COLLAGE BY MAXWELL N. BURNSTEIN The COVID-19 pandemic forced the industry to reflect on what needs to change, and the Black Lives Matter movement only intensified that urgency. We spoke to designers, activists, models, and sustainability pioneers about finding a path forward that respects the planet and ensures inclusion for all. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE…
During the height of the pandemic, one of fashion’s foremost eco-warriors found ample reason to be hopeful for the future. As part of ELLE’s look at the future of fashion, Stella McCartney shared why she continues to raise the bar and why sustainability cannot exist without solidarity. You’ve been a champion of sustainable design from…
For Dior’s artistic director Maria Grazia Chiuri, the lockdown was a time for reflection on everything from sustainability to the renewed importance of craft (something she showcased in the house’s artisan-centric cruise show in July.) As part of ELLE’s examination of the future of fashion, the designer shared her thoughts on the «shameful wastefulness» she…
After a breakneck couple of years, Brandon Maxwell has learned the value of slowing down. The 2019 CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award winner and Project Runway judge spent the height of the pandemic at his Brooklyn home and studio, where he rediscovered his love of the design process. As part of ELLE’s look…
Indya Moore has been getting creative. The model and Pose star has been turning laundry bins, chairs, and pieces of Styrofoam into makeshift camera stands to shoot socially distanced campaigns. Moore is just one of many models who’ve become their own photographer, stylist, and/or glam team during the lockdown. Moore has enjoyed the creative freedom,…
This summer, when I spoke with Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim, who are co-creative directors of both Oscar de la Renta and Monse, they said the pace of running two brands meant that working remotely had already become a way of life for them. As Garcia put it, the two “are on our phones no…
The fashion industry has changed significantly since model-turned-advocate Bethann Hardison got her start in a Garment District button factory. As part of ELLE’s look at the future of fashion, she shares her views on the industry’s current struggles and how she personally has effected change over the decades. When did you decide to leave modeling…
Giorgio Armani has always had a singular vision. Back in late February when cases of COVID-19 were beginning to rise in Italy, the designer made a snap decision to stage a virtual presentation. Here, as part of ELLE’s look at the future of fashion, he reflects on that decisiveness and lessons learned from 2020 so…