The new The Fashion and Textile Museum (FTM) exhibition launches on 18th November until 25th February 2012. To coincide with the Private View and Press Briefing, we are looking for high quality fashion designers within the accessory and jewellery arena to feature in the shop during the exhibition period.

For many people the catwalk show is something exclusive, seemingly created for a few fashionistas that get to sit in the front row with the result a few outfits in magazines that they will never be able to afford. But there is much more to it than that and this new exhibition at the FTM will put the whole process from Catwalk to Cover under the microscope.

Through a series of candid photographs from top catwalk photographers and with exclusive back stage access covering all the different elements that make up the catwalk shows – Backstage, Front Row, Catwalk and Street Style – the viewer will get an insight into the often chaotic world that makes up the apparently glamorous fashion shows we see on TV and in magazines.

Visitors will get a look at some of the more unusual catwalk moments captured by the photographers working at shows: from some of the most well-known in the business including Karl Largerfeld, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and Marc Jacobs.

Read More about From catwalk to cover at The Fashion and Textile Museum @ Fibre2fashion

Charleston Fashion Week’s Spring Bridal Show debuts its first-ever Emerging Bridal Designer competition on March 24, 2012!

For the past five years, Charleston Fashion Week has served as a platform for emerging talent to showcase their designs and collections to industry experts, press, and the public.

In addition to five nights of shows, CFW, along with Charleston Weddings magazine, also hosts a standing-room-only daytime bridal event featuring established, high-end regional and national Fashion designers.

Next year, the white gloves will come off when the Spring Bridal Show debuts its first-ever Emerging Bridal Designer competition.

The winner will headline his or her own fully produced runway show during the Charleston Weddings magazine Spring Bridal Show, with a collection of 10-12 bridal gowns and/or wedding party wear on March 24th.

The competition will be open to residents of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Submissions are due Friday, December 16, 2011.

Read More about Charleston Fashion Week to host Emerging Bridal Designer Competition @ Fibre2fashion

French Connection U.S. has teamed up with Warner Bros. Pictures to promote the studio’s upcoming release of “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” through multiple vehicles designed to get consumers excited about the film as well as the fashion brand. Capitalizing on French Connection’s and Sherlock Holmes’ British heritage, this partnership was a natural alignment.

Beginning on November 7, 2011, all French Connection U.S. retail store locations will be paying homage to “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” by displaying “Inspired By” looks from the film in store windows, fashioned by the label’s creative team.

French Connection’s AW11 Men’s collection lends itself perfectly to the film association with many Sherlock Holmes- and Watson-friendly pieces included in the line. Three-piece suits, tailored pea coats and trousers, and popular British accessories such as snoods are key items.

Within the brand’s retail stores, consumers will have the chance to enter a sweepstakes in which the winner and a guest are flown to NYC to partake in a private screening of the film before it is released in theaters on December 16, 2011.

French Connection was founded in 1972 by Stephen Marks and from the very outset a brand had been created that perfectly balanced the need for beautifully crafted clothes whose fashion forward and chic designs appealed to everyone.

Successfully bridging quirky off beat design with affordable fashion, French Connection also prides itself on the highest standards. With a strong core of clothing, the company has recently expanded its portfolio to including men’s and women’s grooming products, stylish shades, shoes and watches.

Read More about FC ties up with ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’ @ Fibre2fashion

Gwendoline Ruais became the highest Miss Philippines to rank in 37 years when she was named “1st Runner Up” (Miss Venezuela won). Gwen wore a red flowy chiffon Oliver Tolentino gown with a slit in the leg that was made expressly for her for the pageant.

The gown had a bodice beaded with red Swarovski crystals and a nude skin back. This was a personal honor for Oliver because it’s the first time a Filipino Fashion designer has been allowed to create clothes in many decades under new country manager Cory Quirino.

Coincidentally, the first “1st Runner Up” 37 years ago was Evangeline Pascual who hails from Orani, Bataan. Oliver, also from Orani, is a distant cousin of Ms. Pascual.

For the pageant, Gwen also wore an Oliver Tolentino pina & abaca modern terno for the national costume portion of the TV show. In addition, Gwen was photographed in about a dozen of Oliver’s outfits while she was in London.

She wore Oliver’s dyed-blue pina skirt and blouse outfit to depart Manila and arrive in London, a silver sequined long gown when contestants were photographed along the Thames River, a green chiffon for the first charity event, and a raw silk cocoon cocktail dress at another event, among others.

Oliver somehow found time to make Gwen’s outfits before returning to Los Angeles from Manila where he was honored as the Samsung 2011 MetroWear Icon of the Philippines by Metro & Metro Society magazines, in conjunction with the ABS-CBN TV network, last October 24.

