USA:Wear Mercurial Vapor Superfly & win the football match

 

Cristiano Ronaldo & Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to unveil Nike’s lightest football boot ever - Mercurial Vapor Superfly – in monumental match

Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will both run out onto the pitch at Old Trafford on Wednesday night in the new Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly football boot, as they hope to fire their team into the next round of the UEFA Champions League.

The new Mercurial Vapor Superfly football is Nike’s lightest and fastest football boot ever. Weighing in at an unbelievable 185g, this boot is designed to take on-pitch speed to new levels through a combination of materials, technologies, craftsmanship and passion.

The new boot comprises Nike Flywire technology which uses high-strength threads which act like cables on a suspension bridge to deliver support exactly where it is needed. The strength of this boot is created through placement of threads providing support where players need it most, coupled with highly tuned five-layer upper that locks the threads in place, allowing the upper to adapt to the motion of the foot without compromising on durability and support.

The boot also incorporates new lightweight traction cleats and a carbon fibre chassis to shave precious grams from the boot to ensure the player remains quicker than ever without compromising on anything.

This hand-crafted boot typifies Nike’s obsession for uncompromising product which will help players in every aspect of their game.

FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo commented: вЂThe most important thing for me is for my boots to be comfortable. Nike listens to my feedback and they improve the boots each time. This boot is much lighter which helps me move faster when I’m attacking. They are perfect to play in. It is something very special to play with these boots because they are renowned for being light and fast. For people to associate speed with my style of play is flattering.’

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Inter Milan’s top scorer this season, said: вЂOur game is being played faster and faster every season. Players have to be faster in speed of thought and faster with the ball. We need to accelerate quicker, react quicker and change the game quicker than the opposition. This boot will help us to find the fastest route to goal as it is so light.’

The Mercurial Vapor Superfly boot will also be worn by other exciting players throughout the world including Didier Drogba, Franck Ribery, Eduardo Da Silva and Robinho.

The introduction of Mercurial Vapor in 1998 marked a revolution in football boot design. The results speak for themselves; for the last seven seasons, the top goal-scorers in the English Premier League have worn Mercurial Vapor boots. The design ethos has always been about one thing only: to help footballers find the fastest route to goal.

The Mercurial Vapor Superfly will be available at retail, including nikestore.com, from April 1, 2009. 

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UK:Pure London receives good attendance from overseas countries

 

Pure London proved to be a huge success this February closing its doors with a 5.85% rise in visitor numbers, bucking the trend in the current economical climate and reflecting an optimistic light on the industry. In addition to an excellent attendance, exhibitors confirmed that they were seeing quality buyers who were writing strong orders at the show.

Morten Roed Simonsen, export manager at Danish brand B.Young, which returned to the show after three seasons, said “There has been a big change in the type of retailers attending trade fairs. In the past there were 50% browsers and 50% of visitors were seriously looking for new brands. Now I would say about 90% of the people here are here to be active and just 10% are browsers for trends, this shift means there is potentially more business here. It is important to exhibit so your customers know you are a strong company that will be able to deliver orders in tough times.”

Anna Apostolo from Desigual also commented вЂWe have achieved a high quality of clients this season, opening a lot of new accounts, placing excellent orders, which is fantastic for us.’

Nikki Harris, distributor of Diego Reiga commented, вЂThis has been the best show I have exhibited at in 8 years. We have literally had hundreds of new customers. I am really really happy!’

UK attendance was up by 8.7%. Buyers from the UK confirmed they saw real value in visiting Pure London, as the largest show to date with over 900 brands exhibiting including the biggest offering of Accessories and Footwear in the UK; they were able to see established brands as well as view 312 new collections to this Pure London.

Janet Biggs of Swish Boutique in Marlow commented вЂI have found some brilliant new brands that we are interested in placing orders with. There are some great ranges on offer this season. We are playing it safe in this current climate and are on the look out for good quality pieces which we have already found at the show.’

International attendance was slightly down, which is to be expected as people are reducing their travel budgets, but Pure London still received good attendance from overseas countries; Ireland, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey as well as the USA and Japan.

Pure London was busy over the three days and the feedback from buyers was that during such tough market conditions it is more important than ever for them to visit exhibitions, to keep ahead of the market, gather trend information, research new products and place their orders with exhibitors all under one roof, proving it to be a very valuable and cost effective few days.

A high level of UK buyers attended including Fenwick, Harvey Nichols, Harrods, ASOS, Selfridges, Topshop, House of Fraser, John Lewis as well as key independent retailers such as Sunday Best, Flow, Psyche, Stone and Matches.

One of the new areas this season at Pure London was the menswear collections on offer in Spirit. Joe Szopa, Director of Jack & Jones commented, вЂThe show’s been really positive. We’ve had loads of new leads and customers. The challenge is finding new independents and Pure is a brilliant platform to engage with this type of customer. We will definitely come back in August.’
 

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UAE:Zegna Sport S/S collection gives a new feel for summer

 

Zegna Sport, the famed active wear of Ermenegildo Zegna, the global men’s luxury fashion brand, launches its Spring/Summer 2009 Collection. The latest collection fuses sport inspired design with urban style and technological innovations. The pivotal inspirational force for the summer season is engineered speed sports apparel and sophisticated street wear, presented in a silver grey motor palette uplifted by bold metallic blue highlights.

