Marks & Spencer apologises for selling ‘bra tops’ to six year olds

London, May 13 (ANI): Brit retailer Marks & Spencer has issued an apology for selling “bra tops” to six-year-old girls.

The Santoni heart-patterned underwear tops were aimed at 6-8 year old girls and labelled “bra tops”, although some were also called “crop tops”.

A tag attached to the underwear said it was “a great way of getting girls used to the idea of wearing bras”.

However, M&S has had to change both the labelling and description after children’s charities and parents criticised the underwear.

“We”ve campaigned to combat a trend towards the sexualisation of children and one aspect of this is the production and selling of clothes that are absolutely inappropriate,” the Telegraph quoted Claude Knights, the director of child protection charity Kidscape, as telling the Guardian.

Denying that the product was a bra top, Mark & Spencer said: “We”re sorry that the labelling of our Santoni top has caused confusion.

“The garment is designed to be worn under clothing and doesn”t feature any support or padding, which makes it totally appropriate for its intended age range. All future packaging of the product will be correctly labelled and we have already altered its online description.

“We are totally committed to ensuring our clothing offer is age appropriate.” (ANI)

‘Miracle’ knickers ‘no magical cure for cellulite’

London, Apr 29 (ANI): Marks & Spencer and other retailers have been criticized for promoting pants that are anti-cellulite.

The knickers, said to contain embedded ingredients such as aloe vera and caffeine, promise to help women look trimmer – without the need to take any extra exercise.

The 29.50-pound M&S knickers, described as ”Waist & Thigh Cincher”, claim to be independently proven to reduce visible signs of cellulite, reports The Telegraph.

However, according to consumer watchdog Which?, women might be being misled into buying the expensive garment.

A spokesman for the M&S pointed out that the label merely said “proven to reduce the visible signs of cellulite” rather than diminishing the cellulite itself.”

She added: “This garment is clearly labelled and we refute claims that it could be misleading. It contains ingredients widely used in creams to reduce visible signs of cellulite and the fabric has been independently tested.” (ANI)

Queen Victoria”s silk stockings fetch £690 at auction

London, April 01 (ANI): Queen Victoria’s pair of hand stitched black and white silk stockings with a crest design have fetched 690 pounds at an auction.

They are believed to have been the monarch’s favourite design during 1870s, reports The Scotsman.

Auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull believed that it would be a crowning glory for Victorian collectors around the world.

The hosiery garment went under the hammer for 690 pounds yesterday at the auction house”s Edinburgh sale, exceeding their 400 pounds value. (ANI)

Dress made entirely out of chocolate to be unveiled Down Under

Melbourne, March 31 (ANI): A new designer outfit made of chocolate is set to be unveiled at an Easter fashion show in southeast Queensland.

According to the Gold Coast Bulletin, haute couture designer Richard de Chazal made the gown in three using 44 pounds (20kg) of chocolate, reports the Courier Mail.

The costume was created through a detailed process of applying dabs of chocolate to the bodice. Thereafter, the chocolate was smoothed out with a spatula and heat gun.

The bodice was lined with swimming pool sealant and resin so that the chocolate did not seep through the fabric.

De Chazal said: “The weekend was spent with many blisters and burns with the help of a chef friend as we tried to concoct the perfect chocolate for a garment.” (ANI)

Pay $1,625 for designer T-shirt, complete with tears and holes!

New York, Mar 30 (ANI): In normal circumstances one would throw away a torn piece of garment, but a designer cotton T-shirt covered with dozens of holes and tears is boasting a price tag of 1,625 dollars.

French designer Christophe Decarnin has created the expensive olive-green number from haute couture brand Balmain.

The “slashed Army T-shirt” has several small and large holes on the front and back, and is made from 100 percent cotton.

It comes in only one colour and can be bought online, and the gaping holes on the front resemble two eyes, a nose and a mouth.

Luxury fashion retailer net-a-porter.com has described the T-shirt as “stylishly dishevelled cool.”

However, economy-conscious people are thinking otherwise.

“I can”t spend that much money on one item. The maximum I spend on a T-shirt is 7 dollars,” the New York Daily News quoted home health aide Isolda Marcial-Blanco, 56, who lives in Chelsea. (ANI)

‘Burka like a paper bag on head’ remark lands Brit MP in trouble

London, Mar.24 (ANI): A Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) has invited trouble by abusing the ‘burka’, as a probe has been ordered against him for inciting racial hatred.

