Fashion Companies Turn to DeSL iPad & Android Apps to Help Manage Their Ethical Trading Requirements

DeSL, a global company delivering integrated web-based solutions for the Fashion, Apparel, Textile and Footwear sectors, has seen increasing demand for their solutions which help to address Ethical Trading requirements for fashion industry.

With fashion companies facing increased exposure to a range of social and ethical issues in the supply chain, DeSL's iPad applications have been designed specifically to ensure ethical compliance and enable inspection teams to perform stringent product and quality audits at factory locations.  Today, a number of companies have already embraced the DeSL solution to help manage their Ethical Trading process.  Most recently in January 2013, A. H Schreiber, one of the largest swimwear manufacturers in the United States, selected DeSL solutions to help manage their supplier relationship process.

The DeSL application enables clothing companies and fashion brands to fulfil this due diligence in the most thorough yet simple way, preventing the likelihood of negative publicity as a result of potential negligence in social and ethical management, such as health and safety issues. The solution is built around the concept of close collaboration between vendor and company, sharing required information and processes via the Internet. Many vendors are located remotely from the company they are supplying, in different time zones, so a real-time, web-based solution is the ideal solution.

Colin Marks, CEO, DeSL, commented, "All processes from start to finish are managed by the application using a real-time, web-based solution, backed up by iPad/Android, off line, synchronised apps. Many factory locations do not have good Internet access; using this technology enables work to be completed off-line at the factory, then simply backed up to the system when Internet becomes accessible. Our solution is extremely functionally rich, incorporating inspection requirements management, critical path tracking and performance inspection."

Colin continued, "The beginning of 2013 has already seen a number of Ethical Trading issues hit the headlines. The consequences of poor Ethical Trading processes are enormous; often a company will genuinely think they have all the boxes ticked, when in fact nothing could be further from the truth. We would ask any fashion company that has a desire to strengthen its Ethical Trading process to contact us now to see how we can help."

DeSL is a global company delivering integrated web-based solutions for the Fashion, Apparel, Textile and Footwear sectors. The company has a global customer base covering United Kingdom, United States, Western Europe, China, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Mauritius, Bangladesh and North Africa.  Customers include Calvin Klein, VF Corporation, Men's Wearhouse, Bravissimo, Nautica, GRI Group plus many more.

FASHION HOUSE TO RESTORE AGEING TREVI FOUNTAIN

Italian fashion house Fendi has agreed to finance renovations of Rome's iconic Trevi Fountain after the government admitted it could not afford the repairs.

The 250-year-old fountain which famously featured in movies including Roman Holiday and La Dolce Vita needs a $3 million revamp.

Fendi's creative director Karl Lagerfeld says he did not hesitate to save an iconic piece of Rome.

"It's famous in the world," he said.

"I think its a great idea and a great project. It's a symbol of Rome like the Colosseum or St Peters and I'm happy that we can all help, and I'm happy to photograph the fountain to make a book about that called The Glory Of Water."

The 20-month restoration will clean the fountain, which covers the entire facade of Rome's Palazzo Poli with its allegorical statues of Tritons guiding the shell chariot of the god Oceanus illustrating the theme of the taming of the waters.

The restoration will remove calcium deposits, clean the statues, check the strength of steel supporting them, apply new waterproofing to the large basin, fix leaks, install new pumps and electric works and add new barriers to keep pigeons away.

Only one third of the monument will be covered by scaffolding at any time.

The last restoration was about 25 years ago but officials said new techniques developed since then would make it the most thorough cleaning in the fountain's 251-year history.

"There is no tourist in the world who does not dream of standing before the Trevi Fountain at least once in their life," Rome's mayor Gianni Alemanno said.

Tourists will still be able to toss coins in the basin - a tradition said to ensure that they will return to the Eternal City.

Not surprisingly, the soundtrack from the 1954 American romantic comedy Three Coins In The Fountain was played in the background at the presentation in Rome's city hall.

"Throwing a coin into the fountain is a rite and a right," superintendent for Rome's cultural heritage Umberto Broccoli said.

About a million euros ($1.35 million) worth of coins are thrown into the basin by tourists each year. All the money goes to a charity that helps the city's needy.

Fendi, known for its extravagant furs and chic baguette clutches worn by movie star Sarah Jessica Parker and pop singer Rihanna, is the latest luxury goods company helping Italy keep up its cultural heritage sites in times of austerity.

Luxury shoemaker and leather goods company Tod's is sponsoring a major restoration of the Colosseum.

Mr Alemanno said the city appreciated all the help it could get to keep up the capital's vast cultural heritage.

He called the Fendi family the "new patrons" of the arts, likening them to the Medici family of Renaissance Tuscany.

"This is not to shirk our duties over to the private sector but the state needs a new patronage to help Italian culture," he said.

In exchange, Fendi will get only a small sign about the size of a coffee table book telling tourists that it was the sole sponsor. The sign will stay up for four years after the project is completed.

Fashion firm funds Trevi clean-up

The Fendi fashion house is paying for a 2.18 million euro (£1.86 million) restoration of the Trevi Fountain in Rome, famed as a setting where dreamers leave their coins.

The 20-month project on one of the city's most famous features was unveiled at a press conference featuring Fendi designers Karl Lagerfeld and Silvia Venturini Fendi, who said the project combined a love of Rome's past with a need to preserve its future.

Rome's fountains, Lagerfeld said, "are there to glorify water, which is the most important thing in life".

It is the latest example of Italian fashion companies coming to the aid of Italy's chronically underfunded cultural heritage. The founder of the Tod's footwear company has offered to pay for the £22 million restoration of the Colosseum, and Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno said he hoped these two donations were just the start.

"Without similar initiatives, we won't be able to save the cultural memory of our country," he said.

Fendi is also to restore another fountain complex in Rome, the Quattro Fontane.

Bella Fashion Announces The Arrival of New Butterfly Mini Pins and Hair Clips

Bella Fashion's new arrivals of butterfly hair clips with streamers, as well as brand new mini butterfly pins, channel timeless style and will fly into the hands of fashionistas.

Hayward, CA (PRWEB) January 24, 2013
Bella Fashion announces the arrival of new butterfly themed accessories, including the new Butterfly Hair Clip with Crystal Streamers and versatile mini butterfly pins. Butterflies are symbols of love, good luck, and transformation, and are among the most beautiful of creatures, so it comes as no surprise that women have always made them a favorite accessory pick. From Middle Ages ladies to modern celebrities, women have worn stunning butterfly themed accessories, and Bella Fashion's new arrivals make the style accessible for the luxurious lepidopteran lover in all of us.

It's said that Audrey Hepburn wore a gorgeous gifted butterfly brooch in the 1950's, a decade characterized by classic styles that have never lost their charm. The timeless and enduring sophistication of butterfly ornaments is still available in 2013, with Bella Fashion's new products. The butterfly hair clips with glittering crystals along the butterfly's wings and dangling streamers of crystal trails are perfect for that feminine, glamorous look. The new products are available in different styles, with crystals in pink, blue, purple, and red, starting at only $5.63.

Butterflies also have a history of being a style pick of royalty. Princess Grace Kelly wore a beautiful butterfly pin in the 1960s, and modern stars have taken a leaf from her book: Blake Lively has been spotted in a turquoise and gold butterfly pendant with a similar four-figure price tag. Butterfly accessories combine a free-spirit with sophistication, but this high-end vibe doesn't have to come with prices that leave butterflies in the stomach at the checkout, thanks to these new products. Bella Fashion now offers brand new butterfly pins at a minuscule fraction of these designer price tags. For example, the beautiful gold rimmed mini butterfly pin is available at only $1.00 wholesale or $1.50 retail, with bright white crystals. Other color options available include dark nickel plating with ruby red crystals, and even a few silver rimmed pins with blue stones.

