Naartjie, the original name in fashionable, kid-friendly clothing, announced the reduction of its Fall Transition Collection to $19.99 per piece and under. The Fall Transition pieces ease children f r o m late summer into the breezes of fall and the start of the school year. Shoppers will find everyday value among selected Naartjie Essentials girls tops and bottoms at just $11 each.

“As the summer season winds down, cooler temperatures demand pieces with layering capabilities such as long-sleeved tees, tunic dresses, vests and ponchos,” said Joe Norwood, director of marketing, Naartjie USA. “While fall fashion and styles tend toward the conservative, at Naartjie, the fun is just beginning. With reductions on our Fall Transition Collection, and great values f r o m the Fall One collection, Naartjie sets new standards in affordable back-to-school shopping.”

Naartjie girls’ Fall One kitty print is inspired by whimsical and magical cats found hidden among trees, playing with bugs, dressed up with a crown, or staring mysteriously, as kitties often do. Kitty prints combined with Naartjie’s patch spot and modern stripe patterns inspire playful blends of color and fun found on girls dresses and separates. Continuing with tilly and grey, fall hues mix and match with our earlier Fall Transition collection. Delightful shades of Lucy, bunny, peapod, stardust and nautilus complete the color pallet. Fringed ponchos, netting overlay skirts, and scarves complete the look.

To boldly go where no man has gone is the premise of the space-themed Naartjie boys’ Fall One collection, which spurs the imagination with space ships to fly, galaxies to explore, robots to command and astronauts that walk in space. Touches of neon add punch to the line which will appeal to future space explorers of all ages. Bright colors of treetop, lagoon and Billy combine with grey mélange for a celebration of the exciting world of space travel. Layering pieces including a bold woven shirt, hoodies and a hooded vest make this a great line for cooler weather ahead and for going back to school in style.

Kitties play with birdies in Naartjie’s whimsical newborn girls’ collection. With a modern color palette of grey mixed with baby pink, this line is sure to delight every new mom. Even the headband has kitty ears! Stripes and heart prints are mixed in for an adorable, playful look. For newborn boys, elephants, rhinos and giraffes are mixed in Naartjie’s delightful Knysna print, named for the beautiful town in South Africa. Colors of fog, grass and white in the baby boy clothes were inspired by the town’s location on the coastline’s Garden Route.

About Naartjie
Naartjie was founded in 1989 in Cape Town, South Africa when designer Anne Eales sought an alternative to the limited selection of children’s clothes available as she shopped for her three young boys. F r o m its very conception, Naartjie was about KIDS… playful, vibrant, active, colorful, natural, always changing. We offer great kid’s clothes and baby clothes, basics and accessories for girls, boys, and newborns to 10 years of age — all at surprisingly affordable prices. Naartjie’s corporate headquarters are located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Naartjie owns and operates stores in both the United States and South Africa, with new stores opening regularly. For more information, please visit us at http://naartjie.com.

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Start-rite is a children’s fitted footwear specialist that is developing a strong reputation for exploring new and innovative ways to engage with their customers online. Successfully launching the click’n’fit online shoe sizing tool to their site earlier this year saw the company knock down traditional e-commerce boundaries and redefine their market place.

Having recently unveiled their new parenting community a few weeks ago, it is clear that Start-rite is a company that place importance on providing a comprehensive and holistic service to their customers.

The parenting community provides a platform to harness the collective knowledge of the thousands of parents that visit the Start-rite web site every day. With so many parents coming to the site it’s clear to see how this is the perfect opportunity to launch a thriving parental advice community.

Although the community will inevitably provide a level of support for customer purchasing decisions, it will also act as a more general community for parenting issues and concerns. Despite only just being launched, the new community is being well received by the public with many people posting parenting questions, answers and parenting diaries within the first week.

The internet has become a great source of information for parenting advice, and now Start-rite have took it upon themselves to offer the benefits of a parenting community specifically to their own users. As the parenting process can be difficult, is it great to see a website supplying parents with a community where they can turn to other parents for advice.

The Start-rite parenting community has a number of features. The parenting blogs feature allows individuals to run their own parenting diary to share their parenting experiences, whilst the Question and Answer section provides rapid responses and healthy debate on any parenting related topics. Groups are also a big element to the site, with the intention of providing meeting places forum for discussion for parents who have similar interests.

The community is not just for the parents either. An activities section within the new Start-rite community provides a great source of entertainment providing loads of regularly updated activities to keep the children entertained and happy.

