FN PLATFORM Debuts at MAGIC Marketplace

New Footwear Show is a Success
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., March 1/PRNewswire/ — FN PLATFORM launched to great
applause at MAGIC Marketplace last week in Las Vegas. A comprehensive event
for Men’s, Women’s, Juniors and Children’s footwear, FN PLATFORM was created
to complement and expand the “one-stop-shopping” experience offered to
thousands of attendees at MAGIC’s semi-annual events.

FN PLATFORM proved to be an easily navigated forum for dedicated footwear
retailers and department and specialty store apparel buyers alike. Under one
roof, MAGIC succeeded as the first show in the industry to successfully bring
together the largest variety of footwear with an equally comprehensive range
of apparel.

“We are thrilled with the initial success of FN PLATFORM,” said Chris
DeMoulin, MAGIC International President and Executive Vice President of
Advanstar’s Fashion Group. “We will continue to gather valuable feedback from
exhibitors and retailers to make the show even better in August.”

Retailer/Exhibitor Feedback:

“FN PLATFORM pulled it off! We had an outstanding show with plenty of
unsolicited customers, as well as buyer appointments. Our appointments ranged
from independents to the majors, and they were all pleased with the ability to
work the show comfortably. My hat is off to you guys.”

- Exhibitor Ken Braun, J75 by Jump, Jump USA Inc.

“FN PLATFORM was fantastic. Much better than any other show. If this continues
for next season, I will be very pleased to attend.” – Alex Mohammed, Buyer
for Novecento Studio.

“FN PLATFORM was a wonderful addition to MAGIC. We found all our old vendors
as well as many new ones. Buying clothing, shoes, and accessories at the same
market makes for a more coordinated and more profitable buy. Thanks for this
great addition to an already wonderful MAGIC Show.”

- Gene Rees, Buyer for F Rees

“I loved FN PLATFORM. It was easy to shop and there were a lot of great
brands. Staff was super friendly. I will for sure go again.” – Emily Waldron,
Buyer for Onlineshoes.com

FN PLATFORM HIGHLIGHTS:

* Over 550 exhibiting footwear brands.
* Over 65,000 square feet of space.
* Buyer response was overwhelming from the likes of Macy’s, Anthropologie,
Kurt Geiger and many many more.
* Dynamic Keynote speech by Zappos’ CEO Tony Hsieh.
* Anniversary Celebration honoring milestones of those in the footwear
industry celebrating their longevity or launch in business. Included
incredible brands like Steve Madden, Sperry Topsider and Donald J. Pliner.
* Easy-to-navigate and well merchandised floorplans using five visually
stunning lifestyle neighborhoods:
* COSMO- Women’s Fashion Footwear such as Stuart Weitzman, Ted Baker,
Donald J. Pliner, Ralph Lauren, L.A.M.B., Juicy Couture, kate spade, Missoni,
Elizabeth & James and Cynthia Vincent.
* CAMP- Men’s and Women’s Athleisure/Euro Trend/Lifestyle Casual/Americana.
Sample exhibitors included Palladium, Sperry Topsiders, K-Swiss, Hunter
Boots, Lacoste, UES, Superga, K-Swiss and Fossil.
* BOND- Men’s Collections with exhibitors like Cole Haan, Allen Edmonds,
Neil M., Calvin Klein Men’s, HUGO, Bruno Magli, Hudson and Kenneth Cole New
York.
* ZEN-Men’s & Women’s Comfort area with exhibitors Naturalizer, Easy Spirit,
Sofft, Medici, Crocs, Tommy Bahama, Isola. And more.
* INPLAY-Junior’s and Children’s included exhibitors Stride Rite, DV by Dolce
Vita, Jessica Simpson Kids, N.Y.L.A., Poetic License, Diesel Kids, Dollhouse,
Zigi and XOXO.
* Opening Night Charity Bowling Event: Raised over $11,000 for footwear
charity YP210 – YOUNG PROFESSIONALS for Two Ten.
* Additionally, MAGIC Marketplace reported first time buyer registration up
over 9%, and a 13% increase in overseas buyer registration

About FN PLATFORM

FN PLATFORM is a comprehensive event for Men’s, Women’s and Children’s
footwear, FN PLATFORM is a joint venture of Advanstar Communications,
Fairchild Fashion Group and Footwear News. Launched in February 2010, more
information is available at www.fnplatform.com.

About MAGIC

Every August and February, the fashion industry converges in Las Vegas for
the most influential event in the business – the MAGIC Marketplace. 2010
launches MAGIC’s dual campuses at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the
Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The August 2010 MAGIC Marketplace will run
from August 17-19. For up-to-date exhibitor listings, seminar scheduling,
travel support and registration information, please visit
www.magiconline.com.

SOURCE MAGIC Marketplace

Kathleen Flaherty of K21 Communications, +1-310-203-8444,
kflaherty@magiconline.com, for MAGIC Marketplace

German equestrian federations disbands national teams

German equestrian federations disbands national teamsHamburg – The German equestrian federation (FN) on Thursday disbanded its national teams in the Olympic disciplines of show-jumping, dressage and three-day event after a string of doping accusations.

The FN said in a statement that any rider who wants to be part of a future team must pass before an independent panel set up by the German Olympic Committee (DOSB).

The move is unprecedented in German high-performance sport.

The FN also suspended top rider Ludger Beerbaum, a four-time Olympic champion, indefinitely for team events over the issue.

“We want to make an important step towards credibility with the disbanding of the (national team) squads,” said FN president Breido Graf zu Rantzau.

“A rider who wants to return into the squad must face the special commission and must speak about his attitude and behaviour as a top rider.”

