MARICI THE WORLD’S FIRST PLANT BASED LUXURY ACCESSORY BRAND LAUNCHES INTO SELFRIDGES AS PART OF PROJECT EARTH INITIATIVE.

This year’s Summer Solstice sees the revolutionary brand MARICI launch exclusively into Selfridges as part of their ‘Project Earth’ luxury designer edit on the 8^th of July. Inspired by the ideas of re-birth and evolution, paving the way forward with their trailblazing ethics and timeless aesthetics.

MARICI is a London-based luxury accessories brand formed as a Collective in 2020 in direct response to the continued environmental impact of both the synthetic and traditional leather industries. The formation of the brand by a group of like-minded individuals is at the core of their ethos, to create a bold and beautiful brand that can be both environmentally conscious and visually stunning. The brand’s philosophy is focusing on circular design economy and regenerated mindset. Offering consumers a truly considered and mindful alternative, created using natural materials that already exist in abundance on Earth. All of this is done with the aim of creating staple pieces that will stand the test of time and be utilised as heirlooms from one generation to the next.

“We hope to create an elevated luxury product that offers low environmental impact and high social responsibility. To offer a kinder alternative to Mother Earth whilst not compromising on aesthetics and quality” – The Collective

MARICI is the world’s first plant-based luxury accessories brand and the only brand within the Selfridges luxury edit using Pinatex – an alternative to leather that does not rely on plastics and fossil fuels for its production. The plant-based material is derived directly from the off-cuts of the existing pineapple industry, bought directly from farmers themselves. These materials are then upcycled into luxury material with a distinct finishing handcrafted by a team of master artisans based in Venice into the bags that have made MARICI the brand that it is.

Slow fashion is at the heart of MARICI’s creation process, meaning that each handbag is handmade in limited collections and numbered. By combining luxury craftsmanship, mindful materials, and a clear message, MARICI is creating an enticing and exclusive brand that champions the conscious consumer.

“The direct translation of MARICI is Ray of Light. As a brand we celebrate people who act as a Ray of Light to others in this world. The MARICI woman is powerful because she believes in change and in humanity.”  – The Collective

The healthy veins of lush green leaves, crawling with bright speckled ladybugs. April showers casting a Technicolour rainbow. Bright-yellow daffodils unfolding down each beaten track. As spring returns, so does its inspirational palette of bright and bold colour, urging us to refresh our wardrobes and spaces. The heavy knits and hoodies we’ve lived in for months are now reserved for cooler evenings as we seek out refreshing pops of colour on everything from accessories to outerwear. The past year has also crystalised the importance of the mantra ‘happy home – happy self’, so the mood-boosting gift of bright, bold home design is a sure-fire winner.

Gucci reveals its collaboration with The North Face that celebrates the spirit of exploration.

Whether literal exploration of places and cultures or the more metaphorical adventures encouraged today by Creative Director Alessandro Michele, Gucci has always catered to the curious, presenting its clothes as tools that push the wearer into different territories.

The North Face famously outfits those who seek adventure. But there are also deeper parallels between the stories of Gucci and its new partner. Since their founding in San Francisco in 1966, the brand has committed to pioneering product innovation and enabling all forms of exploration. It is a well acknowledged notion that travel leads to self-discovery, and in this conviction The North Face is aligned with Gucci, which similarly empowers people in their quest to celebrate and express their own characters and personalities, embedding Alessandro Michele’s approach towards fashion as a powerful instrument of freedom.

To promote this new partnership, Alessandro Michele has conceived a campaign shot by Daniel Shea, set in the Alps. In stills and video, as well as through content created for TikTok, we are led through a trip to the great outdoors with a group of Gucci-clad hikers, who camp by the lakes.

The forests and peaks of the region form a vast and breath-taking scenic backdrop to the imagery, which in capturing colourful candid moments of group activity are reminiscent of holiday snaps, effortlessly showcasing the distinctive products. The campaign’s atmosphere evokes the aesthetic of the 70’s, when The North Face was a thriving outdoor retailer based in Berkeley, CA and shared a factory and storefront adjacent to Credence Clearwater Revival’s practice studio, whose iconic song “Bad Moon Rising” is featured throughout the video campaign.

This special cross-category collection for men and women comprises ready-to-wear, soft accessories, luggage and shoes, as well as some more unexpected pieces linked to the outdoor world of The North Face, such as tents and sleeping bags.

The North Face x Gucci Collection is in line with the commitments of both the two brands to eco-sustainable activities. Luggage contain ECONYL®— a nylon fabric sourced from regenerated materials (from fish nets, carpets and other scraps) that can be recycled and recreated, aiding in decreasing its ecological footprint. Additionally, the colour palette was inspired by the 70’s and curated from The North Face materials library. Archival fabrics have been partially incorporated into the collection to give them a new life.

Packaging for the pieces come in vibrant pink featuring The North Face X Gucci logo. The garment and carrier bags, boxes and pouches have been strategically designed to reduce the environmental impact at every step of creation. All paper and cardboard come from sustainably managed forest sources and an uncoated paper has been used to ensure it is fully recyclable. To reduce the amount of paper, boxes

are equipped with handles to avoid using shopping bags. Larger items come in shopping bags and cotton covers without boxes.

Debuting in China, the collection will be distributed through distinctly designed stores and ephemeral Gucci Pins, where the special bright floral patterns of the range will be used to dress the spaces and effect façade takeovers. A limited selection of The North Face x Gucci pieces will also be available on gucci.com, with some exciting online exclusives.