Start-rite is a world leader in fitted footwear, and the first children’s fitted shoe brand to launch an e-commerce site to sell its products online. With a reputation in over 35 countries, Start-rite has been entrusted by generations of parents to care for their children’s feet. Stocking fitted pre walkers, sporty casuals, smart school shoes, slippers, sandals and wellies in over 400 retailers, Start-rite pride themselves on ensuring the best possible fit for every child.

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Established stateside as a fashion power house that has redefined Manhattan style, the exciting new womenswear lifestyle collection offers modern tailoring, smart outerwear and refined casual wear.

Since its launch in 1983, Kenneth Cole has stuck firm to its belief in providing innovative urban fashion. The label encapsulates city living with a keen focus on contemporary style. Set against a dark colour palette of black and grey, slick suiting anchors the range with architectural shapes, technical fabrics and clean silhouettes that give the range a real point of difference.

Heralding a new style of urban dress, the humble work shirt is updated in white poplin and re-designed with an elegant frill-fronted trim. Versatile Kenneth Cole dresses in shades of cherry red or black are worn with cropped leather jackets with a military twist; taking the look from day to evening. Animal printed chiffons provide a nod to 80s power dressing reflecting one of the season’s hottest trends.

Attention to detail is a strong focus with a range of casual separates for relaxed dressing that balance the dual work to weekend wardrobe. The range of knitwear in fine gauge merino wools with button and pleated trims add a cosy yet sophisticated element to the collection. These separates work well with the chic range of Kenneth Cole handbags and purses, available in utilitarian tones, including black, tan or grey as well as deep jewel shades of amethyst or emerald green. The range offers unrivalled levels of choice and style with new deliveries every month.

With an established celebrity following including the likes of Sharon Stone, Cindy Crawford, America Ferrara (Ugly Betty) and Blake Lively (Gossip Girl), Kenneth Cole New York is both versatile and stylish. Exclusive to House of Fraser, the range will be available in 20 stores nationwide and online and includes the diffusion line Kenneth Cole Reaction.

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Topshop has announced that the independent fashion label Neurotica has produced an exclusive capsule collection, Neurotica for Topshop, which will launch nationwide on 21st August 2009.

Neurotica is a concept driven British fashion label, founded in 2007, which specialises in original illustration, intricately hand printed pieces with a “dressed up/dressed down” aesthetic and textiles that explore the contrast between the sweet, the sinister and the beauty in the everyday.

Pieces by the London based label are already currently stocked in a number of select boutiques in the US and UK, most notably the concession basement at the Oxford Circus flagship after it was quickly spotted by Topshop’s buying team in 2008.

All the pieces produced by Neurotica are made in limited numbers and produced entirely in the U.K f r o m high quality fabrics, and f r o m August 2009 Topshop customers across the UK will be able to get their hands on a collection designed exclusively for the store by Neurotica.

The new five-piece collection features Neurotica’s distinct signature aesthetic of hand-drawn illustration and soft jersey textures, and joins it with sexy and playful styling, cleverly translated via dainty embellishments. The pieces offer fashion forward originality and flattering wearability.

Highlights include a sparkling silver lightning print, appearing on both a body suit and a fine jersey oversized tee, a delicate bamboo repeat print on a contrast panelled vest dress and a deliciously soft oversized sweater featuring heart shaped appliqué.

About Topshop
Topshop was established in 1964 and is part of Arcadia Group Ltd. Sir Philip Green became owner of Arcadia Group Ltd in 2002. Topshop is continually recognised as being an authority on women’s fashion, having won several awards for design reputation and new service. Topshop delivers everything f r o m basics like jeans to cutting-edge designer wear, dresses, heels, maternity, baby wear, tall and petite ranges and even skiwear.

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Puerto Rican born and formerly Miami based fashion designer Julia Bellaflores fell in love with a Texas cowboy and now all the women in Houston can celebrate and thank him.

The fashion designer, who for years dressed women in Puerto Rico and Miami, has opened her atelier in Houston, close to the Galeria and River Oaks areas so well known by fashion seekers in the fourth largest city in the United States. If you are not in Houston, you can still visit her on the web at http://www.JuliaBellaflores.com or visit one of her trunk shows.

The designer, former president of Promoda, Inc., the Fashion Professionals Association of Puerto Rico, has had her designs displayed internationally at acclaimed events like the Expo in Seville, Spain, the American Women Wear Exhibition in New York, and othervenues in Miami, Maryland, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and in most of Latin America. She plans to continue her active participation in supporting up and coming fashion professionals around the world and has already started rounding up allies for this cause in the Houston area.

