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Made In Heaven Jeans

THE BEGINNING
I grew up with denim in my blood.  It was almost inevitable that the denim industry would be my calling. My Dad started the legendary Jean Machine stores, my Mum, Chekkie Maskell, was a top 70s denim model and my Godfather launched Made in Heaven in 1969 – a brand which has now, in its reincarnation as MiH Jeans, become my baby.

DENIM BUSINESS
In the early '70s Dad bought a van full of old denims and tried to wholesale them to all the trendy boutiques in London, except that everyone laughed at him. In an attempt to salvage some profit and dignity from the venture, he took a shop on the King's Road and filled the shelves with his stock. He figured if he sold it within three months he would be ok – he sold out within three weeks.

THE BLUE JEAN KING AND HIS BRIDE
He soon became known as the Blue Jean King and met Mum – his Blue Jean Bride – when one day she modeled designs from a new denim range called Made in Heaven for him. When I came along a few years later, MiH was the coolest jeans brand around and its creator had become my parents’ good friend and my appointed godfather.

THE TRUNKS IN THE ATTIC
These cool credentials didn't dawn on me until my early teens when along with my three sisters we discovered trunks of old stock in the attic. From then on I was permanently denim-clad and my mind was made up: I would revive MiH Jeans. And, following a fashion degree at Central St. Martins and training at Nicole Fahri, that is exactly what I did.

THE BEST BUMS IN THE WORLD
I'm proud to say that today we dress some of the best bums in the world from New York to Tokyo, and not forgetting London, where I live with my husband and son, and where serves as constant inspiration for my work.

Penelope Chilvers

Penelope Chilvers discovered these wonderful handmade Spanish riding boots while living in Spain, fell in love with them and brought them back to England. We put ours on in October and barely take them off until the sun comes out! This season Vanessa has bagged the new ‘Colombe’ two tone style, a welcome addition to the brown ones that she’s been wearing for years.
International style brand, Penelope Chilvers designs luxurious boots, bags and clogs made from the finest leather in small family run artisan factories in and . Taking inspiration from the heritage of the Spanish riding boot, Penelope Chilvers uses her own experience and talent to craft beautiful designs that will last a life time.

Especially known for her exquisite range of handmade leather boots, Penelope Chilvers is continuing to produce stylish pieces certain to be wardrobe classics, which take you effortlessly from season to season. 

 ‘We’ve sold the boot in its hundreds; to sell over 100 pairs in one style is quite a phenomenon for a small boutique. It’s a design classic. We think the reason it is so successful is because it’s not a fashion boot. It doesn’t dictate to you how to wear it. You can make it very personal to your style’, says Sam Robinson, co-owner of The Cross boutique in Notting Hill, where the Penelope Chilvers label was first launched.

James Jeans

JAMES JEANS Founded by husband and wife team James Sway and Seun Lim, James Jeans has produced luxury denim since 2004. Their premium cured jeans are beautifully-made and fit as if specifically crafted for each individual.

Their secret techniques include: signature darted back pockets to flatter the posterior, clever use of highlighting to lengthen the leg and slim the thigh, and expert hand-finishing. The dry-aged jeans come in a variety of rises and leg shapes including the best-selling 'Hector' high-rise boot cut. Each season James Jeans also presents a collection that includes skirts, dresses and waistcoats.

Since Spring 2008, the collection has included the James Jeans Green Edition, which uses 100% certified organic cotton and olive leaf extract to soften the fabric and act as a natural anti-bacterial agent. Organic, plant-based dyes achieve a selection of rich colours. All other components used in the collection are bio-degradable.

Internationally regarded as the ultimate jean for comfort and style, Oprah Winfrey voted them the best jeans for 'every body'.

James Jeans' legion of celebrity followers include Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Uma Thurman and Courtney Cox

Belstaff

BELSTAFF - A GENUINE PRODUCT ENGLISH MADE & DESIGNED SINCE 1924

Belstaff was founded in 1924 by Eli Belovitch and his son in law Harry Grosberg in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Here Belstaff created the first ever waterproof and breathable fabric, a waxed cotton, with which they specialised in producing their all-weather motorbike jackets. Naturally progressing into making technical garments, windproof, waterproof and capable of withstanding heavy friction they were the pioneers for the rapidly growing trend of aviators and bikers alike.

