Fashion Brands Are Launching Digital Workshops & Live Q&As - Here's How To Connect With Your Fave Designers

Miu Miu is offering us a distraction with a series of conversations recorded during the Venice Film Festival, as well as a short film directed by Mati Diop.

The film, titled In My Room, is a follow-up to Diop's critically-acclaimed, French feature-length hit Atlantics.

Diop features in the series of conversations that took place IRL in Venice, hosted by The Gentlewoman editor-in-chief Penny Martin, discussing how to visualise hope in cinema (we could all do with some of that).

You can watch snippets of the conversation, and others featuring Emma Corrin, Francesca Hayward and Raffey Cassidy, on Miu Miu's Instagram, with the full discussions coming soon.

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London boutique Browns, renowned for supporting the next generation of creative talent, has teamed up with Grace LaDoja and Alex Sossah of Metallic Inc for Homecoming festival 2020.

The festival brings together the most exciting and original creatives from around the world—not just in fashion, but across art, music and more—to celebrate and support African talent.

Previously hosted in Lagos, we can now engage with the festival online, with a line-up that includes fashion brands Ambush, Mowalola, Off-White, and more, as well as photographer Ruth Ossai and stylist Ola Ebiti.

Follow Browns on Instagram for updates on live-streamed events and an exclusive Homecoming e-zine: @brownsfashion.

Luxury French fashion house Celine has tapped a TikTok star for its latest show, soundtracking its spring/ summer 2021 men's show with a song by Tiagz.

The 22 year old hip-hop musician is a best known for 'They Call Me Tiago', a viral hit on the social media app, which the young Canadian extended for its recent showcase—a collection shown around a racing track in France, featuring skateboarder-style oversized knits, clashing prints, and trippy tie-dye t-shirts.

Celine designer Slimane took inspiration from the dancing teens that TikTok's best known for—the collection is called The Dancing Kid, after all—describing it as a tribute to the kids who 'staved off boredom by dancing, affirming their creative flair' on the app during quarantine.

We might want to do the same, taking inspiration from Celine on TikTok and Instagram: @Celine.

With lockdown restrictions in place, and luxury brands unable to host lavish spectacles IRL, brands like Dior are breathing new life into the show format with specially made films to showcase collections, as well as sharing behind-the-scenes looks at the creation of hit styles.

One of those styles is the new Bobby handbag, named after founder Christian Dior's beloved dog—it's already been carried by model Leomie Anderson, Susie Lau, Lucy Williams and more.

The French luxury powerhouse is also using its Instagram to offer unique access to its ateliers with interviews with les petites mains—the incredible craftspeople who produce its couture styles.

We can wear a minidress from Dior's recent couture collection too—kind of—with original filters on Instagram. Just search for Dior in the search bar in Stories.

Follow @dior on Instagram.

Who could forget model Leon Dame's viral catwalk stomp, now a highlight of every Maison Margiela show?

Covid-19 may have prevented the usual catwalk spectacle from taking place, but it didn't stop Dame from making an appearance in the brand's digital couture showcase—a 50 minute film capturing the creative process behind Margiela's Autumn/ Winter 2020 Artisanal collection.

Offering unprecedented access behind-the-scenes, the film is essentially a fashion documentary that will rival anything you've got queued on Netflix.

You can watch it on YouTube now.

The world renowned department store is staging a six-hour long comedy telethon (Lol-Athon) on its Instagram account on Friday 15th May to provide some much needed entertainment.

Running from 6pm to 12am, the Lol-Athon will feature over 15 acts with a mix of stand-up comedy, drag and singing, ending with a special appearance by Mel C, who will be closing proceedings with a live DJ set.

Follow Selfridges on Instagram for updates.

The British designer recently launched Stellavision on Instagram - a channel for the Stella McCartney brand and its followers to come together and share the ways they’re thriving in this new reality.

Most recently the designer has used Stellavision to celebrate art, taking part in live conversations with the likes of American artist Marilyn Minter.

McCartney has also partnered with London's Design Museum for its #DesignDispatches series, and taken part in a conversation with renowned architect David Adjaye. The conversation was hosted by the Design Museum’s director Tim Marlow, and will be broadcast this Saturday 16th at 2pm on IGTV. Y

ou can also download illustrations from the Stella McCartney website to colour in. They’re supposedly for kids, but hey, we’ll take what we can get.

Follow Stella McCartney on Instagram for updates.

The luxury Spanish brand has launched LOEWE EN CASA, a programme inviting world renowned artists and stars to take part in live-streamed conversations and studio tours.

The most recent participant was American football player Megan Rapinoe, who also featured in LOEWE's Autumn/ Winter 2020 campaigns, photographed by Steven Meisel.

