This new sustainability platform for gemstones and jewelry to catalyze positive change across the jewelry industry

  This free digital resource is available to the entire gemstone and jewelry industry, from mining to retail. LVMH, the world’s biggest luxury group,  launched of the Gemstones and Jewelry Community Platform, a joint initiative inspired by strong sustainability commitments. The Coloured Gemstones Working Group, created to catalyze positive change across the jewelry industry, has … Read more

Emotion was at the core of every dress Alber Elbaz designed

  With love, trust and respect, the fashion world said good-bye to fashion designer Alber Elbaz, one of the luxury industry’s “most beloved figures”. Alber Elbaz, the former creative director at French fashion house Lanvin, Guy Laroche, Geoffrey Beene, and Yves Saint Laurent, has died from Covid-19 on April 24, 2021 in Paris, France. In … Read more

LVMH, Prada and Cartier develop the world’s first global luxury blockchain

 

@LVMH / @auraluxuryblockchain.com

Aura is open to all luxury brands, not just the founders, and offers flexibility to support companies of varying sizes and adapt to individual needs. The objective of a global luxury blockchain is to provide high-end consumers with a high level of transparency and traceability throughout the lifecycle of a luxury product.

LVMH partners with other major luxury companies on Aura, the first global luxury blockchain.

LVMH has joined forces with two other major luxury names –Prada and Cartier, part of Richemont – to develop Aura Blockchain Consortium, the world’s first global luxury blockchain. This unprecedented collaboration between competitors represents a single, innovative solution to shared challenges of communicating information on authenticity, responsible sourcing and sustainability in a secure, digital format.

The state-of-the-art technology of Aura Blockchain matches a product ID to a client ID, providing the infrastructure – through a chain of secure, non-reproducible, digital blocks – to enable consumers to access the history of a product and proof of its authenticity at every step of the value chain, from raw materials to point of sale, and even more. Consumers can thus follow the entire lifecycle of a product with trusted data throughout, and with no need for third-party verification. Aura represents a new way for luxury brands to communicate directly to consumers, telling a unique story around the quality of their materials, craftsmanship and creativity, and strengthening the relationship between client and brand.

Given that issues such as traceability, sustainability and authenticity are common to all luxury brands, it made sense for these competitors to work together to drive change and develop a shared solution. LVMH thus joined forces with Prada and Richemont to design Aura Blockchain Consortium, a multi-nodal, private blockchain secured by ConsenSys technology and Microsoft.

@auraluxuryblockchain.com

Among LVMH Maisons, Hublot, Bvlgari and Louis Vuitton are already active on the platform.

Hublot, for example, has launched a digital e-warranty, which is stored in the Aura infrastructure and allows customers to verify the authenticity of their watch via a simple photo taken with a mobile phone. Brands using Aura develop their own experience according to their specificities and customer expectations. They also maintain their own data and adhere to the strictest standards of client privacy, with information stored on the blockchain in a way that cannot be changed, tampered with, or hacked.

“The Aura Blockchain Consortium is a great opportunity for our sector to strengthen our connection with customers by offering them simple solutions to get to know our products better. By joining forces with other luxury brands on this project, we are leading the way on transparency and traceability. I hope other prestigious players will join our alliance.” – LVMH Managing Director Toni Belloni.

@auraluxuryblockchain.com

Spirit-lifting fashion: AZ Factory launch marks Alber Elbaz’s long-awaited return to fashion

 

 

@instagram.com/azfactory/

Star Designer Alber Elbaz Debuts His New Democratic Label AZ Factory. The brand represents Richemont’s first foray into launching a fashion label from scratch.

With an innovative meeting of smart design and educational entertainment, AZ Factory opened its doors for business during Haute Couture week. A joint venture startup between Alber Elbaz and Richemont, AZ Factory is smart fashion that cares. These exclusive pieces are designed to offer beautiful, practical and solutions-driven fashion that works for every woman.

“We are on a journey to design beautiful, purposeful, solutions-driven fashion that works for everyone. We are life, not just lifestyle. A place to experiment and try new things, our way.” – Alber Elbaz, AZ Factory Head of Creation.

