Must Read: Dove Launches Coding Guide for Black and Natural Hair, Vestiaire Collective Bans Fast-Fashion Brands From Its Platform

Dove is launches a coding guide for Black and natural hair
Dove is teaming up with Open Source Afro Hair Library, a free platform to access 3D models of Black hair textures and styles, to launch a guide for coding Afro-textured hair and protective styles within games called “Code My Crown.” The gaming industry often doesn’t offer a wide range of hairstyles and textures, which can lead to some Black gamers feeling underrepresented. In a new survey conducted by Dove, the brand found that 85% of Black gamers believe video games poorly represent textured hair, while 74% of game developers want to promote better representation of textured hair in video games and learn how to code textured hair. “We want those people within the community who play video games, but don’t necessarily see themselves being seen and represented to ultimately feel seen in the digital world,” Lauren Baker, senior brand manager, engagement and social impact at Dove, told Vogue Business. {Vogue Business/paywalled}

Vestiaire Collective bans fast-fashion brands from its platform
Vestiaire Collective is continuing its three-year rollout to ban fast-fashion brands from its website. The secondhand fashion luxury platform announced on Thursday that it will ban 30 fast-fashion brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap, H&M, Mango, Uniqlo, Urban Outfitters and Zara. Vestiaire Collective is hoping to create a more circular economy and use its platform to bring awareness to issues in the fashion industry, such as textile waste and overconsumption. “The decision to ban fast fashion was made to support Vestiaire Collective’s long-time work to promote alternatives to the dominant model of fashion,” Vestiaire Collective’s Chief Impact Officer Dounia Wone said in a statement. {Fashionista inbox}

Black analyst claims Condé Nast fired him over alleged stolen oatmeal
Bradley Bristol, a former Condé Nast employees, claims in a new civil lawsuit that he was fired for allegedly stealing two bowls of oatmeal from the employee cafeteria. Bristol said he had receipts for the food and provided them to the higher-ups. In the lawsuit, Bristol claims that management retaliated against him for his complaints about allegedly discriminatory treatment by his boss. Bristol details a hostile work environment in the suit where his boss “refused to train him,” used “profane language” when talking to Bristol about his job performance and was “disrespectful and rude.” Bristol is demanding damages in an amount to be determined at trial. {Daily Beast/paywalled} 

Berluti to dress French Olympic teams for Opening Ceremonies
French fashion house Berluti will dress the French Olympic teams head-to-toe for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games’ Opening Ceremonies on July 26 and Aug. 28, respectively. “Berluti is a French maison, a symbol of elegance, and we want the athletes and all the members of the delegation to truly feel like ambassadors of France for this ceremony, which will be the experience of a lifetime,” Antoine Arnault, CEO of Berluti, told WWD. The Olympic Games are expected to bring in 4 billion television viewers, 13 million spectators and 20,000 journalists. Berluti told WWD the French uniforms will be designed for the “ease and comfort” of athletes, while being “tailored to the maison’s usual meticulous standards.” {WWD/paywalled}

How social media turned athletes into fashion-marketing machines
Fashion has realized sports’ massive marketing potential, and fashion has also become a major part of athletes’ branding. LeBron James recently became the face of Louis Vuitton, wearing $28,000 worth of Louis Vuitton designed by the brand’s Men’s Creative Director Pharrell to his team’s season opener. Social media posts of athletes’ tunnel walk often go viral, allowing athletes to build their own brands outside of their teams. Fashion brands partnering with athletes also opens them up to even wider audiences: James has 158 million Instagram followers compared to Louis Vuitton’s 54.7 million. {Business of Fashion/paywalled}

Pleasing opens pop-ups in New York and Los Angeles
Pleasing, a lifestyle brand founded by Harry Styles, is opening pop-ups in New York and Los Angeles that are open now until the end of the year. These pop-ups coincide with the debut of the brand’s fragrance collection, which features three all-new scents. American Express is Pleasing’s official partner for these shops and is offering American Express Card Members exclusive deals and early access through Dec. 25, such as a free The Whole Dewniverse Polish with any purchase and access to the pop-ups one hour before opening. The New York shop is located at 61 Crosby St. and the Los Angeles shop is located at 1108 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice, California. Both locations are open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. {Fashionista inbox}

Givenchy Catwalk book now available for pre-order
Givenchy is releasing Givenchy Catwalk, the first comprehensive overview of the house’s haute couture and ready-to-wear collections from its 1952 debut to today. Written by Alexandre Samson and Anders Christian Madsen, the book includes more than 1,200 photos of original catwalk photography. “This book is an opportunity to trace the creative development of the fashion house’s founder and his successors, to explore their early days, their triumphs, their doubts, their innovations. It is also an opportunity to examine the reactions they provoked at the time, and how these are echoed in our own,” Samson said in a statement. Givenchy Catwalk is available for pre-order now in the U.S. and will be available for purchase for $80 on Nov. 28. {Fashionista inbox}

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