Safilo & Tommy Hilfiger Renew Global Sunglass Agreement

Safilo Group, world leader in the premium eyewear sector, announces a global licensing agreement with the Tommy Hilfiger Group through 2015 with an optional five-year extension. This agreement is for the exclusive design, development, production and distribution of Tommy Hilfiger ophthalmic and sunglass products, available Fall 2010. The optical line will be available in optical stores; the sunglass collection will be available in global Tommy Hilfiger retail stores, optical stores as well as department and specialty stores.

"We are very pleased to begin this new and exciting partnership with one of the world's leading premium lifestyle brands," said Roberto Vedovotto, CEO of Safilo Group. "Tommy Hilfiger's global appeal as a prestigious yet accessible brand will perfectly enhance our brand portfolio. This newly signed agreement gives Safilo a wonderful opportunity to develop an eyewear collection for one of the most recognized American brands in the world."

"We are excited to partner with Safilo, a leader in luxury eyewear, as we further develop our global eyewear business," said Fred Gehring, CEO of the Tommy Hilfiger Group. "Safilo's extensive brand portfolio, global presence and distribution network, combined with their high quality and style, complement the brand's aspirational and affordable product positioning. We are looking forward to a mutually successful relationship with Safilo."

Source: Safilo
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Lucky Jeans Partners with Parsons

Lucky Brand Jeans announces the winners of its design competition, a partnership with the School of Fashion at Parsons The New School For Design promoting creativity through handbag design. Maine native and current student at Parsons, Jordan Weymouth Richards and Ethiopian- born, Benyam Assefa were chosen because of their expertise in design and their impeccable craftsmanship. Their bags were designed with the utmost creative spirit while keeping in mind the true aesthetic of the brand. The handbags will debut at retail for fall 2009 in Lucky Brand Jeans stores, major department stores and specialty retailers nationwide.

Story & Images courtesy of Paul Wilmot Communications
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British Fashion Council Supports Designers

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced that they will be creating a new support system for designers called "The BFC Vogue Designer Fashion Fund" as a part of their 25th anniversary. 

The fund is partnership with and will be launched at  British Vogue and will provide a British designer with $200,0000 as well as mentoring and support. The goal is to help British Designers become global brands.  

In order to be considered designers must have an established business, be UK based, have UK and International stockist, and support from UK and international media.  Applications for eligible designers must be received by December 2nd. 

Source: Fibre 2 Fashion

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Malaysian Fashion Week Partners with eBay

Fashion Meets Technology with the partnership of Malyasia International Fashion Association (MIFA) and eBay, the world's largest online shopping community.

Malaysia International Fashion Week (MIFW) has announced eBay Malaysia as the Official Online Partner and their new micorsite, www.ebay.com.my/fashion, will feature local established designers.

Shoppers will be able to log on and purchase from known Malaysian designers including Tangoo, Tom Abang Saufi, Asian Atelier by Alin Anuar, Eclipse, plus many more. Malaysia is attempting to form amazing partnerships to increase the benefits of ecommerce during fashion week.

Currently, eBay Malaysia most popular category is already fashion and according to the South-East Asia eBay Director, Allis Ghim:

“With an apparel business approaching US$5bil (RM17bil) annually and 89 million active users worldwide, eBay is thrilled to present to the participating M-IFW ‘09 designers a new and innovative sales channel in today’s competitive retail environment.”

Source: The Star Online

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Another Contender for Global Fashon Dominance

Back in August we wrote a post entitled Move Over Paris and Milan...Turkey Wants In documenting Turkey's quest to become an international fashion city. Well, it looks like Turkey is not in the running alone. 

At the close of Seoul Fashion Week, Mayor Oh Se-hoon continues his quest to make Seoul the world's fifth fashion capital as well, after Paris, New York, Milan and London.  Global fashionistas around the world are acknowledging that Seoul is not playing around, they really want the spot and have pushed aggressively for the past years.  For example, over 2.5 billion went into organizing fashion week. And the money chain doesn't stop there.  The city announced earlier this year that it would invest over 10 billion toward creating studios and manufacturing clusters in order to house the 100 new designers.  They are also launching "Seoul Collection in Global Fashion City", a program that will relocate about 20 designers to fashion capitals around the world.

So why the sudden rushes to become a fashion capital, especially with global consumers not buying? We have a theory. Very rarely, the secretive 300 billion dollar fashion industry does a major redesign...and now is the beginnings of a massive change. Print is dying while online seems to grow by leaps and bounds, the economy recently knocked New York City from its number one position which as put the word "change" in the air.  Trust us, change is coming and we think international cities around the world are feeling this and are beginning to take advantages of these new and rare opportunities. 

Source: Korea Hearald

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15 Year Old Model Takes Paris By Storm

15 years old 5 foot 11 inch model, Shena Moulton, has made a major international splash as the new black Caribbean model.  If you haven't heard of Shena yet, you will soon.  She is the youngest Jamaican model to be signed to an international agency, Muse Models, in 2007 at 13 years old after winning a competition called Fashion Faces of the Caribbean. However, this summer she has seen incredible press and international bookings. 

During her first season at Paris Fashion week, Moulton did 11 shows including Louis Vuitton, AF Vandervost, Kenzo, and more.  IN New York, she walked for Calvin Klein.  The buzz worldwide hasn't stopped since her appearance.  GAP Japan recently featured her and Pharrell Willians in their new international campaign. 

"I am very proud of myself 'cause I've been doing so good, so well in Paris," Moulton told The Sunday Gleaner. 

"It was more than I expected. The experience is good, it has been more amazing. I couldn't ask for more. Paris was especially great," Moulton said.

Source: The Jamaica Gleaner

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"The scandalous truth is that the majority of workers in the global fashion industry rarely earn more than two dollars a day in an industry worth more than £36bn a year in the UK alone. Many have to work excessive hours just to get this meagre amount and have no possibility to earn wages needed to properly feed, clothe, house and educate their families."

That strong and shocking statement can be found in a new report called Let's Clean Up Fashion: The State of Pay Behind the UK High Street(.pdf). It was published by Labour Behind the Label, a sweatshop campaigning group that is criticizing UK retailers for not paying hundreds of thousands of workers what they need to survive, support their families and lead a normal life.

Maybe this is the reason why New York's Garment District is failing. Back in the 50's almost 80 percent of garments were purchased and produced there, today maybe 3%. This epidemic was caused because garment exporting countries are setting their minimum wage so low that it effectively attracts British retailers' looking for cheap fashion that's then market up making up the multi billion dollar business.

Whatever your thoughts, this report is definitely worth reading.

Source: War on Want
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