MUCHO MUCHO AMOR - A New Netflix Original Documentary of Walter Mercado

Watch our interview with the filmmakers behind Mucho Mucho Amor. Alex Fumero, Cristina Costantini and Kareem Tabsch share stories about the life of Walter Mercado and production of the film.

Every single day for decades, extravagant Puerto Rican astrologer, psychic, and gender nonconforming legend Walter Mercado charmed the world with his televised horoscopes. Equal parts Oprah, Liberace, and Mr. Rogers, Walter was a celebrated daily part of Latin culture, who at his peak reached over 120 million viewers. Since childhood, Walter was regarded as a healer, but his greatest miracle might have been his personal transformation from shy farm boy to flamboyant showman. Walter enthralled much of the world with sequined capes, opulent jewelry and pressing horoscopes that shared a message of love and hope to his devoted viewers — until one day he mysteriously disappeared.

Over a decade later award-winning documentarians Cristina Costantini (Science Fair) and Kareem Tabsch (The Last Resort) plus producer Alex Fumero (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) received unprecedented access to Walter during his post-fame seclusion and invite us into his home and interior world. With MUCHO MUCHO AMOR, they capture Walter’s final two years, when the pioneering icon grappled with aging and his legacy, as he prepared for one last star-studded spectacle. We invite you to view the first trailer for MUCHO MUCHO AMOR, the new Netflix Original Documentary about the iconic Latinx astrologer Walter Mercado. We hope you will discover the magic, mysticism and the love of Walter Mercado.  A hit at the Sundance Film Festival this year, the film is releasing globally on Netflix July 8th.

For many, Walter Mercado has been a household name for generations.  He was that optimistic/larger than life character that came into everyone's household via television.  For some he was even bigger than Oprah and uber flamboyant like that of Liberace. But he was always full of love, life and inspiration! We need some Walter right now!!!

Every day for decades, Walter Mercado mesmerized 120 million Latinx viewers with his extravagance, glamour, and artistry. Viewers across generations and all over the world gathered around the TV eagerly waiting for him to deliver his daily reading of your sign. Award-winning documentarians Cristina Costantini (Science Fair) and Kareem Tabsch (The Last Resort) direct MUCHO MUCHO AMOR, produced by Alex Fumero (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson). “We sincerely hope you will become inspired by Mercado’s message of understanding, peace mucho paz and above all love mucho mucho amor.”

FASHIONADO

Nina West And Dolly Parton Team Up For "Dolly X Nina: Kindness Is Queen" Collection

Kindness is Queen! As revealed exclusively through Entertainment Weekly, The Nina West Foundation is thrilled to announce an incredibly special, first-of-its-kind partnership between Country Music legend Dolly Parton and Drag Superstar  and LGBTQ+ activist Nina West. These two Queens of Kindness have teamed up for the Dolly x Nina: Kindness is Queen collection to foster kindness and hope during this difficult time.

"When I approached Dolly with the idea for a collaboration between the Nina West Foundation and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, I was looking for an opportunity to continue to spread my message of kindness while building on the work I've done through my foundation supporting LGBTQ+ youth and families," said Nina West. "Dolly is the Ultimate Queen of Kindness and I am so thrilled that she agreed to this collaboration! We both want to spread the message that Kindness is Queen and that being kind is something that is desperately needed in our world right now!"

Proceeds from the Kindness is Queen Limited Edition T-shirt, Tote Bag and Enamel pin will go to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a book gifting program that promotes literacy by providing free high quality books to children of all ages, and the Nina West Foundation which supports organizations and services that support LGBTQ+ youth and families. The collection is available now at www.ninawest.com/kindness for a limited time.

Remember, Kindness is Queen and may she ever reign supreme!

FASHIONADO

Penland School of Craft: There's No Substitute for the Handmade Mug

Have you registered for the 35th Annual Penland Benefit Auction yet? 

It will be Penland’s first ever online auction, and also their first auction to last a full week long! Tickets are available now to join us for this virtual celebration and support Penland's ongoing mission of creativity, community, growth, and word-class craft education. Penland is offering two ticket options this year—the "party" option includes access to silent and live auction bidding, a printed auction catalog, a handmade mug like those above, and other Penland party favors to bring the festivities right to your door.

Mark your calendars for August 1-8, and register now to join us there!

Kimberly Michelle Shelton (left) and Amanda Ann Palmer at Penland with a selection of their mugs

A note from the Penland School of Craft: The past couple months have shown us how many things can transition to an online format, from Northlight slide nights to our Board of Trustees meeting. But we also know that there's no substitute for the presence and materiality of a handmade object, and that's why we knew without a doubt that we wanted to keep up the tradition of handmade auction mugs. This year's are an especially beautiful collection of hand-thrown, decorated, and glazed pieces. Each one—500 in all!—was designed and made by Kimberly Michelle Shelton of Dirt Dobber Wares (Atlanta, GA) with assistance from Amanda Ann Palmer (Hartland, VT).

