Glow Recipe Enters the Body Care Category + Other Beauty News This Week

Glow Recipe launched its first-ever body product

 

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If you’re a fan of cult favourite skincare brand Glow Recipe‘s previous watermelon-scented products (a sleeping mask, toner and, of course, the moisturizer that started it all) then you’re in luck. This week, the brand launched Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream, a creamy body lotion formulated with watermelon seed butter, hibiscus (a natural alpha hydroxy acid for smoothing and gently sloughing away dead skin cells) and hyaluronic acid. The fast-absorbing lotion leaves behind no traces of grease — just the beloved watermelon scent. The lotion was inspired by the Korean tradition of rubbing chilled watermelon rind onto skin to soothe irritation and even help cool down heat rash in the summer. This launch marks Glow Recipe’s first foray into the world of body care and is sure to become a spring and summertime staple.

Dior premiered Nose, a documentary film about perfumery

 

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If your usual binge-watching TV sessions have been leaving you feeling a bit underwhelmed lately, may we suggest tuning into something a bit — actually a lot — more chic? This week, Dior premiered its documentary film, Nose on Apple TV and iTunes and if you’ve ever been curious about the magical world of perfumery, we suggest you give the film a watch. Nose is directed by Clément Beauvais and Arthur de Kersauson, and follows Dior perfumer-creator François Demachy for two years and through more than 14 countries in his search for inspiration and the most precious raw materials to formulate the brand’s iconic fragrances. “The film is truly peppered with everyday heroes and heroines. Nose is attached to the earth and to all the wonders that it still holds for us,” explained the directors. “We wanted to take the idea of sovereign nature even further, exploring unexpected aesthetic and emotional terrain, to try and uncover the mystery of a perfume.”

Detox Mode launched not one but three new cleansers

 

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The Detox Market’s in-house product line Detox Mode has entered the skincare category for the first time after successfully delving into the hand cream, deodorant and body wash categories since the line’s inception in 2018. This week, Detox Mode launched not one, not two, but three new cleansers (talk about making a grand entrance!): Nourishing Jelly Cleanser, Renewing Foam Cleanser and Adoring Cream Cleanser. The botanically crafted products have been developed with the understanding that skin is constantly evolving and skincare products should serve and benefit skin in its current state — whatever that may be. Each cleanser caters to a different skin need: dullness, sensitivity and dehydration.

Briogeo added a new charcoal scalp mask to its haircare lineup

 

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Beloved haircare brand Briogeo has released Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Cooling Hydration Scalp Mask, a new clinically proven scalp mask that nourishes and soothes an itchy, irritated and/or flaky scalp with a blast of instant cooling and hydration. Formulated with 98% naturally derived ingredients, the workhorse scalp mask draws out impurities and product buildup thanks to the charcoal, and then immediately replenishes hydration with a blend of aloe vera and hyaluronic acid to increase scalp’s moisture. A refreshing combination of tea tree, peppermint and spearmint oils soothes the scalp with an immediate cooling effect, which will make this mask a total lifesaver in the summer.

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Kim Jones Debuts His First RTW Collection at Fendi + More Fashion News You May Have Missed

Kim Jones’s first Fendi ready-to-wear collection has the fashion world buzzing

 

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After causing a stir with a star-studded casting during his first Fendi couture collection, Kim Jones made waves once again with his first RTW collection for the house. Inspired by the five Fendi sisters, the collection draws on the brand’s history and strong aesthetic combined with his own point of view. Head-to-toe neutrals, luxe-looking silks and knits paired with fringe and fur make this collection one we literally can’t wait to get our hands on.

Gap releases the Generation Good campaign

 

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After recently committing to the 15 Percent Pledge, Gap has further solidified its commitment to diversity with a new campaign called Generation Good. “Generation Good reflects this ideal that we can all be our true selves and move things forward by being a force for good. It takes a collective to change the world and that’s exactly what Generation Good is up to,” says Mary Alderete, global head of Gap marketing, in a press release. The faces of the campaign include creators and activists like Aurora James, Kimberly Drew and Dr. Woo. A collection to accompany the campaign launches on March 22. According to Gap, this will be the brand’s most sustainable collection yet, featuring garments made from organic and recycled materials.

Levi’s and Ganni collaborate for the second time

Photography courtesy of Levi’s

In August 2020, Danish brand Ganni joined forces with heritage denim powerhouse Levi’s for a rental-only collaboration. With the success of their first collection, the two brands have partnered again on a 14-piece collection made from cottonized hemp. The use of cottonized hemp furthers their joint mission for sustainability by using a material that requires less water and pesticides in producing the textile. “The collection is all about timeless pieces that you want to wear over and over again. It’s classic denim with a few playful details that just get even better with time. We hope people will wear them forever,” said Ditte Reffstrup, creative director of Ganni.