With patrons such as thirties motocross legend Sammy Miller, the revolutionary Che Guevara, the desert legend Lawrence of Arabia and film idol Steve McQueen the jacket became a legendary fashion icon.
They are the sort of thing you might pick up from an industrial workwear outlet or an agricultural goods supplier: durable, sensible, practical, like a slightly less floppy version of a Barbour. Even the Belstaff Phoenix label looks disturbingly rough and ready and underdesigned. Indeed Belstaff’s has a distinguished heritage, with its roll-call of starry enthusiasts (from George Clooney to the rappers Nelly and 50 Cent) and the fact that the hipper Italian kids wouldn’t dream of wearing anything else in winter.
But this, for me, is what makes Belstaff extra-brilliant. It’s hard. It’s manly, it’s proper, real clothing, like you thought they’d stopped making years ago.
And they very nearly did. During the textile crisis in the 90s, the factory in Stoke-on-Trent, where the clothes had been manufactured since 1924, closed down, and after a brief move to Wellingborough, it seemed that Belstaff was doomed. Then in stepped Franco Malenotti who bought a share and promptly moved the whole operation to Italy, where it remains today in a factory near Venice.
Franco was a fanatical biker who, in the Sixties, was part of a superbike racing team with Honda and went on to design motorcycles for Laverda and Moto Guzzi. He had loved Belstaff since his teens, and when he came to London the first thing he did was to buy one of their jackets.
Vintage Belstaff jackets are now extremely collectable. First came the Trialmaster jacket worn by biking legends such as Sammy Miller (who won a record 1,250 victories). Then, in 1943, came the Black Prince motorcycle jacket, of which more than 40,000 were produced.
Rather like Levi’s, Adidas and Puma, Belstaff has cannily exploited the demand for all things retro by looking to its back catalogue. Its new Aviator range of beaten-up-looking leather and waxed cotton flying jackets looks just like the sort of thing fighter pilots might have worn in the 1930s. As indeed they did. Belstaff supplied the flying gear worn by the RAF and by Howard Hughes.
Despite the Union Jack on its labels, Belstaff’s biggest market by far is Italy. Typical, isn’t it, that it took an Italian to realise what a treasure trove we had on our doorstep.

Juicy Couture

In 1994, Gela Nash-Taylor (wife of Duran Duran's John Taylor) and Pamela Skaist-Levy, both residing in Pacoima, California, decided to create their own fashion label, Travis Jeans, selling maternity pants. In 1996 the girls changed the name to Juicy Couture, the aim was to create sexy girly apparel and a label equal to that of other major labels, but to be more affordable to the general public (although this is no longer the case, as most of their apparel is priced at more than $100 USD). Their line, which they called "Juicy Couture," was to include a variety of athletic and casual wear, most notably the velour tracksuit that won Juicy Couture a great deal of popularity. Taylor and Levy did not have much money with which to start their label, thus leading to a slow start-up of the company. In 1996, after establishing their company and needing to get the brand in the public eye, the women sent their completed designs to celebrities. Madonna, credited with turning the velour tracksuit into a trend, was sent a track suit with "Madge" embroidered on it (Juicy Couture rarely uses "Madge" on their clothing anymore). Madonna was seen wearing the tracksuit, and the company became a success almost instantly. Juicy Couture was a very limited brand, being available at very few locations such as Neiman Marcus; the company did not establish exclusive boutiques and flagship stores until the late 00's. Around 2004, the velour tracksuit once again became very popular, and Juicy Couture then became a worldwide known brand.

Juicy Couture's hot-to-trot drawstring hipster pants-and-hoodie combos, in every mouth-watering shade imaginable and in fabrics from velour to cashmere, make up every celebutante's off-duty outfit. Originally based on tracksuits, the line - which was founded by friends Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor in 1994 - has expanded to include ready-to-wear, denim, handbags, jewelry and a second line, Couture Couture, was introduced in 2007. In fact, it would be possible to have an entire Juicy wardrobe - and you'd never feel like you didn't have something to wear.

 Press

THE JUICY GIRLS
New York Times - Style T Magazine August 2009
Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor turned a lowly sweatsuit into an empire of fun.
What started as a line of maternity jeans has morphed into a multi-million dollar fashion business for Gela Nash-Taylor and Pamela Skaist-Levy. Juicy Couture, which the two best friends started in 1996 with $200, was the tracksuit heard round the world. Today the clothing line includes accessories, fragrances, canine fashions, even Maclaren stroller- all made in a spirit of fun.

ZanZan eyewear

Aviators, bug-eyed, and colorful- every season we've seen different kinds of sunglasses in different forms coming in many different ways.
Welcome to a new generation of sunglasses ready to rock our worlds: Zanzan Eyewear.

With designers inspired from the 60s and early 70s time period mixed in European fashion and chic style, Zanzan eyewear offers limited fashionable sunglasses made in different styles.
Fitted with Sola lenses by Carl Zeiss Vision and made with the highest quality,
Zanzan eyewear has recently debuted its new collection for spring/summer 2009 with four amazing designs.
Made from hand-polished Italian acetate and fitted with Zeiss lenses, they are high quality, good-looking sunglasses.
Each model is limited to 100 frames, so it’s unlikely you’ll bump into anyone with the same pair.
You northern hemisphere-dwelling people are lucky that summer is on its way!

Rubirosa offers a unique Latin American-type style from the 1940s and 50s and adds a touch of South America to Hollywood glam.

Black Rio gives a fierce contrast to any outfit that you're wearing, making it even bolder.

Zazou revives its name from "the swinging kids in war-torn Paris who put the chic into greaseball. " With a classic look that instantly brings back history, this style will be sure to be in high demand.

Just like all the other three styles, Le Sept is brought forth from a nightspot in Paris in the early 70s and still brings that same fashion sense forward each time you look at them- think of bright, audacious, and beautiful.

For a fabulous, high quality pair of sunglasses sure to make a statement, look no further than Zanzan Eyewear. 

