Chrome Hearts v. Nordstrom Unfolds & Prada Debuts Lunar Mission Suit in This Week's Top Fashion News

Summary

• The industry mourned menswear legend Nigel Cabourn’s passing

•  Prada designed lunar spacesuits for NASA, Coach and Brain Dead debuted theme park-inspired gear, and ESSX opened a Hamptons pop-up.

•  Chrome Hearts sued Nordstrom over trademarked cross motifs, while Tremaine Emory launched Denim Tears’ first bag collection.

Chrome Hearts Sues Nordstrom Over Trademark Infringement of Iconic Cross Motifs

Taylor Hill/Filmmagic/Getty Images

On June 4, Los Angeles-based luxury titan Chrome Hearts filed a lawsuit against retail giant Nordstrom in California, alleging trademark infringement and counterfeiting. The legal battle centered around Nordstrom’s sale of jewelry and belts that allegedly replicated Chrome Hearts’ signature CH Cross and CH Plus design motifs. The luxury label asserted that decades of consistent branding, celebrity co-signs, and heavy advertising cemented these heavy-metal crosses as recognizable indicators of their brand. The lawsuit struck at the complex layers of IP involving pre-existing symbols like crosses, questioning where the legal line was drawn between generic ornamental decoration and a protectable trademark.

NASA’s Artemis IV Astronauts Are Wearing Prada and Axiom Space to the Moon

Axiom Space

Prada and Axiom Space officially debuted the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) for the upcoming NASA Artemis IV lunar mission. Acting as the inner layer of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit spacesuit, the innovative suit is able to withstand extreme metabolic heat during spacewalks for up to eight hours. Using engineered knitting techniques and resilient, specialized fibers, Prada’s material science expertise is designed for repeated wear in deep space. The core technology involves sophisticated cooling loops that continuously pump water across the core muscle groups and route fresh oxygen to the wearer. The unconventional cross-industry partnership demonstrated how luxury fashion’s 3D modeling and high-performance textile innovations can also play an integral role in aerospace engineering.

Legendary Menswear Designer Nigel Cabourn Dies at 77

John Phillips/Getty Images

On June 11, the fashion world mourned the loss of esteemed British designer Nigel Cabourn, who passed away at the age of 77. Well known for his strong dedication to heritage craftsmanship, military garments, and functional workwear, Cabourn built a meaningful legacy of style, deeper than ephemeral trend cycles. His unparalleled personal archive of over 4,000 vintage pieces informed his celebrated Authentic line, Main Line, and Lybro collections. Instead of climbing the luxury rungs, the designer cultivated a passionate global cult following, collaborating with titans like Converse and Red Wing. With his signature dungarees and joyful energy, Cabourn fundamentally shaped the modern utility aesthetic.

Denim Tears’ Handbags Were Always in Tremaine Emory’s Blueprint

Denim Tears

Tremaine Emory expanded the Denim Tears universe with the brand’s first-ever in-line bag collection for SS26. Translating the label’s signature Cotton Wreath motif into the realm of luxury accessories, the launch dropped on June 12, offering a highly adaptable silhouette in both heavy-duty cotton canvas and soft grain leather. Priced between $390 and $590 USD, the leather variant of the bags features clever side buttons that allow them to transition seamlessly from a structured form into a spacious tote. Emory likened the collection to furnishing a house, noting that leather goods were always part of his long-term vision.

ESSX Brings Downtown NYC Energy to East Hampton for the Summer Months

Essx

Lower East Side concept store ESSX took its downtown sensibility to the beach, launching a massive seasonal pop-up at 53 The Circle in East Hampton. Running through October 2026, the temporary retail space successfully transported the community-driven energy of its Manhattan flagship straight to Long Island. Shoppers enjoyed a meticulously curated roster of brands, including heavy hitters like Maison Margiela, Acne Studios, Our Legacy, and Willy Chavarria. Beyond simply selling exclusive luxury apparel, ESSX maintained its cultural edge by hosting rotating activations and creative programming. By testing its avant-garde formula against the affluent, slower-paced Hamptons crowd, ESSX provided a cutting-edge alternative to traditional coastal retail.

Stuart Vevers on Crafting a World of Curiosity, Nostalgia and Play With Kyle Ng

Matthew Yoscary

The unlikely pairing Coach x Brain Dead released a collaborative collection, channeling the vibrant character of late-90s Harajuku street style. Coach Creative Director Stuart Vevers partnered with Brain Dead’s Kyle Ng to create highly customizable bags covered in nostalgic charms, pins, and patches. Drawing inspiration from Tokyo’s legendary FRUiTS magazine, the duo designed merchandise for a completely fictional amusement park. They brought this dreamscape to life in New York with an immersive, carnival-like presentation that culminated in a sudden flashmob runway show. Vevers emphasized that the collection thrived on emotional connection and subcultural grit, encouraging wearers to add their own personal stories and visible scratches to the pieces.