Greek Mythology personified at Paris Fashion Week this January.

One of the ancient buildings on the site of the Atropolis, on a rocky outcrop above
Athens, capital of Greece. Photo © Lucia Carpio 2017 

Athens - the birthplace of Democracy - and Greek mythology were the inspirations for couture fashion for two Greek designers at the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week earlier this month.

At Celia Kritharioti's presentation of her Spring/Summer 2017 collection at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, the Greek designer spoke volumes with her flowers of elegance in statuesque silhouettes reminiscent of Greek goddesses.

As one of the most famous fashion designers in Greece, Celia Kritharioti  has her own fashion house in the heart of the Plaka in the center of Athens, where history meets myth.

Her collection is full of positive energy; flourishing with flowers on most creations and lace on a staturesque silhouette.

There were black and white, as well as strong colours contrasting with sweet pastel shades.

 

Yellow represents solar energy and festive mood, rose and pastel tones romance and feminity.
Blue Azur symbolises creation and human ties,
Note the featuring of exceptional embroidery, fringes emphasising body movements, vaporous feathers, organzas, hand-cut pancakes, tulle and ruffles, elaborate braids and then spring cotton lace.

"The flowery gardens of our heart, in fabrics full of flowers, remind us that when we search for our inner spring even if we are not born in Paris we can always be reborn."

Taking a slightly different route is another Greek designer Maria Aristidou, whose Semi-Couture presentation took place at the Hôtel Normandy of Paris in January as part of Paris Fashion Week.

Featuring seductive attention to detailing, Maria's Spring/Summer 2017 collection was inspired by Greek mythology and specifically "Labyrinthos, an elaborate structure designed and built by the legendary Daedalus and his sons Icarus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos."

Maria combines a sensual silhouette with timeless elegance, using metallic yarns and elaborate embroidery to create a luxurious playground in her designs for women.

Sleek cuts, unexpected open backs and pleating details are the key signature of this elegant womenwear collection for day or night.

London's Charity Fashion Live returns on February 18. Henry Holland gives support

One of the exciting events on the London Fashion Week schedule, the Charity Fashion Live will return on 18th of February, and British designer Henry Holland has given support for the cause, saying “I was thrilled to be asked to be involved with Charity Fashion Live – Barnardo’s charity shops are fantastic fashion destinations! You can rummage around and find full looks or unique styling pieces that can transform your wardrobe. Charity shops can be a great space for anyone to fuel creativity and to inspire. It’s a great feeling knowing that you're helping to transform vulnerable children's lives by picking up pieces in Barnardo's’’.

During Charity Fashion Live, stylist Emma Slade-Edmondson will recreate London Fashion Week looks moments after they emerge on the catwalk, using only the pre-loved clothing she finds in one Barnardo’s store. The event is a fashion week favourite for people wondering how to create ‘on trend’ looks from their local charity shop without breaking the bank.
Head to charityfashionlive.com to tune in live.

London retailers ready to cash in on Chinese New Year ‘gold rush’

Happy Chinese New Year from all at My Fashion Connect Global.
Photo: Lucia Carpio

As Chinese New Year kicks off on 28th January this year, ushering in the Year of the Rooster, it also signals the start of "Golden Week" - a key calendar date now for UK retailers as they are doing all they can to attract Chinese shoppers, including offering multiple shipping options at reasonable rates, and even displayng prices in Chinese yuan.

Chinese tourists are taking advantage of the weak Sterling to travel and go shopping in the UK, and are expectecd to spend the tune of £11m in London during this year’s “Golden Week”.  
Department stores and luxury retailers are expected to be the biggest winners as reported by Drapers trade publication.

According to payment firm Worldpay, Chinese tourists spending went up 24% in December compared to the same month in 2015.  During the Golden Week, Worldpay says Chinese shoppers are expected to spend 40% more on credit cards than usual during the holiday, and popular shopping destinations in the capital are expected to reap the benefits from the influx of free-spending tourists.

