The Sri Chakra Yantra Foundation defends Alessandra Ambrosio's fashion line.

Alessandra Ambrosio, the famous Victoria Secret model and Vogue cover girl has been criticised after she launched a bikini line which she captioned as having the 'power of YANTRA.' She called the line special because it uses the geometry of the SRI YANTRA symbol proving she is trying to blend spirituality with fashion design. Several Hindu groups were quick to demand that Alessandra Ambrosio publicly apologise and rename her bikini line as they believe it is inappropriate and offensive to their religion. Rajan Zed, president of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that "ancient Yantra," which is "the visual equivalent of mantra" or religious chants, represents "the Goddess and the cosmos" and is "a serious and sacred symbol or concept used for Hindu liturgy and meditation."

Vinita Rashinkar, noted Indian author of the bestselling "Sri Chakra Yantra" has come to the defence of the former model and states that it is ridiculous for Hindu groups to oppose the bikini line on the grounds that it offends Hindu religious beliefs. In a statement, the author says: "The Sri Yantra is the ultimate symbol of Shakti - the power of the feminine energy." In the Vedic tradition, the Sri Yantra is regarded as the representation of the universe as well as the body of the goddess related to the feminine principle. If by wearing the Sri Yantra in any form allows a woman to feel the goddess-power within herself and helps her to move toward a radiant and joyful manifestation, then it should not be seen as hurting Hindu sentiments.

Zed also said that it "hurt the devotees" through the line, which featured "inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts or icons or symbols for commercial or other agenda." Vinita counters this by stating that the Sri Yantra design is seen everywhere from t-shirts to jewellery, even bed spreads and wall decals so it is wrong to single out Alessandra for criticism and accuse her of commercialising the yantra when the whole world is doing the same and no one has raised an issue so far.

Vinita explains in her book "The Sri Chakra Yantra" that a yantra is an instrument for meditation which supports spiritual growth. The Sri Yantra is known to be the most powerful among all yantras and is the symbol of the great divine mother principle, the source of all energy, power and creativity.

'Real Good Swim' Styles are Made with Recycled Fibers from Plastic

Aerie's Real Good Swim capsule collection introduces a variety of swimwear styles that are made with recycled fibers from plastic bottles—also known as a material called REPREVE. To create the collection, over 1.2 million recycled plastic bottles were used. The sustainably focused swimwear line is brightly colored and full of different silhouettes like classic one-piece designs and high-waisted bikinis to help people feel comfortable in whatever they choose. In all, there are over 30 new Real Good Swim styles to discover. 

Ever a champion for real beauty, Aerie opted to photograph its newest swimwear collection on a diverse group of models who are unretouched.

Aerie's parent company, AEO Inc, is working towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% before the end of 2030 and aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Frankies Bikinis Expands Into Beauty

What do Jennifer Lopez, Kylie Jenner, and Gigi Hadid have in common? A mutual love for Frankies Bikinis! The Instagram-famous swimwear brand just expanded into beauty so you can achieve an “effortless Californian glow,” while sporting the same bikini as your favorite star.

Founder Francesca Aiello launched Frankies Bikinis Beauty, with a lineup of three beach-friendly beauty essentials. The collection includes Glow Mist. ($36), Glow Moisturizer .($40) and Glow Tint. ($28) — all clearly designed to help you look naturally radiant.

There’s also a value kit called the Essentials Collections Set. ($90) that comes with all three of the new products. Fun bonus: They come housed inside of a stylish blue terry cloth travel bag.

Take note: The beauty brand is cruelty free, sulfate free, gluten free, alcohol free and paraben-free. They’re also devoid of artificial coloring and fragrance so you don’t have to worry about what you’re putting on your face.

Frankies Bikinis Beauty is available online now at www.frankiesbikinis.com

Pre-owned and premium: That’s new at Zalando

This summer do not compromise, but instead embrace your style fully. The time has come to say it out loud with style, and with as many stripes, dots, clashin...

At the occasion of presenting its 2019 business numbers fashion E-commerce company Zalando also unveils its plans to strengthen the premium segment and to launch pre-owned fashion business.

1. Premium segment
In order to gain more market share in the for premium fashion, Zalando plans to double its premium and luxury assortment before year-end 2023. The company has recently added Moschino Couture, Proenza Schouler White Label and Alberta Ferretti, and will further expand the category.

As of today, Zalando’s premium assortment consists of over 260 brands including names like Victoria Victoria Beckham, Vivienne Westwood, and MM6. Individual brand stores allow brand partners to individually adapt their presentation in the Zalando Fashion Store. Presently, the premium experience is elevated through dedicated content and exclusive onsite campaigns. In the future, Zalando plans to improve the customer experience on site and with a new unpacking experience.

 “Especially younger customers like to mix and match high-street fashion brands with sports and designer pieces. Premium has been our fastest-growing category in the past months, and we see a huge potential to build on that,” says David Schneider, Zalando co-CEO.