Read more about Oliver Tolentino dresses Gwendoline Ruais for Miss World @ Fibre2fashion

British reality television participant and television presenter Amy Childs has been unveiled as the face of Bra Queen, the company’s new line exclusively made for supermarket Tesco.

Childs, who has participated in reality shows like ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ and ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ (Towie), joins the list of such celebrities who had represented the innerwear brand in the past, including ex-Spice Girl Mel B, model and TV presenter Tamara Ecclestone, and fashion model and actress Kelly Brook.

The new everyday lingeries line Bra Queen is affordable, though it is designed to be fit for a queen, according to Ultimo, the creators of the brand.

PUMA, the global- sport- lifestyle brand announced the dashing all rounder of the Indian cricket team Yuvraj Singh as their brand ambassador. The flamboyant yet fashionable blue eyed boy of Indian cricket will now be the face of PUMA’s new #Love 12 campaign launched especially for PUMA and Yuvi fans.

At the press conference held in Mumbai, Yuvraj interacted with the media present. The unique digital press conference was in a chat show format, where the media had an interactive Q&A session with Yuvi & Rajiv Mehta, MD, PUMA, INDIA while Mandira Bedi played the perfect host. 

As Yuvi bowled over the media with his charm & wit, he also connected with his fans and media from other cities through TWITTER. This digital platform helped Yuvraj reach out to his fans and the media in a never-been-done before manner. 

Speaking on this occasion, Rajiv Mehta, MD, PUMA, India said, “Yuvraj Singh is the quintessential athlete for PUMA. He epitomizes the youth of today with his forthright personality, which exuberates confidence. He is an all rounder and his versatility allows the youth to connect to him instantly. With his talent and charisma, Yuvraj is an aspirational personality and an ideal choice to represent PUMA.”

Talking about the association, Yuvraj Singh said, “(Smiles) A strong brand like PUMA needs no introduction; it gives me immense pleasure and satisfaction to be associated with a leading sports apparel lifestyle brand like PUMA which embodies style, fun and passion. For me, joy and passion are the most important elements of cricket and this drives me to continually improve myself as a cricketer and as a person. PUMA shares these same values and I am looking forward to this alliance.”

Read more about Yuvraj Singh to endorse PUMA’s #Love 12 campaign @ Fibre2fashion

Looking for authentic, unusual, one-of-its-kind fabrics for your interiors? – Paris based SABINA FAY BRAXTON will add this dimension to your interiors! Sabina Fay Braxton, known for her exuberant extrapolations of ancient hand-printed textile techniques, has been creating fabrics for renowned couturiers, interior designers and an array of discriminating private clients for over a decade. 

Her expertise is such that the company had been selected by a special Selection Committee comprising of professional associations from France to take part in ART DE VIVRE A LA FRANCAISE, a prestigious French Apparel Lifestyle Show organized recently in New Delhi this year.

A multicultural background…..
Her travels all over the world had a profound influence on her, as since the age of five, she has been exposed to a great diversity of cultures and traditions. At twelve, the family spent a year in Rajasthan and in the Kangra valley, where she grew up admiring the schools of Moghul and Indian miniatures; at thirteen, in Denpasar, she was totally submerged in Balinese dance; at fourteen, in northern Iraq, she was able to study the ancient civilisations of Mesopotamia, Babylonia and Assyria; and at twenty, in Japan, the closed environment of the Noh had a strong impact on her aesthetic vision.

A unique technique….
A true lover of history, Braxton found herself frustrated by the lack of fabrics available to furnish the homes and palaces she was being commissioned to decorate and restore. By taking woven brocades, embellishing them with multi-coloured inks and glistening metallics and crushing the velvet pile to subdue its clean-cut lustre, a gamut of elaborate techniques were born. These first experiences have now evolved into an eclectic collection of velvets, silks and linens that have graced the catwalks of Paris, Milan, London and New York as well as served as focal points for the world’s most renowned interior designers.

An original and strong creativity…
SABINA FAY BRAXTON fabrics are produced by artists who bring life to each piece they print, ensuring each order is one-of-a-kind.

SABINA FAY BRAXTON’s collections extend from sumptuous silk velvets, burnished with metal motifs deeply engraved into the pile, to airy linens and silks, hand-printed in dusty hues with hints of antique metal. Versatile in their application, the textiles have the allure of antique fragments, yet can be produced in unlimited quantities. They bring warmth and a paradoxically cutting edge to contemporary settings and sit perfectly with antiques.

