Giorgio Armani is pleased to announce the launch of the Armani/Ginza Tower official website at www.armaniginzatower.com

Giorgio Armani is pleased to announce the launch of the Armani/Ginza Tower official website at www.armaniginzatower.com, available in Italian, English and Japanese languages, offering a range of information about the building, the collections and the exclusive services that the new concept store will offer. The website officially went online on November 2nd.

The imposing Armani/Ginza Tower, which opens today, November 6th, is the next in a series of unique concept stores pioneered by Giorgio Armani in 2000, when he opened Milan’s Armani/Manzoni store: a destination fashion and lifestyle retail experience, offering fashion and accessories, the home collection, a Nobu restaurant and an Emporio Armani Caffe, an Armani Privé nightclub, a flower shop and bookstore and a fragrance and cosmetics counter.

Two further locations followed: Armani/Funf Höfe in Munich and Armani/Chater House in Hong Kong, now to be joined by the Armani/Ginza Tower and, in 2008, the recently announced Armani/Fifth Avenue concept store in New York.

The new website, realized in collaboration with the website development agency Create the Group, offers the possibility to discover virtually the Armani/Ginza Tower concept store and will be divided into six main sections: the Building, Design Philosophy, Ginza Tower Collections, Exclusive Services, Ginza Area and News & Press.

‘The Building’ section allows visitors to see all the images and details for what each of the 12 floors has to offer: the Giorgio Armani boutique and the Emporio Armani store, the Armani/Casa interior design collection, the world’s first ever Armani/Spa and the Armani/Ristorante, and the Armani/Privé lounge bar.

‘Design Philosophy’ hosts a video where Mr Armani welcomes visitors and introduces his collaboration with architects Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas, explaining the inspirations behind the Armani/Ginza Tower design philosophy.

The ‘Special Collection’ allows visitors to discover the limited edition series of Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani apparel and accessories inspired by the building’s gold and black colour theme featuring a special Armani/Ginza Tower label, which will only be available at that location.

In the ‘Exclusive Services’ section, visitors can discover the unique aspects of the Armani/Ginza Tower, including the first-ever Armani/Spa, the Armani/Ristorante and the Armani/Casa Interior Design Service. In addition, the visitors can also make a reservation for a private appointment through a telephone number that will be indicated for each service.

Finally, while the ‘Ginza Area’ gives specific details about this historic location and its secrets, the ‘News & Press’ section will showcase a selection of interesting articles and press releases regarding the Armani/Ginza Tower.

The Armani Group is one of the leading fashion and luxury goods groups in the world today with 4,900 direct employees and 13 factories. It designs, manufactures, distributes and retails fashion and lifestyle products including apparel, accessories, eyewear, watches, jewellery, home furnishings, fragrances and cosmetics under a range of brand names: Giorgio Armani Privé, Giorgio Armani, Armani Collezioni, Emporio Armani, AJ Armani Jeans, A/X Armani Exchange, Armani Junior, Armani Baby and Armani Casa.

The Group’s exclusive retail network currently comprises: 73 Giorgio Armani boutiques, 12 Armani Collezioni stores, 140 Emporio Armani stores, 128 A/X Armani Exchange stores, 18 AJ Armani Jeans stores, 7 Armani Junior stores, 1 Giorgio Armani Accessori, 1 Emporio Armani Accessori store and 25 Armani Casa stores in 46 countries. The Armani Group has also announced its intention to open a unique collection of luxury hotels and resorts in the world’s most important cities and destinations.

Contact :

Mario Zaccardi / Annalisa Pirotta
Giorgio Armani SpA
Tel: +39 02 723181
Fax: +39 02 72318450

Source : http://www.armanipress.com

TCM launches winter fashion collection

Thanh Cong Textile Garment Joint Stock Company popularly known as TCM, one of the leading apparel companies of Vietnam has recently launched its latest fashion collection for Winter 2007 titled ‘Winter Love’.

The collection is made of elastic materials in modern styles served for the youth. Colours basically used here include red, white, black and blue. While creating these patterns, fashion designers kept in mind the likings of the young generation and the Noel event where the collection was presented was a hit.

TCM, which mainly believes in continuous development of production, investing in modern production lines, tries to increase its capacity and improve quality of its products to satisfy customers, has been expanding its business to real estate and finance. However, apparel and textile will always be the key of its operation.

Source : Fibre2fashion.com

Akira Isogawa Australian Fashion Designer Biography

Akira Isogawa is one of Australia's most celebrated designers. He has achieved international recognition for his exquisite contemporary designs, which are sought after in every major fashion capital throughout the world.