The new arrivals have just been added to the wholesale and retail websites and are on sale for anywhere between 20% to 50% off, and offer an element of nature's beauty that will never go out of style: purchasing now will ensure that favorites on this winged wish list are in stock.

Bella Fashion Jewelry is a leading provider of fashion jewelry and fashion accessories to help customers stay up to date with the latest fashion trends at affordable prices. Bella Fashion Jewelry has been in the business of fashion jewelry and accessories for over 21 years, and has just launched its new wholesale subsidiary, Hair Barrettes Wholesale. Bella Fashion Jewelry, owned and operated out of Hayward, California, now operates at three levels: at retail site, bellafashionjewelry.com, no minimum order amount is set, and pricing is at everyday discounted retail pricing. Free shipping is offered for orders of $30 or more. At bellafashionwholesale.com, 1st and 2nd tier of wholesale pricing are offered, minimum order amount is set at $30, and shoppers are allowed to buy 1 each of each style or color with free shipping for orders of $60 or more. At its newly launched wholesale site, hairbarretteswholesale.com, minimum order amount is set at $45. Products at hairbarretteswholesale.com are dozen packed with some come in six packs, and pricing is at 3rd tier wholesale pricing which starts some products at as low as $3.50 a dozen.

Fashion Editor Calls Out Michelle Obama For Acting Like An 'Indulged Starlet'

A renowned fashion editor was not impressed with Michelle Obama's behavior leading up to the Inaugural Ball.

The first lady reportedly asked between 15 and 30 designers to submit looks before going with this red Jason Wu number, which was kept secret.

"Mrs. Obama isn’t an indulged starlet primping for the Oscars, nor should she behave like one,"  writes Bridget Foley,  executive editor of Women's Wear Daily . " Women everywhere have big events for which they select a single dress in advance of the moment."

Michelle Obama's behavior is high-maintenance compared with that of first ladies' past, such as Laura Bush, Foley wrote.

Foley speculates that Mrs. Obama liked the attention.

" But let’s say Mrs. Obama enjoyed the public guessing game; she must, or it wouldn’t have happened," Foley writes. "The rampant speculation should have been handled differently."

The First Lady's dress selection process was unkind to the fashion world, Foley said.

"At the very least, with five minutes of attention she could have cut the list to a couple of finalists," Foley writes.  "As it was, Mrs. Obama’s fashion team needlessly disappointed and possibly misled many hard-working people, some of whom hoped vainly for a much-needed commercial boost."

New Fashion-Forward Website Sassenfras Offers Weekly Newsletters and $500 Shopbop Giveaway

The upscale fashion-forward website Sassenfras is launching its new weekly e-newsletter filled with Daily Style Edits, "Beg, Borrow or Steal" style features, style articles, designer profiles, styling tips and more. People who register to receive the newsletter will be entered to win a $500 Shopbop giveaway. Sassenfras provides men and women with a roundup of the hottest fashion trends highlighted in its Daily Style Edits and saves time by allowing readers to purchase the items directly on the website through Lyst.com. The Sassenfras giveaway begins on January 25 and ends on February 22.

Fashion enthusiasts on the go can register to receive Sassenfras' weekly e-mails with highlights that include Daily Style Edits that contain items that can all be purchased on Shopbop. An upcoming edit will include spring and summer floral prints with jackets, dresses and pants from designers that include 3.1 Phillip Lim, Rag & Bone and Zimmerman. Additional style edits that will be provided, will cover white and sheers, pastels, black and white and more.

The Sassenfras newsletter also includes a "Beg, Borrow, or Steal" feature of the week, that provides details on the most covetable style finds like the Burberry Prorsum Gladstone Metallic Leather Bag and the Alexander McQueen Black Hummingbird Embroidered Satin Knuckle Clutch and many others. Sassenfras' e-newsletter will include featured articles on fashion, from edgy, ergonomic high heels to how to edit your wardrobe in 30 minutes or less. Some of the other topics included in the newsletter include designer profiles and styling tips from the pros.

"We make it easy to find the fashions that speak to your personal style, without wasting time sifting through everything online or in retail stores. We also expose our readers to new designers and trends, and provide them with useful tips they can implement right away," says Sassenfras Founder Maz Durbin. Durbin is a fashion expert, entrepreneur, graphic designer and creative visionary with a background in retail, business management, graphic design and textile housewares design. She has used her keen eye for style, sharp business sense, and pure love of fashion to build Sassenfras.

Kim Kardashian vs. Charlize Theron in Stella McCartney

This Stella McCartney stunner is caught in the middle of a fashion face-off of epic proportions, thanks to Kim Kardashian and Charlize Theron, who bring us a Today Show appearance vs. a BAFTA Awards red carpet.

A nude, pointy pump vs. a nude sandal. The queen of reality TV vs. the queen of Snow White and the Huntsman. The only similarity between the two is an almost identical shade of red lipstick.

We love the way the peplum cut works on both Kim and Charlize, plus the pale yellow lace looks lovely with each lady's skin tone.. Could it be that one dress is a win for two very different women?

Advanced Contemporary Women's Fashion Brand Tibi Rolls Out NGC's PLM and ERP

NGC® today announced that Tibi, the New York-based fashion brand founded by designer Amy Smilovic, has implemented NGC's PLM and ERP systems. Tibi's designer collection is sold at over 600 retailers worldwide, including Net-a-Porter, Shopbop, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Harvey Nichols.

Tibi selected NGC's fashion PLM and apparel ERP software to support the popular brand's rapid growth. "NGC offered a comprehensive solution with both PLM and ERP, and that was very appealing to us," said Alexandra Boet, CFO of Tibi, LLC. "There were various features that stood out when compared to other systems, such as calendars and alerts that allow us to manage the business by exception. Based on our experience with our previous software vendor, we also liked the fact that NGC has a regional office that can provide customer support."

NGC's fully integrated PLM and apparel ERP system has enabled Tibi to streamline business processes and productivity, helping the company improve its overall efficiency. "NGC's software allows data from design, production, inventory, sales and accounting to live in the same repository," Boet noted. "This reduces time and error related to system interfaces, enabling us to get reports that correlate to different areas of the business. This allows us to focus our efforts on analyzing data rather than inputting it."

The systems have also had a positive impact on Tibi's supply chain, according to Boet. "We are now able to electronically exchange data with our trading partners in a systematic way," Boet said. "Most of our trading partners have been able to easily automate their processes, and this has eliminated the need for human data entry entirely."

"Tibi is one of the bright young stars in advanced contemporary women's fashion, and NGC is pleased that our PLM and ERP solutions are helping Tibi run its business more effectively," said Mark Burstein, president of sales, marketing and R&D, NGC. "NGC is proud to be working with Tibi."

First Lady Fashion: Inauguration Day Style Through The Years

How does first lady Michelle Obama’s style compare to that of Jackie Kennedy, Laura Bush or Rosalynn Carter?

More magazine’s fashion features editor Susan Swimmer chronicled first lady Michelle Obama’s style in her book “Michelle Obama: First Lady of Fashion and Style.”

See Also: First Lady Fringe: Michelle Obama’s New Hairstyle

She visited The Couch to help us break down six of the most distinctive inauguration day looks of First Ladies — past to present.

