fashionologie

An Up-Close Look at Waris Ahluwalia's New Scarf Collection; Plus, His Fall 2011 Jewelry

Christina Perez — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:22:31 PDT

>> It's no secret that Waris Ahluwalia is into craftsmanship. The jewelry in his House of Waris line has always been made using traditional techniques, with everything - right down to the chains on the pendants - fashioned completely by hand. It should come as no surprise then, that Ahluwalia's debut scarf collection employs that same dedication to history and artisanal techniques. Superfine cashmere is hand-loomed and hand-embroidered in a precise honeycomb "Kundun" pattern, handwoven silks and gauzy silk-cotton are batik-dyed, block-printed, hand-dyed, or silk-screened, and hems are all neatly finished by hand. It's not just the attention to detail or the heirloom fabrics that make this new collection of scarves so appealing, however - it's also the gorgeous color combinations and striking graphic patterns. Though meant to be unisex (or, as Waris says, "We don't believe in unisex, just more sex"), it's easy to imagine these pretty prints and super-soft fabrics evolving into a collection of dresses, skirts, and blouses. Waris's next project, perhaps? It's a suggestion the designer seems to have heard before, but if it's in the works, he's not talking. When pressed, his answer is a shrug, a wry smile, and a quiet: "I hope not."

Click through the slideshow for an up-close look at the first season of House of Waris scarves, available online now at Barneys.com, as well as at Barneys New York, Beverly Hills, Dover Street Market, and Colette. Plus, a look at the House of Waris Fall 2011 jewelry.

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Tiffany Partners with CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund To Support Emerging Jewelry Designers

fashionologie — Wed, 25 May 2011 08:27:46 PDT

>> Tiffany & Co. has made a $1 million gift to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund: The resultant three-year partnership includes a one-time, $250,000 business development grant for one of the nine jewelry designers who has been a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist since the competition's 2004 launch. These designers include Eddie Borgo, Pamela Love, House of Waris's Waris Ahluwalia, Monique Pean, Irene Neuwirth, Philip Crangi, Subversive Jewelry's Justin Giunta, Anthony Nak's Nak Armstrong and Anthony Camargo (who shuttered their line last year), and Dean Harris. Each designer has received an application for the grant, and a winner will be named this Summer. “As a leader in the jewelry industry, it is important to us that the next generation of talented jewelry designers is able to succeed in the face of the many business challenges they face,” said Tiffany chairman and CEO Michael J. Kowalski. “Partnering with the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, this grant is intended to continue to develop jewelry as an important field of design.” [WWD]

House of Waris Fall 2011

fashionologie — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 20:37:01 PST

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CFDA Inducts 26 New Members for 2010, Including L'Wren Scott and Sophie Theallet

fashionologie — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:20:18 PDT

>> Wednesday evening, Vera Wang moved almost all of the furniture out of her vast Park Avenue apartment to toast this year's 26 new CFDA inductees. “It may not be as big as Donna Karan’s loft, but I can fit you all in,” Wang said of her duplex, which she estimated was hosting 300 guests. Tommy Hilfiger and wife Dee Ocleppo were impressed, however - The Cut caught them exclaiming: “It's amazing. The kitchen is sick. Our kitchen is like, a tenth of that size. That's like a restaurant kitchen.”

The new members include: Waris Ahluwalia - who said of the honor, “I feel like I almost should put this on my passport as my fashion visa. It's nice to make this baby official!", Steven Alan, Lisa Axelson of Ann Taylor, Lubov Azria, Shane Baum of Baumvision, Vicki Beamon and Karen Erickson of Erickson Beamon, George Esquivel, Robert Geller, Gary Graham, Ulrich Grimm of Calvin Klein, Sang A Im-Propp, Anthony Keegan of Commonwealth Utilities, Adam Kimmel, Nikki Kule of Kule, Kimberly McDonald, Rebecca Minkoff, Bibhu Mohapatra, Juan Carlos Obando, Monique Péan, Monica Rich Kosann, Pamella Roland, Robert Rodriguez, L'Wren Scott, Shelly Steffee, and Sophie Theallet, who just moved into a new office space.

Prabal Gurung, Sophie Theallet and Ten Others Named CFDA Fashion Incubator Designers

coutorture — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:10:36 PST

Twelve American designers have been granted studio space at reduced-rents by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and New York City Economic Development Corporation.

The first tenants of the CFDA Fashion Incubator program are: Alice Ritter, Bibhu Mohapatra, Prabal Gurung, Sophie Theallet, Rachel Dooley of Gemma Redux, Grant Krajecki of Grey Ant, Waris Ahluwalia of House of Waris, Joel Diaz of Jolibe, Alison Lewis of the Lewis label, Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne of Public School, Yuvi Alpert and Danna Kobo of Ruby Kobo and Justin Giunta of Subversive Jewelry.

Designers received two-year leases on their new homes at 209 West 38th street-a building which also offers common areas for editorial and sales appointments or runway presentations.

