Italian designer, Laura Grillo, was awarded the Gold prize last night at REMIX, the International Fur Design Competition at La Visionnaire, in Milan.

The competition judges included fashion designers Rubin Singer and Irina Shabayeva, ELLE US’s Style Director, Kate Lanphear and comedienne, Joan Rivers, as well as senior representatives from the trade, international fashion media and fur trade press. The jury selected Laura’s Red fox military frock coat, from the 40 garments entered by up and coming fur designers from North America, Europe, Russia and Asia.

Laura studied costume and fashion design at Accademia Di Costume E Di Moda in Rome. Since graduating she has worked on a number of productions to create opulent costumes, including the costumes for a production of Hamlet, which was exhibited at the Dopo La Scuola, in Rome.

The REMIX Silver prize went to Eliana Dimitrakopoulou representing the UK, who is currently studying for her MA in Fashion Design and Technology at the London College of Fashion.

The Bronze prize was awarded to Hyun Yeu, for his bubblegum pink feathered fox fur dress. He recently won the Frans Moleaar competition in the Netherlands and started his own menswear label.

At REMIX this year, IFTF introduced a new fourth prize category, the special OA™ award. This award recognises the designers who exclusively used OA™ fur in their designs. Silver winner, Eliana Dimitrakoupolou, scooped this prize with her purple multiwear mink cape.

All the designers taking part in the REMIX design competition are winners of their own national level design competitions, resulting in an outstanding level of innovative design.

To see the runway show, the winning garments and to experience the buzz and energy of the evening, click here for video footage of the event.

The REMIX competition was introduced in 2003 by the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF), in collaboration with MIFUR, the Milan based International Fur and Leather Exhibition. Now in its seventh year, more than 300 students from 22 countries have taken part in this annual event since its inception. REMIX aims to encourage, inspire and support young designers as they develop and explore their relationship with fur, as well as to give them an opportunity to showcase their innovative designs to an international audience.

Source: http://www.iftf.com/#/press-releases/125/

As the Chinese economy continues to grow at unprecedented rates and demand for fur in China steadily climbs, the Chinese Government has issued a White Paper on the status of the fur sector in China [1]. This follows on from the introduction in 2005 of the Regulation on Technical Management of Breeding, Keeping and Housing Fur Animal Species.

The White Paper outlines the Chinese Government’s commitment to conservation and to animal welfare, and provides the first comprehensive overview of the regulations in place covering wild and farmed fur animals.

The Chinese Government has for many decades recognised the importance of fur farming as a means of providing a viable livelihood for China’s vast rural population and raising living standards. The Chinese Government also recognises the importance of scientific research and the need to follow international standards, supported by monitoring and inspection to ensure continued improvements in animal welfare.

Andreas Lenhart, the Chairman of the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF) comments, “The IFTF warmly welcomes the publication of the White Paper. The Chinese Government openly acknowledges its support for the fur sector and for fur farming. The Paper also confirms what we have long known which is that China is committed to the conservation of its wildlife and to animal welfare, and is actively taking care of both.”

Source: http://www.iftf.com/#/press-releases/124/

Production

• In the first quarter of 2009 the tailoring industry in Bulgaria reported a decrease of 21.4% in sales turnover from goods and products and provided services as compared to the same period of 2008.
• The volume of production during the first 3 months of 2009 decreased by 26.3%.

Foreign Trade

• The foreign trade of Bulgaria in tailoring, textile and knitted products in the first quarter of 2009 was worth EUR 473.2 mln, which compared to 2008 is EUR 118.9 mln or 20.1% less.
• The export decreased by 25.4%.
• Decrease of the import during the period was 19.9% over the previous year.

Domestic Market Sales

• The main part of the production of tailoring industry continued to be toll manufacture. Only 1.5 percent of the output is sold on the domestic market
• Producers’ sales on the domestic market compared to the first quarter of 2008 are less by 25%. Only clothing for men and boys increased 2.5 times.

Summary - Period: Q2 2009
Production

• During the second quarter of 2009 decrease in sales of products, goods and services in the tailoring industry is less. Compared with the same period of 2008 the decrease is 18.9 percent (21.4% in the first quarter).
• Compared with the first half of 2008 the reduction is 20.3%.

Foreign Trade

• In the second quarter of 2009, the reduction of import is higher compared to the first. Compared with the same period of 2008 the decrease is 28.1% (in the first quarter it was 19.9 percent). The decline for the first half is 23.7%.
• The decrease of export compared with the first quarter of 2009 is less. In comparison with the same period of 2008 the decrease is 23.6% (25.4% in the first quarter). For the first half-year the reduction is 24.5%.

