TOMMY’S NEW GAME: A new fashion game is coming to mobile devices near you.
Tommy Hilfiger and Joe Lamastra’s Hilfiger Ventures, an investment vehicle, has teamed with Tilting Point for FashionVerse, an interactive fashion game that will launch on mobile devices in January. The game can be accessed on iOS and Android devices, as well as through Netflix accounts for subscribers.
FashionVerse, which was developed by Brandible, originated from an idea from Hilfiger himself. He wanted to scale fashion through an immersive, community-based game that capitalizes on the most current technology. Brandible’s AI model creates photorealistic avatars, settings and props, to provide a virtual experience where everyone is a creator.
In FashionVerse, players take on design challenges to create perfectly curated fashion sets in Stylist mode or mood boards in Trendsetter mode. Players can share their creations, vote on other sylists’ scenes, comment on favorite looks, win rewards and unlock new clothing styles, all while discovering the latest trends from real-world fashion brands using the latest AI technology.
“It’s been a life goal of mine to make fashion more accessible. Given how many people engage with fashion through their phones, I thought there has to be a way to bring everyone together into one community, providing a more immersive experience,” said Hilfiger. “Through working with Tilting Point and Brandible, I truly believe this collaboration on FashionVerse marks an exciting milestone in the convergence of fashion and gaming.”
FashionVerse will feature an ongoing series of two-week virtual “Pop-Ups” with major fashion entertainment, art and beauty brands to be revealed in the weeks following launch, allowing players to interact with the modern fashion universe through their own lens as they virtually style their models and set designs. Pop-Ups will highlight dedicated challenges focused on participating brands’ campaign themes, garments from their latest collections, and special rewards for players who complete all of the branded challenges. Pop-Ups will also have digital exclusives from well-known artists and musicians, merging the worlds of fashion, music and popular culture in one game.
“Fashion fans are an incredibly underserved audience in the games space, so when Tommy approached us with the FashionVerse idea, we knew immediately this was a huge opportunity we couldn’t pass up,” said Kevin Segalla, founder and chief executive officer of Tilting Point. “I can confidently say that FashionVerse will provide an unparalleled experience for our players, empowering them to explore their personal style and to connect with the fashion world in exciting new ways. We also can’t wait to host the many excellent brands set to become part of this interactive world.” — LISA LOCKWOOD
GUCCI‘S HELPING HAND: Gucci is committing 300,000 euros to UNICEF’s education thematic fund on behalf of creative director Sabato De Sarno and its employees.
The goal is to support UNICEF’s education programs to ensure that every child has the fundamental right to quality education, focusing on the world’s most vulnerable communities.
In a statement, Gucci pointed out that “the global disruption to education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is without parallel and its consequences on learning and access to education are still impacting children’s learning today.”
To date, UNICEF’s education programming has contributed to help 37.9 million out-of-school children, including 251,565 children with disabilities, gain access to education, and to spread learning materials to 28.3 million children. In 2022, UNICEF’s outreach extended to engage 16.1 million adolescents across 89 countries, including 345,000 adolescents in humanitarian settings.
Gucci is a longtime UNICEF partner. During the decade 2005-2015, the Italian luxury company contributed to the organization’s work supporting, for example, the initiative Schools for Africa, with the aim to expand access to quality education to girls, orphaned children and those living in extreme poverty, influencing national education policy by working with governments and partners in several countries including Mozambique and Malawi, training more than 8,700 teachers and educators, erecting nearly 300 school classrooms, supplying 14,600 school desks, and constructing more than 1,800 water and sanitation facilities in schools.
Gucci is also a founding member of UNICEF’s Girls’ Empowerment Initiative, which aims to advance girls’ rights and well-being through health, education, social protection, water and sanitation.
From January 2018 to August 2019, as a founding partner of BeyGood4Burundi created by Beyoncé, in partnership with UNICEF USA, Gucci and Chime for Change supported the construction and rehabilitation of Water Access, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in targeted areas across Burundi, enabling 4,850 additional people to gain sustainable access to safe drinking water, benefiting more than 36,000 people since January 2018.
In December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gucci donated $500,000 to UNICEF USA, adding a further $100,000 on behalf of the Gucci community in support of UNICEF’s work in preparing for the rollout of a safe vaccine.
The following year, Gucci announced a donation of 200,000 COVID-19 vaccine kits on behalf of all Gucci employees. The aim was to support UNICEF’s global, equitable delivery of the vaccine in the most vulnerable communities around the world. — LUISA ZARGANI
BORSALINO X SAINT LAURENT: Saint Laurent and storied Italian hatmaker Borsalino are partnering on a capsule collection for fall.
