USA:Elena V Designs in New Jersey Fashion Week runway

 

On October 9, 2011, Elena Vasilevsky, designer for Elena V Designs, will be showing two collections at this year’s New Jersey Fashion Week Event.

Momentum for men and women, multifunctional and hip active wear collection, and Essentials for men and women. Modern day versatile silhouettes for day into the night lifestyle.

Elena V’s Collections will be presented on October 9, 2011 at 5.PM at the W Hotel in Hoboken New Jersey in the Chandelier Room.

Born in Ukraine, Elena grew up in New York. After graduating Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, Elena explored several artistic challenges and business endeavors. Her intense creativity, passion and discipline helped her experiment with different career moves and develop various talents in both, Fashion and Entertainment Industries.

Since starting her own label, Elena combined the diverse energy of Manhattan with timeless European elegance and sensual Latin flavor to create her collections.

"My designs express my soul and passion for dancing. Every piece of my collection contains a piece of my soul. My main source of inspiration comes from the natural energy of the people, global majority, dancing, music and variety of artistic elements that define my personal style and my life. My creations reveal personalities and allow individuals to refine their own unique beauty, highlighting individuality regardless of perfect proportions."

Her Couture Collection “Rays Of Sun” won her “Best Designer” at the vitamin water inspired Fashion Show, in June 2011.

Elena’s Current Projects:
Couture Collection of cocktail evening dresses, will be shown in February 2012, at the New York Couture Show in Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

Elena Vasilevsky is an Executive Producer and Wardrobe Designer in Mambo-2Mambo “The Movie” to be released in Spring 2012. Directed and written by David F. Smith.  

India:Rohit Gandhi - Rahul Khanna fitting WIFW SS'12 grand finale

 

Wills Lifestyle, ITC’s premium fashion brand, presented a grand preview of the Wills Lifestyle Grand Finale Collection by Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna for Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, Spring-Summer 2012. Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna is the Wills Lifestyle Grand Finale designer at the forthcoming Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, Asia’s biggest and India’s premiere fashion & trade event.

This season the two pioneers in style and innovation come together to set benchmarks in creativity and fashion. The designer twosome will also create an exclusive collection for Wills Lifestyle inspired by the grand finale theme that will be retailed from Wills Lifestyle stores across the country in April 2012.

The first edition of the exclusive Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Line was designed by Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna 5 years ago. Since then, Wills Signature has grown to be the largest corporate ramp to rack collaboration. Wills Lifestyle celebrates the successful partnership with the designer duo this year with a splendid grand finale for WIFW SS’12.

The grand finale collection called ‘The Theatre of Illusions’ promises to present a whisper of seduction and a promise of excitement. This is a collection that is quintessentially modern yet uniquely original with the signature of the designers that is their very own style.

Atul Chand, Divisional Chief Executive, ITC’s Lifestyle Retailing Business Division, said, “Wills Lifestyle Grand Finale is a mix of fashion, drama and entertainment. The grand finale has always set new benchmarks in creativity and has showcased the best of Indian fashion talent.”

“We have completed 5 years of collaboration with Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna and it has been a successful partnership and our customers have appreciated their collection. Wills Lifestyle is delighted to announce Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna will be the Wills Lifestyle Grand Finale designer for the forthcoming edition of WIFW.”

Mr. Sunil Sethi, President, FDCI said, “I am excited to announce Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna as our grand finale designer duo at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2012. As one of the most popular and successful designer duos in the country and my personal favorite, they are sure to bring a contemporary collection elevated by unconventional style and innovative cuts. Their collection is bound to be a stunner.”

Speaking on the occasion, Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna said, “It is indeed an honor and privilege to be the Wills Lifestyle grand finale designer once again. The Indian fashion industry being at a very promising stage and making an impression on the global fashion map requires steady support from corporates like ITC to grow, and it is great to see Wills Lifestyle’s collaboration with the fashion fraternity to take the celebration of the event to their consumers continuously.”

“The Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week platform is a powerful one and we hope to be able to create a collection that will delight the patrons of the label. It is a significant engagement between both the brands and I am sure the audiences will be thrilled to view the show and access the creations on display.”
 

USA:Premiere of Il Teatro alla Moda - Theater in Fashion

 

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the United States premiere of Il Teatro alla Moda - Theater in Fashion, the first exhibition to explore Italy's famous haute couture designers and their impact on the stages of opera, dance and theater.

Over 80 costumes, sketches and drawings from Giorgio Armani, Roberto Capucci, Enrico Coveri, Fendi, Alberta Ferretti, Romeo Gigli, Antonio Marras, Missoni, Emanuel Ungaro, Valentino and Gianni Versace will be on display in Beverly Hills to celebrate the current transformation of the Italian Renaissance Beverly Hills Post Office into a distinctive performing arts venue and to honor the designers' contributions to the performing arts.