Next up is British actor Josh O'Connor, renowned for his roles in God's Own Country and The Crown, who will be speaking to ceramicist Sara Flynn, a finalist of the 2017 edition of the LOEWE Craft Prize.

Tune in via the brand's Instagram at 6pm BST on Thursday 7th May.

Follow Loewe on Instagram for updates.

Luxury Italian brand Dolce & Gabbana has announced a new project named DGFATTOINCASA, meaning 'Made at Home' in Italian, intended to shine a light on creativity and craft.

Skilled artisans and friends of the house will host a series of digital workshops that invite viewers into their homes as they share their expertise, with a number of celebrities getting involved later down the line, painting, dancing, cooking and more.

The project will contribute to Dolce & Gabbana's fundraising efforts in supports of Fondazione Humanitas Per La Ricerca, and is an extension of its AMORE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH project with Humanitas University.

#DGFATTOINCASA will run on Dolce & Gabbana's social channels starting from May 6th.

Follow the brand on Instagram for updates.

Alexander McQueen is regularly inviting followers to engage with elements of its recent collections, most recently asking them to experiment with embroidery, taking inspiration from the bee dresses in the Spring/Summer 2013 ready-to-wear collection.

Shown on the Alexander McQueen YouTube channel on Thursday 30th April, at 6pm GMT.

Photograph and share your creations on Instagram by tagging @AlexanderMcQueen #McQueenCreators to be featured on their channel.#StayAtHome

This project will run to Tuesday 5th May.

McQueen will be announcing new projects each week.

Follow on Instagram and alexandermcqueen.com.

The luxury Italian brand has launched a Residency series, described as a ‘theatre of joyous distraction.’ Each week it will invite a creative collaborator to take over its multiple platforms: Youtube, Weibo, WeChat, Line, Kakao, Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, and its website.

Creative director Daniel Lee kicked off the project by sharing the work of his favourite artists, authors and filmmakers.

The brand goes live on weekends too with music performances, cooking classes, and a weekly Sunday movie night.

Follow on Instagram and Bottegaveneta.com for updates.

Chloé has introduced #CHLOEvoices, a series of live interactions and performances set to take place on its Instagram.

The program will gather people from different creative fields, with names and dates to be announced. We know from its roster of ambassadors and those who’ve contributed to collections - from illustrator Rita Ackermann to musician Lousita Cash - that this will be a star line-up of creative talent.

Keep an eye on Instagram for updates: @chloe.

The beloved Scandi-brand has announced a bumper program of engaging projects, including recommendations for ways to keep occupied with other great cultural platforms.

From cooking classes with good friend and Apollo Bar chef Frederik Bille Brahe to a Copenhagen Film Festival movie club streaming between March 18 and April 5, the brand is showing how you can make the best of lockdown.

Follow Ganni on Instagram for updates.

As well as offering tips on how to support those in need during the pandemic, Gucci is also educating us and keeping us distracted with an engaging podcast.

Gucci is partnering with The Sex Ed podcast for Season 3, with host Liz Goldwyn (@goldilocksg) in conversation with clinical experts offering advice on sexual and reproductive health. The podcast also features rtists and influencers that are shaping the dialogue around sex education, sexuality, gender, entertainment and wellness.

A brilliant way to stay engaged, entertained and informed.

Follow Gucci on Instagram for updates.

The high street retailer has set followers a fashion challenge, picking themes and asking followers to create looks, making the most of their wardrobe.

Follow and submit with #AtHomeWithHM hashtag.

JACQUEMUS has launched #jacquemusathome on instagram, asked people to create a face with all the things they have access to at home, from clothes, food, electronic devices - whatever!

Follow along and submit your own original art (because it is art) on Instagram.

JW Anderson doesn’t just cater to those working from home with the perfect at-home shoes. Creative director, Jonathan Anderson, will be asking the brand's friends and celebrities to keep us entertained with a virtual Q&A session as part of its JW(Q&A) program.

The line-up has included performance artist Mx Justin Vivian Bond and photographer Tyler Mitchell thus far.

Follow the JW Anderson Instagram for updates.

KENZO has launched a community-focused programme of digital activities with the hashtag #stayhomewithKENZO

During this challenging period, KENZO and creative director, Felipe Oliveira Baptista, aim to inspire the brand’s followers with a weekly series of Instagram live events and content featuring its impressive creative community.

The first instalment featured a live performance by Canadian actor Aliocha.

Follow Kenzo on Instagram for updates.

Lacoste is inviting followers to showcase their creativity with its #crocodraw project, asking followers to draw or handcraft their own Lacoste crocodile. The rule is simple: create your own crocodile by drawing or handcrafting and post on Instagram stories or feeds with @Lacoste and #CrocoDraw. Winners will be announced on their Instagram over the coming days and will win a special prize.

Follow Lacoste on Instagram for updates.