Saturday, August 18, 2007
Lady apparel a breath of elegance
Turning fabrics into apparel is not as easy as it may seem. Ignorance to this fact has made modern day consumers take clothing for granted. Before the method of making textile was mechanized, processing textile was very tedious and labor intensive. The industry was the first to be mechanized during the Industrial Revolution.
As humans became more better at making clothes, the fashion industry starts to progress and has enriched the ways to create and beautify daily apparel. Embroidery is one of the significant methods in beautifying clothes.
Embroidery is the art of decorating fabric with designs stitched in strands of thread or yarn using a special needle. The Egyptians, Babylonians, Phoenicians, Hebrews and the Moors are among has long use embroidery to beautify their robes and other apparels. These ancient people have embedded their style and culture within the patterns and designs of their embroidery. Embroidery also signifies wealth and power of the wearer back then. Rich traders and merchants are willing to buy expensive embroidered clothes which are more often than not worn by their wives and mistresses.
Embroidery is definitely one of the most beautiful ways to express your identity on many garments and accessories. It gives the apparel not only a sense of style but adds a sheer elegance to the appearance of the lady that wears it. Handmade embroidery is always regarded as more distinctive because a lot of work and energy are dedicated into creating the perfect piece. The meticulous work would sometime take days and even month as the creator would put work on every bit of piece in detail. Nowadays, machinery has helped human significantly in simplifying their work. The quality of machined-made embroidery has come to a point where the result and artwork is as beautiful as handmade embroidery.
With the availability of machine work, almost every garment can be embroidered to give a personalized feeling to the wearer. More often than not, the rich and famous would want to create an identity to their apparel. In order to mark their identity they would usually tailor-make their clothing and would embroidered their initials on each of their garment. Fashion is a very universal concept and it covers all sorts of industry and activity. Even sportsmen and women are not left behind when it comes to looking good. Nowadays, more and more sports apparels such as lady golf apparel is now making a fashion statement even on the golf course. Even though the golfers have certain dress code and rules to abide to when they go on the green, this has not hindered them from being fashionable and classy. As the influence of big golfers name like Tiger Wood and Michelle Wie, a growing trend of fashion has set itself up as more and more fans starts to dress like their idols.
Clothing has transformed into something worn out of necessity into an indicator of social status. Clothes not only protect the human body form dangers of the environment but give the wearer a sense of confidence and pride. Today, the world of fashion is without a doubt a dominant market and more and more designers dare to explore and showcase their creations on original lady apparels.
http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/2/118/lady-apparel-a-breath-of-elegance1.asp
What is crochet?
Many assume that the craft of crocheting and knitting evolved in countries like China, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil. They have come up with this theory because of the cultural tradition of clothing used by the people living in these countries. Many experts also say that the craft of crocheting was more essential to bend the forefinger rather than its necessity for creating crochet and knitted products.
In the early periods of imperialism, where the art was practiced in the western part of Europe recognize crocheting as the main source of livelihood among people living in villages and communities. Most royalties consider wearing a crochet product symbolize wealth and power. During these days, crocheting and knitting is the pleasure of many people. It has developed as an art of creating very good crochet crafts and designs.
A person can acquire a variety of yarns and threads that are used to make a crochet product. There are different textures and colors he may choose depending on the type of pattern or design that he will create. There are basic types of yarns that are in the market nowadays. He may find baby/fingering, worsted weight, chunky, sport/baby, and the bulky types of yarns, which are commonly used in crocheting and knitting.
Yarns are typically labeled by their types to distinguish the yarns' quality. This helps in identifying which specific yarn would be suitable for a particular crochet product. Moreover, a person may also need to know the amount of skein, care instructions, gauge, and the fiber content of the yarns.
Here are some other supplies aside from the yarn that are needed to create a particular crochet product.
1. The knitting needles are very essential in crocheting. They are commonly straight aluminum, wooden and plastic made materials. They can be availed in different sizes from 2 millimeters to 15 millimeters. They are purchased in pairs where they feature a knob and pointed edges. This design was made for preventing the needle to slide when it is left on the unfinished crochet product.
2. The crochet hooks are used in catching the loops of thread used in crocheting. They also draw the stitches made from loosening and sliding from the chain stitches. They also come in aluminum, plastic, and wooden made materials. The wooden made crochet hooks are the commonly used in doing a crochet product because it is easier for the fingers handle and it is also considered as the most affordable.
3. The pattern diagram is very essential in creating a crochet product. This serves as the guide on how he will follow the instructions and outline of the design. Most patterns are usually easy to follow especially if the person is highly skilled n crocheting. For most beginners, there are patterns, which are more basic and simple. They are especially designed for them to practice and understand simple patterns of crochet products.