The lineup includes a wool felt hat — Borsalino’s signature Federico style — available in two color variations: black and navy. The design retails at 475 euros.
The logos of both brands are on display on the grosgrain hat band as well as inside.
The hat is exclusively available at the Saint Laurent Rive Droite Paris flagship and at the French brand’s Los Angeles boutique, as well as on its e-commerce platform.
The collaboration with Borsalino is part of the multidisciplinary creative project Saint Laurent Rive Droite conceived by the brand’s artistic director Anthony Vaccarello.
This is the latest collaboration for Borsalino, founded in 1857 and which is modernizing its offer under owner Haeres Equita. In 2021, the brand partnered with Yohji Yamamoto, followed by a collaboration with Vilebrequin and hip French brand Ami Paris in 2022. Last summer it was the turn of Chloé and in September, the brand partnered with Lebanese fashion brand Elie Saab.
Borsalino has been owned by Haeres Equita since 2018, when it won the auction set up by the label’s administrators through a deal valued at 6.4 million euros. The private equity group is led by Philippe Camperio, who is also executive chairman of the brand, and managing director Mauro Baglietto.
Saint Laurent is controlled by Kering Group. Further strengthening its ties with Italy, the French brand last week officially inaugurated its new industrial complex in Scandicci, outside Florence. — ANDREA ONATE
FASHION KNIGHTS: Rodo owners Gianni and Maurizio Dori have been appointed with the Knighthood of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
One of Italy’s highest recognitions, the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic is bestowed upon individuals for “merit acquired by the nation” in the fields of literature, the arts, economy, public service, and social, philanthropic and humanitarian activities, and for long and conspicuous service in civilian and military careers.
Established in 1951 by the second president of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi, the investitures take place twice a year — on June 2, the anniversary of the foundation of the Republic, and on Dec. 27, the anniversary of the promulgation of the Italian Constitution.
The family-owned Rodo accessories maker, best known for its use of precious metal or crystal-embellished clutches and sandals, was founded in 1956 by the siblings’ father Romualdo Dori, whose initial syllables form the brand’s moniker.
Gianni Dori currently serves as Rodo’s chief executive officer, while Maurizio Dori oversees design.
Over the years, reaffirming their independent stance, the Rodo brothers have continued to leverage the artisanal quality of the brand’s products, made in Italy’s Marche region, drawing celebrity fans including Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, Beyoncé and Jessica Alba.
Originally known for its wicker baskets, the company’s scope expanded to footwear and high-end bags. It has 150 employees and a network on international stockists across the U.S., Europe and Asia. — MARTINO CARRERA
NEW YEAR, NEW JOB: Vuori has named Karen Riley-Grant chief marketing officer.
The former Levi Strauss executive will start Jan. 22 and report to Vuori founder and chief executive officer Joe Kudla.
In this new role, Riley-Grant will set the vision and strategy for the company and oversee the creative development and execution of its marketing efforts across retail, e-commerce, wholesale and digital.
“In addition to a 25-year-plus track record of proven experience in the retail industry, Karen brings to Vuori an incredible understanding and passion for developing iconic brands,” said Kudla. “As we continue to rise to meet the exciting opportunities that exist for Vuori, it’s equally important we continue to nurture our vision to connect with our community in authentic and unique ways with a message of positivity and possibility. Karen will play a critical role in our continued evolution, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome her to our incredible, growing team.”
“Having loved the brand from afar for some time, I feel honored to join the Vuori team,” said Riley-Grant. “I am inspired by the values of the brand that have helped build an extraordinary business foundation. As I look across the horizon, I see nothing but a clear runway to be the performance apparel brand of choice for fans all around the world. I am excited to build on what the team has created, to amplify the vibrance of the brand and to be part of Vuori’s future success.”
Riley-Grant served most recently as chief marketing officer for Levi’s and had worked as vice president of marketing for Levi’s Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa regions as well as vice president of global marketing for the Dockers, Denizen and Levi Strauss Signature brands. She also held marketing leadership positions at Gap Inc. and Converse, where she oversaw marketing for the Chuck Taylor category.
Encinitas-based Vuori was founded in 2015 as an active California lifestyle brand. In 2019, Norwest Venture Partners wrote a check for $45 million to the company for a minority stake and former Neiman Marcus executive Jim Gold also became an investor. Two years later, SoftBank Vision invested $400 million into the company, bringing its valuation to $4 billion and the brand is said to be considering an initial public offering. — JEAN E. PALMIERI
