Rebekah Wing
Tini Tani
Crystii Lin
Nhi Py
Mikko Puttonen
Sarenza have launched a range of new specialised children's shoe brands on the UK market. The company recently embarked upon introducing Brits to European shoes and news that they are now adding a variety of kids shoes to their collection will be ringing in relieved parents' ears.
As children all over the country excitedly finish school for the summer holidays, parents will begin to worry about next year's uniform for September and school shoes are often the most difficult decision to make. Adhering to school rules, providing comfort and support as well as fitting in on the playground are the main issues (the latter being your mini style icon's concern!). However, Sarenza are keen to show that it doesn't have to be difficult, as their choice of shoes cater all of these areas.
Sarenza have already made a splash on the UK market, with a lot of interest around their continental collections, blogs with fashion experts and exciting competitions. Their name is beginning to buzz around the British fashion scene, yet there is still an element of exclusivity to their French, Spanish, Italian and designs with worldwide appeal. The beauty of the brands featuring on the website is that most of are still relatively unknown on the UK scene, as Sarenza is currently the only UK supplier for most brands.
Pom d'Api, Start Rite, Pèpè, Primigi and Natik are a few examples of the unique kid's shoes available from Sarenza, all of which make perfect school shoes. They are manufactured to a high standard, uncompromising on quality and comfort with supportive structures while also being lots of fun, so that the kids will be eager to wear them even before the school term begins!
Many of the brands are recognised feet specialists in France and Italy, for example and recognize that the process of making shoes for kids and toddlers is something rather difficult than that for adults. Things such as sole and upper ankle materials must be flexible so as not to constrain feet development and must be resistant for when kids begin to get more active.
Therefore, parents can be assured when they visit Sarenza that their children's need are well looked after and they are making a safe investment in a pair of shoes designed specifically with foot health in mind, yet that children will be keen to pull on their little feet!
Spending on luxury goods by affluent Americans is forecast to grow by $28 billion in 2010, experts said on Wednesday, and the wealthy are happy despite most believing the United States is still in recession.
The "Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America" found luxury spending would rebound for the first time in three years, led by purchases of automobiles, services, travel and children's clothing.
But the online poll of 1,900 households with an average annual income of more than $235,000 by American Express Publishing and Harrison Group showed 94 percent still believe the United States is in recession.
The households surveyed between January and April represent 10 percent of Americans and 50 percent of all retail sales.
"Interest in luxury is trending up, but this interest is qualitatively different from the unbridled enthusiasm that characterized ... the mid-2000s," said Jim Taylor, Harrison Group's vice chairman. "People take pride in the way they have managed their finances and family through the recession."
"We think it's going to be a pretty good Christmas (for retailers)," he said.
And this pride had led to happiness among the rich, with 71 percent saying they are happy, up from 40 percent in 2007.
"It's because they didn't know they could survive something this bad," Taylor told the Luxury Marketing Council of New York on Wednesday. "They have got competent, they have gotten close to their family, they have self-esteem from their ability to handle a crisis."
"Happiness is now the abiding object of affluent American life, not success," he said. "They're really happy with their ability to operate under pressure."
More than 80 percent of families are now eating at least four meals a week together, compared with 16 percent five years ago, Taylor said.
The survey also found the recession has resulted in more people measuring their success by their personal lives, not their careers. Only 45 percent said they were successful in 2007, while this year 76 percent consider themselves successful in their personal life and 67 percent in their career.
"In (2007) people were really measuring themselves about the bigger house they were going to buy ... the better vacation, the next promotion," said Cara David of American Express Publishing.
"Few people are judging their success that way anymore," she said. "It's about the lives that they're living rather than the living that they're making."
As per the President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Nana Owusu Afari, the recent hike of 89 percent and 36 percent in power and water tariffs, respectively by the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) this year, was not the right move. If the same is not reduced then industries such as textiles, plastics, steel and cement will be forced to closure, thereby resulting in job losses.
Already, industries are trying to tackle the increased cost of doing business in Ghana, with respect to interest rates, level of taxation, multiplicity of taxes and the like. The rise in electricity tariffs would only further aggravate their situation, making industries in Ghana less competitive, averred Afari.
However, while addressing a press conference, Afari stated that, tariffs as announced by PURC did not quite mirror the actual situation on ground. He further continued that, the adjustments ended in rise of 131 percent for the lower voltage consumers and 300 percent for the high voltage consumers, as compared to the 89 percent declared by PURC.
Further more, as per information garnered from their members on the input-output rate evaluation of usage of power, supported their stance that, tariff rise ranged between 131 and 300 percent, which according to Afari and members was way too exorbitant.
Therefore, Afari suggested that in order to protect the industries from shutting down, PURC would have to consider restoration of the tariff change mechanism, which was suspended since three years. Under this mechanism, tariffs were raised regularly but on a gradual basis, instead of leaving a long gap and all of a sudden levying high utility rates on consumers.
Since export tax rebates on exports of steels, medicines, non-ferrous metals and so on are cancelled, is it possible that the cancellation of tax rebates will cover textile and apparel?
According to an interview of deputy director general of Consumable Department of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Mr. Wang Wei, the export tax rebate on export of textile will not change.