Shining a light on the collection’s motifs, Gucci Artwalls will be unveiled in five cities – Hong-Kong, Shanghai, London, New York and Milan – and will feature dedicated imagery with a variety of creative executions. Though all different, these pieces of street art will all incorporate The North Face x Gucci logo.

Credits for the campaign

Creative Director: Alessandro Michele

Art Director: Christopher Simmonds

Photographer & Director: Daniel Shea

Make Up: Thomas De Kluyver

Hair stylist: Alex Brownsell

Video – Music credits

“Bad Moon Rising”

Written by John Fogerty

Performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Published by Concord Music Group, Inc.

Recording courtesy of Craft Recordings, a division of Concord

Products details

The ready-to-wear collection features not only goose-feather down padded coats, bomber, and vest but also shirts, skirts and jumpsuits. The outerwear silhouettes and equipment are based on original designs from The North Face in the 70’s. Also included in the offer there are quilted jacket, nylon shirts and skirts and windbreakers; refined silk-twill bowling sets, skirts and chemise dresses; T-shirts, sweatshirts and a fleece jacket with the matching. Some pieces come in bright colours and feature several floral prints created in partnership with The North Face especially for the collaboration, some of which have a new The North Face x Gucci logo incorporated into their designs. This combined logo, that features The North Face three curved lines and the famous green-red-green Gucci Web stripe, is also featured on a dedicated label.

For luggage, there are eight new graphic patterns, designed in collaboration with The North Face. All feature bright colours and a variety of either Gucci House motifs or different versions of the new The North Face logo x Gucci print. Two new backpacks and two new belt bags are dressed up in these exclusive prints. A dome-shaped medium backpack (available in five different prints) has contrast leather patches, rope zip pullers and web straps, while a larger size (available in six different prints) recalls hiking backpacks with its multiple pockets and top flap with snaps, and also features the same detailing as its smaller cousin. A small belt bag comes in seven different prints, and a maxi size one with three front flap pockets is offered in two different prints.

The shoe is a gender-neutral hiking boot with a chunky and sturdy Goodyear-welted sole. The boot comes in three colors of leather (brown, black and cream), features eyelets and rope-like striped laces, as well as The North Face x Gucci logo prominently displayed on the side.

About Gucci

Founded in Florence in 1921, Gucci – under the Creative Direction of Alessandro Michele – is one of the world’s leading luxury fashion brands, with a renowned reputation for creativity, innovation and Italian craftsmanship. Gucci is part of the global luxury group Kering, which manages the development of a series of renowned Maisons in fashion, leather goods, jewelry and watches. For further information about Gucci visit www.gucci.com

About The North Face®

The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, LLC, was founded in 1966 with the goal of preparing outdoor athletes for the rigors of their next adventure. Today we are the world’s leading outdoor brand, creating athlete-tested, expedition-proven products that help people explore and test the limits of human potential. We protect our outdoor playgrounds and minimize our impact on the planet through programs that encourage sustainability. The North Face products are available at premium and specialty retail sporting goods stores globally and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. For more information, please visit www.thenorthface.com.

Recharge by Yasmin Sewell explores fashion through regeneration, circularity, creativity and consciousness.

For the first release, RECHARGEX7, Yasmin has mentored seven up-and-coming University of Westminster fashion students by inviting them to give new life to iconic designer pieces from her wardrobe. The brief? Update the pieces, whether it be a Celine coat or a Comme des Garcons blouse, by dicing, splicing and reconfiguring, or by changing surface texture.

This project invites us to acknowledge the unworn clothing in our closets and get it back into circulation. By extending the life-cycle of luxury fashion, we can look at our previously loved and worn clothes as items with infinite potential – fashion recharged.

The collaboration stems from Yasmin and the students interest in using energy healing techniques rarely associated with fashion, such as mantras, crystals, moon cycles and breath. The resulting works set out a bold new path for recharging the energy of vintage pieces and feeding them back into the fashion system.

Collaborating with Selfridges to exhibit and retail the finished works is a natural fit based on the store’s commitment to addressing the materials used in products, launching and exploring new retail models such as repair and resell, and engaging with teams, partners and customers to inspire a shift in mindsets.

The students featured in RECHARGEX7 are:  WESLEY STUART HARTWEL, Catherine Hudson, SANKIM, Guangyu Li, Georgia Wilson, ZOLI, YUNN.

RECHARGEX7 launches on Selfridges.com and at Selfridges Oxford Street from 11^th December. All sales from the pieces will go directly to the design students involved.

 “This project is about sustainability and creativity yes, but ultimately it’s about energy. My love for newness was not because I wanted to keep buying or acquiring more stuff but because unworn, stagnant things in your wardrobe bring about just that, stagnant energy.” says Yasmin Sewell.

 “Through Rechargex7, Yasmin has combined a unique and engaging approach to circularity with her love for nurturing talent. It was a concept we couldn’t resist as we continue to experiment with new models that have the potential to change the way we shop.” says Jeannie Lee, Selfridges Head of Womenswear.

“It has been a privilege to work on this collaboration with Yasmin. She brings all her expertise and industry knowledge, but from an educational point of view, it has provided a vital learning opportunity for students to work with this innovative framework.” Says Liliana Sanguino, University of Westminster.

“Youth culture is a pretty hot topic for Hiroshi Fujiwara, that’s why the designer agreed to our exclusive The Face x Fragment Design collaboration.

A streetwear capsule inspired by the British music and fashion magazine (and Japanese street style, too, of course), it features this cotton-jersey drawstring hoody – which is branded with a graphic print at the chest. Ready to awaken generations of youth culture, it’s stamped with a graphic at the back, to boot.”