EMI Music Publishing and leading UK retailer Sainsbury’s Tu Clothing division have reached an agreement to feature the lyrics to some of the greatest songs ever written on a brand new fashion range.

The new collection, including products for men, women and children, will feature words from classic songs from EMI’s catalogue of more than 1.3 million songs such as “My Girl”, “ABC”, “(Theme From) The Monkees”, “Wild Thing” and “Dancing In The Street.”

The expansion of its Tu Clothing range has turned Sainsbury’s into the UK’s 10th largest clothing retailer by volume, with year-on-year growth of 40% in 2007. The range is now carried in 281 of the retail giant’s 545 stores across the country.

The agreement marks the latest in a series of initiatives under EMI Music Publishing’s Lyric brand, with art posters, greeting cards and board games all having been launched in the last few years.

The deal announced today was brokered by cutting edge licensing agency Corporate Creative Licensing, in conjunction with EMI Music Publishing’s Head of Media Licensing Steve Hills and Tu Childrenswear Buying Manager John Carolan.

EMI Music Publishing’s Executive Vice President of Media and Business Development Jonathan Channon commented: “Classic songs are part of the fabric of everybody’s lives, and we’re delighted that people will now be able to wear their favourite songs through this deal. The people at Sainsbury’s and Tu Clothing really understand the importance of music and its legacy, and we’re looking forward to bringing lyrics to life through what will hopefully be a long partnership.”

John Carolan, Buying Manager Tu Clothing, commented:“This partnership represents a massive opportunity in terms of increasing footfall and sales, and we’re looking forward to working with EMI Music Publishing to ensure that Sainsbury’s customers get to ‘try something new today’ for many years to come.”

Corporate Creative Licensing Head of Licensing Michael Gottlieb said, “I am thrilled to have helped bring together a leading British retailer with the leading British music publisher. The EMI catalogue contains the world’s greatest lyrics, and now Sainsbury’s customers will be able to wear inspirational clothing featuring some of the most famous words ever written.”

In a recent article in the Daily Yomiuri, Kumi Matsumaru wrote about the popularity of lolita fashion.

Matsumaru wrote, “On Sept. 23, JCB Hall in Suidobashi, Tokyo, was packed, mostly with women wearing clothes that were clearly out of the ordinary. Some of them were wearing skirts flaring wide from their hips, seemingly inflated by hidden devices called panniers. There also were those in frilly blouses and maidlike head accessories held in place by ribbons tied under their chins. Many of them wore platform shoes and dramatic hair arrangements to complete their look.”

“They gathered at the hall to see the Individual Fashion Expo IV, an event showing the latest autumn and winter collections of 23 designers and brands that are known for Gothic, Lolita, punk or Gosu-rori (Gothic Lolita) tastes.”

“The show started with the designs of Baby, The Stars Shine Bright. Sitting in a swing that hung from the ceiling, the models showed fluffy Lolita dresses in snowy white and candy pink.”

“Alice And The Pirates made a sharp contrast to that girlish collection with a more edgy look in black, white and gold, shown to the sound of thumping music, before the latest dreamy, even toylike, Lolita collection of Angelic Pretty hit the catwalk. Clad entirely in pink, each model appeared onstage holding a bouquet, a flower basket, a stuffed animal or an umbrella to enhance her girlish image.”

“The event went on to present the works of 20 more brand names along with live performances by three visual-kei rock artists or groups, Kanon Wakeshima, Jealkb and Plastic Tree. Although punk and visual-kei rock fashion also was presented in the three-hour event, the flavor of Lolita seemed to be particularly strong throughout the it.”

more

Chosun recently reported in an article about succesful fashionista Doo-ri Chung.  According to the article, “When I launched my own fashion line, I borrowed a big amount from my parents. It was over US$100,000. It wasn’t the money but convincing them that I need this particular job that was really difficult. Now? I’ve already paid off all debts, and my mother wears my clothes every day.”

“Confidence has clearly paid off for Doo-Ri Chung (35), a Korean fashion designer in New York City.”

“Standing less than 160 cm tall with a slim frame and small face, Chung has a cheerful low voice. Although she moved to the U.S. at the age of four, she has no problem expressing her thoughts in Korean.”

