02 March 2022, Mumbai:

*At the Giorgio Armani show yesterday, which closed out Milan Fashion Week, the 87-year-old designer sent his collection down the runway to uncomfortable silence.

Over the loudspeaker, a voice explained that his decision not to use any music in the show was made as a “sign of respect to people in the unfolding tragedy.” Despite the curious omission of the words “Russia” or “Ukraine,” the message was clear enough.

The models, in quietly luxurious Armani classics including trim velvet jackets and a long-sleeved spangled gown, clicked down the glossy runway without the typical pounding soundtrack—just the occasional shuffle of cameras and high heels.

The somber move represented a rare synchronization of the gravity of world events with the giddy fashion-week carnival. It also harkened back to February 2020, when Mr. Armani was one of the first designers to acknowledge the burgeoning pandemic by disinviting guests to his show, which unfolded in an empty theater.

ALSO READ: MILANO FASHION WEEK WOMEN'S FALL/WINTER 2022/2023: 22-28 FEBRUARY 2022

As one of the undisputed elder statesmen of fashion, he knows that in an industry that’s all about image, symbolism matters. Omitting music from a fashion show could be seen as a hollow gesture or a respectful one, or maybe a little of both.

During the preceding days, talk of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was limited to the back seats of black cars and the crammed benches of fashion shows (with Covid spacing mostly a relic of last season).

The disconnect between fashion and the “real world,” always a heated topic, felt particularly extreme on Thursday, when the invasion escalated and brands including Prada staged their fashion shows to audiences of editors and celebrities.

A few war protestors brought their signs (“Close the Sky,” “Stop Putin”) and Ukrainian flags to the crowds outside the fashion shows, but for the most part, they marched just meters away at gatherings throughout central Milan. Of course, for those with ties to the region, business as usual was unthinkable.

The two Ukrainian models who walked in the Prada show, Kristy Ponomar and Irina Kravchenko, have used their Instagram platforms to rally their thousands of followers around their country’s plight.

RELATED ARTICLE: Milan Fashion Week

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*CREDITS: wsj.com

26 February 2022, Mumbai:

LVMH to Potentially Acquire Ralph Lauren LVMH is reportedly looking into acquiring Ralph Lauren.

According to reports, the luxury giant and U.S. fashion brand have been discussing this deal "over the past couple of years.

" Sources state that founder, chairman and chief creative officer Ralph Lauren is currently determining the succession plan for his business that he established back in 1967.

ALSO READ: LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, to pay €10 million against settlement: Paris court validation

While the French holding multinational corporation has been hesitant about acquiring popular U.S. labels, it has changed its perspective ever since obtaining Tiffany & Co. in January 2021.

If the acquisition were to be completed, LVMH will be able to take Ralph Lauren to new heights.

RELATED ARTICLE Louis Vuitton: France production to bolster

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*Figures mentioned in the above article have been sourced from sports.yahoo.com article.

25 February 2022, Mumbai:

London Fashion Week one would argue that might have been missing some heavy hitters. 

ALSO READ: LFW A/W 22/23: PANTONE FASHION COLOUR TREND REPORT

Simone Rocha

Erdem

SS Daley

Fashion East

Stefan Cooke

But designers including Simone Rocha, Erdem was the absolute stunners & were standout womenswear names this season.

*From the swans at Simone Rocha to erotic garden walks at SS Daley; body diversity at Supriya Lele to the sparkly fringes at Stefan Cooke; these are the best collections from London Fashion Week A/W22.

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*Figures mentioned in the above article have been sourced from anothermag.com article.

01 March 2022, Mumbai:

Thanks to premium brand partnerships, the Japanese manufacturer’s fiber Bemberg™ is ready to tell its nine decades' story of conscious and technological innovation.

For the very first time Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei takes part in White Sustainable Milano, the first fashion trade show entirely dedicated to the research and focus on new materials and technologies able to lead to a real ecological transition, developed in collaboration with Giusy Bettoni, CEO and founder C.L.A.S.S., and Marco Poli, Founder of The Style Lift.

Its aim is quite simple, yet extremely important to meet the downstream part of the supply chain, the one attending fashion weeks, in order to share with them how intriguing, fascinating, and valuable the world of responsible, innovative textiles can be. In fact, Bemberg™ is a one-of-a-kind product that combines the advantages of natural fibers with the functions of synthetics.

ALSO READ: MILANO FASHION WEEK WOMEN'S FALL/WINTER 2022/2023: 22-28 FEBRUARY 2022

It is a gem of unparalleled comfort, accentuating the true beauty of the wearer. Bemberg™ is manufactured starting from the cotton linter, a pre-consumer material obtained from the manufacturing process of cottonseed oil.

A truly circular economy ingredient. On top of that, Bemberg™ is completely biodegradable and compostable.

The brand by Asahi Kasei has also reduced CO2 emissions through the use of renewable energies and introduced a closed-loop system to recycle resources.

And this is just the “beginning”. In the next ten years moving towards the goal of 100, Bemberg™ will keep making fashion even more unique through its smart yarns, fashion partnerships, and responsible soul. 

RELATED ARTICLE: C.L.A.S.S. to attend the Filo fair

BGMEA Vice President Miran Ali and Directors Asif Ashraf, Tanvir Ahmed and Abdullah Hil Rakib were also present on the occasion.

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26 February 2022, Mumbai:

Farah Khan Ali, a jewelry designer, has launched her new label 'Farah Khan Atelier' in India, with four new collections: Aayat, Ameera, Be Charmed, and Amaira. Sussanne Khan and Amyra Dastur starred in a campaign for the designer's new luxury jewelry line, which was released in the nation.

"I have always felt that gems should be worn more often since they remind you of wonderful moments in your life," Farah Khan Ali said in a statement about the launch.

