Toronto-Based Artist Collaborates with Emporio Armani + More Fashion News

Including how video game Fortnite receives the high fashion treatment.

Canadian artist collaborates with Emporio Armani for brand’s 40th anniversary

To mark the 40th anniversary of Emporio Armani, Toronto-based artist Maxwell N. Burnstein was tapped to interpret the storied fashion brand’s history and future. Burnstein, who is self-taught, has done so in a series of collages that illustrate how the Italian fashion house has stayed true to its heritage while simultaneously adapting to metropolitan living. The masterful collages are set to be displayed on the W1 Screens along Oxford Street in London, England, as a site-specific installation. Yet another instance of Canadian talent being carried across the world.

GOGO Sweaters collaborates with Jordana’s Rainbows to raise funds for children’s cancer research

Canadian-made, luxury hand-knit label GOGO Sweaters is known for its chic, celeb-approved knits. This week, the brand announced a new partnership with local charity Jordana’s Rainbows, a non-profit committed to raising research funds and awareness for DIPG, a rare form of cancer in children. Starting on October 1, the selection of limited-edition wool sweaters will be available on gogosweaters.com, and 30 percent of proceeds will go to Jordana’s Rainbows.

Moose Knuckles’ FW21 campaign features Emily Ratajkowski, Adwoa Aboah and Pete Davidson

This time of year, there are many pitiful reminders pointing to the colder season ahead. But we’ll happily take Moose Knuckles’ nod to bundling up from their surrealist and comedic FW21 campaign. Shot by photographer David LaChapelle and styled by Kyle Luu, a trio of celebrities — Emily Ratajkowski, Adwoa Aboah and Pete Davidson no less — pose on a frozen cityscape, re-enacting some winter activities. The images and outerwear alike are the perfect way to add personality to a mundane winter.

Knix and Carriage House Birth launch a coffee-table book about parenthood and postpartum life

Life After Birth: Portraits of Love and the Beauty of Parenthood is the newest coffee-table book in town, and it’s particularly meaningful because it features imagery and personal stories surrounding every stage of parenthood and postpartum. Created by intimates brand Knix in collaboration with Carriage House Birth, this truthful tome aims to tackle misconceptions and taboos surrounding birthing experiences. The book is available for purchase at knix.ca and local bookstores now, and 100 percent of proceeds will be donated to The Black Women’s Health Imperative to support the NOURISH program.

Volvo Cars Canada and Casca footwear collaborate on a sustainable sneaker

Volvo Cars Canada has partnered with Vancouver-based Casca footwear to launch a limited-edition sneaker, inspired by the pure electric Volvo XC40 Recharge. This is a collab that highlights two brands’ shared vision for a carbon-neutral future. The launch, which was on World Car Free Day on September 22, unveiled the shoe’s long-term, sustainable and circular approach to design: 10 percent of the sole on each shoe is made from recycled car tires, and seven recycled plastic water bottles are used to make yarn for the breathable, flexible knit upper. This is all wrapped up in a minimalist, Scandinavian design.

Balenciaga and Fortnite collaborate on virtual and physical garments

High fashion house Balenciaga has collaborated with video game Fortnite on a capsule of in-game character clothes and limited-edition wearable garments. The four new gaming skins, available for purchase in the video game to customize your player, feature a piece from Balenciaga’s Fall 2021 futuristic-looking line as well as a Spring 2020 animal striped look. The game’s weaponry has also been given a Balenciaga touch, with some of the brand’s quintessential accessories reimagined as pixellated ammo. A run of physical garments labelled with ‘Fortnite’ are available for purchase at Balenciaga, though they’ve already nearly sold out.

CAFA and TSC launch a new initiative to highlight Canadian fashion

The Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards (CAFA) and The Shopping Channel (TSC) have launched a new initiative to showcase an inspiring and diverse group of Canadian fashion brands. A dedicated “CAFA Shop” has been introduced on the TSC e-commerce platform, and will offer the goods of curated Canadian designers, including ai Toronto Seoul, Biko, Kaela Kay, Brass & Unity, Judith and Charles, to name a few, with plans to add even more throughout the fall. Plus, shoppers can discover the stories behind the brands during episodes of Jeanne Beker’s show, Style Matters, which airs every Thursday at 8 pm ET on TSC.

By: Sarah Mariotti