Twenty8Twelve by s.miller

The Story:
Style icon Sienna Miller launched Twenty8Twelve with her Central St Martins educated sister Savannah  for autumn winter 2007 after the fashion entrepreneur,
Carlos Ortega approached them to create a designer diffusion level brand.
The collection was critically acclaimed and its star is set to soar higher.

The Collection:
The Miller sisters have done it again with their glorious mix of easy chic separates and on-the-nose trends. We predict you'll love the lace sleeved dresses, burgundy biker jacket, Union Jack T-shirt dress and bib fronted blouse — we know we do!

Last Word:
Super-stylish and super-wearable, the Miller sisters have proved that celebrities can design beautiful clothes.

Press
‘Bottom line: this is an appealing synthesis of their shared penchant for slouchy, hip clothes, with a nod to strong, Balmain-esque shoulders.
There are cute, cropped trench jackets, rugged khaki parka-style coats, minidresses layered over denim leggings and luxurious knits. It’s eminently shoppable and unpretentious’.

 Milly New York 

The Milly by Michelle Smith ready to wear collection has defined the new young luxury niche with smart, sexy, feminine style.
Since her labels launch in 2000, Michelle Smith has served as Milly`s muse, designing ready-to-wear and resort collections of sleek and timeless silhouettes
that not only complete her own wardrobe, but those of her ever-expanding customer base as well. Born out of Smiths lifelong love of fashion, Milly is an iconic brand known for exquisite colour and prints,
luxurious fabrics and attention-to-detail. By combining her creativity with couture techniques and the highest quality fabrics, Smith creates beautiful, functional pieces that easily lend themselves to day or night, season after season.
Convinced from an early age that fashion design was her calling, Smith earned an art school scholarship to study fashion illustration, and later followed her passion to New York`s Fashion Institute of Technology.
With a keen interest in European fashion and luxury goods, Smith worked part-time at the Hermes boutique in Manhattan and upon graduation from FIT, she boldly wrote to the president of Hermes requestion and internship at the Paris headquarters.
Her request was granted, making Michelle Smith the first American emplyee sent to Paris by this legendary fashion house.
In Paris, Smith continued her studies at the prestigious design school ESMOD while also interning at Louis Vuitton, Torrente and Christian Dior Haute Couture.
After three years, Smith returned home to New York, intent on establishing her own design business.
Utilizing her unforgettable fashion experiences abroad, Smith created Milly, a brand that is synonymous with femininity and luxury, and relates to chic woman everywhere.
Milly has continued to grow each season, receiving worldwide praise from retailers and customers alike.
Celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham, Beyonce and Thandie Newton are counted among Milly`s loyal fans.
The collection is now sold at the finest department and specialty stores worlwide, including Bergdorth Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue to name a few.

 Raven Jeans

Raven is a hot new denim concept brand from L.A. that gives you the elements to create your own style. In store now and online the vintage styling of the distressed, cropped boyfriend jean and the slim distressed boot cut too. Soon to arrive the classic seamless trouser in denim, wearable everyday pants for the modern woman.

Christopher Fischer

Christopher Fischer Cashmere was started 25 years ago in the town of Hawick in the borders of Scotland, the birthplace of the Scottish cashmere industry. There, Christopher learned the qualities and traditions of Scottish cashmere, and balanced this with a new approach to re-inventing classic knitwear with styling details that have become benchmarks in the knitwear industry. In the early 1990s, he took his passion and knowledge to Inner Mongolia, China, the source of the finest quality cashmere fiber, where he established factories that combined traditional knitting skills with modern technology to produce cashmere for a new, modern lifestyle. By processing, spinning and dying their own yarn, Christopher and his team are able to control the quality of every garment from start to finish, and reflect the changing fashion taste for lightness, comfort and contemporary design. Soon, Christopher Fischer Cashmere attained a reputation for creating a modern European quality garment at a great value. Today, the company designs collections for the customers of its own retail stores, as well as manufacturing cashmere products for leading stores and labels throughout the world.
It is Christopher Fischer's goal to always deliver the finest cashmere, combining the best quality, style, color, fit and service to all of its customers. Christopher Fischer Cashmere isn't just a company—it is an entire cashmere lifestyle.

Christopher Fischer Cashmere was started 25 years ago in the town of Hawick in the borders of Scotland, the birthplace of the Scottish cashmere industry. There, Christopher learned the qualities and traditions of Scottish cashmere, and balanced this with a new approach to re-inventing classic knitwear with styling details that have become benchmarks in the knitwear industry. In the early 1990s, he took his passion and knowledge to Inner Mongolia, China, the source of the finest quality cashmere fiber, where he established factories that combined traditional knitting skills with modern technology to produce cashmere for a new, modern lifestyle. By processing, spinning and dying their own yarn, Christopher and his team are able to control the quality of every garment from start to finish, and reflect the changing fashion taste for lightness, comfort and contemporary design. Soon, Christopher Fischer Cashmere attained a reputation for creating a modern European quality garment at a great value. Today, the company designs collections for the customers of its own retail stores, as well as manufacturing cashmere products for leading stores and labels throughout the world.
It is Christopher Fischer's goal to always deliver the finest cashmere, combining the best quality, style, color, fit and service to all of its customers. Christopher Fischer Cashmere isn't just a company—it is an entire cashmere lifestyle. 

