
(Kourken Pakchanian/Condé Nast Collection/Getty Images)
(Kourken Pakchanian/Condé Nast Collection/Getty Images)
I've always felt the textile industry is supremely undervalued. I'll never forget the moment when a professor asked us to think about when we're in touch (literally) with fabric on any given day. Sheets, towels, clothes, curtains, auto upholstery, the world is covered and draped in woven textiles. It's the foundation of fashion. Yet textiles are incredibly complex, and some of the literature out there reaches a level of nerd that's bulletproof to the casual observer. So here we are. Some have said textiles are undervalued because of their existence in the domestic sphere, their association with feminine work. It's an idea that fashion has largely moved past, but like all outmoded notions, sometimes it rears itself in indirect ways—the subtle biases and inflections that we know all too well. The market for synthetic textiles was a gargantuan business innovation, the implications of which we're still dealing with today. Long after the blouse falls apart, the fabric remains. And remains, and remains. There's been fascination with ingredients in everything—from food to electronics to clothes—which is bringing fabric back to people's minds. Think long-term about it... ALESSANDRO MICHELE is featured in HARPER'S BAZAAR's August issue, and the designer clearly understands twenty-first century culture. He's faced the ambivalence that comes with it, along with roaring sales. I still think he has a lot to say, despite some murmurs that oh, he's doing the GUCCI thing again. The Gucci universe is expanding to encompass your home, your travels (new app), and your nose (new fragrance). Saturation is an ever-present concern for fashion, particularly for luxury behemoths. It all falls to execution, and there are some true Gucci believers out there... Shoutout to CHERYL WISCHHOVER for pointing out that no-brand is still a brand... And shoutout to CAM WOLF for this funny but real take on "Made in AMERICA" week. We need a metric called "as claimed"... ICYMI: H&M is slowing down—with reporting sales data... OFF WHITE and WARBY PARKER are brand mashing... YEEZY is likely staying put in NYC... Is this JET or HERMÈS? Amount saved: 0.03 USD.