Jace Tyrrell, chief executive of the New West End Company, also reportedly said sales to Chinese shoppers were up 121% on 2016 in the week prior to the main event. To put this into perspective, domestic and European spend in the same period were up by just 10.2% and 12.6% respectively.

“Although the holiday was traditionally used for family get-togethers, more and more Chinese citizens are opting to use the break as an opportunity for travel.”

Let's celebrate the Year of the Rooster!

Happy Chinese New Year to all.

According to the lunar calendar, on January 28th 2016, China and all Chinese communities worldwide will be celebrating the Year of the Rooster, the tenth in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac signs.

A homely filled cushion (45x45 cm)
in 100% cotton, with a vibrantly embroidered
rooster as its main motif, from IAN SNOW in Devon, UK.

When looking for a rooster image to depict this auspicious occasion, we came across this lovely "Rooster" in vibrant colours depicted on a filled cushion from the UK-based business Ian Snow which sells a wide selection of home-crafted bohemian home and furnishing products.

This Rooster is created using a fine example of crewel embroidery.

Crewelwork is a type of surface free-style embroidery using wool.  Believed to be at least a thousand years old, crewelwork uses a variety of embroidery stitches such as stem stitch, chain and split stitch to outline a design, applied onto a fabric, and the design is filled with various style of embroidery such as satin or couched stitches, and sometimes seed stitches and French knots are used to add texture.

You can check out the details of the cushion on the IAN SNOW website.  

Sibling signature bold style and Freakloset premium footwear

It has all the hallmark of a Sibling collection.  Colour, bold shapes and extravagant, decorative detailing.

Photo credits: Nowfashion 

Sibling's latest Autumn/Winter 2017/18 collection shown at London Fashion Week Men's earlier this January features a riot of animal patterns (spots and stripes) but the sport-influenced knitwear, tracksuits, shorts and voluminous shapes with an injection of ruffles, glitter and sequins do not look tribal.

Photos credits: Nowfashion 

Photo credits: Nowfashion 

 

Photo: Portia Hunt

Sibling London designers Cozette McCreery and Sid Bryan were inspired by Catalan architect Gaudi;  note particularly the reference to mosaic tiles as one would find in Park Güell in Barcelona.

But this season the European connection also extended to the to-die-for footwear from Portuguese brand Freakloset, which has used the opportunity to showcase their premium classic yet timeless vibrant footwear to the UK market.

Photo: Portia Hunt

Introducing their unique bespoke customization system, Freakloset created men and women footwear tailored around the designs and colours of Siblings catwalk show at London Fashion Week Men's during which Sibling presented both their men's and women's ranges in the same show.

“SIBLING loved working with Freakloset because their brand values are the same as ours, especially twisting classics and a playful use of colour. Plus, it’s great fun designing your own footwear! You can make something totally individual to you (in our case navy and red uppers and backs with white or red soles working with our AW17 colour pallet) or order matching shoes as Sid and I did”, said Cozette McCreery, Director of SIBLING.

Photo Credits: NowFashion

Launched on May 29th 2008, Sibling has won many accolades over the years, including Newgen Men and Women, Fashion Forward for Menswear and the first Dulux Colour Award: Best Use Of Colour In Fashion & Beauty. Sibling were also the European representatives for WOOLMARK in 2014 and continue to act as ambassadors through WOOLMARK and Wool Modern.

Collectively as Sibling, the designers have worked with: Robert Clergerie, Smiley, Swarovski, Barbie, Fashionary, G shock, Baby G, Cassette Playa, Lulu & Co, Oxbow, Tween, Fred Perry, Studio Voltaire, Topman, Topshop, Jacob’s and PUMA.

As for Freakloset, the young brand was founded in 2016 by 26-year-old Portuguese designer Joana Lemos, who immediately focused on the globalization of the brand, expanding to several markets. Freakloset shoes are now also available in stores in Lisbon and Rotterdam, and online all over the world through the brand's website.

