As long as the sun continues to shine, I don’t mind the cooler weather at all.

Love the Nordic design of these Sunglasses from Danish brand A.Kjaerbede 
in the Eazy style featuring

 combination frame with foldable arms and oval lens 400 UV protected.

The leaf is star of UNOde50's new jewellery line this autumn

Now news came that Spanish jewellery brand UNOde50 is set to launch its new capsule collection based on nature come September, just when the weather is turning autumnal.  

My Nature from UNOde50

The collection named My Nature uses the leaf as its main focus, as it symbolises energy.  

 UNOde50 jewellery is crafted from hypoallergenic materials.

My Nature necklaces.

Photos by Lucia Carpio.

The new range includes enveloping rings and inspirational earrings, as well as bracelets and necklaces in their unique bold, hand-crafted designs.

UNOde50 shop at 

143 Regent Street, London.

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

UNOde50 was founded in the late 1990s by José Azulay.  The brand limited their first hand-made jewellery collections to an exclusive 50 units per design.

UNOde50 began its international adventure in 2008 and now owns flagship stores in cities all over the world including Tokyo, Barcelona and London. A successful partnership with Swarovski gave UNOde50 a unique cut to their crystal pieces, known as the X-cut.

British shoppers opt for diverse selection of models in marketing campaigns, says GlobalData

An H&M 2019 campaign for sustainable fashion.

A huge 71% of UK clothing shoppers would like to see retailers and brands use more models of varying shapes and ages in marketing campaigns, proving that despite retailer investment in this area, there is still a long way to go for consumers to feel adequately represented, according to GlobalData, a data and analytics company.

Chloe Collins, Senior Retail Analyst at GlobalData, commented: “Females and males aged 25-44 feel strongly on inclusivity in clothing campaigns, creating a need for retailers targeting these groups to increase their marketing efforts to stay relevant, or risk losing shoppers.”

Although many fashion retailers such as ASOS and New Look have extended their clothing ranges to cater for plus-size, tall and petite shoppers, more retailers must extend this inclusivity to their marketing campaigns. 

PURE LONDON catwalk shows in July 2019 at London Olympia showcased SS20 fashion.

Photo by Lucia Carpio

A model at

PURE LONDON

July 2019.

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

Collins adds: “More than 80% of women across all age groups said they would like to see retailers using more models of varying shapes, meaning retailers such as Topshop and Zara – which only use slim models in their campaigns and fail to offer ranges that serve those over a UK size 18 – must increase their body type representations or risk losing popularity. One retailer that has achieved this is online pureplay PrettyLittleThing, which collaborated with plus size model Ashley Graham, and selected rap artists Lioness and Ms Banks to front its petite and tall collections and a specialised ‘shape’ range that caters for those with hourglass figures.”


Despite significantly fewer males demanding models of varying shapes (56.6% males verses 82.5% females), demand was much higher for males aged 25-44 at 68.6%. 

London-based MOT Models has a division called RETRO in response to latest developments that the post-war baby boomer generation is leading the way in the world of luxury purchases.  Seen here are two of MOT's top models Remco and his father Aad Van Der Linden. 

Photo by Thomas Kettner.

Collins continues: “Menswear retailers serving this age group such as Matalan, H&M and Primark must strive to include a more diverse selection of sizes within their campaigns, as younger brands such as ASOS and boohooMAN have done. They should also follow Nike’s lead by introducing plus-size mannequin’s instore.”


According to GlobalData, greater age inclusivity is just as sought after by clothing shoppers, with 72.1% agreeing that they want a wider range of age groups showcased in marketing campaigns. This surprisingly declines in the over 55s, the age group you would expect to feel the least represented, but this is heavily driven by males. Women in all age groups would like to see more age inclusivity, with 86% of over 45s agreeing, in comparison with 82.6% of under 45s.

Brands and retailers are moving quickly to provide more seamless omnichannel shopping experiences—but customers are moving faster.

Very significant changes are shifting the way apparel companies are keeping pace with digital competitors, while their customers’ behaviors and expectations are evolving ever faster, according to a new Apparel Omni-channel Survey report from McKinsey.  The study unveils a number of important insights.

For example, six out of ten people now use at least one digital channel when shopping for an apparel garment, which has major implications for physical stores. However, for most apparel companies, brick-and-mortar stores are still essential because  more of the best customers are using a combination of offline and online channels when they shop.

In exploring customer-experience and merchandising factors that drive customers’ behaviour, online leaders in consumer-facing industries, from books and music to insurance, find that customisation and personalisation are key sales drivers.

The businesses use countless data sources and artificial intelligence to customize offerings to millions of people every day, says the survey.  Cosmetic department store  Sephora—a best-in-class example—takes cross-channel personalisation to the next level with features like location-targeted text messages to notify customers that a nearby store has a new, limited-edition product in stock.

