Heron Preston Relaunches & 2026 Met Gala Co-Chairs Announced in This Week's Top Fashion News

Summary

• Heron Preston relaunched his independent label with a new modular release structure, and Tremaine Emory debuted the standalone “DENIM BY DENIM TEARS” brand.
• Beyoncé, Venus Williams, and Nicole Kidman were named Met Gala 2026 co-chairs, and Chanel chose historic Biarritz, France, for its Cruise 2027 show.
• NYFW is officially banning fur starting February 2026, and BAPE unveiled a minimalist, all-white concept store and café in Hong Kong.

Heron Preston Relaunches His Namesake Brand 

Heron Preston has officially relaunched his independent namesake label after securing full and exclusive ownership of his trademarks from the New Guards Group Holding. The designer’s new creative chapter is titled “Foundation: Blue Line Edit,” which eschews traditional seasonal runway shows for a small-batch edit structure. The new distribution model will release products continuously in succinct “blocks” of seven pieces, beginning with Block 1 on December 9. Central to the relaunch is the inverted Orange Label, which Preston states was “born in defiance” and now symbolizes perseverance, resilience, and the artist’s ability to reinvent the system.

Beyoncé, Venus Williams and Nicole Kidman Announced as Met Gala 2026 Co-Chairs

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has named an unprecedented trio of global superstars—Beyoncé, Venus Williams, and Nicole Kidman—as co-chairs for the highly anticipated 2026 Met Gala, bringing together three monumental figures of music, sports, and cinema. The Costume Institute has confirmed that the official theme for the 2026 exhibition will be “Costume Art,” a concept intended to declare fashion as a significant fine art form and explore the connection between clothing and the human body.

CHANEL Will Hold Its Cruise 2027 Show in Biarritz, France

Chanel has announced that Creative Director Matthieu Blazy will debut his Cruise 2027 collection in Biarritz, France, on April 28.  The French coastal town holds immense significance for the brand, as founder Gabrielle Chanel opened a vital branch there in 1915 during World War I. Furthermore, Biarritz’s lively, sporty atmosphere played a crucial role in inspiring Coco Chanel’s pioneering sportswear aesthetic, which famously helped liberate women from the confines of previous dress codes.

New York Fashion Week Announces Ban on Fur Starting February 2026

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), the official organizer of New York Fashion Week (NYFW), has announced a new policy: it will no longer promote animal fur across any Official NYFW Schedule events, including on its Fashion Calendar, website, and social media channels. This ban will take effect starting with the February 2026 season. CFDA CEO Steven Kolb stated that the move aims to inspire American designers to consider the industry’s impact on animals and position American fashion as a leader in material innovation. This commitment follows similar steps taken by London Fashion Week and years of collaboration with animal rights groups.

Tremaine Emory Officially Launches “Denim Tears by Denim Tears” as a Standalone Brand

Tremaine Emory’s brand, Denim Tears, has produced its own denim line, “DENIM BY DENIM TEARS,” marking a new phase of creative autonomy after years of successful collaborations, notably with Levi’s. The inaugural release establishes in-house denim as a core symbol of the brand’s evolution and cultural storytelling. The collection prominently revisits the iconic “Cotton Wreath” motif across two key silhouettes: the D-TEARS Signature Straight Leg Jean and the D-TEARS Loose Fit Jean. Available in washes like vintage indigo, bleached indigo, and black, the line features custom hardware and unique stitching, with prices for the initial collection ranging from $250 to $450 USD.

BAPE Opens Its First All-White Concept Store and Cafe in Hong Kong’s 1881 Heritage

BAPE has inaugurated a landmark retail space in Hong Kong, unveiling its first-ever all-white concept store and cafe at the historic 1881 Heritage in Tsim Sha Tsui. This two-floor space signifies a bold evolution of the brand’s retail identity, consciously departing from its traditional, vibrant camouflage aesthetic. The interior uses a pristine, minimalist all-white color palette to create a gallery-like backdrop that highlights luxury materials and allows the colorful products to stand out. The location also introduces the BAPE CAFE!?, the brand’s first full-service dining concept in the city, offering gourmet coffees and exclusive BAPE-themed dishes.