Nordstrom launches Concept 012: Black_Space for Black creators

Photography by Connie Zhou courtesy of Nordstrom

New Concepts @ Nordstrom announced the launch of Concept 012: Black_Space this week. Concept 012: Black_Space is a collaboration between designer Beth Birkett, creative director Harris Elliott, stylists Matthew Henson and Marcus Paul, fashion editor Azza Yousif and the New Concepts team that celebrates Black fashion and beauty.

Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons’s runway relationship continues to evolve

Photography via ImaxTree

Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons presented their Fall 2021 women’s ready-to-wear collection this week. The co-creative directors displayed an optimistic collection that feels ages away from the realities of pandemic lockdowns. Bold outerwear like a sunshine yellow coat will give us warmth on even the greyest days and faux fur and sequins remind us there will be a reason to dress up again in the future. The brand continues to utilize the popular sustainable re-nylon throughout the collection and the set from the show will be upcycled for use at events and pop-ups before eventually being donated to Meta, a Milan based organization that will further reuse the pieces.

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The Second Co. Drops Apparel Next Week + More Canadian Fashion News To Know

From a fresh selection of lounge apparel by The Second Co. to SophieGrace’s RBG tee, catch up on the Canadian fashion news you might have missed.

Toronto’s The Second Co. introduces apparel next week

Photography courtesy of The Second Co.

After launching last May with a range of timepieces inspired by a desire to create what she couldn’t find on the market, Samantha Wilson II’s brand The Second Co. will offer an array of unisex, Canadian-made loungewear for the first time, starting March 2. “I have so much more time now to be creative and think about my designs, and edit them,” Wilson says of the new pieces, which include a barcode graphic-boasting hoodie, jogger pants, crewneck sweaters and a new style of beanie.

The offering augments the brand’s existing accessory options, as well as its core watch collection. For those currently in need of some positive reinforcement, The Second Co. also has a variety of supportive slogan phone wallpapers that are free of charge. “I don’t just want to sell things,” Wilson notes about the inspirational add-ons. “And I want to motivate people, especially at time like this, to focus on their goals.”

Wilson’s commitment to thoughtful community-building extends to The Second Co.’s give-back mission as well, which has recently focused on donations to Food For The Poor Canada. “I love what they do,” she says, highlighting its work in six different areas of need within several countries including her ancestral Jamaica. “I’ve always wanted to give back to Jamaica, and when I learned about their work, I was like, yes, this is it. We’re doing this.” Time is of the essence, after all.

Fashion Art Toronto has an open call out for designers

Photography courtesy of Fashion Art Toronto

With two digitally-driven fashion weeks now under its belt, Fashion Art Toronto is looking ahead to a new season of spotlighting local and international talent. The innovative and inclusive platform has put out a call for designers to take part in its next event, which is scheduled for late May/early June. Apply by March 15 to get your chance at following in the footsteps of labels like L’Uomo Strano, House of Mannon and Eight (I) Three.

SophieGrace made a t-shirt in honour of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Photography courtesy of SophieGrace

After recently launching a sustainability-focused capsule collection, Calgary-based brand SophieGrace has introduced a t-shirt inspired by the words of late Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Produced in Vancouver and made from Oeko-Tex Standard 100 cotton jersey, the shirt is emblazoned with RBG’s wise words: “Do something outside yourself.” And SophieGrace founder has taken this idea to heart with 20 percent of proceeds from sales of the shirt going to Momentum, an organization that centres around offering economic development resources to people in low income and poverty circumstances.

Hungry for more #shoplocal stories?

Toronto’s Zvelle has introduced its first sneaker style

Wuxly, Roots and more have products out to honour Black History Month

Sana Saleh of Lala Hijabs is a panelist on FASHION‘s upcoming #SheEarnedIt IDW panel talk in partnership with TikTok

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Goodee’s Byron and Dexter Peart on Curation, Conversation and Connection

In addition to winning a Black Designers Award of Excellence this week, in the last month Byron and Dexter Peart — founders of the mindfully-curated, B Corp certified marketplace Goodee — have seen two of their ambitions also come to fruition. There’s the launch of Goodee’s new content series, “In Conversation With” (the first edition boasts a chat with model Sabrina Dhowre Elba and her husband, actor Idris Elba); and the duo also announced a partnership with Nordstrom for the Goodee 100. It’s a roundup of a hundred products from its site priced at $100 and under. Canadians can shop the pieces directly from Goodee’s e-comm, while in the U.S. the offering is online and in selects stores.

“It’s an edit inside an edit,” Byron notes of the range, which includes accessibly-priced home décor, personal care and lifestyle products ranging from the best-selling Goodie Hoodie to Obakki’s Bidi Bidi scarf and a hand wash/lotion set from Frama. “We really want people to reframe their notion of good design and the affordability of it. And [it’s] an entry point to the Goodee universe.”

