Archive for January, 2011

Dansk Fashion and Textile and Copenhagen’s four major fashion fairs, CIFF, Gallery, CPH Vision and Terminal-2, have agreed to a closer cooperation. The focus is on attracting even more Danish and foreign buyers, thereby securing and strengthening Copenhagen’s position as Northern Europe’s leading fashion metropolis.

At Copenhagen Fashion Week, held during the first week of February, visitors will already be able to see the effects of the intensified cooperation between the four fairs and the industry organisation, Dansk Fashion and Textile.

One of the major initiatives is the establishment of shuttle service between all of the fairs. Thirty shuttle vehicles will transport buyers and international journalists between the four fairs and guides will assist visitors at each fair. In addition, visitors will enjoy free admission to CIFF on Sunday, 6 February, and in cooperation with Formland a bus will run between Copenhagen and Herning.

“This cooperation allows us to be more ambitious. Copenhagen has enormous potential and the strengthened cooperation gives us the opportunity to realise this potential. We are sending a signal to the world that Copenhagen is THE PLACE when it comes to the combination of fashion and business,” says Peter Fenger Selchau, Managing Director of CPH Vision and Terminal-2.

Another important initiative involves bringing in some of the most important European buyers, which not only contributes to improving Copenhagen Fashion Week’s reputation abroad, but also generates increased international interest in the Scandinavian fashion brands. These activities are being supported until February by the Branding Denmark Fund, which is contributing to a major international advertising campaign to attract the attention of international buyers towards Denmark.

“International awareness of Copenhagen Fashion Week is extremely important. This includes both international media and international buyers. It is fantastic that we now have this opportunity to show on an international stage why Copenhagen Scandinavia’s undisputed fashion capital,” says Gallery CEO, Christian Gregersen.

The extensive work during fashion week in August 2010 resulted in increased media coverage of Copenhagen Fashion Week. Invited buyers expressed great enthusiasm about Copenhagen and the professionalism they experienced during their visit.

Even though the funding from the Branding Denmark fund will run out after the fashion week in February, the partners are not tempering their ambitions. To maintain the positive development, they are already working on new initiatives aimed towards fashion week in August 2011 and beyond.

A common website is under construction, which will serve as the central portal for buyers, common admission tickets and locating strategic partners who can contribute to raising the bar even higher.

“We will certainly continue our efforts to make the overall experience even better. We must make it as easy as possible to be a guest during Copenhagen Fashion Week. Buyers shouldn’t have to concentrate on practical and logistics issues. Instead, they should focus on the most important thing – placing orders and enjoying their stay in Copenhagen,” says Jesper Åndahl, Sales and Marketing Director at Bella Center.

The clear ambition of the cooperation is to ensure that these initiatives and efforts benefit the entire fashion industry: “The overall goal is clearly to strengthen the fashion industry as a whole. If we can attract more buyers to the fairs, more orders will be placed with the Scandinavian brands and they will receive greater exposure abroad, which generates increased focus on Scandinavian fashion and thus attracts even more buyers to Copenhagen Fashion Week. So our efforts are aimed at creating a positive spiral,” says Kasper Eis, Director of Development at Dansk Fashion and Textile.

Copenhagen Fashion Week will be officially opened by Minister of Economic and Business Affairs, Brian Mikkelsen Wednesday, 2 February at 10:00 a.m. in Bella Center.

The four fairs and Dansk Fashion and Textile are holding a joint press conference on Friday, 4 February at 12:30 p.m. at Nimb. Registration via sh@dmogt.dk.

Source: Dansk Fashion and Textile

Image source: (Clockwise from top left) Velour, Rika, Gardenia, Soulland, Noodles, Rascals.

Onitsuka Tiger and Berlin based fashion label Reality Studio have joined forces to create the FABRE LIGHT RS.  This enviable, premium high top trainer will be available in the UK exclusively through Author Shoes and AuthorShoes.com, in extremely limited supply.

The style has been created by Reality Studio designer, Svenja Specht, who has used multicultural influences with an androgynous elegance as the inspiration for this design.  Unique fringing, laser-cut stripes and golden rivet detailing combine to create a cross between a trainer and a leather shoe.

Released on the 29^th of January 2011 the style is available in two colour ways: grey/nude and nude/red (pictured below).

Source: Mischief PR

Words by Trend Journal Editor…

The 17th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards took place last night in Los Angeles, California with top winners of the night including Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) and Natalie Portman (The Black Swan) giving a good indicator of who will win at the Oscars next month.

White was the colour of choice for many, although not all got it right. Natalie Portman pulled it off and positively glowed in a strapless Azzaro gown showing off her baby bump while Glee star Lea Michelle sported a figure skimming Oscar de la Renta gown in a flattering oyster shade. Portman’s Black Swan co-star Mila Kunis opted for a stunning printed red Alexander Mcqueen number, styled with minimal jewellery and smokey eyes to let the dress speak for itself.

Mad Men beauty Christina Hendricks looked as sultry as ever in a sparkling slit thigh L’Wren Scott number with accentuating waist tie while Hilary Swank chose to channel Grecian beauty in a gathered one shoulder frock.

