Latest news with #Chicanos
Fashion Network
24-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Casablanca to open first Los Angeles store after Paris
The Casablanca brand, founded in 2018 by Charaf Tajer, will open its first boutique in Los Angeles in July, two months after the planned opening of its Paris boutique on rue Saint-Honoré in May. Located at 469 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, the giant 5,000-square-fo0t space formerly occupied by Jimmy Choo, hair salon chain Vidal Sassoon and yogurt specialist Pinkburry, will welcome the Casablanca brand in a sumptuous architectural setting, with Ionic-style columns, arched display cases and a magisterial wrought-iron staircase. A second store for the designer, a regular at Paris Fashion Week, who will nevertheless have to make his mark in Beverly Hills, in an area off Rodeo Drive. Located at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and North Canon Drive, the boutique is on a less-trafficked stretch of Beverly Hills, occupied by offices and banks, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Beverly Hills Welcome Center and the Bank of America, and by a number of famous cultural venues, including the Wallis Annenberg Center and the Brainwash Museum. Just five minutes from the major Beverly Hills hotels and numerous restaurants, including the popular Wally's and Funke, the store could nonetheless benefit from the new retail momentum on Canon Drive and the refreshment taking place there. Deserted by the luxury brands all clustered on Rodeo Drive, the neighborhood has seen the opening of the cashmere brand Guest in Residence, founded by Gigi Hadid, on the nearby N Beverly Drive. More recently, the fashionable golf brand G/Fore opened its first boutique near Alo Yoga at 401 N Canon Drive, to offer 'its young, modern golfwear collections." The opening of a store in Los Angeles also resonates perfectly with Tajer's love for the West Coast. A long-time Los Angeles enthusiast, Tajer's Spring/Summer 2025 show entitled 'Can't Get Enough' was set against a backdrop of lowriders - a movement launched by Chicanos, Mexican-Americans in the early '40s, taken up by hip-hop and customizing cars into works of art, metallic paint, chrome and lights - and flamboyantly recounted his inspirations for LA, skate and surf culture. Long known in the Parisian nightlife scene - he was notably artistic director of the Pompon parties - the Moroccan-born Frenchman was also co-founder of the Pigalle label alongside designer Stéphane Ashpool. Twenty years of experience, parties, travel and networking led him to launch his own brand in 2018. A gradual but serious success, which led the brand to show at Paris Fashion Week a year later. Its second show, which transformed the gardens of the Musée de Montmartre into the 'Café de Casablanca', attracted a huge turnout of celebrities and guests from New York and California. In recent years, the brand has also forged numerous collaborations. In 2022, Tajer added his tropical graphic signature to a collection of Bulgari bags. In 2023, he teamed up with Caviar Kaspia for a capsule ready-to-wear collection and a limited-edition caviar tin. The brand has also collaborated with S.T. Dupont and Nordstrom, organized memorable parties during Art Basel Miami, and opened its Casablanca Tennis Club in Abu Dhabi last February. The Los Angeles boutique, like the one in Paris, will house the brand's entire wardrobe, from outerwear to tailoring in the West Coast or Miami style, to swimwear, Beach Club, eyewear and sport sneakers. Seven years after its launch, the brand has generated over 50 million euros, according to an interview with Tajer in Forbes Afrique magazine. Last year, the London-based brand announced the appointment of Txampi Diz as chief marketing officer, who had previously held the same position at Balmain. A year earlier, it appointed Frederick Lukoff, former CEO of the Stella McCartney and Scotch & Soda brands, as its new CEO, replacing Nadia Khan. Launched with men's collection, the brand followed with a women's collection in 2020, before a full reorganization in 2023. Its original company, Casablanca Clothing Ltd, founded by Tajer, had been acquired by a new company, Casablanca Paris Ltd. The new anonymous owner was already the brand's main investor.
