The relationship between fashion and technology is constantly changing. Whether its robot dogs at Coperni or Gucci’s step into the metaverse, these two industries are constantly overlapping. Now, New York is set to host the very first AI Fashion Week. So here is everything we know about the event so far.

AI Fashion Week will be taking place in New York from 20^th April – 21^st April 2023. The event will be backed by Spring Studios and Revolve, working to promote designers that use AI as a tool in their creative process. The event is open to submissions and received over 350 so far, some of which have been teased on Instagram in the build-up to the event. From what we have seen of the shared submissions, the designs have been extremely varied, demonstrating the endless creative possibilities that AI can provide. 

While all the submissions that we have seen so far have been extremely impressive, there will only be three winners that will have their collections made “bringing the digital AI generated into the real world.” These collections will then be able to be bought online, bringing designs from the forefront of technology into people’s real-life wardrobes.

If you are a budding designer using AI, the applications are open until April 15^th, so there is still time to get your entry in. There is a list of guidelines on their website, but as long as you follow these and get your application in before the deadline you stand a chance at winning. 

Now, the fun isn’t just for the designers. If you’re a fashion enthusiast, this is a great opportunity to witness fashion history in the making. While the opening event on April 20^th will only be available to a select few, the space will open to the public on April 21^st, so make sure you get down to Spring Studios if you can. 

_{Words by Amelia Gregory}

^{Header Image by Decentraland}

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The winners: Knitwear Designer Alice Morell-Evans, Womenswear Designer Emil Dernbach, and Diana Sträng from the Fashion Designer and Marketing track, received the L’Oréal Professional Young Talent Prize.

Special guest and music icon FKA Twigs and Madonna made remarkable appearances at the event. Madonna, stunned in a Moschino leather ensemble, accessorized with a biker jacket, radio-shape bag, and black platform shoes. Meanwhile, FKA Twigs wore a charcoal grey hooded knit dress, a pair of studded lace-up platform boots together with a statement purse.

With technology and innovation driving digital disruption within fashion BA Fashion students at Central Saint Martins to explore with tech innovations to bring the collection to life. Models wearing QR codes down the runway allowed those who scan the see the dsigns in their surroundings as well as trying them on.

First runner-up, Emil Dernback, designer behind graphic shape dresses made of metal and wool explains: “My collection aims to explore the notions of society with manipulated identities by decoding the essence of who we are deep within. This collection is an insight into the possibilities of what collaboration between humans and machines can look like. It offers the opportunity to see technology’s inevitable improvement from an angle of excitement rather than fear and opens up the debate on what the future holds.”

Sutainability also remained a key focus on exploration. Pieces from Alice Morell-Evans’s collection incoorperated old shoes. Diana Sträng opted for a more artisanal approach, the leather jacket she presented was hand-painted in Northern Sweden using an old traditional technique.

Sustainability and Techology remain the key pillars for the future of fashion. Commitement towards social and envromental values as well as the strive for innovation in the new world, encompassed all aspects of their work making the show an even greater success!

Words By Melodie Bitala-Samba

^{photo credits: Martina Derosa for Diana Strang}

The post The BA Central Saint Martin Fashion Show Is Back For It’s 2022 Edition appeared first on Voir Fashion.

The jam-packed schedule currently includes over 131 confirmed participating designers/organisations, including the likes of 16ARLINGTON, David Koma, Vivienne Westwood and Richard Malone. The talent will be showcased in a multitude of ways, including 37 catwalk shows, 9 presentations, 5 appointments, 34 events and 66 digital activations available on the Official Digital Hub, londonfashionweek.co.uk.

The City-Wide Celebration programme is also returning this season, with the aim of uniting London in a festival of creativity and innovation. To achieve this, a full schedule of events and activations will be open to the public from Friday 18th to Tuesday 22nd February 2022 alongside the LFW show schedule, following relevant Government safety guidelines. The full City-Wide Celebration programme will be announced in the coming weeks, so keep your eyes peeled on The British Fashion Council social media accounts to stay in the loop!

The LFW digital platform is freely accessible to everyone, giving everyone the chance to enjoy the remarkable creations from the best designers and industry professionals through exceptional digital content.