This “world” within which the Montreal-based Peart brothers exist is one built to honour the spirit of coming together; teaming up with Nordstrom for Goodee 100 was a natural fit­, as was running a Goodee pop-up at the Whitney museum in 2019. Such moves not only bring the marketplace’s concept to the greater population; they also brilliantly amplify the work of the artisans showcased on its platform.

Photography courtesy of Goodee

“The concept of collaboration is so embedded in the idea of Goodee as a marketplace,” Dexter adds. “All of our partners on the site are considered collaborators as well. They have wonderful products, they have great stories, and they’re amazing people. And we’re able to extend our network to them — hence the eco-system we’re trying to create grows.”

“There are so many micro-stories within the larger stories of what we’re doing,” Byron says, highlighting why the site not only features storytelling like that of “In Conversation With,” but also catalogues the craft techniques and makers behind its offerings. This content is crucial in terms of giving consumers an awareness of the value in the products found on sites like Goodee’s; pieces with a higher price tag than mass-produced buys, but ones created with intention, tradition and sustainability on their side.

Photography courtesy of Goodee

One such compelling tale is that of Goodee’s Bassi Market Tote, which launched last summer. Meant to transport everything from your laptop to farmer’s market finds, the design has a heart-warming history behind its two styles. The striped version is hand-crafted from material made in Burkina Fasso, which finds its way to a social co-operative in Bologna, Italy to be transformed into a tote. And the solid style is fashioned from a fabric composed of 100 percent recycled PET and hand-crafted by refugees in Italy.

“It brings together continental stories,” Dexter says of the bag — and its global context is heightened thanks to the fact that the Bassi is made in collaboration with the United Nations Ethical Fashion Initiative. He points to this single piece’s success as a motivator in moving forward with the creation of similarly considered products. “It’s exciting to bring people that maker experience and watch it flourish,” he says. “It’s proved to us that we can do this, and that the same process and cooperation can be embodied in other products that we [offer].”

While the pair have yet to reveal what those items might be, they’re happy to share what points of optimism they’ve clung to over the last year. Of course, launching a platform like Goodee shortly before the world locked down and consumers started to take even greater notice of the products they were buying — and the messages and materials behind them — has given the Pearts pause.

“Nobody could predict that we’d be home for a year,” Byron says. “What we did predict is that people would be far more aware and awakened to the things that surround them, and that they needed to have an intrinsic value to them. What’s happening right now, and what we’ve been trying to encourage people to do, is take time and be more considerate.”

“It’s a beautiful thing to be able to approach things in life because they instinctually feel right,” he adds about the business and how its selection of items like well-crafted hand wash and body balms have resonated with shoppers for both their current necessity as well as everyone’s heightened attention to the importance of self-care in all its many forms.

Photography courtesy of Goodee

On a more personal level, the twin brothers have applied this attention to slowing down in all aspects of their being. “We lived this crazy life before, moving around all over the place,” Dexter notes about not only running Goodee for the past two years but also Want Les Essentiels, the accessory brand the two co-founded in 2007. “I don’t know what I was thinking, that I could just be on a plane once a week and that was totally OK. I’m enjoying slower living, and spending more time with family. I have two young girls, so my optimism is in the next generation. It feels like for the first time, at least in a long time if not ever, that there’s a space opening up for new voices. The power has shifted, and I’m extremely optimistic [that] maybe this is the time for the world to be reimagined and the future to be reshaped.”

“I’ve fundamentally always felt that the word that most directly aligns with ‘sustainability’ is ‘future,’” Byron adds. “It’s about ensuring the future for people and the planet.” Considering current forward-thinkers from Greta Thunberg to Amanda Gorman, Byron notes there are many reasons to look towards something brighter ahead. “It’s a beautiful time for trailblazers, and to chart new territory. And that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re on a path to carve a trail that will be inviting and welcoming and beautiful.”

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Prince Harry Shared How He Really Feels About The Crown to James Corden

Prince Harry has made his American late-night TV debut.

The Duke of Sussex joined fellow Brit James Corden on The Late Late Show for a hilarious 17-minute long segment that aired February 25. During the interview, the host showed a relaxed Harry around L.A. from the top of an open-air double-decker bus — the royal’s first time riding in one. Corden — who attended Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle back in 2018 — took the prince to see the house from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (yes, Harry knows the theme song!) and even competed against him in an obstacle course. Naturally, the pair also enjoyed a cup of tea while hitting on a range of topics from fatherhood to leaving the royal family. Here’s everything we learned from their chat.