Fashion Network
24-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Casablanca to open first Los Angeles store after Paris
The Casablanca brand, founded in 2018 by Charaf Tajer, will open its first boutique in Los Angeles in July, two months after the planned opening of its Paris boutique on rue Saint-Honoré in May. Located at 469 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, the giant 5,000-square-fo0t space formerly occupied by Jimmy Choo, hair salon chain Vidal Sassoon and yogurt specialist Pinkburry, will welcome the Casablanca brand in a sumptuous architectural setting, with Ionic-style columns, arched display cases and a magisterial wrought-iron staircase. A second store for the designer, a regular at Paris Fashion Week, who will nevertheless have to make his mark in Beverly Hills, in an area off Rodeo Drive. Located at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and North Canon Drive, the boutique is on a less-trafficked stretch of Beverly Hills, occupied by offices and banks, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Beverly Hills Welcome Center and the Bank of America, and by a number of famous cultural venues, including the Wallis Annenberg Center and the Brainwash Museum. Just five minutes from the major Beverly Hills hotels and numerous restaurants, including the popular Wally's and Funke, the store could nonetheless benefit from the new retail momentum on Canon Drive and the refreshment taking place there. Deserted by the luxury brands all clustered on Rodeo Drive, the neighborhood has seen the opening of the cashmere brand Guest in Residence, founded by Gigi Hadid, on the nearby N Beverly Drive. More recently, the fashionable golf brand G/Fore opened its first boutique near Alo Yoga at 401 N Canon Drive, to offer 'its young, modern golfwear collections." The opening of a store in Los Angeles also resonates perfectly with Tajer's love for the West Coast. A long-time Los Angeles enthusiast, Tajer's Spring/Summer 2025 show entitled 'Can't Get Enough' was set against a backdrop of lowriders - a movement launched by Chicanos, Mexican-Americans in the early '40s, taken up by hip-hop and customizing cars into works of art, metallic paint, chrome and lights - and flamboyantly recounted his inspirations for LA, skate and surf culture. Long known in the Parisian nightlife scene - he was notably artistic director of the Pompon parties - the Moroccan-born Frenchman was also co-founder of the Pigalle label alongside designer Stéphane Ashpool. Twenty years of experience, parties, travel and networking led him to launch his own brand in 2018. A gradual but serious success, which led the brand to show at Paris Fashion Week a year later. Its second show, which transformed the gardens of the Musée de Montmartre into the 'Café de Casablanca', attracted a huge turnout of celebrities and guests from New York and California. In recent years, the brand has also forged numerous collaborations. In 2022, Tajer added his tropical graphic signature to a collection of Bulgari bags. In 2023, he teamed up with Caviar Kaspia for a capsule ready-to-wear collection and a limited-edition caviar tin. The brand has also collaborated with S.T. Dupont and Nordstrom, organized memorable parties during Art Basel Miami, and opened its Casablanca Tennis Club in Abu Dhabi last February. The Los Angeles boutique, like the one in Paris, will house the brand's entire wardrobe, from outerwear to tailoring in the West Coast or Miami style, to swimwear, Beach Club, eyewear and sport sneakers. Seven years after its launch, the brand has generated over 50 million euros, according to an interview with Tajer in Forbes Afrique magazine. Last year, the London-based brand announced the appointment of Txampi Diz as chief marketing officer, who had previously held the same position at Balmain. A year earlier, it appointed Frederick Lukoff, former CEO of the Stella McCartney and Scotch & Soda brands, as its new CEO, replacing Nadia Khan. Launched with men's collection, the brand followed with a women's collection in 2020, before a full reorganization in 2023. Its original company, Casablanca Clothing Ltd, founded by Tajer, had been acquired by a new company, Casablanca Paris Ltd. The new anonymous owner was already the brand's main investor.
Fashion Network
24-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Casablanca to open first Los Angeles store after Paris
The Casablanca brand, founded in 2018 by Charaf Tajer, will open its first boutique in Los Angeles in July, two months after the planned opening of its Paris boutique on rue Saint-Honoré in May. Located at 469 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, the giant 5,000-square-fo0t space formerly occupied by Jimmy Choo, hair salon chain Vidal Sassoon and yogurt specialist Pinkburry, will welcome the Casablanca brand in a sumptuous architectural setting, with Ionic-style columns, arched display cases and a magisterial wrought-iron staircase. A second store for the designer, a regular at Paris Fashion Week, who will nevertheless have to make his mark in Beverly Hills, in an area off Rodeo Drive. Located at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and North Canon Drive, the boutique is on a less-trafficked stretch of Beverly Hills, occupied by offices and banks, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Beverly Hills Welcome Center and the Bank of America, and by a number of famous cultural venues, including the Wallis Annenberg Center and the Brainwash Museum. Just five minutes from the major Beverly Hills hotels and numerous restaurants, including the popular Wally's and Funke, the store could nonetheless benefit from the new retail momentum on Canon Drive and the refreshment taking place there. Deserted by the luxury brands all clustered on Rodeo Drive, the neighborhood has seen the opening of the cashmere brand Guest in Residence, founded by Gigi Hadid, on the nearby N Beverly Drive. More recently, the fashionable golf brand G/Fore opened its first boutique near Alo Yoga at 401 N Canon Drive, to offer 'its young, modern golfwear collections." The opening of a store in Los Angeles also resonates perfectly with Tajer's love for the West Coast. A long-time Los Angeles enthusiast, Tajer's Spring/Summer 2025 show entitled 'Can't Get Enough' was set against a backdrop of lowriders - a movement launched by Chicanos, Mexican-Americans in the early '40s, taken up by