Season's Greetings -

Carol singers welcome visitors from near and afar to London's Trafalgar Square 

in front of the fully-lit Christmas tree, which is a gift from Norway.  Each year since 1947, the city of Oslo gift a Christmas Tree to the people of Britain to thank them for their support during the Second World War.  

This year’s tree,  felled in an Oslo forest in November, is an 85-year-old Norwegian spruce, standing around 24 meters (79ft) tall.  It was reportedly felled in an Oslo forest in November, having been selected by the forest managers of Oslomarka (the Oslo city forest that surrounds the Norwegian capital).  And after a special ceremony attended by a representative of the Lord Mayor of Westminster, the Mayor of Oslo and the British Ambassador to Norway,  the chosen tree, known as the “Queen of the Forest”,  then travels to the U.K. by sea, then transported to central London where, a team of specialists erects the tree with the help of a hydraulic crane.

The Christmas Tree is displayed for all to admire 

from the beginning of December until 6 January 2020.

Photo © Lucia Carpio 2019

BLOSSOM PREMIÈRE VISION had much to offer, though attendance hamperd by national strikes

It was a bit like organising the Christmas lunch.  A lot of hard work went into the preparation and all the ingredients were in place to ensure the success of the event, hoping that people would show up to enjoy all the fruits of lovelies laid out for all.  But somehow there were some unwelcome spoilers that made the occasion  challenging.

Organisers of the Blossom Premiere Vision show in Paris, which was held December 11 and 12 at the Carreau du Temple, had put all their strengths into showcasing the spring-summer 21 pre-collections of luxury materials from 120 luxury and high-end brands, 3.5% more than last year’s, but attendance dropped by some 20% compared to the December 2018 show, due to nationwide strikes in France.  Transport strikes and disrupted road, rail and air traffic prompted some of the show's pre-registered French and international visitors to postpone or curtail their visits.  

Nevertheless this December edition had followed several previous highly-successful editions marked by notably strong growth (+20% between December 2017 and 2018; +3.5% between July 2018 and 2019).

In total exhibiting this December were 82 weavers, 28 tanners and 8 makers of accessories and components.  A new Smart Creation conference dedicated to responsible fashion was reportedly successful, as it focused on consumer expectations in terms of sustainable fashion, and for the first time, a concrete decoding of the latest eco-responsible materials and highlights for each market were presented.

Visitorship was of extremely high-quality, despite a decline from the 1,100 attendees at the December 2018 event, said the organisers of Blossom Première Vision which welcomed 827 visitors, primarily from France (84% of visitors), Italy (9%), UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, on the hunt for exclusivities and high-end creativity to design and develop their spring-summer 21 pre-collections.

The lightness of summer gives weavers and tanners the opportunity to explore new combinations: added fluidity, fine knits, yarn blends, plays on transparency. Leathers are simpler and finer. Airy fabrics reveal subtle densities and handles.

Highlighted materials included vibrant light surfaces along with subtle radiance embellishment. From textile accessories to silkies, compositions create shines that are sometimes discreet, sometimes as palpable as plastic. Metallics are slipped into leathers. There were plays on transparency and cut-yarn motifs enlivening powdery, pearly fabrics.

The next Blossom Premiere Vision will feature the Autumn Winter 2022 season, and will take place July 1 & 2 2020 CARREAU DU TEMPLE, Paris.

Photos @Alex Gallosi / Blossom Premiere Vision

Sustainability the key message at Denim Premiere Vision in London in December

It’s no longer regarded as a novel idea or a trend, but a must-take path for textile and material companies to embrace sustainability and there is no exception for denim, traditionally seen as one of the most un-eco-friendly materials.  

Thus it was not a coincident that sustainability was the main message from many exhibitors at the 2nd London edition of Denim Première Vision, held December 3 – 4 2019, where the fair focused on creativity and eco-responsible denim collections as the headline project for the Spring-Summer 2021 season.

Showcased at the fair, held in Printworks in Canada Water, south London, was a selection of sustainable developments in terms of sourcing, production processes and finishings.  These were highlighted in a focus area named Habitat 21, created in collaboration with Italian designer Kristian Guerra with installation designed by Filippo Maria Bianchi.

Displayed fabrics were from a selection of exhibitors selected by PV’s own Smart Creation team.  Exhibitors in this area included Advance Denim, Berto, Bossa, Calik Denim, Kilim Denim, Naveena Denim Mill, Orta Anadolu, Panama Trimmings, Properity Textile, Rajby Industries, Raymond Uco Denim, Soorty, and Tavex-Evlox.


According to the organisers’ fashion team, the SS 2021 denim fashion trends presented by Manon Mangin, focus on the key words of the season: Earth, Water, Work, Mobility and Fantasy.

