Textile mills forge close cooperation - from Archive to Modern Scarf Designs.

Italian mill Miroglio Textile created a real buzz of excitement at the Premiere Vision Pluriel fair in Paris last week.  It demonstrated the importance of history in order to create for the future. 

Exclusive patterns from Archivio Mantero (an archive from more than 100 years) provide inspirational ideas for
Miroglio Textile to develop into new scarf designs.

At the prestigious textile fair, a must-attend event for all in the fashion and related industry, the company presented its debut collection of scarfs which was the result of a new partnership forged between Miroglio and Matero – two textile power houses of Italy.

Above and below left, a selection of new scarf designs produced and distributed by Miroglio Textile.
All photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

Chiaretto Calo, Global Commercial Director of Miroglio explained that some 60 designs in various colourways were  selected from the archives of Mantero, which has a rich history of more than 100 years of design creativity, and from these, Miroglio using their technical and innovation know-how have developed and produced a wide collection of new scarf designs.  Miroglio will also be distributing the scarf collection.   

Mr Calo explained that the two textile houses were previously rivals but have not resolved their differences and combined their expertise to work together for the first time.

The patterns in the new collection includes floral themes - romantic flora and fauna reproduced with a photographic perspective or in 70s-psychedlia.  There is an indigo range with reinterpretation of nautical themes, a classic range, jungle effect drawings, and geometric, ethnic and mixed-cultural influences as well as optical effects and inspiration by the art of Pollock and Andy Warhol.

Italy's Miroglio Textile sponsors Texprint

Chiaretto Calo - Miroglio Textile's Global
Commercial Director, shows off some of the company's
latest textile developments at a
recent Premiere Vision fair in Paris.
Photo by Lucia Carpio.

Top Italian textile company - Miroglio Textile - well-known for its innovative fabrics and prints, has announced its sponsorshop for this year’s installment of the Texprint competition.  

To read more, click HERE.

FASHION ACCESS March 31 - April 2 - Pre-Registration Opens!

FASHION ACCESS to take place in Hong Kong March 31 - April 2, 2014, is the go-to international fashion trade fair that showcases a comprehensive range of mid-to-high-end products, from footwear to bags, fashion accessories, branded fashion collections, lifestyle, travel ware, apparel and sustainable products.
To be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, FASHION ACCESS is a must-see event for international trade visitors including department stores, private labels, fashion brands, retailers, boutique buyers, wholesalers, sourcing agents, buying offices and distributors.

For Pre-Registration - Click here for details.
If you're a buyer or sourcing director or agent, and interested in the Hosted Buyers' Programme, get in touch by e-mail:- myfashionconnect@gmail.com

Emma J Shipley launches new scarfs and a debut jewellery collection with Atelier Swarovski

A talented designer is one who can transfer one’s unique skill from one medium to another while maintaining her signature style.  

That's why it was exciting to view award-winning British designer Emma J Shipley's new AW14 POLAR scarf collection during London Fashion Week, when she also showcased her new exclusive collaboration with Atelier Swarovski, displaying her unique designs on scarves and jewellery based on the snow leopard.

Animals feature prominently in Emma's work.  Known for her creative illustrations she beautifully transfers onto scarves, Emma’s new POLAR collection was inspired by the expeditions of great British explorers like Scott, Shackleton and Parry.  All the designs are from Emma’s original pencil drawings created in her studio in Hackney, north London.   The theme is like a wonderland of the arctic landscape, one showing penguins surrounding an explorer’s hot air balloon while arctic foxes take on Odin’s mythical characteristics; another shows striped polar bears surveying the landscape while the Aurora flickers overhead.  The colour palette reflects the cold scenery that the images depict, in blues with an icy tinge, in shades of indigo to teal and turquoise, purples, magenta and cool pinks, contrasting with black and white, mixing in tones of mythical gold and silver.