_{Photo Credit : The British Fashion Council}

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The distinction between online searching and ‘cyberstalking’ is a little-known divide: we all speak of ‘stalking’ our ex, browsing their social platforms more than we should, but where do we draw the line between healthy and toxic?

Julie Spira, online dating expert and bestselling author (The Perils of Cyber-Dating) helps us understand the concepts of ‘cyberstalking’, something she began by defining as ‘any activity directed at someone to frighten or intimidate them online’.

A person can be cyberstalked via email, text messages, harassing and harmful social media comments, and even threaten them in these messages, even if they have no intention of following through on the threats.

We are all guilty of background researching people we don’t know – it’s hard not to in an age where everything we need to know is at our fingertips. But this isn’t ‘cyberstalking’: the difference is in intent. From your experience, what have you found to be the most common intention behind cyberstalking? When explaining the concept, Julie emphasized the importance of motive, the common reasons why somebody engages in ‘cyberstalking’:

Many of the victims of cyberstalking are harassed due to being rejected on a date or by someone obsessed with the person, even if they’ve never met. Perhaps they look similar to another person they knew, or one harbored more romantic feelings than the other. 

Although today our privacy can seem intangible, the effects of harassment leave much deeper and lasting impacts than it takes for the ‘stalker’ to infiltrate into our personal sphere. The thin seal of protection between us and a ‘cyberstalker’ (and the unsettling ease with which we often feel contactable and traceable) grants the perpetrator a harrowing omnipotence, the effects of which spark what Julie referenced as ‘an ongoing sense of fear’. What do you see to be the most damaging effects of this behavior, are there any major emotional risks? 

It’s a significant cause of stress because the person being digitally stalked never knows when the following message will appear. A cyberstalker might only direct communications at you privately, or they can go public with it to damage your reputation.

It is the anonymity of this process, the uncomfortable juxtaposition in the perpetrator’s levels of power despite their lack of presence that induces such fear and stress. Ironically, the invention which has given us so much power, individuality and independence (social media) is the very thing that threatens this. The lack of identity and multidimensionality which so many of us flourish from holds the power to diminish our security and safety.

Often the person being cyberstalked, will not know the true identity of the person harassing them because they’ll contact them as an alias or use multiple email addresses and phone numbers. The person will claim to love them at first, then switch to hating them, and often make up a list of lies about them to induce fear. 

But it would be naïve to blame social channels for the rise of ‘cyberstalking’. Whilst the title does seamlessly link the two, the core of ‘cyberstalking’ seems to lie within a deeper, more psychological reason. In response to our asking ‘do you think cyberstalking is a product of our times (i.e., resultant from the freedom of information online and the easier access into people’s life) or do you  feel it is a reflection of our times (i.e., our social media habits creating an inability to move on from relationships?’ Julie explained the multifaceted, and often personal, motivations behind the behavior of cyberstalkers.  

Some cyberstalkers’ intent could be romantic rejection or just the ability to create a different persona with someone hiding behind the keyboard. If the person stalking someone online hasn’t met them, chances are they’re cyberstalking multiple people to see if they can get a reaction from them, and it’s a pattern of behavior they’ve had for a long time. 

Again, ‘intent’ is highlighted as an important factor between what people call ‘stalking’ your ex and ‘cyberstalking’. Is there ever a right time/situation to reach out to your ex? 

Reaching out to an ex during COVID-19 to make sure they’re OK was very common, and if it’s done out of sincere concern, it’s acceptable to connect. The same holds true for birthdays and holidays. Typically, if someone reaches out to an ex on Valentine’s Day, it’s because they have fond memories of their previous relationship or could be lonely if they’re without a partner. 

In order to distinguish between the two, it is important you have an honest conversation with yourself. As Julie explains, it is important that you understand your motivation for contacting your ex, your emotional reasoning behind getting in touch: How do you understand your intentions, and distinguish between the good and the bad? How can you tell whether your ‘cyberstalking’ behavior is positive (healthy and naturally inquisitive) or negative (intrusive and obsessive)? 

