“Gossip Girl bags and dresses for special occasions not only creates a deep impression on fans, but also leads the direction of fashion trends,” according to Gu, the manager of the procurement center of Milanoo.

“Developing this fashion line specially for those with a passion for fashion, we select the latest fashion items from the hottest TV shows, and Milanoo wants to bring celebrity fashion styles to your daily dressing,” he added.

Milanoo’s Gossip Girl collection mainly made up of bags, shoes and clothes. Amongst them, B’s Sweet Pink PU Women’s Shoulder Bag and Black PU Leather Rivet Decoration Women’s Clutch Bag, S’s Fashion Black Zip Closure PU Polyester Lining Shoulder Bag and Elegant Khaki PU Women’s Tote are the highlights.

The special pea coat, fur coat, jackets, and outwear are also recommended by Milanoo’s websitr, where you can also find those sexy shoes worn by Blair and Serena.

Milanoo, based in China, comes up with a plethora of new and trendy fashion apparel, cosplay costumes, wigs, lingerie, formal wear, wedding attire, shoes and spandex Zentai suits which are included in their scope of online retail business to meet the expectations of women customers by offering great comfort level along with unique style.

Milanoo has been a very popular website for its ultimate fashion and also value for money while fulfilling your fashion needs.

“What better way to celebrate Canadian entrepreneurship than by honouring someone who’s built his company around a made-in-Canada strategy for success,” says Colleen McMorrow, National and Ontario Director of Entrepreneur Of The Year. “Dani’s core values of best-in-class quality, functionality, authenticity and technical innovation have taken Canada Goose to new heights of market leadership.”

Entrepreneurs contribute to more than just the economy — they create new products, new production methods, new markets and new forms of organization. They are agents of change. And influencing change begins by pairing vision with an innovative mindset.

“In today’s marketplace, innovation isn’t just about reinventing the wheel. It must also mean understanding your customers’ changing needs and improving on what already exists,” says McMorrow.

Ernst & Young’s report Competing for growth reveals that innovating based on potential customers — rather than current ones — is hurting, not helping, the bottom line for many companies. What’s more, 63% of companies reported that incremental product/service innovation has been more successful than transformational innovation.

Getting the right systems in place to analyze your customer base is a smart move that could shift your product development in new, profitable directions. Better understanding customer needs is already driving an explosion of product development, particularly in the retail space.

“Dani risked it all when he decided to rebrand his family’s company, but his determined mindset and innovative nature paid off. Today, Canada Goose Inc. is an industry leader, reaching consumers on a global scale,” says McMorrow. “Great ideas are few and far between, and when you imagine something exceptional, taking the right strategic risk can reap a significant reward.”

Dani competed against leading entrepreneurs from across the country: Pacific winner Robert Little, Regency Fireplace Products; Prairies winner Mac Van Wielingen, ARC Financial Corp.; Quebec winner Sean Roosen, Osisko Mining Corporation; and Atlantic winners Marcel LeBrun, Chris Newton and Chris Ramsey, Radian6 Inc.

Entrepreneur Of The Year recognizes the spirit and contribution of entrepreneurs here and around the world. The Canadian program is in its 18th year of honouring the country’s most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business. Award winners are chosen based on a number of factors, including their vision, leadership, financial performance and social responsibility.

The centre has been set up by IL&FS Cluster Development Initiative Limited, while drawing support from Ministry of Rural Development and State Employment Mission. It has been leading the way for employment linked training programme since July 2008.

Drawing support from the State Employment Mission, IL&FS Clusters have trained and provided placement to more than 7,000 rural below poverty line (BPL) youth through its seven training centres in the State.

Vikash Training Centre has by now trained more than 2000 BPL youth from Malkangiri and Ganjam clusters and provided them placement with big garment manufacturing export houses like Arvind Limited and Shahi Exports in Bangalore, K. Mohan in Cochin and Chennai-based Roverco Apparel.

Besides technical training, the trainees at the centre are also imparted knowledge regarding company laws, life skills, soft skills, leadership and motivational skills, and languages like Hindi and English.

The training centre resembles and gives the feel of a real industry shop floor with industrial sewing machines, where the training is imparted in two shifts.

The centre happens to be the first of the seven training centres in Odisha and 543 training centres across India to obtain such a certificate of accreditation. The certification is a Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand, who lead the world in quality management.

Formed in 1999, the Fair Labor Association (FLA) is a collaboration of civil society organizations and socially responsible companies, colleges and universities focused on improving working conditions in factories around the world. To become an FLA member, companies must voluntarily achieve the FLA’s labor standards in the factories manufacturing their products.

“Our goal is to apply the principles of the local and organic movement to the clothing industry right here in San Francisco,” said Joe Levy, founder of Yeoman Organics. “From knit to print, our t-shirts are made in California. Every garment is cut and sewn on Market Street in an effort to bring manufacturing jobs back to San Francisco.

“Yeoman’s commitment to sustainability begins with our selection of 100% organic cotton. We also use low impact dyes to color the shirts and water-based inks for printing on the shirts. And to cut down on the waste, our tees are tagless.”

Yeoman Organics makes t-shirts for companies like Thirsty Bear—San Francisco’s first certified organic brewery—event shirts for companies and shirts for non-profit organizations, including public and private schools. The minimum custom-designed t-shirt bulk order is 25.

Founded in 2009 by Joe Levy and his family in their Bay Area home,Yeoman Organics is a San Francisco organic clothing brand and online retailer. Whereas most garment companies, even those headquartered in San Francisco, have moved manufacturing to developing countries—Yeoman Organics is producing organic cotton t-shirts in downtown San Francisco.

Formed in 1999, the Fair Labor Association (FLA) is a collaboration of civil society organizations and socially responsible companies, colleges and universities focused on improving working conditions in factories around the world. To become an FLA member, companies must voluntarily achieve the FLA’s labor standards in the factories manufacturing their products.

During the third quarter, the company continued to invest in long-term growth opportunities, while also maintaining strong expense discipline and returning cash to shareholders.

“Across our brands, we’re intensely focused on improving our current sales trend, including making necessary product and marketing adjustments, with a view toward building momentum as we head into 2012,” said Glenn Murphy, chairman and chief executive officer of Gap Inc. “We’re ready to compete aggressively this holiday.”

“Across our brands, we’re intensely focused on improving our current sales trend, including making necessary product and marketing adjustments, with a view toward building momentum as we head into 2012,” said Glenn Murphy, chairman and chief executive officer of Gap Inc. “We’re ready to compete aggressively this holiday.”