The luxury scarf collection features a variety of sizes, from the classic squares to oversize squares;  primarily in silk, or in modal blended with cashmere or in silk and cashmere blends, all printed in Como, Italy.

Now for her new exclusive collaboration with Atelier Swarovski, for the brand's Autumn/Winter 2014 collection, Emma features the beautiful snow leopard, one of the most endangered big cats, onto a collection of silk and cashmere blend scarves, in a quietly sophisticated palette.

The collection also includes striking bold jewellery pieces - bold rings, cuff bracelets, and scarf accessories, all in the form of a stylised leopard.

The jewellery pieces, taking inspiration from the elegance, beauty and power of the snow leopard, are encrusted with geometric crystals expressing the unique irregular pattern of the leopard's spots.

In addition to Emma, Atelier Swarovski's collaborations this season include avant-garde fashion house Viktor & Rolf, fine jewellery Irene Neuwirth.

A Royal College of Art graduate, and a Texprint Alumna (2011), Emma J. Shipley won the Emerging Brand Awards at the WGSN Global Fashion Awards in 2013, and has exhibited in many important international trade shows including London Fashion Week, Fashion Scout and Scoop London, and have done collaborations with retail brands such as Anthropologie, Osborne & Little, shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood and has sold her scarves at Liberty, Fortnum & Mason, Harvey Nichols and Wolf & Badger. 

All photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

Magpie cushions bring that spring garden feel indoors.

With flora and fauna being such a major fashion trend this spring for prints, Magpie's cushions bring that spring-like freshness and optimistic mood indoors.

The Birdy range by Magpie features a 1950’s vibe, such as the cushion above that features a Wagtail.  The fabric is 100% cotton and the filling is polyester.

The Robin cushion shown below features a mid-century style Robin with her eggs on the front and a nest on the back.  The muted colours evoke a taste of nostalgia.

Other subjects in the award-winning Birdy range includes a Thrush and a Blue Tit.  The designs are based on childhood memories of bird spotting and  are featured in a wide range of home products; in addition to cushions there are porcelain ware, aprons, purses, ipad and iphone cases.  

Click here to see the full Birdy range.

Based in London,  the Magpie brand was started by designer Nicky Sloan and features the work of a number of collaborating designers.  The ranges have a distinctly British edge, and feature nostalgic subjects such as childhood trips to the seaside, tea time with the grandparents, camping trips to the woods and an unwavering love for the flora and fauna found within the British Isles.

Naturally the designers share a love of nature which extends to their methods of manufacture, as the products they make is suitable for Vegans, and are cruelty free without compromising on their design.  Accordingly, the ceramics are all made from Porcelain which uses a mixture of 3 clays, kaolin, quartz, and feldspar.   They do not use Bone China and their bags and purses are made from animal friendly cotton, pleather and polypropylene.   All our cards and notebooks are made from 100% recycled paper.

Optimistic Sunny colours for Spring!

New fabrics in sunny brights for SS-2015 on display for the global textile industry
at the Premiere Vision Pluriel trade fair in Paris this week.
Photo by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

In Paris this week, at the Premiere Vision international trade fair for clothing textiles and accessories where the global fashion industry go to each season to catch the latest must-know trends and developments, bright colours were presented as the key colours for Spring Summer 2015, especially yellows and greens in all hues and shades in the spectrum.  More on PV and its associated concurrent trade shows next week.



Back in London, we don't have to wait till next year to enjoy the optimistic colours while facing up to the dismal weather.

Danish brand Ilse Jacobsen have launched their new rain boots made in natural rubber in a selection of bright colours to add a dose of sunshine to our rainwear wardrobe.  They are available in three leg lengths - Knee-high, calf and ankle.



The handmade boots are well constructed and designed with intricate details such as a lining made of cotton viscose fleece to provide comfort, and performance-enhancing details to help combat the elements.  The natural rubber used for these boots are sourced from single-estate Malaysian rubber trees.  They have heat-insulated soles made of lightweight EVA.

