Paweł Lewandowski
Rebekah Wing
Lauren Peacher
Manuella Lupascu
Mallory W
Uniqlo will launch the fifth and final +J Fall/Winter 2011 collection on September 9th, 2011.
The +J line has been received with great excitement and enthusiasm around the world from the moment it made its initial appearance in October 2009. The critically-acclaimed, iconic line has been truly loved and admired by its fans.
The +J Fall/Winter Collection 2011 will paint the world in misty clouds of colour - hues of global uniform: black, dark brown, mud, claret, Prussian blue and Russian green - that matches the slightly rounded, organic shapes beautifully. The avantgarde blend of poetic, ethereal and aerial forms with enriched, contemporary cotton and precious woolen fibres bring to life the elegant, formal, and tailored universe of +J, infused with the know-how of casual wear. Elegantly shaped down-jackets that express a strong couture spirit are smart yet cozy, perfect for a winter cocktail. Dresses are straight cut, space-age style with visible 3-D seams. Edgy skirts feature cubic outlines. Cool knitwear adds a splash of vitamin colors. Men's suits created in soft flannel, with special, light-weight tailoring, represent fine craftsmanship and design.
+J: the essence is purity. "A passport through time and space: sculptured lines, fluid grace, modern sophistication for everyone." Consisting of approximately 165 elements, the +J Fall/Winter 2011 Collection offers many possibilities to create an individual style: a personal uniform.
Ever-Glory International Group Inc, a leading apparel supply chain manager and retailer based in China, reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011.
During the second quarter of 2011, net sales increased 85.8% to $42.9 million compared to $23.1 million in the second quarter of 2010. The increase was attributable to increased sales in Ever-Glory's retail business as well as its wholesale business.
Retail sales from LA GO GO, the Company's branded retail division, increased 91.8% to $9.3 million, compared to $4.8 million in the second quarter of 2010. This increase was primarily due to the increase in same store sales and new stores opened. Ever-Glory had 368 LA GO GO stores as of June 30, 2011, compared to 210 LA GO GO stores at June 30, 2010. LA GO GO stores are located in more than 20 provinces in China.
Sales generated from the Company's wholesale business increased 84.2% to $33.7 million, compared to $18.3 million in the second quarter of 2010. This increase was primarily attributable to increased sales in Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, the PRC and Germany. The increased sales in the wholesale segment was primarily due to the following factors: (i) the progressive adjustment of our wholesale client and product portfolio in 2009 and 2010 which resulted in an increase of orders in the wholesale segment; (ii) in response to the global economic uncertainty, in mid 2010 we adjusted our sales strategy to develop more wholesale customers in China. (iii) enlargement of our outsourcing base to Vietnam and Cambodia starting from the third quarter of 2010, which significantly increased our production capacity to process more orders;
In the second quarter of 2011, gross profit was $10.4 million, an increase of 129.7% compared to the same period in 2010. Gross margin increased 4.6% to 24.1% in the second quarter of 2011, compared to 19.5% in the second quarter of 2010. The increase was mainly due to lower outsourced manufacturing costs.
"In the second quarter of 2011, sales increased significantly in both our wholesale and retail segments," commented Mr. Edward Yihua Kang, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Ever-Glory. "We are especially encouraged by our strong performance. The total number of LA GO GO stores in China increased from 293 at the end of 2010 to 368 stores as of June 30, 2011, we expect to open an additional 80-100 new stores in 2011 based on the 293 stores we had at the end of 2010.
"In 2011, we plan to continue to develop LA GO GO through perfecting design styles, improving store management efficiency and opening more stores in desired locations," continued Mr. Kang. "We are confident that, through these measures, we can enhance same-store sales, expand LA GO GO's market penetration and increase its brand influence in China."
Selling expenses increased 82.9% to $3.8 million in the second quarter of 2011 from $2.1 million in the second quarter of 2010. The increase was attributable to the enlarged number of retail employees and increased average salaries, as well as increased store decoration and marketing expenses associated with the promotion of the LA GO GO brand.
