This Week in Fashion | August 14

1. Olympic closing ceremonies feature the best of Britain’s designers

Sunday – British fashion became an integrated part of the 2012 Olympics closing ceremonies in a star-studded catwalk. Aptly named “Midas Touch”, the presentation was the product of collaboration between Kim Gavin (the closing ceremonies’ creative director) and The British Fashion Council. It consisted of 9 celebrity models wearing golden attire created by the best of Britain’s designers. On the lineup were Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Karen Elson, Stella Tennant, Lily Cole, Jourdan Dunn, Georgia May Jagger, Lily Donaldson, and David Gandy. The designers represented (to name a few) were Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Burberry, Paul Smith, Christopher Kane, and Victoria Beckham.

2. Acclaimed fashion photographer passes away at 58

World-renowned fashion photographer Prabuddha Dasgupta passed away on Sunday at the age of 58. He was known for his black and white photographs, which contributed significantly to a new iconic look for India’s emerging fashion scene in the ‘90’s. In 1996, Dasgupta became the first photographer to publish a book of nudes of urban Indian women, titled “Women”. Much of his other work was published in magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Elle, and many more.

3. Hello Kitty’s high-end fashion brand to break into Asian market

Hello Kitty’s first and only high-end sister label, Pynkiss, has expanded to the Asian consumer market. It is set to be established over the next two years, bringing premium apparel and accessories to the multi-billion dollar Asian licensed goods market. At $4 billion in 2011, China has the world’s fastest growing market for licensed goods. Executives behind Pynkiss are optimistic about growth opportunities, and cite the devoted Hello Kitty consumer as one reason why.

4. Fashion show celebrates disabled beauty

Ukraine – A small but impactful fashion show was held at a Kiev nightclub to challenge existing social stigmas around physically handicapped persons in Ukraine. The event, called Fashion Chance, featured models one normally wouldn’t see on the runway. Among the many who wore elegant evening gowns and big hats were physically disabled models; some blind, some wheelchair-bound. The event was meant to celebrate and dignify a marginalized group in a country where most public schools turn away disabled children, and many more buildings lack wheelchair ramps.

Julianna Keu