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NOUVEAU COLLECTIVE LIFESTYLE SHOW
February, 2003
Omni Park Central Hotel, New York City
 True to its name, Nouveau Collective is a mere three years into its existence—yet this lifestyle trade show presents an average of 550 designers to roughly 1,500 better women’s clothing and accessories buyers five times a year. Nouveau Collective presents designers, artisans, and sales associates from America and Europe and features established and up-and-coming lines alike. Liberty News Online delved into two of the collections at the show…  Mycra Pac was started twelve years ago in Northern California and has boomed into a business with over fifteen representatives and over 4,000 retail locations carrying their products, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, and Henri Bendel. The line boasts domestically-made travel wear which is reversible, wrinkle-free, washable, and shipped in its own pouch. The microfiber construction of the goods allows products to be water repellant while maintaining excellent drape. An accessories line had the honor of being launched at Henri Bendel two years ago, and is now coming into full swing—a sportswear line is the newest addition to this growing company. Women’s Wear Daily has featured the line, and it has gotten write-ups in the Atlanta and Dallas fashion supplements. Mycra Pac retails for $125-$350 for clothing, and their “Donatella” style has been especially popular—a variation on a hooded cape which retails for $225. The line’s selling points (wrinkle-free, reversible, water-repellant, et al) read like Times Square signs to customers, and the brand has the enviable position of controlling a niche market by offering such a broad range of product benefits. Mycra Pac has donated coats to schools in California as a charity cause.
 Anoushka G. is showing in America for the first time—in fact, George Hadji, the designer of this 2 ½ year-old luxurious London-based eveningwear line, found out he was coming to Nouveau Collective about a week before the show. A veteran of the major European shows (including the prestigious prêt-a-porter collections in Paris), Mr. Hadji designs glamorous dresses for the woman who wants to be noticed, and he firmly believes that “Retail is all about detail.” --Indeed, the collection features beautiful old Hollywood and 1930s inspired embellishments: hand-printing, lace appliqué’s, beading and delicate sequins adorn exquisite silks and chiffons in array of beautiful colors including copper, grape, olive, wine and raspberry. Many of the pieces combine silk chiffon with charmeuse, resulting in a stunning play on texture. The line also includes accessories as well as embellished denim, knitwear, and leather items made to serve as fancy daywear that can make a seamless transition into meeting for cocktails. Anoushka G. (“Anoushka” is Mr. Hadji’s pet name for his wife, Anu) is designed to compliment a woman’s figure, and the size range attests to that, as it includes sizes 6-22. Dresses retail for a mere $400-$800 (surprising, given the beauty and fine craftsmanship of the dresses—all prom-going girls in America should be notified!), and made-to-measure pieces are available upon request. The line is carried at numerous boutiques and retailers in the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Greece, and throughout Europe. –In many stores Anoushka G. is the top selling brand, and the line has a celebrity following to boot. In a trade magazine, one of George Hadji’s dresses was featured alongside Alexander McQueen’s “rainbow dress”—the much-oogled grand finale of McQueen’s spring 2003 collection. Anoushka G. flagship stores are scheduled to open in Kuwait and on London’s King Road. Mr. Hadji has donated dresses to the Children’s Wish Foundation for raffle, and raised $5,000 at a silent auction for a made-to-measure dress. For more information on Anoushka G., visit www.anoushkag.com
Betty Coker, Chairwoman of the H.A.D. Organization of N.Y.C., Inc & Senior
Editor of the Liberty News Online, will write articles about modeling, fashion
design, fashion events, and how she co-founded the World's Largest Community
Fashion & Modeling Organization.
If any of you models, designers, festival promoters, or fashion show promoters
are interested in having an article written about you in this section, please
feel free to contact us using any of the information below. If you are
interested in modeling with us, or interested in a free presentation (no
experience necessary--we are presently looking for models, for our New York Mega
Show 2003, ranging in age from 3 to 60--including male, female, and child
models, all sizes, heights and ethnicities welcome), please feel free to visit
my website.
Website:
www.hadofnyc.org/models.
Email:
LNSeniorEditor@hadofnyc.org
Phone: (718) 507-7616 (Mon - Fri 8:00am - 8:00pm)
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