Bare Necessities introduces Shapewear catalog

Bare Necessities, the second largest Internet retailer for intimate apparel, released a direct mail catalog devoted entirely to shapewear.

The Bare Necessities holiday shapewear catalog features dozens of body shaping silhouettes, including body briefers, shaping camisoles, control slips, high-waisted briefs and bodysuits, from brands such as Wacoal, Spanx, Yummie Tummie, Sassybax, Miraclesuit and more. The catalog also highlights this season's most innovative shapewear silhouettes, including arm slimmers, shaping leggings, and the new under-the-bust body shapers, which provide all-over shaping without forcing a woman to sacrifice the perfect shape and fit from her own bra.

Wacoal's new all-in-one body briefer graces the front cover, and the back cover showcases SPANX Tight-End Tights, which are colorful opaque tights with tummy and thigh shaping properties. The opening pages highlight the six shapewear must-haves that coordinate with this season's fashion trends, such as fitted sweaters, skinny jeans, belted knit dresses and pencil skirts. Bare Necessities' complete assortment of shapewear from 25 brands can be found at its website, www.BareNecessities.com.

"Shapewear has become such an important part of a woman's wardrobe, so we wanted to highlight the best of this season's new styles in one easy to browse catalog," said Maureen Stabnau, Senior Vice President of Merchandising for Bare Necessities. "Women are still learning about all of the slimming and shaping options that are now available, so this catalog allows them to easily view and shop the best of these new styles." 

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Small Brands, Big Canvas

By: Sarah Jacob; Bangalore

Regional Apparel Cos Quicker In Store Rollouts

Driving a revival in the country's apparel business after a tough year is a slew of regional brands mushrooming in smaller cities and towns across the country that are now attracting the attention of private equity players. Brands such as Liverpool Retail India's Barcelona, Vir Retail's John Hill and Nahar Group's Cotton County that sell outfits at less than one-third the price of national brands are opening stores faster than the cautious national brands.

These brands operate in the Rs.150-600 price band, working on low margins and fast stock turnover. Their marketing efforts are mostly localised and they woo new consumers into the organised sector through discounted offers like 'buy one, get three'.

"National brands retail at a mark up of around three times, which is channelised into branding. We pass this on to the customer while retaining net margins of 8-10%," says Kailash Gupta, MD of Ahmedabad-based Liverpool Retail India. While national players focus on per-store profitability and saturate metros before targeting tier II and tier III cities, these regional brands bet on scale and dress up smaller cities with Westernised brand names.

"Several regional brands are challenging the might of big players within the value segment where a significant proportion of Indian demand exists. Many of them will soon grow into national players and capture share from established brands," says Baqar Naqvi, associate VP retail & consumer goods at Technopak.

Bangalore-based Indus Mandhana group's venture Vir Retail launched 50 John Hill stores for menswear and womens' wear in three months across small cities from Belgaum and Gulbarga in Karnataka to Bharuch and Baroda in Gujarat. Driven largely by the franchisee model, it is also working out a leaner store size to address specific labour pockets in the country.

Liverpool Retail's Barcelona digs deeper into rural India across towns such as Palampur and Mehsona. "Franchisees are also keen on partnering the discount model as the scale enables us to take back unsold stock and deploy it in markets where it would sell," said Sachin Sahni, Vice President of the Rs.200-crore Cotton County brand which has 600 stores. Nahar Group's Cotton County opted for the 'buy one, get three' model to tap into the mass market through an entry-level brand.

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Disney’s Princess and the Frog line hit & hot this holiday

Weeks before the theatrical release of Disney’s upcoming animated feature The Princess and the Frog, the excitement for film-inspired merchandise is already building in a big way as anticipation for the film intensifies. Since its launch just a few weeks ago, retailers report that the merchandise has already begun out-selling other Disney Princess items by double digit percentages. More than 45,000 dolls have sold in less than a month with 17,000 selling last week alone. At one major retailer, The Princess and the Frog bedding has sold nearly triple the amount of regular Disney Princess bedding. At Disney Store locations nationwide and DisneyStore.com, the Princess Tiana role-play dresses are selling above all other Disney Princess characters.

The Princess and the Frog toys have also captured industry praise as the Disney Princess Tiana Just One Kiss doll tops FunFare magazine’s “Holiday Hot Dozen” and the Toys”R”Us "Fabulous 15" holiday lists. The doll was also recently nominated for the “2009 Girls Toy of the Year” award by the Toy Industry Association. Sales of the Princess Tiana Just One Kiss doll are up by over 150% and industry and media have reported it could be among this Holiday season’s sell-out toys.

