http://preezo.com/view.php?key=dabd6c5bb7c35c9ef832f35b8e88a70d

What more can Anti-fur campaigners do? They have tried everything from impassioned appeals to pet lovers, gruesome videos, name-and-shame campaigns and adverts featuring nude stars proclaiming they’d rather go naked than sport a pelt. Nobody, really pays attention to these campaigns! The fur trend will never go away.

Read the article below to know more about how fur will never die. It is a fashion statement.

Website: http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/03/04/business/OUKBS-UK-FUR.php

How do you feel about children wearing almost nothing at all in advertisements? Calvin Klein was criticized last month for an ad featuring small children in underwear. It is okay to have adults in underwear and walking around on runways, but children and pre-teens are getting the idea that showing skin is “in.”  Fashion, should represent who you are, and there is always a cycle. Fashion no longer tells us women are becoming more independent or men are getting in touch with their inner child, or little girls, God help them, are running with the wolves.

What does Fashion mean to you?

http://www.iht.com/articles/1999/03/13/rcult.t.php

In the world of corporate marketing and public relations, fashion is every brand’s new best friend. Companies are using sex appeal to attract customers and I think it is working.  Sponsorships are to hard to get, and expensive. However, having a great looking model wearing a small amount of clothing catches a lot of attention, and the brand that will be behind her will catch attention as well.  Everyone wants to belong so they will go buy such and such to be fashionable.

Website: http://www.iht.com/articles/2001/03/12/rcorp.t.php

Why are fashion designers picking up the camera to showcase their clothing in motion pictures? I think it has something to do with their inherent creativity, and their desire to express this creativity through multiple channels; in many ways the runway can be a pretty uninspiring canvas for showing off one’s designs. Then again, the motive might be less artistic and more monetary. A great marketing tool I think!

Article Summary

• While fashion in film is nothing new, lately there’s been a sharp rise in both indie labels and mainstream fashion houses producing their own shorts to serve as marketing vehicles.
• Some of the more well-known, highly publicized examples of this include:Kate Moss in a slinky, ethereal black-and-white Agent Provocateur series called “The Four Dreams of Miss X”
• Prada’s animated short called “Trembled Blossoms” that debuted at NY Fashion week, and features wood nymphs and bugs that metamorphose into sandals and handbags
• Erin Fetherston’s short films that star silver screen actors Kirsten Dunst and Zooey Deschanel, shot by photographer Ellen von Unwerth
• Short videos are quite the powerful marketing tool nowadays

While a runway show lives for 30 mins at the most, and may be viewed a couple thousand times online, a short video can be created for mere pennies uploaded to YouTube, gather millions of views around the globe, and live on forever!!

Website: http://www.marktd.com/storyframe.php?title=Fashion-Industry-Hearts-Branded-Entertainment

Article Summary

“Changing Consumer Needs and the Future of the Fashion Business” Rapid international apparel trade liberalization has led to a complete decoupling of apparel manufacturing and marketing.

Manufacturing companies in developed countries have been transformed to marketers and retailers. Large retailers have created hugely successful apparel brands with limited or no manufacturing operations. Manufacturers in Asia are increasingly looking at their national, more profitable, markets.

The linear relationship between design, quality and price has been completely lost as consumers are faced with a vast array of choice when it comes to buying clothes.

The internet, blogs and the phenomenon of urban “tribes” are already causing fundamental changes in how consumers perceive fashion. Also, these consumers are increasingly aware of and sensitive to ethical manufacturing and environmental issues.

Apparel businesses have now some time to reflect on these developments as, after two years of turbulence, apparel manufacturing and international trade has reached calmer waters.

The 24th World Apparel Convention, to be held in Maastricht, Netherlands, from October 29-31, 2008 will provide insights and ideas on these issues faced by all companies whose core business is fashion or fashion-related.

http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/apparel-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=53339 

  A lot people who have the passion for fashion, do not know where to begin or they do not have the money to start a portfolio of goodies to sell to designers or better yet start their own company. The Toronto Fashion Incubator offers these individuals the chance to shine, by helping them start at a low cost. The incubator is there to support everyone. Did you know that other countries copied Toronto’s Incubator idea? For example; The United States and Japan.

Article Summary 

•  12 years ago when the Toronto Fashion Center for the Promotion of Fashion Design (the official title of TFI) was born.
• The fashion industry in Toronto was losing talents to other fashion centers and manufacturing firms were moving to regions that could offer lower costs.
• TFI’s success could also be measured by its long line of success stories: Serena Deparis, David Dixon, Noel Crisostomo, Ewa Majak, Anna Staffiere, Crystal Siemens, Joeffer Caoc to name a few.

So how does the TFI do it?

• TFI provides a support group to the designers. We’re like family. Everyone shares the facilities and has to pitch in with cleaning up and maintaining work stations. By sharing equipment and space, young designers are able to defray start-up costs.

With 6,200 sq.ft of studio space, offices and production facilities, the TFI helps smooth the transition of young talents from design student to self-supporting designer. The TFI’s resource center makes available to its residents and outreach members trade publications, newsletters and other fashion industry resources which normally will be out of reach to them due to high costs.

One very important aspect of TFI’s work is the bi-annual New Labels Fashion Show wherein up and coming designers are featured. Residents and outreach members can showcase their collection at the New Labels Fashion Show which is attended by thousands of fashion buyers and media representatives.

To be a resident of the TFI, you have to be:

• A graduate of an accredited Fashion Program in Canada
• Or have industry or work experience
• Must submit a three-year business plan
• Must have a portfolio of your work
• Must have proof of financial support

For further detail visit: http://www.fashionwindows.com

Circa night club hosted the final L’Oreal Fashion Week party, and it featured Paul Budnit’z Kidrobot runway presentation and a display of all the Canadian Designer Munny’s in the Kidrobot display room.

The Kidrobot is a popular, vinyl toy that allows individuals to draw and decorate as they see fit.

What Circa’s Project Munny is, is that had a variety of Canadian fashion designers including favourites from this years L’Oreal Fashoin Week event decorate and design their own little Munny.

Once they have decorated their own Munny’s according to their own style, Circa put these Munny’s on eBay auction off. The proceeds will be going to War Child Canada.

Although it may not be clothes they are designing to be auctioned off, it still shows that Canadian fashion designers are very caring and will anything to support charitable causes. It shows that Canadian designers not only focus on their clothes and runway shows, it also illustrates how they help charities with their designing abilities. Acts such as these will generate more buzz around the Canadian fashion/apparel cluster, because it demonstrates to international fashion professional how much they are willing to give back to their communities.

Webiste: http://torontostreetfashion.com/

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

The heart of the fashion industry is unquestionably in New York. The world’s most recognizable brands originate from New York based headquarter offices and design studios. New York is also a major producer of apparel products having produced over $7.8 billion in manufactured products in 2001. New York has unique access to competitive production facilities, specialized NYC niche manufacturers, innovative young designers and the world’s foremost retail market. Over 8,000 apparel & fashion companies employ over 98,000 people in New York State including: 

New York is also home to many of the most respected foreign apparel firms’ US operations including:

New York State has the ideal workforce and operating environment that allows these companies to thrive here. New York State hosts corporate headquarters, both cut & sew and knitwear production facilities, design studios and sales & marketing operations. 

To read more about New York’s Fashion & Apparel Cluster visit; http://www.nylovesbiz.com. 

Cheers,

Caroline K