Paweł Lewandowski
Julia Alcântara
Tini Tani
Martina M
Mikko Puttonen
The sharp drop in cotton prices in the previous years has led to a sharp drop in cotton production in South Africa, raising concerns within the textile sector.
Over the last five years, cotton production has nearly gone down by 50 percent, leading the African Cotton Association (ACA) to say that the sector faced an acute crisis.
The ACA President was of the opinion that, rising input costs and falling prices in previous years, was weaning away farmers to cultivating more remunerative crops.
Cotton production has fallen by 42 percent over the last five years, to 1.17 million tons. Around 25 million South Africans are dependent on the cotton value-chain.
The President once again urged the US and EU to end subsidies to their cotton farmers to help African countries realize better prices and in turn grow more cotton.
KB Corporation is proud to announce the successful installation at Lagos, Nigeria, a first of it kind machine to print on Propylene sheet ‘Four Colour Rotary Screen Printing Machine’ with individual heaters manufactured in India.
This ‘Four Colour Rotary Screen Printing Machine’ is very unique in itself as it has its own individual heaters after every printing head for fast drying after every colour. It is very useful for printing on impermeable fabrics and also sheets. The machine also solves the long standing problem of printing on PP sheets too.
Individual printing head and its heaters are adjustable to allow widest range of fabrics. It has its unique feature to print on material starting from 0.23 mm to 3.00 mm thickness. With the help of individual heaters to dry each colour after printing, the widest range of inks can be used.
The machine’s printing head works with magnetic rods, as a result printing material will not get damaged. The batch winding is automatic and it is synchronized with the re-winding unit with state of art technology.
Machine is fully automatic to save labour. As it has its own heaters mounted in between two screens, there will be no requirement of chamber dryer after the printing machine. The machine is useful in printing of fabrics such as Propylene, Cotton, Polyester & blends as well as for Propylene sheets, Technical Textiles, Non-woven fabrics etc.
The machine can be provided between 640 to 1018mm repeat. Available printing width is up to 4000 mm and has the widest range up to 16 colour individual printing head.
Summit Golf Brands - which owns Fairway & Greene and EP Pro, the golf industry’s No. 1-ranked men’s and women’s golf-apparel brands, as well as industry outerwear leader ZERO RESTRICTION - has been named the Official Apparel Supplier for Team USA’s Men competitors at the 13th World University Golf Championship, being played at Antequera Golf Club in Malaga, Spain, June 7-11.
Both the Men’s team and coaches will wear apparel made by Fairway & Greene - the high-end green-grass apparel market’s unparalleled leader in product quality, customer service and sales support - and Zero Restriction Outerwear. This includes Fairway & Greene outfits from the Spring 2010 Great Plains collection for all six golf days, as well as for the opening and closing ceremonies of the event, which is being hosted by the University of Malaga. In case of inclement weather, team members and coaches also will receive a complete Zero Restriction Rain Play System, which includes a bucket hat, rain gloves, jacket and pants.
The Women’s team will wear EP Pro - a longtime supporter of the World University Golf Championship and outfitter for the Women’s team - and Zero Restriction Outerwear. Women players will receive an EP Pro outfit from the Spring 2010 Monte Carlo collection. In case of inclement weather, Women’s team members and coaches also will receive a complete Zero Restriction Rain Play System, which includes a bucket hat, rain gloves, jacket and pants.
"I am so grateful for Summit Golf Brands to step up and choose to be our Official clothier for the Men’s team," says Team USA Head Coach Dave Jennings, who will be assisted by Jeff Grieble, the head coach at St. Ambrose University.
At least 22 countries with 11-player Men’s and 11-player Women’s teams are expected to compete in the four-day Men’s and Women’s Individual and Team stroke-play competition at beautiful Antequera Golf Club. Practice rounds are scheduled for June 6 and 7, when the opening ceremonies will be held. Following the four days of Individual and Team stroke-play competition, the event concludes on June 11 with the closing ceremonies.