Third Quarter Financial and Business Highlights
• Returned $700 million to shareholders, with $645 million in share repurchases and $55 million in dividends, underscoring the company’s continued commitment to return cash to shareholders.
• Tightly managed operating expenses, which totaled $968 million and leveraged by 40 basis points as a percentage of net sales.
• Improved net sales at the Gap Inc. Direct division – which includes the online sales channel – by 21 percent, growing to $414 million compared with $342 million last year. Online sales for its Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic brands each improved year-over-year.
• Opened three new Athleta stores – two in New York and one in Newport Beach. Since quarter-end, the brand also opened stores in Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia to support the company’s plan to open over 50 stores in North America by the end of 2013.
• Continued to invest in its global expansion plan by announcing plans to open its first Banana Republic flagship in Paris and Gap flagship in Hong Kong later this year. The company continues to expand in China, with additional openings scheduled this year in the cities of Tianjin and Hangzhou.
• Increased franchise sales by 47 percent in the third quarter compared with last year. Opened franchise stores in four new countries: Chile, Poland, Serbia, and Vietnam. The company also officially opened its doors for the first time in South America, with the franchise store in Santiago, during the third quarter.

Third Quarter Comparable Sales Results
The company’s third quarter comparable sales, which include the associated comparable online sales, were down 5 percent compared with a 1 percent increase in thethird quarter last year. For the third quarter of fiscal year 2011, online sales positively impacted comparable sales for Gap Inc. by 2 percentage points.

Comparable sales for the third quarter of fiscal year 2011, including the associated comparable online sales, were as follows:
• Gap North America: negative 6 percent versus positive 2 percent last year
• Banana Republic North America: negative 1 percent versus positive 2 percent last year
• Old Navy North America: negative 4 percent versus flat last year
• International: negative 10 percent versus positive 4 percent last year

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Bailo is a historical brand representing the tradition and experience of a company that has constantly improved comfort and wellness in active outdoor sportswear for over 50 years.

Vist, founded in 1997 as a manufacturer of ski plates, has become a renown technical-sport brand with everything from plates to bindings, skis to ski clothing, offering elegant, high-quality products that express Made in Italy.

The aggregation of these two companies into “Officina Italiana” stems from the founders’ conviction that they are creating a strong, solid company that will further enhance their competitiveness in order to attack the domestic and foreign market.

The operation calls for the formation of a group that will offer a complete product portfolio, differentiated by customer segmentation and covering two seasons. With respect to turnover, the “Officina Italiana”’s forecasts an increase from approximately Euro 20 million (consolidated for the two founding companies) to Euro 36 million in 2016, with EBITDA of about 17%.

The aggregation will also generate a significant increase in resources and professional know-how, with considerable induced activity for the local area. The complementarity and synergies deriving from the aggregation will bring greater resources to be invested in business and product development.

The “Officina Italiana” will focus on growth in Italy (by strengthening its sales network) and abroad (by expanding its distributor network). In addition to its current branches in the United States and Switzerland, others are expected in the medium term to develop the foreign market, with direct presence in strategic areas.

The Group’s Board of Directors includes Bruno Zotta (Chairman), Elmar Stimpfl (Managing Director), and Roberto Jorio Fili, top manager in the fashion industry, who in the past held prestigious positions such as General Manager of Roberto Cavalli, Managing Director of Gianfranco Ferrè, and President of the Valentino Group.

Bruno Zotta Bailo, founder and President of Balio Spa, as well as President of the “Officina Italiana”, declares: “Bailo’s entire history and business strategy have been marked by perseverance in the achievement of goals and by constant attention to growth opportunities offered by the market. Today, we hold true to our principles with this ambitious and competitive business plan, driven by Elmar Stimpfl’s energy, which will allow us to reach the size that we have always desired.”

Elmar Stimpfl, founder and President of Vist Srl, as well as Managing Director of the “Officina Italiana”, declares: “We have created a company that will be the reference point for the ski and outdoor winter sports market, with potential to double its turnover in just a few years and grow internationally, with a new product range and its own distribution network in Italy and abroad.

Last year, the company lost US$ 1.8 million as it closed all its US outlets and tried to revive its ailing UK business. The company has also been countering the issue of low demand, which too is inducing it to cut costs.

As stated by the listed company’s newly appointed Chief Executive, Neil Cowie, they are even branching out into low-cost segments, including international wholesale trade and launch of a new website – Patch General Store.

According to Mr. Cowie, in this era of competition, if one does not consider being a multi-channel retailer, it is going to be much difficult to survive and move forward.

The international wholesale segment necessitates only a limited capital and is comparatively more appealing, he says, as the domestic retail partners incur the expenses for shop and possess the leases, while Pumpkin Patch only shares its design and logistic know-how.

Meanwhile, the company Board has consented to exercise a total cut of NZD 130,000 in fees of the Directors, to contribute towards sharing the burden of cost-cutting.

Pumpkin Patch predominantly sells through its own store network in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States.

As in the past, the shirt is an important element of the look – linen and cotton poplin, light and airy material ideal with a pair of chinos, and topped off with a baseball jacket in dark blue and grey jersey. A washed beige jacket with raw edges is another key garment.

This is teamed with a small-flower pattern bow tie and an orange scarf. Outer garments for the spring season focus on function, comfort and simplicity and include a parka in dark blue and khaki with detachable quilted lining in a contrasting colour.

As ever, details are essential for the Hampton Republic 27 collection and this season several of our tops are adorned with chambray pockets. Contrast stitching and patterned linings in outer garments are a general theme running through the collection.

“Hampton Style” is permeated by an unspoken dress code: “Always look great, no matter the occasion”. Hampton Republic 27 aims to inspire men to assemble a classic wardrobe that can be worn on different occasions, for both work and leisure.

Hampton Republic 27 was launched in September 2010 on all KappAhl markets.
KappAhl is a leading fashion chain with 380 stores and 4,900 employees in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland and the Czech Republic. KappAhl sells affordable fashion to a wide range of consumers – women, men and children – with a particular focus on women in the 30 to 50 age group with families.

The new store spans more than 15,000 square feet over four floors on the sought-after Queens Road in Hong Kong’s burgeoning Central District. The store location is housed in a beautiful new building with an award winning architectural design. With large floor-to-ceiling windows, white marble and Chinese oak wooden floors, the store creates an inviting and inspiring environment for customers to shop collections from Gap, GapKids, babyGap and GapBody.

“Opening in Hong Kong is a momentous occasion and demonstrates Gap Inc.’s continued commitment to make our optimistic American style more readily available to Chinese consumers,” said Redmond Yeung, president of Gap Greater China. “Based on the demand levels we’ve experienced through e-commerce sales over the last year, we know that Hong Kong consumers have a strong appetite for Gap’s affordable, high-quality and uniquely American fashion.”

Gap Inc. celebrated its first anniversary in China this month, and during this time has expanded to four stores in Shanghai and four in Beijing. In addition to Hong Kong, the company will open new stores in Shanghai, HangZhou and Tianjin over the coming weeks. Since launching the ecommerce site www.gap.cn last year, online orders have been logged from over 330 cities in China, covering all parts of the country. The company expects to grow the fleet to about 45 stores in China by the end of fiscal 2012.

Stephen Sunnucks, president of Gap Inc. International, added, “For over 40 years, Gap has provided American style, celebrated creativity and made a positive difference in the communities where we conduct business. We see these same values resonating as strongly with customers and employees in China as they do in our established markets.”

For major markets such as China, the company typically enters with brand-building flagship stores, followed by Outlet and smaller stores in outlying areas and an online expression of the brand. Sunnucks continued “We’re very optimistic about our entry into Hong Kong and believe it’s a natural next step for our expansion strategy in China, especially given its international relevance as a gateway to the fashion world.”

