Jonathan Simkhai Becomes Bicoastal, Opens Part-Time L.A. Design Studio [WWD]
Jonathan Simkhai is the latest designer to put down (semipermanent) roots in L.A. The designer and his fiance have rented a home in the Hollywood Hills, where they plan to stay through the spring. While he’s in town, Simkhai will continue to design from the home — he told friends and stylists that he had set up a makeshift design room in the house and a cutting room in the garage.
Thinx “She-E-O” Responds to Allegations of Toxic Work Environment [Medium]
Miki Agrawal, founder, “She-E-O” and former CEO of Thinx period underwear, responded to an investigative piece on Racked that detailed employee issues with benefits and a hostile work environment caused by Agrawal’s erratic behavior. On Friday, Agrawal penned a piece published on Medium titled “My Thinx Experience” in which she addressed the allegations made against her and “proudly” confirmed her exit as CEO. She addressed the company’s lack of a human resources department (“We grew so quickly, and I didn’t hire an HR person. … It was hard to rationalize hiring an HR person at the time with only 15 employees, and then all of a sudden, we were 30 people”), as well as issues with benefits and bonuses, mostly claiming that, as with all startups, getting these programs off the ground is difficult (“#StartupLife“).
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Urban Decay Unveils Basquiat Collection Fronted by Ruby Rose [The Cut]
Urban Decay recently debuted a new collection inspired by the late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, complete with packaging covered in his work and hooks so that palettes can be displayed on the wall. However, some customers took issue with the casting of Ruby Rose, who has a contract with Urban Decay, as the face of the collection, considering Basquiat often spoke about how the absence of black people influenced their inclusion in his art. (Rose, coincidentally, is a massive Basquiat fan and has his crown signature tattooed on her body.) The president of Artestar, which owns licensing for Basquiat’s work, tells The Cut of the casting: “It wasn’t that we chose her because she was white or black. She was already selected by Urban Decay to be the spokesperson for their brand.”
Power Stylist Ilaria Urbinati Collaborates With Eddie Bauer [WWD]
Ilaria Urbinati, who landed at No. 6 on THR‘s annual Power Stylists list and whose clients include Tom Hiddleston, James Marsden and both Affleck brothers, has collaborated with outdoor-clothing company Eddie Bauer on a collection of women’s apparel, which will be available online and in stores this September. Said the stylist of the collection, priced $70-$349, “If a J.D. Salinger character or Margot Tenenbaum wore Eddie Bauer, this is what it would look like.” Urbinati had previously collaborated with Eddie Bauer for a men’s capsule collection in 2015.
