Japanese chemical and pharmaceutical company firm Teijin has launched a non-woven synthetic paper produced from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. The company claims that the new paper combines the best features of conventional papers and plastic films. Applications include maps, tags, posters and labels that need to withstand extreme conditions, especially those that are wet. Unlike other synthetic films it is claimed to offer the scoring, folding, gluing, printing and writin

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Zara’s parent company Inditex has made a fortune staying one step ahead in the world of fashion. Staying ahead of investor expectations is proving to be more difficult. The world’s biggest clothing retailer said full-year net profit rose 22% to 2.4 billion euros ($3.1 billion), with expansion-driven growth in Asia easily offsetting weakness in its home market of Spain. But quarterly results fell short of mean analyst estimates—the second consecutive mis

H&M has a major presence in the U.S. market, but now that the brand is firmly embedded in the minds of Americans, it's about to crank things up, Sharon Edelson at Women's Wear Daily reported. “We’ve established a strong brand,” said Daniel Kulle, U.S. president of H&M, told Women's Wear Daily. “Now we can see that we can grow and expand in many markets in the U.S. There’s huge potential at the moment.” Right now, the Swedish fast fashion retailer has 269 stores in the U.S., but K

Ever the pioneer in getting us to run faster, farther and more frequently, Nike has launched a futuristic new running shoe that weighs in at less than eight ounces. The Flyknit Lunar1+ ($195, nike.com) fits like a second skin—it almost feels like wearing socks—with cushiony Lunarlon, a resilient foam that keeps runners’ soles supported and comfortable. The upper part of the shoe is nearly seamless, which cuts down on materials by a claimed 80 per cent. Nike’s Toronto flagship on Bloor Street

Kolkata based EKRU by Ekta and Ruchira is a label synonymous with classic designs and understated elegance. The brand philosophy is simple, wearable and refined outfits for the women of today keeping a balance between contemporary fashion and traditional Indian clothing. EKRU has now introduced a Bridal Line as well. Experimenting with traditional embroidery forms and giving them a completely contemporary feel is what the brand specializes in. The forte of the brand lies in its unique and inn

Photography by Samir Hussein/WireImage Kate Middleton does have a royal baby bump—she just doesn’t want you to see it. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a surprise outing today (that is, they attended a public event that wasn’t part of their working royal duties) at the horse race festival at Cheltenham. Kate has actually attended the race almost every year in the past and other royals, like Zara Phillips and Princess Anne, were at Cheltenham earlier in the week. But back to the baby

For this new collection Abraham & Thakore takes a look at Indian wedding dressing from a modernist and somewhat minimal perspective. We reinterpret traditional occasion dressing into a sleek, modern 21st century bridal wardrobe for the contemporary Indian woman. The lehenga is a long pleated skirt worn with a crisply tailored top. In a play on androgyny, trouser dressing is proposed as a chic alternative, borrowing key elements from the classic Indian menswear wardrobe. The sari is casual

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. is celebrating spring fashion with TangerSTYLE March 14-April 30! Tanger Outlets has all of the hottest apparel, shoes and accessories that are in season, on trend and value priced direct from manufacturer. The TangerSTYLE features Spring trends and style tips from Tanger Outlets fashion experts, including: Fuchsia Fascination – Add the season's hottest color to any outfit to stand out in the crowd. Try a pop of color with a statement shoe or fashion access

Diane von Furstenberg, the popular Belgian born American fashion designer, has launched a new swimwear line in collaboration with the high-end surf and snow clothing brand Roxy. Titled as DVF Loves Roxy, the 35-piece collection features the 66-year-old’s signature bright bold prints and the label’s trademark surfing-inspired silhouettes. Exclusively available at some selected DVF and Roxy stores, the line includes halter and string bikinis, beach vests, cover-ups, boardshorts and rash guar

Due to the withdrawal of the EU GSP Plus (GSP+) trade concession and the ongoing recession in the largest apparel export markets such as the US and the EU, Sri Lankan garment exporters are eyeing on new and emerging markets for exports. According to the data released by the Sri Lankan Apparel Exporters Association (SAEA), the clothing exports for 2012 were 5.3 percent lower than the exports in 2011. Speaking to fibre2fashion, chairman of SAEA, Mr. Yohan Lawrence said, “We are working with