2. Pre-owned fashion The company will scale its pre-owned fashion pilot and launch “Pre-Owned” as a new category. Starting in the third quarter of 2020, customers will be able to buy curated pre-owned fashion, as well as sell their pre-owned fashion items to Zalando.

“As with any other category like ’Sport,’ ’Shoes’ or ’Accessories,’ Zalando customers will now be able to shop unique items that previously belonged to other Zalando customers. [...] Customers will also be able to sell their items to Zalando where, after a quality check, they will become available on the fashion store,“ says Torben Hansen, VP Recommerce, Zalando. “What’s so special about the pre-owned category is that customers will experience the same convenience proposition as they would shopping any other category on the store,” he adds.

3. The numbers 
31 million customers (2018: 26.4 million), 145 million orders, more than 4 billion site visits and 4.6 million additional active customers: according to its data released yesterday Zalando has grown its business in 2019.

GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume) grew by 23.6% to $10.5 billion (2018: $8.4 bn), its revenues by 20.3% to $8.3 billion (2018: $6.9 bn).

Growth was especially pronounced in the fourth quarter with GMV up 24.3% to $2.8 billion and revenue up 19.5% to $2.2 billion at an adjusted EBIT of $123.4 million, pushed by record-breaking results during Cyber Week, Zalando states. 

In line with its growth strategy for 2023/24, Zalando expects to grow its GMV between 20 and 25% and revenues to grow between 15 and 20% in 2020. The company expects continued profitable growth and an adjusted EBIT between $225 and 275 million, as well as capital expenditure of around $330 million. These expectations exclude a potential negative impact caused by the Coronavirus.

MIGA Swimwear — Initially Exclusively Designed For Disfigurement — Expands To Include Designs For Disabilities And Chronic Illnesses

On a frigid December night in Manhattan’s East Village, as you approached the entrance of Short Stories, one of the neighborhood’s newest bar and restaurant, you noticed an unusual thing for this area— a wheelchair ramp. The East Village, along with other New York City’s historic neighborhoods, is notoriously known for its wheelchair-inaccessible buildings and hard-to-navigate cobblestone streets.

On this night, in particular, MIGA Swimwear, a swimsuit line specifically for people with disfigurements, chronic illnesses and disabilities, was having a launch party for its second line. In order to be inclusive of guests, MIGA’s CEO and founder, María Luisa Mendiola, made sure the venue was wheelchair accessible, prompting the owner to place a ramp in the entrance.

Short Stories had the ramp since its opening, but this night was the first time it was used.

“Places say they don’t need to be wheelchair-accessible because they don’t have customers in wheelchairs,” says Mendiola. “But the truth is, they’re losing customers in wheelchairs and with disabilities by not being accessible. It’s amazing to see MIGA is making places like [Short Stories] shift the narrative.”

MIGA Swimwear officially launched in November 2018, when Mendiola raised over $10,000 to release the brand’s first collection that was made specifically for burn survivors. For the second line, Mendiola wanted to reach a grander population and help even more people feel confident in swimsuits. Through 25 answers to a survey she sent out to people living with different kinds of physical conditions, Mendiola came up with five new designs for this year’s collection.

Those five new designs were crafted carefully to accommodate over 25 different diagnoses, including spinal cord injuries, sacrococcygeal tumors and ostomies. For example, one design includes a high waisted bikini bottom with an adaptable belt with snaps so the wearer can comfortably place a stoma bag. This swimsuit was inspired by a woman named Lydia, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. As a result, she underwent surgery to remove her large intestine and got an ileostomy. Lydia is now one out of 450,000 people in the U.S. who wears a stoma bag.

With each purchase of a MIGA swimsuit, you receive a canvas bag detailing the story behind the design. Not only does this storytelling empowers the person whose the story is about, but it also opens up a dialogue between the consumer and the brand, which in turn creates a space for more conversations to be held. 

Mendiola explains, “the brand doesn’t work unless we have people that both have disfigurement and don’t, or have disabilities and don’t. [MIGA] is a brand where we want to have those kinds of conversations that are not being had. It’s a brand equally for people that do have disabilities and for people who, when someone that looks differently walks into a room, don’t know how to react. We want to create that space where it’s not patronizing. We don’t want to like educate for the sake of educating. But like the more you know, the more you can combat that awkwardness and I think at the end, it’s all about how you can be more of a kind human [who’s] understanding and empathetic.”

Mendiola developed the vision of MIGA from her own insecurities about her physical disfigurement. She has brachymetatarsia, which in her case, means that she has shortened fourth toes on both of her feet. As a young girl growing up in Costa Rica, she was told to conceal this imperfection in her appearance.

It was only through her fashion studies at Central Saint Martins in London that she found her true passion for bringing inclusivity in the fashion industry — when the idea for MIGA Swimwear was conceived — and she started becoming more accepting of herself. In the process of building the brand, Mendiola has also inspired dozens of other people to be comfortable with their own physical appearances, especially at such a vulnerable place like the beach or pool.

The 2019 MIGA Swimwear line launched on December 12, and each of the five designs is available in sizes XS through 3XL.

by Sarah Kim / Forbes