If someone reaches out to an ex with the intent of rekindling the spark, and the feelings aren’t reciprocated, it’s possible the person being rejected could continue to contact you. In this case, they might tell you that you blew it and will spend the rest of your life alone, to cause you emotional harm. More often, it’s just to connect, and the person harassing you didn’t have a serious relationship with you, only a fantasy that you were a perfect match. 

But, this is easier said than done! At the best of times, our feelings towards our ex-partner are messy and complicated so how can we adopt such a concise attitude? How do we act normal? How should we interpret our ex reaching out to us, is it always rooted in selfish intentions or can it be a genuine olive branch? If so, how can we tell the difference? 

Couples often get back together after a long period apart. Perhaps the timing was off, or maybe they realized you were the one who got away. If the feelings are mutual, you might want to revisit communicating and meeting with them. If an ex is contacting you and it makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, you should firmly let them know you appreciate their call. Still, if you don’t think reconciliation is a good idea, gracefully wish them the best. 

Although the term ‘cyberstalking’ may immediately connote images of your ex’s Instagram page, do not get confused between healthy and the toxic behaviour. If you think you’re engaging in harmful – ‘cyberstalking’ – behaviour, make a conscious effort to reframe your perspective and actions. Is there ever a good time to ‘cyberstalk’ your ex? And if so, are there ever any benefits to it, for example does it aid closure or acceptance?  

There is never a good time to cyberstalk anyone, especially your ex. If you’re looking for closure, don’t count on your ex to help you with your quest. I recommend writing a closure letter and sending it to yourself. 

Breakups are inevitable, and closure conversations never go well. When your relationship is over, your ex won’t serve as your leaning board to help you move on from your relationship. I suggest enlisting

the help of a friend or a therapist to help you while you’re hurting emotionally after the end of a relationship. 

The key takeaway here is to remember the dividing line. Remember that your actions – your behavior, your social media presence, your dress sense, your social disposition, your past decisions – to not place blame for being ‘cyberstalked’. As with most victimisations, the fault does not lie within the victim, it lies within the perpetrator. Life is scary; ‘cyberstalking’ is one of the terrifying incidents we all hope never to experience.

What can we do if we feel we are being cyberstalked and it is negatively affecting our life? 

If you’re feeling cyberstalked and know the person, kindly ask them to stop. If they continue to harass you, ignore them, block them on social media, and from receiving emails and phone calls. Hopefully, being out of sight will result in being out of mind. 

What can we do if we feel like our cyberstalking habits have got beyond our control and are negatively affecting our life? 

If you’re being cyberstalked, let your friends and neighbors know. If you’re the one who is initiating the cyberstalking behavior, I suggest going to a professional therapist to help you eliminate this destructive behavior from your life. 

The most important thing? Keeping safe and alert.

Words By Hannah Emery

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While Monday is usually known as the most dreaded day of the week, we cannot really say the same thing when talking about London Fashion Week. Highly expected designers (such as Erdem, Victoria Beckham and Christopher Kane) have today shared their vision for the Spring/Summer 2021 collections and – as if this was not exciting enough- we have also witnessed a sprung of joy and creativity amongst our British designers. Today, optimism reigned in the form of patterns, colours, and diversity.

Osman Yousefzada SS21

Osman Yousefzada SS21 via Osman Studio Youtube

Designer Osman Yousefzada has launched at London Fashion Week his new label with the digital production ‘Here To Stay’. Completely taken in by its earthed political statement, the film becomes a celebration of marginalised communities and their heritage, proving once again that fashion is an artistic expression of individuality and current events.

“Fashion should be about the creation of human value from Weaver to Wearer,” said the designer.

Osman Yousefzada SS21

The collection mainly features jersey and linen-blend dresses, as well as oversized tailored pieces reminiscent of the ‘90s. Osman Yousefzada is reintroducing tie-die for Spring/Summer 2021, with hand-made prints created by artisans from Mumbai, India. The designer has also recreated pieces such as the Nehru Jacket into modern garments by playing with neutrals and utility-style influences.

Mark Fast SS21

Mark Fast SS21

In times where optimism seemed to be long forgotten, there came Mark Fast. Featuring the brand’s neon-colour obsession and playful MF monograms, the Spring/Summer 2021 collection is inspired by the nightlife and the ‘80s and ‘90s. The label’s take on print and texture overlaying is youthful and rebellious.