Earth and Water refers to environmental links with nature with renewable materials such as linen and hemp, with pared down surfaces and clean refined elegant dimension, and denim inspired by ecological aspects with soft handles mixing organic with soy fibre.
Work denotes the raw appearance of visually more compact denims for apparel with structured silhouettes, surfaces with light reflection and dyed with shine.
While Mobility is  lifestyle-led focusing on fabrics with abstract movement, with smooth suppleness, fine substances with density while Fantasy is a colour story with dyed fabrics, soft contrasting patterning, tone on tone brights for offbeat silhouettes.

Emulating qualities from nature was a popular direction from many exhibitors.  New developments from a number of exhibitors combine refined elegant textures with irregular surfaces and non-uniformity as the norm, in blends of linen and hemp, organic, biopolymers and alternative along with organic and recycled cotton and soy protein fibre, along with traceable supply chains with conscious applications to manage waste and energy efficiently under social and ethical initiatives.

The eco-ethics transcend to accessories as well, including Lyocell zips, responsible galvanised rivets and buttons, and organic cotton trimmings and labels.

Spanish denim maker Evlox drove its message of total sustainable denim fabrics with natural inky hues and textures and patterns inspired by waves and sky.  The company prides itself on authentic sustainable fabrics linking cutting-edge technology with reliable suppliers.  In addition to utilising recycled materials, they use a dyeing technolgy that reduces water consumption, and sustainable finishing and better performance through laser finishes. Their bionim high-tech denim is boosted to stay cool, dry and comfortable to wear with a polyester layer fibre with water repellency and high tenacity.

PG Denim of Italy celebrated main innovations in 100% sustainable denim with a fashion twist thanks to the tireless research by CEO and project Founder Paolo Gnutti, who has driven the company to a substantial turnover increase by 40% this year, and rapid expansion into the US market through partnerships with more than 20 US brands.  The company’s new WOW Denim SS 2021 collection shows printed materials restyled through colourful techniques drawn from flowers from the historical traditions of Provence and inspired by nature.  There is also a new range of printed velvet denim and velvet stripes using viscose flock achieving different effects using various washing processes.  Another new collection is called Studio 54 inspired by the metallised colours of cars in the 1950s and 60s featuring colour pastes glittering against dark backgrounds and painted effects.


Italian shirting expert Canclini took part in Denim PV for the first time, showcasing a restyled collection Blue 1925 for its new denim range, with blue and indigo as the main colours, and trendy tones using over-dyeing. The goal was to make the fabrics more appealing to the younger generation. Main qualities included linen, hemp and bamboo, regenerated cotton, and recycled fibres.  Effect innovations range from garment to yarn-dyed, shuttle-loom developed as well as jersey, jacquard fil-coupe and printed materials.

Another special event during the London Denim PV was a special workshop: “Learn how to Re-Trace an iconic pair of jeans”, run under the watchful eye of the maestro Alessio Berto from the Tailor Pattern Support in Italy.  

The workshop run on both days of the trade fair focused on the importance of pattern-making allowing participants to have hands-on opportunity to learn how to create patterns based on heritage jeans of three iconic brands: the Levi’s 501, Lee 101Z and Wrangler 11MWZ.

One of the highlights in this December fair was an exhibition of valuable iconic jeans in collaboration with M.O.D.E. – Museum of Denim Elleti in Verona Italy.  It gives visitors insights into the history of denim through a selection of rare original jeans selected from the museum in three areas of exploration that tell the history of the iconic workwear fabric through showcasing the brand identity of the LEE jeans and their transformation, the designing, creating and wearing of WWII influenced clothing and the vital history of the hard-wearing dungarees or overall.

Photos by Content Editor Lucia Carpio (except for the one she is photographed with the pattern-cutting maestro Alessio Berto at the "Re-Trace" workshop during Denim PV London.

The next Denim PV event will take place June 10 & 11 2020, at Superstudio Piu, Milan, Italy.

Classic Blue, the Colour of the year 2020, says PANTONE

Classic Blue will the red-hot colour for 2020, according to the US colour institute  PANTONE, as they reckon that this colour represents a dependable and stable foundation to move forward to a new era.  

Pantone Color of the Year 2020 - Classic Blue Mood board  from Covet House. 
Instilling calm, confidence, and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era. Suggestive of the sky at dusk, the reassuring qualities of the thought-provoking PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue highlight our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.

It is said that Classic Blue brings calmness, confidence and connection, which is probably when the world needs now at a time when many global economies are shrouded in uncertainties and political unrest.
‘We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by Pantone 19-405 Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on.' said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute.

Coffee Mug from COPENHAGEN DESIGN, a Danish design company that develops products under the license of PANTONE made for the creative professionals, who already work with the PANTONE colour system and made for those who just loves to see the world more colourful. 
COPENHAGEN DESIGN will exhibit at Top Drawer London Januasry 12 - 14 2020.

As a versatile and popular colour, Blue is widely regarded as soothing as well as strong and regal even, and can easily be paired with a wide range of colours, from pink and red to all spectrum of green and yellow.  

According to Covet House, the different hues of blue, like the colours of the ocean, are the new black, this season. The more mix of blues incorporated in the design, the better, from the navy blue, the denim and colbat blue to the ocean and peacock. The options for the design are endless.

