Rookie music group XG drew a huge roar at August 2023’s KCON LA festival, a gathering for fans of Korean pop music, with their cover of 2NE1’s 2011 hit “I Am the Best”.
Singing to tens of thousands in Los Angeles, the seven young women looked just like any other K-pop group, with one exception – all of the XG members are Japanese.
The two-year-old group, now on the verge of global popularity, was formed in the same way that many K-pop groups are. Led by a half-Korean, half-Japanese, American-born producer, XG went through extensive training for more than three years before they debuted with “Tippy Toes” in Seoul.
Iris Apfel, known for her eccentric and unique fashion, was beloved by many designers.
She was a fashion icon, interior designer, and collector who passed away at the age of 102 on March 1, 2024, carrying the feedback of her life experience.
In her youth, she encountered a remark that would change her life. A department store owner once told her, "You're not pretty." However, the woman quickly softened her words, saying, "You have something better. You have your own style."
Iris grew up in Queens, New York, during the Great Depression in 1929, in a household where her mother, a boutique owner, "worshipped at an altar of accessories." This upbringing instilled in her a love for the idea of "adorning oneself." She frequented junk shops in Greenwich Village seeking treasures and practiced DIY long before the term became popular, embodying the concept through her knack for creating classic chic from a mix of elements.
Iris's career defied the ageist tendencies prevalent in the fashion industry. When she achieved great success as an "It girl," she was already over 80 and humorously referred to herself as an "octogenarian starlet." Designers adored Iris, leading to a modeling contract with IMG at the age of 97.
Iris's cult personality led to book publications and collaborations with H&M, and in 2014, the documentary film "Iris Apfel: 94-Year-Old New Yorker" directed by Albert Maysles was released. She once told the filmmaker, "I like improvisation when dressing. I want to choose my clothes as if I'm playing jazz, trying this and that."
In a world filled with rigid style rules and age-appropriate dressing norms, Iris remained a luminous figure, stating, "I like things that have character. It seems to me that many people have lost their individuality." In a time when quiet luxury and safe, neutral fashion are preferred, Iris's style felt even more eccentric. Her luxury was anything but quiet, but like many style icons, she expressed herself through fashion.
LEVI'S is releasing “LOT 401,” a reproduction of the oldest women's blue jeans.
LEVI'S had previously worked on the “Levi's 401” jeans, which served as a precursor to the “LEVI'S 701,” known as the world's first women's blue jeans. Tracey Panek, who oversees the Levi Strauss & Co. archive, believes that “LEVI'S 401” may have been a limited-production prototype created to test the market before launching “LEVI'S 701.”
The archive is named “Viola” after Viola Longacre, a student at the Fresno State College Sierra Summer School in the 1930s, who was studying to become a teacher. Her classes often took place on a campus in the Sierra National Forest, making these jeans, with her name inscribed in the inside pocket, an ideal, durable, and sturdy garment.
LEVI'S faithfully recreates the oldest women's blue jeans and pays homage to Viola, who wore them. Like the original “Viola” archive denim, it features an orange-printed fabric patch sewn between the belt loops and cinch. Made with selvedge denim reproduced by Kaihara Denim, it is characterized by a high waist, and “Viola’s” name is similarly inscribed in the inside pocket. The item comes with a photo of Viola and a letter detailing the jeans and her story, all packed in a tote bag adorned with the “LEVI'S” logo and the “LOT 401” patch.
បណ្ណាល័យត្រូវបានដាក់ឈ្មោះថា “Viola” ដោយស្រង់ឈ្មោះពី Viola Longacre ជាសិស្សនៅ Fresno State College Sierra Summer School ក្នុងទសវត្សរ៍ឆ្នាំ ១៩៣០ ដែលកំពុងសិក្សាដើម្បីក្លាយជាគ្រូបង្រៀន។ ថ្នាក់រៀនរបស់នាងញឹកញាប់ត្រូវបានធ្វើនៅលើទីធ្លាក្នុងព្រៃជាតិសាធារណៈ Sierra ដែលធ្វើឱ្យខោខូវប៊យនេះដែលមានឈ្មោះរបស់នាងចំលាក់នៅក្នុងហោប៉ៅខាងក្នុង ជាសម្លៀកបំពាក់ដែលល្អឥតខ្ចោះ ធន់និងរឹងមាំ។
MUSINSA, a global store that promotes the allure of Korea's latest fashion and culture to the world, is releasing a limited collection item from Takashi Murakami x BLACKPINK “IN YOUR AREA”.