The real Christopher Fischer is an Englishman living in New York, who has also homes in London and the Hamptons, as well as Manhattan. Christopher has been involved in the cashmere industry for more than 25 years, and is a recognized authority on cashmere, as well as being an Award-winning designer. Internationally renowned by the fashion and business press, his products are sought out by royals, celebrities and socialites. Christopher infuses his stores and products with a modern European design sensibility and an extremely personal touch, taking inspiration from a Hamptons' lifestyle and quirky British design, as well as being influenced by local trends and fashion directions experienced on his frequent global travels. In his own words, he "lives, dreams, eats, and sleeps cashmere." Christopher considers himself a perfectionist, and prides himself on always being able to deliver the very best. "For me, when it comes to cashmere," he says, "it's always very personal."

 Funny story, actually. While on a week's Hamptons vacation, Christopher and Joni Fischer pulled their vintage Alfa Romeo Spyder in front of a Southampton store—just as someone was placing a "For Rent" sign in the window.

They looked at the space on a whim, and soon realized that destiny was calling them... into retail! The first Christopher Fischer store opened in August 1999, the second in East Hampton in June 2000 and the third in Greenwich, Connecticut in October 2003. They were joined in December 2004 by Christopher Fischer Soho, on über-cool Wooster Street. "We wanted to bring fashion and color to a cashmere environment, create a 'candy store for adults' and promote our love of a cashmere lifestyle," says Christopher. Given the traffic in all four stores, it seems that more locations can't be that far away—California, here we come?—perhaps with a few stops in between as well.

Tibi New York

Tibi designer and founder, Amy Smilovic, began her career in the fashion industry shortly after moving to Hong Kong in 1997.
Following a successful marketing position at American Express in New York City, Amy relocated to Asia with her husband and began designing a small collection of contemporary dresses. The company has rapidly expanded into its current offering of ten collections per year as well as a complete shoe line, swimwear, and home accessories. Amy hand designs a range of prints and styles to match her personal taste and distinctive approach to dressing which she showcases in the tents of Bryant Park each season during NYC’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Two years into the business, Amy was joined by her husband Frank Smilovic, now President of the company.  Frank is responsible for developing and implementing Tibi’s global growth strategy and managing the day-to-day affairs.
Before assuming this role, Frank was Senior Vice President of Gateway’s Japan, Asia and Australia operations.  Prior to Gateway, Frank was with American Express for over 25 years in a variety of senior positions including Head of Finance for Europe,
Vice President Worldwide Marketing based in New York and President Merchant Services Group for Asia.  

September 2006 marked the opening of the first Tibi retail boutique in New York. The 2,200 square foot space, designed by Steve Blatz and Antonio Saracino, is located in SoHo at 120 Wooster Street and has received architectural acclaim in notable publications such as Interior Design Magazine.
This is the first of many free standing stores in the comprehensive Tibi retail expansion strategy.

Tibi is now one of the largest contemporary lines found in over 500 specialty stores and upscale department stores worldwide including Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Scoop. Smilovic has recently opened showrooms in Los Angeles, Dallas, London, Milan,
Australia and Canada to better support the company’s expansion. Scarlett Johansson, Liv Tyler, Drew Barrymore and Reese Witherspoon are all fans of Tibi’s sophisticated prints and feminine designs.

Metalicus

Experimenting with stocking fabric in 1992, Melbourne designer Melma Hamersfield transformed one stretchy piece of material into a concept for the international fashion brand - Metalicus.
Metalicus is a fashion bodywear label with a pared down aesthetic which translates into wearable lifestyle pieces designed for layering or to be worn as simple bascis. The collection changing on-trend styling and seasonal colour palettes.
As the brand has developed, so has the product offering and today our collection includes cotton, wool and bodytight.
In 2003, mini and Miss Metalicus arrived with the concept of "stretch as you grow" to cater for tots and tweens.
For the headquarters in Melbourne,m Australia, Metalicus designs collections that are Australian made with universal appeal.
So, layer up and think outside the square for an individual twist with Metalicus.

Press 

Lisa Armstrong, Fashion Editor, The Times UK, August 09

‘It was just what we might have expected – just right for a rock chick: wearable, a bit romantic and very sexy’.

Alexandra Shulman, Editor, UK Vogue, August 09

‘It’s a cool collection, with pieces that young girls will be desperate to wear – particularly the gorgeous leather jackets.’

Hilary Alexander, Fashion Editor, Daily Telegraph UK, August 09

‘Twenty8Twelve has taken the essence of cool, modern London dressing – slick tailoring, rock-chick cool and romantic vintage pieces – and edited it into an accessible collection’.

Jess Cartner–Morley, Fashion Editor, The Guardian UK, August 09

 Hudson
 

Hudsons are best known for their super flattering fit that accentuates the derriere and lengthens the line of the leg. Each pair of designer jeans is handcrafted in the tradition of fine European tailoring, making them unique. Both devastatingly sexy and luxuriously comfortable, they are the ultimate denim addict's fix.

