Fashion
Jordan Peterson quits Twitter after calling plus-size model Yumi Nu’s SI Swimsuit cover ‘not beautiful’
- Author Jordan Peterson announced that he was quitting Twitter after receiving backlash for calling plus-size model Yumi Nu’s Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover “not beautiful.”
- Nu, who is also a singer-songwriter, made history last year as Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s first “Asian curve” model.
- Peterson sparked outrage on Monday after tweeting, “Sorry. Not beautiful. And no amount of authoritarian tolerance is going to change that.”
- Twitter users were divided, with several of his own fans condemning Peterson for publicly insulting a woman’s looks. Others shot back that Nu was overweight and unhealthy.
- Peterson announced shortly after the criticism that he would be quitting Twitter due to the “endless flood of vicious insult[s].”
Author Jordan Peterson announced that he was quitting Twitter after receiving backlash for calling plus-size model Yumi Nu’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover “not beautiful.”
Nu, who is also a singer-songwriter, made history last year as Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s first “Asian curve” model. Nu, who is of Japanese and Dutch ancestry, is also the granddaughter of Benihana founder Rocky Aoki and the niece of DJ Steve Aoki.
Yumi Nu becomes the first Asian plus-size model to grace Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover
- Model Yumi Nu joins Kim Kardashian, Maye Musk and Ciara as cover stars for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2022 issue, which hits newsstands on May 19.
- The 25-year-old rising star is the granddaughter of Benihana founder Rocky Aoki and the niece of DJ Steve Aoki.
- In her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit photo shoot, which was shot in Montenegro by James Macari, Nu modeled swimwear, robes and jewelry.
- Her cover story, titled "Yumi Nu's Year of Visibility," touches on the evolving perceptions in the fashion industry.
- After becoming the first-ever Asian plus-size model to be featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit last year, Nu graced the cover of Vogue’s September 2021 issue and also became the first Asian curve model on a Vogue Japan cover last month.
After debuting in the pages of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit last year, plus-sized model and singer Yumi Nu is now on the cover of this year’s issue.
Nu, who is of Dutch and Japanese descent, joined Kim Kardashian, Maye Musk and Ciara as cover stars for the new issue that hits newsstands on May 19.
Nike to release Jōnin-inspired Jordan Air sneakers from Naruto x Zion Williamson collab
- Jordan Brand is set to release its new Jōnin-inspired Jordan Air 200E SP sneakers – a collaboration with “Naruto” and NBA player Zion Williamson.
- Taking inspiration from the high-ranking Jōnin ninja warrior class in “Naruto” lore, the new shoe features the color scheme “Carbon Green/Muslin/Metallic Silver/University Red” and other elements that pay homage to the elite ninjas’ uniforms, from a mesh base to front tips that look like wrist wraps.
- Besides the iconic Jumpman logo, the shoe also has green midsoles and translucent outsoles, as well as the Uzushiogakure symbol and the Konoha symbol on the back heels.
- The main colorway was officially released on May 11. The two other colorways, along with the “Naruto” x Jordan Air 200E SP Jōnin, will be available starting on Wednesday.
Jordan Brand will release its new Jōnin-inspired Jordan Air 200E SP sneakers – a collaboration with the Naruto IP and NBA player Zion Williamson – later this week.
Taking inspiration from the high-ranking Jōnin ninja warrior class in Naruto lore, the new shoe features the color scheme “Carbon Green/Muslin/Metallic Silver/University Red” and other elements that pay homage to the elite ninjas’ uniforms, from a mesh base to front tips that look like wrist wraps.
‘Bling Empire’ star Kane Lim named newest ambassador of Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty
- “Bling Empire” star Kane Lim was announced on Monday as the newest ambassador and face for Rihanna’s billion-dollar beauty brand Fenty Beauty.
- Lim is the first Southeast Asian ambassador for the brand and will participate in a campaign set to debut in Singapore’s Sephora flagship store this month.
- The 31-year-old currently works as a real estate agent for Oppenheim Group in West Hollywood and is well known for his philanthropic work.