Since 1998, Akira has show his collections in Paris, where he presents Spirng/Summer and Autumn/Winter collectiosn to international buyers each year.

Akira continues to maintain a strong presence in Sydney, where he has shown collections at Mercedes Australian Fashion Week every year since 1996.

For the past decade the Akira boutique in Sydney has built a strong clientele spanning Australia’s most successful, individual and beautiful women.

In 1999, Akira was named Designer of the Year and Womenswear Designer of the Year at the Australian Fashion Industry Awards. In 2005 he was honoured by Australia Post and named an Australian Legend - his image appearing on a commemorative postage stamp.

Also in 2005 he was awarded Prix De Marie Claire Best Australian Designer. In 2006 Akira received the Award for Fashion Excellence at the National Retail Association Fashion Design Awards.

Akira’s work has been fondly embraced by the Australian arts sector - in 2004/05 Akira Isogawa: Printemps Ete opened at the National Gallery of Victoria – the first solo fashion and textiles exhibition by an Australian fashion designer to be presented at a major national or state institution (still currently on tour in Asia). In 2003 Sydney Festival staged an exhibition of his garment construction techniques at Object Gallery, creating the most successful show in the gallery’s history. Akira has also been invited to exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art and twice has been included in the Powerhouse Museum’s Fashion of the Year retrospective.

He has designed costumes for four Sydney Dance Company productions – Salome, Air & Other Invisible Forces, Ellipse, Grand and for the players in the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Born in Kyoto Japan, Akira moved to Australia in 1986 where he studied fashion design at the Sydney Institute of Technology, drawing inspiration from contemporary Japanese design.

His work has been warmly received by fashion critics, drawing favourable reviews from leading figures such as Anna Piaggi and media including The New York Times and US Vogue.

Akira’s designs are available globally, at some of the world’s most famous stores.

Source : Akira Isogawa

Samar Mehdi Indian Fashion Designer

The Samar Mehdi label was established in 1996, soon after Samar returned from Bristol University, UK, with a four year degree in Fashion and Accessory Design.

Operating from an outlet in the busy designer hub of Zamzama, Karachi, since 1997, the Samar Mehdi label has been catering to a diverse clientele, not only in Pakistan, but in several countries abroad also. The label showcases a clothing range from casual Western clothes and semi formal Eastern Wear, to high end Western evening wear and formal/bridal Eastern clothing. Accessories such as handbags and shoes are also available.

During the course of a career, spanning over a decade now, Samar has had the privilege and honor of working with most of the accomplished names in the Pakistani Fashion Industry. From magazines such as LIBAS, VISAGE, DIVA, FASHION COLLECTION, MAG, SHE and INSTEP etc, to models such as Iraj, Nadia Hussain, Tanya Shafi, Vaneeza, and Sunita Marshall, et al. And from a myriad of photographers such as Naureen Shah, Munna Mushtaq, Jami and Shamyl Khuro, to stylists, including, Shaheen Saeed, Nabila’s, Saima’s and so on. Internationally also, the Samar Mehdi label has been covered, from the BRISTOL JOURNAL, UK, and GALAXEE, UK, to ASIAN TODAY, Canada, KHALEEJ TIMES, and BERLINGSKE TIDENKE, Denmark.

Samar has been fortunate enough to have received favorable responses from the electronic media as well. From being featured and interviewed by local channels, such as PTV, TVONE, INDUS TV, GEO, BUSINESS PLUS, to international exposure in ZEE TV Europe, BBC Clothes Show, and ITV Fashion Focus.

The label believes in selective, yet quality shows. Amongst the most noteworthy include Samar’s collection at the LONDON GRADUATE FASHION WEEK, where she was adjudged ‘Best Overseas Designer’ by the renowned Anna Sui and John Galliano. The label also produced an inaugural outlet fashion show in 1997, which received exceedingly favorable press. Another highlight remains participation in the prestigious COPENHANGEN INTERNATIONAL FASHION FAIR (CIFF), part of the Scandinavian Fashion Week in 2001. Here, Samar had the distinction of displaying her collection on the ramp as the only chosen Asian representation alongside the likes of Channel, Calvin Klein and Esprit. Her work was hailed by the Scandinavian media, including the BERLINGSKE TIDENKE, and also by local publications such as IMAGES, INSTEP, LINES, MAG, SHE and WOMEN’S OWN.

Aside from an established outlet in Karachi, Samar has also supplied to YAZZ INTERNATIONAL, at Baker Street, London, and continues to exhibit annually in the UK and Middle East.