During a parliamentary debate last month, Philip Hollobone had urged the House of Commons to ‘seriously consider’ banning the garment, which is often used by Muslim women.

“Wearing a burka was like going round with a paper bag over your head,” Hollobone had reportedly said on the floor of the house.

Meanwhile, Hollobone has criticised the Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council (NREC) for complaining against him.

He blasted NREC for challenging the freedom of speech while attempting to have him prosecuted.

“It”s complete hypocrisy. They talk on one hand about freedom of speech and expression and then without even making contact try to get me prosecuted. In this country you should be able to have a debate about controversial subjects without the threat of police action. That”s how democracy works,” The Sun quoted Hollobone, as saying.

It may be noted that NREC had sent letter to the MP criticising his stance on Muslim women who choose to wear the burka in public.

Speaking during a debate on the occasion of International Women”s Day (March 11) last week, Hollobone had insisted that wearing a burka was not in accordance with the country’s culture.

“This is Britain. We are not a Muslim country. Covering your face in public is strange and to many people both intimidating and offensive,” Hollobone had said.

According to an estimate, burkas are worn by about 100,000 of the 2.4million Muslims living in Britain. (ANI)

Leggings that zap cellulite!

London, Sept 18 (ANI): Women’s prayers have been finally answered: High Street store John Lewis has launched leggings that can get rid of cellulite.

The miraculous garment contains tiny crystals that heat the skin, melting fat which is then passed out by the body.

The smoothing leggings can help women lose flab around the hips and waist, reports The Sun.

Tests in Brazil found eight out of ten women wearing them daily lost inches in under a month.

John Lewis will start to sell tights in the range from October. (ANI)

Now, “Male Compression” vest to help men win battle of the bulge

London, Sept 9 (ANI): Chubby men could soon lose their beer bellies without hitting the treadmill – thanks to a new corset for blokes!

Venezuelan-born underwear designer and medic Dr Raquel Borges has created the revolutionary vest that promises to beat that bulging belly for good.

Under the banner “Male Compression”, the West Lothian-based inventor has taken the vest famously worn by fatties like Rab C Nesbitt and turned it into a tummy-flattening garment, reports The Scotsman.

“A lot of men want to hide their tummy but it’s very hard for them to do it,” the designer said.

“One man said to me that he wanted to wear a kilt at a wedding but felt it was difficult because of his large tummy. I showed him these and he thought they were great,” she added.

Raquel runs her own undies shop in Uphall, West Lothian, after moving to Scotland with husband Jesus, 44, four years ago.

She said: “In South America almost everyone wears body shaping underwear. It’s not that Scotsmen have a worse shape – but they are starting to want to do something about it.” (ANI)

Burqini banned in Italian town

London, Aug.20 (ANI): Muslim women have been banned from wearing the body-concealing swimming costume known as a burqini in the northern Italian town of Varallo Sesia.

According to The Telegraph and Italy’s official ANSA news agency, the burqini consists of a headscarf, tunic and loose leggings and women wearing the garment, face a fine of 500 Euros (430 pounds).

Gianluca Buonanno, the mayor of Piedmont in northern Italy, said: “The sight of a ‘masked woman’ could disturb small children, not to mention problems of hygiene. We don’t have to be tolerant all the time.”

Justifying the move, Buonanno added: “Imagine a western woman bathing in a bikini in a Muslim country. The consequences could be decapitation, prison or deportation. We are merely prohibiting the use of the burqini.”

Last week a swimming pool in Paris refused entry to a burqini-clad woman on similar grounds, adding to tensions over Muslim dress in France. (ANI)

Bras are men’s latest stress busters!

London, Jul 11 (ANI): Unwinding after a stressful day at work now comes easy for men with the introduction of the latest anxiety-busting accessory – a bra made specifically for them.

The garment, which comes at 20 pounds, is made of soothing silky material, and it is said to make the wearer feel “calm and revived”.

Makers of the bra have produced 5,000 in a choice of white, pink or black, but they fit only the smallest of manboobs as they come in just one size, a tiny A cup.

Wishroom, a mail order undies firm, started selling the Bra-O in Japan last year, and most of its customers are “salaried men” and office workers in their 30s and 40s.