This collection marks the second collaboration between Takashi Murakami, known for his innovative and unique artistic style, and BLACKPINK, a globally loved artist and fashion icon. The first collection was unveiled at one of the world's largest art fairs, "Art Basel Miami Beach," last year and became a major topic of conversation.
The second installment of the collaboration will be exclusively available in Japan at the MUSINSA global store. The collection includes 13 types of products, from apparel like T-shirts, hoodies, and bomber jackets to fashion accessories and items such as tote bags, keyrings, and stickers, all available for purchase through a special website. Additionally, a limited-edition lightstick designed by Takashi Murakami, making its first appearance in this collection, will be unveiled and sold exclusively at offline pop-up stores and online.
A representative from MUSINSA stated, “We are very pleased to deliver the collaboration between two iconic artists representing modern culture from MUSINSA. We hope it will be an opportunity to provide a fresh experience not only to fans of BLACKPINK but also to many who are interested in the unique world of Takashi Murakami.”
MUSINSA ដែលជាហាងលក់ពិភពលោកដែលផ្សព្វផ្សាយភាពទាក់ទាញនៃម៉ូដថ្មីៗ និងវប្បធម៌កូរ៉េទៅកាន់ពិភពលោក នឹងចេញលក់ផលិតផលកម្រិតកំណត់ពី Takashi Murakami x BLACKPINK “IN YOUR AREA”។
Dance vocal group Atarashii Gakko! is known for performing in distinctive sailor-style school uniforms under the mottos of “Marching outside the lines with individuality and freedom” and “Representing a new generation of Japanese youth.” The quartet had a breakthrough year in 2023.
At a performance at a club in Toronto on Nov. 13, the whole venue buzzed with excitement. Suzuka, the main vocalist of the group, called out: “We are from Japan. Hamidashite iku,” which means “we are marching outside the lines,” to which the audience replied, “Hamidashite iku!”
The highlight of the show was when Suzuka started singing “Otonablue” in her deep voice and the audience began to sing along.
Photo by Maya Kuraki Members of Atarashii Gakko! perform at a concert in Toronto.
“Canada is so far away from Japan. I didn’t realize that we really had fans there. There were also a lot of people who liked us so much that they learned Japanese. One of them told us ‘Good job’ in Japanese,” Rin said.
From Nov. 7 to Dec. 3, the group toured six U.S. cities as well as Canada, Mexico, Hong Kong and Thailand. In each country, Atarashii Gakko! met fans who wore sailor uniforms and sang their favorite songs by the group. “Thanks to social media, they love us even though they haven’t met us, because they can see us online endlessly,” Suzuka said.
‘Head-swinging dance’ invented
Atarashii Gakko! consists of four members — Suzuka, with her round glasses, stern singing voice, and overwhelming presence; Mizyu, with her hair in pigtails, moving briskly; Kanon, with her elegant long black hair; and Rin, with her close-cropped hair and firm character.
These four highly skilled dancers formed the group in 2015.
They started out dressed like honor students in their sailor uniforms and indoor school shoes, wearing armbands like the leaders of the student council.
“We have a spirit of obeying school rules. We don’t shorten our skirts or dress down like rebels,” Rin said. However, they march off the edge of what’s expected with outlandish ideas.
“We love to giggle at things like, ‘Oh, isn’t this crazy good?’ Everything starts with the coolness in the silliness and the badness,” Suzuka said.
What she said is reflected in the unique songs the group sings. Suzuka’s deep voice sounds nostalgic over the intense beats of rock, hip-hop, electro-pop and other genres. She loves Showa-era (1926-1989) songs with because of their unique verses and atmosphere, where she can feel the singer’s determination. “I learned about [Showa-era diva] Akina Nakamori from my mother. Showa songs made me love singing even more.”
Suzuka holds a glass from a 100-yen store for the cover art for the song “Otonablue.”
One of the group’s most popular songs is “Otonablue,” which is about longing for love as an adult, but their most moving songs include lyrics about their feelings while in school.
“Giri Giri” is a song that explodes in despair with lyrics like “Teacher, I can’t do it right,” and “Koi no Shadanki” (Railroad crossing gate to love) is a song about how a girl feels when her best friend starts dating the person she loves.
The choreography is also creative, with the four members coming up with dazzling poses such as the “head-swinging dance,” which combines the style of the song with the individuality of each member. They also perform coordinated group gymnastics, piggyback riding and somersaults.
“We physically give it our all,” Mizyu said.
Kanon is the one who lifts the other members in the piggyback ride. “We think it makes the biggest impact and makes us look big,” she said.
