding brands we believe in, love, and wear is always how we choose our partners,” adds Madewell creative director Joyce Lee. “I fell in love with Chava Studio’s incredibly luxe pieces and their process, which is handcrafted down to every detail.” Us too.
Banana Republic Joins Forces With The Society Archive
Banana Republic Joins Forces With The Society Archive
Who: Banana Republic and The Society Archive
What: The Archive limited-edition sale
Where: Online at societyarchive.com
Why: Banana Republic is having a renaissance of sorts, relying on its iconic heritage to revamp the brand for the modern customer. Take, for instance, its collaboration with curated vintage store The Society Archive, which brought back 100 of BR’s best pieces from the ’90s and aughts that relate to the trends of today, like this worn-in leather jacket and silk patterned skirt that is very well-suited for transitional dressing.
Lingua Franca and John Hardy Partner to Design Pebble Necklaces
Lingua Franca and John Hardy Partner to Design Pebble Necklaces
Who: Lingua Franca and John Hardy
What: Limited-edition pebble necklaces
Where: Online at linguafranca.nyc
Why: Ahead of Mother’s Day, NYC luxury knitwear brand Lingua Franca teamed up with the jewelers at John Hardy, now led by industry legend Reed Krakoff, to create a limited-edition series of silver pebble necklaces featuring a special neon enamel pebble that is as bright as Lingua Franca’s customizable sweaters (which are also a part of the collab). Friends of the brand joined Krakoff and Lingua Franca’s Rachelle Hruska MacPherson for an intimate lunch on April 27 to celebrate the meeting of two creative, impassioned minds working on thoughtfully sourced and handcrafted fashion.
Louis Vuitton Opens ‘Crafting Dreams’ in L.A.
Who: Louis Vuitton
What: An exclusive shopping experience in L.A.
Where: By appointment only; call Louis Vuitton’s Rodeo Drive Store at 310-859-0457 to reserve your spot
Why: Louis Vuitton is getting in touch with its roots—by opening up a private residence in the Bel Air neighborhood of L.A. that emphasizes its history of craft. “Crafting Dreams” will showcase the house’s iconic trunks (including one designed by Yayoi Kusama), watches, fine jewelry, exotic leather goods, and red carpet gowns worn by Ana de Armas, Gemma Chan, and Sophie Turner, to name just a few celebs. All of the pieces are available to shop. Attendees are also invited to personalize items with one of the house’s artisans. Bespoke Speedy, anyone?
Who: Givenchy
What: Plage collection
Where: Online at givenchy.com and in Givenchy stores worldwide
Why: Hubert de Givenchy had a residence in the South of France named Le Clos Fiorentina, a getaway that inspired his collections with its soft colors and slow pace of life. Now, creative director Matthew W. Williams follows suit by drawing inspiration from the French Riviera, plus his home state of California, for Givenchy’s brand-new Plage collection, a Euro-meets-L.A. take on beachwear rife with raffia, woven knits, and swim that will look as good for lazy days on the beach as it will on a hot city day in August.
Balmain Joins Forces With Evian for Second Collaboration
Balmain Joins Forces With Evian for Second Collaboration
Who: Balmain and Evian
What: Second collaboration
Where: Online at us.balmain.com, farfetch.com, and at select boutiques worldwide
Why: Greenwashing or not, the second Balmain x Evian collaboration is here and it’s as (surprisingly) stylish as it is sustainable. The capsule—made using sustainable sourcing, recycling, upcycling, and production practices—includes swimwear, trucker jackets, and a tote bag in clear recycled PVC that’s ludicrously capacious in the best way possible. “If we want to continue creating
beauty, while respecting the beauty of this planet, there’s just so much more that all of us in the fashion world should
be doing now,” notes Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing in a press release. You can start by shopping the collab now before it sells out.