“They’re not interested in cross-dressing, they just find wearing a bra relaxes them,” the Sun quoted Wishroom boss Masayuki Tsuchiya as saying. (ANI)

Ryan Reynolds wears see-through underwear in ‘The Proposal’ sex scene

Washington, July 3 (ANI): Ryan Reynolds wore cellophane underwear while filming a sex scene with co-star Sandra Bullock for a new movie.

The actor plays PA Andrew Paxton in ‘The Proposal’, which revolves around an assistant whose boss forces him to marry her to ensure she isn’t deported.

He asserts that he had no problem donning the transparent garment as he thinks he looked good in it.

When asked whether a scene in which he and co-star Sandra Bullock appear naked was “sexy”, he said: “I don’t know what was unsexy about it. I mean I was furnished with cellophane underwear that day. That’s a beautiful sight. A nice see through, cellophane Speedo.”

Sandra insists she agreed to strip off for the movie as the scene, which sees the pair accidentally bump into each other while both are nude, was funny rather than romantic.

“I’ve done those scenes that are supposed to be sexy and they’re just not,” Contactmusic quoted her as having told BANG Showbiz.

“The full naked body, especially the men, and I hate to say it, a full frontal is not that funny or sexy. But you hide a little something between us men and women and it becomes sexy, it’s sexier,” she added. (ANI)

Chandigarh, an important fashion destination

Chandigarh, June 26 (ANI): Chandigarh has emerged as an important fashion destination from market as well as promising designers’ perspective.

Fashion has taken centre stage in the region following the setting up of several fashion technology institutes like NIIFT, IIFT and IIFD in and around Chandigarh. These institutes provide talented young designers an opportunity to make their mark in the rapidly growing industry.

Top models recently sashayed down the ramp in Chandigarh in outfits created by budding fashion designers. The show full of style and glamour got an excellent response.

Apparel industry leaders, renowned fashion designers and marketing gurus were all there to pick best out the best designer. There is great enthusiasm in the industry despite the global meltdown.

“Because of the recession that impact is there on garment industry but its not that much that have affect on IT sector because in garment industry, they want fresh / young designers to come and show their talent because now a days new generation is so practical and these designs itself shows that it’s a very practical collections of the industry demands the young designers from us and they want us to send our students from GMT, who have learnt the garment manufacturing techniques, who have learnt the designing section. Students from the apparel merchandising also they want from us,” said Shamir Kaur, Principal of International Institute of Fashion Technology, Mohali.

Punjabis are becoming more fashion conscious. And, the NRI influence has played a major part in triggering this off.

Budding designers are now keep in mind the desires and aspirations of their well-heeled customers in Punjab and across India. From ethnic to contemporary, there is tremendous scope to explore.

Models who have performed in Chandigarh say that the city has arrived on the fashion scene due to high-level of fashion consciousness among girls and boys here.

“Chandigarh has improved a lot in terms of fashion. The young designers who are coming from Chandigarh are simply amazing, the kind of collection that they have got. The shows that I do here for two best institutes, I think their collections are amazing. They are becoming better year after year, so talent in Chandigarh is growing and its world class. I feel that its high time that Chandigarh’s designers should be a part of India Fashion Week and I also suggested last time when I came here that there should be a Chandigarh Fashion Week. If somebody offers me, I will be there to choreograph the show. A Chandigarh Fashion Week showcasing the collection only by Chandigarh and Punjab designers,” said Kaushik Ghosh, Fashion Choreographer.

The upcoming Fashion Technology Park in Mohali displays the rapidly expanding global fashion market.

The boom necessitates a streamlined and synergized organization of talent and resources in the Fashion and Lifestyle sectors. The Indian fashion industry is in the process of building future brands. And Punjab’s contribution in this direction is creditable. By Sunil Sharma (ANI)

Gujarat textile traders pin hope on government’s annual budget

Surat, June 26 (ANI): Textile traders in Surat, who are hit by global recession, high bank interests and soaring cotton prices, hope for some relief in the government’s annual budget which is scheduled to be presented on July 6.

The textile industry of Surat has been feeling the heat of global financial crisis with export orders going down.

The industry used to be flooded with orders round the year and small units were busy expanding their operational capacities to meet the increased demand. However, this does not seem to be the case any more.

Anil Bhagwani, a garment exporter said that the Central Government should make special provisions for the export of garments.