A piece of jewelry is more than simply jewelry; it holds memories of the people we care about. I chose to start Farah Khan Atelier, a fine jewelry brand that honors the best treasures of the human spirit — love, faith, and tenacity, in order to reach out to more individuals who believe in enjoying life as much as I do." 

ALSO READ: Asia Jewels Show, Bengaluru: 25-26-27 February 2022

"Both Sussanne and Amyra are great inspirations for Farah Khan Atelier because they reflect the qualities of substance coupled with compassion, style with originality, and a powerful combination that helps to inspire others," Farah Khan Ali remarked.

Farah Khan Ali worked with famous jewelers Damas Group to launch the label earlier this year in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

RELATED ARTICLE: Divaa by Orra ‘diamond jewellery’ glitters in Mumbai

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*Figures mentioned in the above article have been sourced from thenewsmen.com & Fashion Network article.

24 February 2022, Mumbai:

Fashion for Good launches the ‘Untapped Agricultural Waste Project’ to validate and scale technologies that can successfully transform agricultural waste into sustainable textile fibres.

With catalytic funding provided by Laudes Foundation, Fashion for Good partners Adidas, BESTSELLER, Vivobarefoot and Birla Cellulose, and six innovators, the consortium project will assess the technical feasibility of natural fibres created by the selected innovators using agricultural waste such as rice husks, hemp, wheat straw, banana and pineapple.

ALSO READ: FASHION FOR GOOD LAUNCHES D(R)YE FACTORY OF THE FUTURE PROJECT

A KEY AREA FOR DECARBONISATION

Agricultural waste poses significant challenges for farmers in South and Southeast Asia and in many cases, the waste is not repurposed and is often burned. Up to 92 million tonnes of agricultural waste is burned annually in India alone.

THE UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF AGRICULTURAL WASTE

The 18 month ‘Untapped Agricultural Waste Project’ brings together Fashion for Good partners adidas, BESTSELLER, Vivobarefoot and supply chain partner Birla Cellulose as well as six innovators to explore innovations that can repurpose agricultural waste into viable new natural fibre blends.

TOWARDS FURTHER IMPACT

This first phase of the project concludes in December 2022.

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01 March 2022, Mumbai:

1-India Family Mart, a leading value retailer, has secured Rs. 50 crore (500 million) in Series B investment from Gulf Islamic Investments (GII) in Dubai.

The money will support the Group's expansion plan, which includes tripling the number of retail shops in the next two years through organic growth and consolidation.

In order to become an omnichannel player, it will also begin its dispersed e-commerce activities. Fashion clothes, leisure items, and general stuff are all available at the store.

Carpediem Capital had previously provided the Group with its first institutional round of finance in 2018. With over 100 locations across India, 1-India Family Mart offers a diverse product offering and a significant presence in Tier-II, Tier-III, and Tier-IV towns.

ALSO READ: Raydiant raises funds

"This money-raising is fairly significant for the retail sector in recent times," said Jay Prakash Shukla, co-founder, and CEO of 1-India Family Mart. We sought like-minded investors to help us nurture an IPO-able Group in the near future as we built a scalable business."

"We are expanding our geographical presence and building our own private label in the fast-growing women's apparel area," said Ravinder Singh, the company's co-founder, and COO. To better enter the industry and serve our selective clientele, we are launching our own online omnichannel.

Furthermore, having a strong web presence will help us further solidify our market position."

RELATED ARTICLE: Superbottoms, Children’s wear startup raises funds

BGMEA Vice President Miran Ali and Directors Asif Ashraf, Tanvir Ahmed and Abdullah Hil Rakib were also present on the occasion.

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25 February 2022, Mumbai:

Creditors of debt-laden fashion conglomerate Shandong Ruyi Technology Group will seek control of Lycra after Ruyi defaulted on a $400 million loan it took from them to buy the fibre maker.

A statement from the creditors on Monday said that Ruyi, known for its ambition to become the LVMH (LVMH.PA) of China, has not been able to repay the Lycra loan since May 2019.

The lenders include Hong Kong-based China Everbright Limited (0165.HK) and Tor Investment Management, along with Seoul-based private equity firm Lindeman Partners and its affiliate Lindeman Asia.

ALSO READ: The LYCRA Company has launched a fiber composed entirely of textile waste for use in insulation applications

Their steps to assume full equity control of Lycra include the appointment of receivers for the assets of Lycra's parent. Ruyi and Lycra did not respond immediately to requests for comment on Tuesday.

Ruyi bought control of Lycra from U.S. conglomerate Koch Industries for $2.6 billion in 2019, borrowing about $1 billion for the deal.

Reuters reported in 2020 that some of Ruyi's creditors had hired a restructuring specialist to sound out potential buyers for Lycra after weakening financial performance of the manufacturer of the eponymous stretchy material fears of a loan default.

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*Figures mentioned in the above article have been sourced from Reuters article.

24 February 2022, Mumbai:

Khadim India Ltd, a footwear company, increased its net profit by 85 percent to Rs 8 crore ($1.1 million), compared to Rs 4 crore the previous year.

The company's revenue for the quarter increased by 6% to Rs 185 crore, up from Rs 174 crore in the previous fiscal year's similar period. "Because of the holiday season, Q3 has always been a really exceptional quarter for retail and fashion firms. This financial year, the brand had a successful holiday season.

ALSO READ: Khadim India’s Q3FY22 results

"With the introduction of a new variety of items across the sports, PU, and Hawai categories, even the distribution company gained impetus over the Christmas season," Chotrani remarked.

During the quarter, Khadim expanded its retail footprint in tier 2, 3 cities by adding 21 new stores, bringing the total number of outlets in India to 768.

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*Figures mentioned in the above article have been sourced from Fashion Network article.