Photo: Portia Hunt

The Derby, Monk, Ankle Boot, Chelsea Boot and Loafer are some of the models available for sale online and can be fully customizable in minutes thanks to the advanced 3D software that lets you choose different colors of leather, fabric, sole and laces, for a multitude of options that can adapt to each and everyone's style.

Produced in Portugal, all Freakloset shoes are handmade, one by one, using innovative confection techniques that, alongside more than 60 years of experience of a team of craftsmen.

Beat the Monday Blues - Plan a Staycation or simply have a cup of Tea!

Never mind the gloomy weather.  If it's not for Blue Monday, I'd probably feel more positive about today.

But the third Monday of the year (that's 16th January this year) aka Blue Monday is reported to be the most depressing day of the year. With the New Year in full swing, diets and fitness routines beginning and the gloomy weather dampening our spirit, it is no wonder many are feeling down in the dumps.

Salcombe Pocket Square in 100% silk twill with hand-rolled hems by David Watson, available at In-spaces.com
 David Watson collaborates with local artists creating classic British designs made in Britain.
Image is originally by Claire Henley who painted the scene after sevel holidays with her family in Salcombe sailing, in South Devon, UK.  She uses an acrylic paint to create a variety of textures bringing the harbour alive.

Clayton John Ainger, a motivational speaker and author of best-selling book The Ego’s Code, describes how negativity is in fact, a very natural and normal process. “By labelling negativity as bad, we provide it with more fuel. By changing our perspective on negativity and the meaning behind it will undoubtedly have a positive effect on your life. Feeling down is not meant to hinder you, it is there to learn from, so embrace your negativity and move on,” he says.

So to beat the Monday blues, some of us would opt to book a sunny break or a holiday at this time of the year when travel agents and airlines are offering great deals.  Getting time away from the daily grind of work and commute can help break our stress cycle, surely and help promote positivity.

But if our bank balance doesn’t allow for an extravagant vacation abroad, especially with the weakening British Pound Sterling, how about a long weekend away and take a rural escape from city life.  Judging from artist Claire Henley's acrylic painting of the Salcombe Harbour (see image above), a "staycation" to South Devon in the UK can do the trick nicely.

Apparently even having a cup of tea can improve our sense of "wellth".

A Tea Caddy from Graceandgloryhome.co.uk to store your specialty, or favourite teas. 

According to experts, tea has a range of psychological and physical health benefits that can improve our wellbeing. Used for centuries across the world to help with relaxation, improve spirituality, nourishment and healing, speciality teas have a range of exciting ingredients that promote health. 

“Studies reveal that tea can increase blood flow, lower anxiety and improve sleep quality and blends such as peppermint, rooibos and green can fight against insomnia, regulate blood sugar and stimulate your metabolism”, explains Paresh Thakkar, founder of O-teas.com 

Premiere Vision Leather to focus on premium sector in the February 2017 fair

As international fashion labels continue to feature leather products, clothing and accessories as part of their key strategies to gain market share, the specialised trade fair Première Vision Leather will maintain its key role under the Premiere Vision Paris umbrella, due to take place from February 7 - 8 2017.

In this forthcoming edition, Premiere Vision Leather  will offer a rich range of products firmly focused on the premium sector, while continuing to strengthen its synergies with the five other sections of the PV Paris group of shows covering Yarns, Fabrics, Designs, Accessories and Manufacturing.

To read in full the latest news on Premiere Vision Leather, click HERE.

Photos above: © Lucia Carpio, Premiere Vision Leather.

Major apparel suppliers experiencing a decline in fashion exports to the US

In less than two weeks, Donald Trump will be sworn in as America's  45th president, and much focus will be placed on his foreign trade policies, as whether, upon assuming duty in the White House, he will practise what he has been preaching throughout his campaign.  And that is to carry out a series of protectionist measures, aimed at promoting the economy and employment in industries in the United States.  His course of actions to "Make America Great Again" will no doubt have various foreseeable consequences for a whole range of industries, including the textile and clothing sector.