“Our expectation is that right from the yarn weaving till the market, where finished garments are sold, the government should give more subsidy and as far as the finished garment is concerned, the government should make provisions for export so that the garment business flourishes,” Bhagwani added.

Devkishen Mangani, spokesman for Textile Association, Surat, said that the audit limit, fixed by the Central Government at rupees 40 lakh must be increased to rupees two crores for the benefit of small traders.

“Our biggest demand is that around 20-25 years back, the Central government had set the audit limit at rupees 40 lakh and till now it’s the same and has not been increased. If it’s not increased, the small traders will not be able to progress. So we demand that it should be increased to two crores and also the Income Tax relaxation should be fixed at rupees three lakhs so that the small traders can come forward,” Mangani added.

The Indian textile industry is one of the largest employment generators in the world.It is also one of the largest textile industries in the world second only to China. (ANI)

Krishna terms Sarkozy’s remark on veil ‘personal opinion’

New Delhi, June 24 (ANI) External Affairs Minister S.M Krishna has termed the remark made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on the burqa (veil) worn by Muslim, as his personal opinion

Talking to reporter here on Tuesday, Krishna said, “Well, we have also read that news item and I certainly would not add anything more. I think it is his opinion and then he is entitled to hold his own opinion. We hold to our opinion,” Krishna said.

French President had said on Monday that the wearing of burqas, the traditional Muslim garment covering women from head to toe, was not “welcome in France.” He said the burqa was a “sign of subservience” and a matter of “a woman’s freedom and dignity,”

France, home to Europe’s largest Muslim minority, is divided over how to reconcile secular values with religious freedom. (ANI)

Muslim clerics in Uttar Pradesh outraged over Sarkozy’s ‘burqa’ remarks

Lucknow, June 23(ANI): Muslim clerics in Lucknow on Tuesday expressed their displeasure at the French President Nicolas Sarkozy for terming the burqa as an index of subjugating women, and said Muslims must be given complete freedom to practice their religion.

“It’s an attack on freedom of humanity and the people who profess secularism are talking just in contrast to that. If Muslims are living in their country, then the Muslims must be given complete freedom to practice their religion; else declare it a Christian theocratic country so that all the Muslims would leave,” said Maulana Kalbe Jawad Naqvi, a senior Shia Muslim cleric.

French President had said on Monday that the wearing of burqas, the traditional Muslim garment covering women from head to toe, was not “welcome in France.” He said the burqa was a “sign of subservience” and a matter of “a woman’s freedom and dignity,”

However, his remarks have not gone down well with Muslim clerics here, who said that such statements by the head of a state is an attempt to defame Islam and Muslims all over the world.

France, home to Europe’s largest Muslim minority, is divided over how to reconcile secular values with religious freedom. (ANI)

France considering proposal to ban burqa

London, June 20 (ANI): French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s Government is considering a proposal of parliamentarians to ban the burqa and other Islamic clothing.

French MPs called for an inquiry into the wearing of the head-to-toe Islamic veil in the country, and whether Muslim women who cover themselves completely in public constitute an assault on French secularism and women’s right.

Luc Chatel, a government spokesman, said that all the options were open, including a ban, The Telegraph reports. “If it were determined that wearing the burka is a submissive act, and that it is contrary to republican principles, well naturally parliament would have to drawn the necessary conclusions,” he said.

If that meant introducing new legislation, Luc Chatel said, “why not”.

French MPs call for a parliamentary commission to consider the fate of the burqa got support from senior figures in Sarkozy’s Government.

While France’s Muslim Council said the proposal “stigmatized” Islam, a commission is now expected to be established on the urging of the group of 65 politicians led by André Gerin, a Communist MP. Many of the 65 MPs are members of Sarkozy’s Right-wing UMP party.

Gerin is also mayor of the southern city of Venissieux, which has a high immigrant population and where he complains women cover themselves in “mobile prisons”.

The proposal won the support of Fadela Amara, the Urban Affairs Minister and a women’s rights campaigner whose parents were Muslims, The Telegraph reports.

“We must do everything to stop burqas from spreading, in the name of democracy, of the republic, of respect for women,” she said, describing the garment as “a kind of tomb for women.”

In 2004, France passed a controversial law forbidding any conspicuous religion symbols from state schools, including veils, which are banned in government offices. (ANI)

Innovative apparel designs by Sikkim women

Gangtok, May 20 (ANI): Banking on their creative traits, women of Sikkim have emerged in the forefront of apparel designing.