NILIT , a global leader in the production of nylon 6.6, announced it will be displaying many of its revolutionary yarn, including NILIT Innergy, at the upcoming Intertextile Shanghai 2011 tradeshow. At the show, NILIT will also showcase the NILIT BodyFashion Trendbook for Spring/Summer 2013. Intertextile Shanghai is the leading international trade fair for apparel fabrics and accessories held yearly in China. It is set to take place October 18th-21st, 2011 in the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The NILIT exhibit will be in Hall W3, Stand E42/F47.

Breaking new ground in yarn innovation

 
NILIT specializes in developing yarns with exceptional performance properties. NILIT Innergy is NILIT’s latest, cutting-edge fiber to reach the market. Made from nylon 6.6, NILIT Innergy has a built-in, naturally occurring mineral additive that creates far infrared ray (FIR) emissions. Garment made with NILIT Innergy yarns invigorate the body, increase feelings of well-being and help to reduce the appearance of cellulite. This makes the yarn perfect for shapers, hosiery, lingerie, medical socks, gloves and sportswear. Recently launched, visitors at Intertextile Shanghai will have the opportunity to experience firsthand this unique fiber.

In addition, numerous other NILIT yarns will be on display at the Intertextile Show. Among the yarns to be highlighted are: NILIT Softex – superior, full dull microfiber yarn that delivers supreme softness and rich coloration, NILIT Aquarius – with moisture management properties built-in to the fiber and NILIT Ecocare – recycled yarn with excellent color depth and dye uniformity.

Likewise, NILIT’s new bodyfashion trendbook for Spring/Summer 2013 will also be presented. The book features collections designed and conceived by NILIT fashion consultant Ilana Joselowitz. Bodywear and activewear are the focus of this year’s collection. Nilit offers a range of technologically advanced yarns that have been engineered to provide enhanced comfort and performance.

Read More about NILIT to exhibit its innovative fibers at Intertextile @ Fibre2fashion

During a jaw-dropping presentation at Portland Fashion Week last week, sustainable lifestyle apparel brand Earthtec unveiled its provocative collaboration with Seth Aaron Henderson, season 7 winner of “Project Runway.” The completely sustainable collaboration was inspired by Earthtec and Seth Aaron’s mutual philosophies of creating “clothing with a conscience.”

“Portland is the convergence of style and sustainability, so it was the perfect backdrop to unveil our collaboration with Seth Aaron,” said Dennis Randall, CEO and founder of Earthtec.

Seth Aaron’s designs artistically embraced Earthtec’s sustainable textiles to make a statement that sustainability is fashionable. “The night marked a turning point in the fashion industry,” said Henderson. “I was able to prove that sustainability is sexy.”

Deeply rooted in social responsibility, together Earthtec and Seth Aaron will create 100 percent sustainable, fashion-forward, ready-to-wear clothing that will be available to consumers through major national retailers starting next fall. Using Earthtec’s sustainable textiles and Seth Aaron’s design, the partnership bridges sustainability and fashion to make an exciting statement that sustainability is fashionable.

“I am thrilled to be working with Earthtec on the ‘Seth Aaron Inspired by Earthtec’ collection,” Henderson said. “This apparel line, which will be sold in national retail stores next fall, will give people the opportunity to wear a difference without making any sacrifices in style or affordability.”

The Seth Aaron inspired by Earthtec collection was part of this year’s Portland Fashion Week. The eco-friendly production showcased the highest number of sustainable labels of any fashion week in the country, alongside independent and fair-trade high-fashion designers.

Read more about Seth Aaron’s designs prove Sustainability is sexy @ Fibre2fashion

Capel Rugs has teamed up with the acclaimed interior designer and HGTV star, Genevieve Gorder, to create a line of soulful, whimsical rugs that will debut at the October High Point Market.

The line features four collections of flat-woven styles that marry Gorder’s unique design aesthetic with Capel’s signature craftmanship. The line will encompass a range of classic themes and global inspirations: from indigenous patterns, Morrocan tile work to her own ancestral heirlooms.

“Genevieve finds beauty and inspiration in everyday life and reinterprets those components to create one-of-a-kind designs that are hip and playful,” said Tami Watras, Vice President-Product and Creative Director for Capel. “We are extremely excited about our new partnership and the unique decorating opportunities that it offers consumers.”

The new Genevieve Gorder line is an extension of Capel’s New Style Point of View concept which was launched in the Fall of 2010. The hugely successful initiative combines Capel’s strengths as a source for classic styling and industry-leading quality with creative new designs, colors and collaborations involving today’s most popular designers, according to Watras.

Gorder’s unmistakable style and enthusiasm have made her one of America’s favorite and best-known interior designers. In addition to her work on television shows like HGTV’s “Dear Geneveive” and “Design Star,” Gorder was one of the original designers on TLC’s hit TV series, “Trading Spaces.”

Read more about Capel & Genevieve team up to create soulful & whimsical rug @ Fibre2fashion