hip-hop and customizing cars into works of art, metallic paint, chrome and lights - and flamboyantly recounted his inspirations for LA, skate and surf culture. Long known in the Parisian nightlife scene - he was notably artistic director of the Pompon parties - the Moroccan-born Frenchman was also co-founder of the Pigalle label alongside designer Stéphane Ashpool. Twenty years of experience, parties, travel and networking led him to launch his own brand in 2018. A gradual but serious success, which led the brand to show at Paris Fashion Week a year later. Its second show, which transformed the gardens of the Musée de Montmartre into the 'Café de Casablanca', attracted a huge turnout of celebrities and guests from New York and California. In recent years, the brand has also forged numerous collaborations. In 2022, Tajer added his tropical graphic signature to a collection of Bulgari bags. In 2023, he teamed up with Caviar Kaspia for a capsule ready-to-wear collection and a limited-edition caviar tin. The brand has also collaborated with S.T. Dupont and Nordstrom, organized memorable parties during Art Basel Miami, and opened its Casablanca Tennis Club in Abu Dhabi last February. The Los Angeles boutique, like the one in Paris, will house the brand's entire wardrobe, from outerwear to tailoring in the West Coast or Miami style, to swimwear, Beach Club, eyewear and sport sneakers. Seven years after its launch, the brand has generated over 50 million euros, according to an interview with Tajer in Forbes Afrique magazine. Last year, the London-based brand announced the appointment of Txampi Diz as chief marketing officer, who had previously held the same position at Balmain. A year earlier, it appointed Frederick Lukoff, former CEO of the Stella McCartney and Scotch & Soda brands, as its new CEO, replacing Nadia Khan. Launched with men's collection, the brand followed with a women's collection in 2020, before a full reorganization in 2023. Its original company, Casablanca Clothing Ltd, founded by Tajer, had been acquired by a new company, Casablanca Paris Ltd. The new anonymous owner was already the brand's main investor.
Fashion Network
24-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Casablanca to open first Los Angeles store after Paris
The Casablanca brand, founded in 2018 by Charaf Tajer, will open its first boutique in Los Angeles in July, two months after the planned opening of its Paris boutique on rue Saint-Honoré in May. Located at 469 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, the giant 5,000-square-fo0t space formerly occupied by Jimmy Choo, hair salon chain Vidal Sassoon and yogurt specialist Pinkburry, will welcome the Casablanca brand in a sumptuous architectural setting, with Ionic-style columns, arched display cases and a magisterial wrought-iron staircase. A second store for the designer, a regular at Paris Fashion Week, who will nevertheless have to make his mark in Beverly Hills, in an area off Rodeo Drive. Located at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and North Canon Drive, the boutique is on a less-trafficked stretch of Beverly Hills, occupied by offices and banks, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Beverly Hills Welcome Center and the Bank of America, and by a number of famous cultural venues, including the Wallis Annenberg Center and the Brainwash Museum. Just five minutes from the major Beverly Hills hotels and numerous restaurants, including the popular Wally's and Funke, the store could nonetheless benefit from the new retail momentum on Canon Drive and the refreshment taking place there. Deserted by the luxury brands all clustered on Rodeo Drive, the neighborhood has seen the opening of the cashmere brand Guest in Residence, founded by Gigi Hadid, on the nearby N Beverly Drive. More recently, the fashionable golf brand G/Fore opened its first boutique near Alo Yoga at 401 N Canon Drive, to offer 'its young, modern golfwear collections." The opening of a store in Los Angeles also resonates perfectly with Tajer's love for the West Coast. A long-time Los Angeles enthusiast, Tajer's Spring/Summer 2025 show entitled 'Can't Get Enough' was set against a backdrop of lowriders - a movement launched by Chicanos, Mexican-Americans in the early '40s, taken up by hip-hop and customizing cars into works of art, metallic paint, chrome and lights - and flamboyantly recounted his inspirations for LA, skate and surf culture. Long known in the Parisian nightlife scene - he was notably artistic director of the Pompon parties - the Moroccan-born Frenchman was also co-founder of the Pigalle label alongside designer Stéphane Ashpool. Twenty years of experience, parties, travel and networking led him to launch his own brand in 2018. A gradual but serious success, which led the brand to show at Paris Fashion Week a year later. Its second show, which transformed the gardens of the Musée de Montmartre into the 'Café de Casablanca', attracted a huge turnout of celebrities and guests from New York and California. In recent years, the brand has also forged numerous collaborations. In 2022, Tajer added his tropical graphic signature to a collection of Bulgari bags. In 2023, he teamed up with Caviar Kaspia for a capsule ready-to-wear collection and a limited-edition caviar tin. The brand has also collaborated with S.T. Dupont and Nordstrom, organized memorable parties during Art Basel Miami, and opened its Casablanca Tennis Club in Abu Dhabi last February. The Los Angeles boutique, like the one in Paris, will house the brand's entire wardrobe, from outerwear to tailoring in the West Coast or Miami style, to swimwear, Beach Club, eyewear and sport sneakers. Seven years after its launch, the brand has generated over 50 million euros, according to an interview with Tajer in Forbes Afrique magazine. Last year, the London-based brand announced the appointment of Txampi Diz as chief marketing officer, who had previously held the same position at Balmain. A year earlier, it appointed Frederick Lukoff, former CEO of the Stella McCartney and Scotch & Soda brands, as its new CEO, replacing Nadia Khan. Launched with men's collection, the brand followed with a women's collection in 2020, before a full reorganization in 2023. Its original company, Casablanca Clothing Ltd, founded by Tajer, had been acquired by a new company, Casablanca Paris Ltd. The new anonymous owner was already the brand's main investor.
