COLLECT THEM ALL: To advertise its Gucci Cosmos exhibition in Shanghai, the Kering-owned luxury home is launching a series of collectible figurines with the Chinese pop IP Marsper.

4 variations of the Marsper x Gucci doll, wearing 4 Gucci archival looks, will drop on Gucci’s WeChat Mini Program on Friday. Shoppers can enter a lottery system to win a slot to buy the doll.

In accordance with images teased by Gucci, two dolls are modeled after looks from Tom Ford‘s Gucci fall 1996 women’s collection: one within the red velvet suit famously worn by Gwyneth Paltrow and one other double-breasted version in pinstripe.

The opposite two dolls are modeled after two looks designed by Alessandro Michele, one featuring the show opener from Gucci’s fall 2015 men’s collection, which was Michele’s first men’s collection for the brand, and one other monogrammed cape look from the Gucci Aria show, which was later restaged in Shanghai.

Each 30-centimeter doll shall be accompanied by a Gucci Savoy suitcase featuring the GG monogram, which is a nod to the “imaginative journey” that Gucci and Marsper launched into, in accordance with a Gucci statement.

Two plus-sized versions of the Michele dolls, or “P(er)lus size collectibles,” that are 60 centimeters tall, will even be an element of the gathering.

The collaboration between Gucci and Marsper was first introduced three years ago in the course of the brand’s energetic experiments within the digital realm. Three Marsper dolls were wearing Gucci Aria looks as an element of the brand’s Christmas campaign for the China market.

It was also considered one of the primary China-related initiatives under the Gucci Good Game umbrella, which included a number of creative partnerships with gaming firms comparable to XBox, The Sims and Pokemon Go.

Marsper, the mouse-like digital character that hails from Mars, was conceived in 2019 by a creative team led by Richard Lu, the founding father of Instar, a Chinese luxury and fashion public relations agency.

Instar was incorporated into Lepop Group in 2021, the latter an all-encompassing “fashion and culture company” focused on IP incubation, celebrity management and lifestyle marketing.

In 2021, Lepop received a funding round of near $10 million from a gaggle of undisclosed angel investors. — DENNI HU

GRAND TOUR: As is his wont, Jacquemus has taken to Instagram to unveil Portofino, Italy, because the third stop in his summerlong series of pop-ups — and tease that his next destination could also be France.

This time, Simone Porte Jacquemus is organising shop on the Via Calata Marconi menswear outpost of Italian multibrand retailer Modes, which counts some 22 stores across Italy, France and Switzerland. Set right on the cobbled quay, the shop features light wood furniture and vaulted brick ceilings contrasting with the geometric lighted displays.

Open until Oct. 16, the 1,735-square-foot Jacquemus pop-up will carry the third drop of the Été capsule collection dedicated to summer. Expect further plays in his ongoing ode to the French Riviera, with women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, handbags and hats, in pale yellow and earthy tones exclusive to the Modes Portofino capsule.

On Instagram, the teaser images showed abbreviated body-skimming dresses for her and high-waisted trousers for him, paired with a basket-weave open collar shirt, fitted jackets — or a bare bronzed chest. Accessories included considered one of the designer’s signature oversize straw hats, chunky golden jewelry earrings and necklaces in addition to versions of the Chiquito and Le Bisou bags.

The 2 previous releases were made available within the Cernobbio pop-up on Lake Como, where Jacquemus took over a luxury retailer traditionally managed by Tessabit and founded in 1953; at Saks Fifth Avenue stores in Latest York and Beverly Hills, and exclusively on the brand’s e-commerce.

Asked what the French destination might be, fans were suggesting destinations comparable to Cannes, Saint-Tropez or Marseille, a city dear to the center of the French designer, who staged his first menswear show within the Mediterranean port city in 2018. — LILY TEMPLETON

EYEING PALACE: American outdoor label Oakley is teaming up with cult streetwear brand Palace Skateboards on a capsule collection that takes cues from the Southern Californian brand’s archive from the early 2000s.