Meghan Markle uses this nickname for Prince Harry 

While visiting the Fresh Prince house, Corden tries to convince Harry to make an offer to buy the home. (Because then he’d be a prince living in the Fresh Prince house, get it?) When that fails, the comedian nabs the duke’s phone to give Meghan a call to attempt to convince her that it would be a logical investment. The Duchess of Sussex laughs the scheme off and then sweetly reveals her very British nickname for Harry, asking: “Haz, how’s your tour of L.A. going?” Corden, of course, picks up on the name and asks Harry when people started calling him “Haz.” Harry responds, laughing, “You’re not my wife.”

Harry knew his relationship with Meghan was different almost right away 

Corden asked Harry how he knew Meghan was “the one,” and the prince’s answer was pretty sweet. “[By] the second date, I was starting to think this was pretty special,” he says. “We were just so comfortable in each other’s company.” Harry went on to explain that it can be pretty weird dating in the royal family — all of their initial dates were done in private at home, either staying in for dinner, watching TV or just talking. “Everything was done back to front with us,” the royal says. “We got to spent an enormous amount of time with just the two of us, rather than going to friends’ houses or out to dinner. There were no distractions, and that was great. It was an amazing thing. We went from zero to 60 in the first two months.”

Now, the Sussexes nights in look a little different. The parents will give their son, Archie, his tea and a bath, and read to him before putting him to bed. Then, they’ll make dinner or order food and settle in for a night of TV — Harry says they usually tune in to Jeopardy or log onto Netflix.

Prince Harry has no issue with The Crown 

“[The Crown] doesn’t pretend to be news. It’s fictional,” Harry says, explaining he has a bigger problem with inaccurate tabloid stories written that pass themselves off as fact because they appear in news outlets. “But it is loosely based on the truth. Of course, it’s not strictly accurate. It does give a rough idea about that lifestyle, that pressure of putting duty and service above family and everything else and what can come from that. I’m way more comfortable with The Crown than I am seeing the stories written about my family, or my wife, or myself.”

As for who Harry would like to see portray him on the hit Netflix drama? Homeland and Billions star Damian Lewis — although the royal amusingly gets the actor’s name wrong at first and Corden has to correct him.

Harry loves being a father to Archie

The prince talks about his first child — who’s turning two this May — with Meghan with a big smile on his face. “He’s hysterical and has the most amazing personality,” he says. He reveals that baby Archie is even stringing together short sentences and singing songs. The proud dad also revealed his son’s first word: crocodile.

The Queen sent Archie a Christmas present 

“My grandmother asked us what Archie wanted for Christmas and Meg said a waffle maker,” Harry says, laughing. And the Queen actually sent them one! “Archie loves it. He wakes up in the morning and just goes, ‘Waffle?'”

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip both know how to Zoom 

Harry revealed that they’ve been using Zoom to keep in touch with family back in the U.K. and that both his grandparents know how to use the app. They even watch Archie running around their California home. But, like, the rest of us, Prince Philip also doesn’t know how to elegantly end a Zoom call — Harry says he just closes the laptop in the middle of saying goodbye.

Harry stepped back from royal duties for his mental health

“It was never walking away — it was stepping back rather than stepping down,” Harry explains of his and Meghan’s decision to not be working members of the royal family. “It was a really difficult environment, as I think a lot of people saw. We all know what the British press can be like. It was destroying my mental health. I was like, ‘This is so toxic.’ So I did what any husband and father would do and was like, ‘I need to get my family out of here.’ As far as I’m concerned, whatever decisions are made on that side, I will never walk away. I will always be contributing.”

Harry isn’t totally sure what his and Meghan’s future will look like 

Life in L.A. will surely be different for Harry and Meghan, Corden points out to the royal. But what exactly will that look like? “I have no idea,” Harry says. “It’ll be a slightly different version of what we were continuing to do back in the U.K. anyway. My life is always going to be about public service, and Meghan signed up to that. The two of us enjoy doing that, trying to bring some compassion, trying to make people happy, trying to change the world in any small way that we can.”

Watch Prince Harry’s full segment on The Late Late Show below!

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#SheEarnedIt: An International Women’s Day Conversation Presented by FASHION and TikTok

Join us at #SheEarnedIt: A Conversation Presented by FASHION x TikTok on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. ET. We will celebrate International Women’s Day with a panel of inspiring TikTok creators and entrepreneurs. 

Listen in on an exclusive conversation with host Jennifer Berry, FASHION’s digital director, and these Canadian small business owners as we chat about what it means to be a woman entrepreneur in 2021 and how the pandemic has changed things for each of them.

• Sana Saleh, Lala Hijabs
• Monica Abramov and Anastassia Boguslavskaya, Lunata Beauty
• Liz Bertorelli, Passionfruit
• Eden Hagos, BLACK FOODIE

Please note attendance is limited so RSVP as soon as possible as you don’t want to miss out! All guests will have the opportunity to ask questions, plus get a chance to win a subscription to FASHION Magazine.

