Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton is one of the world’s leading luxury brands, and 2021 was one of its busiest and most profitable years; the fashion giant opened its first stand-alone US men’s store in Miami, FL and welcomed a number of notable social media surges.
Dolce & Gabbana
This year, Dolce & Gabbana hosted quite a few shows; their Alta Moda exhibition garnered a lot of attention in August, and their women’s fashion show in Sicily showcased a number of memorable outfits. Despite some controversy in 2018 regarding their Shanghai fashion event, they’re back on track!
Gucci
Just about everyone knows and loves Gucci. The brand has won fashion enthusiast hearts around the world and continues to deliver clothing of exceptional quality and breathtaking originality; in 2021, Gucci collaborated closely with Azède Jean-Pierre, a Haitian American designer, to create limited edition outfits.
Gucci has also devoted itself to charitable causes over the years, and 2021 was no exception—the company made considerable donations to Haiti crisis response organizations. It’s refreshing to see a major designer put forth so much effort to make the world a more hospitable place!
Prada
2021 was a big year for Prada. In October, Miuccia Prada was awarded the John B. Fairchild Honor for Lifetime Achievement for her continual influence on the fashion industry. She is, of course, no stranger to awards; it seems as though she is constantly ticking another honor the list, and it’s all because of her generosity, creativity, and work ethic!
Burberry
Burberry was one of 2021’s more active brands. The company hosted a slew of notable shows and collections, including the gorgeous autumn/winter 2021 Menswear collection. Burberry is a major proponent of individual expression and places a great emphasis on personal pride. Its spring/summer options were also quite creative and colorful, emphasizing denim, the color blue, and daring patterns. Burberry won the Ventana Research Digital Leadership Award for its exceptional and innovative supply chain operations.
Virgil Abloh and Off-White
On November 28, 2021, Virgil Abloh, the founder of Off-White, unfortunately passed away after a battle with cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare type of heart cancer. He was a fashion pioneer and spearheaded one of the most popular brands in recent memory. Interestingly, very few knew of his health struggles, as he chose to keep his illness private while continuing to enthrall the world with his outstanding work.
Although he was primarily a designer, Abloh was also a musician and artist who enjoyed painting and sculpting—the sky was his limit. He may have left us, but his work has not, and he will remain influential for years to come.
Marc Jacobs
2021 saw the release of Marc Jacobs’ latest fall/winter Collection, and as usual, it was full of bold, stunning outfits. But this year also brought something new to Jacobs: plastic surgery. In July, he posted on Instagram, his facelift before-and-after by Dr. Andrew Jacono, a New York City facial plastic surgeon. Fans were overwhelmingly supportive of Jacobs’ honesty, and not for naught—at 58, he is looking healthier and more youthful than ever!
