Vitality: Meagratia FW24 Fashion Show

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A Fusion of Poetic Elegance and Contemporary Coolness

Vitality is the theme explored by Meagratia in its FW24 fashion show presented during Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo. It was a runway spectacle that struck a chord, blending poetry, romance, and modernity seamlessly.

However, from the moment we delved into the world Takafumi Sekine has crafted, we were enamored. Meagratia’s distinctiveness, fueled by an unwavering commitment to detail and vintage aesthetics, sets it apart as a beacon of innovation.

Vitality: Meagratia FW24 season’s theme

“The ceaseless, unyielding pulse of a tender, fresh wound.
Emerald desires surged through the earth like rippling currents.
It’s as if instinct is blooming into a newfound vitality, threading through the spaces left by spun impulses.”

Vitality defines the FW24 season, reflecting humanity’s innate drive to flourish. Meagratia’s “Vitality” collection showcases diverse expressions. From jacquard patterns, reminiscent of patched denim scars on worn denim, to tweed, boasting a textured surface crafted through intricate spinning and weaving techniques. And knitwear featuring designs that capture the exuberance emanating from the heart.
Noteworthy, is the collaboration with George Cox – the original creeper – featuring a rubber sole adorned with original tweed fabric. A testament to the creativity and the tradition of subcultures merging harmoniously.

Meagratia: The show from Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo

Whogen’s piano melodies resonated from behind an angular glass enclosure with a mesmerizing interplay of shadows. Also, in front of this backdrop, plants delicately adorned the central stage, creating a runway for the models. The atmosphere exuded a captivating allure.


Embracing a genderless approach, both male and female models infused their unique essence into the clothing. Meagratia understands that style transcends gender norms, emphasising the importance of individuality in fashion. Indeed, clothes provide the style, but without the individual attitude that breathes life into them, they are like an empty box, incomplete.

The collection exudes subtle elegance and a refined demeanour that whispers rather than shouts. In fact, Meagratia’s style effortlessly adapts to diverse body shapes, embracing inclusivity and celebrating diversity.

Vitality, Meagratia FW24 fashion show offered a breath of fresh air and cool fashion #formodernhumans

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The Role of the Designer

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Examining the Changing Face of Fashion

Understanding the evolving dynamics of the role of the designer is crucial for navigating industry shifts. Often, we’ve been pondering a recurring question: Does it still make sense to keep an eye on luxury brands?

The so-called but no-more-so luxury brands. Or the once esteemed but now seemingly entangled in the pursuit of profit. Therefore, they change designers for short-term profit, to the point of sacrificing their legacy. It’s a reflection that delves into the core values of an industry now seemingly driven by financial gains rather than its intrinsic essence.

In one of our most recent posts, we wrote a thought we want to repurpose here. Indeed, a significant issue that requires additional investigation. In the ever-evolving landscape of fashion, where trends shift like sand dunes in the wind, algorithms emerge as a formidable force, reshaping the industry in unprecedented ways.

Fashion designer: from skills to loudness

But what are the consequences of algorithms?
One of the consequences of this transformation is the shifting role of the brand’s central figure: the designer. Alber Elbaz’s poignant observation sheds light on this evolution:

“We designers, we started as couturiers, with dreams, with intuition. Then we became ‘creative directors’, so have to create but mostly direct. And now we have to become image-makers… Loudness is the new cool, and not only in fashion, you know. I prefer whispering.”

Alber Elbaz

Indeed, in today’s digital age, the clamour for attention on social media platforms necessitates a cacophony of noise from brands. Loudness has become the modus operandi to cut through the clutter of images inundating our feeds. In other words, social media has corrupted fashion.

Of course, recent developments follow this logic. Specifically, Maison Valentino appointed Alessandro Michele as the new creative director. That underscores the industry’s relentless pursuit of attracting young, social media-savvy audiences. And to the expenses of decades of legacy, consistency and beauty. While these individuals may possess an innate understanding of visuals, the question arises: Can they perceive the depth of quality, skills, and ability essential for authentic creative direction beyond surface aesthetics?

As we move forward in the fashion industry, it is crucial to reflect on the shift in the role of the designer. And question whether profit has eclipsed the industry’s once-revered artistic and creative integrity.

