The Giorgio Armani Group has already made a 3 million push into the Chinese market by their fist haut couture exhibition in Shanghai and Hong-Kong. Now it also plans to launch about 50 new retail stores and some other ventures in China.

The Italian fashion Group shows a rapid expansion to Asian market – Giorgio Armani has opened 35 stores in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan in the last five years and plans to open more 10 stores in China within the next year. John Hooks, the commercial director of Giorgio Armani Group and Paolo Fontanelli, the chief financial officer confirmed Armani’s intention to expand their outlets on Chinese market.

The new stores will be concentrated on retailing Emporio Armani and Armani Collezioni lines. The fashion giant plans to collaborate with Chinese partners, which will be chosen by geographic aria. As the aim of Armani Group is to have more partners and to rationalize their joint ventures.

Today the Giorgio Armani Group is one of the six largest multinational fashion companies on the Chinese market along with Hugo Boss (67 stores); Ermenegildo Zenga (60 stores); Ralph Lauren (49 stores); Burberry and Ferragamo.

Besides, this week Giorgio Armani held his haute couture show in Hong-Kong and Shanghai exhibiting Armani Privé collection. The event in Hong-Kong took place on the ground floor of the modernist HSBC building and was attended by a 1,500-strong audience. Among the famous guests were named Lady Helen Taylor, who is the Italian designer’s international ambassador, Mrs Donald Tsang, the wife of the chief executive of Hong Kong, and the movie star Jackie Chan.

The first presentation of Armani couture in China took place in the Shanghai Art Museum and displayed 400 creations from his three decades in fashion.

The other investments in China involve Armani Casa (Home) line and its hotel sector. The group already runs a hotel in Dubai and plans to open 10 more: one in Milan within the next two years and the next one in Shanghai.

Technorati Tags: Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani line, Armani Collezioni line, Armani Privé collection, Armani Casa line, Hong-Kong, Shanghai

There is no more need to dress in layers or in uncomfortable heavy clothing, when it gets cold. Today sheer underwear can keep you hot no worse than all that heavy stuff you put on yourself in winter.

Don’t believe? Then listen…

OK, probably I have exaggerated when said sheer… But anyway, WarmX, a German company, launches a line of electric-heated apparel that will keep you toasty no matter what the weather is.

We have already heard about the heated socks, and now it’s electric-heated underwear. Well, the news is a little too late (fortunately, the winter is over), but the ‘hot undergarments’ can come handy at any season.

The designers promise that the apparel from the new collection is extremely comfortable, without those heavy wires, annoying bulkiness and other disappointments. And these all thanks to a new technology used in manufacturing the collection, when  special electrically conductive polyamide thread is woven directly into the cloth.

Additional comfort is provided by a temperature regulator with a microprocessor in the control module/battery, which has three different levels at your choice. The heated underwear is powered by a rechargable Lithium Ion battery, which lasts from 2 to 5 hours depending on the temperature.

That all sounds pretty attractive, though I would think twice before rushing to order the ‘magic apparel’. First of all because… uh…have I mentioned the price? Well, it’s $301 – I am not sure that it is worth the money.

Besides, there should definitely be some negatives about the product. People say that these undergarments cause a static charge that makes your hair all frizzy. And what about safety? The heated socks manufacturers assure that their products are safe from electromagnetic radiation. But WarmX site doesn’t give any information on the issue.

Frankly speaking, I have never worn such things and I’m not sure whether they are worth trying. If you know more about the garments, I’ll appreciate any information.

So far WarmX offers undershirts for men and women, but the range of electric-heated apparel will be widen soon. You may purchase the available garments on the company’s German website. 

Technorati Tags: electric-heated underwear, electric-heated apparel, underwear, undergarments, socks

The previous match Maria Sharapova played in a corset, which is not a typical outfit for tennis players. Actually, she was the first to appear on a court in a corset.

Nike fitness dance collection has always appealed to the tennis star, because as she said she “loves dance and art”. The giant sportswear manufacturer noticed the interest of the athlete to this collection and decided to incorporate some pieces of their fitness dance line into a tennis outfit. They adapted for Maria Sharapova a pearl and black corset and a black skirt for her playing in Miami.

When manufacturing the unique sportswear, Nike designers used the high-tech materials and innovative designs taking into consideration Miami’s heat and the demands of the champion for her outfit.

The Nike Speed Corset features a state-of-the-art ventilation system in the front and back, which provides breathability and keeps the body cool, which is especially important in Miami. The Nike Shimmer Mix Skirt is made of moisture-wicking Dri-FIT fabric, which helps sustain body temperature. This technology draws sweat away from the skin and moves it to the outside of the fabric, where it quickly evaporates.

Maria Sharapova liked her new outfit so much, that she promises to wear it on her next match. She admitted that the new outfit is not only cute, but also extremely comfortable thanks to the vents that keep the body cool. Although the corset was tugged down last time, it’s going to be fixed by the next play.

Nike fitness dance collection created a special look for the famous tennis player. It offers bold style and at the same time provides the performance features critical for the heat and elite level of play in Miami.

I would say that Maria’s new style will definitely promote the corset on the court and Nike collection on the market.

Technorati Tags: Maria Sharapova, Nike outwear, Nike fitness dance collection, corsets, skirts