Latest news with #PrideCollection
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
True Colors: Betsey Johnson Reflects on Fashion Pride and Longtime LGBTQ Allyship
True Colors: Betsey Johnson Reflects on Fashion Pride and Longtime LGBTQ Allyship originally appeared on L.A. Mag. One of the most vibrant designers in the fashion world, Betsey Johnson is renowned for maximalist moxie and ultra-femme aesthetics that have proven timeless. And a new generation of fans, like pop stars Olivia Rodrigo and Halsey, have taken to wearing her iconic looks, sold worldwide at her signature hot pink and black boutiques until 2012, and now available on A longtime champion for the queer community, Johnson and parent company Steve Madden are partnering with the Elton John AIDS Foundation for the second straight year. Each item purchased among her 2025 Pride Collection means $1 donated to EJAF through the Betsey Johnson x Shopping Gives platform, supporting the foundation's efforts to end the AIDS epidemic and combat LGBTQ+ stigma. Johnson was celebrated on Season 17 of the Emmy award-winning RuPaul's Drag Race, which featured a contest inspired by her career. Competing queens created looks and walked the runway in three B.J.-influenced categories, including 'punk grunge flap-pers,' 'Betsey's Prom' and 'Prenup,' nodding to her bridal designs. 'I was beyond excited to be part of RuPaul's Drag Race because it's just the most fabulous, over-the-top explosion of creativity and self-expression,' Johnson, who lives in Malibu, tells Los Angeles magazine. 'I've known RuPaul for decades now — I remember her early days downtown in NYC — and to see what she's created is truly incredible.' The show highlighted Johnson's support and love for the drag, queer and transgender communities — particularly when RuPaul noted Johnson was the first designer to use trans models. It was never about ticking boxes for Johnson, though. 'I grew up as a performer, and the community I identified with and felt safe around was the LGBTQ community,' she explains. 'They always welcomed me and celebrated individuality in a way that I loved. Now, I look back on it and I'm so proud that it's part of my legacy — but at the time, it was just who wanted to be around ... and design the coolest clothing for.' Lifetime Achievement Award winner at the Daily Front Row Fashion Los Angeles Awards in April, Johnson celebrates the community that inspires her with the bold embellishments, glitzy adornments and rainbow-hued pizzazz of her Pride collection — all part of her mission to 'never stop sparkling.' This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Metro
11-06-2025
- Business
- Metro
Major retailer to shut a further nine stores this month
Hobbycraft is set to close nine stores in the coming days putting hundreds of jobs at risk. The stores set to close on June 21 include sites across Bristol, Basildon, Dunstable and Borehamwood. Two more sites will close in Essex, one in Gloucestershire and a store in Kent. But another 18 branches on top of those are also at risk of closing if Hobbycraft's new owners aren't able to negotiate rent cuts for their premises. That means up to 27 shops could close, putting between 72 and 126 jobs at risk. Hobbycraft CEO Alex Wilson said: 'Hobbycraft is the UK's leading arts and crafts retailer, with a strong presence across the country and online, fantastic colleagues and loyal and engaged customers. 'Very sadly, the strength of our offering has not made us immune to the challenges faced by the retail sector in recent years. 'Closing stores is always a last resort, and this has been an extremely difficult decision.' Private investment firm Modella Capital has launched the Hobbycraft overhaul after buying the retailer last August. Its restructure also includes redundancies at its head office in Bournemouth and the distribution centre in Stoke-on-Trent, though it's not yet known how many people will lose their jobs there. More Trending Modella said the overhaul is intended to try and save at least 99 branches and 1,800 jobs across the business as a whole. A spokesperson said: 'Modella understands that high streets provide a vital service to consumers, are an essential source of employment and are key to the future success of local economies. Bagshot Basildon Borehamwood Imperial Retail Park Canterbury Cirencester Dunstable Epping Forest Lakeside Shopping Centre 'Modella Capital believes that many retailers can thrive on the high street; particularly those with a distinctive offer and a loyal customer base. 'Where necessary, Modella Capital has the skills and experience to restructure retailers that require it, in order to ensure they create profitable, ongoing businesses that will continue to serve communities and employ thousands of people across the UK.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Uniqlo launches 'timeless' satin trousers for £24.90 – and we predict a sell out MORE: Tom Daley partners with Reiss on exclusive Pride Collection – with proceeds going to charity MORE: Popular discount store announces another shop closure in blow to high street
Metro
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Tom Daley collaborates with Reiss on an exclusive collection to celebrate Pride
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more Tom Daley has made it known he has a keen interest in knitting, after previously being spotted sitting poolside with knitting needles in hand. Fast forward a few years and the Olympian has partnered with fashion house Reiss on an exclusive Pride Collection, which centres around love, pride and his love of the water. The 15-piece collection is a unisex capsule of embroidered, knitted, and printed clothes that boast a relaxed fit – plus a cupid of sequin items too, for good measure. While some items are embroidered with 'Lover' on, others feature heart-shaped motifs to honour Pride. As the collection honours Tom's aquatic career it's unsurprising the clothing range is centred around a blue colour scheme – makes sense – as well as waterfall sequins and wave patterned knits. Speaking about the partnership, Tom shared: 'My inspiration for designing the Reiss x Tom Daley collection were some of my favourite things – water and the craft of knitting. Sequins really spoke to me when it came to knitting as they bounce light off the piece, as you would see if you were looking on the surface of the water. I