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Pierpaolo Piccioli announced departure from Valentino

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Fashion Industry: Financial Gain at the Expense of Creative Vision

Seismic news rocked the fashion industry: Pierpaolo Piccioli, the creative force behind Valentino, has announced his departure. This startling development prompts us to question, even further, the essence of fashion itself.

Piccioli’s sole leadership modernised Valentino with unparalleled and undeniable beauty. His visionary approach to fashion exuded poetic elegance, expressed through magnificent couture pieces. Also, he championed inclusivity and diversity, embodying a powerful political stance. 

PP Piccioli: an exception in the fashion industry

However, Piccioli has been an exception in fashion: he’s been the only designer who has fully respected the Maison’s DNA he designed for. (We wrote about it here). Very few others have shown such humble respect for the founder. In fact, Mr Valentino’s own words after the announcement sum it up perfectly: 

“Thank you, @pppiccioli, first and foremost, for your friendship, respect, and support.
You’re the only designer I know who hasn’t tried to distort the codes of a major brand by imposing new ones and the megalomania of a ridiculous ego. “

Mr Valentino via Instagram

Mr. Valentino’s insights shed light on the contemporary approach of creative directors in their roles. The presumed objective is to revitalise the brand’s image, infusing it with modernity. However, lacking humility or reverence, many creative directors recklessly discard past achievements. More often than not, this results in designs devoid of beauty or purpose, merely serving marketing interests. In other words, the fashion industry is all about financial gain at the expense of creativity and consistency.

It’s undeniable that the luxury sector is experiencing a slowdown. But it’s crucial to recognize that creative designers don’t have a magic wand. Moreover, no other designer can uphold Valentino’s legacy to the extent that Piccioli has thus far.

Financial gain vs creativity and consistency

Indeed, it’s disconcerting how the fashion industry incessantly targets younger generations. The reality is, most young people cannot afford a 2,200 euro mini dress! So, this prompts reflection on whether the true essence of design has shifted towards more accessible items. Should we expect fashion Maisons to sell logoed baseball caps?

Should we anticipate another ‘Balenciagan’ spectacle? Or a new lace & blossom Alessandro Michele’s Gucci style? These are just a couple of examples of larger-than-life egos in the industry. Alessandro Michele’s radical transformation of Gucci begs some questions. After he killed Gucci’s heritage, will the Maison ever regain its credibility? And does it make any sense to risk a similar fate for Valentino?

Conclusion

In conclusion, Pierpaolo Piccioli announced his departure from Valentino, leaving many perplexed. Beyond expressing admiration for the immense beauty that he has brought to the forefront over the years, we struggle to grasp the underlying rationale. Or, perhaps, we understand it all too well. But we are fed up with that game.

We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Greenpeace: Stop Fast Fashion

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Take Action and Sign the Petition!

Greenpeace has just launched a new petition urging people to stop fast fashion. The issue is very dear to us,  indeed, our perspective on fashion stands in stark contrast to this. So, we invite you to read and take action.

Notice: The content presented in the post is sourced from Greenpeace investigations and reports.

Fast fashion: a polluting and unsustainable industry

Clothes sold and returned immediately. Accessories designed to last only one season. Destined to break within a few weeks. And soon ending up in landfills or in the Global South. With mass production, low quality, and ridiculously low prices, the fast fashion industry generates enormous amounts of waste and pollution. And behind the false promises of sustainability often lies greenwashing and a devastating environmental and social impact.

Fast fashion in 3 numbers:

  • 25%: the percentage of new clothing unsold and discarded every year
  • 1 second: every second, a truckload of discarded clothing is either burned or thrown into landfills
  • -1%: it’s the amount of clothing that is actually recycled into new garments.

Every year in Europe, 230 million pieces of clothing get destroyed.

Greenpeace: stop fast fashion clothing discarded in Africa
Image credit: Greenpeace

Textile fibres

Over 60% of the textile fibres (acrylic, polyester, nylon) used to produce our clothing are synthetic fibres, and many are derived from hydrocarbon refining, such as gas and oil. Polyester, derived from petroleum, begins to release microplastics after the first few washes, which end up in the oceans and then move up the food chain, also in our food. The fossil fuel industry grows and proliferates thanks to fast fashion as well.