Click on the following button to RSVP for this engaging event:

RSVP Now

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Artist and Musician TiKA on Ego, Music and Identity

Five years ago, multidisciplinary artist TiKA began recording a debut full-length album and quickly became a beloved voice in the Canadian music industry, thanks to a series of critically acclaimed R&B singles that she released as fans patiently awaited her album Anywhere But Here. In that time, TiKA snagged a spot in a couple of Sephora campaigns, dazzled her growing fanbase with magnetic live performances, and explored other mediums like filmmaking. But the album never came. Today, TiKA has released Anywhere But Here, her long-awaited, half-a-decade-in-the-making, full-length debut album. Unsurprisingly (for those who have followed her music in the last few years), the record is already garnering praise from critics.

We sat down with TiKA (virtually, of course) for an unfiltered conversation about all things ego, music and identity.

On releasing an album during the pandemic

“It’s super weird. Because of quarantine there’s a different energy and a different vibe. Most of the [promotional] things that I’m doing are via Zoom. I had to do streaming performances and in order to do them, I needed to be near my band, so I came out to Montreal to be here to be with them, so we could perform together. The shows themselves are in a rehearsal or studio space and they’re live-streamed so that feels strange, too. But all in all, I’m grateful that I’m able to release this body of work. It’s been five years in the making and I feel like it’s a time where people need super vulnerable music like this.”

On ego getting in the way of art

“The music itself was completely done in 2019 or 2020. But I went through many different photographers to finalize the artwork, so many pictures and so many different artistic directions. I think that speaks volumes about my ego getting in the way of the art. In hindsight, now that I’m finally putting it out, I feel like my ego really played a larger part than I realized in terms of how long I took to release it. And releasing art should not be about that. You’re just a middle man, you’re a messenger, a conduit. But because of ego, sometimes we want to beautify the gift, or make it different, make it look prettier, wrap it differently. That was my fear and apprehension saying ‘Do I sound good enough? Am I good enough? Do I need to change myself physically?’ I feel like this album is about me unpacking some of my own shit. Montreal changed and inspired me, and gave me permission to slow down. Before, living in Toronto, which is such a fast-paced city, it felt like I was bulldozing through my work and art rather than being meditative and intentional. And the lack of affordability in Toronto is a huge thing, especially if you are a marginalized artist. So Montreal — in terms of affordability, mental awareness, mindfulness, slowing down — played a major role in me being able to see myself. Prior to [coming here] I don’t think I had as much self-awareness as I do now. I eventually realized that this album has very little to do with me. I needed to just release it to the stratosphere and let it live and exist out there. I was sitting with this for five years because it made me feel uncomfortable or it was too vulnerable. I wasn’t able to deconstruct those emotional aspects of myself prior to moving [to Montreal].”

 

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On taking care of her mental health during live performances

“Performance has an element of over-exerting oneself. Even with that spiritual feedback that you get from the audience, you still always end up emotionally and physically depleted. You’re giving more than you are receiving. I was once talking to Daniel Caesar and he asked what performing feels like for me, and I said it feels like I’m about to touch God’s hand. It’s the highest high. If you suffer from chronic illness, all of it leaves your body when you get onstage and for a moment, you’re free. But it always comes rushing back afterward. It’s an out-of-body experience and your physical body pays a toll for it. If you suffer from anxiety, when you get onstage your anxiety is still in your physical body but your spiritual body is gone; you’re floating elsewhere, and when you return back into your body you feel everything. So yeah, it’s exhausting.

In that respect, quarantine has been really good for me because it’s put me in a position where I have to look inwards and I don’t usually do that. Plus, the way we built this project, all the records sound intentionally timeless, so whether someone finds it now or 20 years from now, it won’t combust in like, T-minus 24 hours. If I do get to perform live after the pandemic, great. I think I will have given myself time to heal [from the process].”

On being a Black artist in the music industry

“It’s been a very painful, eye-opening experience to learn what people’s expectations of me are. If you are a Black artist, there’s a level of perfectionism that’s expected of you. You can’t show up and be Black and just be. It’s only in the last few years that folks have started showing up as themselves. For instance, artists like Summer Walker and Ari Lennox have recently been very vocal about their boundaries and their needs for privacy. I think it’s so brave of them to be vulnerable like that. You never would have seen that in the past because we’ve always had to show up poised and perfect. The Beyoncé vibe [was the only option]. But there’s a disconnect between perfectionism and humanity. I’m in the process of learning — and unlearning — those things.”

