The traditional motifs [Michael Kors Bags]
The traditional motifs
Quite literally, few hand-embroideries done on sarees, stoles, kurtis, mufflers, shawls, chaniya cholis, potlis, handbags and wallets displayed at Shrujan Hand Embroidery Exhibition, will never die out, even if the fabric does!
What started as an experimental initiative by Chandaben Shroff in 1969 during a severe drought has now provided livelihood to women from the region of Kutch. Moreover, the organisation has revived the almost extinct hand embroideries known to only specific communities in this region.
While other organisations are trying to incorporate contemporary designs, Shrujan aims at encouraging the womenfolk in rural areas to revive the traditional motifs. “We once asked the women to sit together and draw their traditional motifs which are vanishing. The result was a collection of 1100 panels that are now displayed in a small museum like set-up and which is also used by the new generation as a reference,” informs Shelly Gera, the marketing head at Shrujan. The same is taken from one village to another and referred to as ‘Design Centre on Wheels’. “This encourages the younger lot to learn their ancestral hand-embroidery rather than head into other professions,” adds Hiral Dayal, one of the trustees as she opens up a beautiful green saree with intricate embroidery and patch work, “this particular piece was chewed by a goat so we redesigned it and here it is now looking prettier than before!” Difficult to believe that the story is true!
A little help from the organisers and one learns that the exhibition displays sixteen different hand embroideries namely – Aari, Aahir, Chakan, Gotanv, Jat Fakira, Jat Garasiya, Kambira and Khuditebha, Katri, Kharek, Mukko, Neran, Pakko, Rabari and Soof.
Each has a story behind it, some more interesting than the others. But the significant point is that each is pursued by a particular community including some nomadic tribes of Gujarat.Find a great selection of Michael Kors Satchel Bags 2013 New Arrival at hotmkbags! And if you like any work then pick it up immediately because, “the karigars forget the count once they complete an embroidery and it is difficult for them to make another one with the same design! Even with the same set of colour threads,welcome to replica shoes web,best service and low prices. a different pattern emerges each time,Welcome to Replica Louis Vuitton outlet online store and buy latest replica louis vuitton handbags together with free shipping and best service.” says Hiral.
Much like an artist with a pallet of colours,Latest Trends in Wholesale gucci handbags, Wallets and more. the women sit down to create their artworks and make sure to do more than one garment at a time, to avoid the monotony of seeing the same colours! The exhibition cum sale is on display at Aga Khan Hall till July 25.
Erica Tanov’s Big Sale
We can’t contain our excitement over Erica Tanov’s massive bi-annual sale on Berkeley’s Fourth Street this weekend, July 27–28. Prices are slashed—up to 75 percent off—on samples and last season’s clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories, and select home items (think quilts, bed linens, blankets, and throws). For the DIY-minded and blogging fashionistas: Fabric remnants will also be available, and bins of clothing items will have things as low as $10! The sale runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.
Blog babes
Speaking of bloggers, we’ve been catching up on some of our favorite East Bay tastemakers, and Calivintage (aka Oakland gal Erin Hagstrom) is back and better than ever after a little hiatus. We’re grateful that she shared the limited-edition collection Go Explore by Need Supply Co. The Virginia-based company sells a mix of vintage and contemporary labels, and the Go Explore line transitions seamlessly from summer to fall. We’re with Erin on the collared-fern dress, but we also want to get our paws on one of those crew tees.
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In Paris, Chinese Shopping [Michael Kors Bags]
In Paris, Chinese Shopping
For her recent vacation in Switzerland, Wu Mengbei shunned the whirlwind bus tour of luxury stores many Chinese tourists take in Europe.
The Shanghai resident booked her trip independently and chose to spend more on other activities, such as sightseeing and dining. "On my first couple of trips to Europe I did a lot of shopping, but it's not so much a priority now," says Ms. Wu, a bank marketing manager in her thirties.
Ms. Wu's choice highlights a growing challenge for Europe's luxury-goods brands: More and more Chinese vacationers are turning away from tour-bus travel and frantic shopping trips, instead opting to upgrade their overall holiday experience by spending more on other things.
By 2020, purchases by such individual Chinese tourists abroad—on travel, food, accommodation, entertainment and shopping—will overtake that of tour groups, which currently dominate spending, according to data from the Boston Consulting Group.