The exhibition will have a limited 4-week run from October 14 – November 13, 2011. While the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is under construction, the exhibit will be on display at 253 North Beverly Drive on the ground floor of the new MGM Place, which will be converted into a temporary gallery. Hours are Wednesday-Friday noon- 7 p.m. and Saturday/Sunday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. The Annenberg will open in the Fall 2013.

Curated by Massimiliano Capella of Musei Mazzucchelli in Brescia, Italy, Il Teatro alla Moda - Theater in Fashion has been previously exhibited in Rome (Museo del Corso November - December 2010), Brescia (Musei Mazzucchelli January – April, 2011) and Milan (Palazzo Morando, May – July, 2011). It will be on display at the Villa Manin in the outskirts of Venice July 20-November 4, 2012.

"The relationship between theater and fashion has allowed the designers to leave their own unique mark on theatrical events," said Curator Capella. "These designers brought their signature styles and their love of the arts to the stage to capture the essence of the characters in the productions. The distinctive look of each house is apparent in these works for the stage."

Highlights of the exhibition include costumes from the following productions:
Giorgio Armani: Soul
Roberto Capucci: Tribute to Maria Callas, Capriccio
Enrico Coveri: The Great Gatsby
Fendi: La Traviata, Carmen
Alberta Ferretti: Carmen
Romeo Gigli: The Magic Flute
Antonio Marras: Midsummer Night's Dream
Missoni: Lucia di Lammermoor
Ungaro: The Clemency of Titus
Valentino: The Dream of Valentino
Gianni Versace: Salome, Capriccio, Dionysos, Doktor Faustus

"When the Annenberg opens, we hope to become a center of creativity and collaboration for artists, where young and old can experience first class performances of theater, dance and music; where new work and educational programming will inspire, enlighten and challenge; but most of all, where artists can create and share their passion," concludes Executive Director Lou Moore.  

UAE:‘J dot’ boutique opens its third outlet in UAE

 

Dubai-based diversified business group, Alif Investments, an absolute franchise partner of well known designer wear brand ‘Junaid Jamshed’, has launched its first ‘J dot’ boutique at Abu Dhabi’s upmarket Al Wahada Mall, with which the total number of its boutiques reached to three in a short period of just one year.

The Group inaugurated its first boutique in Dubai’s Meena Bazaar last year and second in busy area of Zamzam market in Sharjah in April this year.

Al Wahda Mall based J dot boutique is the first store launched by the firm outside the bazaars and the firm looks forward to continue the trend by launching two more outlets in Al Ain and New Dubai by end of the current year.

Junaid Jamshed displays a complete range of ready-to-wear, and hand woven apparels alongside an elite range of unstitched textiles.

The men’s, women’s and kids wear collections are tailor-made and feature the unique and beautiful eastern designs.

J dot has met great success and has consistent consumer following in Sharjah and Dubai and the launch of the new outlet in Abu Dhabi results from unrelenting demand from the side of the followers of the brand.

 

USA:Hiromi Asai brings Kimono Fashion in New York

 

Mode & Classic New York presents the spring / summer 2012 collection featuring Japanese traditional fabrics and Kimonos on the Opening Night of Brooklyn Fashion Weekend.

Kimono is a Japanese sophisticated garment with a long history, over one thousand years. Kimono is an ultimate eco-friendly garment, produced by handwork and passed on from one generation to another generation.

MODE & CLASSIC sublimes the Japanese exquisite style to the global fashion arena and promotes new elegant fashion styles, Fusion.

Mode & Classic LLC was founded in 2010 by Hiromi Asai, a kimono fashion stylist / designer. Mode & Classic is now recognized as a unique kimono styling / design company in the world.

Her activity attracts attention in the United States, as the interview appeared in The New York Times (“Wrestling the silk” in April, 2009) and the opinion about kimono fashion was published in The International Herald Tribune / New York Times (“Liberate the kimono” in March, 2011).

After she came to New York City in 2008, she started her styling business as Kimono Hiro in NY. She created fashion & art pieces featuring kimono for advertisements (Verizon Wireless in 2009), fashion magazines, films, and TV programs. She also gave kimono demonstrations across the States. She collaborated with a designer, Susan Cianciolo to produce fantastic styles at New York Fashion Week 2011 Autumn/Winter collection.

The collaboration in the art field was accomplished with a visual artist and photographer, Laurie Simmons, to create a film “Geisha Song” (February, 2011) and a series of photos “The Love Doll” (August, 2011). In addition, she successfully produced kimono fashion shows at Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and The Museum of World Culture in Gothenburg, Sweden in April, 2011.