Meanwhile at the National Gallery in London, two of Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh's celebrated Sunflowers oil-paintings are currently on show until April 27, providing much-needed optimistic boost for our spiritual enhancement.

A selection of merchandise at the London National Gallery to coincide with the Van Gogh Sunflowers exhibition.
Photo by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

Muubaa leather brand launch new shopping app.

British premium leather fashion brand Muubaa have launched their brand new mobile shopping app, just in time for their latest Spring 2014 collection now available on their website.
Check it out.
Note the bright fluorescent-coloured leather jackets very much on trend, as seen in image above.



And as seen on catwalk presentations for the season, pair jackets with a selection of shorts to replace jeans or skirts for a sports-luxe update - like the pedal-pusher seen here in crocodile-skin effect, or shorts shown below in ultra soft leather or textured effect.

People watching at London Fashion Week - what are they wearing?

Sure it has been raining cats and dogs.

And when it's not raining - the fashion pundits are out and about, to see and be seen.  Here a selection of pictures by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

 Great for people watching.

Click HERE to see more.

It's London Fashion Week time. Guides in stylish ponchos give directions.

Yes, it's London Fashion Week time and the capital has been inundated with a lot of rain.  I mean lots of the wet stuff.
At the Somerset House - the main venue for the designers' showrooms - special guides are kitted out in weather-proofed ponchos - perfect for the weather - come rain or shine.

They are the American Express know-it-all warriors - stationed at the Concierge Hub, they provide answers to any questions one may have - from catwalk show times to venues and directions. The capes they wear are by British designer Christopher Raeburn, whose inspiration for the Autumn/Winter 2014 season comes from the Arctic, using British fabrics such as the tartan Hainsworth wool above.
Inside the building, designer Kate Sheridan shows she has a couple of weather ponchos to boost too.

Here Kate shows one in made in water-resistant British waxed cotton with Liberty print lining.

Another features a tartan waxed cotton with cotton moleskin lining.
Photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

The A’s and B’s of desirable ladies’ footwear.

Why A’s and B’s.  They are the initials of two footwear brands that caught my eye at the new Platform premium shoe show in London earlier this week, which debuted at the Westbury Hotel.

First of all, A is for Air & Grace,  a new ladies’ shoe brand designed by Claire Burrows, who modelled one of her designs here at the show, as seen below.

These comfy ballerina are made with the busy lady in mind, that let them literally walk on air and look graceful.  That is because the shoes are designed with hidden technology to provide comfortable wear and make them stand out from other ballerina brands on the market.

Claire explained that crafted into the design of each shoe are layers of foam and thus the trademark: Tender Loving Air. Cut a cross-section of a Air & Grace shoe, and you’ll see that it has three layers of foam.  The top layer is made of memory foam tht moulds to the shape of your foot, while the lower two layers are slow-releasing form that provide cushioning, help to absorb shock and proper posture.  

The round-toed design of the shoe means there is plenty of room to wiggle one’s toes.    Just love these tender-loving details.  For more information, go to the Air&Grace website.

Now, B is for the brand Beyond Skin, designed by Heather Whittle.  Unlike Air&Grace, which is new to the market, Beyond Skin has been around since 2001.  

The Beyond Skin brand provides ethical footwear while working closely with factories in Spain and Portugal, using high quality faux leathers and materials with an eco ethos.   The designs are of signature use of prints and weaves – bespoke fabrics in bold colours glistening with metallic threads.

A new model shown at Platform is a platform shoe made with Italian fabrics of cotton / polyester and the sole is part recycled resin.  Another is made of “Dinamica” 100% recycled bottletop to create a faux suede.  The designs are to die for.

Newly launched for autumn/winter 2014 is their debut trainer, called Rocky, featuring a selection of key fabrics, like a camouflage inspired designs shown above.

The brand has already won many awards and for more details go to their website.  
Photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

Valentine’s thought of the day:- Can Money Buy you Love?