Marks and Spencer plc (M&S), a leading British retailer with presence in over 40 countries, has inked a deal with Historic Futures, which specializes in supply chain traceability, as a part of its 'Plan A' sustainability programme.
The agreement will enable M&S to trace each and every raw material source, spinner as well as the textile mill on every single apparel and home furnishing items sold at its stores. For example, the information gathered for a cotton shirt will include the place where the cotton was grown, the yarn was spun, and the fabric was dyed and manufactured, to where it was finally produced.
The deal is the latest among a list of commitments made by the British retailer under its 'Plan A' sustainability programme undertaken to make M&S the first major retailer committed to complete traceability of non-food products. It is aimed at providing greater ability to differentiate M&S products from other retailers.
Full traceability of the M&S apparel and home furnishing products will be carried out through 'String', a specifically designed traceability service of Historic Futures, which will be first implemented on M&S kidswear range this year.
In the midst of fluctuations in raw material prices, and increasing demand for eco-friendly production, the measure would help M&S improve its connections with the entire supply chain and is also expected to garner more trust from the consumers.
Lucky Brand Jeans launched its new Fall 2011 advertising campaign, entitled "A New Movement in Denim." Created to coincide with the release of new Super Stretch denim for women and updated Super Soft denim for men, the campaign speaks to the brand's core business, highlighting the comfortable, versatile and dynamic nature of its new fabric offerings.
Shot by world-renowned fashion photographer Carter Smith, under the direction of Lucky Brand Executive Vice President and Creative Director Patrick Wade and Style Director Karin Cole, the campaign marks a more elevated aesthetic for the brand. The ads feature high-profile models Hanne G., Tasha Tilberg and Noah Mills walking, lounging and reclining in a warmly lit room, wearing dark indigo Lucky Brand jeans.
Summing up the unique appeal of the imagery, Wade noted that the direction of the campaign is "more real, more sexy, more how people dress." Chief Executive Officer Dave DeMattei reiterated the brand's return to a denim-centric strategy. "We focused [in the past] on the lifestyle aspects of the brand, starting with the bottom. Now we're really focusing on denim."
Lucky Brand's "A New Movement in Denim" advertising campaign will be featured in magazines including Vanity Fair, Glamour and InStyle, in Lucky Brand stores and at its website.
Lucky Brand began crafting great-fitting, vintage-inspired jeans in Los Angeles in 1990, quickly earning the title of "America's favorite." The brand also produces apparel, shoes, accessories and jewelry for men and women that are sold at 209 retail stores within the U.S., high-end department and specialty stores, select stores in Canada.
JD Sports Fashion plc, the United Kingdom retailer of fashionable sports and casual wear, has selected Centric Software, Inc., to provide product lifecycle management (PLM) software for its apparel lines.
The company, based in Bury, Greater Manchester, England, has purchased Centric's Line Planning, Product Specification, Materials Management, Sourcing, Calendar Management, Quality Management and Adobe Connector modules. JD Sports Fashion will use the Centric 8 PLM suite to improve collaboration and productivity in the product development process.
"Centric 8 will allow our teams to consolidate product and design information throughout the organization, and rely on one solid, consistent version of information," Frank Watts, group IT director at JD Sports Fashion. "Improved data visibility will enable better management of processes, from design and merchandising to sourcing and warehousing, which is essential for our significant private labels business."
"We value the expertise, dynamism and flexibility that Centric displays as a fast-growing company," says Watts. "The Centric team understands JD Sports Fashion, and our need to work with fast-changing products, seasons and timelines."
Product Development Partnership (PDP) Limited, a leading global provider of PLM implementation project management and business process reengineering services, will team with Centric on the JD Sports Fashion implementation. "JD Sports Fashion's substantial implementation will be completed rapidly because of Centric 8's easily leveraged out-of-the-box, business best-practices and domain expertise—designed to meet the PLM needs of apparel and retail companies," says Mark Harrop, director of PDP.