Up to this date, the Retail segment of GERRY WEBER has operated 23 own HOUSES OF GERRY WEBER in Austria. After the conclusion of the bidding procedure, Managing Director Thomas Kronefeld expressed his satisfaction: “We are extremely pleased that we have been successful in this process.

This will enable us to put our expansion plans in Austria into practice much faster than originally planned. All stores taken over are in prime locations, both in the city centres and in the shopping centres. The visibility of the additional locations will further increase the brandname awareness of GERRY WEBER”.

In the days ahead, the company will make a detailed analysis and fine-tuning to identify those locations that will be operated by GERRY WEBER and those that may be run by third parties. Most of the 29 stores, which have a combined space in excess of 12,000 square metres, will be operated by the company as HOUSES OF GERRY WEBER sell GERRY WEBER Collection, GERRY WEBER Edition, G.W., TAIFUN and SAMOON.

GERRY WEBER has not yet decided what to do with the trademark and name rights that were acquired in the process. Says Managing Director Ralf Weber: “If a third party is interested in the trademark rights, we might be willing to enter into negotiations.”

In spite of the difficult situation of DON GIL, the qualified employees of the company achieved a relatively high productivity of the DON GIL stores in the past. This confirms the experience gained by GERRY WEBER that Austria is a very profitable output market.

The takeover will further accelerate the expansion of GERRY WEBER’s own Retail activities, which had already been stepped up significantly in the fiscal year that has just ended, when 64 new own stores were opened. Going forward, the Group will therefore be able to focus even more strongly on making inroads into new markets in Eastern Europe.

With the first company-run HOUSE OF GERRY WEBER just opened in Poland and more to follow before the end of the calendar year, the activities now focus on the Czech Republic and Slovakia. GERRY WEBER’s excellent liquidity and equity position will enable the company to finance future acquisitions in the Retail segment from its own funds.

The takeover is subject to approval by the Austrian anti-trust authorities and the Austrian cartel office.

As for apparel products, both the average retail selling price and order volume posted low-single digit percentage declines; whereas for footwear products, the average retail selling price grew mid-single digit percentage and order volume recorded high-single digit percentage increases. Looking at the consolidated figures, future order value of the first half 2012 grew at low-single digit percentage year on year.

Mr. Zhang Zhi Yong, CEO of the Group, commented, “Although the order value of this Trade Fair did not sustain the growth momentum seen in the Trade Fair of the first quarter, we believe that these results are within our expectations as we are still in the middle of repositioning our products. Also, during the last month, we did not see significant improvements at the retail level compared with the third quarter.

We envisage the competitive landscape of the sporting goods industry to remain challenging next year, and the pressure to lower inventory levels continues to be high. As such, the Group maintains its prudent attitude. During this Trade Fair, the Group proactively enacted measures to manage expectations of the distributors, and guide their way to adjust their order mixes. “

“In the past two to three years, apparel products had grown faster than other product categories within the LI-NING brand product mix. However, we consider it necessary to change this situation as footwear products more strongly resonate the essence of sports and instill greater resilience to stabilizing business growth for the Group.

We have been adding momentum to our footwear business through innovative product designs, proficient application of the our technology platform, and promotion of ‘product family’ concepts. During the past two Trade Fairs, footwear products exhibited a recovery in growth as a result of our efforts, with both prices and order volumes returning to reasonable levels. We are pleased with these outcomes. We plan to continue to boost the percentage of sales contributed by the footwear products category in the future.” Mr. Zhang continued.

Li Ning Company Limited is one of the leading sports brand enterprises in China, possessing brand marketing, research and development, design, manufacturing, distribution and retail capabilities.

Speaking to fibre2fashion, Ms. Sujatha, Chief Brand Manager, Daniel Hechter at Indus-League Clothing Ltd., the company that markets the life-style brand in India, said, “With the affordable luxury and high quality products that the brand offers in India today, we are fully geared up to welcome the brand’s 50th anniversary year in 2012 along with 54 other license partners around the globe.”

“The retail expansion in India, as part of the brand’s 50th anniversary, would include opening of 10 EBOs and improving our retail presence in 10 more shop-in-shop format stores,” she added.

About the brand and its operation in India, she says, “When Mr. Daniel Hechter, the designer/entrepreneur of the brand, launched his first collection in the year 1962, he revolutionized the textile industry by inventing ready-to-wear clothing and bringing fashion within the reach of the common man. The brand is operating in India since 2009 and has successfully produced highly creative collections and reflects a fashionable lifestyle not just aimed at the social elite.”

“Hi-fashion products of Parisian design, is the core strength of Daniel Hechter today and it would continue to provide value-added designs to men’s lifestyle fashion. In India, apart from the shop-in-shops and exclusive stores, in which the brand is present today, the brand would be expanding its footprints into more exclusive boutiques, some of which would also showcase Parisian fashion directly imported from Europe,” she informed.

“The expansion would include investment in stocks, capital expenditure on new stores, creating the right ambience for the brand within existing stores and marketing activities to deliver a healthy EBIDTA and ROCE for the brand,” she revealed.

Talking about the consumer base, she opined, “Since Daniel Hechter represents international lifestyle fashion, it is the ‘fashion quotient’ of the consumer that defines the target group of the brand Daniel Hechter. Fashion-savvy men in the age group of 35 to 40 years are primarily the consumer base for Daniel Hechter in India.”

Informing about the product range, she stated, “Classic shirts, casual shirts, t-shirts, sweat shirts, hoodies, trousers, denims, hi-fashion jackets, wind cheaters, trench coats, sweaters, suits and blazers – all can be found at Daniel Hechter. These are supplemented by accessories like belts, ties, socks, stoles, mufflers and caps which complete the lifestyle look of the brand.”

In the announcement of the Group’s interim results for the 26 week period to 30 July 2011 the Group reported an improvement in trading in the seven weeks to 17 September 2011 with gross like for like sales growth of 3.3% (Sports Fascias +2.5%; Fashion Fascias +7.4%) and net growth of 1.6% (Sports Fascias +1.0%; Fashion Fascias +5.0%).

Since then, gross like for like sales growth for the second half has declined to a cumulative level of +0.2% (Sports Fascias -0.1%; Fashion Fascias +1.3%) for the sixteen weeks ended 19 November 2011, with a net decline of 1.5% after taking into account the impact of the increase in VAT to 20% (Sports Fascias -1.6%; Fashion Fascias -0.9%).

Performance since 17 September has been impacted by the continuing downward pressures on all elements of discretionary consumer spending and the recent marked decline in consumer confidence. Despite experiencing adverse pressure on margins because of the trading environment, we continue to work hard to maintain them. Although we anticipate a tough Christmas trading period, our management and staff have a good track record for mobilising effectively through this key time of the year.

In our non-UK retail businesses, we have now successfully opened a further two JD stores in France (being the conversion of an existing Chausport store in Amiens and, more recently, a new store in Marseille). We are encouraged by the potential for the Sprinter business in Spain since acquisition and we expect to open our first JD stores in Spain in the first half of 2012.