It’s raining cats and dogs outside, and together with gale force winds, it does make this Valentine’s day in London quite un-romantic.

Image from Valtags - designed by Valentine Breton des Loÿs  - creator of the original
Valentine Tags.

But here’s the thought.  If you have money, can it buy you love? 

According to new research from Mintel, apparently love can be purchased.

Here are the figures.  The report has revealed that today, a lonely 7% of the UK have never fallen in love, but this rises to 17% of those with an income under £9,500 and decreases to just 4% of those with an income of over £50,000.  

If you want more figures ... the propensity to have never fallen in love decreases incrementally with income bracket - with 9% with an income of £9,500 - £15,499 claiming this, this declines to 7% with an income of £15,500 - £24,999, and just 5% with an income of £25,000 - £49,999. Furthermore, those with an income of over £50,000 were also most likely to have fallen in love five times or more during their lifetime, at 11% compared with an average of 8%.

Richard Cope, Senior Trends Analyst at Mintel, said:
“The fact that our research shows that money is equated with success in love is interesting because more of us are actually paying for dating services that promise to help us find it. Quite simply more money may equate to more social opportunities... and as a result more partners. We’re having more sexual and romantic partners during our lifetimes for a number of reasons. Connectivity has increased our availability, whilst taboos are breaking down. Amongst the young, celebrity culture has made whirlwind romances something to aspire to, and break-ups nothing to be ashamed of. We’re also seeing a new generation of sexually active seniors - liberated by Viagra and a social acceptance of divorce - coming back on to the market.”
Indeed, for those looking for love, using a free dating website tops the list of actions taken - some three in ten (28%) Brits have looked for love in this way - and for the first time this year this method has now drawn level with meeting through friends in first place - at 28%.

The remaining top five ways to meet someone in 2014 are: paid dating sites (12%), meeting someone at work (12% - down from 16% in 2013) and going to more events (such as art galleries and museums) at 10%. If you’re a straight man in search of love this Valentine’s Day, galleries and museums might be the way to find it - as women are more than twice as likely to choose this option (15% versus 7%).

“We’re seeing consumers increasingly looking at dating sites as services worth paying for and a number of factors are going to increase our dependence on systems rather than serendipity. We’re less likely to look to meet someone at work, purely because the very concept of ‘work’ as a fixed geographic location is itself in decline, with increasing numbers of us working independently or at home, whilst we’re being reared on the notion of our own individuality and the belief that we need tools and filters to find other like-minded individuals, rather than put our faith in supposedly hokey old adages like ‘opposites attract’.” Richard adds.

Topshop to provide digital experience for London Fashion Week

If you haven't got tickets to see Topshop's Unique catwalk show during London Fashion Week (to start on 14th Februry), don't despair.  Topshop will be live-streaming from the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall and give shoppers at their flagship Oxford Circus store a telepresence experience.

Topshop has partnered with 3D agency Inition to create the experience, while announcing that participants will wear specially commissioned head-sets to enter the 360 degree virtual world which will incorporate live feeds from the catwalk show, backstage and VIP arrivals.

Each participant will also be able to look around at the models walking down the runway and the celebrities they will be sat next to. Playing on the animal themed collection, shoppers in the virtual world will also see crows flying around the space and landing at their feet.

Sir Philip Green, owner, Arcadia Group said: “The TopshopUnique show is going from strength to strength; not only in terms of the collection but also in how we share this with our customers at home and in our stores, giving them an up to the minute runway show experience.

“This season’s live stream in virtual reality between two iconic London destinations, the Tate Modern and our Flagship store in Oxford Circus takes the idea of the traditional fashion show to a new dimension, as we continually look for new ways to engage, excite and involve our customers.”

The Topshop virtual experience will be available to customers on 16, 17 and 18 of February during store hours.
 Click here to learn more.

FTM's Artist Textiles - Picasso to Warhol - an exhibition for art and textile lovers!

