CHAMILIA BY SWAROVSKI GROUP SUPPORTS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

/
chamilia charms

During April 2015, in honor of Autism Awareness Month, Chamilia, a Swarovski Group brand, announced that it will donate five percent of proceeds from its “Autism Puzzle Piece” charm to the Autism Research Institute, the primary organization supporting efforts to understand and treat this condition (established in 1967 by Dr. Bernard Rimland). The brand became interested in supporting these efforts after learning that in 2012 the Centers for Disease Control announced that autism affects one in 68 people under the age of 21 living in the U.S. This number is an increase from the previously estimated five in 10,000 children reportedly affected by the condition before 1990.

“The lives of so many women who wear our brand are impacted in some way by the rate of increase in this condition,” said Chamilia Vice President, Global Merchandising and Marketing Catherine Ottaviano. “This challenging situation affects everyday lives, and we are just learning to deal with these changes as a society. And as a personalized jewelry brand, each piece that we produce is a statement in support of the women who wear it. And we believe it’s important for women who deal with this condition to be supported in some way.”

There are more than 400 exclusive charms available from the Chamilia brand. The line is made from sterling silver or 14 karat gold and features genuine Swarovski Crystals, Swarovski Zirconia, or glass that is handmade in the USA using the finest ingredients. The brand follows strict Swarovski guidelines for quality and aesthetic standards. The “Autism Puzzle Piece” charm from Chamilia is a sterling silver representation of a piece from a puzzle and retails for $35. The charm symbolizes the need to develop a greater understanding of the condition of autism and its impact on society.

The Chamilia “Autism Puzzle Piece” charm will be available at the brand’s more than 2,000 retail partners worldwide and on the Chamilia website, www.chamilia.com.

fashionado

Hello Yamamoto says Hello Kitty!

/
yohji yamamoto hello kitty

He's a legendary fashion designer and she's an iconic cat. So what do they have in common aside from beside their Japanese origin? Yohji Yamamoto and Hello Kitty, in the most unlikely of pairings, are collaborating on a product launch. Yamamoto has partnered with Hello Kitty's parent company, Sanrio, to produce a line of t-shirts, sweatshirts and jackets. Fashion is so animated! 

fashionado

Mario Testino's "Towel Series" with Justin Bieber & Kendall Jenner

/

Photographer Mario Testino once snapped a photo of model Kate Moss in towel after a shower and posted it to Instagram. Little did he realize at the time that a "private club" was forming. Testing now has an ongoing series of pretty famous people wearing nothing but a towel, hence, the "Towel Series." For his latest, Cody Simpson is snuggly wrapped around Gigi Hadid, a classic Kendall Jenner, a relaxed Ansel Elgort and a hard-bodied, abs-blessed Justin Bieber all pose for the acclaimed fashion photographer in their towel. Must be charmed life to be Testino! 

fashionado 

Ato Fall 2015 Tokyo Fashion Week

/

Designer Ato Matsumoto took inspiration from cowboys and motorbikes for Fall 2015 and presented a collection that is well tailored and impeccably styled. The collection also has a very appealing urban edge to it with the hoodies and the sneakers which keeps things modern and wearable. The asymmetrical coats offer a futuristic feel but what I find most interesting is that even with all the layering, Ato still manages to maintain a level of minimalism. 

fashionado

How Roy Schwalbach Turned a Decrepit Chelsea Building Into a Fashion Industry Mecca

/

In 1995, the owner of 5-star studio rentals, Jack Studios, opened in an abandoned Chelsea building and brought in Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger, Martha Stewart, Victoria's Secret and more.

"Chelsea in Manhattan wasn't glamorous in 1995. The streets were flooded with hookers, drug dealers, people selling firearms, etc. but when I toured the Starrett-Lehigh building in 1995 and saw the gigantic windows, 360 degree views of the Hudson river, downtown, midtown and uptown Manhattan, and the influx of daylight sweeping through the space I knew we had the makings of one of the top photography and video studio spaces in the country," explains Roy Schwalbach.

Roy’s expansive career ranged from actor to photography agent, before opening his own studio, which he named after his beloved chocolate Labrador Retriever, Jack. Roy's client list reads like a who's who in fashion ranging from Victoria's Secret (who has been shooting at Jack's for 15 years) to Vogue to Saks Fifth Avenue to Dooney and Bourke and Michael Kors.

"As we brought clients into the space here and they saw the incredible light, the pristine white rooms, gorgeous windows and views of the city, they started flocking to this building and setting up shop in their own right" explains Roy. 

Now the building is full of fashion tenants from Tommy Hilfiger's Corporate Campus to Marchesa's central office to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. 

Roy’s passion for his work is evident in every detail of Jack Studios, which reflects his sleek, clean, and minimalistic taste. The studios are filled with pristine white pieces designed by Roy himself, such as makeup stations, conference tables, and Corian® couches, adding a unique modern touch to the atmosphere. A deep blue sea fish tank lights up the café with sparkling silver Lookdown fish, creating a beautiful and relaxing space.

fashionado

VIKTOR LUNA FALL 2015

/

Viktor Luna called it Guerrilla Warfare. These rough and tough badass chicks who were all so chic in their armor-like garments commanded attention. In a collaboration with Dmitry Byalik, Viktor Luna went literal with the "guerrilla" and presented a leather-embossed gorilla on the back of some of the jackets. They're intense and ready for war. Viktor Luna presented his women as warriors in fantastical and heavily embellished apocalyptic attire. As you begin to break down the pieces, what you have is a very modern collection for today's strong woman. The hardness of leather and metal work is soften by goat hair on jacket sleeves and reinforces Viktor Luna's allegiance to glamour and femininity. This season we also got a little bit of color in fabulous bleached legwear. Possibly one of the most versatile elements in this collection is the motorcycle jacket which is quickly becoming a signature piece for Viktor Luna. His jackets, which makes a bold statement, have so much presence and can be worn with any dress, skirt or pant. Guerrilla Warfare Chic.

fashionado

The Hand-woven style of KorBáta Ties & Bowties

/

For Guatemalan tie making company KorBáta, a tie is not merely an accent piece or an afterthought.  Their hand-woven ties tell a story. When the thread is woven, the rich history and heritage of the Mayan people are woven along with it. That is because each thread has been put in place by the hands of a Mayan woman whose efforts preserve Guatemala’s textile traditions. KorBáta’s newest collection, Lagos and Lagunas, gives ode to Guatemala’s glistening lakes. Like all of their collections, Lagos and Lagunas is a limited edition. Crafted from 100% cotton, each hand woven pattern is unique, never to be duplicated. KorBáta ties and bow ties are for the man who knows quality when he sees it, loves old world tradition but isn’t afraid to dress for the 21st century.  

KorBáta’s story begins by the serendipitous meeting of two entrepreneurs, Jennifer Menegazzo and Diego Arias. Both of Guatemalan descent, they found a shared love for their country, the beauty of its land, the Mayan culture and Guatemalan art. Combining their talents and efforts, they started a small artisan project and named the company KorBáta. Their work has been most gratifying because they have not only brought their dream to fruition but are helping to sustain Guatemala’s rich weaving history and providing work for those in rural areas of Guatemala.

Every man should own a KorBáta. Make a style statement!

fashionado