The Forum Mod is a shoe born from the desire of reinventing an Icon, the Forum. A shoe symbol of the 1980s that athletes in the likes of Michael Jordan have worn and embraced. Its silhouette reflects its ability to adapt to many styles, including Normcore and Skatecore, as we will see in some shots that we have selected to tell the story of the shoe in Milan.
A design that continues to amaze us as it evolves, and it pairs well with clean fits featuring simple lines. Just a tank top and beige pants are enough to highlight the sneaker and elevate the look. All of this is thanks to the details that bring the shoe’s silhouette up to date, including the serrated Three Stripes – this time on a mesh background – and an elongated heel, which, together with the high midsole, makes the Forum Mod unique in its kind.
In Andrés Juan Suarez‘s shots, soaked in suggestions typically linked to skate culture, the shoe fits perfectly with the look worn by Davide Maestrutti, who is comfortable both on a BMX and ready to pick up the skateboard at any moment, as in the case of the images involving Antonio Rinaldi. Practicality and a unique effortless coolness accompany the Forum Mod in Walter Coppola‘s shots, telling a clean style close to Normcore on Matteo Andreini and Antony Nano.
Today marks the beginning of Milan Fashion Week, and in contrast, we went to Zurich to learn more about sustainable production and celebrate FREITAG’s 30th anniversary. Since its inception in 1993, FREITAG has been reusing truck tarps to create bags, backpacks, and small accessories. Our journey has taught us a lot about sustainability, offering several surprises we want to share with you.
Let’s step back almost 30 years ago. Markus Freitag was shopping in one of Switzerland’s most popular supermarkets and came across a very familiar item. It was none other than an imitation of one of the first bags designed by him and his brother, Daniel. Instead of FREITAG – which means Friday in english – another word was displayed: Donnerstag, Thursday, in German. This moment left a lasting impression on the two brothers, who eventually negotiated an agreement preventing the supermarket chain from producing any more bags named after days of the week in German.
The Copy of the Copy
Today, on the occasion of FREITAG’s 30th birthday, the company decided to pay homage to the copy with another copy of the copy. Drawing inspiration from the supermarket chain, the Swiss brand organized Settimane Donnerstag from September 19 to 30 at their Zurich Flagship Store. Designer Leandro Destefani came to the rescue by designing a genuine supermarket, repurposing many elements from secondhand merchandise platforms.
Among the vegetable displays, refrigerators, and a checkout counter with a conveyor belt, you’ll find the Donnerstag F13-D COPY CAT messenger bag. They are all blue and available in the store near a special location for the two founders, the Hardbrücke Bridge, the birthplace of the first FREITAG bag. In the store, we also had the opportunity to see and touch the first sample, preserved at the Museum für Gestaltung in Zurich.
FREITAG Doesn’t Follow Trends
FREITAG is not interested in following trends or competing with other brands. Instead, it pursues a very specific mission that has little to do with the fashion system as we know it. After thirty years of producing unique bags made from recycled materials, the brand remains committed to the environment. The new goal is circularity, promising to keep materials used in production in circulation for as long as possible. This mission has gradually transformed into a desire to close their production cycles in the not-so-distant future. But we’ll get to that later.
One of the most interesting aspects of FREITAG’s production process is how the brand’s designers approach model design. On one hand, the priority is to use as much material as possible while minimizing waste. On the other hand, there is also a desire to create functional combinations. After selling the bag in flagship stores, franchises, or online stores, FREITAG also guarantees a repair service. But that’s not all; one of the brand’s most interesting projects is undoubtedly S.W.A.P. – a Tinder-style exchange platform – which allows FREITAG bag owners to exchange their product with others. The company took inspiration from the world’s most famous online dating platform to make the entire process more fun and interactive. At this link, you can make matches and express interest in a bag, waiting to be matched in return. All of this ensures an interactive and certainly circular experience for FREITAG customers.