McKinsey's analysis reveals that personalization, such as “tailored for me” product suggestions and advice, is a key driver of trips for both monobrand and multibrand retailers across online and offline channels. 

Furthermore, customers indicate that personalization gives an opportunity to differentiate from competitors and delight them.

To personalize effectively, however, brands and retailers first must know who their customer is—to link and identify the one in three shoppers who researched online before coming into the store or researched in the store before visiting the website.

Apparel companies can outcompete online-only giants at specific moments in the consumer shopping journey. According to their research, one in four apparel shoppers visits Amazon early in the apparel shopping journey. However two-thirds of those visitors buy elsewhere, meaning Amazon is critical in the search, inspiration, and discovery phases of the journey (an insight supported by its growing role as a marketing and media platform) but is less effective for evaluation and the purchase transaction itself. This creates an opportunity for apparel companies to differentiate and win the actual sale.

Photos show general retail scenes in London - © Lucia Carpio 2019

TexSelect has announced the 2019 shortlists of textile designers

For its final year, TexSelect has announced the 2019 shortlists of textile designers, selected out of 24 finalists, and the winners for will be announced at Première Vision Designs Paris on September 18.

The 2019 Shortlists:-

TexSelect Fashion Prize – Rhianna Parker-Yates, Lucy Spendlove, Georgia Hardman.

TexSelect Interiors Prize – Emma Fallon, Charlotte Howson, Amber Sorayapour.

TexSelect Colour Prize – Priscilla Luong, Gabe Dolan, Maddie Sellers.

TexSelect Patter Prize – Ruth Blanke, Sophia Gray, Cindy Yu.

Marks & Spencer TexSelect Fashion Fabric Award – Rhianna Parker Yates, Amber Sorayapour, Joanna Rance.

TexSelect 2019 London Preview, Chelsea College of Arts, July 2019.

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

After 50 years of supporting and nurturing textile designers, TexSelect announced earlier this year that this will be its final competition. The latest cohort of emerging talent are graduates representing 17 UK colleges, specialising in print, weave, knit and embroidery/mixed media.  They showcased their work to industry professionals and textile specialists during the TexSelect London Preview (July 9-10) at the Chelsea College of Arts ( in its Banqueting Hall and Red Room).

Première Vision Paris Sept 17 - 19 stays in line with market changes to better support the industry

Two times a year, for three days, professionals and experts from the 6 major industries supplying materials and services to the global fashion industry (yarns, fabrics, leathers, designs, accessories and manufacturing) meet the world's creative brands at Première Vision Paris to help them prepare their collections.

February 2019 edition of Première Vision Paris.

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

The next edition, from 17-19 September 2019 at the Parc des Expositions de Paris Nord Villepinte, will present the latest developments in materials and techniques for the autumn-winter 2020-21 season.   Première Vision Paris will play host to some 2,000 exhibitors - including 210 newcomers - from across the world presenting their latest new products. On the agenda: fashion information and the latest inspirations; an exclusive and experiential program; and strengthened strategic commitments to meet the industry's future challenges and evolutions of the season.

Giles Lasbordes

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

Gilles Lasbordes, General Manager of Première Vision, says trade visitors will discover an expanded area dedicated to sustainable fashion, with 50 exhibitors sharing their innovations and best practices. The September show will also see the launch of a new activity sector — accessories and components — on the Première Vision Marketplace.

“This web platform facilitates online contacts between visitors and exhibitors throughout the year, to meet the new needs of buyers facing an accelerating collection pace. The programming of this edition demonstrates our desire to help the industry meet the challenges it faces. I look forward to seeing you in September to discover the best that is being done today to build the fashion industry of tomorrow, “ explains Gilles.

One of the featured events due to take place at Première Vision Designs Paris on September 18 is the awards ceremony of TexSelect which has announced the 2019 shortlists of textile designers, selected out of 24 finalists in this year's competition.

The 2019 Shortlists:-

TexSelect Fashion Prize – Rhianna Parker-Yates, Lucy Spendlove, Georgia Hardman.

TexSelect Interiors Prize – Emma Fallon, Charlotte Howson, Amber Sorayapour.

TexSelect Colour Prize – Priscilla Luong, Gabe Dolan, Maddie Sellers.

TexSelect Patter Prize – Ruth Blanke, Sophia Gray, Cindy Yu.

Marks & Spencer TexSelect Fashion Fabric Award – Rhianna Parker Yates, Amber Sorayapour, Joanna Rance.

TexSelect 2019 London Preview, Chelsea College of Arts, July 2019.

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

The latest cohort of emerging talent are graduates representing 17 UK colleges, specialising in print, weave, knit and embroidery/mixed media.  They showcased their work to industry professionals and textile specialists during the TexSelect London Preview (July 9-10) at the Chelsea College of Arts ( in its Banqueting Hall and Red Room).

Premiere Vision Paris takes over the reins of TexSelect to support textile creation and design

Première Vision Paris attracts some 60,000 trade visitors, fashion and textile professionals from around the world and international members press and media to each of their bi-annual seasonal events.