“Chung, who used to make clothes at a laundry her parents ran, is regarded as one of the most successful Korean fashion designers working overseas. Her list of clients includes Eva Longoria of “Desperate Housewives,” Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi and tennis star Maria Sharapova. Chung’s clothes are sold in over 40 stores named worldwide including London, Tokyo and Dubai.”

more

Company’s ANN Cares Program Benefits The Breast Cancer Research Foundation(R) and Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R)

NEW YORK, Sep. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Ann Taylor Stores Corporation (NYSE: ANN) today reaffirmed its philanthropic commitment to the fight against breast cancer, which the Company supports through its ANN Cares program. In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Ann Taylor is proud to continue its long-standing support of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation(R) and Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R). In 2007, Ann Taylor donated over $1.3 million to the fight against breast cancer through the sale of the Company’s ANN Cares Cards, participation in Komen Race for the Cure(R) events, and by hosting Salute to Survivor Shopping Events, all of which the Company is continuing in 2008.

Commenting on the Company’s commitment to fighting breast cancer, Ann Taylor President and CEO Kay Krill stated, “Ann Taylor is proud to support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation(R) and Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R). The work of these two organizations is making a meaningful difference in the fight against breast cancer and is improving the lives of many women throughout the world.”

THE ANN CARES CARD

Each Fall, Ann Taylor offers the sale of ANN Cares Cards in all of the Company’s stores and online. Ninety percent (90%) of the purchase price of every card sold is donated directly to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation(R), an organization dedicated to funding valuable research to prevent and cure breast cancer in our lifetime. Those who purchase the $25 ANN Cares Card, which is available now through October 15th, will receive 20% off every purchase of $100 or more at Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor LOFT, Ann Taylor Factory, LOFT Outlet, anntaylor.com, and anntaylorLOFT.com through the end of October.

KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE(R)

Throughout the year, Ann Taylor supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R), by participating in Race for the Cure(R) events across the country. Ann Taylor raised more than $150,000 for the 2008 New York City Race for the Cure alone and, for the twelfth consecutive year, was distinguished as the largest corporate team in New York City on Race Day.

SALUTE TO SURVIVORS SHOPPING EVENTS

During the month of October, Ann Taylor hosts Salute to Survivors Shopping Events in select markets across the country to celebrate breast cancer survivors and support Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R). The events feature special offers, live DJs, refreshments, and local survivors modeling Ann Taylor fashions. Attendees at the shopping events receive a 20% discount on in-store merchandise, with 5% of the proceeds benefitting local Affiliates of Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R). Each participating store will make a guaranteed minimum donation of $1,000 to the local Komen Affiliate.

Following is a schedule of Salute to Survivors events this year:

DATE STORE CITY

—- —– —-

10/15 LOFT at Chevy Chase Pavilion Washington, DC

10/16 Ann Taylor at Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL

10/16 Ann Taylor at Connecticut Ave. Washington, DC

10/16 Ann Taylor at Park Meadows Denver, CO

10/16 LOFT at North Bridge Chicago, IL

10/16 LOFT at Prudential Center Boston, MA

10/23 Ann Taylor at Atrium Mall Chestnut Hill, MA

10/24 LOFT at Cherry Creek Mall Denver, CO

10/30 Ann Taylor at Rockefeller Center New York, NY

All events are held from 6 - 8 PM.

About Ann Taylor

Ann Taylor Stores Corporation is one of the leading women’s specialty retailers for fashionable clothing in the United States, operating 959 Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor LOFT, Ann Taylor Factory, and LOFT Outlet stores in 46 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as online at AnnTaylor.com and AnnTaylorLOFT.com. Visit AnnTaylorStoresCorp.com for more information (NYSE: ANN).

About ANN Cares

ANN Cares is the philanthropic and social responsibility program of Ann Taylor Stores Corporation (NYSE: ANN) that supports causes to which the Company is firmly committed — women, children, the environment, and Ann Taylor associates. For more information, visit ANNCares.com. SOURCE Ann Taylor Stores Corporation

-0- 09/26/2008

In a recent article by Hirai Hisayuki for Daily Yomiuri, Hirai wrote, “Japanese jeans have a much shorter history than their American counterparts, but their quality is regarded as among the world’s best. The first Japanese jeans were produced about 50 years ago in a city in Okayama Prefecture on the Seto Inland Sea.”

“In the late 1950s, on a shopping street in Ueno, Tokyo, many U.S. products could be found, including imported secondhand jeans. Despite costing 2,000 yen a pair when the average monthly salary for a university graduate was just over 10,000 yen, they became very popular–probably because they represented American culture for young people.”