Sustainability and Circularity
As mentioned earlier, when discussing FREITAG, we also touch upon the themes of circularity and sustainability. Since 2021, FREITAG has been considering developing a recyclable truck tarp in collaboration with other industrial partners. There are already two prototypes undergoing their initial testing, designed to close the loop on the brand’s technical materials. A circular economy-proof backpack is also on the way, made from a single raw material but without truck tarps.
All parts of the backpack are made from a single material: polyamide 6, and the launch, most likely, will come in the spring of 2024, accompanied by a repair and return program. This also applies to FREITAG’s CIRC-CASE, officially the first product designed for a circular economy. The curiosity of this product lies in the raw material used: discarded ski boots.
What We’ve Learned from This Journey with FREITAG
FREITAG’s announcements for its 30th anniversary are numerous, but the focal point remains the commitment to sustainability and a future focused on closing the production cycle, aiming to become truly circular. This ambitious goal opens up a broader conversation about sustainability, undoubtedly one of the most debated topics in recent years. FREITAG’s example, especially in such a frenetic time for the fashion world, forces us to consider environmental issues from a new and innovative perspective. Ideas like S.W.A.P. and the pop-up store modeled after a real supermarket show us how creative and sustainable reuse and marketing can be. This reflects throughout the production cycle and opens an honest and constructive conversation, not only for FREITAG customers but also for fashion enthusiasts.
Marco Rambaldi presents his concept of Malafemmina, supported by Zalando, during Milan Fashion Week, amidst a flurry of events. The freedom and awareness emanating from Rambaldi are reassuring. In the midst of the flora at Floricoltura Radaelli in Dergano, a barefoot runway show begins, with shoes in hand. But who is the Malafemmina according to Marco Rambaldi, and what does he want to convey to us?
The Malafemmina brought to the catwalk by Rambaldi is self-aware: free, sincere, and strongin her own flaws. Freedom seems to be the key word to understand who the woman that the Bolognese brand wanted to showcase on the runway is. A woman who wears crochet, transparencies, and fringes that make her happily cursed. Proud of who she is. This concept reminds us of all the women who have been labeled as prostitutes, as malafemminas, indeed.
In the latest collection – Supernova – Rambaldi focused on the night, on who we are at night, and now he confronts the twilight. A place where boundaries are no longer so clear and, thanks to this, it makes us free. According to the Bolognese brand, the woman imagined by Marco Rambaldi will wear very high clogs, sharp slingbacks, and fringes that encourage spontaneity of movement. In short, Marco Rambaldi’s woman reminds us of all the women who – labeled as prostitutes – have led us on the path to freedom. From Bettina, the young woman from Bologna arrested by the Inquisition in 1662, to Modesta, the protagonist of Goliarda Speranza‘s “L’arte della gioia,” ready to do anything in the name of freedom. Bold and heroic.
Sometimes the spells of the mind are not enough; we must add the ardor of the heart, you, triple Hecate, whisper to me the letters of reason. The imprecations of the sorceresses seem to prophesy and answer the questions. Why stop? It’s not the moment.
This is how the show’s note reads, a thought that goes out to all the women liberated from stereotypes and guilt. To close the runway show, Mia Martini‘s Minuetto couldn’t be missing. A tribute to the Italian singer-songwriter born on September 20, 1947.
Nike is a brand with a long history of collaborations. But who is the designer behind their latest partnership? We’re talking about Feng Chen Wang, one of the most exciting emerging Chinese designers in the industry. Let’s learn more about the Nike x Feng Chen Wang collection, aimed at breaking the rules of sportswear by reimagining the brand’s iconic classics.
This collaboration looks to the future of sportswear as we know it, keeping the athletes of the future in mind. All of this is infused with a dose of experimentation and know-how in the use of innovative methods that appeal to everyone, regardless of gender or age. In short, it’s the perfect recipe for a partnership destined to make waves among sportswear innovators.