The next PV Paris will take place 17 - 19 September 2019 in Parc des Expositions, Paris.

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

After 50 years, TexSelect (previously known as TexPrint) has announced that this year is its final competition having been providing valuable support nurturing, mentoring and guiding British-trained textile and design talents due to funding challenges and the retirement of long-standing management executives. 

Now industry professionals can feel a sense of relieve with the announcement that the Paris-based Premiere Vision Group, organiser of the world's leading sourcing events for fashion professionals, will continue its support for emerging textile designers through an agreement with TexSelect that will build on the talent search programme's legacy with an international perspective from 2020.

The P.V. Group will take over as champion of new graduate talent when TexSelect completes its voluntary winding up at the end of the year.  Further announcements will be made about the future structure of the talent selection scheme under Premiere Vision's auspices during the September 2019 edition at Premiere Vision Paris in Parc des Expositions.  The two organisations have run in parallel for nearly 50 years, share a common objective of supporting creativity in textile design.

"Both Premiere Vision and TexSelect view knit, print, weave and mixed media innovators as being a vital, creative force in the advancement of textile and apparel design, "says Gilles Lasbordes,  (at left) managing director of Premiere Vision Group.  "Premiere Vision is committed to giving new designers space and support between university and the launch of their professional practice."

Barbara Kennington, TexSelect's honorary chairman (at right) explains:" Over recent years, we have had a tough time raising the funds required to run the scheme.  At the same time, many of our loyal management team are retiring."

"As a major sponsor and host of the TexSelect design village, we spoke with our colleagues at Premiere Vision about our intention to windup the charity at the end of 2019.  We are delighted that Premiere Vision has been so forthcoming and will create new opportunities for young designers when TexSelect in its current form closes."

Premiere Vision Group is the global leader in upstream, creative fashion trade shows.  From 15 Lyon-based weavers in the early 1970s to more than 2,000 exhibitors at PV Paris today, the group's strategy has remained to support the development of the international fashion industry and major market evolutions through its services and 12 events per year, to which has been added a unique online sourcing tool:  Premiere Vision Marketplace, managed by the company's subsidiary, Premiere Vision Digital.

The next PV Paris will take place 17 - 19 September 2019 in Parc des Expositions, Paris.  The show encompasses textiles, leather, yarns, fabric design, haberdashery and accessories,  knits finished goods and manufacturing. 

All photos by Lucia Carpio.

Multifunctional wardrobe set to drive athleisure market, says GlobalData

It seems that the popularity and influence of the athleisure trend will continue as our favourite fashion choice, as we seek multifunctional clothing more than ever before, driven by the demand for comfort, performance and style.

Li-Ning, SS20 - Paris Men's Fashion Week.

According to GlobalData, a data and analytics company, 20% of UK consumers purchased sports clothing specifically for leisure activities and free time in the last two years, not to exercise in.  Also 68% of consumers who purchased sport clothing for exercise also wore such items for leisure activities and free time, eating our or shopping.

Consumers are purchasing more consciously and reducing spend on fast fashion, playing into the hands of those retailers and brands that can showcase the versatility of their items, as well as the durability and quality.

GlobalData forecasts that the global athleisure market will rise 9.0% in 2019 and will continue to outperform the total clothing and footwear market beyond the company’s 2023 forecast period.  

Athleisure fashion pushing boundaries.

A catwalk show at Pure London,

July 2019.

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

Honor Strachan, Principle Retail Analyst at GlobalData, commented: “Over the next five years, the sportswear market will be one of the leading retail sectors. Activewear brands are selling consumers a lifestyle, and fashion retailers are leveraging their style credentials to produce affordable fitness ranges to sell alongside core casual and formalwear collections."

Strachan explains: “This willingness to pair sportswear with core wardrobe pieces has opened sportswear brands up to new audiences and allowed them to diversify into new product areas, boosting their share of the global clothing & footwear market.”

Moreover, increasing consumer appetite for comfort has also fuelled sales of activewear and trainers with brands utilising their technical expertise in ensuring products offer freedom of movement, aid temperature and sweat control, shape the body and provide support. These qualities have filtered into consumers’ everyday wear and not just when they are at the gym.

Adoption of the athleisure trend in much of Asia has been slower, so international and national brands are leveraging social media, third party selling platforms and brand ambassadors to sell the appeal of having a sports and street influenced wardrobe.

Strachan concludes: “Chinese brand Li-Ning has exploited its credentials as a sports manufacturer to produce high fashion casualwear which can be worn for training or leisure, while Nike’s instore and online outfit styling provides inspiration on how to wear pieces for multiple uses encouraging consumers in China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan to incorporate sportswear into their everyday wardrobes.”






Photos above and left are from Chinese sportswear and fashion brand Li-Ning's catwalk show staged in June 2019 during the Paris Men's Fashion Week.