Steady efforts
It took some time for Atarashii Gakko! to gain buzz. The group posted videos of themselves singing and dancing to their own songs, as well as domestic and international hits on TikTok. In May 2020, during the beginning of the spread of COVID-19, they released “Otonablue.” They shot both the music video and the single cover themselves.
Gradually, their efforts became recognized as a video of the four singing a song called “Koi Geba” piqued the interest of the U.S. record label 88rising. The label released the funky song “Nainainai” in 2021, and Atarashii Gakko! made their worldwide debut and became “representatives of a new generation of Japanese youth.” The four flew to the United States and recorded an EP called “Snacktime” that was produced by Money Mark, known for his work with the Beastie Boys.
Then, the tide suddenly turned last year. The music video for “Otonablue” aired on a TV singing show, and the number of views on the video — which was already being shared on social media — skyrocketed.
Photo by usami ryo Members of Atarashii Gakko! make a coordinated group gymnastic pose at Tokyo Gymnasium.
“The song and the performance of ‘Otonablue’ are both so lovely. We’ve been trying to get the message across, and we’ve been thinking that one day it would get across, and it finally did this year [in 2023],” Suzuka said.
Now that they are all in their 20s, the meaning of the sailor-style school uniform has changed for the four of them. “At first, we were middle school and high school students, so we were just being ourselves. But now, when we go out into the world and wear school uniforms, we feel like we are representing Japan. The school uniform is as indispensable as a combat uniform,” Kanon said.
“The uniform is essential as the foundation of the group. But we recently got new clothes. I hope you can look forward to seeing the four of us change into different outfits,” Mizyu said.
The “representatives of a new generation of Japanese youth” will continue to bring fun to all over the world this year.
Dries Van Noten, one of the "Antwerp Six," has announced his departure from his eponymous brand. He will step down from his designer post after presenting the Spring/Summer 2025 menswear collection in June, with the following Spring/Summer 2025 women's collection to be handled by the studio team that has worked with him for many years.
Dries has been contemplating his retirement for some time. "I have been preparing for this moment for a while now and feel it is time to leave room for a new generation of talent to bring a fresh vision to the brand," he wrote in his resignation statement.
While no successor to lead the "Dries Van Noten" brand has been announced yet, it is planned that "at the right time, we will reveal the designer who will continue the story of Dries Van Noten's men's and women's lines." Dries himself will continue to be involved with the brand in a different capacity.
The narrative of "Dries Van Noten," drawn with a belief in the power of clothing and characterized by rich imagination and vibrant colors, is now moving on to a new chapter.
The new sneaker that brings a fresh breeze from NIKE, "Nike Air Max Dn," will be released on March 26th! Along with this announcement, the HIPHOP/R&B girl group XG showcases its charm with bold styling. Symbolizing a new era, the Nike Air Max Dn offers not only all-day comfort but also outstanding style. This shoe, with its unprecedented design and feel, is a must-check item for fashion enthusiasts.
Known for their unique style and music that defy convention, XG's collaboration with the Nike Air Max Dn is something special. Why not experience the new era of NIKE alongside the attractive visuals of all seven members?
ស្បែកជើងថ្មីដែលនាំយកខ្យល់ថ្មីពី NIKE, "Nike Air Max Dn" នឹងចេញលក់នៅថ្ងៃទី ២៦ មីនា! ជាមួយនឹងការប្រកាសនេះ ក្រុមចម្រៀងនារី HIPHOP/R&B ក្រុម XG បានបង្ហាញភាពទាក់ទាញរបស់ពួកគេដោយស្ទាយបែបក្លាហាន។ តំណាងឱ្យសម័យថ្មី Nike Air Max Dn ផ្តល់ជូននូវភាពសុខស្រួលពេញមួយថ្ងៃ ហើយមានស្ទាយលេចធ្លោផងដែរ។ ស្បែកជើងនេះដែលមានការរចនានិងអារម្មណ៍ដែលមិនធ្លាប់មានមុនគេ គឺជារបស់ត្រូវតែពិនិត្យសម្រាប់អ្នកចូលចិត្តម៉ូដ។
XG ដែលស្គាល់ចំពោះស្ទាយនិងតន្ត្រីដែលមិនជាប់ខ្លឹមសារធម្មតា ការសហការជាមួយ Nike Air Max Dn គឺជាអ្វីដែលពិសេស។ តើអ្នកចង់ស្វែងយល់ពីសម័យថ្មីរបស់ NIKE ជាមួយនឹងរូបភាពទាក់ទាញរបស់សមាជិកទាំងប្រាំពិនាលើការមើលមែនទេ?