Innovative design and performances are central to the Zegna Sport ethos, always constructing the perfect balance between a sportive and urban lifestyle look. Hidden technologies and innovations improve the functionality of technical clothing giving that extra operational edge. The cutting edge innovation this season is the вЂFreeway Jacket’ designed to improve safety in urban outdoor travel situations.

Integrated into the collar is an LED light safety system for maximum night time visibility. It is made of a water repellent fabric, with a breathable finishing process which guarantees water protection, and keeps body temperature constant while allowing perspiration to escape.

An ergonomic contour confirmation, with leather detailing and neoprene stretch inserts ensures maximum comfort and movement, in an urban speedster style. Engineered materials and design innovations improve performance and functionality.

Aqualite, used for both reversible and non-reversible jackets is lined with a thermo-regulatory high performance fabric. Teflon coating on knitwear gives a water repellent performance for summer sports.

Microtene, the historic engineered Zegna Sport waterproof fabric, is used for the вЂSolar Jacket’ project. CoolMax stretch, the lightweight breathable comfort fabric is used for trousers and jersey. All fabrics guarantee a high level of comfort and performance.

Urban leisure wear has a speed spirit for Spring/ Summer, with leather motor jackets in Napa leather, or glazed paper hand finishes, and perforated leather sports bags in black leather evoking car racing interiors. Chinos with seat and knee reinforcements have been created for driving. Denim is always the protagonist of the urban wardrobe in organic cotton and linen or in cotton silk stretch for the season.

Sportswear is given a new feel for summer. Light shell foldaway training suits with magnetic fasteners and laser cut detailing, are styled with organic cotton polo’s and silver metallic sports shorts.

A new thermo-seams technology allows for polo shirts and knits to be bonded without stitching, safe guarding maximum performance. Multifunctional is key for Zegna Sport. Whether portrayed through reversible swimwear in quick drying fabric or reversible ultra light outerwear in Aqualite and cotton cashmere.

Zegna Sport Collection is now available at Ermenegildo Zegna boutiques at The Boulevard, Emirates Towers and Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, corner shops in Saks Fifth Avenue – Burjuman Centre and Harvey Nichols – Mall of the Emirates as well as select Rodeo Drive Boutiques across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 

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USA:Miami Fashion Week to culminate with star-studded Miami Moda Awards

 

The largest event in the country spotlighting international fashion hits the runways in Miami when designers, entertainers and celebrities from around the globe take part in the 11th annual Miami Fashion Week, March 19 through March 22.

This year’s 65 attending designers hail from such exotic ports of call as Dubai, Pakistan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Belgium, Spain and Italy, as well as from throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

A widely respected and highly anticipated event for more than a decade, Miami Fashion Week artfully blends global culture and style, attracting designers, entertainers, celebrity jet-setters and fashion royalty from throughout North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, The Middle East and Asia. The fashion shows and after parties have earned a well deserved reputation as the places to be among this elite crowd of bold face names.

For the third consecutive year, SOHO Studios in Miami’s trendy Wynwood Art District will be transformed into a state-of-the-art “fashion city,” housing fashion shows, the jewelry and accessories marketplace, and sponsor lounges and displays. New for 2009 are an International Buyers’ Salon and the International Culinary Arts Pavilion. A fashionable feast occurring nightly, the International Culinary Arts Pavilion features a different celebrity chef each evening who will create cuisine inspired by the native countries of the fashion designers being showcased that night. The International Culinary Arts Pavilion is being presented by Whole Foods Market, Johnson & Wales University, and A Joy Wallace Catering Production and Design Team.

Also joining the line-up for 2009 is Fashion Week’s special guest designer Agatha Ruiz De La Prada, whose exuberant, brightly colored creations garnered her the 2004 fashion Oscar in Italy as best foreign designer.

As is the tradition at Miami Fashion Week, the event will culminate with the star-studded Miami Moda Awards, a celebrity fashion and entertainment awards show featuring special guest designers, celebrities and international recording artists. The public is invited to attend fashion shows and the International Culinary Arts Pavilion.

Click here for 2009 Event Schedule. 

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USA:'Watchmen's' female superhero dazzles in sexy Syren latex

 

The sexy latex costume worn by actress Malin Akerman, who portrays Silk Spectre II in the just released "Watchmen" movie, has garnered both praise and controversy from comic book fans because it departs radically from the original graphic novel design.

"Watchmen," the highly anticipated movie from Warner Bros, is based on the seminal 12-issue limited comic book series created in the 1980s by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons and colorist John Higgins.

Michael Wilkinson was the costume designer for "Watchmen" while L.A.-based Syren Couture was the production house that fabricated the actual design for the character, from prototype to finished model. Syren is the leading latex high fashion house and has been supplying custom latex and leather designs to the entertainment industry for over 16 years, including the iconic Catwoman suit worn by Michelle Pfeiffer in the film Batman Returns.