Domestic Market Sales

• Sales of clothing on the domestic market are small. Companies included in the extract, sold 2.9% of the total produced quantities in the second quarter and -2.1 percent in the first half-year.
• Companies included in the extract sold with 18.1 percent fewer goods in the second quarter compared to the corresponding period of 2008 and in the first half-year - with 20.9 percent less.

Source: http://www.bgtextiles.org/?cid=78&NewsId=1047

Utilizing the latest in communications technology as well a traditional print medium, three programs at the IDEA10 International Engineered Fabrics Conference and Exposition will allow exhibitors and attendees to connect with each other like never before possible.

The new IDEA10 social networking site and the debut of IDEA10 TV, being produced by Nonwovens Industry magazine, mark two significant steps in improved networking and communications before and during the three days of IDEA10, April 27-29, 2010, at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida. In addition, the IDEA News show newspaper, being published by World Textile Publications, will highlight events and companies at IDEA10.

“We want everyone attending IDEA10 to be able to take full advantage of all that the event has to offer and the best way to do this is to improve their ability to network,” says Rory Holmes, President of INDA. “Our new social networking site and IDEA TV will increase the personal communication and contact that has always been a vital aspect of IDEA and the IDEA News will provide a close look at some of the more interesting developments and products at IDEA10. It’s all about networking with the goal of increasing business.”

For the social networking site debut, all registered IDEA10 attendees and exhibitors will be sent an invitation to establish their own home page. The goal is to make it easier for attendees at IDEA10 to set up meetings, discuss important topics and to network in order to get the most out of the three-day event. Attendees are encouraged to register early, so that they can take advantage of this valuable service.

Among the features of the social networking site:

• Profiles of attendees who choose to participate, including individual backgrounds and interests at the conference.
• A scheduling feature that allows two or more attendees to set up their own meetings during the event.
• Private messaging that allows members to communicate directly both before and during the event.
• The site is event-specific and an integrated calendar allows attendees to create their own agendas, discuss sessions and see who else is in the session with them.
• A public comments section lets attendees discuss sessions, presentations and product introductions among themselves.

Marking the first time that live “television” will take place at an IDEA show, Nonwovens Industry is producing IDEA TV, a video feed produced from the IDEA10 show floor. Featuring breaking news and special interest features as well as dynamic new marketing opportunities, IDEA TV will be broadcast over the internet and promoted via email to every registered IDEA attendee and subscriber to the Nonwovens Industry Breaking News at IDEA daily electronic newsletter.

From a marketing perspective, IDEA10 exhibitors can sponsor specific events or features with video introductions and closing tags. They can also provide full feature videos that act as commercials to the original video content. Nonwovens Industry will be providing video ad development and editing services for the short feature sponsorships, as well as hosting services for supplied, feature length commercial content.

Source: http://www.inda.org/press/2010/IDEA_networking.html

WASHINGTON, DC – A coalition between Cotton Council International (CCI) and other international natural fiber organizations recently established the Discover Natural Fibers Initiative (DNFI) to increase awareness of natural fibers, including cotton. The DNFI extends the partnership initiated by the International Year of Natural Fibers (IYNF) Steering Committee organizations following a year of working together in 2009, dubbed the “International Year of Natural Fibers.”

“The Discover Natural Fibers Initiative will build on the success of the IYNF and adopt the same objective, which is to raise the awareness and profile of natural fibers, including cotton, and emphasize their value to global consumers while helping to sustain farmer income,” said CCI President Wally Darneille. “Natural fibers, including cotton and U.S. cotton, are key economic contributors. The global recognition this initiative will bring to cotton and other natural fibers is well-deserved.”

The decision to continue working closely together was the result of an IYNF committee meeting held in Frankfurt, Germany, in January 2010. DNFI is an alliance of key international natural fiber organizations including CCI, the International Wool Textile Organization (IWTO), the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), the Bremen Cotton Exchange, the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), the International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP) and many others. Henrik Kuffner, Director General of IWTO, was elected as committee chair for the year 2010.

Cotton—a natural, renewable and biodegradable resource—is the largest natural fiber in the global fiber, textile and apparel economy, now representing roughly 80 percent of all natural fibers consumed. Cotton represents hundreds of billions of dollars of economic activity and globally employs hundreds of millions of people from field to fabric to retail.

CCI is the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) export promotions arm and carries out programs in more than 50 countries globally under the COTTON USA trademark. CCI’s headquarters is located in Washington, D.C., with offices located in Memphis, London, Hong Kong, Seoul and Shanghai, in addition to a global network of representatives.

