Fashion’s ever-revolving door spins again.
Edun, the label founded by Ali Hewson and hubby Bono in 2005, announced that their creative director of six seasons Sharon Wachoub is leaving the brand to focus on her eponymous line.
Sunday was a pretty major day for ethical fashion statements: Eco Age creative director and green fashion pioneer Livia Firth (wife of Colin) struck red carpet gold when Viola Davis stepped out at the BAFTAs in a Valentino gown made from recycled soda cans as the first actress to sign on to her Green Carpet Challenge 2012. On this side of the Atlantic, Edun—the ready-to-wear line founded on a commitment to encourage trade with Africa by Ali Hewson (wife of Bono)—debuted its Fall 2012 collection.
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Livia and she reminded me of Edun’s motto “we carry the story of the people who make our clothes around with us,” which she also takes as inspiration for her own work. So what stories is Edun telling for next season?
Sharon Wauchob is Irish, attended London’s Central St Martins school, designs for Edun in New York and shows her own eponymous line in Paris.
So who is the Wauchob woman? “It’s more a matter of using what is available and specific to the country,” Sharon told us backstage after the show, “For instance France has incredible, unique lace and pleating techniques.”
Indeed, Sharon, who previously worked on textiles at Louis Vuitton is growing to be an expert at fabric treatment. Her collection, shown last night in Paris’ Beaux-Arts school, is a game of laces, playing on the subtlety of layering two sheer fabrics, contrasting fur and fishnet-like broderie anglaise.
Late August means acquisition time in luxury conglomerate land, so we’re not surprised to hear that LVMH has been chatting up Rodarte, as WWD reported this morning.
The article stressed that no deal has been made, but that LVMH is still very interested in the Los Angeles-based fashion label, which has yet to turn a profit.
While LVMH has stayed away from fashion acquisitions over the last couple of years–the company has been more interested in buying yachts and such–it did scoop up 49% of ethical clothing brand Edun in late 2009.
WWD suggests that the purchase of Edun shares was simply a symbolic one driven by founder Bono’s fame. However, we hear otherwise.
A Pinup Calendar for the Skull and Bones Set: In an ingenious feat of marketing, the Eizo X-Ray company has released a pin-up calendar in which the models are shot entirely in, you guessed it, x-ray vision. Creepy, enchanting, and perfectly quirky. {Nylon}
La Roux’s Elly Jackson Provides Soundtrack To Viktor & Rolf’s Menswear Show:The La Roux front woman toned it down this week to acoustically accompany the new line at Paris fashion week. {StyleFile}
Sponge Chic?: Project Runway’s Christian Siriano has recently teamed up with 3M to design…kitchen sponges. We’re as confused as you are. {Stylist}
Socially-conscious fashion label Edun has had an interesting couple of years. After breaking up with designer Rogan Gregory, the label kind of floated for awhile, and no one was quite sure where it was going.
That is, until founder Ali Hewson signed a deal with LVMH, which injected a bit of cash into the company, allowing Hewson to hire new creative director Sharon Wauchob.
Not only is the Paris-based, Irish born designer’s first women’s collection for the brand getting rave reviews (it’s selling at Barneys like hot cakes, we hear), but she and Hewson have also re-launched menswear, which debuted at Bloomingdale’s last night. (Apparently, these collections were designed by a freelance team, not Wauchob. Regardless, they looked great, and I’m assuming the general direction of the firm is set.)
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Where have all the fashionably fabulous people gone? St. Tropez, that’s where. Kate, Lila Grace, Leo, editors, designers. They’re here on hols where I am also quite lucky to be with my family. Post-beach they can often be found having a nibble at the resto we tried last night. I highly recommend it. We treated Read more →
Angela Lindvall has long been doing the green thing and the charity thing (with her Collage Foundation.) Now she’s collaborating with Yoox.com and Bono and Ali Hewson’s Edun Live on a t-shirt that will be the first to launch a series called “ever.green”, featuring different eco-friendly tees designed by a variety of celebs. Angela’s goes Read more →