4. He may also need the use of other resources that will provide him sufficient basic crocheting instructions such as books and magazines. There are instructional diagrams that he may use in cases he would like to choose other designs on how to make a crochet hat, crochet pillow, crochet scarf, crochet bag, and other items that can be possibly made in crochet.
5. There are also special supplies that are needed in making special crochet products. Lace made and doilies are required to be worked on using stainless steel crochet hooks. These special hooks have a different size compared to those regular wooden hooks.
Crochet products are mostly made for the pleasure of creating beautiful patterned designs. They may be displayed in exhibits especially if the tools and supplies that were used are certified crochet materials. The price of the crochet product may also depend on how long it was made by a person. Although others only work on crochet products for their own pleasure and satisfaction for finishing a particular pattern, people still find it helpful in applying their skills to generate income.
About the Author:
Mei writes about art and crafts and is proficient in a few crafts such as card and jewellery making as well as crocheting. Find out more about crafts at CrochetandCrafts!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Next Inc. Procures Grits Inc. Apparel License.
Preliminary Launch with Key Specialty Retailer Extremely Well Received
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Next Inc. (OTCBB:NXTI) an emerging leader in the sportswear and promotional products industry today announced that they have procured an apparel license for Grits Inc., (Girls Raised In The South)through BMI (Brand Management International), exclusive agent for Grits, Inc.
Grits Inc., www.gritsinc.com is a multimillion-dollar merchandising company specializing in women's apparel. Founded by Deborah Ford, a lifelong Southerner and author of "Grits Guide to Life" (non-fiction book of the Year 2004) and "Puttin' On The Grits", Deborah's third book, (now in bookstores) "Grits Friends Are Forevah" has received rave reviews from critics. A fourth book on Southern men, "Bless Their Hearts", is due for release in October 2006.
Now residing in Fairhope, AL, Deborah is in demand as an "all occasion" speaker, including speeches on Southern Genteel Tradition, Southern Culture, or "how to eat your watermelon in a sun dress." Penguin Publishing named Deborah as one of ten Penguin authors to kick-off a new venture for the company, a speakers bureau managed by the publisher.
Deborah was recently recognized for her talent and accomplishments by being named a 2006 Honoree by the Southern Women's Committee of Fifty, at its eighth annual tribute event in Birmingham.
Joe Ferragina, the Company's Exec VP of Sales stated, "We're very pleased to have procured the Apparel license for Grits. The franchise has a very loyal fan base which has allowed the spawning of numerous derivatives of the brand. In a preliminary launch with one of our key specialty retailers, our Grits offerings sold extremely well. We're looking forward to leveraging the brand allowing our retailers to differentiate themselves in their respective markets."
As part of the Grit's license, Next will market and distribute "Primary Colors by Grits" as part of their collegiate offerings. This program is cross licensed between the various universities and Grits, Inc. and allows Next to expand their product offerings to their existing collegiate retailers. The addition of Primary Colors provides a major inroad to solidifying Next position in the growing ladies collegiate market. The slogans on the garments tie in Grits as well as the school colors and mascot. Example: "Southern Girls Know Their Primary Colors....Crimson and White" along with the University of Alabama logo.
http://www.allbusiness.com/services/business-services/3947545-1.html
Apparel deal is twice as nice.
Specialty retailer of men's and women's apparel, Kuhlman Company has inked two new retail leases totaling 2,600 square feet at 96 Grand Street in SoHo and 209 Columbus Avenue in the Upper West Side.
The CB Richard Ellis Tri-State Retail Services Group negotiated both long-term transactionson behalf of the buildings' respective ownerships.
In the first transaction, Kuhlman committed to 1,800 s/f of ground floor space at 96 Grand Street, a six-story residential property situated between Mercer and Greene Streets in the heart of SoHo.
Allison Winters of CB Richard Ellis, along with co-broker Andrew Goldberg, negotiated the lease deal on behalf of the building's owner.
Kuhlman also signed a long-term lease for 800 s/f of retail space at 209 Columbus Avenue, one of the City's most sought-after shopping destinations. The new store is slated for a grand opening in Fall 2005.
CBRE's Eric Gelber represented the landlord with co-brokers Stephanie Moore and Andrew Goldberg. Peter Braus of Sierra Realty Corp represented the tenant.
Kuhlman has stores on Madison Ave., Rockefeller Center and Greenwich Village.
http://www.allbusiness.com/operations/facilities-commercial-real-estate/552229-1.html
1998 buyer's guide and directory on team apparel.
and (2) the changing approach to the burgeoning women's sports market.