‘Future Fusion’ has shown that everything is possible: from neon green feathers on a colour block striped skirt, to matching pastel shades of lavender and pink with green. Cut-outs and patchwork have also been featured in the collection, making the garments modern and full of sex-appeal.

Mark Fast London Fashion Week SS21 video via Fil Mazzarinon

Erdem SS21

Erdem SS21

Classic and inspiring royalty, as always, Erdem has chosen to showcase their Spring/Summer 2021 collection in the ancient Epping Forest, in Essex. Once proclaimed a royal forest, it had – supposedly – been used by Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I as a hunting ground. The scenery perfectly complemented the showcased garments and theme of the collection.

The collection was inspired by Susan Sontag’s character, Emma Hamilton, who rises from being a blacksmith’s daughter, to becoming a political player within Italian aristocracy. Erdem has swept us away with detailed and classic, yet unconventional prints and embroidery. Paired with fine jewellery and maxi dresses in classic cuts, Erdem introduced platform shoes in funky patterns as a Spring/Summer 2021 must-have.

Erdem SS21

Bora Aksu SS21

Bora Aksu SS21

For Spring/Summer 2021, Bora Aksu proposed a link between current times and the post-war decadence of the 1920s. Inspired by the new role women started to play during the 1920s as nurses and the rise in women’s rights within society, the brand sent down the runway looks blossoming of femininity.

As expected in COVID times, the models wore tulle face coverings as a facemask. The collection featured oversized clothing and flowy dresses and skirts, leaving no room for sharp silhouettes. Shades of white, baby blue and creams allowed detailed embroidery and prints to shine through, showcasing Bora Aksu’s design signature.

Bora Aksu Spring Summer 2021

Victoria Beckham SS21

Victoria Beckham SS21

In the digital film of Victoria Beckham’s collection, the designer explained how the limitations of the pandemic have given us a new type of freedom. Reflecting on what her label is as a brand and its purpose, her inspiration for the Spring/Summer 2021 collection simply lies in making clothes for women.

Featuring relaxed fits and staples of each woman’s wardrobe (such as the coat, the jeans), the designer focused on creating a collection diverse in colours, textures, and silhouettes. Rooted in our day-to-day lives, the garments are modern with their strong tailoring and colour palette. Shades of beige, white and black are indispensable but, far from being too somber for Spring/Summer, they are accompanied by surprising pieces, such as a pair of green wide-leg tailored trousers.

Christopher Kane SS21

Christopher Kane SS21

Christopher Kane has put glitter at the forefront of his collection, in a desperate search for optimism and joy during the pandemic. From experimenting with art on the canvas, the designer has made back a transition to fashion by heavily using print. Expect authenticity from the Spring/Summer 2021 Christopher Kane collection, where clothes have become – truly- pieces of art.

Words by Emilia Roman

Graphics by Lucy Gifford

The post Digital London Fashion Week: Day 5 Brings Us Optimism, Creativity, and Expression appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Fashion has always been circular, we have seen 90s trends coming back and forth across seasons. Needless to say, this ever-growing movement has taken a turn to high street retailers such as Urban Outfitters and have by far made streetwear significantly mainstream. This has quite frankly made fanatics shift from in-store to online with more attention to hunt for exclusive vintage attire by avoiding fashion clashes.

Thrifting is the platform for street attire. It is bold, different and original with its limitations of products. Diving into thrifting can offer a range of authentic vintage goods. You are probably thinking, thrifting can be rather chaotic in store. But wait. Online thrifting is what it is all about. What is so chaotic about exploring thrift stores across the globe in the comfort of your own home?

Here are the top five streetwear vintage online thrift stores you do not want to miss.

1. Asos Marketplace

Commonly known for their sibling Asos retailer. The Marketplace is expanding with over 800 businesses, with a range of independent stores and boutiques, allocated in over 50 countries worldwide. If you are looking to expand your wardrobe and take a different angle into fashion, this is your pathway. Asos Marketplace is a great place to start with if you are looking to switch up your look.