Since its debut in 2002, Hudson Jeans has quickly earned a reputation amongst celebrities and influential style mavens. Hudson Jeans can be found in some of Hollywoods' most desirable wardrobes. 

Hudson Jeans are inspired by the idea that the right pair of designer jeans should be both flattering and lavishly comfortable.

Who Wears Hudson Jeans?
Hudson is the denim brand of choice for the world's best dressed celebrities including Kate Middleton, Jessica Alba,
Angelina Jolie, Sienna Miller, Lindsay Lohan, Penelope Cruz, Halle Berry, David Beckham and Jude Law - to name a few.

Rachel Gilbert

Rachel Gilbert is Australia's latest hot fashion export. After cutting her cloth with fellow Sydney-based designer Lisa Ho and a stint working in New York, Gilbert launched her namesake line in 2007. The brand's gorgeous signature dresses, adorned with rhinestones, jewels or fringing, are delightfully feminine and party perfect.

Luxury fabrics and embellished evening dresses are the signature style of Sydney-based fashion designer Rachel Gilbert. Following her design schooling in Sydney, Rachel Gilbert went on to work with Lisa Ho and Morrisey. Following a her big break in New York stitching up a range for it-girl Nicky Hilton, Rachel returned to Sydney to establish her own label. Loved by the likes of Natalie Bassingthwaite and Taylor Swift, Rachel Gilbert's frocks are the party-perfect pieces favoured by girls-in-the-know the world over.

Michelle Jonas

The Company

Michelle Jonas launched her collection in 2005, and quickly it became a wardrobe staple among jetsetters and A-listers, including Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Heather Graham, Britney Spears, Brooke Shields, Pink, Paris Hilton, Heather Locklear and Jessica Simpson.

The collection appeals to the sophisticated traveling woman because of its versatility and everyday wearability. The garments are made of easy-care fabrics that are washer and dryer friendly, allowing them to be pulled out of the suitcase without the worry of wrinkles, and many designs can be worn either at the beach or on the red carpet with only a change of accessories. 

The fashionable silhouettes cross over several apparel markets including contemporary, cocktail, resort, loungewear and ready-to-wear.  The collection of luxurious fabrications, unique detailing of English lace, and hand-carved bone beads from Nepal, is recognized around the globe by chic fashionistas of all ages.  Michelle Jonas Travelwear (MJT) competes with leading fashion labels around the world at a reasonable price, while maintaining quality and uniqueness.

Michelle Jonas currently uses only two fabrications: Gauze and Micromodal/Lycra jersey for the entire collection, which encompasses 20-30 basic styles. The core collection, which entails the classic styles and a few new fashion forward styles added each season, is sold year round with a changing color palette each season to keep it fresh.  The collection is also unique, because it is season-less. Due to the nature of the fabric and the silhouettes, each design can be worn year round by layering and accessorizing.

Michelle Jonas has been an enthusiastic supporter of various philanthropic organizations. Michelle Jonas helped organize and host a large-scale benefit with Grant and Lysa Heslov and The One and Only Resorts to aid The International Rescue Committee For Darfur, an event that raised over $150,000.  Actresses Emily Deschanel and Jacinda Barrett hosted a trunk show for Jonas that benefited Women For Women International, an event that raised enough money to sponsor 30 women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. MJT has also donated to The Baby Buggy Foundation, “Love Heals” which benefits the Alison Gertz Foundation, and “Divine Design” which benefits Project Angel Food.

Michelle Jonas is carried in over 150 stores worldwide ranging from high-end boutiques across the United States, including Ron Herman, Fred Segal, Planet Blue, Scoop, Henri Bendel, Bergdorf Goodman; to five-star resorts, such as the Ritz Carlton Hotels in Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Miami Beach; the Montage Resorts and Spas; and Sanctuary on Camelback in Phoenix, Arizona.  Jonas has designed uniforms for the staff of The Belvedere Hotel in Mykonos, Greece; Koi Restaurant in Las Vegas; and Ozumo, a San Francisco-based sushi restaurant.

Michelle Jonas is manufactured entirely in the greater Los Angeles area.

The Designer

Michelle Jonas has an extensive fashion background covering every area. Her first job in New York City was in fashion advertising/marketing as an Asst. Account Executive on the Donna Karan account at ARNELL/BICKFORD ASSOCIATES (currently called the Arnell Group). She transitioned into freelance styling with her first styling job for Vanity Fair magazine working under Fashion Director, Marina Schiano styling Madonna and other celebrities. She was then referred to a position working under Accessories Director Candy Pratts Price at Vogue magazine. She continued at Vogue until she was personally asked by Ralph Lauren to work with him in developing a new fashion forward line, "RALPH". While working as a fashion market editor at Mademoiselle magazine she landed a role in the HBO film "Gia" and several other films. She continued acting for a few years until she started her own clothing line, MiJo, which is now called "Michelle Jonas Travelwear".

Language Tee`s L.A 

Language L.A is a well known secret in Los Angelas. Its a celebrity favourite brand and is sold in many L.A high end boutiques in the USA. Its primarily seen through stars while they are on television or in movies as part of the "set" wardrobe - so much so
that reviews after want to know "what she is wearing" and "where do I find it?"
Extremely comfirtable and figure flattering three printed Language L.A tunics  and Language L.A tees are ever    with each collection.
Colours, prints and styles constantly change - not just a casual line as these Language L.A tees work for day, evening and as cover-ups on the beach over your bikini...

