December 2012 - Page 14 of 15

The storied designer Payal Jain known for her exquisite designs recently launched her Autumn Winter 2012 couture collection titled, ‘Butterflies in my Heart’, at the poolside lawns of Hyatt Regency in New Delhi.

The collection boasts of a vast canvas of techniques, textures, fabrics and hues ranging from pure ivory to burnt caramel, decadent burgundy, dark ink, rich navy, warm aubergine to ebony black. It’s comprised of jackets, sensual blouses, layered and wrapped sarongs, paneled and full circular skirts, long flowing capes, seductive dresses and magical ball gowns – using fabrics like silk taffetas, duchess satin, charmeuse, georgette, crepe, organza and guipure laces.

The detailing in the form of intricate cutwork, precious pearl and crystal embroidery, sequin sprinkling, feather detailing and floral appliqué surface texturization render a vintage look to the collection.

The show by Payal Jain was witnessed by who’s who of the city including Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Bal, Tika Shatrujit Singh, Varun Bhal, Rajesh & Payal Pratap Singh, Ashish & Misha Soni, Rina Dhaka, Sonam Dubal, Abraham & Thakore, Poonam Bhagat, Reynu Taandon, Leena Singh, Ritu Kumar, Ambika Pillai, Zubair Kirmani, Monisha Bajaj, Sujata Assomull Sippy, Niki Mahajan, Dr. Shyama Chona, Anjana Bhargava, Meeta Pandit, Aditi Soni, Manish Mehta, Sylvie and many others.

With a view of extending the lifestyle aspect of its product ranges, the Italy-based fashion brand GAS forays into innerwear business with a launch of its complete line of underwear for men and women.

The first of the collection – Essential Collection – is a complete range of practical versatile pieces with focus on detailing and quality. The women’s range with themes like Natural, Essence, Sensual and Fair comes as a sensual yet comfortable collection of undergarments created using light cotton, micro-modal tulle and lace – meant to enhance the curves. The four themes for men – 24/Seven, Bright, Active and D.N.A form a contemporary range done in soft cotton jersey wit added appeal of raw cut edges and splashes of colors.

A range up of pieces designed to cover all functions and basic models will be launched on the market next December in time for the run up to Christmas. About the launch, Franco Marianell of GAS said, “The new GAS underwear collection will go on sale in our single brand stores, leading department stores and specialist multibrand distributors. This broadening of the brand’s product range, aimed at completing the offer in single brand stores representing the GAS world, is part of a bigger brand extension project which includes active-wear, loungewear and beachwear.”

“A first taste of a few essential, practical pieces from each of these categories will be offered in stores next spring. Finally, our range of accessories and small leather goods will be totally revamped and developed in close coordination with the already existent footwear collection, which will also be broadened to satisfy an ever-increasing number of consumers,” he concludes.

Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. has announced the brand’s India launch with the opening of the first Kenneth Cole retail store in Phoenix Market City at Kurla in Mumbai, India. The store will sell Kenneth Cole New York and Kenneth Cole Collection products.

Spread over 2000 sq. ft, the store exudes a vintage yet contemporary feel of a typical New York warehouse. Exposed brick work, reclaimed timber flooring and exotic leather furnishings give the store an opulent look which is further enhanced by antique lights.

Kenneth Cole has entered India through a long-term license agreement with Reliance Brands Limited and will be offering all Kenneth Cole New York product categories including men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, footwear, accessories, watches, jewelry, handbags, briefcases, and small leather goods.

The London based budding fashion label JAU by Jessica Au which hogged the limelight recently for its unusual ethical designs presents its Spring Summer 2013 collection titled, ‘Neon’ – standing for ‘new one’ in Greek.

The collection is a result of designer’s infatuation with Die Antwoord’s zef-style and the wave of neo-trash movement. Offering menswear and womenswear the designer focuses on merging Japanese street style with stripper influences such as Brooke Candy.

A quirky combination of her obsession with illustration and curiosity around intricate artistic concepts the collection sees the designer playing with new fabrics and aesthetics. The twisted silhouettes and quirky mix of prints concoct the collection – created using recycled fabrics to promote sustainability and ethics.

International Woolmark prize 2012, designer duo Pankaj & Nidhi are all set to be judged by Victoria Beckham, Donatella Versace and Diane von Furstenberg, the new judges of the 2012 International Woolmark Prize at London Fashion Week in February 2013. Alongside Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani and Tim Blanks, the trio will help name the world’s best Merino wool designer on February 16 2013 as part of London Fashion Week.