Jackie Kennedy – 1961 Inauguration

President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy after Kennedy’s Inauguration, January 20, 1961. (Photo by CBS)
The style rules in the 1960′s dictated dark suiting for women — but leave it to Jackie to buck the trend and choose a pale greenish/gray color (officially called “fawn”) ensemble that was trimmed in sable. This was designed by Oleg Cassini, a long-time friend of Mrs. Kennedy’s, and the designer Jackie used to create most of her wardrobe for her first year as first lady. Jackie would go on to create fashion hysteria with her every style selection – women nationwide followed her like men do the sports pages. Jackie also become well known for her signature triple strand of pearls – she wore them nearly daily. The pearls were actually faux, made by the jeweler Kenneth Jay Lane.

Rosalynn Carter - 1977 Inauguration

Rosalynn Carter became first lady in 1977. A southern belle whose husband took office during a terrible economic time, the country didn’t quite know what to expect, fashion wise. For the inauguration she chose a long, teal coat and brown leather knee-high boots. Ahhh, 70′s fashion was a rough time. Many in the fashion elite termed it dowdy, but the look really spoke to the couples folksy sensibility – and also the dire financial circumstances at that time. For the evening festivities Mrs. Carter wore the same dress she wore 6 years earlier to the governor’s ball.

Nancy Reagan – 1981 Inauguration


US President Ronald Reagan (C) salutes beside his wife Nancy Reagan after being sworn in as 40th President of the United States by Chief Justice Warren Burger during inaugural ceremony, on January 20, 1981 at the Capitol in Washington, DC. At right is vice-president George W. Bush. (Photo credit : AFP/Getty Images)
For her husbands first inauguration in 1981, Mrs. Reagan set the tone for the glamor she would come to be known for. This bright, red sheath and top coat with matching hat was part of what was allegedly a $25K inauguration wardrobe budget. Her go-to designers were Bill Blass, Adolfo and Galanos. Reagan went on to wear this particular color so much it came to be known as Nancy Reagan Red. Reagan was both criticized and admired for her high style (maybe more criticism in the end), but 1989 she was honored by the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) with a lifetime achievement award for her contribution to fashion.

Hillary Clinton – 1997 Inauguration

For Bill Clinton’s second inauguration in 1997, Mrs. Clinton chose a salmon-hued swing coat made for her by designer Oscar de la Renta. It was praised by fashionistas – the color flattered her skin tone and the cut suited her frame. Her first inaugural choice was a bit of a disaster-a red and white checked suit with a cobalt blue hat – so it was nice to see her get it so right the second time around. Mrs. Clinton weathered years of criticism regarding her appearance.Today, Mrs. Clinton has found her fashion groove and wears well-cut pants suits and great accessories.

Laura Bush – 2005 Inauguration


U.S. President George W. Bush and wife Laura, watch the inaugural parade from the Presidential reviewing stand in front of the White House January 20, 2005 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
For her husband’s second inauguration in 2005, Mrs. Bush was a vision in white. It was a color never worn by a first lady for this occasion before. The dress and coat combination featured white beading – even the gloves were white. She looked fantastic.

Michelle Obama – 2009 Inauguration


US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle walk along Pennsylvania Ave during the parade following Obama’s inauguration as the 44th US president in Washington, DC on January 20, 2009. (Photo credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)
This dress and coat ensemble was made for her by Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo. The color was officially termed “lemongrass,” and it ignited quite the debate on the day of the event. It was quite cold that day, colder than expected, and at the last minute Toledo added a coordinating cashmere sweater underneath for warmth. Mrs. Obama went on to become a fashion icon for legions of women the world over, and for good reason: She champions young designers, she mixes high and low price points, and she inspired women to have fun with it.

Chocolate fashion show held in China

Runway fashion has a reputation for being hard to wear on the street, and the chocolate dresses created for the "World Chocolate Wonderland" fashion show are no exception.

The fashion show was held yesterday in Shanghai and featured a range of outfits crafted from edible chocolate.

This was the second official chocolate fashion show held in Shanghai, but it was model Zhang Xiaoxiao's first time on the catwalk clad in chocolate.

"My strongest feeling after wearing clothes is that I might be willing to eat them. The best part of doing this catwalk is the thick aroma of the chocolate. It's the most intuitive way to convey this joyful atmosphere to the audience," she said.

The fashion event was held as the opening act of the "World Chocolate Wonderland" theme park, featuring many more chocolate themed creations for chocoholic admirers.

Fashion week benefits Baptist Hospital

The Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas La Soirée committee is making plans for Fashion Week 2013. 

The week kicks off on Friday, January 18 with highlights including VIP Night and Fashion Fleet.  Fashion Week culminates with “La Soirée - Texas On the Ritz,” a black tie gala to be held at the Beaumont Civic Center on Saturday, January 26.

Shoppers will purchase VIP tickets for $75 or Fashion Fleet tickets for $25 and will begin their shopping excursion at The Grill.

VIP ticket holders will shop in style as they are taken to participating retailers in limousines and will also receive a swag bag filled with goodies.  Fashion Fleet participants will board buses provided by Acadian and will receive a special Fashion Week shopping bag.  Retailers will offer major discounts and specials, along with refreshments.  At the end of the night, door prizes will be given and shoppers can rest their feet at The Grill as they listen to entertainment provided by Katie Whitney and The Draw.

The event will be in Orange from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22 for those in this area who wish to join the shopping adventure. The stores participating are The Pink Chandelier, A Little Bit Gaudy and Fluer de Chic. Shoppers will receive discounts at the locations during the shopping excursion.

The end of the week concludes with La Soirée.  Chairmen for the area’s most fashionable event, Scott and Tammy Crutchfield, along with Co-chairmen Dr. Mark and Aileen Larson, are hard at work planning the event that is sure to keep guests entertained with surprises planned throughout the evening. The festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception and a fabulous silent auction that will feature a variety of items.

Tracy Byrd is making a special appearance and will kick off the event followed by a high-end fashion extravaganza with models that will strut the runway and show off the latest trends from local retailers for the upcoming season.  Following the fashion show, the Motion Band from Dallas will have guests up on their feet and singing along.

Funds raised from Fashion Week will support Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas Foundation.  Money raised at previous Fashion Week events has helped fund the breast health expansion at the Charline & Sidney “Chief” Dauphin Cancer Screening & Prevention Center, assisted with a makeover of the Julie & Ben Rogers Cancer Institute and helped establish a family room on the Oncology Unit at Baptist Hospitals. 

Tickets and table sponsorships for the event are available by calling 409.212.6110.  Tickets are $175 each and table sponsorships range from $2,500 to $50,000.

Will Steampunk Really Be the Next Big Fashion Trend?

No offense to IBM, but a tech company — even one so highly regarded — wouldn’t be the first place we’d turn for fashion forecasting. Yet on Monday, the company released the findings of a “social sentiment index” that predicted that steampunk would be the next big trend to take hold of the retail industry.

What is steampunk exactly? According to Forbes, it’s a “science fiction/fantasy sub-genre that’s a style mash-up of 19th century industrialized looks and Victorian flourishes.” Sounds fancy. We’re more apt to explain it in reference to pop culture: it’s Sherlock Holmes meets Wild Wild West, with a dash of Inspector Gadget. Get the picture?

Before we all not-so-quietly snicker about the improbability of this prediction, it’s important to note that IBM does have science behind its claim — or at least online metrics. The company analyzed more than a half-million posts from news sources and on message boards, blogs and social-media sites, and found that steampunk has quite a following. According to its study, the amount of online discussion about steampunk increased 11 times from 2009 to 2012. It also notes that, since 2010, more than two dozen U.S. department stores and retailers have become “steampunk savvy.” Whatever that means.