He says that textile and apparel industry is a labor intensive industry, which shares a close relation to people's livelihood and social stability. As a result, the government will ensure it a good development environment so as to make it competitive in global market.
At the same time, he is concerned about some uncertain factors which will influence textile and apparel industry in the second half year. For instance, some industries will be restricted because they will heavily pollute the environment.
A survey was conducted by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently. It shows that some textile and apparel enterprises face many difficulties. Therefore, some advantaged measures for textile and apparel industry are under consideration.
He also points out that textile and apparel industry should speed its upgrade. What's more, he shows his concern about the price of apparels in second half year. In his opinion, apparel industry gains good profit mainly because materials used were purchased last year. However, the price of materials soar in the first half year of 2010 and the growth is higher than that of apparel price. So the apparel export tax rebate will unchange under such circumstance.
Taiwan singer and actress Vivian Hsu appears on the latest cover of Vogue magazine, Taiwan edition.
The 35-year-old beauty graces the July issue of Vogue magazine, Taiwan edition. The barbie-like actress looks so elegant and refined.
As per the President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Nana Owusu Afari, the recent hike of 89 percent and 36 percent in power and water tariffs, respectively by the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) this year, was not the right move. If the same is not reduced then industries such as textiles, plastics, steel and cement will be forced to closure, thereby resulting in job losses.
Already, industries are trying to tackle the increased cost of doing business in Ghana, with respect to interest rates, level of taxation, multiplicity of taxes and the like. The rise in electricity tariffs would only further aggravate their situation, making industries in Ghana less competitive, averred Afari.
However, while addressing a press conference, Afari stated that, tariffs as announced by PURC did not quite mirror the actual situation on ground. He further continued that, the adjustments ended in rise of 131 percent for the lower voltage consumers and 300 percent for the high voltage consumers, as compared to the 89 percent declared by PURC.
Further more, as per information garnered from their members on the input-output rate evaluation of usage of power, supported their stance that, tariff rise ranged between 131 and 300 percent, which according to Afari and members was way too exorbitant.
Therefore, Afari suggested that in order to protect the industries from shutting down, PURC would have to consider restoration of the tariff change mechanism, which was suspended since three years. Under this mechanism, tariffs were raised regularly but on a gradual basis, instead of leaving a long gap and all of a sudden levying high utility rates on consumers.
rue21, inc., a leading specialty apparel retailer, announced the introduction of their 11th exclusive fragrance, twentyone black. This girls’ fragrance is launching on July 21, 2010 in all rue21 stores across the country.
twentyone black is a mysterious and addictive fragrance that conveys the carefree spirit of today’s confident girl. Inspired by the “good side of bad,” the fragrance is designed to bring forth the edge that every girl has inside.
Through a blend of jeweled oranges, watery pineapple slices, creamy coconut and precious woods, twentyone black evokes a sense of individuality and enigma, making it the perfect fragrance to create a statement all your own.
Bob Fisch, President and CEO, commented, “We are thrilled to be launching our 11th exclusive fragrance to start the Back To School season. twentyone black expresses the independent spirit of our shoppers, and complements the trendy new fashions we have arriving in our stores for both girls and guys over the next few weeks.”
Gucci is pleased to unveil its autumn/winter advertising campaign exclusively featuring model Raquel Zimmerman, shot alongside her male counterpart Nicola Jovanovic.
Shot in Marrakech by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, the images evoke the same sense of extreme luxury and sleek glamour found in this season’s collections.
The campaign will roll out worldwide in September both in print and online magazines.
Gucci, founded in Florence in 1921, Gucci is one of the world's leading luxury fashion brands. With a renowned reputation for quality and Italian craftsmanship, Gucci designs, manufactures and distributes highly desirable products such as leather goods (handbags, small leather goods, and luggage), shoes, ready-to-wear, silks, timepieces and fine jewellery.
Celebrated jewelry designer Neil Lane and Kay Jewelers announce the launch of Neil Lane Bridal, a collection of 36 vintage-inspired engagement and wedding rings. Each ring is designed by Neil Lane and hand crafted, assembled, and finished by skilled artisans, with diamonds that were hand selected by Kay.
As an avid collector of period jewels with a keen eye for style and elegance, Neil Lane has earned the respect and devotion of his diverse clientele and the greater public. Neil’s work can be admired on film, television and music icons at red carpet events and celebrity weddings on some of the world’s most influential women.
"I was influenced by over 20 years of design for some of Hollywood’s legendary stars to create a collection with Kay Jewelers that is authentic, glamorous, and romantic,” said Neil Lane.
Neil’s love of period jewels and his commitment to the value of old world craftsmanship are reflected in the Neil Lane Bridal Collection for Kay Jewelers. The intricate designs feature period influences with historical references to art and architecture. Each ring is a celebration of old and new, inspired by Hollywood glamour.
"We are thrilled to launch the new Neil Lane Bridal collection at Kay Jewelers,” said Mark Light, President and CEO, Kay Jewelers. “Partnering with Neil Lane, we have created a one-of-a-kind bridal collection for our Kay customers that reflects Neil’s immense talent for intricate design and passion for style and glamour.”
The Neil Lane Bridal collection features 36 engagement and wedding rings, grouped in the following themes: Energy, Timeless, Essence, and Harmony.
Models present bikinis during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2011.