The star of this collection is undoubtedly the Transform Jacket, a piece that fully embodies the Chinese designer’s motto. Feng Chen Wang believes that owning less means owning more and versatility becomes crucial for a garment like the Transform Jacket, which can be worn on many different occasions.
Sustainability and environmental considerations are two fundamental aspects for Wang, who also includes engineered knits, crop tops, sports bras, and specially designed socks for a versatile look. This collection combines innovation and the designer’spersonal touch without leaving traditional sportswear behind.
The collection is set to launch on September 28th, available on fengchenwang.com, the SNKRS app, and selected Nike stores.
Art hides everywhere, often in unimaginable places, such as train stations and underground spaces. Just as frequently, it’s right in front of our eyes every day, and we don’t even notice it. We’re talking about public works of art, hidden – but not so much – among the streets and buildings of Italian cities that go unnoticed. We have selected five for you to discover. Let’s find out what they are.
#1 Adolfo Wildt’s Ear
In Milan, near the famous Villa Necchi-Campiglio, specifically at the number 10 of Via Serbelloni, there is a sculpture by Adolfo Wildt, created in 1927. It is an ear, placed in a niche of the building, known by the Milanese as “La Cà de l’Oreggia.” Actually, it’s not just a sculptural work but a real intercom. In the past, you could communicate with the concierge by speaking into the ear. Because of this unique detail, it is often referred to as “Italy’s first intercom.” Today, those who visit this “hidden sculpture” whisper a wish into the ear, hoping it will come true.
#2 The building with the piercing
In Turin, there is a building with a piercing. We’re talking about the artwork “Baci Urbani” by Corrado Levi, positioned on the corner of a building overlooking Piazzetta Corpus Domini. More precisely, it’s on the corner of the fourth floor of the building located at civic number 19. The artwork was created by artist Levi in collaboration with the group of artists and architects known as Cliostraat, who aim to work on urban spaces. The decision to adorn an eighteenth-century building with a piercing, a symbol of modernity and rebellion, reflects the artists’ desire to connect tradition with a space, both in concrete and abstract terms. If you look closely, you can see that “blood” flows from the two “holes,” with one side being red and the other blue, symbolizing the blood of the proletariat and that of the nobility.
#3 Clet Abraham’s road signs
Road signs are the means through which the city communicates with its citizens, regulating its flow and movements. Building on this insight, the French street artistClet Abraham decides to artistically intervene on them, using them as genuine supports for his works. Among other cities, he also does this in beautiful Florence. The artist works extensively, focusing on the historic center. If you pay attention, you can find many of them, with some interventions located in Piazza della Signoria, Piazza Duomo, and even at the Belvedere of Piazzale Michelangelo.
#4 The Banksy‘s Madonna with the Gun
Among the five, this is perhaps the most famous, but despite being in one of the most central points of Naples, it can easily go unnoticed. We’re talking about the first intervention in Italy by the world’s most famous street artist, Banksy. It’s the artwork often referred to as “The Madonna with the Gun,” which is now protected by a display case. It is located in Piazza Gerolomini, just steps away from Via Duomo. It could be mistaken for a religious symbol, of which Naples is filled, but it is, in fact, a statement by the Bristol artist. The Madonna’s halo is replaced by a revolver, symbolizing – in a provocative manner – the increasingly close connection between the sacred and the profane.
#5 The Arnaldo Pomodoro Labyrinth
With the last artwork, we return to Milan and move away from the street. In fact, more precisely, we take you underground. We’re talking about one of the most sensational works by the sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro, who in 1995 began creating a true sculptural labyrinth. It is located in Via Solari, 35 and is a hidden gem of Milan that not everyone is aware of, partly due to its unique entrance. To access the Labyrinth, one must enter the Fendi Showroom. Once you step inside, you’ll enter the magical and mystical world of Pomodoro, who spent nearly twenty years creating this massive installation.