Furthermore, IBM predicts that during the next two years, “steampunk will shift from low-production, high-cost ‘craft’ manufacturing to mass production,” meaning you’ll be able to pick up your go-go-gadget spectacles in department stores and not just local thrift shops.

But just because something has gained traction online, does that mean a trend is on the horizon? Traditionally, new fashion styles tend to trickle down, from the couture shows in Paris and Milan to the ready-to-wear shows at New York Fashion Week to high-end retailers and then — finally — to the watered-down versions that arrive for us commoners in the mainstream.

For steampunk, the high-end influence is already out there. For his spring 2010 couture show, John Galliano designed a parade of looks for Christian Dior with nods to early 20th century influences — including corsets, top hats, flowing fabrics, layers of lace and Frankenstein-esque hair and makeup — that are often referenced by steampunk fashionistas.

More recently, Sarah Burton incorporated an updated version of classical Victorian looks into Alexander McQueen’s spring-summer 2013 runway show at Paris Fashion Week in October, with voluminous, Scarlett O’Hara–inspired gowns and sexy, see-through corsets, accompanied by some fascinating headwear.

Even guys are getting into the action. Prada’s fall-winter 2012 men’s campaign featured several leading men — Gary Oldman, Garrett Hedlund, Jamie Bell and Willem Dafoe — dressed to kill in heavily tailored steampunk-style suits (railroad stripes included).

So perhaps IBM’s seemingly out-there prediction isn’t so wild after all. In fact, the steampunk style might already be leaking into the mainstream, at least according to Pinterest. A quick search on the social site uncovered many boards dedicated to this cultural subgenre (see here and here for some great ones). While the look still seems to be more costume-focused than something for everyday wear, we wouldn’t be surprised to see some aspects of steampunk gain traction in the coming years.

The moral of the story is, if you ever wanted to embrace your inner Helena Bonham Carter (and don’t we all?), there’s no better time than the present to bring back the past.

Fashion And Apparel Software Specialist Momentis Systems Releases Wholesale Erp Guidance for Those Looking to Safeguard Margin and Reduce Corporate Risk

Momentis Systems' UK Managing Director, Dominic Potter, offers a best practice guide for wholesalers looking to increase brand profile, safeguard margins and minimise corporate exposure -
Momentis Systems, the global fashion and apparel software specialist, has released its latest eBook offering expert guidance for wholesalers looking to retain a competitive position during economic uncertainty. The eBook, penned by Momentis Systems' UK Managing Director Dominic Potter, reveals how an effective wholesale ERP system enables wholesalers to add value whilst providing critical retail differentiation.

Potter explains, as the financial squeeze continues, successful wholesalers must not only reduce costs but exploit collaborative, streamlined processes and improved business intelligence to provide retail customers with a clear edge through effective pricing, excellent service and strong brand value.

The latest eBook from the fashion and apparel software specialist offers a best practice guide for wholesalers looking to transform supply chain efficiency, in turn reducing costs and improving critical turnaround times. 

Commenting on the importance of implementing a wholesale ERP process, Potter says, "With growing numbers of wholesalers embarking upon both franchise operations and their own retail outlets, warehouse best practice has become critical. One example of best practice is to combine scanning technologies with a single source of stock information to provide up to date information regarding stock location.
"
Potter continues, "Through creating a streamlined business that enables rapid product refresh, on time deliveries and exploits the proven success of key members of the design team, a wholesaler can not only take cost and risk out of the business but build on its corporate strength to add value to the offer and provide a differential for retailers in what continues to be a tough trading environment."

Italian fashion king Armani rounds up Milan menswear week

Italian fashion king Armani rounded off Milan's Autumn/Winter menswear fashion week on Tuesday, wrapping up a four-day schedule starring seductive silhouettes and dashes of colour from the likes of Prada, Gucci and DSquared2.

Giorgio Armani unveiled a largely military-inspired collection which he said created "a strong, precise image... and a pure and essential style which creates a virile silhouette, defined by ample jackets and coats paired with closely-fitting trousers."

Impeccably-tailored grey suits were spiced up with pink-and-black striped ties and handkerchiefs peeking out of top pockets. Slim black velvet jackets were edged in blue silk and worn with a silver tie, while luxurious fur-lined grey overcoats were worn with blue suit trousers and large hand-held snakeskin bags.
For the less formal occasions, grey suit jackets were paired with red or green velvet trousers. Fabrics range from neoprene to suede, leather, cashmere and mohair, with playful combinations of contrasting textiles and geometric patterns.

Over at Dsquared2, black was the reigning colour at a show by the Canadian twins Dean and Dan Caten worthy of Broadway. Models swung down the catwalk to 1940s jazz and swing tunes rapped out by dashing musicians in black tie.

The collection's trousers were worn short, to mid-calf -- a trend of the season. Jeans -- the fashion house's speciality -- were worn with three-quarter length camel or bottle-green coats, and hats made a big appearance, in reds, greens and pinks.

But it was the show's finale that drew gasps from fashionistas in the audience: models in skin-tight white tops and boxers sauntered down the runway before stripping off and throwing their tops into the crowd, muscles rippling in the spotlights.

Models display creations as part of Giorgio Armani Fall-Winter 2013-2014 Menswear collection on January 15, 2013 during the Men's fashion week in Milan. Armani unveiled a largely military-inspired collection which he said created "a strong, precise image... and a pure and essential style which creates a virile silhouette, defined by ample jackets and coats paired with closely-fitting trousers."

Models display creations as part of Dsquared2 Fall-Winter 2013-2014 Menswear collection on January 15, 2013 during the Men's fashion week in Milan.

Kingston home to creative fashion designer

When it comes to fashion capitals, the tiny settlement of Kingston is unlikely to feature alongside the likes of Paris or Milan.

But fashion designer Jane Sutherland has grown to love the lifestyle that came with living in the village, with a population of about 250, on the southern shore of Lake Wakatipu.

Established in 2004, the eponymous Jane Sutherland label had dealt with many challenges, including its location.

But with a lot of hard work and determination, there was no other option than to make it work, Ms Sutherland said.

She was brought up in Invercargill, her childhood surrounded by creativity, and she recalled watching her father, a self-taught jeweller, tinkering away in the garage, making anything from a Sunburst sailboat to metalwork creations that later evolved into jewellery.

She had an interest in many areas of design, including a strong passion for photography - ''to this day, I find it hard to put the camera down on a daily basis, leaving me with huge files of images waiting to be edited'' - but never envisaged she would end up as a fashion designer.

She spent a year training in Dunedin under Georg Beer at the Fluxus contemporary jewellery gallery.

It was while she was at Fluxus that her partner, Duane Hibbs, who was in Invercargill, saw the garage in Kingston was for sale and decided he would like a lifestyle change and asked if she wanted to accompany him.

While it was ''a bit of a shock'' initially and it took about six months to settle in, she now loved it and would not leave, she said.

Kingston was a ''wonderful'' place to raise son Victor (3) and, combined with trips to the city, a nice balance had developed.

While it could feel a little isolated at times, particularly not being surrounded by other like-minded creative people, technology meant she could work from anywhere.

There was also the advantage of being able to go down to the lake in the morning for a swim or kayak, or hopping in the boat at night and going fishing.

Initially, it was rings and other pieces of jewellery that began to evolve from the Kingston workshop and were sold in select New Zealand galleries.