Over the past year, a shortlist of six have been chosen by regional judging panels to represent Europe,US, China, Australia, Japan and India. The finalists, narrowed down from 70 names put forward by fashion industry professionals, are Sophie Theallet from the US, Christian Wijnants from Belgium (for Europe), Ban Xiao Xiu from China, Dion Lee from Australia, DRESSEDUNDRESSED from Japan and Pankaj and Nidhi from India.

The overall prize is a sponsorship fund of $100,000 AUD (£65,000). The winner’s wool collection will also be sold in the world’s leading retailers, including Harvey Nichols in the UK, Bergdorf Goodman in the USA, 10 Corso Como in Italy, Joyce in China, David Jones in Australia and Eickohoff Königsallee in Germany. Previous winners of the award include Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent.

The Judging Panel –

Diane von Furstenberg, Co-Chairman and Founder, Diane von Furstenberg Studio LP

Donatella Versace, Creative Director and Vice President of Gianni Versace S.p.A.

Tim Blanks, Editor-at-Large Style.com

Franca Sozzani, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Italia, L’Uomo Vogue Italia and Vogue.it. Editorial

Director of Condé Nast Italia. “Goodwill Ambassador for Fashion 4 Development” for the UN

Victoria Beckham

The hair and makeup expert Aashmeen Munjal unveils luxurious twenty four carat golden spoon therapy, effective in cleaning, exfoliating, massaging and nourishing the skin.

Wielding gold’s wondrous properties of giving skin an even tone and preserving pigmentation, the therapy uses a gold spoon for penetrating ampules which further helps in skin firming, skin whitening and exfoliation. Helpful in removing wrinkles from the skin, the therapy works best in case of anti-ageing treatment.

It’s done by using positive and negative ions. All the toxins are formed in the epidermis of the skin, twenty four carat plating helps in the lymphatic drainage of these toxins. The micro current in the treatment further helps in giving a blare and tight skin. In the therapy many exotic oils like germanium oil and rose oil are used to give skin a lasting shine and glow. The result lasts for more than 45 days, its best effects can be seen when it’s done on one’s back.

About the therapy Aashmeen says, “Everyday exposure is hard for the skin, excessive exposure to sun causes pigmentation, with golden spoon therapy we can curb not only pigmentation but also wrinkles. It gives a glow, shine and clarity to the skin.”

The most buzzed about question around the fashion circuit was who will be filling in the shoes of Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga?
Sources confirmed that the French fashion house has roped in New York based designer Alexander Wang for the top job.

As its Nicolas’s last official day at the PPR-owned fashion house, an official statement is expected from the fashion house as well as the designer’s rep by next week.
28 year Parson Graduate, Wang has become quite famous in the fashion circuit with his groovy T-shirts, studded hand bags and high impact fashion shows. He is also being admired for his commercial savvy, rapidly building business with manufacturing muscle & a global footprint.

The choice of picking Wang , whose approach towards fashion is different from that of Ghesquière is seen as a move to dial down from the elitist, couture like approach to open up to a broader audience.

Fashion critics would be keeping a close eye to see what Wang will bring to the table , after Ghesquière’s stellar 15- year career which made Balenciaga a temple of cutting –edge fashion and haute craftsmanship .

After a week of global detox campaign against Zara, the Spanish fast fashion label has committed to go all toxic-free by 2020.

In the light of the reports published by Greenpeace – claiming the use of the hazardous chemicals in the process of manufacturing by clothing companies – the massive outrage broke on the social media and outside the Zara stores around the world as the volunteers of Greenpeace dressed as revolting mannequins demanded the brand to detox now.

The global furor against Zara developed all of a sudden because of the reports claiming that the traces of hazardous chemicals when released in environment are harmful and potentially cancer causing, are found in seventy percent of Zara products. And due to immense public pressure the fast-fashion giant committed to eliminate releases of hazardous chemicals from its supply chain and clothes.
Zara said that by the end of 2013 at least 100 of its suppliers in the Global South (including at least 40 in China) will publicly disclose data about their releases of hazardous chemicals into the environment. The open data will be chemical-by-chemical, facility-by-facility and at least year-by-year.

By committing Zara joined the league of brands like Puma, H&M, M&S, C&A and Li-Ning who have also had committed to Detox.

Fashionfad

Fashion Conditioned

Monthly Archives: December 2012

The Butterflies of Payal Jain

GAS Debuts into Innerwear

Kenneth Cole in India

Ethical Designs by JAU

Victoria for Woolmark Prize

The Golden Spoon Therapy

Alexander Wang for Balenciaga

Zara to Go Toxic Free