Adidas Announces New Collab With Bad Bunny
Who: Adidas and Bad Bunny
What: New collaboration
Where: Online at adidas.com
Why: Hot off the trails of his headlining performances at Coachella, Bad Bunny has partnered with Adidas once more—this time introducing the Bad Bunny “Wild Moss” Campus. The moss green, texturized sneaker was revealed the first weekend of Coachella, with a special installation on the grounds where festivalgoers could escape the sun and zen out among flora, nature sounds, and the sneakers themselves. Mark your calendars: the new collab will hit stores on April 29 for $160 per pair.
Batsheva Releases New Capsule With Laura Ashley
Who: Batsheva
What: Capsule collection with Laura Ashley
Where: Online at batsheva.com
Why: Batsheva Hay’s whimsical eye for retro dressing has found its perfect match in the archival prints and aesthetics of American homeware staple Laura Ashley. The two have teamed up for the fourth (!) time, with Hay using her signature Tulip print on ’80s-inspired frocks, including beach-ready shorts, for a sweet homage to the past...and every John Hughes movie ever made.
Tiffany & Co. Unveils New Flagship Store
Who: Tiffany & Co.
What: New flagship store
Where: 57th Street and Fifth Avenue
Why: Allow Tiffany & Co. to reintroduce itself. At long last, the luxury jeweler is debuting a newly renovated flagship store, “The Landmark,” on 57th Street and Fifth Avenue in New York City, complete with custom artwork, brand-new interiors, immersive displays, and rare, never-before-seen jewels.
Who: Coach
What: Coachtopia
Where: Online at coach.com
Why: Coach is taking steps toward a better future, and bringing its customers along for the ride. Its new sub-brand, Coachtopia, aims to work closely with its (mostly Gen Z) shoppers to actively collaborate on making bags from entirely recycled leather, either regenerated or culled from scraps off the Coach factory floor. The brand is entirely focused on using customer feedback to design new bags and seek out alternative ways of creation that align with modern-day sustainability, opening the possibilities for truly regenerative design that lowers its carbon footprint and waste. It also doesn’t hurt that the Y2K Coach bag shapes are still very cute after all these years.
Sandy Liang Drops Salomon Shoe Collaboration
Who: Sandy Liang
What: Shoe collaboration with Salomon
Where: Online at sandyliang.info starting April 28 and at Sandy Liang’s New York store; globally online at salomon.com starting May 5
Why: Sandy Liang’s footwear has quickly reached cult status, with her covetable ballet flats selling out over and over (and over) again. Now, the designer is teaming up with functional It-girl shoe brand Salomon for the Sporty Spice in all of us. Two iconic Salomon shapes, the Salomon RX Moc 3.0 and XT-6 Expanse, get the Liang treatment, with pale pink and grey hues, and her signature flowers festooned on the trims and insole. Take cues from the fall/winter 2023 show and pair them with a dainty tulle dress for the ultimate juxtaposition.
Marni Teams Up With No Vacancy Inn on Vibrant Collab
Who: Marni
What: Collaboration with No Vacancy Inn
Where: Online at marni.com, in Marni stores, and in select multi-brand stores
Why: Marni Jam is the new collaborative hub from creative director Francesco Risso that allows Marni to bring in brands that align with his otherwordly, whimsical vision. Enter No Vacancy Inn, the brand from Tremaine Emory, Ade “Acyde” Odunlami, and Brock Korsan, that set its sights on a beach-ready partnership. You’ll see classic Marni silhouettes, like knit shorts, linen dresses, and chunky jewelry, in a variety of mismatching, kaleidoscopic colors and textures that promise to be the standout of any beach day this summer.
Presley Oldham Partners With The RealReal
Presley Oldham Partners With The RealReal
Who: Presley Oldham and The RealReal
What: Upcycled jewelry collection
Where: Online at therealreal.com
Why: With Earth Month on the brain, The RealReal has joined forces with cult-favorite jewelry designer Presley Oldham, whose fans include Chloë Sevigny and Kendrick Lamar, on an upcycled collection. Topaz, peridot, rose quartz, and more are transformed from raw materials into gorgeous pieces in Oldham’s lively color palette, geared toward all genders. Because we all deserve this pearl and peridot beaded necklace.