The performance of Champion is still being affected by the particularly difficult economic environment in the Republic of Ireland but opportunities for future improvement exist with the right execution.

Elsewhere in the Group, Canterbury has performed well in New Zealand and Australia assisted by the Rugby World Cup. However, the performance of the rest of the global Canterbury business has been mixed, and we continue to appraise the best means of realizing the full potential of this leading global brand.

The result for the full year remains, as usual, substantially dependant on the performance through the Christmas period. However, at this stage the Board believes the Group remains on course to deliver earnings in line with current expectations.

The Group will issue its post Christmas trading update on 12 January 2012.

Mizuno Corporation is headquartered in Osaka and Tokyo and employs 1,983 workers in Japan. The company produces goods at their factories in UK, USA, Thailand, China and Japan as well as at suppliers in several countries mainly in Asia. Mizuno mainly produces sport related goods such as sport wears, golf clubs, athletic shoes among others.

This agreement covering the textile, garment and leather industries is the first of its kind signed by a Japanese company in our sector.

ITGLWF President, Hisanobu Shimada, and ITGLWF General Secretary, Klaus Priegnitz, believe that this agreement which includes the commitment of all signatories to ensure the implementation of eight ILO core labour conventions is a step forward and a way to protect the interests of the textile workers worldwide.

The International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation is a Global Union Federation bringing together 217 affiliated organisations in 110 countries.

Mizuno Corporation was established in Osaka, Japan in 1906 by Rihachi Mizuno. Today, Mizuno USA is located in Norcross, GA and continues to manufacture and distribute high quality golf, baseball, softball, running, track & field and volleyball equipment, apparel, and footwear.

The BLINK concept was developed out of Wet Seal’s strong denim focus and serves as an extension of the brand. Blue Asphalt by Wet Seal, Wet Seal’s exclusive label, will offer a selection of five fits, three lengths and over twenty washes, making it possible for nearly everyone to find her signature fit. BLINK also will carry fashion denim brands, which include an array of trend-focused styles. “Denim Stylists” will be available to offer a high level of service and product knowledge to every Disney guest.

“We are excited to open BLINK in this highly trafficked tourist area. The opportunity helps to further expose and reinforce the Wet Seal brand as a fashion destination,” said Susan McGalla, chief executive officer of The Wet Seal, Inc. “The store design reflects the refreshed concept, layout, and color palette representative of Wet Seal’s brand direction.”

This location will be the second BLINK by Wet Seal located at a Disney Resort. BLINK is already a destination at Downtown Disney adjacent to Disney California Adventure and Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California.

Headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California, The Wet Seal, Inc. is a leading specialty retailer of fashionable and contemporary apparel and accessory items. As of October 29, 2011 the Company operated a total of 550 stores in 47 states and Puerto Rico, including 464 Wet Seal stores and 86 Arden B stores.

Walt Disney World Resort is a contiguous 40-square-mile, world-class entertainment and recreation center located at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 20 miles southwest of Orlando. The Walt Disney Co. has a rich legacy of creativity and exceptional storytelling that brings families together in unique and memorable ways. Creative excellence is coupled with a strong commitment to community service and diversity.

“Currently, we have 31 stores across India, covering all the key cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore and we are ready to expand across cities like Chandigarh, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai,” Mr. Abhay Gupta, Executive Director of BCC told fibre2fashion.

“With this extended network, BCC will be able to cover 8 out of 14 cities that are home to more than 50 percent of the total affluent people of the country,” he added.

Mentioning about BCC portfolio, he said, “Our portfolio covers all product categories in both men’s and women’s segments. We have ‘Royal Blues’ which houses the premium ethnic selection of reputed Indian designers. Then there is ‘Bench & Bar’ which offers customised outfits, especially for legal professionals. Another concept is ‘Su Misura’ which provides custom-made tailoring.”

“The exclusive fabric & customized tailoring section is where one can find the finest variety in suiting fabrics from international brands like Drapers, Ermenegildo Zegna, Loro Piana, Lanificio Cerruti, and others. BCC is also in talks with some other top notch brands to enhance its portfolio,” he informed.

Explaining about BCC’s entry into home furnishings segment, Mr. Gupta informed, “Last year, we launched Blues Home – a one stop shop for all interiors segment requirement – to tap into the growing requirement and trend of shopping for luxury home furnishings. Blues Home has unique concepts like Versace Home, Ayaan – Indian heritage rediscovered, Jagtar – the best in Thai silk, and Obsession- contemporary and international range of rugs and carpets. Recently, we have successfully introduced a new brand called Arredoclassic – classical Italian interiors solution – to Blues Home’s portfolio.”

The Group reported in its interim results for the 26 weeks ended 27 August 2011 that it continued to experience challenging trading conditions in a tough economic environment. In line with many other retailers, the Group has noted that these conditions have weakened in the last few weeks as a result of continuing downward pressure on consumer spending, particularly discretionary spending, and consumer confidence.

As a result, the Group is experiencing lower than expected sales and has been taking action to manage margins in order to drive sales. As in previous years, the outcome for the full financial year is substantially dependent on the Group’s trading performance over the important Christmas period but based upon recent trading, we now expect the outcome to be below expectations.

As previously stated, the Directors acknowledge that the Group will also need additional funding in order to execute its strategic plans and the Board is therefore considering other financing options, including strengthening its capital structure, to ensure that an appropriate platform is in place. Constructive dialogue has been maintained with the Group’s bankers, Bank of Scotland plc, who continue to be supportive.

As in previous years, a post-Christmas trading update will be issued in January 2012.

The outlet spread on an area of 1,200 sq ft displays an entire range of salwar-kameez-dupattas, leggings, kurtis and mix and match kurtas, in addition to a new range of BIBA Girls collection for girls in the age group of 2-12 years.

With the launch of the new store, the total number of BIBA outlets in Uttar Pradesh has gone up to nine. The brand now has two outlets each in Agra, Lucknow and Ghaziabad and one each in Gorakhpur, Kanpur and Noida.

Biba’s new festive collection would be featured in four assortments, including Fusion En’salada, Royal Safari, Urban Carnival, and Warm Up in Chanderis, georgette, Tussar and Matka.

The brand presently operates more than 85 stores across 40 cities in India and also shares space in big retail outlets like Lifestyle, Central, Shopper’s Stop and Pantaloons.

BIBA is a pioneer for Bollywood merchandising in India with ‘Na Tum Jano Na Hum’ in 2004 and went on to ten more such projects with blockbusters like Devdas, Hulchul, Baghban, etc, which were a huge success.

“Red carpet logistics” combines the transport of high-quality fashion products from and to Asia as well as within Asia with specially equipped warehouses and advanced services for the fashion and lifestyle industry. The first warehouse in Shah Alam is located approximately 30 kilometres from the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. This is where the logistics specialist provides its customers from the fashion sector with exclusive services.