Metal designs were bolted to T-shirts - painstaking hours were spent making the nuts and bolts - and Plume in Dunedin and Angel Divine in Queenstown were the first to stock them. It was those T-shirts and a love of fashion that led Ms Sutherland to create a clothing label. With a love of history, time spent studying the legend of King Arthur, among other mediaeval tales, led to the placing of the Excalibur sword in her logo.

Now stocking eight stores nationally, Ms Sutherland felt the time was right to create an online store that would eventually showcase unique designs incorporating metalwork. Those designs would not be for the mass market and were ''something a little special''.

Russell Sutherland, from Company of Strangers, and Sara Muntz, from Gaia Jewellery, were on board with ''some amazing jewellery'' and a collaboration with an ''exciting artist or two'' would be forthcoming, she said.

Ms Sutherland's inspiration came from many sources, including shapes, sculptures, architecture, characters in literature, history, film, music, nature or ''anything I find interesting''.

''I save all these thoughts and ideas into a confused folder and then find the right time to translate its contents in the right way.''

When it came to other fashion labels, she loved the likes of Alexander McQueen, Alexander Wang, Vivienne Westwood, Rick Owens and Nom*D.

Ms Sutherland admitted she found it hard at times to create garments that were creative with a point of difference, yet commercial enough to sell.

''It can be a fine line on whether or not you like creating commercial clothes or living a more complicated life,'' she said.

While she understood the main focus was on wearability, the art aspect should not be lost in the process.

She acknowledged there had been times when she thought she would ''pack it in'' and there had been plenty of ups and downs.

She did not know a lot about the fashion industry when she first entered it, and had to learn everything along the way. But she loved her work and wanted to ''keep doing what I'm doing''.

She wanted to focus on having her online store going well and building it into a ''real shopping experience'', while also wholesaling to selected stores, building on the brand and ''keeping things growing''.

She was delighted to be selected for the 2013 iD Dunedin Fashion Show in March, saying it was always a pleasure to be involved. She first showed at the event in 2009.

The event continued to grow and it had helped designers build their brand and brand awareness. She looked forward to it each year and enjoyed showing alongside other labels, like Nom*D.

This year, she will be showcasing six outfits in the capsule collection comprising a vibrant purple ''Ziggy Stardust'' jacket - ''something David Bowie would not have looked out of place wearing on ''The Spiders From Mars'' tour - mixed with a palette of blues, a little handcrafted metalwork and a hint of black.

Milan men's fashion week kicks off with Dolce&Gabbana

Dolce&Gabbana kicked off Milan menswear fashion week on Saturday with their winter-autumn 2014 collections, as 10,000 fashionistas descended on the Italian commercial hub for the shows.

Jil Sander, Ermenegildo Zegna, Costume National, Frankie Morello and Burberry also showed off their collections on Saturday.

The Dolce&Gabbana collection drew religious and nostalgic inspiration from Sicily -- the native island of Domenico Dolce, one member of the fashion duo.

The models were all ordinary Sicilians, not professional models.

The catwalks featured a backdrop with a Virgin Mary and Child and a lot of the fashion house's signature black, along with their famous embroidery.

German designer Jil Sander, who returned to the catwalks in 2012 after seven years of absence, went for what she called "epic masculinity".

The queen of minimalism went for finely defined silhouettes and controlled volumes, as well as a multitude of trompe l'oeil geometric motifs.

Costume National stylist Ennio Capasa went for something completely different, picking up on the "angry young men" of the hippy years.

"In the 1960s and 1970s, young people took over the world. I hope that happens again. Soon. Today. rock and roll," read a note from the designer.

Bottega Veneta, Salvatore Ferragamo, Vivienne Westwood, Prada, Roberto Cavalli and Missoni will take to the catwalks on Sunday.

There have been doubts about whether Missoni will take part this year following the disappearance of Vittorio Missoni, commercial director and son of the fashion house's founders, whose plane went missing last week in Venezuela.

John Richmond, Emporio Armani, Gucci, Etro and Fendi will show on Monday and the week will conclude on Tuesday with Dsquared2 and Giorgio Armani.

The National Chamber of Italian Fashion, which organises the shows, has said it expects visitors from 23 countries and has accredited 450 journalists.

A model displays a creation as part of Dolce & Gabbana Fall-Winter 2013-2014 Menswear collection on January 12, 2013 during the Men's fashion week in Milan. Dolce&Gabbana kicked off Milan menswear fashion week, as 10,000 fashionistas descended on the Italian commercial hub for the shows.

A model displays a creation as part of Dolce & Gabbana Menswear collection on January 12, 2013 during the Men's fashion week in Milan. The collection drew religious and nostalgic inspiration from Sicily. The models were all ordinary Sicilians, not professional models.

A model displays a creation as part of Dolce & Gabbana Fall-Winter 2013-2014 Menswear collection on January 12, 2013 during the Men's fashion week in Milan. The catwalks featured a backdrop with a Virgin Mary and Child and a lot of the fashion house's signature black, along with their famous embroidery.

Search for fashion head Missoni continues

The son of Italian fashion chief Vittorio Missoni, who went missing on Jan. 4, says a plane crash is the likely cause of his father's disappearance.

Missoni, his wife, and a couple of their friends were last seen boarding a plane at a resort in the Los Roques archipelago off the coast of Venezuela, bound for Caracas, ABC News reported.

"A plane cannot vanish in this way, on a short route, without leaving any trace. I remain convinced that the least plausible reason is that they crashed into the water," Missoni's oldest son, Ottavio, told Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera Wednesday.

Ottavio Missoni based his reasoning on a text message sent from the cellphone of Guido Forsti, who was on the plane, to Forsti's son more than 48 hours after the plane and its passengers disappeared.

The text said: "Call now. We are reachable."

Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said Friday that the search for the Vittorio Missoni and the others will continue "until some conclusive indication is found," Italy's ANSA news agency reported.

Missoni is the chief executive officer of the Missoni fashion company famed for its zigzag-patterned knitwear.

More than 400 people in boats, planes and helicopters searched Wednesday for those missing without success, Venezuelan officials said.

Fashion show aims to lift stigma on the disabled

At a glitzy Kiev night club brimming with neon lights and energetic pop music, the models showed off sleek evening gowns and glamorous hats as Ukraine's celebrities cheered on. But this was no ordinary fashion show — some models rolled on wheelchairs, others were blind.

At the Wednesday night event dubbed Fashion Chance a dozen designers, mostly from Ukraine, presented outfits for physically handicapped women, in a bid to bring attention and dignity to some of Ukraine's most marginalized citizens. In a country where most buildings lack wheelchair ramps and only a few public schools accept disabled children, the show was a small but vivid step toward removing the stigma that cloaks Ukraine's disabled.

"People on wheelchairs, the blind, the handicapped should all feel accepted," said 26-year-old Ilona Slugovina, an avid wheelchair ballroom dancer, who modeled a lilac-colored glittery evening dress.
Some models moved confidently down the runway — on wheel chairs, or accompanied by handsome young men in elegant suits — flashing smiles and some attempting to mimic the traditional model gait. One blind model coquettishly held her hand on her hip and played with a lock of hair. Others appeared nervous.

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"I felt beautiful, I felt confident," said Antonina Krivobok, who masterfully rolled and turned around in a wheelchair and posed in front of TV cameras as she presented a purple evening dress.

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Beginning and already established designers presented elegant dresses and suits for women on wheelchairs or with other handicaps. Some of the outfits differed little from what ambulatory women would wear, others were cut in a more voluminous fashion to accommodate the needs of those in wheelchairs.

"God made the woman beautiful and the designer's goal is to stress that beauty," said Natalia Anri, a top Ukrainian designer.