The dark side of the most famous brands

  • Shein: According to 2022 data, many of its garments contain toxic substances, with some exceeding legal limits, particularly phthalates, up to 600% of the legal limit.
    (source: Greenpeace investigation 2022)
  • Nike, Ralph Lauren, Diesel: A 2022 investigation demonstrated that waste from the production of clothing and footwear for these three brands was being burned in brick kilns in Cambodia, exposing the involved workers to toxic fumes.
    (source: Greenpeace/Unearthed investigation)
  • Amazon, Temu, Zalando, Zara, H6M, OVS, Shein, Asos: Clothing returned after purchase on the most famous e-commerce platforms travels up to 10,000 kilometres and often is not resold.
    (source: Greenpeace investigation 2024)

Online returns: clothing travelling up to 10,000 kilometers

Clothing purchased and then returned multiple times. Parcels of clothing travelling for tens of thousands of kilometres between Europe and China, with no cost to the buyer and minimal expenses for the producing company. But with huge environmental impacts. This is what emerged from the Greenpeace Investigative Unit Italy investigation, which, for about two months, in collaboration with the television program Report, tracked the journeys of some garments in the fast-fashion sector purchased and returned through e-commerce platforms. It revealed a schizophrenic logistics chain, extremely long journeys, and the environmental impact in terms of equivalent CO2 emissions.

Sustainability? It’s just greenwashing!

Fast fashion companies promote their supposed sustainability and respect for better working conditions by stating on labels that their clothing items are produced with a lower environmental impact. However, it often amounts to nothing more than greenwashing. Our investigation of 29 brands has revealed the truth, and globally recognized brands such as Benetton Green Bee, Calzedonia Group, Decathlon Ecodesign, H&M Conscious, and Zara Join Life, just to name a few, have received a red mark regarding the credibility of the statements on their labels.

Greenpeace: sign the petition!

In conclusion, fast fashion, the ultra-rapid fashion sold at very very cheap prices, is not harmless. Unfortunately, the low prices are achieved through the exploitation of workers and harm to the environment. Of course, it wouldn’t exist without modern-day slavery. However, there are alternatives to fast fashion for every budget, for instance, vintage, second-hand and slow fashion. Most importantly, it’s a matter of education and awareness, accessible to all. No excuses left!
So, take action now by signing the Greenpeace petition to stop fast fashion and protect our planet! 👉 sign it here!

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The Zippered Blouson

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Exclusive Unisex Fashion #formodernhumans

Today, we introduce The Zippered Blouson by Meagratia from Japan.

Contemporary luxury is about having few things but good, really good. In our pursuit of meaningful garments, meticulously selecting only what truly resonates, we discovered this military-inspired jacket. A unisex piece exuding a vintage allure, perfect for transitioning between seasons. Indeed, the Meagratia brand is renowned for its devotion to vintage designs. Japanese fashion lovers, this is for you!

Discover The Zippered Blouson

About the design
The blouson draws inspiration from the tanker jacket worn by US Army armoured troops, incorporating military details for an authentic, rugged feel. It features a front zip fastening, a stand collar with button closure, one zipped pocket stitched along the front, and two wide side pockets. Additionally, it offers adjustable closures along the wrists and is fully lined. Crafted from a resilient material consisting of a cotton fabric with a nylon weave, enhancing its durability and robustness. The fabric’s appearance has been specially treated to achieve a vintage effect.

An image of The Zippered Blouson by Meagratia, colour blue with a brick contrasting

About the material
The blouson is crafted from a durable material. Specifically, it’s a cotton fabric with a nylon weave, which enhances its robustness. Also, the fabric’s appearance has been specially treated to achieve a vintage effect.
Cotton 70% – Nylon 30%

About the colour
The colour is a vibrant blue with a brick contrasting detail along the collar.

Laundry
Easy-care product. Wash by hand.

Styling tips
The Zippered Blouson is a versatile unisex garment: perfect outerwear for the change of the seasons. It pairs effortlessly over a cardigan for office attire with trousers or a dress. Yet it also complements jeans seamlessly. However, its versatility ensures easy integration with your existing wardrobe.

How to purchase our selection:

Drop us an email or WhatsApp for orders or any further information. Also, you can book your private shopping experience in person or via video call.

International Shipping!
From Milano, our fashion selection #formodernhumans is available for international delivery.

Exclusive Fashion
Our selection intentionally offers limited pieces to ensure uniqueness and a sustainable approach 🖤

● Further details and prices via →WhatsApp

👉 Get yours directly from here!

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