H&M: Bet for design and forefront

Again, H & M makes news and focused on the design not only on their clothing, but in the opening of its new stores. This time has just opened a new store in Champs Elisée where the designer has been charged in avant-garde architect Jean Nouvel, with extensive work of landmark buildings in Europe.

Neon and black furniture, this is the new concept. Dark sobriety breaks the acid color clothing that exposes H & M on their shelves.

The lighting is at your own spotlights that illuminate the store conveniently with a touch of neon lights.

(Taken from Modaes.es)

Desigual on line

Desigual 3.0

(Taken from Esquire.es) 

More digital news. On October 1 is the big day: the Spanish firm launches its brand new online shop alert in response to the demands of its customers and as a logical evolution of current consumer trends. After months of work Desigual creates a new sales channel fast, convenient, intuitive, perfect for purchasing clothing and accessories from different collections.

The store will initially only be operational in five European countries (Spain, Germany, France, England and Holland), and over 2011 are open to other markets. Guys, no excuses, shopping!

NYC: Noodle bar, the charm of simplicity

This restaurant located in the "East Village" was a refreshing surprise at all the gastronomy in Manhattan. To begin, a smallish room with 2 bars, an intimate, low lighting, etc, more for a cocktail but also to eat (I always liked to eat in the bar, why not?), And the second looking like viewers into the kitchen, making the wait even more entertaining as you watch the chefs, well organized and are taking courses. And of course, the main dining room with no more than 5 or 6 tables. The place is quite simple, but comfortable, not ostentatious decor where the atmosphere is informal. So Noodles offer is specialized in various combinations (vegetables, shrimp, pork), but also serve other dishes, all very original creations and a worthy presentation for such preparation ... between stove, tasted roast duck, and several tapas dishes in miniature presentations .

 .... ah!, and do not forget while you wait your table or seat on the bar to ask for a house red wine, simple ,not ostentatious, like Momofuku!

Let's talk about jazz and new trends

In the last 2 years, since I'm based in Turkey, I discovered my passion for jazz. I am a music lover in general, but since I go almost weekly to the store of my "friend" Suleyman has made my tastes, but perhaps, by the age too, have begun to change. The title of this chronicle is perhaps might believe that it is contradictory, but I think that jazz is a source of inspiration for many current rates, which I generalize as New Trends. Anyway, just to name a few examples, I begin to discover the enchanted Progressive Jazz. I get the impression that the countries of northern Europe are a bit ahead in terms of experimentation and successful way to call it.

Here is some examples of my findings, not new to say, in recent times.

• The Nigel Kennedy Quintet: His album "Shhh!" is a mixture of classical music with the more progressive Jazz. One notable change and slow as the disc goes .... Of the best I've heard personally.

• Dan Berglund / Esbjörn Svensson / Magnus Ostrom (EST): Minimalism Swedish. Impressive running the first 2 songs from his album "Leucocyte"

• Wallace Rooney: For lovers of the wind instruments, the trumpet of Wallace mixed with electronic sounds, but keep the rhythm of classic jazz is well worth discovering.

• Sarp Maden: While sound is more of a merger in my opinion, I would at least raise awareness of the music that is being done in Turkey. There are notable bands are making music exquisite, high quality both in creation and interpretation. Another example is the novel Julide Ozcelik and his Jazz cheerful and refreshing voice.

Bermudas: a classic that never is out of fashion

In summer, don´t think another option apart to use a comfortable and relax pattern better , than Short or Bermuda (in spanish, commonly knew).It seems that everything is said (checks,stripes,broken,intense abrasion) until somebody propose a new idea...here I propose some examples that sure is a sure successful...

The chain or a belt include in the style is a fresh idea. The other details as seams also gives more value....

 the look as worn is essential: brokens details in pockets, wrinkles and lightings in light washed especially for high summer.

Stripes, checks:

Checks and stripes always are on fashion, but the color and drawing trend is the challenge for the designer....

Restaurants, Cafeterias, places to meet....

Along my travels ,I always try to catch some artistic expressions that is possible to see in all the places. since restaurants, windows, streets, every city has its own personality, even not for that some time they are a mix of many ideas, trends.