NBC News
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
How a 1970s Chicano art group defied the mainstream and made history
LOS ANGELES — They met as teens, formed as young adults, and called their group 'asco' — 'nausea' or 'disgust' in Spanish — after one of their early DIY exhibits. Their conceptual work and performance art spoke to the exclusion of Chicanos from the mainstream art world and the systemic police brutality endured by the Mexican American community in East Los Angeles. When filmmaker Travis Gutiérrez Senger reflects on ASCO's legacy, he quickly notes they were more than an art group; they created a movement, one with remarkable influence on Chicano art history. 'That movement continues today, and it's very expansive,' he says. 'There's a lot of books, films and things that will be written about ASCO over a period of time. And this was our contribution in some ways.' He's referring to 'ASCO: Without Permission,' a documentary that chronicles the story of the 1970s art group founded by multidisciplinary artist Patssi Valdez, muralist Willie Herrón III, painter and performance artist Gronk and writer and photographer Harry Gamboa Jr. All four founding members of ASCO became some of the most notable Chicano artists, later exhibiting works in revered museums around the United States. But in their early days, the group was denied access to the notable galleries and museums. They created their own avenues in the form of public performances, murals and more to exhibit their work, their way. 'To behave badly is the most ethical thing you can do,' said executive producer Gael García Bernal at the film's South by Southwest film festival premiere earlier this month. 'You're building identity and questioning and unmasking the facade and the farce that exists.' Bernal and Diego Luna executive produced the film under their production company El Corriente del Golfo. The film has yet to find distribution. Speaking with The Associated Press, Gamboa and Valdez praised Gutiérrez Senger's approach to their history. Both members, who appear in the documentary, saw the film for the first time with a crowd of fans and a group of young Chicano artists whose art was inspired by ASCO's early rebellion. 'I felt the film really kind of captured the essence of all of us working together,' said Gamboa. Valdez says it was a special moment for her, as the only woman in the founding group, to be given equal time and understanding. 'For the first time, I was given an equal voice in the group that hadn't happened before,' she said, citing how previous stories of the group only highlighted her male collaborators. Without permission ASCO emerged at the height of the Chicano civil rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s. It was a time of heightened political and racial tension amid the East LA walkouts, protesting education inequality, and the Chicano Moratorium, an anti-Vietnam War movement during which many Mexican Americans were victims of police brutality. Muralists and collectives popped up as Latino artists sought to process the systemic injustice taking place in their communities. 'The response to such violence was to create art,' said Gamboa Jr. He wanted to alter the mainstream perception of Chicanos and present the possibilities and avenues someone can create despite societal constraints. For Valdez, being the only woman meant she was no stranger to a double dose of both racism in society and the sexism weaved within conservative Latino households, where young women were expected to keep quiet. 'I couldn't stand it. So, I was able to act out these forms of censorship through the performance work in ASCO,' said Valdez who once taped herself to a public wall in a piece titled 'Instant Mural,' a metaphor on feeling captive. One of ASCO's most known works is 'Spray Paint LACMA.' Gamboa, Gronk and Herrón spray painted their names on the side of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art after Gamboa says he was told by a curator, 'Chicanos are in gangs, they don't make art.' 'There was another era when people said, 'Latinx art, you know, doesn't exist. It's not a thing. It doesn't belong. It's not part of American art,'' said Pilar Tompkins-Rivas, the chief curator and deputy director of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. ASCO's neighborhood performance art would often draw stares, and even crowds. In 'Station of the Cross,' the group carried a large cross to the local military recruiting office to protest the Vietnam War. In 1974, Gamboa took a photo of Gronk posed as the victim of gang violence to bring attention to the media's sensationalist coverage of crime in East Los Angeles. In the documentary, Gamboa claims that a local news station ran the piece as an actual story.
