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Let The Games Begin: Fashion's Olympic Spirit

As today marks the advent of the London Games, The Industry looks at how fashion has been having an Olympic moment. The Team GB kit designed by Stella McCartney "Hugely successful names getting involved early on sparked a trend with other designers," explains Dolly Jones on the succession of fashion houses that have designed kits for their national teams. The editor of VOGUE.COM and advisor to The Industry has been covering fashion related Olympics news ever since, with this year's event billed to be "the most fashionable Olympic Games ever" by Giorgio Armani. Stella McCartney started the trend, when she was commissioned to design Team GB's Olympic kit two years ago. This was the first time a fashion designer had been asked to clothe the athletes, with Giorgio Armani for Italy, Ralph Lauren for America and Hermès for France swiftly following in her footsteps. McCartney has designed her kit for the entire Olympic team, encompassing 900 Olympic and Paralympic athletes competing in 46 different sports. Designing the 590 pieces of clothing, all created to maximize the athletes' efficiency in their various disciplines, has been something that McCartney has described as a "magnitude […] way out of my comfort zone." Capitalising on a marketing opportunity that has already enhanced her brand awareness on a global scale, McCartney will also make money from the sale of official merchandise. By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe Would you like to join Dolly in the premier members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page.

Harriet Bowe

Dolly Jones, Giorgio Armani, Harriet Bowe, Hermes, Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney, The Industry, Vogue.com

Luxury Fashion Houses Break New Ground

The Industry pinpoints the new fashion goldmine that brands Burberry, Mulberry and Ralph Lauren are tapping into. Industry member, Sarah Curran founded my-wardrobe.com on the concept of 'everyday luxury' selling brands such as Burberry Brit A recent report by Euromonitor International has revealed that luxury fashion brands are increasingly developing ranges positioned at the middle ground; and there we were all thinking that the financial crisis had polarised price-points. According to the research company, affordable luxury is 'the post-financial crisis sweet spot' with trendsetting brands such as Burberry, Mulberry and Ralph Lauren increasingly dependent on diffusion lines and lower priced items such as accessories to supplement their bottom line. The boom in accessibly priced luxury goods has been primarily attributed to consumers within the middle income shopping bracket buying products that they believe to be better quality or longer lasting. However is this democratisation of luxury a good thing for the industry, or is there a risk of diluting status consumption culture? Euromonitor explain: 'The simple answer is, no, provided that companies do not blur the boundaries between their top end luxury brands and their lower end. What is more likely is that the luxury goods industry will become increasingly segmented, to the extent that affordable luxury begins to operate as a standalone industry in its own right.' With the market growing at unprecedented speed – with no signs of it slackening off – expect to see luxury fashion houses issue more diffusion lines and becoming increasingly affiliated with fast-fashion collaborations and big brand stockists. By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe Would you like to join the premiere members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page.

Harriet Bowe

Burberry, Burberry Brit, Euromonitor International, Harriet Bowe, Mulberry, my-wardrobe.com, Ralph Lauren, Sarah Curran, The Industry

Fashion Week: Big Four Fast Approaching

As January draws to a close, February can mean only one thing for the fashion pack: Autumn/Winter 2012. With less than a week left to go, The Industry takes a look at what our four fashion capitals are up to. Image courtesy of the British Fashion Council As usual New York will be kick starting the season, with their first on-schedule show set to hit the runway at 9am on Thursday 9th. On American soil we can expect to see catwalk collections from big name brands, such as Ralph Lauren, Donna Karen and Calvin Klein. On the other side of the Atlantic, London, Milan and Paris will be bringing a whole multitude of design talent to the industry’s front row; starting with London on Friday 17th, swiftly followed by Milan on Wednesday 22nd and wrapped up in Paris on Tuesday 28th. Characteristically London will be shaking things up this season, as we see numerous new designers making their LFW debut. Both Moschino Cheap And Chic and Alexander McQueen’s McQ will be showcasing their diffusion lines in the British city for the first time. Also in London, we can also expect to see Industry members Corrie Nielson, Felder Felder and Jonathon Saunders showing on-schedule to an assemblage of Industry editors, photographers, PRs, stylists and bloggers. For more details about London Fashion Week, click here. By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe

Harriet Bowe

Alexander McQueen, Calvin Klein, Corrie Nielsen, Donna Karan, Fashion Week, Felder Felder, Harriet Bowe, Jonathan Saunders, McQ, Moschino Cheap And Chic, Ralph Lauren, The Industry