 

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On Prince as her biggest musical influence

“I was just obsessed from the moment I came across a vinyl of his at my grandparents’ when I was 14, particularly with the song ‘I Would Die 4 U.’ Of course, this was pre-internet days. When the internet was later available to me, I was like ‘I gotta know how these records came to be.’ There was this website for super fans to discover vault records; that’s how I found out that ‘I Would Die 4 U’ was about Prince as a Jehovah’s Witness. He wrote it from the perspective of the holy trinity. It changed my lens of him so deeply. Like how brilliant is it to write a #1 pop hit that’s really from the perspective of God and loving someone so deeply that you would give your life for them? I thought it was so beautiful that he could take something like that and then turn it into a dance-pop song. But I wanted to do a cover of it as a ballad because I didn’t think people were really understanding the depth of the lyrics. The day I got the record back from the engineer was the day Prince died. I was devastated. I wanted him to hear it and shade me or something. You know how shady he was. But that experience definitely changed me in terms of how I write. Now my writing is less structural and a lot more intentional. I really try to draw from a place of honesty and vulnerability.”

On using makeup as a means of self-expression and exploration

“I love makeup and I think it plays such a large part in being able to play a character or be someone else for a day. I’ve always found it interesting how masc or how femme I can look by using — or not using — makeup, so exploring how far I can take beauty is just another element performing for me. I remember seeing Prince perform and it was the first time I had ever seen a man dress like a woman; he had long hair and was wearing heels and furs and becoming very exploratory in terms of this non-binary modality. I’d never seen that before and it just inspired me so deeply. He pushed the boundaries in terms of gender identity onstage. I found, and still find, that so sexy.”

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Billie Eilish Is in a Tug of War With Fame in Her New Documentary

At just 13 years old, Billie Eilish recorded what went on to be her first big hit, “Ocean Eyes,” in her parents’ garage in Los Angeles. That’s where AppleTV+’s Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry (out February 26) begins — clips of home video with her now-producer brother Finneas O’Connell right before their worlds exploded.

Award-winning director R.J. Cutler didn’t know much about Eilish before they had their first hour-long meeting. “She’s a very real, very cool kid. That was my first impression meeting her in the backyard of her parents’ home in Highland Park,” he told FASHION in an interview.

“There was never another conversation about what we could or couldn’t shoot, or what we could or couldn’t include in the film,” Cutler shares. “Our process is very organic and thoughtful. You can’t show up one day and say, ‘I’m not getting juicy enough material,’ which is never the case in this film.”

Today, you’d be hard-pressed to find many Gen Z or millennial people who haven’t at least heard her name or can’t identify one of her many multi-platinum hit songs. Eilish is unwaveringlyt real. Her songs can be dark, sad and aggressive — but they reflect feelings that her huge fanbase can relate to.

“What intrigued me about her was the fact that she was clearly this extraordinary artist whose work so deeply touches so many people at such a young age, who is also a young woman coming of age,” Cutler said. “I was very intrigued at the possibility of telling a story that was both of those things at once.”

The two-and-a-half-hour documentary emphasizes the stark contradictions Eilish faces between her normal life with her very involved family, and the glamour and chaos of touring as a major celebrity and recording artist.

“I’m glad that you see that — that Billie is having a struggle with fame — because that’s consistent with what I observed,” he said. “It’s an important aspect of who she is and what she went through.”

Photography courtesy of Apple

Unlike some documentaries following celebrities that can end up watered down, sterilized or overly formulaic, The World’s A Little Blurry feels uncomfortably real. It’s sad watching a young woman burst into such an extreme level of fame while struggling with heartbreak, high expectations and an intense pressure to keep creating.

The film also gives fans a peek into her mental health. In one scene, she shows the pages of her journal from when she was little and struggling with depression and suicidal ideation.

“You can’t make a film about Billie Eilish that is real and honest that doesn’t explore her mental health issues, her mental health journey,” he said. “It’s a big part of the film because it’s a big part of who she is.”

The film wraps up after Eilish takes home five Grammy Awards at only 18 years old. It followed a lengthy world tour during which she struggled with trying to maintain relationships on the road while battling health issues. At times, she seems ready to give up — but light appears on the other side.

A final scene shows the singer driving her dream car, a matte black Dodge Challenger that, for her entire tour, sat unnused in front of her parent’s rustic home. A film that could’ve been simply a critique of young stardom — which it is, in many ways, intentional or not — provides a glimmer of hope that anything is possible.

“It’s a simple scene. Billie’s in the car, reflecting on where her life is. She thinks she’s kind of looking good, and she thinks she’s pretty famous. She’s getting along well with her family,” he explains.

“She thinks that life is good. That is kind of the whole journey of the movie.”

Watch a trailer for the film here:

The World’s A Little Blurry is now playing in select theatres and streaming globally on Apple TV+.