With originality, quality and consumer satisfaction at its core, the Samar Mehdi design philosophy is to create for a client who wants to celebrate her womanhood and femininity, yet project her independence and attitude. Heading a dedicated team of employees whose collective aim is to take their label, as well as Pakistani fashion to new heights, Samar is proud to be a member of the fashion fraternity.

Source : Samar Mehdi

Fashion designer collections to glitter at World Boutique

World Boutique, Hong Kong will be held between January 14-17, 2008 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The fair is expected to attract over 230 exhibitors to showcase their sparkling selection of fashion designer’s collections, branded fashion products, fashion accessories, as well as home fashion and lifestyle products.

The first independent show of its kind in Asia, World Boutique, Hong Kong is a unique event dedicated to promoting designers' collections and brands from around the world and for those looking for distinguished brand name items to give their business a luxurious and competitive edge.

Source : Fibre2fashion.com

Anita Dongre Indian Fashion Desinger Information

Fashion has always been very intrinsic to Anita, right from those formative years; let it be dressing up her favorite doll or the most gorgeous actress.

“Fashion is all about elegance, style, comfort and attitude. It need not be loud, it need not be outrageous, need not be changing drastically every season, but definitely attuned to the culture and the mood of individuals. Fashion has to be expressive, eloquent yet leave room for interpretation of the individual.” Says Anita.

Anita Dongre has been a part of the Indian fashion industry for nearly two decades. She entered the world of fashion immediately after schooling. A passion she always wanted to pursue. She liberated women from the straitjacket of traditional tailoring and introduced them to the pleasures of casual chic. Anita is not a woman given to flamboyant emotionalism. In this reflects, physically and by temperament, the clothes that she has so expertly tailored right to the last cut.

Anita also had a short stint as a teacher at one of the reputed fashion schools in the country; she currently is a mentor to two of the best fashion schools in the country.

Anita designs clothes for both, bollywood celebrities and royalties. Some of her bollywood clientele includes Urmila Matondkar, Esha Kopikar, Sameera Reddy and the likes but it does not stop there. She is also a favorite among her international customers. She has also won awards internationally for her ingenuity in design and creation. She has also lent her creativity to movies like My Brother Nikhil & Bas Ek Pal.

“Fashion is never vulgar; it’s continuously evolving, not just according to seasons but also cultural conditioning and is always subject to interpretation of time and thought.”

Source : Anita Dongre

Top fashion designer robbed

Internationally famed SA fashion designer Peter Soldatos has been robbed of irreplaceable garments which were to be worn by the finalists in the upcoming Miss SA pageant on December 8.

Dubbed the ‘X-factor’ designer of the 1970s, Soldatos and his innovative designs are adored by the likes of former Miss South Africa 1975 and Miss World Anneline Kriel, Liza Minelli, the late Liberace and Nana Mouskouri.

On November 17 while asleep at his home in Parkwood, Johannesburg, unknown suspects entered Soldatos’s in-home studio and made off with a total of 28 garments from the 1960s onwards.

Two garments were later discovered in the driveway along with the coat hangers of the missing gowns.
No signs of forced entry were found, leaving Saldatos to describe the occurrence as “macabre.” No other items were missing besides the “glamorous, full-length beaded gowns.”

The Miss SA pageant approached Soldatos to become involved in this year’s pageant, which is celebrating its 50th year golden anniversary. To be showcased are the five decades of fashion. Other designers involved are Marianne Fassler, Gideon, Gerrit Pienaar and JJ Schoeman. The pageant would have seen the various works of Soldatos over a period spanning 50 years, a bitter loss Soldatos is now having to come to terms with.

“Some of the garments that were not going to be used in the pageant would have gone into the fashion museum to be archived and to help future fashion students in their studies,” Soldatos told The Citizen.

The items can be replicated, but according to the couturier extraordinaire, the sentimental and historical value is irreplaceable. An era of fashion history has been lost to crime.

Soldatos has been greeted with acclaim in North America, Europe, Africa, Hong Kong and the Czech Republic to name but a few.

“I have always been very outspoken about fashion and believe in what I do,” he commented in response to a question on his success as a couturier.

