It’s International Women’s Day. Let’s celebrate the return to Power Dressing, Sonia Rykiel style.

The return of Power Dressing to the Woman. 
 Julie de Libran Artistic Director of Sonia Rykiel presented Autumn-Winter 2018-19 at Paris Fashion Week honouring the spirit of the late iconic Parisian designer Sonia Rykiel: “a spirit that encouraged women to live their lives creatively, individually, and out loud 
– and that includes me,” says de Libran.
The indomitable spirit of self-expression through fashion fuelled the establishment of Sonia Rykiel’s eponymous label fifty years ago, and it continues with Julie de Libran today.
Source and Photo: Sonia Rykiel.

Sonia Rykiel presented Autumn-Winter 2018-19 at Paris Fashion Week.
The artistic director explores the idea of a new Parisienne, a woman at one with the attitude and style of a city but who ultimately goes beyond it.

Sonia Rykiel Autumn-Winter 2018-19 

Above and below: Sonia Rykiel Autumn-Winter 2018-19 

Women are smarter shoppers than men, says relationship marketing platform, Optimove

According to new data, women save on average more than 7 per cent due to preferencing discounted items, according to relationship marketing platform Optimove’s new research, revealing that although women make 2.5 per cent more orders than men, their purchases are less expensive.

"women are without a doubt the savviest shoppers"

Roni Cohen, Data Science Team Leader, comments: “In the world of retail there has been a longstanding assumption that women will pay more than men, and with many retailers recently sticking a higher price tag on Valentine’s cards addressed to “husbands”, it is clear that this notion still exists.

“However, research from Optimove demonstrates that this is far from the truth. In fact, women are without a doubt the savviest shoppers, favouring discounts and remaining loyal to retailers which increases their chance of personalised rewards.       

Roni continues: “Retailers can best serve their female demographic by offering discounts up to 30 per cent – as women are found to buy in larger quantities than men, but typically spend less, offering this reduction aligns well with smart shopping habits and encourages brand loyalty.

“Our research highlights that women are more likely to return to the same retailer after their first purchase. But this shouldn’t be taken as gospel - if retailers want to retain their female customers, they must give them a reason to stay loyal.

“Engaging female customers with personalised offers and rewards, such as birthday gift vouchers or offering free delivery as part of a VIP service, is a great way to provide the treatment they deserve. If customers aren’t treated exceptionally - regardless of gender - they will inevitably go elsewhere.”

Sonia Rykiel Autumn-Winter 2018-19 

Fashion source and photos: Sonia Rykiel

Ethiopia, along with a host of international manufacturers met European companies at Paris Apparel Sourcing Fair

For regular attendees of Messe Frankfurt Paris’ group of trade shows in Paris: Apparel Sourcing – held February 11 – 14 2018, they were greeted by the more familiar manufacturers from China and Hong Kong, India, Turkey, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where a choice of prime contractors and clothing manufacturers were familiar with the customs and practices of supplying to European fashion labels.

What’s new this February edition was the addition of a number of emerging markets, including Ethiopia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Jordan and Kyrgyzstan to promote their manufacturing capabilities and products.

Michael Scherpe, Président of organiser Messe Frankfurt France, described the congregation of different nations was similar to the Winter Olympics held concurrently in Pyeongcheng, Korea, during a press conference.  

Ethiopia was the guest country of honour this season, presenting eight companies offering varying  skills and textile products for the European market, including 100% organic cotton, dyes based on coffee or wine.  A selection of their fashion was also paraded on catwalk at the trade fair.

Camillo Calami, director of bag company Village Industry, ummed up the general feeling shared among the Ethiopians: “Visitors to the trade fair were targeted exceedingly well. We met those we were hoping to see, tending towards European brands. We spoke with a great number of French and Spanish visitors as well as those from the UK, Germany and Holland. We made some very interesting contacts from various sectors:- fashion labels, consultants for sourcing and even retail chains!”

Leading the pavilion was His Excellency Dr Bekele Bulado, who introduced various development programmes for the textiles and clothing industry in their country at a press conference.  The Ethiopian entourage included  the Honourable Bogale FelekeState Minister at the Ministry of Industry  and Mr Fitsum Arega, Director General of the Ethiopian Investment Commission.  

The Ethiopian pavilion was organised in conjunction with the German agency for international cooperation GIZ (Gesellschaft fûr Internationale Zusammenarbeit).  

The Asian country of Myanmar (formerly Burma) also brought eight garment companies to the fair and had met with trade visitors from Europe as well as the US.

In addition there were eight Kyrgyzstan companies, and their participation had been supported by the American USAID programme. 

Photos © Lucia Carpio 2018

Jordanian garment factory employs Syrian refugees for exports

Life as we know it today is filled with modern technology to help us cope with our daily functions and enhance our well-being.  But at the same time, in many parts of the world today, the basic needs of life are threatened by war, poverty and hunger. 