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3 Fashion Week Pros on the Importance of Industry-Wide Textured Hair Education

For the past handful of years, there has been a steady emergence of natural hair on designer runways, red carpets, in campaigns, and on TV — and that’s a very beautiful thing. In a world where, for so long, Eurocentric hairstyles, from straight and sleek to loose, styled curls, dominated the public spotlight, seeing natural hair — which has been a political battleground for decades — as “en vogue” signals that the beauty industry has widened its narrow standards.

But as natural hair becomes more accepted in these high-profile spaces, a glaring dilemma has been exposed behind the scenes: stylists ill-equipped to work with highly-textured hair. The root of the issue? A lack of curl education. The disparity begins in beauty school and then filters up to salons and professional sets, ultimately presenting itself in the form of discriminatory hair practices disguised as ignorance.

Despite the army of hairstylists on deck, backstage during Fashion Month can be a breeding ground for natural hair discrimination. “That’s probably one of the worst and most public areas that you see it, and [one of the ways] racism is showing up in the fashion industry,” notes hairstylist Stacey Ciceron, a textured hair expert and educator.

Ciceron, who has styled for runway shows during New York, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks, stresses that insufficient curl knowledge, plus the underrepresentation of Black hairstylists who understand the complexity of afro hair, makes way for traumatizing experiences for models of colour, scenarios that force mouths to be kept shut and heads down. “If you’re a Black model and your hair must be done, you don’t have a choice. There can be three or four people on you at one time just pulling, tightening — trying to do whatever,” describes Ciceron. “Models feel like they can’t even speak up in order to keep their jobs.” And in many cases, it’s not unusual for models with natural hair to be left completely untouched, which feels like a cop-out knowing the variety of styles that can be achieved with afro hair. “That’s the other [end of the] spectrum because [hairstylists] don’t want to deal with it.”

For Canadian model Crystal Rowe, trusting her natural hair to pros on gigs is always a risk, which has led to taking hair matters into her own hands before showing up to work. “It’s actually better that I do my hair myself because it can get damaged on set with hairstylists trying to do something. The products they use are not good for my hair and things like that,” she reveals. “Until I feel like the industry has really changed, I’m going to continue doing it at home.”

Prepping her hair at home pre-job is a norm fellow local model Truth John understands well, too. In fact, the widespread lack of textured-hair knowledge even led John to chemically straightening her afro strands. “I was relaxing and texturizing my hair because it was easier for hairstylists to deal with,” she admits. “Once you’re in the industry, you realize that not a lot of people know how to deal with your hair.”

To fix this problem, Ciceron underlines that industry decision-makers, from fashion designers to beauty brands, need to support more hairstylists of colour behind the scenes. But it’s not solely about ethnic diversity; it’s about diversity in skill. It’s every hair professional’s job to learn to style Black hair. “I’m not saying they need to specialize in highly-textured hair. They need to learn how to do it — the same way they learn how to do everything else,” she expresses. “Let’s do our part [as hairstylists] to make sure that everything is better moving forward.”

Missed our last Texture Talk column? Click here.

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Becca Cosmetics Is Closing Thanks To COVID-19 Losses

Becca Cosmetics, the brand responsible for see-them-from-space highlighted cheekbones, is the latest company to be hit hard by COVID-19. On February 24, the influential beauty brand announced it would be closing come September 2021.

With a statement shared on Instagram and its website titled “Glowing with Gratitude,” the brand lamented the devastating impact the pandemic has had “on everyone around the world on many levels,” and encouraged Becca lovers to continued to “keep illuminating your true selves.”

“At Becca, an accumulation of challenges, together with the global impact of COVID-19, has sadly been more than our business can withstand, and we have had to make the heartbreaking decision to close down the Becca brand at the end of September 2021,” the statement reads. “We believe in you, and we believe that the beauty inside you is the light you share with the world. We are confident that the spirit of Becca will continue to live on through all of you.”

 

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“Please keep illuminating your true selves. Light your own paths and push your limits. Share positivity and light the way for others as you make an impact on this world. Own your light on your own terms.”

Fans are heartbroken over the news, taking to Instagram to voice their undying love for the brand.

Makeup artist Allan Avendaño commented: “Thank you always for the support you’ve given to all the artists. You will be missed. I can’t imagine my kit without you so I refuse to let that happen.”

Another fan wrote: “But you guys invented highlight. The end of an era. #champagnepopforever.”

The end of an era, indeed.

Becca Cosmetics, founded in 2001 in Australia, was one of the first brands to leverage the power of social media influencer marketing. Its complexion-inclusive, cruelty-free products appealed to the new age of natural, lit-from-within beauty; a major shift from heavy looks that dominated the better part of the 2000s.

The brand saw considerable growth in 2015 when popular makeup YouTuber Jaclyn Hill started talking about it on her channel shortly before the launch of Becca’s hugely successful Champagne Pop Collection. Champagne Pop, a highlighter in the collection, sold 25,000 units within just 20 minutes of going online. Hill went on to release her own line with the brand the following year. Their campaign was launched entirely on social media.

