Start your weekend informed with a dispatch on the top fashion news of the moment…
A literal sweatshop: Beyoncé is all about female empowerment, but it turns out that her Ivy Park athleisure line is being produced in a sweatshop by women who barely earn a living wage. The factory workers in Sri Lanka reportedly live in cramped living quarters, work 60 hours a week and earn a little over $6 a day. That’s not so flawless. via Quartz.
No prime time: Despite previous plans, the CFDA Awards will not be gracing the small screen this year. The awards, set to take place at the Hammerstein Ballroom on June 6th, feature a totally new format, including dinner and a performance. Maybe next year the TV dream will come true. via Fashion Unfiltered.
Man of the moment: In a rare interview, Vetements’ Demna Gvasalia explains the origins of his DHL t-shirt design and what it was like to work (and do karaoke) with Marc Jacobs. He even acknowledges the criticism he faced regarding the lack of diversity in his fashion week castings. via Telegraph.
Losing weight: Burberry is slimming down, and they’re definitely not focusing on carbs. Rather, the English fashion house, which recently disclosed a 10 percent decline in pretax profits, will minimize the product lineup by 15 to 20 percent, as a cost saving measure. Expect to see an increased focus on handbags. via The New York Times.
Speaking of handbags: There is a major market for pre-owned designer carryalls, with a definite focus on the Hermès Birkin bag. The retailers, which includes Christie’s, Sotheby’s and sites like The Real Real and Vestiaire Collective, promise to verify each sale, but these preowned products still aren’t cheap. In fact, their price tags have entered the six-figures. via The Independent.