In the next phase Logwin will be upgrading its existing fashion warehouses in Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai and Sydney to meet the exacting “red carpet logistics” standards. Finally the network will be expanded to include Indonesia, India and additional locations in China. Warehouses are also planned for Thailand and Vietnam. The storage area of these facilities ranges from 9,000 m² to 18,000 m².

“The concept is aiming to server the growing demand for premium European brands in Asia”, explains Marc Wijnen, Director Logistics at the Logwin business segment Air + Ocean.”

“At the same time Logwin will also be focusing its “red carpet logistics” on premium Asian brands intended for export to Europe, Australia and the USA. “Our intention with ‘red carpet logistics’ is to reposition ourselves on the Asian market. We are rolling out the proverbial red carpet for our customers and their brands,” says Helmut Kaspers, COO of the business segment Air + Ocean at Logwin.

Particularly high-value premium products from the fashion and lifestyle field need special service that takes account of their exclusive quality. Logistics for this sector is a niche market with sophisticated requirements.

“We have involved experts from the fashion and lifestyle industry in designing the ‘red carpet logistics’ concept in order to ensure that we are speaking the same language as our customers,” says Helmut Kaspers. The articles that Logwin transports all over the world are very often time-sensitive and logistics must satisfy the highest demands.”

Logwin can look back on many years of logistical experience in the fashion and lifestyle sector and offers its customers in Europe, for example, the largest logistics network for hanging garments. With its AirTextainer the company developed a special box for the space-saving and carful transport of fashion products around the world.

The Asian fashion market is already the largest in the world. It is expected to become 35 per cent larger than that in Western Europe by 2015. Trade in clothing grew by 7.6 per cent in Asia in 2010 alone according to a study by Euromonitor in 2011. PricewaterhouseCoopers has predicted that demand for fashion and clothing will grow by 4.7 per cent in Asia this year, with China leading the way with an increase of 10.8 per cent.

The Malaysian International Fashion Alliance (mifa) wants to establish Malaysia as an Asian fashion hub. The company, founded in 1995, specializes in planning, holding and marketing fashion events. mifa has been organizing the Malaysia International Fashion Week (MIF-W) since 2003. Besides organizing events, mifa also develops business models and brands for Malaysian fashion designers.

As per the deal, it is proposed to launch the first Lipsy outlets in many Middle East countries during early next year.

Landmark International already runs franchise outlets for retail chains like Aftershock, Reiss, Koton and New Look in the region. The new collaboration to launch Lipsy’s outlets has further enhanced the company’s focus on managing and developing a portfolio of international labels.

Lipsy, which is amongst the UK’s most rapidly growing young fashion label, was acquired by Next Plc, a British retailer in 2008. As a rapidly growing celebrity fashion brand, Lipsy generates styles that are in fashion and which are sold across the globe.

Sharing her views on this alliance, Landmark Group Vice Chairperson Renuka Jagtiani said they have impressive plans for expansion of the Lipsy brand in the region and they are sure that the brand’s distinctive style, enchanting fashion sense and incessant celebrity endorsements would fetch it a great success in the Middle East.

The Landmark Group is one of the largest and most successful retail organizations in the Middle East. It operates over 1000 outlets encompassing a retail presence of over 13.4 million sq. ft. across 15 countries in the Middle East, India, Egypt, Turkey and Yemen, employing around 35,000 people.

The Cabinet has approved 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in single-brand retail which will encourage foreign apparel retailers like Gap and H&M to set up their shops in India.

The decision to remove the existing 51 percent cap on FDI in single-brand retail formats related to lifestyle and sports goods would enable global brands like Adidas and Gucci to have complete ownership of business in India.

Simultaneously, the Cabinet has also allowed foreign retailers to own a 51 percent share in the multi-brand retail sector. This has cleared the route for global giants like Wal-Mart, Carrefour and Tesco, to open their supermarket chains in India. These firms were so far only allowed to own 100 percent of back-end cash-and-carry operations for supplying to wholesalers.

Currently, the size of India’s overall retail market, including organized and unorganized, is estimated to be around US$ 550-600 billion. The opening of such a huge market to foreign investment is the biggest reform in years that would boost investment manifold in Asia’s third-largest economy.

India has a rising middle-class population which still shops at local, family-owned businesses that enjoy a 90 percent market share in the retail segment.

However, the Cabinet has decided to put some restrictions while allowing 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail. The permission to open mega stores will be limited to 53 cities with population of more than one million.

Secondly, the big retailers would have to bring in a minimum investment of USD 100 million, 50 percent of which must be in the back-end infrastructure like processing, packaging, etc.

Third, they would have to source at least 30 percent of processed and manufactured goods from small-scale units.

Even after the Central Government’s nod, foreign companies would have to take requisite clearances from respective State governments for setting up their stores, as retail trade falls under the State-list in Indian Constitution.

Welcoming the Cabinet’s decision, Kishore Biyani, Chief Executive Officer of Future Group, said it will be a win-win situation for everyone. While farmers will get more for their produce, consumers will get more choices at better prices, he added.

Trading over three floors, the 1,400 square metre store is part of M&S’ ‘bricks & clicks’ strategy, as it returns to the French market with a combined store and e-commerce offer. In October, M&S unveiled its first international website, http://www.marksandspencer.fr/, serving customers across France.

The retailer has also confirmed three new full line stores in Paris, with a further two new stores in the pipeline, and has an ongoing search for suitable Simply Food store sites in and around the capital.

Located on Paris’ premier shopping street, the new aspirational store will offer customers the very best of M&S’ stylish womenswear and lingerie, as well as a specially chosen selection of food.

Marks & Spencer Chief Executive, Marc Bolland, said: “We’re delighted to be returning to France tomorrow with our new store at the heart of Paris. We’ve had numerous requests from consumers in France for our food and clothing, so we’re pleased to be coming back to serve French customers once again.

“Our new store on the Champs-élysées will allow us to showcases M&S’ products to customers across the capital. Our French website allows customers throughout France to order our products in their own language and currency. We’re really looking forward to welcoming customers to the store.”

Actress and face of M&S’ Autograph brand, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley said: “It’s a pleasure to be part of Marks & Spencer’s much anticipated return to France and I’m proud to be associated with this iconic British brand. Parisians are internationally renowned for their effortless style and the M&S Autograph collection embodies the same chic sense of fashion.”

Future Stores in Paris
As part of its international strategy, M&S will be building a strong presence in Paris to support its Champs-élysées store and complement its French website. M&S has signed leases for a further three full line stores at the following locations:

So Ouest – Due to open in Autumn 2012, the 6,900 square metre store will be M&S’ largest store in France;

Beaugrenelle – Located next to Paris’ iconic landmark, the Eiffel Tower, the new Beaugrenelle shopping mall will include a 4,500 square metre M&S store opening in Spring 2013;

Aeroville – M&S’ 4,700 square metre store at the new Aeroville shopping mall in the North East of Paris is due to open at the end of 2013.

A further two new full line Marks & Spencer stores in Paris are also in the pipeline.

Mode Shanghai aims to become the leading international fashion tradeshow in Shanghai as the Fashion Hub of Asia, to connect the middle to upper-middle fashion and accessories brands to local and regional retailers such as importer & distributors, Department stores, Shopping Malls and multi-brands select shops.