The Princess and the Frog introduces Disney’s newest princess character in more than 10 years and the first African-American Disney princess. The product line from Disney Consumer Products (DCP) is supporting the film with a wide range of products spanning toys, fashion, home décor, food, personal care, beauty, stationery, books and an assortment for adults including collectibles, art, bridal wear and couture fashion.

“Generations of little girls have experienced the enchanting and magical stories of the Disney Princess characters. Now, with Princess Tiana, as the first new princess in a decade, they will experience a new adventure, woven by the master story-tellers at Disney. This modern-day princess character must muster her determination and perseverance as she faces and overcomes her challenges, providing little girls with another inspiring role-model,” stated Reyne Rice, Toy Trend Specialist at the Toy Industry Association. 

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Wear Fruity Clothing with Banana Fibres

While the entire world is going ecological, its time fruits find creative applications, apart from eating!

Banana plant is endowed with virtuous fibres which has versatile applications. Though, the plant is more popular for its fruit, it has been a source of high quality fibre which is used to manufacture textiles. Banana shoots produce fibres with varying softness used for making different products. This plant is a good source of quality textiles.

Making of the Fibre:

The stem of the banana plant is cut and processed. The skin is then peeled off, and fibres are extracted. The extracted fibre is cooked in a big pot of boiling lye, an alkali solution. After cooking for several hours, it is then washed to remove the alkali. Using a tool, the fibre is removed from the skin. Soft fibres are used for weft, while the hard fibres are used for the warp. The fibres are immersed in water and squeezed lightly. They are then separated by running nails along the fibres from the root moving upwards. Individual fibres are joined together to make one continuous thread. This is a tedious and time consuming job requiring much patience.

The extracted fibres are made wet to avoid breaking, and are spun in a spinning wheel. The thread is now dyed steamed and dyed. After dyeing, the thread is laid out according to the design and passed through a temporary reed. The ward is wounded onto the beam and passed through the reed and heddle. The thread is moistened frequently to avoid breaking while weaving. Once the cloth is woven, it is washed, and boiled in an alkali solution. Later it is washed, dried, and neutralized in rice vinegar solution. Finally, the cloth is washed again, dried and ironed.

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New Jersey - Promising Market For American Apparel Expansion

American Apparel, the vertically integrated clothing manufacturer based in downtown Los Angeles, has opened a new store in Cherry Hill, New Jersey

The 3,100 sq. ft. store is on the first floor of the Cherry Hill Mall, which is newly renovated and has undergone significant expansion. American Apparel is next to several other young, urban clothing companies, such as Urban Outfitters and Forever 21.

"Cherry Hill is a mall that is going through a major resurgence. We think we can become an important part of that and provide stylish, sophisticated basics to customers who previously needed to travel some distance to our other stores to get them," said Marsha Brady, a creative director for American Apparel.

This location features American Apparel's staple collection of basic t-shirts, sweatshirts and underwear, as well as the company's new product categories designed for the upcoming winter season, like coats, thermals and accessories such as hats and gloves. In its first week, the store hired five new staff members and plans to hire approximately 10 additional employees.

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Woodworm new suits deliver exceptional waterproofing

Golfers looking for premium quality golf waterproofs that guarantee results without costing a fortune will appreciate the latest suit from Woodworm.

The Woodworm Golf Waterproof Suit delivers exceptional waterproofing without sacrificing breathability, allowing the golfer to stay dry and comfortable in just about any condition.

The suit is made from a 100% SwingDry TPU laminated waterproof polyester, with the breathable multi-layer material allowing the transportation of sweat and excess heat through microporous fabric - without letting in wind or rain.

Taped seams create a complete barrier against the elements while Velcro wrists and ankles add to the suit's incredible weather-beating properties. Elastic-enhanced sides allow for an unhindered and free golf swing while the trousers feature an elasticated waist for a snug fit.

The suit is windproof and waterproof and comes with 24-month waterproof guarantee.

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Jewelry Designer Dominique Cohen Debuts Silver Collection

On Saturday, November 14th, Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson and Nancy O’Dell joined luxury jewelry designer Dominique Cohen for a champagne reception to celebrate the arrival of her new sterling silver jewelry collection. The new collection, made up of large, fun, “statement jewelry,” offers price conscious alternatives to dc’s 18k gold and gemstone designer jewelry collection.

o Affordable: This new collection offers iconic, dynamic and price conscious alternatives to dc’s 18k gold and gemstone designer jewelry collection.
o Concept: Collection is made up of large, fun, “statement jewelry” with weight. Each piece has loads of the dc textures, shine, look and feel.
o Inspirations include: Mexican artisans of the late 1950’s, water, classic shapes and execution interpreted within the dc design language, French coins/champagne bubble texture.
o Sterling collection differs from dc’s 18k gold collection – gold collection is designed to layer, add to over time, and collect a continually building wardrobe. Sterling pieces stand-alone.

