Burberry’s new era, Balenciaga’s bounce-back and Bottega’s sweet serenity

As we gear up for Daniel Lee’s debut as Burberry’s new creative director at London Fashion Week, the British house has revealed its first campaign (and a slick new logo), shot by Tyrone Lebon, under Lee’s direction as a teaser of what’s to come. Introducing the shiny faces of Burberry’s new era: Shygirl, Skepta, John Glacier, Liberty Ross and Lennon Gallagher. Calling in a roster of some of Britain’s most buzz-worthy talents, if the campaign is anything to go by, you can expect a top-notch FROW when Burberry closes LFW on 20^th February. We can hardly contain ourselves.

Last September, Bottega Veneta’s creative director Matthieu Blazy surpassed the stellar debut he presented the season before, with a roll-call of superbly irreverent characters draped in Margot Tenenbaum-style fur coats, casual plaid shirts that required 12 painstaking layers of printing, and buttery tailoring that moulded the body. Now, the Italian house has debuted its accompanying campaign: portraits of Bottega’s faces – including Kate Moss and Emma Balfour – shot in serene settings that properly emphasise Blazy’s love for the characters that inform his work.

Returning for a third year, creative studio Metallic Inc. has announced The Metallic Fund 2023, a programme that awards over £60,000 to young Black British brains working in creative fields that span art, music, fashion, photography and more. Founded by Grace LaDoja MBE and Alex Sossah, so far the annual fund has raised over £150,000 to support serious talents such as No Signal Radio, Vivendii, Louis Culture and Feben, with mentors including the late Virgil Abloh, Martine Rose and Carlos Nazario.

“Community is the DNA of Metallic,” says LaDoja. ​“We want The Fund to be visible to the community outside of the people that know us personally, the community that are in the UK doing amazing things and want to get support from a company that is Black owned and can nurture them through mentorship”.

This year, grants are being divided by a tier system, with one platinum grant worth £20,000, two gold grants worth £10,000, three silver grants of £5000 and six bronze grants of £2500 being awarded amongst the mentees. Applications are now open via metal​lic​fund​.com, and those from the LGBTQ+ communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

“We wanted to create a Fund that looks like us. It was vital to have a program that allows people to identify with us,” Sossah adds. ​“The Fund has always been about bringing people together, collaborating and supporting the next generation of Black creative talent.”

What would Fashion News of the Week be without a big shopping list? This week, Jimmy Choo announced the launch of its dreamy, technicoloured collaboration with the Japanese manga series Sailor Moon, which hits shelves in four days. And while it might seem like there isn’t a brand left for Palace to stamp their irreverent mark, they’ve partnered with Rimowa on some wheely good four-wheelers – not the kind you skate on, mind.

Stone Island has also released its SS23 ​“Ghost” collection: exceptional outerwear pieces in army green, beige or black, designed for blending into your background – a bit like the supernatural, geddit? Meanwhile, luxury mystery box connoisseurs Heat have ventured into homeware, launching blind packages with a guaranteed value of £650-£950, including brands such as Tekla, Sunnei and Anissa Kermiche.

And last but certainly never least, Givenchy’s Voyou is already looking to be this year’s must-have bag: a slouchy handheld or cross-body hybrid that comes in lime green, plush pink, silver, black and white, with biker details for some added oomph.

Jimmy Choo x Sailor Moon launches on 14^th February at jim​my​choo​.com and Selfridges, London. Palace x Rimowa launches at 10^th February at 11am in-store and online. Stone Island’s Ghost collection is available at stoneis​land​.com. Heat’s homeware boxes are available at heat​.io. Givenchy’s Voyou bag is available from 10^th February at givenchy​.com

Miu Miu has announced Mexico City’s Lila Aviles as its 25^th director for its on-going project Women’s Tales, a series of short films directed by women. She’ll be following in the footsteps of previous directors Chlöe Sevigney, Dakota Fanning and Haifaa Al-Mansour.

Following Balenciaga’s campaign controversy last November, during which the brand was criticised for images of children was holding BDSM teddy bears among other things„ the house has announced a three-year partnership with the National Children’s Alliance, a global organisation tackling child abuse.

The partnership will see Balenciaga and its corporation group Kering support the National Children’s Alliance Mental Health Institute, which specifically helps children heal from past traumas. Education on child protection and actions adults can take to promote the safety and well-being of children will be provided, and there’ll also be a massive push to raise public awareness on child abuse, while promoting happy, safe childhoods.

“There is a strong correlation between childhood trauma and negative health effects, from poor performance in school to increased risk of suicide to higher rates of diabetes, heart disease and cancer,” says NCA Chief Executive Officer Teresa Huizar.

​“This cycle can be interrupted and improved dramatically for children who receive evidence-based, trauma-focused mental health treatment. For them, it can mean the difference between life and death, which is why Balenciaga’s and the Kering Foundation’s support for this program is so urgently needed.”