The exhibitors will be arranged into 4 different sectors, namely, “In Style” as women’s wear, “So Hot” as casual wear, “Essential” as fashion accessories, and “So Cool” as men’s wear, along with attractive events and performances, supported by the official sponsors and partners.

The organizer presented a short documentary, interviewed with local professionals and experts of last edition’s visitors from Chinese retail as well as from Shanghai municipal government, testifying the efficiency of Mode Shanghai as the core business platform of Shanghai city.

During this press conference, Ms. Muriel PIASER, former Show Director of Pret-A-Porter Paris, was appointed as Honored Fashion Director of Mode Shanghai, to bring her expertise and professional know-how to Mode Shanghai, and this is one of global strategy of Mode Shanghai for becoming the leading fashion tradeshow in Asian region.

At this occasion, she confirmed the key message to the media and government officials: Mode Shanghai and Shanghai Fashion Week are definitively the core platform of fashion for Shanghai municipal government for becoming the 3rd fashion city of the world after Paris and New York, specifically the fashion hub of Asia.

Mode Shanghai is a leading international fashion tradeshow taking place in Shanghai China, and is the highlighted event of the Shanghai International Fashion Culture Festival, which is organized by the Shanghai Municipal Government. Mode Shanghai is designed to cater to the needs of global fashion brands looking to enter the Chinese fashion retail business, and to be an optimized business platform for retailers and fashion brands.

Wildfox Couture, the American vintage inspired women’s knitwear brand introduced its ‘White Label’ sweater collection for Winter 2011. The ‘White Label’ knit is an angora, viscose, nylon blend, and resembles a 1970’s-style delicate sweater.

Musician Jimmy Sommers and co-designers Kimberley Gordon and Emily Faulstich established Wildfox Couture in Los Angeles in 2006. Popular amongst the celebrity set for its great cuts and unique designs, the line has progressed into not only this new sweater category, but will also launch swimwear and jewellery for SS12.

The new swim range incorporates vintage inspired 50’s pin up and bandeau style bikinis in a selection of bohemian washed floral prints. One-piece swimsuits are adorned with vintage picture transfers, animal prints and classic string bikini’s come in a range of colours to make up a unique versatile collection.
Statement shapes include plunging necklines, figure flattering cut out silhouettes and high waist briefs embellished with gold button and frill details.

Wildfox is available at retail boutiques nationwide as well as department stores including Harvey Nichol’s, Selfridges and Queen for a Day.

Johan Åberg is 50 years old, has studied in the U.S.A. and has a degree from IHM Business School. Johan Åberg has many years of experience from leading positions within the retail business. During the past 2.5 years Johan Åberg has been the CEO of Jula AB and before that CEO of Bauhaus Sweden. Johan Åberg has former experience from work at ONOFF, New Sports, H&M and Urban Outfitters.

I look forward to starting my new role. The industry has certainly some challenges and it will be interesting and fun to lead KappAhl with its strong brand and broad product offering, says Johan Åberg, future President and CEO.

KappAhl is a leading Nordic fashion chain with more than 380 stores and close to 4 900 co-workers in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland and the Czech Republic. KappAhl designs, markets and sells value-for-money fashion and focus in particular on women 30-50 years of age.

“Screen printing on garments, or silk screening, has traditionally required a more hands-on approach whereby clients would have to meet with the printer, deliver designs, make garment selections and finally approve the proofs before production of the order. We have streamlined the process to a matter of minutes”, said Wordans president Eric Gautier.

With their online application, Wordans also offers users the ability to choose from more than 60 different types of garments, in a variety of colors as a base for the silk screening.

Eric added, “Many of our clients require only one or two colors to be printed on their custom t-shirts or sweatshirts. In these cases, we recommend the silk screening process.”

Minimum order sizes for silk screened garments and accessories including t-shirts, polos, sweatshirts are 50 units. For smaller orders or garments that require full-color prints, Eric recommends digital direct to garment printing, which the company also provides. There are no minimum order sizes for the digital printing services.

Some Advantages of Screen Printing:
• The best technique for true white ink printing
• More economical than other methods for bulk orders of 50 pieces or more where 3 or fewer colors are used
• Has a wider range of applications since this printing technique is less sensitive to variances in the garment materials
• More choices of inks, including eco-friendly ink mixtures

Wordans is an online retailer of custom apparel and accessories. The company’s product line includes t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and other apparel as well as posters, banners and large format prints, and iPhone and iPad skins. Wordans was founded in 2009 by Eric Gautier and ships its customized products internationally.

The tie up is first of its kind both for the retailer and Bunton. The clothing range, which is likely to hit the markets both online and offline by January next year, would portray a 99-piece collection for girls and boys from newborn to 10-year old.

The collection designs are greatly inspired by Bunton’s own life and family, as the skull and cross-bone T-shirt designs have been designed while drawing inspiration from Bunton’s four-year old son Beau’s likings. Other designs include dog prints on party wears for girls, while the guitar print hoodies’ designs on boyswear echoes Bunton’s love for music.

Bunton is known and adored for being a fashionable industrious mother and thus was a natural pick for designing the kid’s collection for Argos, Emily Jacobs, Business Development Manager at Argos said. She added that they are quite sure that customers would like the detail and the premium quality of their collection which would be offered at great value prices.

She further said that their foray into kidswear segment has been well-accepted as a natural expansion of Argos’ existing range, and the collection designed by Bunton would take their kidswear segment to new highs.

Argos presently operates 750 stores across the UK and Ireland, and each year caters to more than 130 million customers through these outlets. During the year till February 2011, the retailer clocked a sales turnover of £4.2 billion.

Today, GSEA Fashion Group is producing branded apparel for fashion labels around the globe. In Lima, Rosa found the ideal combination of affordable land, proximity to the U.S., low manufacturing costs, and a perennial supply of premium pima cotton.

On-trend T-shirts, novelty tops, hoodies, tank tops and dresses are just a few of the fashion bestsellers rolling out of Peru to meet global demand. The GSEA Peru factory handles orders that come in through the GSEA Fashion Group office in New York’s fashion district, which also houses GSEA’s five house brands: got G.A.M.E.?, Glossy Chick, Project Threads, Hi & Lo and D’Anabel.

Rosa may have taken the long way to success in the fiercely competitive fashion industry, but in never giving up on his aspirations, the University of Miami graduate has managed to carve out a niche for GSEA Fashion Group: producing high-quality knit garments at competitive prices for up-and-coming designers and established labels alike.

Rosa credits his company’s success to GSEA Fashion Group’s close-knit and talented team, which embodies one of the company’s core values, “Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit,” and includes experts in global branding, logistics, fashion merchandising, retailing and graphic design.

As GSEA Fashion Group navigates the first phase of its development in Peru, the entire GSEA enterprise continues to define itself. “Our ultimate goal at GSEA Fashion Group is to be a one-stop shop for emerging artists and designers who are looking for a team that goes the extra mile to manufacture their works of art and assist them with building their brands,” Rosa explained.