Antequera Golf Club is a spectacular, demanding 6,562-yard course that’s surrounded by El Torcal, a stunning mountain park. The layout features olive and acorn trees, and natural herb plants that reflect inland Andalusia’s special character.
"The World University Games are something special," says Jennings, who is the Men’s golf coach at Central Alabama Community College in Alexander City, Alabama. "It’s a trip of a lifetime for me, and for Team USA’s young men and women competitors, who will have their work cut out for them."
Summit Golf Brands - the golf industry’s leading golf-focused apparel group - was founded in late 2005, and is committed to the game of golf and the players, both on and off the course and around the world.
Founded in 1995, Fairway & Greene is widely acknowledged as the leader in the high-end green-grass apparel market. With an unparalleled emphasis on product quality, customer service and sales support, the company has rapidly grown and is currently sold in over 3,500 of the finest private clubs, resorts and clubs in the world.
Fairway & Greene is proud of its strong vendor/partner relationships with PGA golf professionals, who are the golf industry’s stewards, ambassadors and innovators. Because the company builds brands and programs specifically designed for golf professionals, Fairway & Greene plays a key supporting role in its efforts to continually elevate the sport and serve its customer base.
EP Pro, the New York City-based premier women’s golf apparel company founded in 1993, has been leading the green-grass and resort industry for more than 12 years, delivering a product line where function meets styling.
ZERO RESTRICTION is a full-line maker of waterproof outerwear for the golf market. Using patented design features that deliver guaranteed waterproof protection and complete freedom of movement, ZR is the leading supplier of outerwear on all three major professional tours. ZR products are sold in the finest golf shops and golf specialty stores in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
ALBAFLOW UNI-01 is a newly developed, highly efficient, silicon and mineral oil free penetration accelerant, versatile in application for dyeing natural and synthetic fibers. It excels with outstanding wetting, de-foaming and de-aerating performance.
This all in one agent’s main strength lies mainly in its excellence in supporting dye-bath penetration. Numerous other characteristics bring a whole host of benefits to the dyeing process. Being silicon oil free there is no risk of spotting on the fabric or residue on the machinery, both of which can be costly for the dyer.
Foamless processing is yet another added value ALBAFLOW UNI-01 contribution. Its efficacy lies in inhibiting foaming which would normally develop and negatively impact liquor and goods
circulation thereby causing tangles and spots.
In summary, ALBAFLOW UNI-01, the penetration accelerant, is every dyer’s dream come true. Its versatility, outstanding penetration properties and ease of use make for right first time dyeing every time.
NIKE Middle East and Sun and Sand Sports unveiled the Brazilian National Team kit which will be worn by the world’s leading players including Robinho who will take pitch in South Africa this summer wearing the most environmentally-friendly and technologically-advanced kit in football's history. The kit was unveiled by Mrs. Cecilia Bicca, representative of the Embassy of Brasil in the Mall of the Emirates, Galleria.
For the first time, all of Nike’s national teams, including Brazil, will be wearing jerseys made entirely from recycled polyester, each one produced from up to eight recycled plastic bottles.
“This summer in South Africa Nike will give footballers an edge by providing the newest and most innovative product for the game’s greatest players,” said Charlie Denson, President, Nike Brand. “With today’s announcement, we are equipping athletes with newly designed uniforms that not only look great and deliver performance benefits, but are also made with recycled materials, creating less impact on our environment.”
Marvin Shaire, CEO of Gulf Marketing Group commented, “We are excited to bring Football fever to the region with the launch of the Brazil home and away kit in our Sun and Sand Sports – Nike stores.”
To make the 2010 national team kits, Nike’s fabric suppliers sourced discarded plastic bottles from Japanese and Taiwanese landfill sites and then melted them down to produce new yarn that was ultimately converted to fabric for the jerseys.