Source: Getty

Prabal Gurung, Sophie Theallet, Justin Giunta Among Inaugural Fashion Incubator Designers

fashionologie — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:58:25 PST

>> The CFDA Fashion Incubator, announced last October in partnership with New York City's Mayor Bloomberg, has its first twelve tenants. Among those named as part of the inaugural group of designers: Alice Ritter, Bibhu Mohapatra, Prabal Gurung, Sophie Theallet, Gemma Redux's Rachel Dooley, Grey Ant's Grant Krajecki, House of Waris's Waris Ahluwalia, Jolibe's Joel Diaz, Lewis's Alison Lewis, Public School's Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, Ruby Kobo's Yuvi Alpert and Danna Kobo, and Subversive Jewelry's Justin Giunta.

The designers each received two-year leases on design studio spaces ranging from 800 to 1,000 square feet at 209 West 38th Street in Manhattan, with subsidized, below-market rental rates of between $1,500 and $2,000 per month. To earn a spot, the designers had to submit a business plan, show they had "substantive editorial coverage" and orders from high-level retailers, have been in business for over a year and a half, and be supporting a staff.

Anna Wintour Fetes CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalists

coutorture — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:49:57 PDT

Anna Wintour hosted an annual event for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists Wednesday night in her West Village townhouse. The ten designers gather chez Wintour to showcase fashion fund-sponsored design projects and mingle with past finalists and current CFDA members.

This year Google's Marissa Mayer was the guest of honor, as each finalist was challenged with designing pieces inspired by the Google search engine. (In 2008 and 2009 the project was sponsored by L'Oreal Paris color cosmetics.)

Designers arrived with models (Alexa Adams and Flora Gill of Ohne Titel with Dree Hemingway) and actresses (Waris Ahluwalia of House of Waris with Rose Byrne) to show off their one-of-a-kind creations. George Esquivel dressed Kemp Muhl in colorful "Google shoes" with search box back tags, and Wayne Lee designed a neoprene vest that could carry a 15 inch laptop.

The event was also attended by Vena Cava's Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock, Rogan Gregory, Thom Browne, Rachel Roy, Vera Wang, Patrick Robinson, and Georgina Chapman.

[WWD]

Meet the 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalists

coutorture — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:18:39 PDT

Although we mentioned the star-studded cover story, our personal favorite sitting from the November issue of Vogue, on newsstands today, is that introducing the ten 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists.

In its six years, the fashion fund has nurtured and championed young, American design talent such as Proenza Schouler, Doo-Ri Chung, Alexander Wang, Rodarte and Philip Crangi.

Today Vogue.com has interviews with each of the 2009 finalists-Sophie Theallet, House of Waris, Ohne Titel, Wayne, Esquivel Shoes, Monique Péan, Gary Graham, Spurr, Patrik Ervell, and Alabama Chanin. “We had very strong applicant pool this year, particularly among the jewelers,” said Vogue's Anna Wintour in a statement. “The ten finalists we selected are a talented, diverse group, who are building healthy independent businesses in challenging times.”

The winner, who will be paired with an industry mentor and receive a $200,000 cash prize, and two runners-up will be announced at an event on November 16 in New York.

Alexa Adams (left) and Flora Gill with artist Tauba Auerbach.

Source: Norman Jean Roy/Vogue

Get to Know the 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Nominees

fashionologie — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:32:38 PDT

>> This year's ten CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists have just been announced - they range from the eco-conscious (Monique Pean, Alabama Chanin) to cobblers (Esquivel Shoes) to straight-up womenswear designers (Sophie Theallet, Wayne, Ohne Titel, Gary Graham). Anna Wintour noted, “We had very strong applicant pool this year, particularly among the jewelers" - here's looking at lucky jewelry nominees Pean and House of Waris. The winner and runners-up, who are bestowed with cash prizes and industry mentorship, will be announced Nov. 16 at the annual gala.

Until then, an introduction (minus menswear nominees Patrik Ervell and Simon Spurr of Spurr).

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Karl Interviews Himself, Waris Launches a New Jewelry Line, and Rihanna Has a New Fashion Show

Christina Perez — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:16:22 PST

>>Those stories and more - here, in our daily roundup.

In honor of yesterday's Karl by Karl Lagerfeld launch, Net-a-Porter has released a video of the designer interviewing himself. [Fashionista]

Rihanna will cohost a new fashion reality show in which unknown designers will face off, Project Runway-style. "This show is here to discover those people and give them a shot. I’m looking for someone who can think outside the box, and who isn't going to give up at the first hurdle," the singer said. The yet-to-be-named show will debut on the UK's Sky Living channel this Summer. [Huffington Post]

A size 2 is a size 2 is a size 8? A look at why women's clothing sizes make no sense. [Slate]

Singer Beth Ditto has been tapped by MAC to create a limited-edition beauty collection, hitting stores this June. [Grazia]

Waris Ahluwalia - who has just released a fashion film starring Agyness Deyn - is debuting a new line of jewelry, which will be available in February on Moda Operandi. "It’s Boo by House of Waris, and it’s the word 'Boo' written, very simple, in script," the designer explains. [The Cut]