Her designs are eclectic. To some, she is the quintessential classic designer; to others, she is an innovator who combines textures and colors in a bold and unexpected manner. Either way, all who own one of her designs agree that her real passion for fashion is seen in the detail and the high quality of her work and her choice of materials. Those who own an original from Julia Bellaflores will find on their garment her personal signature in a tiny damask-style flower, hand embroidered in silk thread as proof of her attention to detail.

The designer is also working on her new prêt-à-porter collection for 2010 and will be doing trunk shows in Puerto Rico, Miami, and New York starting in November. In the near future, there is a line of shirts for men that range from Hawaiian to Filipino barong style dress shirts and its Latino guayabera version.

Visit the designer at her new atelier on 11500 NW Freeway, Suite 624, Houston, Texas 77092.

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Jewellery Shop Online is a flourishing Irish-based costume and designer jewellery store. As the name suggests, the difference here to the usual pricey High Street jewellery shops is that all their elegant goods can be viewed via the internet f r o m the comfort of your own home. The website is highly appealing with a very professional and modern layout. The business was set up and developed by Susan Salkeld, who has a keen interest in ladies fashions. The online jewellery store is based in Dublin but delivers to all of Ireland, as well as catering for regular customers across Europe and even farther afield.

Susan explains the concept and philosophy behind her growing venture, “Having often purchased designer clothes and footwear myself f r o m worldwide internet shops, I realised that the necessary accessories were not so readily available online. I found this odd because items such as costume jewellery and bags are not as bulky as clothing and shoes [for delivery] which now sell extremely well over the internet. After chatting with a few jewellery designers, I decided that I could provide a service to introduce and supply beautiful, modern pieces of jewellery which compliment today’s fashions.”

“At Jewellery Shop Online we want to bring variety, colour and glamour to the jewellery accessory market. There’s a real wow-factor about most of the items we offer, especially when actually seen and handled. But we also hope our affordable prices bring an extra smile when the buyer realises how much cash they’ve saved by browsing around our shop.”

Susan personally vetted high-quality suppliers f r o m around the globe and then selected the extensive range of stunning products on display. Notable collections include:

Krystal London -Krystal are recognised as the leading designers and manufacturers of exquisite designer jewellery using only the highest grade Swarovski Crystals. They are universally renowned for their high quality pieces and attention to detail. Huge dangling chandelier earrings, crystal shower necklaces and cuffs are just some of the pieces you can view in this collection. Everything in Krystal’s display is designed by Kish Vasa who has over 20 years of experience, thus guaranteeing exceptional and unique designs.

Lola Rose - In their section, you find examples of some of the most beautiful semi-precious jewellery on offer today. You will be dazzled by creations in an array of stunning and unusual colours. Susan has called upon the services of Lola Rose’s leading modern jewellery creator, the highly-talented Nicola Gewirtz, to offer pieces which catch the eye with great effect.

The Silver Collection - For fans of silver jewellery, Susan has hand-picked a great range of desirable items which will “set off” your outfit, regardless of the occasion. F r o m beautiful dress rings and classical necklaces to stylish cuff bangles and bracelets, Jewellery Shop Online doesn’t disappoint in silverwear accessories. The website is proud to boast that all its silver goods are hallmarked after passing the most rigorous of inspections at The Assay Office in Dublin Castle.

Rhinestone Crystal Jewellery - For that special occasion, Susan’s e-commerce shop can provide those important finishing touches to a memorable outfit; sparkling rhinestone crystal chokers, co-ordinated earring & necklace sets, tiaras, etc. Some items have been selected with weddings in mind, but the more understated designs are perfect to add class and sophistication to evening and party wear.

Jewellery Shop Online has a fabulously large selection of general designs featuring semi-precious stones which originate f r o m all corners of the world. In some cases, the ethnic origins of the pieces come to the fore, literally in their shape, weight and highly attractive but rare colours. Other creations follow more traditional, antique styles but here the nicest surprise comes by way of their pricing which would suit anyone’s pocket even in these hard times.

Jewellery Shop Online imports its stocklist f r o m countries all over the world. By doing so, they capture many exotic and gorgeous styles influenced by the different cultures they trade with. Susan hopes to bring both quality and variety to Irishwomen, and we cannot argue with her aspirations in the costume jewellery field. Already she is able to boast, “Currently we have two major designers on board but I’m hoping to have another three by the end of the year. It’s important to change stock and styles on a seasonal basis.”

When asked to sum up why she seems to have limitless enthusiasm for her business, Susan answers effortlessly, hardly pausing for breath. “Since an early age I have always had a passion for beautiful jewellery whether it is fashion, costume or designer. I am realising my dream of supplying beautiful jewellery to ladies everywhere at prices they can afford. It makes my job such a pleasure. Jewellery is glamorous and fun – as it should be.” Visit: www.jewelleryshoponline.ie.