Source: http://cottonusa.files.cms-plus.com/Events/CCI%20Press%20Release%20-%20Discover%20Natural%20Fibers%20Initiative.pdf

• The finance minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee lays emphasis on consolidated growth, improving investment environment, inclusive development and strengthening transparency and public accountability in budget 2010-11.
• The total expenditure proposed in the budget estimates is rs.11, 08,749 crore, an increase of 8.6 per cent over last year.
• The plan and non-plan expenditure estimated at rs.3, 73,092 crore and rs.7, 35,657 crore respectively, an increase of 15 percent in plan expenditure and 6 per cent in non-plan expenditure over the be of previous year.
• Fiscal deficit at 5.5 per cent of GDP works out to be Rs. 3,81,408 crore.
• Rolling targets for fiscal deficit pegged at 4.8 per cent and 4.1 per cent for 2011-12 and 2012-13.
• Net Market Borrowing would be of the order of rs. 3,45,010 crore leaving enough space to meet credit needs of private sector.
• Against a fiscal deficit of 7.8 per cent in 2008-09, inclusive of oil and fertilizer bonds, the comparable fiscal deficit is 6.9 per cent as per re 2009-10.
• Gross Tax Receipts estimated at Rs.7,46,651 crore and non-tax receipt estimated at Rs. 1,48,118 crore.
• Status paper giving road map for curtailing the overall public debt to be brought out within 6 months.
• About Rs. 25,000 crores to be raised through disinvestmet programme
• To simplify the FDI regime, for the first time both ownership & control recognised as central to the FDI policy.
• Rs. 16,500 crore to be provided to public sector banks to achieve a minimum 8 per cent
• Tier-I Growth of 127 per cent recorded in exports from SEZs till December, 2009.
• A four-pronged strategy to spur the growth in agriculture sector envisaged. Which includes agricultural production, reduction in wastage of produce, credit support to farmers and thrust to the food processing sector.
• Agriculture credit flow target raised to Rs. 3,75,000 crore from Rs.3,25,000 crore
• Subvention for timely repayment of crop loan increased from 1 per cent to 2 per cent.
• Infrastructure development gets an allocation of Rs. 1,73,552 crore, 46 per cent of total plan allocation , an increase of 13 per cent in road transport sector.
• India Infrastructure finance company limited’s disbursements to reach rs. 20,000 crore by march 2011.
• Allocation for power sector increased by more than doubled to Rs. 5,130 crore.
• New tax incentives announced for infrastructure sector.
• National clear energy fund for funding research and innovative projects in clean energy technologies to be set up.
• Spending on social sector to account for 37 per cent of total plan outlay at Rs.1,37,674 crore
• Allocation for rural development enhanced to Rs.66,100 crores. Allocation for nrega stepped up to 40,100 crore.
• Rs. 48,000 crore allocated for bharat nirman programme
• Backward region grant fund allocation enhanced to Rs. 7,300 crore.
• Rajiv Awas Yojna for slum dwellers and urban poor to get Rs. 1,270 crore , an increase of over 700 per cent
• National Social Security Fund for unorganised sector workers to be set up with an initial amount of Rs. 1,000 crore.
• Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojna with a provision of Rs.100 crore launched
• 80 per cent increase in the allocation for ministry of social justice & empowerment at rs 4,500 crore.
• Minority affairs to get Rs.2,600 crore, an increase of 50 per Cent.
• To rewrite and clean up the financial sector laws, financial sector legislative reforms commission to be set up.
• Unique identification authority of india to get an allocation of Rs. 1,900 crore. A technology advisory group for unique proect to be set up.
• Allocation for defence increased to Rs.1,47,344 crore
• National mission for delivery of justice and legal regorms to be set up to provide timely justice to all.
• Income tax slabs broadened - 10 per cent on income above rs 1.6 lakh to 5.00 lakh, 20 per cent on income above 5.oo lakh to 8.00 lakh , 30 per cent on above Rs. 8.00 lakh
• Additional deduction of Rs. 20,000 for investment in infrastructure bonds
• Surcharge of 10 per cent on domestic companies reduced to 7.5 per cent
• MAT increased from 15 per cent to 18 per cent
• Wighted Deduction non expenditure incurred on in-house r&d from 150 per cent to 200 per cent
• Liimit of turnover for presumptive taxation of small business enhanced to Rs. 60 lakh.
• Limits of turnover needing audit enhanced to 60 lakh for businesses and Rs. 15 lakh for professions.
• Proposal of direct tax to result in revenue loss of Rs. 26,000 crore where as indirect taxes to result in a revenue gain of Rs. 46,500 crore.
• Service tax proposals to result in net revenue gain of Rs.3,000 crore.
• Accredited news agencies which provides news feed online exempted from service tax
• Saral -II for individual salary taxpayers ready for notification
• Service Tax retained at 10 per cent.
• Certain new services to be brought within service tax purview.
• Micro-wave ovens, pre-packaged imported goods, mobile phones, watches, readymade garments, toy baloons, long pepper, replaceable household water filter to be cheaper.
• Infotainmet sector to benefit from concessional custom duty
• Indian rupee to get a symbol, join the select club of currencies
• Special duty concessions to promote clean environment clean energy cess @ Rs. 50 per tonne on coal
• Rate reduction in central excise duties partially rolled back ad valorem on non petro products & cars increased by 2 per cent
• Uniform basic duty of 5 per cent and cvd of 4 per cent on import of medical equipmnet.
• Scientified inputs for orthopaedic implants exempted from import duty
• Central excise on petrol & diesel raised by Rs. One per litre.
• Major tax relief to agriculture & related sectors
• Project import status for the setting up of cold storages
• Full exemption from excise duty to trailers & semi -trailers.