One thing we especially love about these mugs is how they each display a unique personality while maintaining an impressive cohesion as a group—sturdy, inviting, earthy, and rich. Scrolling through a few of Kimberly's process photos is a telling window into how much thought went into these designs. We love this look at the various glazes and clay bodies she tested, as well as these close-ups of her approach to geometric patterning and glazing.

Thank you, Kimberly and Amanda! We know these mugs will add an extra special touch to auction week in August and many, many mornings to follow.

FASHIONADO

Jason Wu collaborates WILD BEAUTY Exclusive Florals

Today, 1-800-Flowers.com®, one of the world's leading floral providers, announced it has collaborated with global design talent, Jason Wu, to release an exclusive assortment of modern and elegant bouquets. The Jason Wu for Wild Beauty™ collection, which is now available nationwide, features on-trend arrangements that embody the designer's signature aesthetic of femininity and sophistication. Behind-the-scenes content, specially designed 'thank you' notes and the ability to preview select bouquets in 3D will allow customers to have an immersive digital experience as they are introduced to the new collection. This marks Jason Wu's first collaboration with a floral and gifting brand.

"Jason Wu is one of the world's most renowned fashion designers and we are thrilled to collaborate with him on this truly original collection, which reflects his unique point of view in floral design and bouquet presentation," said Valerie Ghitelman, Vice President, Product Development and Design, 1-800-Flowers.com. "We are excited to not only share these beautifully crafted arrangements with our customers, but to engage them with distinctive content that provides insights into Jason's design influences and more."

"Playing a role in the intimate decision of what one chooses to wear each day is such an important part of what I do," said Jason Wu. "To extend this concept to the graceful details people bring into their homes is an honor. This collection with 1-800-Flowers.com is especially meaningful to me because of my lifelong love of flowers. Floral elements continuously inspire me and have been a consistent theme throughout my entire career. I'm thrilled to celebrate the beauty of flowers in this new and special way."

A Collection Influenced by Jason Wu's Design Aesthetic: Jason's design influences, such as modern femininity and refined style, are reflected throughout the entire Jason Wu for Wild Beauty collection. Chic, gathered arrangements include freshly cut flowers – such as roses, sunflowers, gerbera daisies, thistle, aster and mini calla lilies, among others – that are grown with love at select eco-friendly, sustainable farms. Each bouquet, which includes a mix of textures and florals unique to the season, arrives wrapped in white kraft paper and is nestled inside a signature gift box. Customers can also opt to order a galvanized flower pail to showcase their arrangement. The collection includes:

• Citrus Crush™ Bouquet by Jason Wu for Wild Beauty

• Watercolor Chiffon™ Bouquet by Jason Wu for Wild Beauty

• Wild Cascade™ Bouquet by Jason Wu for Wild Beauty

• Poplin Crème™ Bouquet by Jason Wu for Wild Beauty

• Silken Roses™ Bouquet by Jason Wu for Wild Beauty

Bouquets from the Jason Wu for Wild Beauty collection come with a custom hangtag, which prompts recipients with a QR code to enjoy a mobile web experience. Exclusive and engaging content includes behind-the-scenes footage from Jason's Ready-To-Wear Fall 2020 New York Fashion Week Show and the Jason Wu for Wild Beauty collection photo shoot, both of which took place earlier this year. It also provides access to special 'thank you' notes whereby bouquet recipients can instantly connect with and send a digital message to the sender. Find all this at www.1800flowers.com/jasonwu-connect.

FASHIONADO

HARRY NORMAN, REALTORS® Announces #MOVE4ATL Initiative

Harry Norman, REALTORS® is proud to announce a new social media initiative, #Move4ATL. On Saturday, June 6, from 10am to 2pm, Harry Norman is set to bring their agents, staff, and the Atlanta community together to move their bodies for a good cause virtually, through their Instagram and Facebook.

Joining in is easy – donate $30 (or more) for entry and get moving! Whether it’s running, walking, riding, skipping, dancing, yoga, or any other physical activity, join the virtual action and post a photo with the hashtag #Move4ATL. All proceeds for the 4-hour event will be donated to the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and United Way of Greater Atlanta’s Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.

 
“The COVID-19 crisis is an unprecedented situation that has changed the way we look at things and caused us to reevaluate our priorities as a company and as individuals,” says Harry Norman President and CEO, Jenni Bonura. “It’s incredible to foster the camaraderie amongst our agents and celebrate activity, exercise, and our great city of Atlanta as we continue to do everything we can to hold others up.” 
 