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Bel Esprit, the international showroom of ethical fashion, and Nolcha, the online fashion portal, are partnering to create the new Ethical Fashion Preview during New York Fashion Week. The Carlton Hotel on Madison will host this exhibit of 25 international designer collections on September 14, 2009.

The New York Fashion Week supported by Aveda, Clarins and Starbucks. This event will spotlight fashion designers who create collections using environmentally friendly materials and processes, and manufacture their collections respecting fair trade and fair wage principles.

Bel Esprit members representing the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany and France will bring creative and chic luxury fashion with a commitment to respect for the world and its inhabitants to the Nolcha Fashion Week: New York Ethical Fashion Preview debut. The Ethical Fashion preview will launch the Bel Esprit consumer website, www.belesprit.com and the Bel Esprit event website, www.belespritsbeautifulworld.com.

From Germany, room to roam designer Akela Stoklas and her design team, fuse creativity, curiosity and boldness with certified organic materials and quality construction from German sewing workshops. The result is a cutting-edge and precision-executed urban collection upholding the philosophy of ecological and fair trade fashion.

Based in the Netherlands, the Van Markoviec team of Kasia Markowska and Zuzia Andziak transform luxurious organic fabrics dyed with plant pigments and high quality fair trade production in Poland, into innovative and avant-garde designer sportswear with surprising details. Van Markoviec creates design that is a favorite of editors, buyers and consumers while maintaining their commitment to sustainability.

France is represented by Article 23, using only organic and natural materials, and producing their collection in fair trade cooperatives in India that support disenfranchised women. The sportswear collection infuses classic silhouettes with a retro style creating a chic, clean and high class tailored look.

London couturier Elena Garcia draws inspiration for her collection from a new theme each season, and sculpts her designs from hand-felted, hand-dyed organic and natural fabrics. Elena Garcia reinvents silhouettes with uniquely placed pleats, gathers and closures, creating true eco-luxury.

London designer Emesha Nagy is launching her new company at the Ethical Fashion Preview. Using only organic and natural fabrics and fair wage production in her native Hungary, Emesha’s collection mixes the classic with the avant garde; luxurious fabrics are cut, draped and pleated to give unique volume and shape.

L’Shandi designer Lara Akinsanya is from the Washington DC area, but her collection originates in her native West Africa. Lara uses fair trade African Lace and hand-woven cotton Oke fabric to support and develop the textile industry, and will shortly begin the manufacturing of her collection in fair trade collectives in Africa. The bright, colorful dresses in beautiful silhouettes easily transform from day into after 5.

Alberto Parada, also from the Washington DC area, creates fine jewelry with “everyday elegance,” a timeless yet modern style. Blending diamonds and brilliant semi-precious South American stones with various tones of 100% recycled and reclaimed 18K gold. Alberto is known for the high quality of his materials and extraordinary craftsmanship in his custom-made pieces.

Philadelphia designer Poonam Singhal is expanding her successful ready to wear with Ojasvy, a collection of designer cocktail and after 5 dresses and accessories. The vibrant colors of the silks are vegetable dyes, and the dresses are produced in fair trade cooperatives in India. The collection features hand-beading and hand-embroidery giving the elegant dresses added glamour.

Moonlight jewelry combines recycled sterling silver, semi-precious stones, vintage glass and lead-free crystals bringing romance to modern expressions. Renaissance patterned wire is sculpted into contemporary, flowing ribbon shapes, and simple wire is transformed into Victorian and Baroque motifs. Hand-made in the United States, each piece is individually crafted, giving a unique quality to each necklace or earring.

Members of the Bel Esprit showroom exhibit their collections around the clock to buyers and fashion professionals around the world. Bel Esprit provides a menu of marketing, sales and distribution services to help designers reach their target audience, enter international markets and build their business. The Bel Esprit showroom and services are open to designers regardless of where they exhibit their collections. Bel Esprit markets, sells and distributes collections on behalf of all members of the showroom, and promotes the members’ exhibits at any trade show or fashion event worldwide. Group events and marketing campaigns as well as group exhibits at international trade shows are organized to promote the collections.

Bel Esprit is working with international chambers of commerce, non-profit organizations and ethical and organic cooperatives to develop resources for designers interested in pursuing ethical business practices. Bel Esprit has initiated a network of contacts throughout the world to provide fair trade and ecological materials and labor to companies of any size and is developing relationships to encourage and facilitate ethical fashion in the apparel industry.