But it wasn't just about clothes.
Yulia Kozluk, 28, who runs a fund that trains and then finds computer jobs for those on wheelchairs like herself, said she hoped such projects would help Ukrainian society grow up and accept those who are different.

"When I roll in my wheelchair, people stare at me like I am an alien and it wounds," said Kozluk, who became paralyzed at age 23 after a car accident. "But I am not an alien, I am a regular person."
Ukraine's physically handicapped people are barely visible to the country at large, confined to their homes in the absence of ramps, elevators and specially equipped buses and mostly shunned by society in a grim legacy of the Soviet era.

The Soviet authorities aimed to maintain the image of a happy and healthy society devoid of any problems, locking many disabled, including maimed World War II soldiers, into specialized institutions and even remote islands, where they could not be seen to the general public, while discussing the plight of the handicapped was virtually a taboo in Soviet media.

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Today, children with disabilities are usually hidden away in specialized schools or orphanages, where they are deprived of a chance to interact with other children and society as a whole does not learn to co-exist, accept and help those with disabilities. Only a handful of public schools accept disabled children, because building entrances, canteens and toilets are not equipped with ramps, teachers lack the necessary training and other students and often their parents object to having such classmates.

In Kiev, home to tens of thousands of disabled children of school age, only about 10 schools provide inclusive education, according to Larisa Baida, an education activist with Ukraine's National Assembly for Disabled.

"It's sad," said Baida. "It's a constant struggle, every day they fight for their life."
The Education Ministry declined a comment for this story.

Two blind models present outfits during the show, which left some in the audience moved to tears.
Universities also offer very few chances for the handicapped, lacking audio books for hearing-impaired and computers for the blind. Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union over 20 years ago, not a single book in the tactile writing system called Braille has been published for the visually impaired, according to the Assembly.

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Only a handful of news programs on television are translated into sign language, while none of entertainment shows for adolescents or children are accessible for hearing impaired. Most Ukrainian websites, including those of the president and the government, lack the special software that allows the blind to convert them into audio.

Finding a job is also a major problem, with about only 25 percent of the country's disabled employed, mostly at low-skilled and low-paid jobs, according to the United Nations Development program.
"When we look at a disabled person, we are not ready to see a person in them" who wants to study, work and eat at restaurants, said Natalia Skripka, Assembly's director. "While we should first be seeing a person and only then notice their peculiarities — are they tall or short, do they have blond or dark hair, do they have disabilities or not."

Style And Fashion Expert Gives Away Free "Passport To French Chic" Stylist Advice iBook

Style and fashion expert Sharon Haver, the founder of FocusOnStyle.com, believes fashion stylist advice should be accessible to everyone. With that, the fashion blog website is giving away, for a limited time, the best of  timeless FocusOnStyle style tips to master simple stylish Parisian style, in the free ibook download, Passport to French Chic:  The best of timeless FocusOnStyle tips to Parisian style… even if you come from Brooklyn as a gift for joining the fashion newsletter.

To celebrate the 14th anniversary online, Haver has culled the most popular French Chic stylist tips from the FocusOnStyle.com fashion archives and presents them in a petite easy-to-follow illustrated guide brimming with simple takeaway Parisian style strategies to amp up your personal style.

Anybody interested in claiming their free French Chic style guide, can access it from FocusOnStyle.com here, and also be kept up-to-date with regular expert can-do chic tips to hone the skills to become their own stylist. "I believe in sharing my over two decades of professional fashion expert skills for the everyday woman to master her own personal style without having to depend on a stylist to do it for her," says Sharon Haver. "My FocusOnStyle.com readers gravitate to the élan of easy French Chic. I have curated the most popular ageless style tips and put them in one very easy-follow-guide in "Passport to French Chic" as a gift for joining my fashion newsletter email updates," adds Haver.

Haver may not be from Paris but the New York native does know style. "From my over two decades in the fashion industry from stylist to founder of FocusOnStyle.com, and as a style mentor to help YOU make the most of what you've got, there are certain principals of effortless chic and everyday elegance that the French have down pat. But just like a superb croissant or a crispy French fry, the delicious appeal is universal and with fewer calories," says Haver.

Addressing the concerns of helping the everyday woman master timeless and ageless personal style, FocusOnStyle.com launched in 1999 as an extension of Haver's syndicated fashion advice column on the Scripps Howard News Service that was distributed weekly to 400 newspapers. The column and the web site are a way for the fashion stylist to share insider tips and tricks that she honed on photo shoots during her vast 15 year career as a go-to New York fashion stylist.

As a fashion guru, Haver starred in her own national Macy's TV commercial, been a spokesperson, authored a contribution as a style achiever in the book, "65 Things to Do When You Retire, 65 Notable Achievers on How to Make the Most of the Rest of Your Life," along with President Jimmy Carter and Gloria Steinem. She is a media personality and frequently quoted fashion expert.

The style mentor feels most fulfilled enlightening others to feel self-confident by reaching their highest potential of timeless and age-appropriate personal style without having to rely on a stylist to dress them. Haver is currently writing a style book, creating a series of personal development style resources, and launching a limited availability of VIP one-on-one style mentoring sessions, along with acting as editor in chief at FocusOnStyle.com.

Fiery Fashion at The Crucible

Fashion shows are by definition spectacles, but who said all spectacles are created equal? From Alexander McQueen's nail-lined "spike" runway in 2000 (models had to be suspended above it) to Karl Lagerfeld's $10 million Great Wall of China catwalk in 2007 to the mile-long runway at the 2010 Copenhagen Fashion Week, an emphasis on the spectacular is woven into the fabric of the runway psyche.

Fire, for seemingly obvious reasons, hasn't really ever been part of the equation. But at The Crucible (1260 7th St., Oakland), it happens to be the spectacle of choice. The 56,000-square-foot industrial-arts education facility is dedicated to crafts like glass-blowing, bronze-casting, and arc-welding, so it's apt that it would celebrate its fourteenth anniversary by bringing together the Bay Area's plethora of arts skill sets and its favored element. On Friday and Saturday, January 11-12, when The Crucible hosts "Hot Couture: A Fusion of Fashion and Fire," that means fashion designers playing with flame are welcomed into the fold.

The Crucible opened in Berkeley in 1999 before moving to West Oakland. Over the years it has hosted its famed fire-arts festival, several fire operas, fire ballets (including a fiery rendition of Romeo and Juliet), and one prior iteration of the fire fashion show. Fire is not only the tool used to create much of the venue's art, but also idolized in its own right.

And so for its anniversary, The Crucible has created a fiery runway of epic proportions. Constructed at the West Oakland space out of twenty tons (yes, tons) of compacted aluminum, the stage will also feature a giant central flaming sculptural piece that will be incorporated into the runway walks. "It's a fashion runway, but it's atypical in that it's 3-D," said Steven Young, executive director of The Crucible. "The models will interact with the fire, adding to the fantasy."

In preparation for the "Hot Couture" show, The Crucible issued a call for designs, asking that fashion designers collaborate with industrial artists: the welders, glassworkers, and technology artists abundant in the maker-obsessed, Burning-Man-infused Bay Area art scene. The final result is twelve teams presenting 48 couture pieces — all varying widely in materials and concepts — in the fantastical runway show.


"We're an art school that's really focused on design — fashion is just an extension of those things," said Young. "It's about handmade design work, craft, inspiration, and quality."