The shift is contributing to a slowing rate of luxury spending overseas, say market watchers. Overall spending in Europe by Chinese shoppers rose 18% in the first quarter from a year earlier,Welcome to Replica Louis Vuitton outlet online store and buy latest replica louis vuitton handbags together with free shipping and best service. a sharp deceleration in growth from the 45% jump the previous year and the 69% spike in the first quarter of 2012, according to data collected by tax-refund service Global Blue.welcome to replica shoes web,best service and low prices.
This slowdown partly stems from the fact that many tourists are no longer on their first trips abroad and are looking for fresh experiences beyond shopping. But the move away from organized bus tours also is playing a role.
"Lots of brands think that they have great business with Chinese tourists, but what they may find is that they have great business with tour guides," says Manelik Sfez, head of corporate marketing for Global Blue.
Chinese nationals are set to remain an explosive force in global tourism. And while individual tourists aren't expected to turn their backs on luxury shopping, they are likely to be more difficult to target than larger groups who hit the luxury stores as part of their tours.
Attracting independent travelers is different than working with tour groups, says Christine Lu, co-founder and chief executive of Affinity China, a New York-based marketing and travel company that focuses on upscale Chinese shoppers. "It takes more than putting a Mandarin speaker in the store," she says.
Travelers on organized tours have led a Chinese tourist boom in recent years, which propelled China's spending on outbound travel to $102 billion last year, a 40% jump from 2011. The surge sent China screaming past Germany and the U.S.—the former No. 1 and No. 2 spenders, respectively—according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
The flood of Chinese tourists to high-end stores in Paris and elsewhere in Europe reshaped how luxury brands operate, helping to offset the impact of the recession in the euro zone. Many purveyors of designer handbags, shoes and other apparel opened shops in department stores like Printemps and Galeries Lafayettes in Paris because Chinese tourists go there for one-stop shopping.
Printemps built duty-free counters specifically for Chinese visitors and hired Chinese-speaking floor staff. Galeries Lafayette advertises its Paris store thousands of miles away in China, forging its place on a European itinerary. Both stores pay commission to tour guides as an incentive to bring in Chinese tourists, according to people familiar with the matter.Latest Trends in Wholesale gucci handbags, Wallets and more.
Now, cracks are appearing in the tour-bus boom. Independent travelers still make up a minority of long-haul Chinese holiday makers, but growth in the segment is outpacing that of bus-tour-style group travel,Find a great selection of christian louboutin boots deals ! Click on any of the links below.Find a great selection of Michael Kors Satchel Bags 2013 New Arrival at hotmkbags! as China's more affluent classes flourish and middle-class travelers make their way back to Europe solo.
The proportion of spending by first- or second-time travelers who rely on tour operators is expected to fall to 42% by the end of the decade from an estimated 56% in 2010, according to Boston Consulting Group.
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Other accessories now available at Kisan [Michael Kors Bags]
Kisan Introduces New Footwear and Handbags from Pedro Garcia’s Fall 2013 Collection
Kisan, the highly curated designer women’s and children’s retailer in Soho, started fall fashion season with a selection of urban chic footwear and handbags from designer Pedro Garcia’s highly anticipated fall/winter ‘13/’14 collection. The Spanish shoemaker’s designs selected by Kisan are the perfect marriage of city and contemporary style.
“We selected only a few pieces, but they are very consistent in their feel,” said Kisan co-owner Thorunn Anspach. “I love how they are so contemporary but have been finely crafted by a traditional Spanish shoemaker that has spanned three generations.”
The Pedro Garcia all-black footwear selections include a perforated loafer, a wedge sandal, and a mid-calf boot. Handbag styles include a black perforated carry-all and a black suede tote.
Pedro Garcia is a family-owned enterprise that has built a reputation based on its attention to detail and world-class craftsmanship. Its contemporary, yet grounded,Shop cheap christian louboutin shoes,pumps,wedding shoes,sandals with low price in our discount christian louboutin sandals Store online. designs, however, are what have earned the designer a place in the international fashion spotlight.There are numerous diversified high heels at christian louboutin shoes for sale.
“Pedro Garcia is renowned for impeccable craftsmanship,” said Kisan co-owner Olivier Bremond. “Although it is a traditional shoemaker, its styles are very much design-driven. The Fall 2013 collection is perfect for a modern woman who likes urban, contemporary style and comfort.There are numerous diversified high heels at christian louboutin shoes for sale.”
Other accessories now available at Kisan include a sizable collection of Linda Farrow Luxe sunglasses. Favorites of such luminaries as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Chloe Sevigny and Kate Moss, the 2013 Linda Farrow collection includes a wide assortment of shapes and styles to suit any face. Stylish touches of rose gold, snake and steel give this 40-year-old line a contemporary feel.Shop the latest collection of Michael Kors 2013 from the most popular stores.