Oryana Awaisheh, executive manager of Jerash Garments
and Fashion Manufacturing of Jordan, shows off sportswear
made with the help of Syrian refugees.
Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018

While visiting textile and garment industry trade fairs recently I found an abundance of the latest wearable technology and was also pleased to find garment companies that are offering hope to those in despair.

One such company is the Jerash Garments & Fashions Manufacturing Company, a factory in Jordan which has 2,800 employees and is one of the pioneering companies that has been part of an aid programme to train refugees from Syria to manufacture garments in its facilities.

The international aid programme offers Jordan concessional loans and preferential trade terms in return for opening its labour market to some of the estimated 1.3 million refugees who fled there during the war in Syria.

I met Ms Oryana Awaisheh, executive manager of Jerash in Paris at the Texworld group of trade events, notably Apparel Sourcing, which along with Avantex, Shawls&Scarves, Texworld and Texworld Denim Paris was held at Le Bourget in north Paris, 11 – 14 February where 18 different countries had converged to showcase their latest on offer to the garment and textile industry.  Michael Scherpe, Président of fair organiser Messe Frankfurt France, likened the congregation of different nations to the Winter Olympics held concurrently in Pyeongcheng, Korea.

Jordan was one of the countries that participated in the Texworld / Apparel Sourcing
fair in Le Bourget, Paris, February 11 - 14, 2018/
Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018 

Ms Awaisheh of Jerash in Jordan explained that the aid programme to help Syrian refugees had been trying in the beginning because few Syrians wanted to work in factories where the pay was not as high as other industries.

Finally in June last year, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) brought in new rules and the factory could qualify to export to the EU tariff-free by meeting the Syrian worker quota on a single production line, rather than the whole factory.  

Encouraged, Awaisheh visited refugee camps to meet women (as the garment sector hires a largely female workforce) and also attended job fairs, and invited refugees to tour the factory.  She then set up a daycare centre and arranged transport to facilitate the refugees' participation.  Eventually after a few months, Awaisheh was able to recruit 85 female workers to work in the factory and thus qualify for export to Europe.

Established 18 years ago, the vertically set-up Jerash’s main export market is the US, at 1.8 Billion USD in 2017, and it also has Free Trade Agreement with Canada, the EU (including Norway, and Switzerland), Singapore, Turkey and countries in the gulf region.

The company is accredited and compliance approved to make for established sportswear brands, including North Face, Columbia, Land’s End, North Face, Nautica, Timberland as well as for Philip-Van Heusen which owns Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, IZOD and Speedo.  Its workforce include workers from Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal in addition to Syria.

The participation of Jordanian companies at the February 2018 edition of Apparel Sourcing, was supported by Mr Hassan Nsour, who is responsible for Qualifying Industrial Zones at the Ministry for Industry and Trade, in association with the World Bank integrated-programme for Syrian refugees. Mr Adel Tawileh, board member at the Jordanian Chamber of Commerce, said they met their main goal of the fair, meeting fashion labels and also independent designers, who were mainly from Europe.   He said, “Our firms were especially surprised by the success of the uniform & workwear segment, men’s suits and women’s clothing with Middle Eastern embroidery.”

UK's International Trade Department stages Festival of Innovations in Hong Kong - March 21-24 2018

If someone says to you that the world is now run by Asia, you have little reason to doubt it.  After the Winter Olympic Games in PyeongCheng, Korea, the next Summer Olympics will take place in Tokyo, Japan, followed by the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.

Hong Kong's iconic shoreline and picturesque harbour. 
Fashion, textiles and footwear are top exports for the UK with Hong Kong and China in the top 20 destinations buying UK goods.  The fashion industry is worth over £28 billion to the UK economy.
Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018

In the world of luxury fashion, one of China’s biggest textile firms Shandong Ruyi Investment Holding recently snapped up leather brand Bally to add on to its stable of luxury fashion brands (including SMCP and Aquascutum) and add impetus to its plan for  accelerate global growth.  Then there came the news that the bidding contest for French fashion brand Lanvin was won by Fosun International, a Chinese group controlled by Shanghai billionaire Guo Guangchang with interests in insurance, trading and many other businesses including French holiday operator Club Med and knitwear band St. John in the United States.

Hong Kong the port of call for UK's Department of International Trade in March 21 - 24, 2018.
Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018

Now amidst its ongoing Brexit saga, and its government’s insistence of great opportunity for trade deals outside the EU market, UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) announced that its new project: “Great Festival Of Innovations” will take place in Hong Kong on 21-24 March.

It will enable the sharing of innovations that will drive the future of free trade and build life-long partnerships, according to the DIT, and delegates will learn how the worlds of fashion, luxury goods and retailing are set to change for consumers in the future.

The festival is designed as an opportunity to showcase the UK as one of the world’s best places to visit, study, invest in and do business, said DIT, offering a series of thought-provoking and lively keynotes, masterclasses, showcases, installations and performances over four days, involving industry leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, educationalists, futurologists to an audience from the UK, Hong Kong, China, Japan, South Korea and wider region.