One of Harry Norman’s key tenets is making a real difference in Atlanta through community service. Throughout the year, Harry Norman supports a variety of local nonprofit organizations through the Harry Norman, REALTORS® Philanthropy Fund. To continue furthering their impact during these trying times, they’ve chosen to partner with the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and United Way of Greater Atlanta. The Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Recovery and Response Fund provides immediate support to those most vulnerable to the economic and health-related issues caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
 
"The Community Foundation and Harry Norman, REALTORS® established a powerful partnership for philanthropy last year, and now we elevate it to fight the health and economic hardships the COVID-19 pandemic is causing," said Elyse Hammett, Vice President of marketing and communications at Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. "We applaud the ongoing dedication of these thousands of realtors across the region who understand the power of community and give generously to help our neighbors who need it now."  

To sign up for #Move4ATL, head here.

FASHIONADO

Eyewear Industry Disrupter Privé Revaux Announces European Expansion Exclusively With GrandVision

Privé Revaux, the affordable, celebrity eyewear brand is taking their industry disruption to Europe in collaboration with exclusive partner GrandVision, a global leader in optical retail. GrandVision is bringing the celebrity-backed brand from Jamie Foxx, Ashley Benson and Hailee Steinfeld across their extensive network of banner stores and e-commerce platforms including optical experts Vision Express in the UK, Trendy Opticians and Vision Express in Poland, Apollo-Optik in Germany, Atasun Optik in Turkey, GrandOptical and Pearle in Belgium, Eyewish and Pearle in the Netherlands.

"We are very excited to bring Privé Revaux's eyewear offering to Europe," said David Schottenstein, founder and CEO of Privé Revaux. "Our goal is to provide the absolute best quality, service and price for the global eyewear market and GrandVision is the perfect partner to achieve this."

Jamie Foxx, Partner at Privé Revaux, adds, "Collaborating with GrandVision to bring our fly and affordable brand worldwide is big achievement. I couldn't be more excited about Privé Revaux's future."

International shoppers can find an impressive assortment of Privé Revaux's handcrafted, fashion-forward and classic style sunglasses and anti-blue light glasses with options to add prescription, starting at $43 per pair. In addition, customers can expect to see a rotating selection of celebrity-designed capsule collections starting with popular styles from American actresses Madelaine Petsch (Riverdale), actress and singer, Dove Cameron and super model Adriana Lima. Each Privé Revaux style is made with high-end materials including acetate and proprietary lightweight, yet durable metal alloy. Sunglasses also have polarized lenses with 100% UVA/UVB protection, while all clear lenses feature blue light-blocking technology to protect from digital eye strain.

Notes Hailee Steinfeld, "Privé Revaux represents such versatility and accessibility with our selection of affordable glasses and sunglasses, and thanks to GrandVision, we can now offer these designs to our friends and fans in Europe." Adds Ashley Benson, "Sunglasses are my favorite accessory and I believe everyone needs a few go-to pairs. "I am thrilled that with we can now offer our incredible value to customers internationally without sacrificing any of the quality. I can't wait to see everyone's reaction to our designs!"

Privé Revaux was built by an elite team with a shared passion for style and quality including serial entrepreneur David Schottenstein, celebrity visionaries Jamie Foxx, Hailee Steinfeld and Ashley Benson, as well as Creative Directors Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn. In two short years the brand has emerged as a leader in the eyewear industry with their high-quality, affordable sunglasses, anti-blue light glasses and readers. Continually on the forefront of design, innovation and craftsmanship, Privé Revaux brings an unprecedented value to customers with the belief that designer eyewear shouldn't be a luxury reserved for a select few.

FASHIONADO

Louis Vuitton Donates 2,500 Face Masks to New York's MTA Workers

After shifting several of its workshops to producing face masks in the wake of the coronavirus, Louis Vuitton is now allocating supplies to some of the most dire areas around the world. The French label has reportedly donated 2,500 of the masks specifically to New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) employees, as detailed by The Cut.

Several masks were said to already have been doled out to the MTA staff at the end of March as COVID-19 continued to spread throughout the city, though it hasn’t stopped the virus from taking its toll on the workers. Reportedly more than 80 have died since the pandemic hit, and thousands have tested positive.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has recently implemented further changes to the transportation system in order to help combat the spread. Last week, he announced that the subway would close down every night from 1 a.m. until 5 a.m. to allow for additional cleaning, a move that hasn’t been enacted in over 115 years, as The New York Times notes.

Though Louis Vuitton’s donations may not be able to fully provide for the MTA’s more than 74,000 employees, the resources still come at a time when the city continues to grapple with managing the virus amid limited supplies.

“As an important French House, Louis Vuitton wishes to commit at its level to producing many thousands of masks that will be distributed within the region, at no charge, to protect those who are most exposed,” CEO Michael Burke stated previously when speaking of the company’s decision to produce masks. “This production is the fruit of a wonderful collaboration with the regional sector of the textile industry.”

Elsewhere in fashion, DSPTCH has recently launched its own durable cotton ripstop face coverings, seeking to raise money for those most affected by the virus.

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