JD Sports Fashion plc was founded in 1981 and is now a FTSE 250 Company with over 600 stores in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Spain. Its principal trading fascia is JD which retails leading international and sports brands as well as a number of own brands such as McKenzie and Carbrini.
Centric Software is a leading provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software for apparel, luxury goods and consumer goods companies. Centric 8 delivers easy-to-use functionality to manage critical, inseparable business processes, including product development, sourcing, line planning and profitability management, through a modularized system that implements and delivers value rapidly.
VLOV Inc which designs, sources and markets VLOV-brand casual, fashion-forward apparel for men in the People's Republic of China, announced that the Company will be showing VLOV's 2012 Spring/Summer collection at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City on September 12, 2011 at 3 p.m. in the Stage venue at Lincoln Center.
Mr. Richard Wu, VLOV's CEO and Chief Designer, stated, "We are very excited to be presenting our Spring/Summer 2012 collection and want to thank the China Fashion Designer's Association for their recommendation to have VLOV participate in New York Fashion Week. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase our designs at such an esteemed venue and to be featured among many highly regarded global brands."
To present during New York Fashion Week, VLOV went through an extensive review process, which included American and European fashion week representatives visiting VLOV's offices as well as multiple store locations. Mr. Wu is regarded as one of China's top fashion designers and has been named China Fashion Week's Top Ten Fashion Designer for the past two years.
VLOV Inc, a leading lifestyle apparel designer based in China, designs, sources and markets VLOV-brand fashion-forward apparel for middle-class Chinese men. VLOV products are sold by distributors through multiple points of sale throughout China.
In the spring of 2012, the world's leading outdoor apparel manufacturers will introduce a multitude of new garments featuring the latest Polartec fabric creations. From new ultra-wicking baselayers, to the most effective waterproof breathable jackets on the market, to high performance eco-friendly recycled fabrics, Polartec continues to offer the world's most innovative fabrics.
Polartec NeoShell, the most breathable waterproof fabric on the market, continues to gain momentum with the launch of Eider's Uphill Jacket and Pants, which will first be available in Europe spring 2012. Made from woven and ripstop Polartec NeoShell fabrics with stretch, the Uphill Jacket and Pants are technical outerwear built for the most demanding mountaineers.
Polartec Power Shield Pro (the highly weather resistant and breathable soft shell fabric) is being used in footwear for the first time. Polartec has worked with European brand Alpinus to pioneer the use of Polartec Power Shield Pro fabric in a trail running shoe. The Alpinus Ahern shoes feature an extremely abrasion-resistant face for long-lasting durability, and provide high weather resistance while retaining critical breathability.
New Polartec Windbloc and Polartec Power Shield soft shell jackets are being introduced for spring/summer 2012. Patagonia is launching their Adze Jacket, a windproof soft shell with a supple feel and great stretch, using a Polartec Windbloc fabric which provides mobility, durability, and total protection from the wind. Polartec worked with Patagonia to develop a Polartec Windbloc fabric package with a grid back exclusive to them. Norrona will introduce their first Polartec Power Shield garment in their spring/summer 2012 collection.
The Svalbard flex2 Jacket (available in men's and women's) is a highly breathable, wind resistant and durable jacket made using a lightweight Polartec Power Shield fabric that works well for all seasons - perfect for those in need of a soft shell jacket with excellent breathability and stretch.
Polartec Power Stretch Pro, a version of the longtime classic Polartec Power Stretch designed to keep your skin dry when you sweat, offers increased durability and wind and abrasion resistance thanks to the nylon outer surface. The North Face worked with Polartec to design their new spring 2012 women's Pika Full Zip Jacket using Polartec Power Stretch Pro to create a versatile mid layer/light outerwear designed to move with you and keep you dry and comfortable.