In a modern spin on the traditional fashion show, AZ Factory unveiled its origins, mission, and first product stories with the Show Fashion. The educational and entertaining digital event was presented during the official Paris Haute Couture 2021 lineup.

AZ chief executive Laurent Malecaze, who leads a team of 30 in Paris’ 14th arrondissement, told Vogue Business the film, launched at Couture  Week, is a new format for fashion. “It’s a film that mixes entertainment, smart humour, education, with videos in our factories, dancing, comedy playlets… Alber gets a great part since he explains the rationale behind his comeback and presents the first three stories.”

“While the industry has been speculating about the possible divestment of the fashion division, or an acquisition of a fashion or accessories brand, AZ Factory is further evidence that chairman Johann Rupert is committed to fashion and to digital,” commented Vogue Business. “With this launch, he’s also testing the power of the coupling of Farfetch and Net-a-Porter, two former rivals that have now teamed up following November’s Richemont-Alibaba-Farfetch mega-deal in China.”

@net-a-porter.com/en-gb/campaigns/az-factory/

The eagerly awaited fashion concept from legendary designer Alber Elbaz is here.

AZ Factory marks Elbaz’s full return to fashion since exiting Lanvin more than five years ago and is one of the most anticipated ready-to-wear debuts in 2021, commented fashionunited.com. The French designer has kept details of his new venture under wraps, sharing only snippets of what to expect from his brand on social media.

“He posted a business plan, drawn as a tree, on Instagram earlier this month sharing that AZ Factory had plans to showcase tailored jackets, jeans, raincoats, sunglasses, sneakers, jewellery, 3D bags, cosmetics, swimwear and black dresses,” added fashionunited.com.

MyBody dress by AZ Factory; @AZ Factory

With AZ Factory’s first product story, MyBody, Alber re-imagined the little black dress for today. The MyBody dresses, tops, and leggings are made with AnatoKnit, a specially engineered knitwear that gently shapes the silhouette while providing support and comfort.

The inspiration for the second product story, Switchwear, came from the desire to give the gift of time. Switchwear promises a quick look transformation, going from leisurewear to fabulous in under one minute with bodysuits, hoodies, pyjamas and glam duchesse add-ons made from recycled yarn.

The third product story, SuperTech-SuperChic, takes hi-tech to high-fashion. Eco-dyed nylon microfiber fabrics traditionally used in activewear are now transformed into seasonless fashion pieces inspired by couture.

AZ Factory continued with Pointy Sneaks, combining the comfort of a sneaker with the elongating visual effect of a pointy-toe pump; modular and playful jewelry; as well as special edition Valentine’s and Chinese New Year separates.

AZ Factory on Net-a-Porter 2021; @net-a-porter.com

We are really excited to create a digital luxury house that is based on design, innovation, and fun storytelling. It is only fitting that we have also chosen to go to market on two leading platforms of the digital luxury world, FARFETCH and NET-A-PORTER. – Laurent Malecaze, CEO.

AZ Factory also announced two special experiences immediately following its launch: a live streaming event The Talk Show with Alber Elbaz & Friends with NET-A-PORTER, as well as an immersive virtual experience, the AZ Factory World Tour, now open on FARFETCH.

As a special gift to the Alber & Amigos community, the MyBody product story is amplified by a digital experience using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, unlocking an insider’s look at the stories behind the creations, as well as interactive ways to engage with the products and the AZ Factory team.

MyBody is available today on azfactory.com, FARFETCH, and NET-A-PORTER, starting at 210€. Switchwear and SuperTech SuperChic will be commercially available later this spring.

@AZ Factory

Christopher Wylie: ‘Amazon is one of the biggest threats to the fashion industry’

The Cambridge Analytica whistleblower, who now works in fashion, says luxury fashion is reaching an existential moment – and that Jeff Bezos could be the next Anna Wintour

Alibaba and Richemont invest in Farfetch China

      “The growth potential of luxury e-commerce has never been so promising, and the importance of China for the luxury industry is only becoming more obvious every day.” – François-Henri Pinault, Chairman, Artemis (the controlling shareholder of global Luxury group Kering (Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, Dodo, … Read more