According to figures provided by textile fairs organisers Messe Frankfurt France (organisers of Texworld Paris and related trade fairs), major apparel suppliers of textiles and clothing have already been experiencing a decline in fashion exports to the US market.

Texworld Paris is one of the key textile trade fairs in Europe that welcome internatonal visitors,
from all over Europe, US and Asia.

For the first nine months of 2016, US textiles and clothing imports fell by 6.3% slumping down to USD 80 billion. The decline amounted to 5.0% for clothing (USD 61.6 billion) and 10.2% for textiles (USD 18.4 billion).

China remains by far the largest supplier of clothing to the USA, but its share fell from 35.9% to 34.5%. Other Asian suppliers are stagnating or have recorded a poor performance (Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka); Cambodia is experiencing a sharp shrinking.

Overall, ASEAN countries have seen their exports to the US drop by 3.4% for the first nine months of 2016, down to USD 15.3 billion.

Over the same period, suppliers who are members of the NAFTA free trade agreement with the US (Mexico and Canada) have suffered a decline of 6.8%, down to USD 2.9 billion, while other US clothing exporters to the USA experienced contrasting situations: Honduras (-4.1%), El Salvador (+0.6%), and so on.

Texworld Paris will play host to international exhibitors February 6th to 9th 2017
 to be held at the Paris-Le Bourget exhibition centre.

European clothing suppliers are marginalized on the US market. 

For the first nine months of 2016, EU's exports (from 28 member states) fell to USD 1.57 billion, a decline of 4.6% compared to the first 9 months of 2015.

Italy, the largest among them, saw its exports fall by 6% to USD 869 million.  Other major European suppliers for the first nine months of 2016 were Portugal (USD 149 million or +12%), France (USD 109 million, - 9%) and Great Britain (USD 83 million USD, -16%).

Exports of textiles (fabrics, yarn, etc.) from the EU to the USA reached, for the first nine months, USD 1.47 billion, USD 396 million of which were for Italy (-10%), USD 254 million for Germany (+ 1%) and USD 101 million for France (-15%).

Thanks to its QIZ free trade agreement with the United States, Jordan ranked 12th among US apparel suppliers (USD 975 million for the first nine months of 2016, + 2% ). Other major Mediterranean suppliers during this period were Egypt (USD 542 million, -17%), Turkey (USD 360 million, + 6%), Morocco (USD 98 million, + 8%) and Tunisia (USD 46 million, -16%).

Turkey is also a major supplier of textiles (USD 799 million in 2015 and USD 625 million for the first nine months of 2016) and, to a lesser extent, Egypt (USD 181 million in 2015 and USD 131 million for the first 9 months of 2016).

It should also be noted that sub-Saharan African countries saw their exports increase by 2% to USD 764 million in the first 9 months of 2016. The most important of these are Kenya, Lesotho and Mauritius.

New area - Wearable Lab - launching at Premiere Vision Paris in February

The February 2017 edition of Premiere Vision Paris, the prestigious trade fair for professionals in the textile and fashion industries, will be launching a new section called Wearable Lab - an area dedicated to exploring creative developments interlinking fashion and technology.

Innovation and technology among the highlights of Premiere Vision Paris.
Picture above:© Lucia Carpio. - February 2016 PV Paris 

The programme features participation of leaders in the fashion and technology field from around the world, an exhibition of experimental works from the fashion-tech scene and presentations on related topics.

Photo above: © Lucia Carpio, Premiere Vision Paris September 2016.

Besides the new Wearable Lab area, Premiere Vision Paris will continue to offer the industries' best and most innovative developments featured under specialised industry segments, from fabrics and yarns to leather, accessories, garment manufacturing and textile designs.