She has believed that kimono would be recognized as a universal formal wear that is beyond cultural and ethnic boundaries. Now Mode & Classic and she contribute themselves to the development of such movement.  

Russia:Tom Ford unveils his first women's apparel outlet in Russia

 

Providing a confidence thrust to Russia’s revitalizing luxury items market, Texas-based fashion designer Tom Ford has launched his first women’s apparel outlet in Moscow.

The 50 year old designer, who earlier headed Gucci’s creative team, said that he was not concerned about the probabilities of Russia falling prey to another economic slowdown. He said that Russia was previously the world’s fourth largest consumer of luxury items.

The new outlet has been launched in affluent central Moscow gallery, which also houses boutiques of brands like Prada and Tiffany.

Ford, who launched his first menswear outlet in Moscow in 2009, mentioned that he started his business during the times of economic slowdown, but his store was not hit by the recession, and its sales figures have gone up along with rising brand-consciousness.

The designer said customers may avoid buying a new house or a car but still spend on buying a shirt or new shoes, during times of recession.

Post-2009 economic crisis that wiped out Russia’s luxury goods market and compelled outlets like Alexander McQueen to close down, leading designers are now gradually moving back to Russia.
 

India:130 designers will participate at WIFW SS 12

 

Fashion Design Council of India, announced the power-packed list of participating designers for the biggest fashion event of the country - Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2012. FDCI has assembled some of the esteemed names in the fashion industry to set trends for spring-summer 2012. These renowned designers are all set to weave a stunning presentation of cutting-edge fashion at the grand venue of India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), Hall No. 18, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 8-12 October, 2011.

LIST OF PARTICIPATING DESIGNERS (WIFW (S/S'12)

RUNWAY DESIGNERS
Label - Ritu Kumar, Rina Dhaka, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna, Wendell Rodricks, AM:PM by Ankur & Priyanka Modi, Anita Dongre, Gauri & Nanika, Geisha Designs Paras & Shalini, James Ferreira, Kavita Bhartia, Malini Ramani, Manish Malhotra, Namrata Joshipura, Nandita Basu, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Sanchita, Savio Jon, Shantanu Goenka ,Saaj by Ankita, Shipra Gupta, Surbhi Chawla, Amit GT, Anand Bhushan, Anupamaa by Anupama Dayal, Charu Parashar, Dev r Nil, Manish Gupta,Manoj Dubey, Mynah's Reynu Taandon, Nachiket Barve, Nida Mahmood, Nikasha Tawadey, Pankaj & Nidhi, Pero by Aneeth Arora, Petanu by Pashma, Preeti S. Kapoor, Raakesh Agarvwal, Rahul Mishra, Raj Shroff, Rajdeep Ranawat, Rehane, Samant Chauhan, Tanvi Kedia, Urvashi Kaur, Vineet Bahl, Virtues by Viral, Ashish & Vikrant, Alpana & Neeraj, Atsu by Atsu Sekhose, Divyam Mehta, Ela by Joyjit Talukdar, Hemant & Nandita, Joy Mitra, Morphe by Amit Aggarwal, ‘my village' by Rimzim Dadu, Not So Serious by Pallavi Mohan, Rahul Reddy Soltee by SulakshanaBhanuni by Jyoti Sharma, Chandrani Siingh Fllora, Dolly J, Niket & Jainee, Rahul Singh, Taurus by Dhruv & Pallavi

ACCESSORY DESIGNERS
5 Elements by Radhika Gupta, Amrapali by Rajiv Arora & Rajesh Ajmera, Art Apparel & Accessories by Shelina & Camelia, Felix Bendish, Fluke Design Company by Rashmi Dogra, Nitin Vijay, Janavi, Malaga by Malini Agarwalla, Meera Mahadevia, Pinky Saraf, Poem by Sonia Sekhri, Shalini Arts, SRZ by Shahrukh Zaidi

Commenting on the participating designers, Mr. Sunil Sethi, President, FDCI said, “Continuing our legacy of bringing the best names of the fashion fraternity to WIFW, an exceptional business of fashion event, we are once again proud to introduce a host of talented Indian designers. We look forward to five days of splendid fashion put together by an array of brilliant designers and wish them the best."

Atul Chand, Divisional Chief Executive, ITC’s Lifestyle Retailing Business Division, said, “Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week has been scaling new heights, edition after edition and I applaud all the designers in making this the country’s most prestigious event. There is great synergy in the association of our premium lifestyle brand Wills Lifestyle with the event and we look forward to further strengthening the strong and deep–rooted partnership that we have established with the fashion fraternity.”