The credit for this could be attributed to the Directorate of Handloom and Handicraft of Sikkim for setting up an Apparel Training and Design Centre (ATDC) where young girls and women undergo extensive training in fashion designing.

The main aim of the training programme conducted by this institute is to upgrade the artistic designers in the garment industry.

Apart from basic skills, the students are taught and given exposure to the apparel manufacturing technology, textile design, knitting garments, embroidery, fashion sampling, patterns and cutting, ornamental creations, sewing machine operation and apparel merchandising among others.

Although this training programme is open for both men and women, it is the eves who have been more enterprising and coming forth to learn and master various aspects of apparel designing.

” I was interested in the fashion designing world. I was waiting for this kind of opportunity,” said Ashwina Lama, a trainee.

Apart from imparting the art of apparel design, the Directorate of Handloom and Handicraft has also set up an apparel unit solely for women at the ATDC.

“By this training we would like to give them employment opportunities not only within the state but outside the state also. Especially, you must have now come to know that placement is guaranteed in this training programme. So, it is not necessary for our young girls and boys after completing this training programme to go and join garment industry available in the other states but now they can start their own unit,” said Namrata Thapa, Director of Handloom and Handicrafts, Sikkim and Director, ATDC.

The women who have ‘graduated’ from ATDC have several vocational options like making uniforms for police, army and different other professions.

Apparel industry in India plays a significant role related to the textile industry. The fashion designing as a profession is maintaining its pace with the new trends and allied techniques. By Tashi Pradhan (ANI)

Bangalore hosts fashion show by fresh graduates

Bangalore, May 16 (ANI): The graduation of the creative designer students of the Army Institute of Fashion Designing (AIFD) in Bangalore was marked by a gala fashion show.

Several models sashayed down the ramp at this colourful fashion-cum-passing out parade that was aptly titled Design Dapple-2009 and provided an insight of the students’ creative traits.

The models displayed various designs and cuts created by the budding designers on Friday.

One of the graduate-designers Sandhya said that her collection consisted of the garments made out of net so as to give the nursing mothers more freedom to feed her child.

“Basically the garment which I have done is of net. Their function is to make nursing better and discrete for that I have used some slits in the apex and bit of opening to make it loose on the neckline so that they can feed it better,” said Sandhya.

The event highlighted the culmination of design and functionality. (ANI)

A designer collection for differently abled people

Bangalore, May 15 (ANI): A fashion student in Bangalore has created a special collection for the differently abled people.

Senthil, a final year student of Fashion in Army school of fashion and designing, has made this special designer collection.

It’s generally noticed that these special people usually wear loose or ill-fitted clothes and don’t show preference to wear the kind of clothes people normally wear.

Senthil felt driven to work on this unique concept of special collection, which should be fashionable and also functionally suitable for these special people, having observed their difficulties in day-to-day life while clothing themselves.

To make the dress comfortable, Velcro and magnets have been used instead of zippers or buttons. Special garment has also been used to enhance the comfort of clothes.

“The main thing is studying them properly, I studied them for up to six months. The main thing is comfortableness, the second thing is comfortableness, and the third thing is the garment which we are giving should be easy to wear. For this I didn’t use buttons, zippers or anything. It should be easy to remove and put-on. I used Velcro, snap buttons and magnetic buttons,” said Senthil, the Designer.

While studying these people for six months, Senthil realised that these people needed clothes that could keep them warm. Hence, he has given lycra clothes three different treatments to make it soft and warm.

Senthil wants to create a separate designer line in clothes and shoes for these differently abled people in future. By Shweta (ANI)

Men’s answer to Wonderbra: Push-up pants!

London, Apr 21 (ANI): They are men’s answer to the Wonderbra – give it up for the latest craze among blokes: Push-up pants.

The briefs are designed to make the most of modest manhoods, reports The Sun.

The garment, which has special pocket inside that thrusts the contents up and out, has been flying off the shelves since they were introduced.

The pants are the brainchild of designer Roland Lodoli who launched them at his shop in Zagreb, Croatia.

“Now I’m working on some swimwear for men for the summer so they never have to feel ashamed on the beach again – no matter how cold the water,” The Sun quoted him, as saying. (ANI)