Handwritten

Handwritten- the new collection from
Ghost founder -Tanya Sarne.

  
Handwritten is all about women – their femininity, sensuality and confidence, but with a total awareness of the need for practicality and low maintenance in today’s world.

The very special production process Sarne developed over the years at Ghost, incorporating textile conversion into design, results in a unique group of fabrics which are machine washable and have natural stretch. Colours are soft and muted. Silhouettes follow the lines of a woman’s body with flattering proportions. Styles are simple and versatile and will take the wearer from day to night.

Handwritten is a collection for all women,
of all ages, shapes and sizes.

“I design to de-stress and give women confidence
in their femininity and daily lives”
Tanya Sarne

Ecologically Friendly

The fabrics are all derived from wood. Bushes are grown specifically for this. They are cut down and grown again. Fabrics are bio-degradable and therefore eco friendly.

Press

Life after Ghost: Tanya Sarne is back with a new line in her signature style
By Susannah Frankel( 21 July 2008)

When Tanya Sarne, founder of the Ghost label, announced last year that she was launching a new line called handwritten, her legions of fans were delighted. The first collection, created in collaboration with the New York designer Gary Graham, is just as relaxed, pretty and wearer-friendly as might be expected, given the motivating force behind it. Having sold her remaining shares in Ghost to Kevin Stanford and the Icelandic retail investment company Arev, in 2006, Sarne had agreed not to work for a year. By then, while many might have just basked in the glory of past successes – and, it is hoped, considerable means – this irrepressible character had decidedly itchy feet. And that is good news for women the world over.

"My aim was always to make beautiful clothes that make women feel feminine, attractive and confident," Sarne says today, and dressed from head to toe in her own designs, she looks just that. "I want to make women feel good."

In fact, while Ghost is busily expanding – even with Sarne at the helm, it had grown to the point where she describes the collections as "huge" and "rambling" – handwritten harks back to a time when she ran a small but perfectly formed West London-based business, working with a skeleton staff of suitably cool characters and a series of guest designers, from Nicholas Knightley and Sherald Lamden to Alister Mackie and Suzanne Deeken. Ghost, you see, was ghostwritten, hence the name.

Although all of the label's designs were adapted and often inspired by Sarne herself, she transformed it into a great British success story by working with up-and-coming young talent as well as a handful of more permanent pattern-cutters and the designer Sophia Malig ("my right hand"), who rejoined her at handwritten. It was always a winning formula: Sarne gave her designers both a platform and the resources to produce a collection. They gave her an injection of bright, young creative talent in return.

Then, of course, there are the fabrics. It is by now the stuff of fashion folklore that the vintage crêpe effects that Sarne developed are in fact achieved by shrinking and dying a new, stiff, woody material, not dissimilar to net curtains in consistency. This was a process that Sarne rediscovered and many others went on to appropriate. Certainly, the original material bore little or no resemblance to the finished product, which, at its best, bore more than a passing resemblance to the fabric of slip and tea dresses of the Thirties and Forties (when the process originated), but could be machine-washed and -dried, and stuffed at the bottom of a suitcase from which it would emerge pristine – well, pristine after five minutes hanging in a steamy bathroom at least.

Handwritten follows a similarly pragmatic approach, in as much as the label's identity comes from the fabrics first and foremost, allowing Sarne to flit between designers at her leisure – Robert Cary-Williams has also worked on a small holiday line due in the shops in early November. The weight and texture of the yarns she is using in the organza, georgette and crêpes are new developments and are finer and more delicate, but the colours are the instantly recognisable, unashamedly romantic and subtly faded shades that Ghost was known for. For spring/summer, ultra-feminine skirts and dresses come with bubble hems and the Victorian-lingerie details that are Sarne's trademark – covered buttons, lace trim and gauzy layers, the effect of which is subtly precious.

"I feel my previous work was becoming a little 'lady', and handwritten is slightly younger," Sarne says. "It is also a much smaller collection, every piece has to count." That is not to say that the need to cater to all shapes and sizes has been cast aside. "Of course, every piece has to be forgiving. Every piece has to have stretch to adapt to the changes in a woman's body."

If this sounds like an extremely personal and individual approach, then that is good to see. After all, Sarne's sudden split from Ghost, the company she built up from scratch into a multi-million pound operation over more than 20 years, was something of a blow, both personally for her but also for anyone running an independent fashion business in this country.

Sarne started Ghost, she has always said, because she was a single mother with two children to support, and her flamboyant personality and colourful lifestyle was as much a part of the label's identity as the clothes themselves. As is often the way, her at times idiosyncratic approach to running her company sat uneasily with the more corporate nature of the brains behind Ghost today, and so Sarne stepped down. "I love fashion," Sarne says in explanation of her seemingly tireless wish to remain involved. "I don't know what I'd do otherwise."