Dior Expands Gem Dior Collection
Who: Dior
What: Gem Dior expansion
Where: Online at dior.com and at Dior boutiques globally
Why: Dior’s Gem Dior collection has been around since 2019, but it’s getting a fresh update with more diamonds to add to the uncut geometry of the pieces (because, well, why not?). There are pops of color in the gorgeous timepieces that round out the collection; the cherry on top being the true unisex nature of the range, marking the first Dior jewelry collection to fit every body.
Reformation Introduces Handbags
Who: Reformation
What: Handbag launch
Where: Online at reformation.com
Why: After over a decade in business, Reformation is finally launching handbags—and, like the rest of the L.A. brand’s wares, we anticipate they’ll be everywhere this summer, especially during festival season. The cult label tapped none other than Camila Morrone for the new Ref Bags campaign, which features sustainably made styles “to help you keep your sh*t together,” including a roomy, relaxed tote (pictured here), a structured shoulder bag, and a convertible and recyclable day-to-night mini bag.
Who: Still Here
What: Cloud collection
Where: Online at stillhere.nyc
Why: Still Here is making some of the most exciting new denim on the market, with interesting fits and washes that deliver much more than your tried-and-true blues. The brand’s new Cloud collection, in particular, capitalizes on new technology to spin 100 percent cotton denim into supersoft and slouchy dream jeans, with the durability of a regular pair but with the wearability of your favorite PJs. Three of its cult-favorite styles, including the double-knee Subway jeans (pictured here) get the treatment. Which begs the question: why sacrifice comfort for style?
Sabyasachi Unveils 25,000 Square Foot Mumbai Store
Who: Sabyasachi
What: Mumbai store opening
Where: Horniman Circle, Mumbai, India; discover more on Instagram
Why: Sabyasachi is the luxury Indian fashion brand known for combining centuries-old traditions and techniques with modern sensibilities and savoir-faire, creating timeless heirlooms that speak to the contemporary woman. Its eponymous designer, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, has a decadent vision, which is now fully realized in a sprawling new store in Mumbai’s Horniman Circle. The space, formerly used as a bank and preserved as a Grade II A heritage structure, clocks in at just over 25,000 square feet, and each corner is utilized to the fullest. The Sabyasachi Foundation’s extensive works are presented throughout, amongst other local and global treasures, not leaving a single room unadorned. In addition to several floors for bridal, ready-to-wear, jewelry, and accessories, you’ll see lounges, an exhibition space, and tea rooms. It’s the perfect place to get lost for hours (or days) and submerge yourself in the world of Sabyasachi.
Mulberry Taps Axel Arigato for Unisex Streetwear Collab
Mulberry Taps Axel Arigato for Unisex Streetwear Collab
Who: Mulberry and Axel Arigato
What: Unisex collaboration
Where: Online at mulberry.com and axelarigato.com, and in Axel Arigato and Mulberry stores worldwide
Why: Mulberry is once again proving it has cool kids in mind with a commitment to eco-conscious fashion and updates on early aughts favorites. Its latest collaboration with Swedish streetwear label Axel Arigato sees both parties honor what they do best: Arigato embraces Mulberry’s signature British prep aesthetic, while Mulberry leans into the neutrals and sportiness of the Scandi cult favorite. The resulting collection includes unisex bombers, trenches, and jackets, plus three Mulberry bag shapes in bright colors—including a very spacious tote that’s slated to be a surefire hit for summer weekend getaways.
Kevin LeBlanc is the Fashion Associate at ELLE Magazine. He covers fashion news, trends, and anything to do with Robyn Rihanna Fenty.
Claire Stern is the Deputy Editor of ELLE.com. Previously, she served as Editor at Bergdorf Goodman. Her interests include fashion, food, travel, music, Peloton, and The Hills—not necessarily in that order. She used to have a Harriet the Spy notebook and isn’t ashamed to admit it.
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