love texture and elements that look hand-finished, such as blanket stitching, and it was really important to me to include these little details in the collection.' More Trending This collection pays extra attention to detail as the label on each item has been created by LGBTQ+ artist Richard Kilroy, and it features an abstract image of two swimmers in a pool. From chunky knitwear, crochet designs to denim jackets, co-ords, cardigans and polo tops, this collection is ideal for the summer season. Shop a full outfit from the line, or specific staples to weave into your existing collection. What we love most is the Pride Collection will see proceeds donated to Rainbow Railroad charity, which provides support and safety to the LGBTQ+ community worldwide. The Reiss x Tom Daley collection is available to shop online and in stores at Reiss now, so what are you waiting for? Go bold with the Stripe Polo Vest, which boasts chunky knit detailing, a collar neckline, as well as blue sequins and 'Lover' motif on the front. Wear on its own with shorts, chinos or jeans, or layer over a T-shirt. BUY NOW FOR £148 It's fun, it's playful, it's jazzy, it's everything you want for a night out celebrating Pride, as well as any upcoming holidays too. The cuban-style shirt is embellished with soft blue sequins, and features 'Lover' on the back in a contrast buttercream colourway. It features a collar detail and button front fastening, which you can button all the way up, partially fasten or leave open. BUY NOW FOR £138 A twist on the classic denim shorts that we welcome in the summer months when we tend to be more playful with fabrics and textures. The shorts feature crochet panels by the pocket, as well as blanket stitch along the hems for added detail. The shorts fall to the knees and offer a wide relaxed fit. BUY NOW FOR £168 If you have a summer filled with garden parties, picnics in the park and trips away, these colourful shorts need to be in your closet. Crafted from speckled cotton-blend yarn, and woven into a chunky crochet texture, these shorts offer an alternative to the classic chino or denim shorts. Pair with a classic tank top or T-shirt. BUY NOW FOR £128 If you want a timeless piece you can wear day in day out then a T-shirt is a great way to go. It's one of the more affordable pieces in Tom Daley's collection, but it's versatile, playful and simple. The back features a bold water print, which will add colour to any look. BUY NOW FOR £98 Come summertime crochet shirts and co-ords are everywhere, so we are snapping this up for the season. It features green, sky blue and mustard geometric shape detail, a cuban collar and button front shirt. BUY NOW FOR £168 A classic vest is a must buy, after all you can never have too many tanks. This short sleeve design features a round neck and 'Lover' embroidered on the front. It may just be our favourite piece because it's so simple, versatile and easy to wear. BUY NOW FOR £48 Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Share your views in the comments below MORE: Western fashion is back – these are the pieces to nail cowgirl chic this summer MORE: Aligne's new denim collection is here – and it's all about fit, style and everyday cool MORE: From Space NK to Mango – here's 23 items our shopping expert is buying this weekend
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BarkBox CEO apologizes for leaked message exposing paused Pride ads — but they're still paused
BarkBox's CEO is "deeply sorry" for a leaked message that revealed the company's plans to forgo advertising for its LGBTQ+ Pride collection — but they appear to have followed through on those plans. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. The dog product subscription service came under fire earlier this week after a message from an employee was shared on social media, exposing the company's intentions to "pause all paid ads and lifestyle marketing pushes for the Pride kit effective immediately." The author referred to LGBTQ+ existence as "another politically charged symbol," comparing it to being a supporter of Donald Trump. "While celebrating Pride is something we may value, we need to acknowledge that the current climate makes this promotion feel more like a political statement than a universally joyful moment for all dog people," the message reads. "If we wouldn't feel comfortable running a promotion centered around another politically charged symbol (like a MAGA-themed product), it's worth asking whether this is the right moment to run this particular campaign." "Right now, pushing this promo risks unintentionally sending the message that 'we're not for you' to a large portion of our audience," the author concluded. After backlash online — including users unsubscribing and threatening boycotts — CEO Matt Meeker posted a statement on BarkBox's Instagram apologizing for the message. He insisted that "the Pride Collection is still available" and that the company has "no plans to remove them," but did not address the advertising roll back. "I apologize. A few days go, an internal message from a BARK team member was released on social media," Meeker wrote. "The message was disrespectful and hurtful to the LGBTQIA+ community, and as the CEO of BARK, I'm responsible for that. I do not agree with the content of the message. It wasn't good, it doesn't reflect our values, and I'm deeply sorry that it happened." Meeker added that instead of donating a portion of the profits from the Pride Collection to a "worthy organization," BarkBox would donate "100 percent of the revenue" this year. As of publishing, the Pride Collection does not appear on BarkBox's home page, nor is it listed under the website's "Monthly Themes" tab. There are no posts advertising the collection on the same company Instagram page that Meeker issued his apology on. A spokesperson for BarkBox told The Advocate that the Pride Collection has been advertised on the website "in the yellow banner at the top of the page." An Internet Archive snapshot of the website from yesterday shows no banner, suggesting it was added in the past 24 hours. Collections BarkBox seemingly considers not "politically charged" include cannabis leaf merchandise for the 420 holiday, a "fleshlight" pig in a blanket toy, and a Harry Potter collection — when writer J.K. Rowling has been using her personal profits to fund legal cases tat restricted the rights of transgender people.