Source: http://www.assocham.org/policies/budget/unionbud20010-11.php

A customer tries on a traditional Chinese Qipao in a garment shop in Beijing.

Retailers of delicately embroidered traditional Chinese garments such as tangzhuang jackets and qipao dresses celebrated booming sales during the Spring Festival.

Sun Xing, a garment shop owner at a wholesale market in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, said sales at his small store hit 60,000 yuan in the first two months of 2010.

He said: “Especially ahead of the festival, we received tens of orders a day as many people wished to dress up elaborately.”

Sun added that tangzhuang jackets have become a fashion trend in recent years among Chinese people and foreigners, especially since 2001 when many political leaders wore silk-embroidered tangzhuang at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shanghai.

“Red and gold are two of the most popular colors. Young people prefer silk cloth with simple patterns while their elders generally choose cloth with dragon or phoenix embroidery,” he said. The prices range from 400 to 1,000 yuan.

Many Chinese parents love to dress their children in tangzhuang when they take them to pay New Year visits to elders because they think it looks cute and is appropriate for the festive atmosphere, Sun said.

Shanghaixu, a Chinese brand that focuses on haute couture tangzhuang, also enjoyed good sales. It has seven outlets in Beijing, most of them in luxury hotels.

Dai Xia, store manager of a Shanghaixu outlet at the Oriental Plaza in downtown Beijing, said it received a great number of orders during the Spring Festival period.

Among bustling stores stocking many international brands, Shanghaixu outlets have a unique look. The name of the brand is written using Chinese brushes on a wooden board and all clothes stands, counters and mirrors are made of red wood carved with traditional Chinese patterns such as peonies or plum blossoms.

With the smell of Chinese traditional incense filling the air, hundreds of colorful samples of tangzhuang and qipao are displayed according to category at Dai’s store.

Dai said: “As people have been having more and more business dinners, parties or annual meetings in recent years, our business has been boosted. Also, a lot of couples come to the store to select clothes for their weddings.”

The prices range from 2,000 yuan to more than 10,000 yuan depending on the fabric, style and embroidery the customer chooses. They have to wait about 10 days before they receive their clothes.

Su Rui, 30, bought a pink short-sleeved qipao with silver embroidery weeks before the Spring Festival. It cost her about 5,000 yuan.

“I hosted my company’s annual meeting and the qipao I wore won lots of praise,” Su said. “Unlike traditional qipao, which used to be very long, this one is above the knees which makes me look sexy.”

Dai said that a reason for the sales boom is that the company has made a great effort to innovate their designs, matching them to different occasions such as family dinners or formal cocktail parties.

Some of the qipao are decorated with fur and others utilize Western-style designs, for example pleated skirt hemlines.

But at a Ruifuxiang store - a big name in the Chinese traditional costume market with a 117-year history - in Beijing’s Wangfujing commercial street, business is rather quiet with few customers.

At the simply decorated store, most customers are elderly while occasionally some foreigners come and look around. The sales staffs’ faces paint a picture of inactivity.

Fashion insiders said many traditional brands are no longer attractive to young people who have plenty of spending power as the designs are considered to be outdated and service is poor.

However, a 65-year-old Beijinger surnamed Liu said that she still prefers the time-honored brands which she has known from a very early age.

Source: http://www.cnga.org.cn/engl/news/View.asp?NewsID=22720

An old hospital located on the edge of Elysian Park wants to include as many as 800 residential units and retail development as part of plans for a new facility on its 25-acre campus along a leafy stretch of Stadium Way near Dodger Stadium just north of Downtown.