The evening will consist of a cocktail hour with faculty demonstrations of The Crucible's industrial arts specialties, followed by three fashion shows, each separated by equally spectacular intermission entertainment. Guests will be invited to celebrate the art of the spectacular, including a "fire-breathing violin" (which spits fire as it's being played), an aerial acrobatics performance, a "presentation of fantastic latex fashionwear," and a surprise grand finale. "It's a nightlong fashion event," said Young. "It's not just a runway show and then we're done. Our goal really is to create a fashion spectacle."

Style Hunter Meets... Russian Fashion Designer Olga Vilshenko

With five seasons under her belt, Russian fashion designer Olga Vilshenko can already count some of the globe's coolest fashon stores as her home and a number one fan in the very stylish songstress, Florence Welch. Our Flo has worn the brand’s signature folksy paisley prints three times now, so when we heard Olga was visiting her London studio we wanted to know more about the women bringing Babushka into style…

Grazia Daily: What do you always rely on in your wardrobe?
Olga Vilshenko: I always wear dresses and blouses as I find them easy to throw on yet they always look feminine and stylish.

Grazia Daily: Is there one thing you have a soft spot for? What do you always turn to if you aren’t sure what to wear?

Olga Vilshenko: I love loose fitting clothing and always turn to them if in doubt.  They are comfortable and if I am in a rush but want to look chic I always wear a lurex Vilshenko blouse.

Grazia Daily: Who or what influences your style? And what’s inspiring you right now?
Olga Vilshenko:I am always inspired by things around me and all things Russian, especially old Russian books, other designers and designs from the 70s, and fabrics from the 70’s also.

Grazia Daily: What’s been your biggest fashion mistake?
Olga Vilshenko: To be honest, it happens a lot but then fashion is cyclical so things always come back into fashion a few years later so it will never be that much of a faux pas/fashion disaster.  You need to be creative and have fun with fashion so there is always going to be a certain risk element involved.   When you look back at old photos it can be funny as outfits that were fashionable then aren’t anymore – generally everyone looks funny in old photos even if they played it safe!

Grazia Daily: How has your home country influenced your design?
Olga Vilshenko: It always influences my designs and collections, 100%.   Everything from Russian books, Russian heritage, museums, old vintage folk dresses, buildings, architecture to Russian history – everything around me has an impact in my collections creatively.

Grazia Daily: What will you be investing in for SS13?
Olga Vilshenko: I loved Saint Laurent’s show and thought the collection was very feminine and chic.  The full length dresses look very elegant and stylish yet easy to wear – a bit like Vilshenko.  I can see myself wearing lots of dresses from the collection and particularly have my eye one the floral maxi dress.

Missoni Scion on Small Plane Missing in Venezuela

Rescue crews used boats and aircraft on Saturday to search for a small plane that disappeared in Venezuela carrying the CEO of Italy's iconic Missoni fashion house and five other people.

But 24 hours after the BN-2 Islander aircraft disappeared from radar screens on its short flight from Venzuela's coastal resort island of Los Roques, no sign of the plane had been found, officials said.

"We have no other news" about the plane carrying Vittorio Missoni, the head of the company; his wife, Maurizia Castiglioni; two of their Italian friends; and two Venezuelan crew members, said Paolo Marchetti, a Missoni SpA official. He spoke briefly to reporters as he left company headquarters in the northern Italian town of Sumirago Saturday afternoon.

Missoni's younger brother, Luca, who is active in the family-run business, was reportedly traveling to Venezuela on Saturday to monitor search efforts.

The La Repubbica.it, website of the Rome newspaper said Venezuelan aircraft, motorboats and helicopters took off at dawn Saturday to resume the search for the missing plane, which had been suspended on Friday night. The Italian news agency ANSA, reporting from Rome, said a specialized ocean-searching naval vessel also was being deployed.

Vittorio Missoni is the eldest son of the company's founder, Ottavio, who at 91 still follows the business.

In this photo taken on March 30, 2005... View Full Caption
The Corriere della Sera newspaper reported that Ottavio and his wife Rosita were at their home in Italy, along with their daughter Angela, a chief fashion designer with the company, waiting for information about the search. Rosita Missoni designs housewears, and Angela's daughter, Margherita, has been infusing the classic designs with fresh appeal.

The Missoni house, with its trademark zigzag and other geometric patterns in sweaters, scarves and other knitwear, is one of Italy's most famous fashion brands abroad.

Vittorio Missoni has played a key role in marketing the Missoni family creations in Asia, especially in Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea as general director of marketing for Missoni SpA. He also spearheaded a push for the company's products in the United States and France. His efforts to expand the brand abroad led Missoni to be dubbed the company's "ambassador."

On Friday, Venezuela's Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said the plane was declared missing hours after taking off from Los Roques, a string of islands popular for scuba diving, white beaches and coral reefs, and where the Missonis and their friends were on vacation.

Vittorio Missoni has been described as an active sportsman and lover of the outdoors. He and his wife and their friends from northern Italy were scheduled to fly back to Italy on Friday, but their internal flight never made it to Caracas.

La Repubblica said the plane disappeared off radar screens shortly after takeoff from Los Roques on what was to been a 90-mile (140-kilometer) flight to the mainland. The Missoni brand is scheduled to display its latest menswear creations on the Milan runways in a fashion show later this month.

On Jan. 4, 2008, another plane returning to the Venezuelan mainland from Los Roques disappeared with 14 people aboard, including eight Italians. The body of the plane's Venezuelan co-pilot later washed ashore, but despite a search lasting weeks no other victims or the wreckage were found.

In 2009, a small plane returning from Los Roques with nine people aboard plunged into the Caribbean Sea, but all survived.

Prostitutes in Israel Are Finding New Lives in Training for the Fashion World

For 20 years Aviva, 48, flamboyant and transgendered, worked the streets of the business district of this Mediterranean city, as well as the seedy square mile around the central bus station and the Tel Baruch beach, once a notorious hub of Israeli prostitution that has become a spruced up stretch of sandy coast.

Alona, 40, immigrated to Israel with her parents from Ukraine in the early 1990s. Her circumstances quickly degenerated from working in a casino to a life derailed by debts, drugs and prostitution. When she was not in prison, the squalid streets around the bus station became her home.

“In the streets there was no toilet, no toilet paper,” Alona said. “I forgot a lot of things, like how to look after myself, to love myself. I learned to survive.”

Now, in an endeavor as far removed from their former lives as the gleaming banks and trendy boutiques of Tel Aviv are from the city’s sleazy subculture, the two, who asked to be identified only by their first names, recently completed a free course in styling and the retail clothing business. Along with other former prostitutes who have received similar training in dress design and sewing, they are now aiming to find a place in the world of fashion. There is always demand for sales staff in Tel Aviv’s bustling stores, and one talented graduate even went on to a professional design school on a scholarship.

“The course gave me a lot of self-confidence and knowledge,” Aviva said. “Maybe one day I’ll be able to start something of my own. When they gave me the certificate — the first in my life — I was proud of myself. I’d done something positive.”

The idea for the program grew up from the underside of Tel Aviv.

The program’s initiator, Lilach Tzur Ben-Moshe, was working as a fashion writer and editor at a leading Hebrew news Web site and volunteering at the city’s rape crisis center when, four years ago, she moved to the dilapidated Shapira Quarter near the bus station. Her squalid new neighborhood exposed her to the full misery of the sex trade, and she determined to help women to leave it.

“I didn’t want just to answer the phone in the help center,” she said. “I wanted to offer something more optimistic, more beautiful, the opposite of that awful world of prostitution.”

With an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 prostitutes in Israel, a country of about eight million people, antiprostitution campaigners say the industry has an annual turnover of more than half a billion dollars. While it is illegal to pimp or to run a brothel, prostitution is not a criminal offense in Israel. There are efforts to promote new legislation that would impose criminal penalties on people who are clients of prostitutes.