2. Depop

Depop is one of the best buying and selling platforms for young adults. You can find many hypebeast brands floating around, but just be careful of scammers! There is a variety of vintage gear roaming across the platform; as most products are used; you have access to bid for the price you want, swaps are certified and even bulk buying. Additionally, a request can be sent to the supplier for extra images and videos of the product. Depop is also seen to be used by A-listers to interact with their fans via purchasing their apparel.

Now let’s dig a little deeper into the transparent online thrift-ers…

3. Ricks Retro

If you are interested in hand-picked items around the world, this is the store for you. The high demand for Ricks Retro attire is simply rapid, with 30 items posted per day; it is hard to get your hands on these goods. Brands such as Ralph Lauren, Polo Sport, Tommy Hilfiger, Adidas and many more are sold here with clothes roughly around £20 per an item. If you are also looking to step into a more a creative path, Ricks Retro offers collaborative features and are able to work with university students on projects, which makes them stand out from the crowd and they are prompt!

4. Frankie Collective

Do you love reworked clothing with a little creative twist? Frankie Collective is based in the United States, home to remastering vintage clothing with inspiration from 90’s staples. The streetwear manufacturer centres on sustainability while pushing the boundaries of contemporary style. The online thrift store combines vintage goods with on-trend styles that make them unique especially as it caters to women across the globe. Frankie Collective had recently customised reworked jerseys worn by Normani and her crew in tribute to Kobe Bryant at the NBA All-star game.

5. Garm Shack

Bringing it back to the 80s, 90s and early 00s, Garm Shack offers the most iconic brands, catering to both men and women. The vintage collectors offer a series of items for very affordable prices, with authenticity withheld in their apparel.

Words by Amber Meghani

Graphics by Katie Janes

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Over the past decade, the significance of streaming platforms has increased astronomically. While you would expect that the majority of Generation X attempted to keep CDs alive for most of the 2010s, Millenials and Gen Z clearly aren’t willing to commit to similar ideologies moving forward. Why waste time when it’s all in the palm of your hand? Not only do streaming services provide data-based suggestions for your specified taste, more importantly – it gives you the ability to discover music from wherever and whenever, at the single press of a button.

However, this hadn’t been the case with the catalogue of R&B Princess Aaliyah. Since her tragic passing in 2001, her music had been strangely inaccessible. Despite her faithful fanbase, it seemed almost impossible to access her discography, especially since the development of streaming services – but why?

I guess, unsurprisingly, because of some shady business behind closed doors. Uncle of Aaliyah’s and creator of Blackground Records, Barry Hankerson – had refused nearly all of the deceased songstress’s discography the ability to stream legally. Back in 2016, Complex confirmed that – because Hankerson doesn’t own the rights to ‘Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number’, Aaliyah’s debut album continued to be the only piece of her catalogue available to stream and/or purchased digitally.

Aaliyah’s further two albums, chart-topping One in A Million and the posthumous self-titled record, Aaliyah, were still nonexistent within the streaming cosmos. While Pitchfork disclosed in 2017 that an avid fan made an effort to add her final album to digitally purchasable platforms, it was deleted almost instantly. And quite to my surprise, her stans have yet to find a way to legally stream her discography.

And as time went on, I realised that the larger issue remained, that Aaliyah’s legacy was on the path of uncertainty. While Aaliyah remained a fashion symbol for the new generation within the world of social media, the music business has been attempting to coexist within an internet influenced environment for over a decade now. And after the evolution has been realised, if her catalogue was still unavailable to the digital world, her discography would be virtually abolished. Eventually going from the symbol of 90s streetwear and R&B goddess to sentimental concern within pop culture all in the space of 20 years.

But on November 29th 2019, via his own private twitter account – Barry Hankerson announced that he was finally relinquishing the rights to ‘baby girl’s discography, and 18 years after her passing her music would be accessible on platforms such as Spotify, TIDAL, Apple Music, and Amazon Prime.

Whether Hankerson realised the importance and/or seriousness of streaming services within present-day, or just noticed his royalty checks weren’t as big as they used to, regardless – her much adored catalogue will fittingly be available on her 41st birthday, January 16th 2020. An encouraging and somewhat surprising way to start the new decade – with positivity within the notoriously unethical macrocosm of the music business.

Words by Charlie Miller

Graphics by Katie Janes

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