This process saves raw materials and reduces energy consumption by up to 30 percent compared to manufacturing virgin polyester. By using recycled polyester for its new range of national jerseys, Nike prevented nearly 13 million plastic bottles, totaling nearly 254,000 kg of polyester waste, from going into landfill sites. This amount would be enough to cover more than 29 football pitches. If the recycled bottles used to make the jerseys were laid end-to-end they would cover more than 3,000 kilometres, which is more than the entire coastline of South Africa.
The national team kits represent an important step in the process to make all Nike products more sustainable.
In addition, all the national team kits have been designed with each country’s national culture and identity in mind. Nike understands the pride athletes experience playing for their country so each kit has been designed to represent the heritage and unique football culture of the nine national teams.
The teams wearing Nike’s new national team jerseys in South Africa are: Brazil, The Netherlands, Portugal, USA, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Serbia, and Slovenia.
The Brazilian National team kit is now available at local Sun and Sand Sports - Nike stores including: Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall, Dubai Festival City, Ibn Battuta, Deira City Centre in Dubai and Marina Mall and Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi.
The Gloria Vanderbilt jeans brand revolutionized the women’s denim market in the 1980’s by launching the world’s first ‘designer stretch jean’ – going on to sell out of its figure flattering miracles to delighted women customers the world over. The brand enjoyed iconic celebrity status and was worn by models, actresses, singers and royalty including Debbie Harry, Helena Christensen, Kate Moss and Giselle.
Now Gloria Vanderbilt is back in the UK – re-launched with a brand new premium stretch denim range designed to appeal to women in the 2010’s in the same way the original was designed to appeal to 1980’s women. The brand ethos is the same – classy, quality denim wear that keeps all the curves comfortably, stylishly and effortlessly in the right place, however the designs and the technology that supports them have been totally revised to provide the most effective figure flattering package there is.UK women can beat the bulge this season with Gloria Vanderbilt’s SS10 ‘made to fit’ denim collection.
Panels of hi-tech stretch denim reach across the hips, waist and bottom, smoothing out lumps and bumps and flattering the contours for a shapely silhouette. The range of styles available includes slim, skinny and boot cut fits. Gloria Vanderbilt denim is specifically targeted at the discerning, design conscious woman desiring the cachet of a designer label but also wanting a flattering, comfortable quality garment.
Elements Clothing, the online men’s clothing store, are excited to announce the arrival of a new range of Luke 1977 stock.
Luke makes menswear for the modern gent, the working class lad and the rogue – new takes on classic styles that are ideal for cutting a dash on the terraces or in the bar. The spring/summer 2010 season sees fantastic updates to a number of classic Luke 1977 lines.
The ‘Williams’ polo is now available in updated summer colours including Cyan, Flame, Lemon and Sport Red plus classic shades like navy and white. All colours feature new collar trims and the famous Luke lion crest. Western-styled check shirts include great new styles like ‘Prarie’, with short collar and cuffs and contrasting white button-down trim.
Elements are also stocking Luke’s new 'Forever In Luke' denim line for spring 2010, featuring fantastic jean styles made with quality denim. Styles like Reggy, Kyoye and Bugs offer fits from the classic straight fit through to ‘carrot’ style and twisted.
Vintage is still key for spring 2010, and Luke are bang on trend with a superb range of knitted polo shirts. ‘Hatters’ is a short-sleeved polo with an old-school intarsia pattern on the front, while ‘Jerry’ is a classic fine-gauge striped polo.
Luke is famous for its outerwear, and this season’s jackets are particularly strong. Old terrace favourites include Butcher, a toggled hooded zip-down jacket with belted collar and adjustable side straps.
“Luke 1977 is one of our best selling labels,” says Elements’ store manager, Jonny George.
“We're one of the largest stockists of their lines in the UK. And spring/summer looks like being another cracking season with Luke!”
Luke is unusual as it is independently owned and only distributes to selected menswear stores.