Source : http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=53277,1,22

Indian top fashion designers Information

Indian Top Fashion Designers List :

- Abraham & Thakore - Indian Fashion Designer
- Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla - Indian Fashion Designer
- Anita Dongre - Indian Fashion Designer
- Anjana Bhargav - Indian Fashion Designer
- Anju Modi - Indian Fashion Designer
- Anuradha Vakil - Indian Fashion Designer
- Arati Monappa - Indian Fashion Designer
- Arjun Khanna - Indian Fashion Designer
- Ashima & Leena - Indian Fashion Designer
- Jattinn Kochhar - Indian Fashion Designer
- Jatin Verma - Indian Fashion Designer
- JJ Valaya - Indian Fashion Designer
- Ranna Gill - Indian Fashion Designer
- Monisha Bajaj - Indian Fashion Designer
- Wendell Rodricks - Indian Fashion Designer
- Payal Jain - Indian Fashion Designer
- Lina Tipnis - Indian Fashion Designer
- Mandira Wirk - Indian Fashion Designer
- Rohit Bal - Indian Fashion Designer
- Neeta Lulla - Indian Fashion Designer

Monisha Bajaj Indian Leading Fashion Designer

Monisha Bajaj is one of India's leading light in couture. A fashion designer who is focussed in her design style, Monisha is a synonym of under- played chic. One of the most versatile member of the couture boundaries and find a place for her design internationally.

For Monisha, fashion is all about belonging to an aesthetic idiom. Borrowing inspirations from elements that go with her own innate style and creative disposition.

Essentially a classicist she brings in the thrill of experimentalism too into her design. Fine detailing with heritage fabrics, the use of embroidery for textural enhancement and the crafty use of silhouettes that are functional yet feminine, Monisha creates fashion with a strong flavour. Her textile story is luxe. Her colour statement is varied with the binding force of Bajaj's colour palette being the art of mixing bold with soft and neutral colour sense is innovative yet moulds well to classical forms.

It was in 1996 that Monisha Bajaj launched her own label after a successful career abroad working in the Contemporary Design Department of the store Fashion Destination. Since then Monisha has show- cased her collections in shows all over India and abroad.

Source : Monisha Bajaj

Ritu Kumar Indian Fashion Designer

In the late 1960’s India was going through profound changes; plastics had replaced mud, brass and silver; factory produced papers and woods took the place of sophisticated handicrafts and nylons displaced an ancient heritage of cotton and silk. It was not only a battle between tradition and modernity; it was also a confrontation of lifestyles and values.

During this time, a small group who had benefited from unique opportunities of study and travel began to see the depth of the craft and design heritage of their own country. They discovered that India was a reservoir of delicate skills.

In an attempt to merge their international experiences together with the skills of their people, they became aware that contemporary designers must revitalize their own roots and identity. This was essential to take Indian creativity out into the world in such a way that benefited both craftsmen and the modern consumer. This scattered group, including Ritu Kumar was to become the country’s leading designers of the buildings, garments, fabric and accessories.

Ritu began with hand block printers and two tables in a small village near Calcutta, and since then Ritu’s team of dedicated workers have progressed to produce some of the country’s most exquisite garments and accessories in cotton, silk and leather. These ranges embrace both traditional textile crafts and the lineage of Indian design. Over the centuries, traditional skills that had been lost have been revitalized and this has enabled the craftsmen to continue working in their own environment. Ritu has pioneered the term ‘fashion’ in the Indian context, and more importantly, has demonstrated that hand made products can be as profitable and even more glamorous than those made by machine.

From humble beginnings forty years ago Ritu became the first woman to introduce the ‘boutique’ culture in India under the brand name ‘Ritu’. Today she has outlets in all over the country, retailing under her traditional brand.

In 2002 Ritu Kumar, joined by her son Amrish, launched a sub brand – Ritu Kumar, LABEL. LABEL uses the established forte of traditional Indian design and converts it into a fashion oriented international product. This is aimed at the young, global Indian woman with a contemporary lifestyle. LABEL retails from most Ritu Kumar stores as well as some stand alone stores.

In a bid to bring the specialized design collection into the main stream and appeal to a younger generation the Ritu Kumar brand has designed costumes for a few films, high profile stars such as Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta, Priyanka Chopra, Diya Mirza, Diana Hayden, Celina Jaitley, Tanushree Dutta, Neha Dhupia, Since 1994 till the present date of 2006 Ritu Kumar has also been designing the wardrobes comprising swimwear, eveningwear, traditional Indian wear, casual wear, formal evening gowns; of the three winning Miss India’s , for their participation in International Beauty Pageants (Miss Universe , Miss World and Miss Asia Pacific respectively ). An impressive number of winners have emerged from these contests putting India on the beauty map. Some of the winners have won awards for the Most Outstanding Evening Gown and the Best National Costume. Internationally style icons such as late Princess Diana and Jemima Khan have patronized Ritu Kumar’s outfits.

Her book “Costumes and Textiles of Royal India” published by Christies in October 1999 chronicles the history of India’s royal patronage to textile arts down the centuries starting with the historical context of Mohenjo Daro to the present era. A definite and exhaustive academic as well as fashion history which has become a reference book in India.

Source : Ritu kumar