This cafeteria I discovered in Stocolm and in one of its more warms neighborhood: Gamla Stan. This city is absolutely one of deserve to be visited. The style of the swedish people is very elegant and you smell that in all places.

Balikçiöy:  this is a good example how the good project can be real. This restaurant have a great atmosphere where you can meet with friends ,eat a  delicious fish, mezze and drinks  good turkish wine or Raki. Absolutely recommendable, now they open a franchise in NYC. 

Lay Outs

Tis is the young section from Zara called TRF...each trend and combination is more than clear and strength to support the sale as you see in this example of the denim washed....(this picture was taken during summer season).

Autum-winter 2011: some tips

The leggings continue being a must, even it seems they are in their last seasons (Armani just didn´t show in its last catwalk). Meanwhile, like street show us, every kind of printed or plain are essential...

...what we have been looking in windows already is also the new come back of heavy gauge with drawing of skier...take a look...

Also in the photo bellow, you will see the leather jacket type aviator are very trend this winter....let say the Eighties are back!

Nuevo reparto de compras en Asia

 La nueva ruta del textil.

Con la situación económica de crisis vivida en EE.UU y Europa a mediados de 2009 y la que continúa hasta al día de hoy , aunque con niveles que invitan a predecir un horizonte de recuperación, sumado al gran crecimiento económico del mercado chino hoy convertido en un mercado de demanda con un alto potencial adquisitivo y atractivo para la expansión de las grandes y medianas compañías, los grandes grupos textiles han comenzado a re distribuir sus producciones en Asia desde China a la India Sub continental (India, Bangladesh, Pakistán) y Sur de Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia).

El gran beneficiado con este nuevo mapa de compras sin duda que ha sido Bangladesh, unos de los países con mayor densidad de población en el mundo y oferta de mano de obra. Con más del 75% de sus exportaciones en el sector textil desde ya hace varios años ir a Bangladesh a colocar producción es una tarea cada vez más difícil por cuanto las grandes fábricas están con sus capacidades de producción reservadas desde hace meses o bien existe una amplia colaboración con las compañías principalmente norteamericanas que las lleva a estar comprometidas todo el año (las planificaciones de compras de EE.UU comparadas con la Europea son distintas, situación que comentaré en otra oportunidad). Aún así, existe una amplia oferta de producción en una amplia gama de productos aunque no siempre es posible producir todo tipo de productos a diferencia de la oferta en China. Esto último, dado que la gran mayoría de las fábricas en Bangladesh están esencialmente dedicadas a ofrecer sus servicios de corte,tintado,lavado y confección de las prendas y no en la manufactura de tejidos, debiendo importar el tejido o bien desde China, India o Pakistán.

Sin embargo, este cambio ha venido acompañado de un alza notoria en el precio del algodón, debido a la alta especulación existente en los países exportadores, razón por la cual hoy en día las negociaciones se están tornando muy complicadas por cuanto la demanda de la materia prima sufre variaciones a diario y los precios por ende se deben reajustar de la misma forma.

El trader:

Con esta situación, la participación de las empresas de servicios o traders que deben tener en esta relación comercial es aprovechar gracias a su experiencia en todos los mercados productores y a su red de clientes para dar soluciones en aspectos como:

-Brindar una amplia y ágil red de productores y nuevos productos

-Estrechar la cadena de valor ofreciendo soluciones en cuanto a desarrollo de producto y propuestas frescas

-Gestionar la búsqueda de nuevos tejidos en los principales países manufactureros (China) y su exportación a los países para la confección de la prenda final

-Gestionar la producción y su seguimiento de forma estrecha y solucionar los temas logísticos (embarques, documentación, despachos)

-Agrupar bajo una gestión centralizada y coordinada un grupo de fabricantes para distintos productos (circular, plana, hogar, etc) en vista de realizar las entregas simultáneamente a las demandas del cliente final

El mercado está avanzando cada vez más a una especialización dentro de la cadena de valor. Los países asiáticos cada vez se van a especializar más en nuevas formas de producción, de procesos y tejidos, dejando a los países europeos o EE.UU la búsqueda de propuestas innovadoras en de tecnologías y moda. Por esta razón, se abre una gran oportunidad para las empresas de servicio con una red de oficinas en Asia de trabajar en forma coordinada con el cliente final en cuanto a sus requerimientos.