Daily Mail
30-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Target employees reveal embarrassing Pride collection mistake amid backlash
Target knew this year's Pride collection would be under the microscope. Still, the company made a glaring misstep: several self-identified employees have shared photos of a slip-up on the Pride clothing's hang tags. 'body copy tincidunt ut lorem ipsum,' the tags say. 'dolor sit amet, consectet adipiscing elit, sed diam ad nonummy nibh...' If that sounds like gibberish, that's because it is. The sentences are frequently-used placeholder text for graphic designers and publishers looking to test out different fonts. Reddit users pointed out that Target clearly forgot to finish the graphics on a heavily scrutinized collection. 'They didn't finish editing the tags on the Pride merch,' one staffer pointed out. It looks like the incorrect tags impacted clothing items across the lineup. Pictures show placeholder text on tags for products like the 'adult athletic pant' and the 'adult woven top.' 'These kinds of mistakes do occasionally happen, but this clearly slipped through a lot of nets,' Neil Saunders, a retail expert at GlobalData, told Several self-identified Target employees have posted pictures of the company's Pride collection hang tags on Reddit 'It's very sloppy for a product range that is supposed to be meaningful and significant.' Saunders said the company might soon be sending new hang tags to stores to swap out the mistake. But some shoppers, who have already felt spurned by the brand's reversal on diversity and inclusion policies, said the mistake was 'tone deaf.' 'Someone said it was Pride in the closet,' one shopper said. Another added: 'I swear this will end up on some random Facebook page as evidence of the Pride merch being "demonic."' Others joked that the tags would inspire more Queer art. 'Lorem Ipsum is actually my drag name,' one shopper chided. Another added: 'Wow, they really put their heart and soul into this, didn't they?' Target has been at the center of several culture war issues - in 2023, the CEO had to move product because right-wing activists allegedly called in bomb threats Employees have been sounding off on Target this year as frustration about the company's negative headlines mounts 'These kinds of mistakes do occasionally happen, but this clearly slipped through a lot of nets,' Neil Saunders, a retail expert at GlobalData, told 'We're aware of the error that originated with our vendor and are working to address the issue,' a Target spokesperson said in a statement to For years, the company has been caught in the middle of culture war fights. The anger largely started with violent frustration over the Pride collection. In 2023, conservative backlash started against the company when activists called out a bathing suit designed for trans swimmers. Brian Cornell, the company's CEO, said anti-LGBT activists threatened store employees and placed bomb threats in response to the product. He responded by moving the merchandise to the back of nationwide stores. The right-wing anger triggered profit problems for the brand: Target said sales dropped 5.4 percent in the quarter after the backlash. In January of this year, the company cancelled a three-year program meant to diversify its leadership team, angering some shoppers on the left. Shoppers were closely watching this year's Pride collection to see if Target would start leaning on either political direction The decision has spawned a new wave of customer boycotts, with liberal shoppers swearing off the brand. Sales for the company fell 2.8 percent to $23.85 billion in the quarter, the brand announced earlier this month. Employees have been worried the drop in profits and consistent negative headlines impacting the stores will start resulting in job losses and store closures. The company has not shut down a store since 2023, and didn't confirm if it was planning any major cuts. Meanwhile, shoppers have been using this Pride collection as a litmus test to see whether Target would be capitulating to either side in the culture war.