• Dominique Cohen’s Sterling Collection now available exclusively at Dominique Cohen stores (LA and NYC), Saks Fifth Avenues nationwide and Neiman Marcus online.
• Dominique revealed a sneak peak of her new fun and colorful day-to-evening clutch handbags with unique custom made hardware – embellishments include a Buddha head, goddess coin, butterflies and cross body straps for ease in wearing.
• Dominique’s signature 18k jewelry collection features unique chain elements, one of a kind pearls and stones and 18k rose, yellow and “black” gold. Dominique combines elements of layering and versatility, made to make a woman feel distinctive. 

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Brandix exclusive apparel designs on the catwalk

The latest designs that propel high street fashion in leading international markets will be on display later this month at a rare exposition of current production styles and exclusive in-house designs by Brandix, Sri Lanka’s top apparel exporter.

Billed to be ‘a veritable feast for the eyes,’ the Brandix fashion show will be the opening segment of the Industry Fashion Show that follows the Ethical Fashion Symposium at the Mount Lavinia Hotel on the third day of the Sri Lanka Design Festival 2009 (November 27 – December 6).

As the Main Sponsor of the festival, Brandix will play a key role in showcasing to local and foreign visitors the depth of design and production capabilities that have resulted in the Group becoming a preferred supplier to some of the world’s top apparel labels, as well as the ethical and environmental best practices that underpin its business, Ms. Solani De Silva, Head of Marketing at Brandix Lanka Limited, said.

“Brandix is a committed subscriber to Sri Lanka’s ‘Garments without Guilt’ initiative, and has a world first in eco-friendliness to its credit,” she said. “It is most appropriate therefore that the Brandix show will be one of the highlights of a day dedicated to ethical fashion.”

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Lustr Fashion Application launches with Nolcha

In celebration of its beta launch, Lustr is teaming up with Independent Retail Week: New York to bring its users and shoppers unprecedented access to fabulous boutiques.

Under the terms of the partnership, participating Independent Retail Week: New York stores, special promotions, and events will be listed in Lustr and searchable via GPS through the application's clean, easy-to-use interface. The partnership reinforces and expands the companies' shared audience of upscale NYC shoppers and retailers. It also offers a new tool for shoppers who have an iPhone and want to search for stores by geographic location, product categories, brands carried, and merchandise price points.

"We are delighted to be launching Lustr as part of this exciting event," says Gary Ragusa, CEO of GRGMobile Solutions, Inc."Nolcha shares GRG's mission of expanding retailers' marketing reach and effectiveness through best practices in marketing services and technology. We chose to work with Nolcha because of its strong reputation in the fashion industry and its special relationships with independent retailers that are consistent with the Lustr brand."

Independent Retail Week NYC is a week-long initiative-from Nov.14 through Nov. 20 this year-that drives business and increases revenue for small retail businesses in fashion, beauty and lifestyle. Nolcha, the platform behind Independent Retail Week: New York, is a leading operator of educational, event and business-to-business services devoted to independent fashion entrepreneurs and related retail businesses.

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Women to celebrate holidays in Roman Originals style

Roman Originals are having an exciting end to 2009. They have announced the launch of their new trendy accessories range, with a wonderful array of colourful clutch handbags and elegant ladies hats, perfect for the holiday season.

Like Roman Originals clothing ranges, their new range of womens handbags and womens hats have undergone the same rigorous testing to ensure that they meet the desired high quality standards expected. The range consists of vibrant beautifully made clutch bags made from fantastic fabrics and designs. Nevertheless, the handbag and hat ranges are not the only exciting new developments for affordable retailer Roman Originals.

Customers will be pleased to know none of their orders will be affected by the postal strikes. As of the 16th of November, Roman Originals will be offering Next day delivery within the UK, and will also commence international shipping.

Traditionally all Roman Originals ladies clothing and accessories were available in over 150 outlets across the United Kingdom. However, due to increasing demand for their well made garments, all Roman originals clothing and accessories are available internationally. Customers outside the UK will now be able to order online from Roman Originals just in time for the holiday season. On top of that, the company now offers free standard delivery for UK customers who spend as little as GBP45 on an order.

Customers visiting the site can also sign up to receive the Roman Originals catalogue. The catalogue is available on request to keep customers up-to-date with all the seasons' trends and latest garments from Roman Originals. For those who like to keep a close eye on fashion, there is also an email list to with the latest fashion news and details of their special offers. 

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