Winners of the night:

Film

Best Ensemble Cast: “The King’s Speech” (pictured main)

Best Actor: Colin Firth – “The King’s Speech”

Best Actress: Natalie Portman – “Black Swan”

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale – “The Fighter”

Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo – “The Fighter”

Television

Best Ensemble Cast Drama Series: “Boardwalk Empire”

Best Ensemble Cast Comedy Series: “Modern Family”

Best Actor Drama Series: Steve Buscemi – “Boardwalk Empire”

Best Actress Drama Series: Julianna Margulies – “The Good Wife”

Best Actor Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin – “30 Rock”

Best Actress Comedy Series: Betty White – “Hot In Cleveland”

Best Actor In a TV Movie or Miniseries: Al Pacino – “You Don’t Know Jack”

Best Actress In a TV Movie or Miniseries: Claire Danes – “Temple Grandin

Image source: Rex Features

Natalie Portman

Lea Michelle

Mila Kunis

Christina Hendricks

Hilary Swank

Words by Mpdclick’s Sports Trend Researcher…

The Nike Bespoke Air force 1 ‘I Do’ designed by a general consumer Brandon Renken has become a new way to propose to that special someone.  

Renken went to his local store (21 Mercer, New York) where he personalised his chosen design with ‘Will you’ and ‘Marry me’ typography on each shoe, complete with a diamond ring secured onto the hand tag. Designed with the help of Nike iD Bespoke,  it  is a new and innovative, by appointment design experience offering consumers the opportunity to work one-on-one with Nike design consultants to customize select Nike footwear styles.

“Consumers will be able to create a unique design by customizing up to 31 parts of the shoe, including the base, overlay, accent, lining, stitching, outsole, laces and deubré. Consumers will also be able to choose from 82 premium, iconic materials and color options.” - nike.com. Brandon’s Bespoke features a white and green upper with yellow contrast stitching and an icy outsole.

This inspiring design proposal is a pure example of the possibilities that are out there for future design and sports collections.

Image source: http://www.nike.com

Words by Trend Journal Editor…

This week’s look of the week hails from the renowned urban & street trade fair Bread and Butter in Berlin and out & about at Berlin Fashion Week. With a wealth of high end and innovative exhibiting fashion brands attending, the attendees’ personal style proved just as inspirational.

Our first stylish pair caught our eye with sheer lace tops, a key fabric for both women and fashion forward men.  A retro enthused style is presented by our first lady with high waisted denim shorts, long sleeved lace top and patterned opaque tights. The endearing lace-up shoes, decorative headband and red lippy complete this individual look. A full blown leather and lace combo is seen on our stylish male in the form of a leather blazer, white lace top, slim fit leather trousers and lace-up working boots, all in a simple monochrome colour way for maximum impact.

Our next lady opts for seasonal statement pieces with a dramatic all fur trapper hat that grabbed our attention. Wedged hiking boots adhere to the outdoor chic trend the hat sets while tribal printed harems and an open weave orange crop top breaks the mould. Our next fashionable guy embraces retro chic with old school Dr Martens, sheepskin lined denim jacket, plaid shirt and wayfarer sunglasses. The sheer black top adds a new, contemporary dimension to the look, bringing the overall style bang up to date.

One person we had to include was this super stylish lady (pictured below last) we spotted at the show sporting electric white bow tied hair and a stunning monochrome ensemble. The underwear as outerwear trend is illustrated perfectly with a black bustier and sheer, high waisted maxi skirt. The cropped white tuxedo jacket, decorative necklace and platform shoes complete this fabulous look that we love here at Mpdclick.

Click here to see the full male & female Street Style reports from Berlin and don’t miss Mpdclick’s comprehensive Trade Fair coverage of Bread & Butter.

Words by Trend Journal Assistant…

In line with Mpdclick’s spring/summer 11 trend that looks to epic children’s literature, we cite influential Mexican artist Violeta Hernandez latest artworks as a key source of inspiration.

Hernandez’s  series, ‘Maquiavelica’ portrays femininity, delicacy and simplicity using the most basic materials – a pencil and watercolour – to illustrate prints that could effortlessly be used on fashion or jersey tops.

The collection is completely hand drawn; a welcome change from the realm of digital art at present. It captures true feminine essence using bright but subtle shades of purple and red. The artwork resembles and could be the new version of the ‘Kokeshi Doll’ originally from northern Japan. The subtlety is accentuated with her capability to outline and fill with watercolour. In this series of art the elements extracted from the native pictures of the Eskimo and other Asian tastes can be clearly seen. The idea of peace is brought together with the simple and calming colour contrast while the white background focuses the simple outline. ‘Maquiavelica’ is about creating a whole universe that comes from an intimate idea and the power behind a stroke of a pencil.

The collection is of particular interest to us here at Mpdclick as the concept resounds aspects of one of our forecasted trends that looks to fantasy within a delicate dream-like vision and art inspired fashion.

Click here for Violeta Hernandez’s official website.

Image source: soyvioleta.com