The capsule, dropping Friday across Palace retail locations and online, encompasses a latest tackle Oakley’s signature outdoor eyewear offering — the ultra-light Re:Subzero sunglasses, a method weighing just 24 grams, in silver and tan colorways — in addition to a series of cobranded garments which can be equally suited within the wild in addition to a classy urban setting.

Standouts include a workwear jacket and five-pocket trousers in sand spliced with camo and logo lock up on the back, a black shell reflective jacket and shorts with an identical logo belt and zippers, and logo hoodies, T-shirts and hats.

The launch is accompanied by a brief film by Palace collaborator Adam Todhunter and features Palace skater Savannah Stacey Keenan and friends stomping around a digitally warped world.

Each brands are experts in creating hyped collaborations. Most recently, Palace launched viral collaborations with Rimowa, Gucci, Calvin Klein and Tour de France Femmes, while Oakley has released capsules with Satisfy, Samuel Ross, Stüssy, Brain Dead and Prada. — TIANWEI ZHANG

SPANTO’S LEVI’S LINK: Born X Raised designer Spanto is using his upcoming collaboration to pay homage to his Indigenous roots and honor his late father.

The Los Angeles-based streetwear label is joining forces with Levi’s on an apparel collaboration that gives Spanto’s tackle popular Levi’s styles, including the Levi’s 501 jeans.

Spanto took inspiration from his half-Apache, half-Seneca heritage for the gathering, using his late father’s belongings as sources of inspiration. Spanto also referenced his upbringing visiting his father and his relatives in White River, Arizona. 

The gathering offers versions of Levi’s 501s, Levi’s Trucker jacket and a graphic T-shirt which can be designed with graphic images of angels. On the Levi’s 501 light wash styles, the angel motif is featured on the back and front of the pant legs. The selvedge 501 style features the imagery as a leather patchwork that runs down the outer seam of each pant legs. 

The Trucker jacket also features the angel motif, in addition to the phrase “Born x Raised In Loving Memory” embroidered on the back.   

The collaboration comes during Levi’s 150^th anniversary of its iconic 501 jeans, which it’s celebrating this 12 months with a series of campaigns and activations. Last month, Levi’s hosted a 501 immersive experience in San Francisco.

This can also be Born X Raised’s latest collaboration. Last December, the streetwear brand teamed with the NFL to create a set of T-shirts and hoodies for every of the league’s football teams. — LAYLA ILCHI

WINDY CITY STYLE: It was an evening to rejoice Chicago fashion designers.

Nigel Barker and Cynthia Rowley whisked into town to host “A Celebration of Chicago Style” last week, which spotlighted emerging fashion designers, and honored considered one of town’s best-known designers, Maria Pinto.

Held on the 21c Museum Hotel, the event was presented by fashion start-up The Curio, which was established to advertise Chicago-based designers. It featured a runway presentation that showcased 4 rising star designers — Ajovang, Lola Elan, Production Mode and Sheila Rashid — and concluded with current and archived pieces by Pinto. The event also included a cocktail-reception-meets-shopping experience that featured three local accessory designers: Viviana Langhoff jewelry, bags by Laudi Vidni and footwear by Il Fratellino — the collaboration between Brian Atwood and his little brother Zak Rodriguez.

Backstage, Pinto lauded The Curio for shining light on latest designers.

“In the best way Ian [Gerard, cofounder] set this up, the designers needed to pay nothing and for an emerging designer to give you the option to have a runway presentation for free of charge — that’s an enormous enormous gift,” Pinto said. “You’re being exposed to 300 to 400 potential customers.”

Pinto showed 4 looks from her current M2057 collection, juxtaposed with 4 pieces from her 2010 line, the latter of which was inspired by tango.

“I assumed it was a pleasant mix,” Pinto said. “So people can see what informs this current collection, which is more minimal, simplistic and architectural.”

The archived pieces are “pretty excessive,” with heavy beading, sequins and one gown that featured 30 yards of chiffon.

The designer, who rose to global fame by dressing Michelle Obama, said women today shop otherwise.