Elements was one of the first UK stockists to offer Luke, in the label’s early years when it started out as a tee-shirt range. Today, Luke 1977 has grown into a complete menswear collection and one of the 'must have' brands in the country
Models present creations by Ukrainian designer Elena Burenina during Ukrainian Fashion Week in Kiev March 15, 2010.
On the eve of its 100th Anniversary, L.L.Bean introduces a new interpretation of their legendary brand, L.L.Bean Signature. The new line of men’s and women’s sportswear launches with a Spring 2010 catalog and e-commerce website.
The Spring/Summer 2010 offering for men includes light-weight, tailored navy linen blazers, buffalo plaid and madras shirting, nubby shawl-neck sweaters, a new version of the All-American field coat and a waxed canvas version of the famous Maine Hunting Shoe. The women’s collection features a modern interpretation of the belted camp jacket, chambray and colorful madras shirtdresses, classic wrap skirts and new chino and denim styles. The collection’s Creative Director Alex Carleton has also updated L.L.Bean classics such as the Boat and Tote Bag.
Signature’s website will feature unique shopping tools, such as a way to shop by “Key Looks.” This section of the site will highlight outfits styled by Carleton, giving visitors the chance to purchase full looks in just a few clicks. In addition, the site will have an “About Signature” section rich with information on the history of L.L.Bean, and including an interview with Carleton. Special heritage items, that have been pulled from the L.L.Bean archives and updated for today’s consumer, will also be featured.
Signature’s Facebook page provides the brand with a platform to reach consumers with engaging information such as product “sneak-peaks” and designer interviews.
“We look forward to receiving feedback from our loyal fan-base, as well as new consumers that we hope to reach with this updated collection,” said Chris Vickers, vice president of L.L.Bean Signature. “Our catalog, website and social media campaign will help us engage the consumers and offer them a closer look into our company’s long-standing heritage. As we launch L.L.Bean Signature, it will be through compelling marketing programs such as this that we define the new collection and create a new consumer following.”
L.L.Bean enlisted Toth, a lifestyle branding firm based in Cambridge, MA, to help bring the Signature Collection to life. To photograph the Spring 2010 catalog, Toth tapped Anne Menke and models include Maggie Rizer, Missy Rayder, Ryan Carney and Tripp Dixon. Menke captured her subjects around the historic farmhouse of children’s author E.B. White and other classic New England settings featuring iconic seascapes and architecture associated with the brand’s Maine legacy. L.L.Bean, a pioneer in direct-mail, will distribute more than 2 million copies of the 48-page Signature catalog nationwide
Lord & Taylor is hosting Prom-A-Palooza, an exciting event featuring a fashion show and amazing shopping deals. Prom-A-Palooza is being held at all locations but for those near the NYC Flagship location, the fashion show will feature special pieces designed by alumni of Parsons The New School for Design and attendees will get the chance to win amazing prizes!
Lord & Taylor will host prom fashion shows at all their locations on Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 1PM-5PM. In addition to a fabulous fashion show, Lord & Taylor is offering prom dresses (with free basic alterations included) and all regular and sale-priced merchandise storewide throughout the day.
Located in the NYC area? The fashion show at Lord & Taylor’s Flagship location in New York City will feature three dresses exclusively designed by alumni of Parsons The New School for Design. These three alumni won a dress design competition for Lord & Taylor in Fall 2009. A $5,000 prize was awarded to first-place winner Samantha Sleeper (BFA Fashion Design, 2009), and $2,500 was awarded to each of the second-place winners, Nicki Cozzolino (AAS Fashion Design, 2008) and Hannah Haein Lee (BFA Fashion Design, 2009). These designs will be on display in Lord & Taylor’s Fifth Avenue windows from March 18th – April 12th, and some of the winners will be present at the March 20th event to offer fashion and prom styling advice.
Prom-A-Palooza NYC is being held from 1PM-5PM on the 3rd Floor of Lord & Taylor’s Flagship location at 424 Fifth Avenue.