Weekly Fashion Highlights | Kendrick Lamar Named Brand Ambassador for Chanel...

Kendrick Lamar has officially been named the newest brand ambassador for CHANEL, starring in the campaign for the French house’s Spring/Summer 2025 eyewear collection. The move signals CHANEL’s continued investment in music-driven cultural integration and a broader diversification strategy. Meanwhile, Valentino has released its 2024 financial results, reporting a 2% year-over-year decline in revenue. Still, with Alessandro Michele now at the creative helm, the house is poised for a stylistic rebirth. His signature romantic maximalism is expected to debut in full force in the SS25 collection, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Italian label.

Kendrick Lamar Named Brand Ambassador for Chanel

Recently, the fashion and music worlds have received a big news: Kendrick Lamar, a famous American rapper and Pulitzer Prize winner, has officially become the latest brand ambassador of the French luxury brand CHANEL and the spokesperson for the SS25 eyewear collection. Lamar said, "Chanel has a timeless heritage, which I have always admired. Since they don't design menswear, I know that this collaboration will focus on glasses."

This collaboration is not only a continuation of Lamar's long-term relationship with Chanel but also marks a new chapter in his fashion career. As early as the 2023 Met Gala, Lamar appeared in a full set of Chanel clothing and attended Chanel's haute couture shows many times. In addition, his creative partner, Dave Free, has also worked with Chanel to produce works for the brand's shows. Lamar's joining heralds the diversification of Chanel's brand image and reflects the growing connection between luxury brands and music culture. With Chanel's appointment of Matthieu Blazy as creative director, the brand's investment in men's product lines may be further strengthened. This collaboration not only demonstrates Lamar's dual influence in music and fashion but also reflects Chanel's continued efforts in global cultural diversity and inclusion.

Timberland And Jacquemus Announced "La Bateau" Collaboration

Jacquemus and Timberland joined forces to launch a brand-new collaborative boat shoe, "La Bateau," presenting a feast for the eyes and a testament to quality for fashion enthusiasts. This collaborative boat shoe takes Timberland's classic three-eyelet boat shoe from 1978 as its foundation and skillfully integrates Jacquemus's iconic South of France holiday aesthetic. The eye-catching banana-yellow patent leather upper, the square-and-round dual-shape gold rings for the shoelace holes, and the custom gold anchor accessories all showcase unique charm in the details.

In terms of materials, high-quality leather is selected for the upper, with a suede lining and a serrated non-slip outsole, ensuring both wearing comfort and outdoor functionality. The shoe was released on April 23rd simultaneously on Jacquemus's official website, in physical stores, and at Timberland's Tokyo flagship store. The limited-edition release adds to its collectible value, sparking a rush to purchase as soon as it went on sale. This collaborative creation is not only a bold innovation between the two brands but also a perfect fusion of fashion and the outdoors, injecting new vitality into the footwear market.

Valentino's Profit To Fall 22% In 2024

Italian luxury brand Valentino recently released its 2024 financial report. The group's operating profit fell 22% year-on-year to 246 million euros; revenue fell 2% year-on-year to 1.31 billion euros, mainly due to the slowdown in global high-end consumption and one-time costs of investing in direct stores. Despite the good performance of the Japanese, Middle Eastern and American markets, online sales still achieved a 5% increase, demonstrating that the brand's digital strategy has begun to bear fruit.

The brand hired former Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele to take charge of the creative banner in March last year. Michele is known for his iconic Baroque romanticism and retro seventies style. During his tenure at Gucci, he reshaped the brand's image with prints, layers and exaggerated silhouettes, helping its sales double in a few years. Michele's first series will be released in the spring and summer of 2025. Although it has not yet been tested in the market, its diversified aesthetics and keen use of social media may provide new momentum for Valentino's future performance and consolidate the brand's influence among young consumers. "With Alessandro Michele as the new creative director, our work has taken a decisive step forward," said Jacopo Venturini, CEO of Valentino. Michele's joining is seen as an important move in the brand's reshaping, aimed at attracting a new generation of consumers and enhancing brand influence through his unique aesthetic perspective.

In addition, Gucci's parent company Kering acquired a 30% stake in Valentino in 2023 and has the right to acquire the entire company by 2028. This strategic partnership may bring more resources and support to Valentino, helping the brand recover in the highly competitive luxury market. Looking ahead, Valentino plans to rebalance its wholesale channels and achieve a clearer distribution strategy through integrated partnerships. As Michele's designs gradually take off, whether the brand can achieve a rebound in performance is worthy of continued market attention.

Madhappy x HYSTERIC GLAMOUR New Collaboration Debuts

Madhappy and Japanese fashion brand HYSTERIC GLAMOUR have teamed up to launch a new collection, which has officially debuted. Inspired by the sunny coast lifestyle of California, this collaboration combines the unique aesthetics of the two brands to create a series of clothing items full of retro and modern styles. The collection includes casual items such as hoodies, zip-up sweatshirts, sweatpants, shorts, etc., using soft tones such as light pink, light purple, white, and blue, showing the relaxed atmosphere of the summer beach. The design combines Madhappy's simple style with HYSTERIC GLAMOUR's iconic graphic elements, reflecting the resonance of the two in cultural background and design concepts.

Madhappy said on social media: "We have collaborated with HYSTERIC GLAMOUR, founded by Nobuhiko Kitamura, to launch a collection inspired by the style, cultural background, and sunny mentality of Southern California. We found common ground in the duality that defines our world-highs and lows. Our collections represent a tribute to the California mentality and an evolving exploration." Hypebeast. Driving Culture Forward. The collection will be officially released on April 24, and consumers can purchase it through the official websites and offline stores of Madhappy and HYSTERIC GLAMOUR. In addition, the two parties also plan to launch a co-branded Crocs shoe on May 1 to further expand the scope of cooperation.

This collaboration is not only a fusion of the styles of the two brands, but also a deep interpretation of the California lifestyle, which is expected to cause heated discussions in the global fashion circle.

Hermès Opens New Workshop To Continue Expanding Production Capacity

French luxury brand Hermès recently announced that it will open its 10th leather workshop in Colombelles, Normandy, France by 2028, creating 260 artisan jobs. This move is aimed at meeting the growing global demand for its classic handbags, such as Birkin and Kelly, while consolidating the brand's commitment to "100% Made in France".

The construction of the new workshop is supported by the Caen-la-Mer urban community, Normandie Aménagement, and Colombelles City Hall. In addition, Hermès also plans to add three new workshops in Charente, Gironde, and Ardennes in France between 2025 and 2026, which is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs in total. These workshops will be trained by the Hermès Institute of Technology (École Hermès des savoir-faire) to ensure that the brand's craftsmanship tradition is passed on.

Despite the slowdown in the global luxury market, Hermès still achieved a 15% revenue growth in 2024 to 15.2 billion euros, with the leather goods and saddlery division growing 18%, accounting for 43% of total revenue. This growth is mainly due to the brand's insistence on craftsmanship quality and continued investment in production capacity. By expanding production capacity, Hermès not only shortens product waiting time but also strengthens control over the supply chain and reduces dependence on the secondary market. This strategy helps the brand maintain its leading position in the highly competitive luxury market. Hermès' continued expansion and investment in local craftsmanship demonstrate its steady development in the global luxury industry and its persistent pursuit of excellent quality.

Editor: Juham Lin, Yu Yuan