DOSB general director Michael Vesper told the German Press Agency dpa: “I welcome this move. It is a radical step by the FN.”

The DOSB panel, due to start its work in June, is to probe athletes and officials after several positive tests for medications ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

That does not lead to sanctions, but rider Christian Ahlmann was the among several riders caught in Beijing for using forbidden substances on his horse and banned for six months.

The FN also said that another horse may have been treated illegally in China where German riders won three gold, one silver and one bronze medal.

Beerbaum, who was part of the Olympic show-jumping team, was suspended after effectively admitting to illegal practices last weekend in a television interview.

“In the past I had the attitude: anything that isn’t found is allowed,” he said. (dpa)

Laughter is indeed the best medicine

Washington, Apr 17 (ANI): Laughter is indeed the best form of medicine – because it is good for the heart, says a new study.

In the research, “mirthful laughter” was linked to lower cholesterol and less risk of cardiovascular disease.

Lee Berk, a psychoneuroimmunologist, of Loma Linda University, and Dr. Stanley Tan, an endocrinologist and diabetes specialist at Oak Crest Health Research Institute in Loma Linda, examined the effects of mirthful laughter on 20 high-risk diabetic patients with hypertension and hyperlipidemia – an elevation of lipids in the bloodstream.

In the study, a group of 20 high-risk diabetic patients with hypertension and hyperlipidemia were divided into two groups: roup C (control) and Group L (laughter). Both groups were started on standard medications for diabetes (glipizide, TZD, metformin), hypertension (ACE inhibitor or ARB) and hyperlipidemia (statins).

The researchers then followed both groups for 12 months, testing their blood for the stress hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine; HDL cholesterol; inflammatory cytokines TNF-a FN-? and IL-6, which contribute to the acceleration of atherosclerosis and C-reactive proteins (hs-CRP), a marker of inflammation and cardiovascular disease.

Group L viewed self-selected humor for 30 minutes in addition to the standard therapies described above.

At the end of the time period, 26 percent of the laughter group had higher levels of high-density lipoprotein, the “good” cholesterol, compared to 3 percent in the control group. Harmful C-reactive proteins decreased 66 percent in the laughter group vs. 26 percent for the control group.

The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Physiological Society, part of the Experimental Biology 2009 gathering in New Orleans Convention. (ANI)

UPDATE 1-Auto supplier Noble seeks bankruptcy protection

Cites frozen credit, volume declines

* European, Asian, Mexican units excluded

DETROIT, April 15 (Reuters) – Auto parts supplier Noble International Ltd (NOBL.O) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for its North American operations on Wednesday, citing a steep decline in auto production and tight credit.

Noble is the latest U.S. auto parts supplier to seek bankruptcy protection as a result of the decline in U.S. vehicle sales to their lowest level in nearly 27 years and the increasing financial strain on Detroit’s automakers.

The Troy, Michigan-based company, which makes laser-welded blanks and roll-formed products and other steel components, has supplied parts to General Motors Corp (GM.N), Ford Motor Co (F.N) and Chrysler LLC.

“The frozen credit markets and diminished volumes have limited our ability to effectuate a solution outside of bankruptcy,” Noble Chief Executive Andrew Tavi said in a statement.

The company said three of its customers recently moved to buy laser-welded products from other suppliers.

Noble said in March it was seeking short-term funding from Detroit’s three automakers, and that without help it was unlikely to maintain operations to March 23.

The auto supplier defaulted on a debt payment on March 1.

Noble’s European, Asian and Mexican affiliates are excluded from the bankruptcy.

Noble provides steel structural components to the auto industry, including parts that increase vehicle body strength and reduce weight. Customers also include Daimler AG (DAIGn.DE), BMW (BMWG.DE), Fiat SpA (FIA.MI) and Honda Motor Co Ltd (7267.T).

The U.S. auto industry is suffering from its worst downturn in decades, with industrywide sales about 40 percent in the first three months of 2009. (Reporting by Soyoung Kim; Editing by Gary Hill)

Back to basics: Masters show importance of lines and strokes

New Delhi, April 10 (IANS) In this age of digitisation of art, lines, drawing, figures and manual artistic skill have taken a backseat. To highlight the importance of these basics, the capital’s oldest art display house, the Dhoomimal Gallery, is holding an exhibition of 100 works by 80 artists.

‘Drawing: The Essence II’ shows the importance of line, strokes and basic drawing in the journey of Indian art – from its pristine classical forms to modernism, abstraction and complex digital play.

Some of the works are timeless. A mother and child charcoal line drawing in black and white on paper by Jamini Roy dating back to the 1940s shows that an artist does not need anything more than a charcoal pencil and a few spartan strokes to convey the bond between a mother and child on paper.

A 1931 pen and ink sketch of a portly Oriental man, ‘Man Vi’, by Sailoz Mookherjee speaks of his mastery over strokes and figurative drawing, while a collection of seven pen and ink figure drawings by F.N. Souza spanning over two decades between 1950s and 1970s is just a few fluid strokes that capture the contours of the human body.

Some of the other artists featured in the show include Krishen Khanna, Anjolie Ela Menon, Jatin Das, M.F. Husain, Laxma Goud, Paritosh Sen, Sunil Das, Satish Gujral, Seema Kohli, V.S. Adurkar, Zainul Abedin, Aambadas, J. Swaminathan and Arpita Singh.

‘We were losing sight of lines in the last few years and decided to highlight its importance. Lines and strokes were the bulwark of masters like Sailoz Mookherjee, F.N. Souza, M.F. Husain and Nandalal Bose,’ said Uma Jain of the Dhoomimal Gallery.