“Among our core values are ‘Encourage Risk Taking’ and ‘Do More With Less.’ This is where we give our customers a competitive edge and ‘Deliver The Customer Experience,’ another of GSEA Fashion Group’s core values.”

Global Sourcing & Enterprise Apparel (GSEA) Fashion Group is a full-service fashion house providing apparel manufacturing of premium knit tops, fleece, polos, sweaters, dresses and more, as well as screen printing and embroidery, from its factory in Lima, Peru, home to the world’s finest pima cotton.

GSEA fully supports the brands it manufactures through comprehensive brand development services, including graphic design, website design and online and offline marketing.

Their incomparable product line includes men’s sherwani and kurta pajama, salwar kameez, sarees, lehenga choli, kids’ kurta pajama and sherwani along with indo western suits. Their products are crafted with jewels, gemstones, sequins and zari work, all their garments exhibit Indian traditional style with an aesthetic blend of ethnic version on trendy fabric.

Sonal Chaudhary, Proprietor states, “We offer exquisite collection of men, women and kits ethnic wear. We are the trendsetter in the society for traditional wear. All the designs are highly adorned with jewels, gemstones, sequins and zari work.”

Nihal Fashions is an online store for designer Indian outfits and wedding dresses. Their wide collection of garments has some of the exclusive designs for Indian wedding sherwani, designer men’s kurta pajama, wedding lehengas, wedding sarees, traditional sarees, lehenga style sarees, cotton salwar kameez, kids kurtas and sherwanis and lot more as per their style, color, fabric and price.

They are committed to designing fine occasional garments for Indians residing all over the world. Their products line are exported to USA, UK, Canada, Europe, Australia, Middle East, Singapore, Mauritius, Thailand, Indonesia, Netherlands and other regions. All their domestic and international deliveries take place through premier shipping companies.

Nihal Fashions is one of the pioneers in the ethnic apparel industry, and provides exclusive range of Indian clothes and traditional Indian clothing for men, women and kids. Their designs are highly adorned with jewels, gemstones, sequins and zari work. Their domestic and international deliveries, to Indians all across the world, take place through premier shipping companies.

Net earnings for the third quarter ended October 29, 2011 grew 19% to $144.0 million, up from $121.4 million for the third quarter ended October 30, 2010. Fiscal 2011 third quarter sales increased 9% to $2.046 billion, with comparable store sales up 5% over the prior year.

For the nine months ended October 29, 2011, earnings per share were $4.03, up from $3.26 for the nine months ended October 30, 2010. These results represent 24% growth on top of 36% and 52% gains for the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively. Net earnings for the year-to-date period in 2011 grew 18% to $465.2 million, up from $393.0 million in the prior year period. Sales for the first nine months of 2011 increased 9% to $6.210 billion, with comparable store sales up 5% on top of a 6% gain last year.

Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased with our above-plan sales and earnings in the third quarter and first nine months of 2011, especially considering this growth was achieved on top of exceptional increases in the prior two years.

Our strong revenue gains continue to be driven mainly by our ability to deliver compelling bargains on a wide assortment of exciting name brand fashions for the family and the home to today’s increasingly value-focused consumers. In addition, operating our business on lower in-store inventories is driving faster turns and lower markdowns, which continues to benefit profit margins.”

Commenting on the Company’s store growth, Mr. Balmuth said, “As planned, in early October, we launched our expansion into the Midwest with the opening of 12 new Ross Dress for Less stores in the greater Chicago area. We are very excited about the long-term growth opportunities this market offers and are confident that Ross Dress for Less will become an attractive destination for customers there.”

Mr. Balmuth continued, “Operating margin in the third quarter grew about 45 basis points to 10.9%, driven primarily by a 40 basis point reduction in selling, general and administrative expenses. Cost of goods sold as a percent of sales decreased 5 basis points from the prior year, as higher merchandise gross margin, including better-than-expected shortage results, and leverage on buying and occupancy expenses more than offset an expected increase in packaway-related distribution costs as a percent of sales.”

Two-for-One Stock Split
The Company announced that its Board of Directors has approved a two-for-one stock split to be paid in the form of a 100% stock dividend on December 15, 2011 to stockholders of record as of November 29, 2011. In addition, the Board declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.22 per share, or $.11 per share post-split, payable on December 30, 2011 to stockholders of record as of November 29, 2011.

With almost 500 UK stores and online already having hundreds of children’s clothes and shoes for autumn days, the new additions means kids can wrap up warm in fashion they’ll love. With fantastic reviews from Next customers, including practical parents, the next delivery promise means shoppers can receive their order the next day if placed before 9pm*.

For girls, this season is all about quirky knitted jumpers, character bobble hats and embellished sequin detail jersey tops. Knitted leg warmers and stripy tights are also a new arrival which Next outfit ideas suggest are worn with must-have leather boots, snow boots or Hunter wellies. For that extra layer of warmth, children’s quilted onesies can be found in trendy prints and bold bright colours.

Boys fashionable arrivals include more shades of coloured denim and chinos as well as fairisle sweaters and baseball jackets. The Next denim shop also has various fits of both boys’ and girls’ jeans which look fantastic with sparkly Hello Kitty tops or fun Star Wars sweatshirts.

As a fashion favourite for childrenswear, Next also have a popular range of homeware such as children’s bedroom furniture, exciting bedding collections and shelving solutions. One of the bestsellers of the season for girls’ is a vintage rose ruffle duvet teamed with white furniture and for the boys, a Lego alarm clock and yellow digger lamp.

The new fashion trends suggest using the leg as a canvas, playing with layers, trompe l’oeils and raised textures. They are moving from decorative motives and colouring towards a more bold type of patterning to provide playful sophistication.

INVISTA is providing brands with legwear fibres and technologies that allow them to combine comfort with fit and style by using innovations such as LYCRA Fusion fibre, LYCRA 3D hosiery, LYCRA beauty hosiery, LYCRA freshFX socks, LYCRA Energy socks, LYCRA Soft Comfort fibre, and LYCRA SPORT socks.

INVISTA’s new 2012/2013 legwear trends collection features the following innovations and products.
• Visual Drama – A growing urge for the dramatically theatrical and eclectic, going for playful sophistication without compromising on comfort or performance, this trend breathes sheer luxury and evokes a rich global heritage by using iconic historic patterns and styles that have been re-edited with striking modernity and a humorous twist. Each item combines up-to-date fashion and glamour with functionality and performance thanks to the use of LYCRA Soft Comfort fibre, LYCRA Fusion fibre, LYCRA beauty hosiery or LYCRA Xceptionelle hosiery.

• Sense of Nostalgia – Sensuality and nostalgia with a playful twist, expressing optimism and a brave touch of opportunism. The arch provocateur idea is softened with poetic romanticism and the designs and patterns made with LYCRA fibre reflect faint memories in a subdued palette of cosmetic and powdery tones such as blush, skin, pearl and kohl.

• Dressed Up – A disciplined approach to glamour evoking severe chic with subtle details and decorations including tromp l’oeil designs that reflect the renaissance of fine crafts and intricate designs in strict, sober and minimalist shades. LYCRA 3D hosiery and LYCRA Fusion fibre provide these styles with an outstanding elegant look.