“One of the first people to recognize the coming trend in jeans was 82-year-old Shizuo Kashino, a salesman for the clothing firm Maruo Hifuku in the Kojima area of Kurashiki in the prefecture. He noticed how jeans were growing in popularity while on a trip to sell student uniforms in Tokyo.”

“They’re flying off the racks. There’s definitely a chance for success if we make them in Japan,” he reported to the firm’s management.

more

MALIBU, Calif., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ — Straying away from the conventional SmashBox, the Malibu-based laid-back, luxury clothing line, Sjobeck, sought and conquered the ideal location for their fashion show at The Victorian in Santa Monica, CA. Malibu’s freshest brand is back in the spotlight once again with its Spring 2009 collection for Los Angeles Fashion Week 2008. Sponsored by Malibu Magazine, Candlelight Kitchen & Bar, Calamigos Catering, and Red Bull, the show and after-party will be held at The Victorian & Heritage Square October 11, 2008 starting at 7 PM.

Sjobeck has put together a sophisticated collection for Spring 2009. High-fashion silhouettes, casual American spun fabrics and the laid-back lifestyle of Malibu, has inspired Sjobeck to create a signature “not a care in the world” look for Spring 2009. Sjobeck flawlessly combines high-end fashion and an underlying theme of 100% American made, 100% American lifestyle.

A guest list of over 400 celebrity clients, including Madison Hildebrand (Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing), Randolph Duke (American Fashion Designer), Chloe Greenfield (American Actress), media, buyers and friends are expected to attend the event. Participating retailers and friends include Blonde LA, Black & Blue and Ron Herman.

  CALENDAR:

  http://fashionweekla.com/calendar.html

  http://www.malibumag.com/site/article/sjobeck_fashion_show

  ABOUT SJOBECK:

SJOBECK IS A LAID-BACK LUXURY LINE FROM MALIBU, CALIFORNIA. THE BRAND ENCOMPASSES THE HIGH-END LIFESTYLE OF AMERICAN FASHION INFLUENCED BY MALIBU. SJOBECK CAN BE FOUND AT TREND SETTING ESTABLISHMENTS SUCH AS FRED SEGAL, RON HERMAN, BLACK & BLUE, AND BLUE BIRD IN LONDON. http://www.sjobeckdenim.com/

In A Network First, USA Extends Show Brand Via Fashion Partnerships To Broaden Appeal

NEW YORK, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ — USA Network has teamed up with
celebrated handbag designer Lauren Merkin and Emmy Award-winning actress
Debra Messing, star of the hit series THE STARTER WIFE, to create the
custom “Molly” handbag, a chic clutch named in honor of the equally chic
character who inspired it, THE STARTER WIFE’s Molly Kagan. USA has also
enlisted renowned illustrator Sujean Rim to create an original work
inspired by the series and its spirited and fashionable heroine, Molly
Kagan. In a nod to Molly’s glamorous Hollywood lifestyle, energy and elan,
the one-of-its-kind design will be featured on a signature t-shirt made
exclusively for THE STARTER WIFE. Messing stars as the newly single and
ever so stylish Molly Kagan in the Emmy Award-winning series THE STARTER
WIFE, which premieres on Friday, October 10 at 9/8c on USA Network. The
announcement was made by USA’s Alexandra Shapiro, senior vice president,
brand marketing & digital.

“For USA, these unique partnerships demonstrate a fresh approach to
extending THE STARTER WIFE brand into the fashion arena while providing
fashion-conscious consumers the opportunity to tangibly connect with
Molly’s stylish sensibility,” said Shapiro.

Messing, no stranger to Best Dressed lists, actively shared her
renowned fashion savvy during the design process of the handbag with
designer Lauren Merkin. “As an artist, it’s been both rewarding and fun to
team with Lauren Merkin and USA in designing the “Molly” clutch,” said
Debra Messing, star and executive producer of THE STARTER WIFE. “It’s more
than just a fun fashion item, it’s an extension of Molly’s feisty
character,” she added.

THE “MOLLY” CLUTCH

The “Molly” will make its television debut on the season finale of THE
STARTER WIFE, when it will appear on the arm of Molly (Messing) herself.
The clutch will be offered as part of a national Text-To-Win Sweepstakes
following the season finale and as a promotional giveaway via print and
digital outlets. Fans of Lauren Merkin and THE STARTER WIFE will also be
able to purchase their own signature “Molly” clutch exclusively at
laurenmerkin.com beginning the first week of October. The “Molly,” a clutch
made of amethyst baby croc patent with satin side details, will have a
retail price of $295 and will be available in several fabrications.

