Fashion News Alert: Sam Smith’s Modeling Career, Fashion Megabrands Support Myanmar’s Minimum Wage Proposal, J. Crew Moves Factory Clothes, and Elio Fiorucci Transitions

Is everyone a model these days? Well, not really, but if you are a celebrity with a huge social media following, the fashion industry may knock at your door.

It appears that the house of Balenciaga has knocked at the door of British pop singer Sam Smith. In a series of black and white sexy images and a full-length video, Smith is the face of the Balenciaga’s men’s fall 2015 campaign.

“Sam Smith conveys a quiet elegance and a subtle sensuality that are perfect for Balenciaga. He represents both sensitivity and power—the dualities of the Balenciaga man,” explains creative director Alexander Wang.

Smith is also thrilled about working for Balenciaga. “I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be wearing these clothes let alone modeling them. So this is a dream come true, and I hope the beginning of a lovely long relationship with Alexander and the House,” he said in a release.

More cheap clothes

Amid all its financial and creative woes, yesterday it was announced that megabrand J. Crew is opening a series of stores that will house its more affordable pieces usually found at J. Crew outlet stores. J. Crew Mercantile will feature lower priced and lower quality merchandise.

“A lot of brands are finding it increasingly hard to compete with fast fashion, and people are tired of shlepping to the outlet centers all the time,” Marlene Morris Towns, a teaching professor of marketing at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business told The Huffington Post. “For some shoppers, seeing the word ‘outlet’ connected to a brand means it’s a ‘brand minus.’ Giving the store a different name makes them feel like they’re having a more upscale, and more interesting experience.”

J. Crew Mercantile will open its doors first in Dallas at the end of July. Lower quality, and more cheap clothes, is that really a good thing

Myanmar fights back

With the continued search for cheap labor, the government of Myanmar has decided to go against the grain in attracting manufacturers and foreign investors and proposes a minimum wage for its garment workers. As several manufactures have threatened to take their business elsewhere if these proposals pass, several megabrands have lent their support of Myanmar’s proposed minimum wage. The proposed minimum wage appeal for workers is $3 a day.

The GAP, Adidas, H&M, Tesco, Patagonia and twelve other megabrands are supporting Myanmar’s wage appeal and sent an open letter of support to local authorities. In mid-June some 30 Chinese and 60 Korean-owned factories threaten to transfer their factories to other countries if the wage appeal is upheld.

“We wish to counter the claims of Myanmar’s garment manufacturers and employers associations that higher wages will dissuade foreign investors,” said Fair Labor and Ethical Trading Initiative. “A minimum wage that has been negotiated by all parties will attract rather than deter international companies from buying garments from Myanmar, particularly companies such as ETI members that have committed to upholding international labour rights standards in their global supply chains.”

Arrivederci Fiorucci

Italian fashion icon and designer Elio Fiorucci died yesterday in Milan. Elio Fiorucci became the face of ready-to-wear Italian fashion in the late 60s into the 80s with his emphasis on “concept stores” that combined pop culture with trendy ready-to-wear clothes.

Fiorucci continued his success with collaborations with Andy Warhol, Madonna, Keith Haring, and Jean-Paul Gaultier. In the 90s as Fiorucci’s brand of merchandising went of vogue, the brand was purchased by Japanese jean giant, Edwin, with the Japanese company taking complete control by 2002.

Fiorucci had recently launched a new brand, Love Therapy, a line of jeans, t-shirts and accessories and started to work with Italian fast fashion retail chain OVS.

Elio Fiorucci was 80 years old.

—William S. Gooch