The autumn/winter handwritten collection, which arrives in stores at the end of August, includes signature bias-cut slips and more covered-up and typically versatile dresses, but they are joined by structured, tailored pieces, still predominantly following an hourglass line, lace jackets in fashionably downbeat colours, and fitted knitted garments, too.

Tanya Sarne sweeps past a mannequin dressed in a narrow-waisted, shrunken olive-green jacket and matching A-line skirt. "Look, this is new," she says. "I've never done wool like this before". It looks lovely but, truth to tell, its creator seems more excited by the fact that it can go in the washing machine.

You can take the girl out of Ghost...

Alexanandra Shulman- Editor of Vogue
Haunting designs from the new Ghost
GREAT news for the many fans of the Ghost label which was owned and run by Tanya Sarne, until she parted ways with her new backers a year ago. She’s back with a new label which will arrive in the stores in the spring.

The appeal of the original Ghost was that it was made with exceptional fabrics that stretched and ruched, allowing it to be flattering to a wide range of body shapes and indeed ages. The Ghost label is currently rather different.

Her new collection called Handwritten is along the same lines as the old label and is created by New York designer Gary Graham. With a soft colour palette ( a lot of dusty blues and tea-stained hues) it has a vintagey feel combined with the more edgy shapes of designers such as Rik Owen and Ann Demeulemeester.

Like her previous label, it should have an appeal and wearabilitty for all ages.

Hilary Alexander
Latest news and gossip from London Fashion Week
Watch out for the new collection by Tanya Sarne, the founder of the soft, billowy label Ghost that enjoyed extraordinary success in the 1990’s.

Having sold Ghost 18 months ago, Sarne is reincarnating her design with Handwritten, a new more substantial less ethereal collection. It launches at LWF and will be on sale early next year.

Written With Love

GHOST founder Tanya Sarne's new label, Handwritten, may have launched for autumn/winter 2008-9 but it is with the upcoming spring collection that it really gets into its stride - think easy, breezy tunics, smocks and maxi dresses in a muted palette of crepes, satins and georgette; it's little wonder that orders for the season have doubled.

Even the name Handwritten hints at what Sarne was hoping to achieve with the venture - something, ultimately, personal.

"I think what I am trying to say by handwritten is that it is very individual," the designer explains. "It isn't processed, it has its own very distinguishable handwriting. I also like the name because, just like Ghost, I can work with different designers. Ghost was Ghost-written, and Handwritten is designed by different hands, but has its own handwriting by virtue of the fabrics used."

These additional "writers" include New York designer Gary Graham and British creative Robert Cary-Williams, who collaborate closely with Sarne on the line.

"The collections evolve organically with input from me and all my team. Gary Graham helped a lot to begin with," she tells us. "I was looking for a dress to wear to my leaving Ghost party. I fell in love with a dress I found in Feathers. It was designed by Gary Graham. I tracked him down in New York, and asked him to help me with Handwritten."

"I always liked Robert Cary-Williams Collections. He kind of turned up on my doorstep one day (so to speak), and now he is involved in Handwritten. A very brilliant young Malaysian, Jong Fong, a Central Saint Martins graduate is also helping, developing the jersey pieces in the collections."

For spring/summer 2009, Sarne has looked to her "always-inspiration", women - in particular, Hedy Lamarr for "her beauty and interest in science and invention", and Carole Lombard, "for her feminine appeal and humour".

"My inspiration is to make women feel as fantastic as these women were. I am also trying to de-stress life, so my clothes are about simplicity and understatement," says Sarne. "There are so many pressures in all our lives no matter how hard we try to escape them, and too much of everything. There is a giant overload. I am not interested in embellishments, or kaleidescopes of prints, patterns and clashing colours. A simple dress with a subtle detail, and subdued colour is what this collection is about."

Find Handwritten at Libert & Stanwells.

Leisa Barnett

120% Lino

Palladium Moda was born in the 80’s from the passion for the production of high quality fabrics that through particular working processes can satisfy the needs of fashion-conscious clients interested not only in the garments quality, but also in the fashion innovation.

The linen was the first fabric we focused on our research not only for the quality of the yarn, but also for the particular results obtainable through further working processes.

We have then reached a particular experience in such field that allowed us to distinguish our garments with the 120%LINO brand, giving to the precious linen fabric a totally new identity.

Our 350.000 garments per year, especially created for women and sold all over the world, testify once more the style of our creations and the attention for the creative research.

The linen – in particular the rough linen - is the fabric principally used for our creations.

The linen is treated and dyed just after the production of the garments. This assure a higher softness to the fabric giving to the garments the close-fitting feature in a natural way together with the typical aspect “vintage” of the classical linen.

The rough linen, chosen among the most precious fabrics on the market and obtained with very beautiful yarn, is then printed, embroidered and treated to propose to the client trendy garments.

We offer to our clients a wide choice among 50 different colours, 300 models for women and 150 for men giving us the possibility of combining the high quality of our yarn to the fashion contents essential for all collections.
 

