ARTDESENT — Art, Design, Entertainment
Contributor

Margaux Lefèvre

Haute couture and fashion history

Margaux Lefèvre writes on haute couture and the long history of French fashion from Paris. Holds an EHESS doctorate on Vionnet's archive.

two women laying down wearing white dress shirts
Fashion

The Future of Luxury: Redefining Value in a Changing Market

Luxury brands are navigating shifts in consumer values by prioritizing sustainability, authenticity, and bespoke experiences, reshaping traditional notions of exclusivity.

By Margaux Lefèvre
The Temple of Dendur
Craft

Decoding the Past: How Technology is Transforming Art Conservation

Hidden images in John Singer Sargent’s work and digital reconstructions of ancient artifacts highlight the evolving synergy between art and technology in conserving cultural heritage.

By Margaux Lefèvre
women's red coat
Fashion

Through the Lens of Schiaparelli: Fashion Photography as Art

Elsa Schiaparelli’s innovative use of photography transcended documentation, framing couture as visual art and influencing generations of imagemakers.

By Margaux Lefèvre
Mannequins display colorful leggings and athletic wear.
Fashion

Activewear's Unscripted Future: New Brands Reshape the Market

The evolution of consumer priorities has given rise to smaller activewear brands that challenge the dominance of Lululemon and its peers, demanding innovation across the industry.

By Margaux Lefèvre
A group of women walking down a runway
Fashion

Fashion’s Dual Renaissance: Sustainability and Cultural Identity

As the demand for ethical fashion rises, designers respond with collections rooted in heritage and sustainability, reshaping an industry long defined by excess.

By Margaux Lefèvre
Sir Edward Burne-Jones — The Love Song
Craft

Pieced Histories: Contemporary Quilting as a Cultural Canvas

Black artists are reshaping quilting, intertwining fabric, identity, and heritage into layered narratives that confront history and affirm community.

By Margaux Lefèvre
a person holding a wallet next to a laptop
Fashion

Fashion and Technology: The New Grammar of E-Commerce

From virtual fitting rooms to AI-driven personal shoppers, technology is reshaping how fashion houses connect with their customers in an increasingly digital retail landscape.

By Margaux Lefèvre
A male athlete hurdles during a track and field race.
Fashion

Bianca Saunders Wins BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, Solidifying Her Place in Contemporary Fashion

The British designer’s accolade celebrates her unique vision and reinforces the imperative of fostering diversity within the fashion industry.

By Margaux Lefèvre
Man walks past a brightly lit onitsuka tiger store
Fashion

Onitsuka Tiger’s Lifestyle Pivot: Fashion Branding in Transition

The Japanese heritage brand enters high-end lifestyle territory, challenging consumer expectations and retail norms in the process.

By Margaux Lefèvre
blue and white cloud cartoon character
Fashion

Snap’s AR Glasses: A Digital Lens on the Future of Fashion

Blurring the lines between wearable tech and couture, Snap's AR glasses redefine design for function and form.

By Margaux Lefèvre
a close up of a person wearing rings and a necklace
Fashion

The Impact of Technology on Modern Jewelry: DNA Tracing and Blockchain

In the luxury jewelry sector, DNA tracing and blockchain technology promise unprecedented transparency, offering potential solutions to ethical sourcing challenges.

By Margaux Lefèvre
3 men in black and red suit standing
Fashion

Cultural Identity in Contemporary Fashion: Heritage as a Design Imperative

A new generation of designers is redefining fashion as a medium for cultural storytelling, challenging conventions and diversifying global aesthetics.

By Margaux Lefèvre
Sir Edward Burne-Jones — The Love Song
Craft

Traditional Crafts and Contemporary Design: A Sustainable Convergence

From hand-dyed fabrics to carved wood furniture, traditional craftsmanship informs modern design with sustainable practices, bridging heritage and innovation.

By Margaux Lefèvre
a person holding a plant in their hands
Fashion

Sustainability at Centre Stage: Fashion’s World Cup Transformation

The 2023 World Cup reveals how sustainability initiatives in sportswear have leapt from niche experiments to centre-stage commitments, using recycled materials to reshape the fashion industry’s priorities.

By Margaux Lefèvre
Jean Rousseau the Younger — Watch
Craft

Code and Nostalgia: The Material Memory of Kuba Święcicki

By repurposing VHS tape and cassette recordings, Kuba Święcicki transforms obsolete materials into contemporary dialogues on memory and obsolescence.