Nolcha Fashion Week: NYC will conclude with the popular seminar season, taking place at Bohemian Hall, the headquarters of the Czech Consulate, the current European Union presidency. This season, ethical fashion will be featured in a seminar presented by representatives of Bel Esprit, the fashion design company EDUN Live, and major retailers.

About Nolcha Fashion Week: New York
Award Winning Nolcha Fashion Week held simultaneously with New York Fashion Week consists of runway shows featuring emerging and independent designers, accessory exhibition, industry networking events and fashion business seminars held by reputable industry figures. www.nolchafashionweek.com

About Nolcha
Nolcha is an award winning multi-faceted media and events platform that operates an online fashion network, a print publication, and major annual events for the independent fashion industry and related retail businesses. Nolcha offers cost effective resources to aspiring and veteran fashion professionals, and enables advertisers to directly target these professionals and with their products and services. Initiatives include Nolcha online, Nolcha Fashion Week: NYC, London Fashion Week partner events, Independent Retail Week and Dress the Band competition. www.nolcha.com.

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In the spirit of the celebration of our nation’s independence this month, Ventura Tan, a leader in natural, organic airbrush tanning and sunless tanning products, is proud to declare independence from the hazards of sun damage with a variety of products for the summer tanning season. Ventura Tan prides itself on offering the best quality products for those seeking an authentic tan without the harmful rays of the sun. Satisfied customers include celebrities, models and movie studio make up artists.

“July is all about independence, and with the summer tanning season in full swing it’s time for serious tanners to declare their independence from the hazards and negative health effects of sun tanning,” says Sheila Brown, marketing director, Ventura Tan. “Ventura Tan’s sunless airbrushing is not only a safer alternative to conventional tanning, it also offers a more natural, lasting tan than conventional spray tanning techniques. No summer is complete without a perfect tan and Ventura Tan offers just that, without the health risks of long term sun exposure.”

According to the FDA, traditional sun tanning carries a variety of risks and health issues. These hazards run from aesthetic issues such as sunburns, wrinkles and leathery skin, to serious health problems such as skin cancer and cornea damage. Founded in 2004 as a way to give customers a natural looking, painless tan without the health issues associated with beach tanning, Ventura Tan offers a wide range of organic and all natural products that helps customers achieve and maintain the perfect tan.

Ventura Tan offers tanning equipment and supplies to both salon’s looking to add sunless tanning to their business as well as individuals looking to get a summer tan in the privacy of their own home. These include a variety of organic and all natural products from the Organic Princess line, which features sunless tanning spray, body wash, tan extenders, Pineapple Dew Exfoliant, Vitamin E Butter and more. The Princess Line also offers Ventura Tan’s all natural “Tan In A Can” which delivers a nice, even tan without the unsightly orange coloring that other tanning lotions leave. “Tan In A Can” is available in “Beach” and “Natural” coloring and can be applied without visiting a salon.

Featuring a full line of retail and wholesale products that imparts a natural, year-round summer tan, Ventura Tan uses state-of-the-art technology and equipment that results in a superior sunless tan. The organic, all-natural products are created in FDA-approved laboratories and can be purchased online at www.venturatan.com and at authorized Ventura Tan salons and resellers.

About Ventura Tan
Founded in 2004, Ventura Tan offers state-of-the-art sunless airbrush tanning products and equipment for salons and consumers. Ventura Tan believes strongly in a business model based on strong moral and ethical business standards, backing its products 100 percent while offering one-on-one training and support for salon owners. Ventura Tan’s owner purchased the company after being diagnosed with skin cancer, perfected Ventura Tan’s product selection and business model at her own salon in South New Jersey. Ventura Tan quickly became a leader in the sunless tanning industry. To learn more about Ventura Tan wholesale or retail products, please visit http://www.venturatan.com or call (866) 545-8133.

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Toronto Canada gets a new modeling agency, Styles Model Management inc. Mike Disney, owner of Styles Model Management was owner of an entertainment agency in Chicago for 18 years.

Due to a failing American economy & a desire for a fresh new career, Mike looked to his own home town, Toronto Canada for prospects. Mike has a love of fashion & creative people. He saw many modeling schools that provide crash courses in becoming a model but non that help develop a model’s skills over a long time. Modeling agencies are busy booking established & experienced models. Mike saw the need for a modeling agency in Toronto with a friendly, mentoring aproach. Modeling is a skill that is developed with lots of practise over time. Thus Mike opened Styles Model Management inc. Free seminars are provided to the models. Models are also introduced to test photographers & stylists to spend much time practising their skills & getting posative feedback from industry professionals. As Mike says ” A day not in front of the camera is not a good day.”

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