Lauren Merkin is a name familiar to celebrities, stylists, fashionistas
and countless savvy shoppers. Those in-the-know when it comes to fashion
have been turning to Merkin for her hip, elegant and affordable handbags
for years; her popular clutches have appeared numerous times on the pages
of fashion magazines such as InStyle, Lucky, and Harper’s Bazaar, as well
as in the hands of dozens of stylish stars, including Reese Witherspoon,
Eva Longoria, Heidi Klum and Liv Tyler. Now the “Molly” is poised to join
“Eve”, “Lucy,” “Lola,” and the many other designs (all bearing the names of
women) that make up Merkin’s collection of refined, feminine and fun modern
classics. Lauren Merkin’s collection is available at Neiman Marcus,
Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Scoop, Searle,
shopbop.com and various independently owned retailers across the county.

THE SIGNATURE “STARTER WIFE” T-SHIRT

The signature STARTER WIFE long sleeved t-shirt featuring Sujean’s
original design will be available for purchase at the NBC Experience store
and online at starterwife.usanetwork.com the first week of October. It will
also be offered as a promotional giveaway on-air and online and in select
print publications. The shirt has already made its way into the hands of
many of fashion’s elite during last week’s New York fashion shows; over
3,000 shirts were distributed in the official Mercedes Benz Fashion Week
gift bags, as well as in those given away by OK! Magazine and US Weekly.

The partnership between USA Network and Sujean Rim around THE STARTER
WIFE was a natural one, as both the series and Sujean’s work share a
similar stylish sensibility. Sujean began her career designing shoes and
accessories before leaving the fashion industry to pursue illustration
fulltime. Since then, she has become well known in the fashion world and
around the globe for her signature watercolor designs, which have been
commissioned by a wide variety of companies from Tiffany & Co., to Target.
Her work is perhaps most familiar to the 2.6 million subscribers of
DailyCandy.com, the insider’s guide to all things hip, new and stylish, for
whom Sujean has created a signature look with her singular, fashion-savvy
illustrations.

USA NETWORK is cable television’s leading provider of original series
and feature movies, sports and entertainment events, off-net television
shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. The #1 network in basic cable, USA
Network is seen in nearly 94 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site
is located at http://www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of
NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies
in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and
information to a global audience.

Source: USA Network

In a recent CNN video, Sarah Palin’s glasses designed by Kawasaki Kazuo has become a fashionable trend!

In a recent article on the Daily Yomiuri, “Does a tight budget keep you from accessorizing with the fabulous designer bag of your dreams? Relief could be just a mouse-click away, from a Web site offering short-term rentals of brand-name bags, complete with home delivery.”

“One such online business is Cariru (www.cariru.jp), a Web rental shop for designer bags and accessories that was launched in June by Newell Co., a Tokyo firm that also sells items bearing famous designer names on the Net.”

“Customers can choose their favorite bags from among 60 products by 11 famous European and U.S. brand names. They can rent other fashion accessories from a list of 40 items from three designer companies.”

“If they wish, customers also can purchase the products after renting them.”

“The products can be rented for either one week or one month, with the option of extending. Bags with the retail prices ranging from 20,000 yen to 500,000 yen, can be rented for fees ranging from 1,000 yen to 12,000 yen per week.”

“Fashion accessories usually sold at prices ranging from 20,000 yen to 150,000 yen can be borrowed at rates ranging from 1,000 yen to 6,800 yen per week.”

“About 50 people used the service in July, the company said, adding that 90 percent of them rented items for a week.”

More

In a recent article by Matsumaru Kumi for the Daily Yomiuri, Matsumaru writes about the popularity of VANS footwear in Japan.

Matsumaru wrote, “Vans are really popular in Japan, so we always wanted to do an exhibition showing both the products and the history of the U.S. brand. And what better timing than the 30th anniversary of the release of Vans’ legendary SK8-HI this year?” said ABC-Mart Inc. spokesperson Aiko Nakanishi, referring to the Vans Exhibition 2008, which will be held Aug. 23-31.”

“Vans, a line of sneakers loved especially by skateboarders, was founded by Paul Van Doren and his three partners in California in 1966.”

“In Japan, the shoes have been favored by many people who are presumably non-skateboarders thanks to the distinctive designs heightened by varied color combinations and reasonable pricing.”

More on this article