- Lim developed a close friendship with Rihanna after the two kept in contact through Instagram for many years.
- As the newest ambassador of Fenty Beauty, Lim hopes to change negative stigmas around men and skincare while uplifting both Black and Asian communities.
Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty announced on Monday that “Bling Empire” star Kane Lim will serve as the newest ambassador and face for the billion-dollar beauty brand.
Lim was born and raised in Singapore, moving to Los Angeles in 2014, and is well known for being a part of the cast of the Netflix reality series “Bling Empire,” which features the glamorous lifestyles of wealthy Asian and Asian American socialites.
Mattel releases Vera Wang Barbie doll as part of latest Tribute Collection
- Mattel’s Barbie Tribute Collection, which celebrates individuals who have “helped shape and impact culture,” includes a Vera Wang Barbie, released on May 5.
- Vera Wang is a Chinese American fashion designer well known for her bridal wear designs who was honored as “Womenswear Designer of the Year” in 2005.
- Wang said she was “overwhelmed” after being asked to join the Barbie Tribute Collection and is honored to be represented by “the ultimate icon.”
- The Vera Wang Barbie doll can be purchased online for $40.00 on the Mattel Creations website.
Mattel released a Barbie doll in honor of Chinese American fashion icon Vera Wang as part of its Barbie Tribute Collection on May 5.
The Tribute Collection celebrates the legacies of individuals who have helped “shape and impact culture.” Wang is the latest to be added to the Barbie collection in honor of her impact on the fashion industry.
Report: Xinjiang cotton found in Adidas, Puma and Hugo Boss tops
- Research suggests Xinjiang cotton is being used in T-shirts from some of Germany’s biggest apparel companies, including Adidas, Puma and Hugo Boss.
- Agroisolab researchers explained that nature leaves behind a “signature” in cotton, caused by the “climate and geology” of a place.
- The signature is what scientists call an “isotopic fingerprint,” which enables them to assign the place of origin in a piece of cotton.
- Adidas and Puma made commitments in 2020 to not source any cotton from the Xinjiang region due to allegations of forced labor in the region.
- Xinjiang cotton has been a high point of controversy due to reports that more than half a million ethnic minorities, particularly Uyghur Muslims, are being forced to pick cotton via “labor programs.”
- In response to recent claims made in a report from The Guardian, both Adidas and Puma reiterated that their companies did not source cotton from the Xinjiang region.
Research suggests Xinjiang cotton is being used in T-shirts by some of Germany’s biggest apparel companies, despite their commitments not to source from the Chinese region due to allegations of forced labor.
According to the German public broadcaster NDR on Thursday, scientists from the Agroisolab in Jülich revealed through isotope analysis that shirts from major German clothing labels, including Adidas, Puma and Hugo Boss, have traces of Xinjiang cotton in them.
Hoops photographer Koolmac designs boba tea-inspired Air Jordan 36 Low sneakers for Nike collab
- Cameron Look, who goes by “Koolmac” on Instagram, posted pictures on Monday to showcase the boba tea-inspired Air Jordan 36 Low sneakers he designed in official collaboration with the Jordan brand.
- The artist told NextShark that talks about the project began in late 2021: “It definitely took some time, but it was well worth the wait. The creative process is always fun.”
- On Sunday, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was spotted rocking the Koolmac-designed shoes during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Playoffs.
- “I’ve built a strong relationship with Jayson over the past four years when he trains in L.A. during the off-season with Drew Hanlen,” Koolmac said. “The colorway was perfect since he plays for the Boston Celtics, and the timing couldn’t have been better given the fact that it’s both NBA playoffs and AAPI Heritage Month.”
Asian American basketball photographer Koolmac finally achieved his dream of designing his own Jordan sneakers.
Cameron Look, who goes by “Koolmac” on Instagram, posted pictures on Monday to showcase the boba tea-inspired Air Jordan 36 Low sneakers he designed in collaboration with the Jordan brand.