Silk Spectre II's latex costume is a dramatic departure from the original silk lingerie style mini dress that she wore on the pages of the comics, and loyalists to Gibbons' first designs are already creating a buzz about whether or not the costume should have been changed.

"I didn't think Silk's outfit in the graphic novel was very flattering and so I was happy to see that Michael (Wilkinson) did his own interpretation of her look and made it much more sensuous," said Jeffrey Gent, head designer with Syren Couture. "Malin Akerman was great to work with and she was so patient through all of the fittings and costume adjustments. Latex doesn't keep you very warm and even during the cold Vancouver winter Malin was a trooper.

The final fitting for the camera test was the first time that I saw her in full hair and makeup with the completed costume; the effect was stunning! When director Zack Snyder saw Malin walk on the set as Silk Spectre II for the first time he exclaimed, 'Wow! Wow! Awesome!' It was one of the best moments of my life, getting that kind of reaction from such a talented and successful director."

Though it was not easy to wear the skintight latex costume, Akerman herself was inspired by Wilkinson's design and Syren's execution of it. In an About.com interview at Comic Con 2008, she called the costume "phenomenal;" wearing it, she explained, "You feel attractive and you feel sexy and you feel strong" – all things that were instrumental, she said, in helping her get into the Silk Spectre II character.

Wilkinson's new design for the costume combines a hip-length, French-cut body suit with thigh-high rubber boots and shoulder length gloves that both connect to the suit with garters. A dramatic two-toned combination of amber yellow and jet black in a corseted top accentuates Malin Akerman's curves and gives her skimpy latex outfit a dynamic quality of controlled energy. The semi-transparent amber yellow latex had to be custom made in England to match a Pantone color sample provided by Wilkinson, who wanted the costume to reflect the moody, muted tones in the original graphic novel.
 

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Vietnam:“H-Mona” collection oozes style & subtlety

 

Vietnam’s new launched fashion brand вЂH-Mona’ has made its official debut by launching a jazzy collection titled, “Charming line” for the 2009 summer season. This line is mainly for parties, weddings etc.

Using prominent and eye-catching colours as well as classical cutting edge designs, the collection generates classical luxury for the modern lady who wants to differentiate herself as well as look chic.

Launched as a high–class fashion brand, H-Mona’s collection is designed specifically for upper-class women to be worn at special occasions. The collection includes gowns and skirts with outstanding patterns, which makes a woman stand out in a crowd.

The collection has been designed from women friendly luxury materials like Chiffon and silk and have been stitched with highest standards of quality.
 

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India:Westside announces its 2nd year of вЂDesigner Development Programme’

 

Westside, Tata’s leading chain of retail stores, has announced its 2nd year of Designer Development Programme (DDP) to encourage Emerging Talent of the fashion industry and provide them a mass retailing platform, even this season. The legacy still continues with Westside selecting designers from Lakme Fashion Week’s Emerging Category.

These designers mentored by an established designer go on to create an exclusive designer prГЄt for Westside. A concept pioneered by Westside; this is a significant step to bridge the gap between exclusive designer wear and the fashion conscious Indian consumers. This program provides young designers an opportunity to work with a renowned fashion retailer and access to a large consumer base.

The Designer Development Programme gave some cutting edge fashion last year, where designers Vivek Kumar and Vivek karunakaran had showcased some excellent collections in the вЂEmerging Designer Category’, which is available at the Westside store.

This year too, the programme persists in its endeavour to discover, support, nurture and showcase new extraordinary and exciting talent. Westside has picked 5 designers this season with a established name like Narendra Kumar & Wendell Roderick’s. We also have Vivek Kumar, Vivek Karunakaran .Here; we are pleased to introduce Manish Gupta – our pick for the emerging designer with incredible potential, for this season.

Commenting on the initiative, Mrs. Simone Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Trent said, “Westside’s вЂDesigner Development Program’ whilst encouraging young talent to bring their creations closer to the consumers will also ensure that our clientele gets exclusive designer wear at unbelievable prices”

With regards to the Designer Prêt collection, we have some interesting collection lined up for this season. One of the India’s leading designers, Narendra kumar, lovingly called Nari, will showcase the Corporate Women’s Wear collection for this season.

In terms of Women’s Wear collection, Wendell Roderick’s is making a comeback with an interesting bio - organic theme for the look of his Women’s Wear collection which is targeted at Middle – aged women. The collection is named вЂEco range’ which has colours ranging from earthy colours, summer pastels to subtle colours like black and white, used in A-line flowing silhouettes. Silver embellishments have been used in denim pants and linen. Wendell has used only black for the evening wear. Wendell, for the first time in hid career is working on a вЂKnitwear collection’ with soft textured knits.

Kolkata designer, Vivek Kumar will showcase the SRC collection with fabrics used like chiffon, Viscose Jersey and cotton silk in his elegant tunics. Bright colours like Pink, Mauve, Ivy green, Powder blue are the colours he has used.A round neck couched dress, chiffon sleeves V- neck pleated top, satin neckline pin tucked dress are some of his exquisite designs this seasons.

Vivek Karunakaran will showcase exclusive formal wear Men’s collection under Ascot Brand of Westside, which have hit the stores in 2008.
 

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