The sporting goods manufacturers are, more than ever before, providing coaches and athletic directors with options that best fit their specific needs, while providing quality products at affordable prices.
Over the past decade, the needs and purchasing habits of our schools have sharply changed. Schoolmen who ordinarily ordered customized apparel are now facing budgetary and delivery restraints that afford less time for specialized apparel.
This naturally has opened the way for stock ordering. True, stock ordering has its downside in color and style limitations, but the savings in cost offers a distract upside.
Don Alleson Athletics (Rochester, NY) is concentrating more on stock business because it understands that there are athletic programs that won't have their budgets prepared in time to purchase custom apparel.
Todd Levine, vice president of marketing, points out that "Our stock business gives coaches the same high-quality product as well as customizes colors to their specifications, With custom jerseys, you might have to wait 4-6 weeks for delivery. If an athletic program is a little late getting its budget in line, it can still order from our stock line and customize the jerseys with their own colors.
"Over the past two or three years, we have replaced 40 lines of apparel with new upgraded lines that have given our customers a higher price-value ratio."
This practice - giving the customer an opportunity to purchase both custom and stock apparel - is the industry's way of promoting its diversity With so many options to choose from, coaches must rely on the experts to help steer them in the right direction.
Tom Doyle, vice president of Information/Research for the National Sporting Goods Association, acknowledges that the purchasing business is all about relationships:
"It is important for coaches to foster a good relationship with their suppliers. There are much fewer suppliers than there were 10-15 years ago, and the chances are that the coaches will have to deal with a supplier for a long time."
http://www.allbusiness.com/sector-61-educational-services/735919-1.html
Japan: Hokuriku Intensifying Non-Apparel Use
a structural conversion, intensifying sportswear, innerwear and uniforms instead of fashion wear. Along with these movements, these firms have expanded the scope of their business into the non-apparel segment including interior goods and industrial materials, based on the technological capabilities that these firms have nurtured for many years. Five years ago, Marubeni Corporation closed its branch in Fukui, one of the centers in the Hokuriku weaving district, but it reopened this branch last fall. The Fukui branch will do business with a focus on the nonapparel segment. Of Marubeni's Hokuriku business, the non-apparel segment already accounts for 60%.
http://www.allbusiness.com/asia/1051437-1.html
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Golf Apparel Buying Tips for Women
1. Waterproof trousers and jackets. When heavy rain comes, waterproof gears will protect your body from being wet, making sure that you remain totally dry under your trousers and jacket.
Goretex is the material commonly used for such waterproof gears and the most effective and efficient waterproofing material available. It uses an absorbent film either in between textile layers or sealed to a layer. The film openings are tiny enough to keep out water, but big enough to permit air and water vapor to flow and circulate. This is an advantage when one is playing in lengthy rain periods.
When purchasing a waterproof jacket or pair of trousers you must look for an outerwear that comes with a guarantee. The top manufacturers of waterproof gears offer a guarantee of three years and this can be worth the investment.
2. Rainproof golf gears. These gears are not made with Goretex but are usually made from Teflon treated fabric, which has the tendency to hold water from passing through for only a certain period, and will permit air to pass through and may draw liquid through the fabric on long rain exposures.
Lightweight and not so expensive compared to waterproof gears, this is perfect when one plays in short rain showers.
3. Windproof. It is constructed to stop the wind. This is an effective option when one is playing in windy climates. Certain types of windproof gears are likewise Teflon treated offering a minor level of resistance to water, but are not intended to be used in rainy weather. Cheaper than rainproof or water proof gears, they can be a warm alternative to use for cold climates.
Types of golf clothing
1. Jacket. This is very important to keep the golfers upper body warm, dry and still preserve the space so as to swing with flexibility. This is essential when choosing a jacket that is comfortable to wear, looks good and most importantly that allows you to swing well while wearing it.
Choose a jacket that is comfortable, and practice your swings with the jacket on, to insure playability.
2. Trousers. Always put on the trousers and practice it for swings, making sure that you are comfortable with it, as well as able to move about freely. Make sure that it is made of a fiber that is easy to wash and care for.
3. Shirts. Like any type of clothing, be sure to try it on before buying. Make sure that you are comfortable with the material, that it is breathable and the fit allows you to move easily.
Choosing your golf apparel can be a lot of fun. Be careful though, and make sure that all your outfits do match. Choose earth tone colors to play safe. Enjoy shopping!
http://www.rachel.in/article-details.asp?ArtID=36