Polartec Power Dry High Efficiency, a version of the popular Polartec Power Dry fabric designed to keep your skin dry when you sweat, is differentiated with a grid back that maximizes warmth, minimizes weight and enhances breathability. Polartec Power Dry High Efficiency fabrics weigh less, take up less space, and deliver more insulation and breathability than most other fabrics in their class. The North Face is using Polartec Power Dry High Efficiency in their new spring 2012 men's Snake Eyes Jacket, a versatile mid layer/light outerwear designed to keep you comfortable in all activities.
Polartec continues to drive innovation in the world of recycled fabrics and 2012 represents the full-scale rollout of Polartec fabrics featuring Repreve 100 yarns made of 100 percent post consumer recycled content. Every pound of Repreve 100 yarn saves a significant amount of energy and greenhouse gas emissions compared to virgin polyester, while delivering the same look, feel and performance. Polartec is converting many fabric styles to Repreve 100, and an estimated 40 percent of what Polartec produces will be Repreve100 by the end of the year.
Polartec recently announced a first of its kind, closed loop recycling process, the Repreve Textile Takeback Program. In typical garment manufacturing, 8 to 15 percent of all fabric produced becomes cut-waste left over after panels are cut. Polartec has worked with Unifi of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Peckham Inc. of Lansing, Michigan, to define a process allowing for Polartec polyester cut-waste to be recycled back into Polartec's exclusive Repreve 100 branded yarn. This new yarn will now include a blend of recycled bottles and recycled fabrics and will be used to produce performance Polartec fabrics.
Polartec, LLC is the developer, manufacturer, and marketer of Polartec performance fabrics. Polartec products range from lightweight wicking base layers, to insulation layers, to extreme weather protection and are utilized by the best clothing brands in the world.
Oroblu currently holds all styles from fashion legwear including ribbed, knitted, lace, metallic, printed, leather and legwarmer styles, to classic opaque’s (in 40 colourways), sheers, socks and knee high styles.
Oroblù’s range has every party, occasion and eventuality catered for, closely mirroring all of the above catwalk styles while delivering wearable, stylish and playful leg fashion.
Warm, autumnal colours set the scene for AW11. Rich burgundy, aubergine, grape, chocolate, monochromes and deep red hues with splashes of turquoise, petrol and bright red form Oroblù’s colour palette. There is a shade to complement every mood, trend and outfit.
Oroblu’s Exclusive Mode collection embraces the elegance of dressing up with its range of Sheers - a key trend for AW11. In true Oroblù style, sheer tights are given an update with floral embroidery, patterns, stripes, spots and sparkling detail. The Homespun Trend takes a lead this AW11, which is catered to in Oroblù’s directional Soft Touch collection. The range of knitted legwarmers, ribbed tights, arm warmers, knee highs, over the knees, leggings and socks are a wardrobe essential and are key to embracing the layering trend.
Oroblù’s Hit Parade collection features Graphic animal prints, Argyle patterns and tartans with splashes of metalics, leather inserts and jewel sequins, making a striking fashion statement. Textures, tones and contrasting colours complete this season’s hottest look for the confident and experimental fashionistas.
With an aim to develop high-end materials for China’s fashion industry, a wool textile research institute has been set up in the port city of Longkou in northeastern Shandong province.
The institute has been established by Xi'an Polytechnic University in collaboration with Shandong Nanshan Textile Apparel Company.
Currently, China imports most of the high quality wool as about 80 percent of its locally produced wool is of low quality. The non-availability of good quality wool impedes the growth of fashion industry in the country.
Sponsored by M&S, MAS Holdings, SLDF and Reclaimed-To-Wear, Sri Lankan eco fashion designers Charini Suriyage and Kanchana Talpawila, winners of the Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) Ethical Fashion Designer Award 2010, launch their sustainable collections for the first time in London this autumn. Lingerie brand Charini and ready-to-wear women's brand K T Brown, as part of the award prize, worked alongside ethical fashion and business experts from the UK and Sri Lanka to develop collections for the European marketplace.