The addition of residential and commercial developments on the grounds of Barlow Respiratory Hospital would mark a dramatic change for Elysian Park, an oasis of green space, picnic grounds, and trails winding through hills that offer views of Downtown and other parts of the city.

The development is seen by administrators of the hospital as a way to help pay for new medical facilities required by state laws under earthquake safety standards that take effect in three years. Barlow has operated on the site for more than a century, and its main medical facility dates back more than 80 years. Administrators say the main facility has sustained significant earthquake damage. They add that professional engineers have indicated that a seismic retrofit to address such concerns about that or other buildings on the campus is not a viable option in meeting the new state standards.

Barlow’s administrators have been providing updates on plans and seeking opinions from select community groups in the Echo Park district and other neighborhoods bordering Elysian Park. A survey sent to residents of Echo Park in recent weeks said that discussions with “local neighborhood stakeholders and councils” have led to a number of standards to be included in the plan for residential and retail development, including:

• Improvements to community access to Elysian Park.
• The creation of a “pedestrian-friendly environment.”
• The creation of a “privacy zone” around the hospital.
• Neighborhood-scale retail.
• Efforts to minimize the effects of the project on traffic in the area.
• Protections for wildlife in the park.
• Space to be made available for community gatherings.
• Health and recreation programs for elderly residents of the area.
• Designs and plans that “maintain the community character of Echo Park.”

The recent survey also asked residents for more specific recommendations, with wording that largely presumes general support. A representative of Barlow said that approximately 100 of the sureys have been returned in recent weeks, with two-thirds of respondents indicating either strong or moderate support for plans so far.

Gaining broader support could become difficult in the Echo Park community and beyond, since any plans to substantially change the environment in or around Elysian Park would hold the potential to draw significant scrutiny from parties ranging from environmentalists to community groups or individuals who enjoy the place in its current, mostly undeveloped state.

City officials will ultimately make have the final decision on the development plans. The Barlow site is located in the 1st City Council District, which makes current representative by Ed Reyes a key player in the process. Calls to Reyes’ office were not returned at presstime.

Source: http://www.garmentandcitizen.com/category/news/headline-story/2010-03-05-1.php

The government yesterday decided to form eight committees immediately to reduce frequent labour unrest in the country’s readymade garment factories.

The committees — two in Narayanganj, two in Gazipur, and one each at Ashulia, Tongi, Savar and EPZ area — will be operated under the Crisis Management Cell of the ministry. Joint secretary of the ministry’s labour wing will head these bodies.

“A certain quarter is constantly trying to create unrest in our garment industry. The chaos at the Islam Group of Industries on Tuesday was created by this group,” said Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, labour and employment minister.

“We have decided to form the eight committees in important garment zones to prevent the repetition of such unfortunate incidents, and to identify culprits and punish them,” he said.

He was speaking at a meeting held by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) leaders, the labour and employment ministry, and garment workers at the secretariat in Dhaka.

Md. Siddiqur Rahman, the BGMEA Vice President (Finance) who was present at the meeting, said, “We want to follow the country’s labour law. Nevertheless, such chaos is very unfortunate. It will ruin our reputation and eventually we’ll lose the majority of our export.”

Source: http://www.bgmea.com.bd/home/pages/Govt_forms_8_committees_to_check_unrest_

The Korea Federation of Textile Industries (KOFOTI) will pursue an on-site training project for university students majoring in Textiles. The objective is to resolve the discrepancy between the level of skills of graduates and the level of skills that the industry expects and thereby reduce the cost of retraining after they are hired.

The KOFOTI decided to implement the on-site training project based on its view that it is necessary to provide on-site and practical education to textile majors while they are in university, in order to help them improve their work skills up to the level that the companies expect from the new tech-savvy workforce.

From January 25 (Mon.) through January 29 (Fri.), an on-site training on the dyeing/knitting process was offered to the students of Yeungnam University at the Korea Dyeing Technology Center. About 10 people, including experts in the industry and researchers at the center served as lecturers. Under the training, made up of lectures and hands-on exercises, the students learned the current status and vision of the textile industry as well as the industry specific skills.

Meanwhile, Hee-chan Ro, Chairman of the KOFOTI, said, “We will pursue and expand not only the on-site training for textile majors but also the existing cooperative projects between academia and businesses such as CEOs’ special lectures at universities and on-site education for students at vocational high schools.” He went on to say, “In addition, we will introduce on-site training for university professors of Textile Engineering during the summer vacation this year. We are making preparation systematically for this training to raise its effects substantially.”

Source: http://www.kofoti.org/bbs/viewbody.php?code=press&id=8&number=8