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Britain produces some of the world's top fashion designers - Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen among them - but many of the best fly off for Paris, New York or Milan as soon as their star has risen.
Fearing London may lose its place among the world's fashion capitals if its home-grown stars continue to nourish their talents and display their collections elsewhere, one fashion writer decided to take action.
"Fashion Fringe", the brainchild of writer Colin McDowell, is a talent contest loosely based on the "Pop Idol" format that aims to find Britain's next fashion star - and keep the winner at home with £100,000 (BD67,596) to help build a viable business.
The contest's American cousin, a reality TV competition to be hosted by legendary designer Tommy Hilfiger and tentatively titled "The Cut", will force contestants to live together, then dump one from the group each week.
But Fashion Fringe - which won't be televised - is forgoing the attendant reality TV razzmatazz to address more serious issues.
"For some time now I've been unhappy with the state of British fashion: it's been losing its impetus and one of the reasons is that so many big names have simply moved away," McDowell said.
"London's role has been to produce exciting young talent but a lot of that excitement has gone over to Europe or New York ...
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Trendum's analytical technology determines public opinion by tracking Internet chatter on everything from market trends to anti-Semitism. It even knew why Britney Spears decided to lower her profile. Here's why Time Warner, Estee Lauder, CNN, HBO -- and the UN -- are asking for its help.
Want to keep on top of the trends and fads, instead of reading about them in Entertainment Weekly and People weeks later? An Israeli startup called Trendum has developed an analytical tool that monitors information flow on the Internet to determine market trends and popularity, and how people on the Internet are thinking about everything -- from pop stars to politics to ideology.
Trendum was founded four years ago with the general idea to develop tools based on advanced technology that could provide information by analyzing discussion groups, forums, communities, chat rooms, blogs, and online responses. Specializing in online media analysis, Trendum's proprietary Media Mining solutions have created a new way of listening, understanding and reacting to consumers' opinions and the media. Trendum delivers actionable marketing insights from what millions of consumers and journalists are saying.
We realized that millions of people talk about products, brands, programs and stars, constituting a huge source group that no one knew how to mine
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The city's followers of fashion dipped their lids to the eclectic yesterday.
In the absence of the big houses, the Melbourne Design and Fashion Incubator gallery stepped into the breach, launching its collection of youthful designs at Melbourne Central.
Otherwise, the first day of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week was full of parties and small events, but not a lot of fashion on the catwalks.
The much awaited Flower House parades, to be held in a marquee at Federation Square, will kick off tonight, while Myer begins its parades tomorrow.
At the MDFI launch, Lance Tucker painted models' faces in white with rosy cheeks and bud lips, and wigs.
But it didn't detract from his impressive collection with a stand-out watermelon silk dress with an orange floral motif print.
The ruffled carnivale sleeves flounced as the model cantered along, while a gathered sash around the waist accentuated the right curves.
Jason Grech, who used to be a part of the design team of racing attire queen Barbara Wilson, also has a bright future.
Bright Mediterranean blue studded his collection in a hot lace mini-dress and a silky aqua shell top made with hundreds of threads, which draped across the body to reveal some skin.
Andrea Gorrie is a new force on the millinery front and pleased the champagne-sipping crowd with her nat
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Diversity Is Highlighted By Winners Of Westfield Style Pasifika Fashion Award 2004.
The Supreme Award Winner for the Westfield Style Pasifika 2004 Fashion Award is an extraordinary and talented young designer, Charmaine Love (26) whose garment 'Te Korowai' was inspired by the traditional Maori cloak. The winning garment was from the Tagata Pasifika TV Urban Menswear category.
She also won the Clairol Herbal Essences Three Piece Collection category and was a finalist in three other sections - Traditionally Inspired, Evening Wear and Urban Streetwear.
"This is a great accolade to a big talent," said the Producer and Director of Westfield Style Pasifika, Stan Wolfgramm, "and the judges were unanimous in their choice."
The Overall Highly Commended Award went to one of the most glamorous garments in the show, the winner of the Hero Category and was designed by Jennifer Jones of Auckland. It is titled 'Hibiscus Heaven' and has been inspired by the Hero community and the hibiscus flower.
Sponsored by the Aids Foundation the Hero category celebrates the gay community in New Zealand.
Commenting on her entries, Charmaine Love said: "My collection of six garments that I entered this year draws inspiration from traditional and contemporary Maori design and art with a focus on weaving, neutral tones and traditional Maori
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Life is messy. Give your child a chocolate ice cream cone and he drops it. The doorbell rings, your dog gets excited and wets the sofa. And lovable Aunt Tillie, who talks with her hands, always spills red wine on the dining room chairs.
Until recently, your choice was either upholstery that looked like it belonged in a hospital waiting room or attractive fabrics that made you paranoid about the stains and spots that come with everyday life.
What if you could have upholstery that looked like it came out of a designer showroom but could resist whatever kids, dogs and clumsy adults dish out? And what if the fabrics on your outdoor furniture looked as fashionable as the upholstery inside?
Thanks to recent textile technology, you can have it all. Performance fabrics can repel stains, shun germs and resist fading. They cost more, but they last longer and may be cheaper in the long run.
Although some of these fabrics have been available for years, they've only recently started to look better and feel softer.
It's easier than ever to go to a furniture store and custom-order performance fabrics on new furniture. At the past two International Home Furnishings Markets, performance fabrics were the big buzz. At the April market, Hickory Hill and Norwalk displayed Sunbrella fabrics prominently. Other manufacturers, from La-Z-
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