Up until a few years ago Israel was a prime destination for traffickers of women. An estimated 3,000 women per year were smuggled in, mostly from Eastern Europe, to work in the sex industry. That number has declined since Israel passed an antitrafficking law in 2006, according to the United States State Department Trafficking in Persons Report of 2012, and most of the prostitutes here are now said to be Israelis.

At around the same time as Ms. Tzur Ben-Moshe’s move to the Shapira Quarter, Israel’s first hostel for women trying to get out of prostitution and undergoing rehabilitation, Saleet, opened nearby. Ms. Tzur Ben-Moshe built the first course with Ido Recanati, a local fashion designer, offering women from the hostel training in sketching, fabrics and stitching. She then teamed with Iris Stern Levi, who had worked for 20 years at the rape crisis center. They founded an association, called Turning the Tables, and now are directors of the program, whose weekly sessions take place over a period of several months. Some students come from the hostel; some via Elem, an Israeli organization for youths in distress; and some are from a shelter for women straight out of prison.

Financing has come from the National Council of Jewish Women, an American organization of volunteers and advocates of social justice, as well as local companies and private individuals. Many Israelis connected with the fashion industry — designers, fabric suppliers and the Gertrude fashion house among others — have donated time and materials.

The efforts, Ms. Tzur Ben-Moshe said, are “our little bit, to show there’s a way out.”

 At a recent session in a building off Dizengoff Street, in the heart of Tel Aviv’s chic shopping and cafe district, half a dozen women practiced unpacking boxes of stock at a workshop given by Uri Reiss of 911 Fashion Ltd., which imports unique brands to Israel and runs a chain of stores in and around Tel Aviv at which the women will get some work experience.

Pulling a short chiffon dress out of a box, Aviva, amply built with long, dyed-blonde hair and a deep laugh, guffawed, “For me, that’s a shirt.”

Alona, whose thin arms bear the scars of years of drug abuse, offered advice to Mr. Reiss about how stores can fall short — customers buying shoes might have nowhere proper to sit, or mirrors might not go all the way to the floor. Shoplifters, she added, often cover security tags with nylon or aluminum foil to prevent them beeping at the exit. “A saleswoman,” she said, “always needs to keep an eye.”

Many prostitutes here begin as teenagers and have little education and no other work experience.

“Working in stores will help them integrate into the real world,” Mr. Reiss said.

The courses also teach them how to get through a job interview and to cope when prospective employers ask whether they have ever stolen or used drugs.

“The answer,” Ms. Stern Levi said, “is, ‘Yes, I have a past. But I am looking forward now.’ Turning the Tables is turning people with the stigma of being ex-sex workers into women with expertise.”

Aviva came to Israel with her family from India in 1979, and, still male, completed compulsory military service. Afterward, Aviva made the transition to female but felt rejected by society and could not find a regular job. Prostitution was her answer. Change came, she said, when she found love. Now in a steady relationship, she found her way, with the help of Elem volunteers, to the hostel and the course — a whole new world of people.

“At first I wasn’t sure if I would understand them,” she said. Having completed the course, she was waiting to hear from a fashion designer about a job as a seamstress.

Alona first heard of the hostel after visiting an emergency apartment it ran near the bus station where prostitutes could come in from the street to shower and rest. This was her third attempt at a reset. The first time she moved into Saleet she stayed for one day; the second was a short stint directly from prison. Now it had been six months and she said she wanted to become a stylist in a clothing store and had been reading a lot about the building of fashion empires like that of Coco Chanel.

Fashion trend: Fewer trends

The biggest trend in fashion for the new year might just be that there isn’t anything especially trendy.

Based on runway and retailer previews, the must-have look in 2013 could be menswear-inspired and tailored, or it could be ladylike chic. Colors are bold and bright, or graphic black and white; fabrics are slinky and silky, or textured and tough.

And pick your silhouette: There are both short sexy minis and long flowing maxis to be had. Check off dressed-up shorts, jumpsuits and slinky mermaid gowns.

It was largely the same story for fall 2012 – and spring before that. 2011, too.

“The problem with trends is that we are trended out. ... We are so exhausted by overload that we just don’t have a way to process anything new,” says trend analyst Marian Salzman, CEO of ad agency Havas PR North America.

Remember the days when a new fashion season meant a new must-have and a corresponding closet purge? Out with boy-cut jeans, in with skinnies. Out with skinnies, in with bell-bottoms.

Years ago, there was often a single muse who dominated the season. If she were a bohemian free spirit in the spring, she might be a tough biker chick in the fall. It seemed as if every designer was courting her at the same time.

Now the models on one catwalk seem like they were dressed personally by the designer from his or her singular point of view.

Looks aren’t stagnant, and you can see tastes evolving – right now there certainly is movement toward sophisticated, grown-up clothes in rich jewel tones and sultry touches – but there isn’t a feeling that it’s being done frenetically. One style might be more “in” than another, but nothing is quite “out.”

“When I started in this industry over 20 years ago, we’d be on the plane after the shows and talking about the trends of next season,” says Elle creative director Joe Zee.

“We really lived in the bubble. You could say, ‘It’s all about the miniskirt,’ and immediately you’d hear, ‘Oh, well, there’s nothing for me.’ Now, I can say it’s all about the ’60s and miniskirts again, but there are still a lot of palazzo pants, and jeans, and everything else, so you’ll find something.”

Do a search for high-waisted bellbottoms on any given day, and you’ll find a million pairs out there – and that’s a season when they weren’t deemed “trendy,” says Zee, who also is curator for the online shopping destination Vente-Privee.

Of course, the Internet has played a huge role in this. Shoppers see new styles more or less at the same time as the retailers and editors sitting in the front row, so fashion has become more democratized.

There’s still a role for insiders, but it’s more as style interpreters instead of final arbiters.

Stores have a much bigger selling space with their websites, so they don’t have to choose between the wide-leg pants or the skinny ones. And consumers don’t have to wait for the big deliveries a few times a year; there’s always a rolling supply of new items – and things headed for clearance racks.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing for fashion. It was a stretch for a designer long respected for career clothes to tout hot pants. The same could be said for the wunderkind doing embellished ballskirts.

Now they don’t have to. This allows for more creativity, not less.

No one has to look alike. No one has to squeeze into an unflattering must-have item just because a few fashion insiders deemed it must-have. After years of the industry preaching personal style, it seems it’s taking its own advice, and designers seem more concerned with carving out their own look – and gaining fans of it – than jumping on an inauthentic trend.

Women can approach fashion as if they have options, Zee says. Take colorblocking, for example.

“I’ve said that’s a ‘trend’ for five seasons. This season I’ll say it’s black and white, and maybe last year I said it was red and pink, but the look hangs out, has a longer life, and that gives you a broader sense of style,” Zee says.

When tastemakers began touting “personal style,” Zee says he’s not fully sure they meant it. But say something often enough, and people start believing it.

“In the moment maybe it was a marketing ploy,” he says, “but then came ‘Sex and the City’– which I think was a tent pole of personal style – and then the Internet and the popularity of ‘street style,’ and now I think women are saying, ‘I’m going to do what I like to do.’ ”

There’s also the importance of value in fashion now, and there’s not just a dollar sign attached to that. Quality, heritage and integrity are factors.

Going into 2013, Salzman says consumers have developed a mindset that will focus on a bigger picture than one snapped at the end of a catwalk.

“We’re going to spend more time thinking about what it means to buy something, and we’re much more engaged about what our clothing says as our signature,” she says.