William Rast 

The William Rast denim culture brand is consistently inspired by ‘New America’, a theme that is ever evolving with the times. Grounded in the iconography of American denim heritage and biker culture, yet repackaged and presented in a contemporary context.
William Rast’s Spring 2010 collection truly celebrates the attitude of the times and
American culture in its latest form. This season, one of the brand’s main points of inspiration comes from the New America Road Trip, and the classic American neon signs you would see on the road riding through the country on a motorbike. The New America flag is re-incarnated as a neon flag, along with other signature brand elements, interpreted at different levels of graphic design and in details of the clothing. The color palette, mainly reflecting muted colors of the summer night, such as near blacks, grays, midnight blues and dark forest greens, are high lighted with a powerful palette inspired from worn and dusty neon signs – metallic silver, powdery white, pop yellow and dusty blue.
The denim is modest and stark, for men, a large focus on lighter shades and washes of
grey denim, together with jean washes of the night in black and dark blues; and for
women, a concentrated focus on ultra light washes on super soft, Italian denim fabrics.
Featuring our standard large selection of classic American blue washes, the novelties
include exciting new 3-D creasing; lighter abrasions, tears and natural wear detailing.
The main focus on the women’s denim is a large variety of unique denim leggings, from
basic 5-pocket style leggings, to more advanced fashion and biker leggings with zippers, studs, lace appliqués and other detailing. With the perfect new slim silhouette for men.
William Rast has developed a fit that is extremely flattering on any man who wants a
more sophisticated, highly wearable, yet versatile fit of his jeans.
As in the past, the collection incorporates a large selection of the William Rast
signatures staple for both men and women – the leather biker jacket. The new direction
on leathers this season is a larger presence of biker bondage and lace up elements for
women, and matte suede jackets for men. The leathers overall are muted and washed,
and offer a wide variety of textures from cracked, painted white leather, to soft grey
suede, to rougher black cow hides. The line also features a selection of more
constructed sartorial pieces to mix with the denim look all featuring the signature lapels
and tomboy attitude for the women’s line. The more edgy tailored pieces feature black
on black animal print textures and details. The women’s line has a great selection of the
signature biker silks – beautifully draped silk tanks and tops in strong colors with supergraphics and New America inspired prints.

John Richmond

The new underground movement in the retail fashion business is to bring in new individual labels and is so happening at Stanwells...
Created by John Richmond the leading exponant of the avant guard the Richmond collection combines "Richmond X" and "Richmond Denim" for the pret a porter market. Stanwells are the first independant store in the UK to stock "Richmond" this season. All made in Italy from the finest fabrics in a monocrome palette, the collection combines rock n roll chiq leather jackets, sophisticated tailoring and denim. Wear an ivory satin tuxedo with black jeans or a glamorous near skin black jersey dress. Add a touch of denim with a lurex tweed jacket and this talks "Richmond". A liitle bit "goth" allot of sexy and totally sophisticated, "Richmond" is an exciting new addition to Stanwells fashion library...

John Richmond was born in Manchester and later moved to London, where he completed his studies at Kingston University in 1982. He immediately created a collection under his own name, and soon emerged as a leading exponent of the British avant-garde. The current collections are organised in two lines: the first line “John Richmond”, and the diffusion line “RICHMOND” containing both a prêt a porter and denim range.
 
In 1995, John contacted Italian entrepreneur Saverio Moschillo with the possibility of expansion abroad.  That year they solidified their firm friendship and began a professional partnership.  Through Saverio Moschillo John was able to produce his collections at Falber Confezioni based in Forli, and use Moschillo’s global distribution network with showrooms across the world.  The high quality of Falber’s production, the strength of the Moschillo showroom and staff, and above all the mutual respect and trust between the two partners are the key to the brand’s success.
 
THE PHILOSOPHY
 
John Richmond is a celebration of the energy, creativity and unpredictability of youth and street culture.  Each line is heavily influenced by musical movements, blended with “street chic”, John’s own irreverent style and luxurious precision.  These fundamental elements of the philosophy have led to the iconic slogans “Destroy, Disorientate, Disorder”, “Diamond Dog” and “Eat Cake”.  John’s close ties with the music industry have led him to dress stars such as Madonna, Mick Jagger and Annie Lennox.
 
PRESENT AND FUTURE
 
The range of product categories is continuously expanding: in addition to eyewear, underwear and beachwear, the junior line and the footwear, there are now plans for the launch of a John Richmond fragrance and a licensing agreement for watches and jewellery.Other projects include the expansion of RICHMOND stores dedicated to the men’s and women’s X and Denim lines, showcasing the younger diffusion ranges to the global market. This project will entail the opening of a hundred stores in the world’s main markets by 2011.

 Bassike

Enlarge The name is intended to say it all: Bassike, a label of lust-worthy proportions born out of the simple desire to provide wardrobe staples that could be worn with ease (and a certain degree of non-chalance). The brainchild of close friends Deborah Sams and Mary Lou Ryan, it stepped onto the Antipodean design scene in July 2006.

From that point on, it has flourished; and what began as a breezy collection of organic cotton-jersey T-shirts, dresses and trousers has since rounded out into more softly tailored territory. The intention however, lives on: current, eternal and effortless, each piece is designed to work seperately but also in conjunction and although new styles have been added - namely wool jersey, cotton shirting, denim and leather - beauty still belongs to the wearer. With Bassike, personal style resonates.