Ha! Someone finally got around to beating PETA at their own game. British Columbia based jeweler, Mikel Lefler of Bijoux Du Monde has perfected the art of capturing the life forms that are so used to being swatted, stepped on, or shooed. After reviewing Lefler’s collection gallery, this is one time I wouldn’t mind a bee on hand.
Check it out.

I definitely nominate Azzedine Alaia, BUSINESS MAN OF THE DECADE. Why you ask? Because in my opinion, only a true business man could turn the tables on one of the top fashion conglomerates, Prada Group, and buy back Prada’s stake in his company, giving Azzedine 100% control of his fashion house and brand name. What? A designer having full control of his house and name. In today’s view, that’s damn near urban legend.

In the day and age of fashion designers getting screwed over by larger fashion conglomerates, this is a prime example of how it pays to read the fine print and make whatever contract you sign work for you…in the end. Take note Roland. Read the full story here.

Giorgio Armani and Samsung are said to be in talks about launching a designer mobile. Read the full story on FashionUnited.co.uk.

image courtesy of thecityreview.com

Friends Rachel Easting, 23, and Anjali Stewart, 24, will showcase their label, Love Lies Bleeding, in the in-flight promotional pageant for the upcoming Air New Zealand Fashion Week, held on Air New Zealand flight from Sydney to Auckland on September 15, 2007

The show will treat passengers to a champagne breakfast while allowing them to also preview garments from the winter 2008 collections of Trelise Cooper, Lonely Hearts, Annah Stretton, Carlson, Cybele and Federation. Passengers will also be given access to the fashion week opening night party. Air New Zealand Fashion Week for the Spring/Summer collections is from September 16 – 22, 2007.

left to right: Anjali Stewart and Rachel Easting

image courtesy of Stuff.

As if you couldn’t have seen this coming a mile away…eventually.

First it was the New Look retail chain, last September, being forced to withdraw thousands of pairs of its Bonbon shoe (similar to a Jimmy Choo product) and reportedly had to pay Jimmy Choo GBP 80,000 after legal action was threatened. Then M&S (Marks & Spencer) fell victim to the crack down in December 2006, having to destroy a GBP 9.50 handbag that was very identical to a Jimmy Choo evening bag priced at GBP 495.00.

Now, the Granddaddy of all high-street has felt the wrath of the counterfeit crackdown implemented by many of the fashion industry’s top houses. Topshop, has been forced to destroy almost 2,000 copies of the lemon yellow dungaree dress (see image below: dress on the right) that is nearly identical to a similar Chloe design (see image below: dress on the left). The dresses were being sold at Topshop for GBP 35.00 each. The original Chloe design was on sale for GBP 185.00 as part of their ‘See’ collection. Topshop was required to pay GBP 12,000 in compensation and legal costs.

Although, I will admit to being a fan of Topshop and I do buy there on occasion. This action will definitely prove to be a great step forward for fashion houses hitting back at what seems to have become the bread and butter of many high-street chains (just making identical copies of high end, and selling them on the cheap) , but is forcing Topshop (a multi-million pound in revenue chain store) only to pay GBP 12,000 and taking the dress off the shelves really enough to make a statement? Or should the fashion houses just suck it up and realize that copying of their designs will always be, and just take it as the highest of flattery? I don’t know…what do you think?

image courtesy of Daily Mail.

As if social networking and online shopping hasn’t become anymore of a distraction, introducing the new site that will never allow for any work to get done….Osoyou.com. Think Facebook meets Net-A-Porter, IQONS meets e-Luxury, etc.

Founded by former EMAP Elan managing director, Dawn Bebe, Osoyou.com will allow users to create profiles, rate fashion pieces, share fashion tips, create wish lists, do price comparisons, etc. The site is set to launch in August 2007. Perfect timing for Osoyou to make me O-so-broke.

Pause.
Scratch my head.
Pause again.
Now speak.

Every once in awhile iPapier will display a sense of humor on this blog, or show our talent for comedic timing. Well, here it goes…

I’m all for invisible panty line, but damn …this is taking it a bit too far. Hell, these pictures definitely speak way more than a thousand words. What do you think?

images courtesy of lovehoney.co.uk

No one can never say that Australians don’t have a hold on the denim market. Why? Because it seems lately that the Australians are just getting it right with regards to the denim department, i.e. Sass & Bide, 18th Amendment, Ksubi (formerly known as Tsubi), and now Maise.

Maise denim label is the new jean on the block coming into the fashion scene. Maise is a predominately womenswear denim label created by Sydney and former Topshop designer, Claire Greaves. The 2007 Winter Collection is vintage-inspired with high waists and wide legs in a range of blues from indigo to bleached out grayish blues.

YSL hasn’t had a profitable year since the Gucci Group purchased it in 1999. Hell, even Bottega Veneta is doing way better in the numbers than Yves. Which isn’t a surprise really, their collections have just been “dead on” lately.

However, don’t fear YSL devotees, Stefano Pilati is supposedly trying to introduce a hipness, an energy to the brand via an innovative project with Showstudio (Nick Knight’s brainchild). Over 200 submissions of script ideas have been received by Showstudio for a fashion shoot being shot this Sunday, according to WWD. The shoot is to feature the new Edition 24 collection of YSL basics. The interactive project will be posted on the YSL website this fall, with user-generated content to go along. Hopefully this will work, or YSL may end up (possibly) being S.O.L.