During the three-day trade show which will take place between February 7 and 9 at the Parc des Expositions Paris Nord Villepinte, the focus will be primarily on the Spring/Summer 2018 season.  Among notable events will be a series of special programmes including a showcase in the Fashiontech area for 10 experimental works that exemplify fast-moving developments  over the past 10 years. There will be a conference entitled "Fashiontech future – scene or utopia?", highlighting the issues concerning fashion and technology such as trends, market factors and materials.  In the Leather section, a range of Smart Creation roundtable discussions among experts and professionals will take place to examine the opportunities for a more responsible leather industry and the issues concerning those committed to creativity and sustainability.

London Fashion Week Men's Opens Today!

Today Mayor of London Sadiq Khan will join GQ editor Dylan Jones and chief executive of the British Fashion Council Caroline Rush to open London Fashion Week Men’s at The Store Studios.

Throughout the week a host of shows, designer presentations and events will take place to celebrate London as a centre for menswear design talent.

You can keep abreast of key updates by following @londonfashionweek on Instagram and also @LFWMTimeline on Twitter to see live updates during the event.

The Designer Showrooms at London Fashion Week Men's 6 - 9 January

THE DESIGNER SHOWROOMS AT LONDON FASHION WEEK MEN’S

6TH - 9TH JANUARY 2017

THE STORE STUDIOS

180 STRAND

LONDON WC2R 1EA 

From 6th to 9th January, more than 60 designers will showcase new collections across ready-to-wear, footwear and accessories, occupying the central gallery and east wing of The Store Studios - the official home of London Fashion Week & London Fashion Week Men’s.

The Designer Showrooms welcomes a number of new designers including Matthew Miller, Nekedi, Tourne de Transmission, Lamler, Frenn and Labrum London. Returning designers to the showrooms include Oppermann, Ka Wa Key and Natural Selection.

The Designer Showrooms will also host pop-up showrooms by NEWGEN designers Phoebe English Man, Craig Green, Alex Mullins, Liam Hodges and Wales Bonner over the course of the week.

See the times of the pop-up showrooms on the online Events Schedule.  The events are for industry professionals, press and media only.

Photos © Lucia Carpio 2017.

UK's Retail Sales Grow Slightly Faster than expected, says CBI

One word that sums up fashion of 2016 is nostalgia.  Despite rapid changes in world retail trends and technological developments, it has been a year of looking back to the past and reworking ideas taken from previous eras.

The prestigious Selfridges fashion department store on Oxford Street in London harks back to the Seventies for its shop windows this festive season.
Photos: Lucia Carpio

So much of the year-end reviews had been made in the context of a world dotted by upheavals.  No wonder people were feeling nostagic of better days of the past.  Let's hope that fashion in the coming year will begin to step away from the familiar and take us onto newer paths.

Meanwhile UK's retail sales growth accelerated in the year to December, with volumes rising at the fastest pace since September 2015, according to the CBI’s latest monthly Distributive Trades Survey.

The survey of 112 firms consisting of 53 retailers showed that sales volumes for the time of year were considered well above average, but growth is expected to slow somewhat in the year to January.

Separastely, orders placed on suppliers rose at the fastest pace in over a year, but are expected to be broadly stable in January.

The growth of retail sales volumes was broad-based, with sales of clothing continuing to perform strongly and grocers reporting the best results since January 2016.   Internet sales volumes continued to rise at a robust pace in the year to December, with the survey balance at its highest since November 2014.

Meanwhile, wholesaling reported the strongest volumes growth for almost a year-and-a-half in the year to December, with motor trades also seeing a healthy increase in sales volumes.

Ben Jones, CBI Principal Economist, said in late December:
“It’s encouraging to see retailers reporting another month of healthy sales growth leading up to the festive season, which rounds off a fairly solid quarter.
While we still expect to see decent growth in the near term, the pressures on retail activity are likely to increase during 2017, as the impact of sterling’s depreciation feeds through.
With higher inflation beginning to weigh on households’ purchasing power, consumption patterns are likely to shift, creating winners and losers across the retail landscape.”

From all of us at My Fashion Connect Global ...

Festive Lights on Regent's Street, London, UK - December 2016
Photo: Lucia Carpio