Fashion News Alert: Another Kate at Topshop, Jeremy Scott’s New Job, Andrew Cuomo Signs Child Model Law, and Jil Sander Departs

Make room Kate Moss there is another Kate in town. Well, at least there is at Topshop. For several years supermodel Kate Moss has been the Kate du jour at Topshop,  but now plus-size model Kate Bosworth is making her presence known with a new winter Topshop collection.

Bosworth has already had an affiliation with the British multinational retailer by modeling their holiday collection in 2012. However, for fall/winter 2013 Bosworth has unveiled a higher priced line for Topshop with such items as leather pants and sheepskin coats that range in price from $590 to $995, respectively, all under the name, The Collection.

WWD has described Kate Bosoworth’s line as “luxurious pieces with a strong minimalist approach” [that remained faithful to] “the mix of masculine-feminine balance that exists in my personal aesthetic.” Still, I don’t think Kate Moss has to move over quite yet.

Changes at Moschino

Iconic Italian brand Moschino has a new creative director, Jeremy Scott. Seems like a good match. The LA–based Scott will head up a brand known for its irreverence and edgy aesthetic, similar to Scott’s own, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, the-fashion-world-be-damned, rebellious point of view.

Scott will make his runway debut for Moschino in February for the fall 2014 season. “It’s the closing of one chapter and the beginning of a new one,” explained Scott in a phone interview with style.com.

Cuomo protects child models

Recently, New York Governor Mario Cuomo signed into law stricter labor protections for child models. The new labor protections establishes the following:

• Designers have to ensure 15 percent of the model’s fee is funneled into a trust account until he or she is 18.
• If they miss three or more consecutive days of school, they must also be provided a tutor.
• Models under 16 must also be provided a chaperone and a nurse with pediatric experience should be on hand.
• Employers or guardians who break the rules will face fines of between $1,000 and $3,000.

One of the sponsors of the new law, State Senator Diane Savino, expressed the following comments in a news conference, “We have brought an end to the rampant exploitation and sexual abuse of child models by giving child models the critical protections.”

While child advocates and many fashion models hail the new legislation, others like the CFDA has expressed concern over how the new law will affect casting during New York Fashion Week.

Jil Sander says goodbye, again

OK, we have been through this before, but it looks like this time it might really stick. Jil Sander recently announced that her spring/summer 2014 collection was her last collection for her eponymous label. The 69-year old Sander’s cited that her departure was “motivated by personal reasons.”

This is not the first time Sander has exited her brand; in fact, this is the fourth time. Founded in 1968, Sander sold her brand to a Japanese company in 1999, leaving a year later, but returning for a short stint in 2003, exiting short after her return to work at Uniqlo. Sander was back on board once again 2012, but after just 18 months, Sander wants to hit the road again.

“On behalf of the group I want to thank Jil Sander for her remarkable contribution to the brand over this period,” said Jil Sander CEO Alessandro Cremonesi. “Her outstanding design and creative leadership have been crucial in reinforcing the brand and positioning it to foster further prosperous growth,” he added.

Happy trails Jil Sander!!

—William S. Gooch