Color pop handbags in pink, yellow and turquoise as well as metallic and neutrals from Linde Gallery will make a perfect transition from summer to fall. These finely crafted bags in premium leather and crocodile skin not only provide the perfect classic casual look, they are incredibly durable.
Also featured at Kisan this month is a new selection of bohemian chic bracelets from Catherine Michiels. The beaded designs make these bracelets easy to wear, but the play of beads and metal is anything but simple. The Belgian designer, who says bracelet motifs come to her during her meditation time and world travels, uses a mix of precious metals and precious stones. You’ll find amethyst, lapis, oxidized copper, pavé diamonds and more complemented by platinum and sterling silver.
New selections from women’s clothing designer Tsumori Chisato are also now available at Kisan. In addition to the Japanese designer’s breezy, feminine dresses and tops in bright, colorful prints, a few early fall pieces are now in stock, including a striped top, a short A-line dress, and a maxi dress, both in a whimsical city print.
Anspach and Bremond opened Kisan in 2008 in Soho, bringing the very best of their favorite fashions and designers they discovered while traveling the world extensively for 20 years. Their retail philosophy is to marry Parisian fashion sensibilities with New York style with clothing that doesn’t sacrifice fine quality and wearability. The owners pride themselves on selecting current and upcoming designers with a unique dedication to both craft and style.
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As well as setting herself personal goals [Michael Kors Bags]
In the running for a new lease on life
When Shoe Clinic owner Sorrelle Pearson lined up at the start of a half-marathon in Dunedin last year, she did not care ''how ugly'' her race was - all that mattered was getting to the finish line.
That was because the former keen runner, aerobics instructor and body-builder had a long break from running, forced upon her by the development of a neurological disease.
Her knees might have been complaining, but completing the event was psychologically ''pretty cool'', she admitted. She is planning to run the half-marathon again this year and, in the future, hopes to tackle a full marathon.
As well as setting herself personal goals, Miss Pearson (38) also has goals for her George St business; she wants to see it continue to grow and to become even more involved with the local community and events.
Running a shoe and apparel business is a far cry from her earlier career in the wine industry.
''It's just one of those funny things. Whereas some people really like handbags and high heels, I just had a thing for stainless steel tanks ... now I've got a new passion in shoes in a different form,'' she laughed.
Brought up in Dunedin, it was on a school trip in year 13 that visited Gibbston Valley winery, near Queenstown, that she thought ''what a cool occupation that would be''.
She completed a certificate in grape-growing and winemaking at Hawkes Bay Polytechnic and became involved in the wine industry.
After working for Montana Wines - later Pernod Ricard after it took over Allied Domecq, which had previously taken over Montana - in sales, she decided she needed a new challenge, and the Shoe Clinic opportunity presented itself.
Shoe Clinic was established in 1998 by Hamish French and Neville McAlister who decided there was a ''real gap'' in the market for a sports footwear group that concentrated on injury prevention as well as customer wellbeing. It has grown to 18 stores in New Zealand.
Before opening the Dunedin store in December 2011, Miss Pearson felt her life had been ''on hold'' and when the opportunity arose, she
took the plunge, even knowing her health was still ''a little bit up and down''. In early 2007, she developed double-vision ''out of the blue'' and a visit to an optometrist was followed by an appointment with an ophthalmologist and then a neurologist.Shop the latest collection of Michael Kors 2013 from the most popular stores.
She remained undiagnosed for seven months and it was not until her symptoms developed to such a strong point - drooping eyelids, slurred speech, facial paralysis, double-vision and difficulty with breathing and swallowing - that she was finally diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, an auto-immune neurological disease which creates muscle weakness.
Treatment initially failed to get a response and she was eventually admitted to hospital, not knowing when she was going to leave.
Recalling how it was ''pretty scary'', she admitted it was probably scarier for her family and friends.
It got to the point where she had a nasal gastric tube to feed her, she could not lift her arms in front of her, and her speech was so slurred her mother had to help translate.
It was finally decided to ''do some thing quite drastic'' and a line was put into her neck for plasma exchanges.
Slowly, her symptoms reversed and she was discharged from hospital on December 24, 2007, determined to enjoy Christmas dinner - turkey, Christmas pudding and a glass of French Champagne.
She underwent a thymectomy (removal of the thymus gland) the following February and blood tests later revealed she had a rare form of myasthenia gravis and the only effective treatment was plasma exchanges.