Fashion and retailing sessions announced so far include Fashion Through the Looking Glass, examining how digital influencers are transforming the style and beauty industries; New Destinations: Culture and Commerce, exploring how arts organisations and retailers will draw in visitors in the future; and Beyond Luxury, a look at the switch from exclusive branded product towards authentic experience.

Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion, Baroness Fairhead said: “DIT is helping the best of British fashion brands showcase their top quality items to growing markets around the world.

“Exports of fashion goods grew 6% last year and, as an international economic department, we are now expanding support for UK designers through the Exporting is GREAT campaign and our network of international advisers.”

For full information if interested in participating, click HERE.

Moncler pays homage to its trademark classics with high fashion style for street and slope

With the PyeongCheng Winter Olympics 2018 still fresh in our minds, and arctic temperatures blanketing the whole of the UK and much of Europe, we can learn a thing or two from the continent about how to keep warm, especially if we take notes from the brand is Moncler's latest on offer as previewed at Milan Fashion Week.

The latest collection for Autumn-Winter 2018-19 from its Moncler Grenoble range gives ski and mountain wear a flair for mix-and-match layering, with exploding floral prints, folkloric patterns taken from Eastern European cultures, and Alpine motifs, assuming technical quality with playful sophistication to face up to sub-zero temperatures in the city or up on the slopes.

Meanwhile the Moncler 52 range highlights the brand’s trademark classics reinterpreted with pop colours and contrasting enlarged logo, paying homage to the brand's birth year and defines the natural evolution, of its 66-year of history, based on technical research and creativity.

Indeed the new Moncler 1952 range shows off the brand's forte in delivering lightweight, down parkas and outdoor gear, spiced with street-wise coordinates and  Aztec inspirations.

Moncler was founded at Monestier-de-Clermont, Grenoble, France, in 1952 and is currently headquartered in Italy.






















Known for the brand's unique appeal of combining high style with modern technology taken from mountain apparel, the Moncler brand has been successful in proposing desirable fashion for town and country, from street to slope.

Source and Images: Moncler

Moncler revolutionises fashion showing schedule with monthly installment of 'Genius'

Unveiling its first monthly ‘Genius’ series at Milan Fashion Week (which concluded on Monday 26 February 2018), Remo Ruffoni, the CEO and creative director behind the Moncler brand made headline news with his new way of showcasing the brand's new collections.

Designer Pierpaolo Piccioli has stripped the classic duvet to the clearest shape for Moncler Genius.

Rather than showing in the traditional schedule of twice a year, Moncler is rolling out collections once a month, starting with the first monthly installment of the “Genius” series from a team of  eight designers headlined by Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli.

So far Remo Ruffoni's bold plans and dynamic execution of his strategy to revitalise the Moncler brand have met with commercial success.  Moncler recorded revenues of 1,193.7 million euros (£1,054.28 million), an increase of 15 percent at current exchange rates over 2016.  In the fourth quarter, the company said, revenues rose 17 percent at constant exchange and of 14 percent at current exchange rates.

Recently, speaking to the South China Morning Post at the opening of Moncler's premium 500 sq. metre shop on Canton Road in Hong Kong,  Ruffini said the core of his strategy has been making its signature down jackets desirable items across the globe. “It sells just as well here in Hong Kong as it does in Canada,” he said, and that the company has used new fabric technology to make lighter-weight jackets for warmer climes.  He explained that fundamentally, the brand’s success has been down to two things. “First we are quite young, and (second) we never compromise,” he said in the SCMP report.

Designer Simone Rocha had images of daring Victorian climbers in petticoats in mind. She worked on voluminous silhouettes and deconstructed proportions merging a taste for embellishment with the performance quality of Moncler.

Designer Craig Green conceives items that rewrite the dialogue between clothing and body, dress and habitat. 

Simone Rocha.

Since Remo Ruffini took over the helm in 2003, Moncler manufactures and directly distributes the clothing and accessories collections through its boutiques and in exclusive international department stores and multi-brand outlets, and collaborates with a host of global designers including currently British designer Craig Green, whom Ruffini describes as “one of the few geniuses in menswear” and Simone Rocha. 


















Source and Images: Moncler

Milan Fashion Week Moncler's duvet shapes have a couture élan

The French-Italian brand Moncler (short for Monestier-de-Clermont, an Alpine town near Grenoble, France) is well-known for its lightweight, down parkas and outdoor gear.

Designer Pierpaolo Piccioli has stripped the classic duvet to the clearest shape. Take a look at what the designer unveiled at Milan Fashion Week for Autunm-Winter 2018-19 at Moncler Genius.

The designer follows the idea that purity is reached when form reflects essence. 

His take on functionality has a couture élan.    

Source & Images: Moncler