BEIJING,
AUG 06 :
ON July 31 , fashion and design students from 31 countries and regions
around the world, presented their showpieces to the world in a fabulous
catwalk show at the Triumph Inspiration Award '08 in Beijing. An
inspiring expert judging panel, consisting of the Dutch design duo
Viktor & Rolf; Danish top model Helena Christensen; German fashion
photography icon Ellen von Unwerth; colette's chief purchaser and
creative director Sarah from Colette, and Chinese top model and
actress Lv Yan together with Triumph's Jan Rosenberg, came to the
decision which design piece deserves to be called the most inspired,
and inspiring, of them all in 2008. Awarded their prizes by gold-medallist
Linford Christie and actress Michelle Lee, the show was a true spectacle
in pre-Olympic Beijing.
Midori
Matsuo, 20, Japan convinced the judging panel to be the winner of
the Triumph Inspiration Award '08 with the design "Under Skin"
and will pocket not only a cash prize of Euro 15,000 but also a
career boosting limited edition of the winning piece. Midori Matsuo
will see the showpiece adapted and interpreted by the Triumph design
team, leading to series production of the set and would be sold
in selected Triumph stores worldwide. Theresa Bachler, 21, Germany
with the design "Once Upon a Time…" will receive
Euro 10,000 and Stine Fagervik-Rosèn, 28, Norway with "Desire
for Beautiful Trash" will receive Euro 5,000.
All
finalists from Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania met
and competed in pre-Olympic Beijing on July 31st, 2008, at the avant-garde
798 Art Zone situated in the Dashanzi Area. Here in Beijing's bohemian
quarter, the final was celebrated in the Factory Hall 706, which
will be home to Switzerland's National House during the Olympic
Period, the "House of Switzerland".
At
the grand final of the Triumph Inspiration Award '08, all competing
finalists were under the scrutiny of the demanding juries. The international
jury judged all entries according to the same criteria: innovation
and creativity in interpreting the design theme "female fascination",
individuality and uniqueness, concept, aesthetics, quality in design
and execution, as well as presentation. "What we love most
is the fact that the students were asked to free themselves of the
commercial side of things - almost no restraints were put on their
creativity", stated Viktor & Rolf.
The
grand final the Triumph Inspiration Award, inaugurated this year,
is a global design competition created by the lingerie specialist
Triumph International. The Award challenges students from prestigious
international design schools to create a conceptual showpiece-set,
comprising of an under-wired bra and brief, dedicated to the design
motto for 2008: "Female Fascination".
Triumph
International is one of the world's largest underwear manufacturers.
The company enjoys a presence in over 120 countries with its core
brands Triumph®, sloggi®, Valisère® and HOM®.
Triumph employs more than 43,000 people and achieves a turnover
of CHF 2.5 billion (2007). (npsinha@thesyenrgyonline.com)
.
NEW
DELHI , AUG 06 :
THAILAND-BASED Pranda Jewelry Public Company (PCL), a global manufacturing
and distributing branded jewellery company has introduced 24 karat
gold jewellery in India. Pranda will be the first jewellery company
to bring 99.9 per cent pure gold jewellery in the Indian market.
The
company launched two of its globally renowned brands- Prima Gold
and Prima Art in North India. Prima Gold is an innovatively designed
high-class 24 karat (99.9 per cent) pure gold jewellery product
line, consisting of masterpiece designs and textures. Prima Art
is a premier 24 karat (99.9 per cent) handcrafted gold sheet art
work designed in devotional and lifestyle series for the Indian
market.
Commenting
on Pranda's launch , Mr. Prida Tiasuwan, Chairman, Pranda Group,
said, "Pranda is always on the lookout to expand across the
continents. India being the $ 10- billion gem and jewellery market
in the world, and also left untapped for 24 karat gold jewellery,
was an obvious choice for the company to enter into". He further
added that Pranda India, would be the first company to distribute
24 karat (99.9 per cent) gold jewellery in India. Currently,
India has manufacturing facilities upto 22 karat (92 per cent) gold
jewellery only.
Understanding
the psyche of the Indian consumer, the company has decided to enter
the Indian market through Trusted Retail Jewellery (TRJ) network.
The
company has outlined exclusive brand availability modules in existing
TRJ network. It has plans to have a pan India presence in three
years and achieve sales of 50,000 pieces in Prima Art and sales
of 300 Kg in Prima Gold per annum.
On
the occasion Mr.Vinod Tejwani, Managing Director, Pranda Jewelry,
India, said, "India's culture is to demand the best, and getting
only 22 karat is satisfying for less. Currently the highest purity
of gold accepted in India is 22 karat and we see that our 24 karat
jewellery, too will be widely accepted. It is time for the Indian
consumers to travel beyond 22 karat gold."
Speaking
about the branded jewellery scenario in India, Mr. Chanat Sorakraikitikul
(Art), Brand Management, Director, Pranda Group, says ,"Now
that there has been a transcending shift in the buying patterns
of the Indian consumers, branded jewellery has gained acceptance
and trust encouraging the traditional jewellers to go in for branding:"
He
further added, "The Indian consumers' have identified trends
and opportunities for branded jewellery and a desire for possession
of 24 karat (99.9 per cent) pure gold branded jewellery will accept
Prima Gold for its aesthetic appeal and uniqueness"
With
5000 workforce ,7 factories in 5 countries , 10,000 retailers in
India, strong distributon network , core competencies the decoarative
items major targets Rs 300 crore revenues by 2010 The compamy also
plans roadshows . The Group has a range of product portfolio for
every segment of organized jewelry retail business and hence aims
to be India's largest range of 24 karat branded jewellery products
in the next three years.
(npsinha@thesynergyonline.com)