By Margaux Lefèvre
gold necklace on white paper
Fashion

Chanel’s Jewelry Design Enters a New Chapter Under Marie-Laure Cérède

The appointment of Cartier alumna Marie-Laure Cérède marks a pivotal shift in Chanel's jewelled ambitions, blending legacy with a focus on innovation.

By Margaux Lefèvre
Stem Vase with Incised and Painted Design
Arts

Cultural Reflections: Art and Society in the Modern Age

In 2023, artists navigate society’s fractures through exhibitions that provoke and challenge, from Berlin’s protest installations to Lagos's multimedia statements.

By Margaux Lefèvre
white concrete building near bare trees during daytime
Fashion

FOG Architecture and MSLAN: Crafting Narratives in Fashion Spaces

A retail collaboration in Quanzhou blurs the line between architecture and fashion, using spatial storytelling to redefine how garments meet their audience.

By Margaux Lefèvre
people fashion show on stage
Fashion

Fashion on the Frontline of the Climate Crisis

As climate risks intensify, the fashion industry faces pressure to reconcile its role in environmental harm with its potential for systemic change.

By Margaux Lefèvre
Handmade slip-on shoes crafted from recycled materials, showcasing sustainable fashion in Uganda.
Fashion

Zero-Waste Textiles at New Designers 2026: Can Deadstock Shape the Future of Fashion?

At London's New Designers 2026, graduate projects spotlight zero-waste innovation, challenging the fashion industry to rethink its relationship with materials like deadstock and second-hand yarn.

By Margaux Lefèvre
Top view of printed instant photos and inscription on red paper placed on wooden table near retro photo camera in room
Fashion

Fashiontainment and the New Frontier of Branding

Gap’s embrace of 'fashiontainment,' led by Lourdes Arocho, signals a pivotal moment where fashion and pop culture coalesce to engage younger consumers.

By Margaux Lefèvre
A top-down view of assorted colorful thread spools organized neatly for sewing projects.
Fashion

Digital Threads: How Technology is Reshaping Fashion Design and Engagement

From virtual try-ons to algorithmically generated couture, technology is enabling designers to innovate, immerse, and connect with consumers like never before.

By Margaux Lefèvre
assorted color thread lot
Fashion

Threads of Code: How Technology is Refashioning the Industry

From algorithmic marketing to 3D prototyping, technology is reshaping how fashion brands design, produce, and engage with consumers in an increasingly digital world.

By Margaux Lefèvre
a group of people working in a factory
Fashion

Front Row to Factory: How Celebrity Influence Shapes Fashion’s Future

From cruise shows in Los Angeles to beauty moguls launching new lines, celebrities are reshaping the fashion economy, altering consumer tastes and brand strategies.

By Margaux Lefèvre
A group of people walking across a street
Fashion

Milan Fashion Week Moves Towards Sustainability with Fur-Free Commitment

The National Chamber of Italian Fashion announces a fur-free policy for its official events, reflecting mounting pressure from environmental and ethical advocacy groups.

By Margaux Lefèvre
A group of women walking down a runway
Fashion

Fashion's Missed Shot: The Potential of Women's Sportswear

As women’s sports gain traction globally, the fashion industry lags in meeting the demand for innovative, diverse sportswear offerings.

By Margaux Lefèvre
Théodore Rousseau — The Forest in Winter at Sunset
Arts

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Latest Muse: The Theft of the ‘Mona Lisa’

The famed composer turns the 1911 heist of Leonardo’s masterpiece into a musical, bridging high culture and popular entertainment.

By Margaux Lefèvre
assorted clothes lot on gray clothes racks
Fashion

Reimagining Sustainability: Fashion's Evolving Narrative Under Pressure

As consumer demand and regulatory scrutiny intensify, the fashion industry is reshaping its sustainability story—but are these changes substantive or surface-level?

By Margaux Lefèvre
a large orange nike logo on the side of a building
Fashion

Nike’s Sustainability Reset: A Strategic Playbook Under Pressure

Facing scrutiny, Nike has recalibrated its sustainability communication, scaling back visibility while emphasizing data. This shift reveals broader tensions in the sportswear industry’s green ambitions.

By Margaux Lefèvre
assorted-color clothes lot hanging on wooden wall rack
Fashion

The Sustainability Dilemma: Is Fashion's Green Gloss Starting to Crack?

As consumers demand transparency, the fashion industry's sustainability certifications face criticism for inadequacies, risking erosion of trust in eco-friendly claims.

By Margaux Lefèvre