Early last year, her neurologist successfully applied for funding for an immunosuppressant drug. Last month,Shop cheap christian louboutin shoes,pumps,wedding shoes,sandals with low price in our discount christian louboutin sandals Store online. she marked 12 months since her last plasma exchange and has been symptom-free for a year. She felt ''completely and utterly privileged'' to get the drug funding.
Miss Pearson urged others to take opportunities - ''you don't know what's around the corner'' - saying she had been a fit, healthy 32-year-old, who was making plans, when ''all of a sudden,Find a great selection of christian louboutin boots deals ! Click on any of the links below. it just stopped''.There are numerous diversified high heels at christian louboutin shoes for sale.
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With the business, everyone who came in had a ''story''. If she could play the tiniest part in helping a customer achieve a goal - whether it was weight loss, running their first half-marathon, running 5km, or just getting out and walking pain-free, then ''that to me is what this is all about''.
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Distribution is widening outside of Moscow [Michael Kors Bags]
Vuitton tones down for Russian tastes aside from prices
MOSCOW: When the Soviet Union collapsed 22 years ago, Russian women quickly cast off dowdy proletarian garb in favour of glitz such as ultra-tight sequined dresses and towering heels.Find a great selection of christian louboutin boots deals ! Click on any of the links below. Mira Duma is having none of it.
"Stuff with big and bright logos would be the last thing I buy and wear," said Duma, a 28-year-old style maven and former editor of the local edition of Harper's Bazaar magazine. "Today, it's absolutely vulgar in fashion to scream." Duma, the daughter of former Russian lawmaker Vasily Duma,Shop cheap christian louboutin shoes,pumps,wedding shoes,sandals with low price in our discount christian louboutin sandals Store online. is emblematic of a new generation of Russians for whom the meaning of high fashion has shifted from flashy and expensive to understated and even more expensive. As their tastes change, sales of $10,000 Hermes handbags and $5,000 Chanel dresses are accelerating in the former communist country, spurring brands such as Prada and Louis Vuitton to open more stores there.
Distribution is widening outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg as well as online as Russia's middle class grows, researcher Planet Retail reports. Sales of luxury goods in Russia expanded 6 percent to $8.8 billion last year, versus 4.6 percent in 2011, helping reverse a 20 percent decline between 2007 and 2009, according to Euromonitor International Plc.
While that's slower than China's 18 percent luxury growth in 2012, it's far better than western Europe, where sales fell 1 percent last year as the debt crisis weighed on domestic spending, the researcher estimates.Michael Kors Outlet Store provides you 64% OFF Wholesale Michael Kors Satchel Bags 2013 New Arrival. "What we're seeing now is a comeback" in Russian demand for luxury goods, said Hermes International SCA deputy chief executive officer Patrick Albaladejo.
God-Given Talent
European brands such as Vuitton have already started toning down the bling as they contend with homegrown Russian labels such as Vika Gazinskaya, Alexander Terekhov and Uliana Sergeenko, who reckon they know better what shoppers want.welcome to michaels kors bags on sale,best service and low prices.Tote everyday essential items in style by accessorizing with a Michael Kors Tote Bags or tote bag. Terekhov's latest collection features simple silk floral dresses, while Sergeenko's spring couture covered more flesh than it showed.
Sales of Gazinskaya's collections of 1,500 ($1,980) dresses have doubled in the past year as shoppers "seek something different," said the 24-year-old designer. With 25 outlets, including in Paris, New York and Hong Kong, Gazinskaya says she's seeking investors to fund more expansion. "There are no limits really," she said by phone from Venice, Italy, where she was hanging out at the Biennale art exhibition. "God gave me talent."
"Melancholy Woman," which returned to the DIA last summer reminds me so much of an estate sale my wife and I dropped in on in Bloomfield Hills. It was a fabulous house with riches galore -- all at marked down prices. The Coach handbags, for example, were only $250, for crying out loud.
And there, in the dining room, in the corner glaring at us vultures, was the owner. I'm not sure where her husband was. We concocted all kinds of scenarios involving some Ponzi-schemer now in prison and his better-half needing to pay the legal expenses. She was visibly bitter and her wine glass was refilled twice before we left the place.
Recently, in a lightning decision reserved generally for Right-To-Work votes, the Michigan State Senate committee passed a bill that would protect the Detroit Institute of Arts fabulous collection from being sold to help pay the bills for the city's financial deficit.
It was a hypothetical threat -- one that the Emergency Financial Manager responsible for addressing Detroit's deficit that is $16 billion. That's right -- that's the other "b" word.
And like any husband and wife sitting down with the budget, you've got to look at everything.
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