Ralph Lauren accused of plagiarizing Malaysian designer Datuk Zang Toi’s NYC cape design
- Internet users have accused Ralph Lauren of copying Malaysian designer Zang Toi Baduk to create Alicia Keys’ Met Gala cape.
- At the Gala on Monday, Keys wore a flowy, floor-length black cape featuring a bedazzled New York City skyline.
- During his Autumn/Winter show for New York Fashion Week in February 2020, Zang Toi showcased a white floor-length cape design with a black cityline of NYC, inspired “by [his] love for [his] adopted home.”
- Zang Toi said that this incident “isn’t the first time” in which his designs have been copied.
People online have claimed that Ralph Lauren’s cape design for Alicia Keys’ Met Gala outfit was a “knockoff” of a piece by Malaysian designer Zang Toi Datuk.
Keys wore a floor-length black cape featuring a bedazzled New York City skyline to the Gala on Monday. When internet users saw Keys’ outfit, many pointed out that the cape strongly resembled another designed by Zang Toi.
Celebrity chef Melissa King wears Chinese dynasty-inspired nail guards to the Met Gala
- Celebrity chef Melissa King wore Chinese dynasty nail guards – traditionally worn by empresses – to the Met Gala on Monday.
- King explained in an Instagram post yesterday that they wanted “a fun play” on their Chinese culture in connection with the daily use of their hands as a chef.
- Designed by Chris Habana and his team, King said the nail guards were inspired by Empress Dowager Cixi, the last empress of China who is remembered as “power hungry” in history but who King suggests “might have been more of a feminist.”
- King is well known for winning Season 17 of Bravo’s “Top Chef All-Stars: Los Angeles” and for judging on Season 18 of “Top Chef.”
At the Met Gala this year, celebrity chef Melissa King was styled in Chinese dynasty-inspired nail guards historically worn by empresses.
In an Instagram post yesterday, King, who goes by they/them pronouns, detailed the inspiration behind their jewelry piece and shared a series of photos showing off the luxurious and intricate design.
Viral video capturing paparazzo’s remark about NCT’s Johnny stirs fan outrage
- A video of a paparazzo muttering, “He doesn’t understand a word I’m saying. F*ck,” while trying to get K-pop idol Johnny’s attention went viral on Twitter and TikTok.
- Johnny was born in Chicago and is fluent in English – a fact he previously had to point out to a reporter in 2019 who told him, “By the way, your English is phenomenal.”
- The NCT member is the fifth male K-pop idol to attend the Met Gala, joining the ranks of EXO‘s Lay, PSY, Rain and Super Junior‘s Siwon.
- Johnny teamed up with Vietnamese American designer Peter Do for his three-piece outfit for the pair’s first Met Gala.
A paparazzo’s comment at the Met Gala about Johnny of K-pop boy group NCT has stirred outrage online.
The photographer can be seen and heard in a video calling out to Johnny, “Johnny Suh, over here! On this side, please!” Unable to get Johnny’s attention, the paparazzo mutters under his breath, “He doesn’t understand a word I’m saying. F*ck.”
Met Gala 2022: See how Asian celebrities dazzled the red carpet
- See some of the best looks by Asian celebrities at the Met Gala 2022.
- This year's dress code? "Gilded glamor, white tie."
Last night, New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art held its annual Met Gala fundraiser, which has come to be known as fashion’s biggest night of the year.
The city saw an influx of A-listers fly in from all over the world dressed to the nines in their own interpretation of the event’s dress code: “gilded glamor, white tie.”
See the long-awaited Nike x Hello Kitty sneakers set to drop just in time for summer
Sneakerheads are pumped for the new Nike x Hello Kitty Air Prestos sneakers collaboration.
Those who missed out 18 years ago on the infamous first Nike x Hello Kitty sneakers collab — which is just about everyone — will have another chance to obtain a pair of Hello Kitty sneakers late next month. Official images of the new Hello Kitty x Nike Air Prestos collaboration to be released next month have been unveiled.
