Demi Vitkute

MSN •

Belgian PM: EU Nearing Russian Diamond Ban

Western nations are on the cusp of implementing a ban on Russian diamonds in countries already imposing sanctions on Kremlin assets, according to Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo. This move, which aims to curtail a significant revenue source for Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine conflict, is the culmination of a year-long effort by the European Union and G7 countries to establish a reliable system for tracking Russian diamonds.
The Urban Watch Magazine •

Global Fashion Collective Brings Diversity to New York Fashion Week

Global Fashion Collective presented a real treat on February 12 for New York Fashion Week audiences. The Fall 2023 collections featured designers from Japan, Indonesia, Mozambique, Mexico, China, France, and Korea, who brought unique statement pieces to the runway. During the last show, international designers Hengki Kawilarang, Lisa Ju, Taússy Daniel, and Victorian Maiden showcased their work. There was one look that particularly stood out – Taússy Daniel’s black haute couture dress in a shape
The Urban Watch Magazine •

Meet LD13: A Luxury Brand Reinventing Sustainability

LD13 is a new German and New York City-based luxury brand. Under the direction of Creative Director Lisa Deurer, the brand focuses on craftsmanship, farm-to-wardrobe production, and a fully transparent supply chain. It aims to express individualism, encourage a culture of respect, and embrace imperfection. LD13 debuted its latest personality-driven commercial and high fashion pieces at New York and Paris Fashion Weeks with independent designer collective Flying Solo. I talked to Lisa Deur about
The Urban Watch Magazine •

The Next “It Designer” of Valette Studio on the Future of Genderless Fashion – The Urban Watch Magazine

Valette Studio’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection is nothing short of extraordinary. Inspired by the androgynous beauty and seductive allure of American actor Joe Dallessandro, as well as his effortless take on clothing– the new collection is an ode to sartorial freedom and emancipation, underlining playfulness and personality as opposed to stereotypes, rules, and uniformity. Pop Art flowers, psychedelic motifs, and dynamic stripes are some of the collection’s main highlights, evoking the joyfulne
The Lily •

Mimi Tao was the first transgender person on ‘Project Runway.’ She says she can’t change the industry alone.

‘After I accepted myself, I became more confident and felt happy every day’ When she was 11-years-old, fashion model Mimi Tao was sent to a temple school in Thailand. Six months after arriving, she was ordained as a monk and slowly began adjusting to the monastic life. She says she had a lot of time to discover who she was and get in touch with her femininity. Sometimes, she and her friends would put on makeup in secret. After six years as a monk, she decided to leave the monastery and work to help her family pay off their debts. Tao worked multiple jobs, but her dream was to become a model and to feel accepted for who she was stayed with her.
The Urban Watch Magazine •

Flying Solo Fashion Show: Cold Weather & Icy Runway

Flying solo tests outs the runway’s new normal during the pandemic. Models walked on an icy runway in cold weather. Is it worth suffering for fashion? The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted Fashion Weeks worldwide, but this past Saturday, Feb. 13, fashion fans got a treat from Flying Solo that hosted an in-person runway show on a SoHo rooftop. Even though it was 30 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the models and guests braced the cold, hungry for beauty and a sense of normalcy.
The Urban Watch Magazine •

Designer Bhavyaa Prasad On Cultural Appropriation and Appreciation

Fashion designer Bhavyaa Prasad debuted her first collection at New York Fashion Week last February with Flying Solo, the largest high-fashion independent designer collective in the U.S. Bhavyaa is a recent Parson’s graduate from India whose work is inspired by her maternal role models in India. As someone who has experienced harassment, some of the pieces in her latest collection serve as self-defense tools.
The Urban Watch Magazine •

How This Colombian’s Accident Led Her to Launch a Swimwear Brand

After many long winter months of swimwear brands sliding into my DMs on Instagram to model for them or feature them, only one caught my eye—Veranera—an e-commerce site and marketing platform that sells luxury Colombian swimwear. One of the reasons why Veranera stands out from other swimwear companies is that it uses these three very high standards when picking which brands to sell: social responsibility, quality and design. All of the brands that they represent have a social responsibility...
RealClearLife •

Inside the Hottest Parties of New York Fashion Week

After the show, there’s an after-party, and after the after-party, there’s an after after-party. Even Tiffany Trump’s publicist had to email Harper’s Bazaar to ask for an invitation to the magazine’s legendary Icons Party, which resulted in a fiasco after she emailed Harper’s magazine instead. If the first daughter needs an invitation, chances for us mortals to get into these exclusive parties are very slim—unless, you’re a professional finesser who can sweet-talk your way past impossibly hard d
RealClearLife •

The Five Weirdest Trends to Come Out of Men's Fashion Week

Fashion has become so much more than the fit, fabric and finish. It goes beyond the color and texture trends. Fashion is a reflection of social, economic, political and cultural changes. It is the brand that speaks, that tells the story, pushes boundaries and calls for change. And this season designers did just that and more. Maybe Men’s Fashion Week isn’t men’s anymore? The line between masculine and feminine blurred on the runway. From bitcoin to apocalyptic tones, here are the top five unusual themes...
RealClearLife •

Inside the Hottest Grammys Party

The party doesn’t start until Queen Bey and Jay-Z walk in. Jay-Z is literally on top of the world this week as the leading Grammy nominee. On Saturday, he hosted his annual Roc Nation brunch on the top of the World Trade Center. In the evening, he accepted a Music Industry Icons honor award at the Clive Davis pre-Grammy gala at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. And at night, the power couple made an appearance at a Catch Roof party, making it one of the hottest parties of the year.
RealClearLife •

Inside the Parties of New York Fashion Week

Even though the after-parties in February were not as legendary as they were in September, Philipp Plein’s after-party, hosted at Duggal Greenhouse, a large warehouse space at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, stole the show. The designer dubbed the show “Space Invasion: Conquer of the Universe” and indeed, even getting into the party felt like going through airport security. Chilly rain was pelting on the guests waiting in line to get in. First, you were met by several PR powerhouses with iPads in hands
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