Acquired by Estée Lauder Companies — which also owns big-industry brands like Smashbox, M.A.C and Dr. Jart+ — for $200 million in 2016, Becca maintained strong relationships with influential people, like Hill and actor Barbie Ferreira, and collaborated with its own customers to make a name for itself as a trusted brand with beloved products.

But last year, Estée Lauder Companies announced a huge reduction in their workforce worldwide, effectively laying off about three percent and closing from 10 to 15 percent of their stores.

Although Champagne Pop will become a makeup artifact with collector’s-item status by the end of this year, the brand has had an incredible impact and spearheaded the natural beauty trend that will definitely live on past the pandemic.

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Put Your Best Foot Forward With These Shoe Launches

Ready to get a leg up on your look? February has presented a wealth of new footwear options from the first sneaker offering by Toronto-based brand Zvelle to Native’s “algae-infused” shoes. Plus, you can currently pre-order the Fall 2021 boot collaboration between Anna Sui and Vancouver’s John Fluevog. There’s never been a better time to get your kicks!

Zvelle introduced a new sneaker called Rayna

Photography courtesy of Zvelle

Coming hot off the heels of several other launches in the last year, Toronto-based footwear and accessory brand Zvelle has dropped its first sneaker, which comes in eight colourways from metallic to monochromatic and more. The Rayna’s look is a mix between a charming ballet flat and a soft sporty ’70s running shoe — an ideal combo for anyone whose on-the-go look needs a lift these days. The handcrafted-in-Italy styles are limited run (pardon the pun), so make your move fast.

A capsule offering from Sporty & Rich and Clarks Originals is now available

Photography courtesy of Sporty & Rich

For its first footwear collaboration, Sporty & Rich — the athleisure label launched by Canadian creative Emily Oberg — has teamed up with British brand Clarks Originals. Three versions of Clarks’s classic Wallabee shoe are offered up in shades of merlot, cream and pastel blue; hues sure to put a spring in your step. The styles are made by a German tannery that works with the reforestation-focused organization, the Kikonda Forest Project, and feature a rubber sole made from a renewable source.

“To me, the Wallabee embodies the sort of genderless image that I always try to incorporate into Sporty & Rich’s aesthetic,” Oberg said in a press release about the launch. “It perfectly ties together elegance and casual styles — not a dress shoe, but not quite a sneaker either. And the history of the shoe within ’90s culture has also made it a versatile icon to all different groups of people.”

Cougar debuted a range of pieces boasting a design by Jill Malek

Photography courtesy of Cougar

Home décor designer Jill Malek has lent her artful, minimalistic style to an array of Cougar’s popular Kensington Chelsea rain boots. The pattern uses reflective details meant to capture the essence of “rain catching the light,” transforming the boot’s utilitarian vibe into something playfully elevated. “Consistently inspired by moving forms in nature, it is my mission to create pieces that promote a sense of calm and fluidity in our hectic world,” Malek said in a statement about the collaboration. “Partnering with Cougar has enabled me to bring the story of translucent rain to their amazing rain boot, while also allowing me to experiment with their new and innovative materials.”

The Fall 2021 Anna Sui x John Fluevog collab is available for pre-order

Photography courtesy of John Fluevog

If you caught the digital launch of Anna Sui’s Fall 2021 collection during NYFW last week, you may have noticed she’s continuing her work with Canadian brand John Fluevog. And for the first time, fans of the fantastical synergy between Fluevog and Sui are able to pre-order select pieces from the collection. In this case, the Odlum brogued Chelsea boot — a slip-on style that comes in two colours of a charming berry and floral motif. Pick your pair now for expected delivery in May (who doesn’t love something to look forward to these days?), and get the extra satisfaction of knowing 10% of sales will go to The Bowery Mission, an organization close to Sui’s heart.

Native Shoes dropped more styles made with repurposed algae

Photography courtesy of Native Shoes

Speaking to its “goal of giving 100% of shoes an end of life solution by 2023,” Vancouver’s Native Shoes just relaunched its selection of Jefferson Bloom Archive pieces in ocean-inspired colours. Fitting, as they’re made with material that uses Rise by Bloom technology; according to a press release, the process removes toxic algae from waterways and this harvested matter is then “fused” into the upper of the shoes.

Vans and Opening Ceremony have partnered on their first global collection

Photography courtesy of Vans

For their new capsule collection with Vans, Opening Ceremony founders Humberto Leon and Carol Lim have created interpretations of the streetwear brand’s iconic checkerboard motif. You’ll find a tactile take in the offering’s two quilted sneakers in addition to leopard and snake-print styles. The collection also includes apparel and accessories, so indulge in wearing a head-to-toe look if you dare.

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