Majority of UK fashion shoppers switch, avoid or boycott brands because of their environmental policies, says consultants at Kantar

Sustainability and social responsibility are of paramount importance 

to today’s modern shoppers.

Brazilian denim specialist VICUNHA TEXTIL has brought in denim guru Adriano Goldschmied (who has established a number of brands including Diesel and Replay) to help develop a denim fabric that saves up to 95% water and up to 90% chemicals in its production. As it is made of recycled pre-consumer denim, additional dyeing is not necessary. The special character of the fabric is down to the indigo of the original material, which is shredded and turned into a new fabric. With its authentic and unique appearance, ABSOLUT ECO offers an innovative alternative to reusing denim waste without the need for further dyeing. Items from the ABSOLUT ECO line are barely washed or not washed at all. They can be used directly for ready-to-wear, without any other chemicals having to be used.  

New consumer research published this week by Kantar, a leading data, insights and consulting firm, reveals that over three-quarters (76%) of UK fashion shoppers have, in the last 12 months, switched, avoided or boycotted buying certain fashion labels, or would consider doing so in the future, based on brands’ environmental policies.

Kantar questioned over 1,200 UK consumers between the ages of 16 and 65+ about their concern over a range of environmental issues, their purchasing decisions based on a brand’s sustainability credentials, environmental responsibility and whether, as a consumer, they had ever decided to boycott buying a product or switch to another brand based on its environmental reputation.

Brand loyalty is lowest among the youngest age group of 16-24 year-olds with 83% saying they have switched or might do so, with more males (22%) switching or boycotting brands than females (16%).

Responses differ considerably among generations too, with over a third (35%) of Millennials saying they have avoided buying, or decided to choose a different brand over the last 12 months, compared to only 8% of Baby Boomers. However almost half (49%) of this generation of 55-65+ year-olds indicated that while they hadn’t switched or boycotted brands in the last year because of their environmental credentials, they might consider doing so in the future – the highest among all age groups.

Harsh working conditions, environmental pollution and the overuse of packaging are some of the issues consumers think carefully about before purchasing clothes.

Much more work needs to be done by the fashion industry when it comes to publicising the positive work it is doing to address the environmental problems resulting from the throw-away, ‘fast fashion’ culture we live in today, say 72% of consumers. This sentiment is high across all regions (>69%) with more shoppers in Greater London (76%) agreeing. Only 13% consider this issue unimportant.

Mark Chamberlain, managing director of Brand, Kantar UK said: “Responsible living is being driven by cross-generational groups of ‘woke’ consumers that look towards inspiring brand heroes as change leaders. Governments and organisations are being forced to listen and respond to consumers’ demands for greater transparency as businesses strive to become more purposeful.”

Almost 90% of respondents surveyed agree that brands need to take more responsibility for the waste they produce and the impact it this has on our environment. This sentiment was high across all age groups (>82%) but highest among those aged 65 and over (92%). Three-quarters of shoppers agree that, due to inaction from many of the world’s governments, they want brands to act as forces for positive change in our society. However, when questioned about their response, over 70% of all consumers agreed that efforts by businesses to protect the environment are ‘too little, too late’, with younger generations of Millennials agreeing most with this statement (78%).

Premiere Vision celebrates 45th anniversary with new book on key fashion creative moments

Along with archive images, portrayals of exceptional craftsmen and designers, INSPIRING FASHION TEXTILE REVOLUTIONS retraces the growing influence and leadership of Première Vision in becoming a pivotal force that put forth material innovation and technological progression in the fashion and creative industries, through its long journey from a humble beginning originally created by an association of just 15 Lyon-based weavers.
The authors are two distinguished industry experts: Editor-in-Chief of lifestyle magazine L’Express Dix, Lydia Bacrie who has been identifying, deciphering, analyzing and setting the trend in fashion for over 15 years; and Charlotte Brunel who was for a long time fashion editor at L’Express Dix (and author of T-shirt published by Assouline in 2001), who has also collaborated with Le Journal du Dimanche and Le Monde.

The Paris-based Première Vision is not only well-known for organising and staging world-class international trade shows and marketplace for the world’s fashion professionals, it is also highly respected as a go-to valuable source for inspiration and known for its influential ability to recognise greatness, nurture creativity and decipher trends.
It is therefore fitting for Première Vision to celebrate its 45^th anniversary and achievements by putting it in writing, with the publication on December 5, 2019 a fine new book entitled Inspiring Fashion Textile Revolutions,  published by La Martinière editions.
Highlighted specifically in the book are chapters to focus on key turning points in the fashion and textile industries over the last four and a half decades, including the emergence of knitwear, the rise of Lurex® or polyamide, the crowning of accessories, the arrival of eco-responsible materials and related garments … key developments that have shaped and changed the world of global fashion, telling the unique story behind the makers and the shakers along the way with Première Vision as it develops its role as a leader in the global fashion industry.