• Twisted Classics – This trend creates the authenticity of the timeless respected classics and traditional fashion looks, translated into contemporary designs by playing with iconic patterns that are digitised, enlarged, mirrored and twisted in serious shades of lovely silky sheen, interesting heather and marl aspects and lively textures using LYCRA fibre or LYCRA Soft Comfort fibre.

• Colour Me Bright – Playful, straightforward and iconic, this trend references children’s toys and furniture translated into mature designs in saturated citrus, cold green, deep fuchsia and black; vibrantly happy tones enabling strong contrasts in bold plains, or geometric compositions with dark clashing with bright. This trend is convincingly translated into a plus size garment qualifying as LYCRA Xceptionelle hosiery.

With the popular range of autumnal menswear already being enjoyed by shoppers in up to 500 Next stores, online and on iPad and iPhone apps, more on-trend lines have been added to beat the temperature drop. The hundreds of well-reviewed winter outfit ideas also promise next day delivery when ordered before 9pm.

Coming in 100% lambswool, men’s knitwear has a great quality collection of V-neck and crew neck jumpers in various key colours, which can look smart with a shirt or be dressed down with a pair of men’s jeans. The new season also has braces, quilted jackets and flat caps that can be teamed with a pair of brogue shoes or Chelsea boots for the latest heritage look.

As well as coats and footwear, Next have newly arrived selections of skiwear and ski accessories. Perfect for ski holidays or a white Christmas, there are knitted fairisle accessories, earwarmers, NX Sport ski socks, snoods and thermal layers. What’s more, casual G-Star Raw hats, scarves and gloves join the other brands from Next such as Superdry, Converse, Diesel and Hunter.

Next’s men’s winterwear also have a selection of knitwear, trousers, coats and jackets in their longer and larger range. Designed to fit the broader and taller frames, knitwear and coats up to 4XL, trousers with 46″ waist and 37″ inside leg and shirts can be bought with a larger collar or longer sleeve are reviewed by customers as both stylish and comfortable.

NEXT, established 1982, is a leading British brand offering stylish clothes and accessories for all the family – plus beautiful home furnishings too. Distinguished by its commitment to great design, quality and value, NEXT is today’s go-to label for everything from tailoring and dresses to jeans and shoes.

Trend Fashion Textil, based in Götzis, Austria, is coming to Performance Days with an expanded selection of innovative fabrics, from first layer knits to waterproof-breathable laminates. The company’s Bulgarian factory specializing in cutting, sewing and bonding techniques provides all-inclusive services for active sportswear brands.

Ultrasound seam sealing equipment is the most recent addition to the company’s roster of high technologies. The state-of-the-art devices seamlessly join cut pieces together, at times covering the seam with an elastic ribbon to offer high-level protection and excellent resistance to wear while remaining very comfortable and barely noticeable to the wearer. Combined with the company’s existing welding possibilities, this new technique vastly expands its expertise in manufacturing products guaranteeing total weather resistance.

Knitting is another area where Trend Fashion Textil has expanded its product offering. Working with major fibers, like Tencel, Meryl, coolmax etc., and advanced knitting techniques, the range addresses all active sportswear and liefstyle needs. Thanks to its modern infrastructure, the company can also custom develop products to suit the specific needs of its clients.

Boasting one of the most modern factories in Europe, Trend Fashion Textil is on the cutting edge of innovative fabric and apparel design offering advanced technologies such as laser cutting, bonding, ultrasonic and pattern CAD. The company has invested heavily to respond to the needs of sportswear brands from fabric to finished garment.

Founded in 2006 by Reinhard Knecht and backed by Feinjersey Gmbh and Riedel Textil, Trend Fashion Textil Gmbh is based in Götzis, Austria, and specializes in functional fabrics targeting the outdoor and sportswear markets. Key product ranges include first layer knits, fleece and laminates, including Gore-Tex, and all kinds of membranes.

Design and development take place in Götzis, Austria, while production is based in Bulgaria near Plovdiv. Trend Fashion Textil recently expanded its workforce to 600 people, till end of 2011. The Bulgarian facility focuses on cutting, sewing and embroidery (12 colors) and produces on average 8,000 pieces per day (depending on styles).

The sewing department (which employs 350 people) is equipped with state-of-the-art machines for bonding, ultrasound seam sealing, automated operations (details, pockets, plackets, etc.) as well as latest generation Yuki and Yamato sewing machines and the specialized machines for high quality functional finishing.

Commenting on the quarter, Heath L. Golden, President and CEO of Hampshire Group, stated, “We marked a key milestone in the new strategic direction of the business in the third quarter with the completion of the acquisition of Rio Garment. This important step on our path to profitability diversifies our distribution channels and provides access to the fast-growing specialty store channel.

We are on track with the integration process and are already co-marketing Hampshire’s and Rio’s product offerings in an effort to take advantage of the significant cross-selling opportunities we see across both businesses. Now with the transformative transactions to our business complete, we have the visibility to address cost reductions where appropriate and position ourselves to leverage our strategic initiatives to drive growth in the business.”

Third Quarter 2011 Highlights
• Acquired Rio Garment S. de R.L. (Rio), a Honduras-based apparel manufacturer, that designs, sources and produces knit tops for retailers and distributors in the United States;
• David Gren joined the Company as President of Rio Garment upon the acquisition of the entity on August 25, 2011 with over 20 years of experience in the garment production services in the apparel industry. Mr. Gren has acted as general manager of Rio Garment since 2006 and will continue to oversee the business.

Results of Continuing Operations for Three Months Ended October 1, 2011
Net sales increased 22.5% to $33.5 million for the three months ended October 1, 2011 from $27.3 million for the same period last year. The $6.2 million increase in net sales over the same period last year was primarily due to the inclusion of Rio’s net sales of $5.4 million from August 25, 2011 to October 1, 2011.

Rio sells a higher volume of units at a lower price point than Hampshire Brands. Hampshire Brands sold less units, but at a slightly higher price per unit and therefore, its net sales remained comparable to the prior year period. Due to the seasonality of Hampshire Brands, a significant portion of its net sales occur in the third and fourth quarters, however, the Company does not expect Rio to experience high levels of seasonality.

The gross profit percentage of 16.8% of net sales for the three months ended October 1, 2011 compared with 22.6% of net sales for the same period last year reflects an increase in cost of goods sold for the menswear division. Cost of goods sold increased 31.2% to $27.9 million for the three months ended October 1, 2011 from $21.2 million for the three months ended October 2, 2010. This increase is a result of higher volume of units sold coupled with the rising costs in transportation, labor and materials.

For the three months ended October 1, 2011, the Company had aloss from continuing operations of $2.2 million compared to income from continuing operations of $3.4 million for the same period last year. This loss was primarily due to an increase in selling, general and administrative costs, which was the result of increased overhead costs for the current quarter that were absorbed by the women’s division during the third quarter 2010 and are now reflected in discontinued operations and transaction costs relating to the acquisition of Rio and the addition of Rio’s selling, general and administrative costs.