Salvador Dali's screen-printed headscarf - Ballerina.

London’s Fashion and Textile Museum’s current exhibition – Artist Textiles - Picasso to Warhol – provides art as well as design lovers a treasure trove of textile designs by an array of 20th century artists.

Highlighting world renowned artists whose creativity had been extended from paintings and sculpture to textile design, from Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali to Raoul Dufy, Henri Matisse to Henry Moore, Joan Miro, Andy Warhol and Zandra Rhodes, and many more, this exhibition begins with works from the 1910s through to the 1950s and 60s, with displays of rare examples from leading art movements of the 20th century:- Fauvism, Cubism, Constructivism, Abstraction, Surrealism and Pop Art.

Read more ...

Fashion Access due to take place in Hong Kong, March 31 - April 2 2014

My Fashion Connect has been appointed UK Representative (Sales and Marketing) of FASHION ACCESS, the international trade fair in Hong Kong for Mid to High-End products, including Bags and Travelware, Footwear, Lifestyle Accessories, Small Leather Goods, Apparels and sustainable products.

The next FASHION ACCESS will take place at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre from 31 March to 2 April 2014.

International trade visitors include sourcing agents, buying offices, department stores, distributors, importers, private labels, representatives of fashion brands, retailers, e-tailers, boutique buyers and wholesalers, from all over Asia, China and the rest of the world.

FASHION ACCESS 2014 is co-located with APLF - Materials & Manufacturing Technology 2014.

It has been held since 1984 and is organised by APLF Ltd along with partners UBM Asia Ltd. (owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange) and the SIC Group.

UK buyers, retailers, importers and other trade and industry professional interested in attending FASHION ACCESS, as well as UK companies interested in exhibiting in the fair, please get in touch with My Fashion Connect for full details.

Gearing up for Paris Premiere Vision Pluriel!

The Paris-based trade fair - Première Vision Pluriel – considered the foremost trade event for the global textile and fashion industry, will next take place February 18-20 at its usual home - the Parc d’Expositions, in Paris-Nord, Villepinte.

British designer Orla Kiely's first shoe designs for Clarks - Fun and Stylish!

Orla Kiely and Clarks -two great British names have come together to produce some of the most desirable footwear for this Spring.  Ever since the six styles in the capsule collection were previewed last September, I couldn’t wait for them to be properly launched as they are this week, and get my hands on them.

Orla Kiely’s well-known for her iconic prints and for this, her first ever footwear collaboration for Clarks, the Queen-of-Prints designer shows off her love for pattern, colour, texture and rhythm, throughout the range, incorporating the colours iconic of her collections - green, mustard, navy and red colourways, with a real sense of sophisticated, stylish fun, with a good mix of influences from the 60s and 70s.

Among the styles is one featuring a high-block heel with platform, two beautifully feminine mid-block heels, an elegant mid-wedge, a sling-back with oversized buckle detail and a fabulous sling-back Mary Jane. 

Note the attention to detail and the play with colour-blocking.

Orla Kiely comments: “I always wanted to design a footwear collection and for me Clarks was a very natural fit - particularly with their world renowned heritage and quality. Starting out from my original collection of bags and ready-to-wear, to the current wider lifestyle range I’m really proud of, it’s brilliant to now be able to add a stand-out shoe range to complete this. We worked closely with the amazing Clarks team to create our vision and I can’t wait to see women worldwide wearing them!”

Alison Sudbury, Head of Marketing at Clarks, UK and ROI comments: “Working with Orla and her team has been an absolute pleasure – particularly to deliver her first ever footwear collection. We are incredibly proud of how the styles reflect Clarks’ mantra of Effortless British Style; with a twist on Kiely’s iconic prints, colours and vintage design influences, combined with the recognisable quality of both brands. With an eye for what women truly women in design, I look forward to watching these hit the shelves and subsequently fly out of stores!”