Drawing from a pool of experience within the ethical fashion sector, the intensive three month mentoring programme gave the designers the opportunity to develop their brand identity and refine their collection signatures. By boosting their business potential and focusing on a sustainable supply chain they are set to have a competitive edge with European buyers this autumn.
"Recognizing, nurturing and launching designers is essential to sustain a healthy fashion industry and as the world increasingly operates as a global village, breaking geographical boundaries is our future. The SLDF Ethical Fashion Designer Award is a bridge, a journey of discovery and cultural intermix, an opportunity for young designers to think of design as a universal language, understood by all."
Orsola de Castro, Founder of award winning eco brand From Somewhere
Luxury eco lingerie brand 'Charini' celebrates exquisite artisanal Beeralu lace through working with community enterprises in Sri Lanka. Charini's S/S 2012 range also focuses on architectural support in design and sets a standard of no elastics, no metals, no underwire and no harmful dying. Wellbeing is at the heart of her working and production ethos. Charini Suriyage will be showcasing her collection at the London Fashion Week Esthetica this September.
Ready-to-wear eco brand 'K. T. Brown' has been inspired by the iconic Sri Lankan artist Ena De Silva and brings the mastery of surface design to work alongside her innovative pattern techniques of using circles as a base for garment structures. K T Brown's vibrant collection also supports sustainable livelihoods, fabrics are sourced locally and all garments are exclusively made by the dedicated team at her studio in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Kanchana Talpawila will be showcasing her collection at PURE London this August.
The mentors who worked alongside the winning designers included, award winning designer Orsola de Castro, Founder of Reclaimed To Wear Filippo Ricci, Claire Hamer from E8ight ethical fashion consultancy, ethical fashion consultant Elizabeth Laskar, Soozie Jenkinson and Paschal Little from M&S, Subramaniam Eassuwaren from Carbon Consulting Company and Ajay Amalean from MAS Holdings Sri Lanka.
"We are proud and delighted to support the SLDF ethical fashion award. We really enjoyed being involved and working with all the designers throughout the mentoring process and congratulateall of them on their excellent work. We were inspired both by their creativity and their original and innovative approach to sustainable design" Head of Innovation and Quality for Lingerie and Beauty, M&S
The Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) Ethical Fashion Award searches for and launches exceptional design talent from Sri Lanka and South East Asia into Europe. Supported by industry and commercial partners, the award aims to support South East Asian designers through brand and design development to reach new markets and expand their business potentials.
"We are excited to see the exceptional work of the winners of the SLDF Ethical Fashion Award. Both Charini Suriyage and Kanchana Talpawila build on the strong ethical manufacturing background of Sri Lanka, and drawing on the local artisanal roots to create fabulous, sustainable apparel. We are keen to build sustainable design capabilities of Sri Lankan designers and this is a strong first step towards that goal."
Dian Gomes, Group Director, MAS Holdings, Sri Lanka
Supporting local artisanal communities, providing livelihoods through cooperative collaborations, up-cycling textiles to applying innovative techniques to save water and energy – the SLDF Ethical Fashion Award continues to celebrate a principled approach towards fashion and through partnering with European commercial platforms introduces international designers onto new markets.
"Design with a conscience that is socially and ecologically aware and active is the kind of design that can make a positive impact on society and our planet; and that is the kind of design that we need for the future and therefore the kind of design we need to encourage. SLDF Ethical Fashion Award recognizes of fashion designers and entrepreneurs who make sustainability and ethical commitments a core element of their practice. SLDF aims to encourage a new movement in fashion and design thinking, and this award is a key part of this creative revolution" Linda Speldewinde, Founder of Sri Lanka Design Festival, Sri Lanka
The 'British Council –Sri Lanka' and the Carbon Consulting Company have also supported the award as knowledge partners. The award will launch again this year as the SLDF continues to support young talented eco designers to launch into the European fashion platform.