“Luxury is wonderful but what number of $2,000 to $3,000 dresses are you purchasing? We’ve been through quite a bit and I don’t think we’re willing to forfeit comfort after COVID[-19] especially,” Pinto said.

Barker, who serves as creative director of 21c Museum Hotel Chicago, said what makes town’s fashion unique is its wearability.

“There’s a lot great talent here,” Barker said. “The designers tonight are probably the most personable, authentic, down-to-earth people creating silhouettes that are supposed to be worn. Sometimes fashion might be excessive and never very practical.”

Before the show began, Rowley, who’s from Chicago and attended the Art Institute of Chicago, told a packed audience that crucial thing, for a designer to create, is to be “in your comfortable place.”

“After I graduated from the Art Institute I just packed my U-Haul and beelined to Latest York since the physical place where fashion was happening was so vital, but now it’s not like that,” Rowley said. “You possibly can be anywhere.” — KRISTIN LARSON

PARIS PROMOTION: Lauren Paris has been promoted to senior vice chairman, guest experience, at KCD. She had been vice chairman of the Guest Experience Group, which she has led since 2018.

The Guest Experience Group is liable for executing a high-caliber front-of-house experience for brand activations and events. This includes curated guest lists, optimized flow logistics, red carpet execution, event press amplification in addition to VIP and talent management.

Paris is a 15-year veteran of KCD and has led the group’s most iconic events, comparable to the grand opening of Hudson Yards, Ralph Lauren’s fiftieth Anniversary in Central Park, Hermès’ Love Across the Block, and the annual CFDA Awards, in addition to fashion shows comparable to Gucci’s Love Parade on Hollywood Boulevard, and seasonal shows for Coach, Jason Wu and Prabal Gurung, amongst others.

“In her 15 years at KCD, Lauren has played an integral part in developing our capabilities within the guest experience side of events,” said Rachna Shah, partner and managing director of KCD. “Her ability to guide the team to execute seamlessly and help clients maximize the potential of those events has played a key role in her success on the agency. To her credit, Lauren’s accomplishments in latest business development have accounted for a 60 percent revenue increase over the past 12 months alone. The Guest Experience Group is a big a part of our business, and we see continued growth potential under Lauren’s leadership,” she said.

As senior vice chairman, Paris will concentrate on the event of the Guest Experience Group while providing support to the senior leadership team and cultivating client relations for the complete agency. — LISA LOCKWOOD

REEBOK’S NEW SIGNING: Reebok is expanding its roster of partners with a latest signing.

The sports brand revealed Monday that it’s tapping Latin musician Anuel AA for a long-term partnership, which incorporates product collaborations and special products. Reebok has already worked with the rapper on several prior collaborations.

“As a lifelong fan of Reebok, becoming a part of the brand is a dream come true,” said Anuel AA. “I actually have long admired Reebok’s unique designs and iconic roster of collaborators who’ve never shied away from writing their very own rules. It’s a special feeling to know that I’m considered a member of the team and that they not only consider in me, but give me the space for unbridled creative expression. I’m so honored to be an element of this brand’s legacy and help shape its next chapter.” 

The Grammy-nominated rapper previously teamed with Reebok to launch exclusive collaborations with Foot Locker Inc., including collections that leveraged the artist’s Puerto Rican background. The collections offered versions of the Reebok Classic Leather, Pump Omni Zone and Query Mid sneaker styles. 

“Reebok and Anuel share a longtime mutual admiration for each other,” said Reebok chief executive officer Todd Krinsky. “Having the chance to collaborate this past season was an important indicator of what’s to return and we’re thrilled to make this partnership finally official. Reebok is a brand with deep roots in music and culture, dating back to being the primary sportswear brand to make a signature shoe with a hip-hop artist within the ’90s, and we’re excited to proceed blazing trails within the industry with someone like Anuel, who possesses such strong individuality.” 

Reebok has a history of teaming with musicians for partnerships and collaborations. Lately, the brand has worked with the likes of Cardi B, DJ Khaled, Tems and others. — L.I.