Monthly Website Review - July 2004

http://www.FabricLink.com

 Have you ever been stuck searching for resources that may guide you towards fabrics, apparel, home furnishings, textiles, and decorating and even useful tips all in one convenient place? Fabriclink.com is a great communicative resource, that provides retailers and consumers alike with information making it easy to understand and easier to work with targeting textile, apparel, retail industry and of course, consumers.


Fabriclink.com can gear you towards many educational resources, offering references such as:

• Consumer Guides
• Fabric University
• Retailer’s Forum
• Articles
• Latest News

The website also offers a listing of recommended connecting links to guide you when you are in search for great new ideas. Its helpful links can also help you when purchasing textile products, adding informative seminars and Knowledge Centers. “Communication Central” is their establishment used as a key to locating associated businesses, organizations, and agencies for the industry. Seminars are provided across the country, they also have updated educational packets making it convenient for those groups who are unable to attend. For those of us into home decorating, a whole exciting section awaits with ideas for children’s nurseries and even how to make your own decorative slipcovers. Fabriclink.com is constantly adding upgrades to its website, all the latest news, features and coming attractions. By connecting to FabricLink.com you will find that it is a fun and as easy as 1,2,3 resource.


Reviewed by R & RC Staff Member - Diana Rodriguez

 

 
Monthly Magazine Review - July 2004
Title: ETN Textile Forum

Publisher: Textil-Forum Service
B. Sterk Friedenstr. 5, P.O. Box 5944
D-30059 Hannover, GERMANY
49-(0) 511/817007
49-(0) 511/813108
Website: http://www.etn-net.org/tfs/
Published: 4 Times Per Year
ISSN: 1431-3529 (English Edition)
Subscription Rate: 41 Euro


This specialized trade magazine was created by the Textile Forum Association, founded by Beatrijs Sterk in 1981. Sterk created a special workshop as a training institution for textile designers, course instructors and lecturers in 1978. She has produced Textile Forum in her textile workshop since 1982. This magazine maintains an exchange of information with over fifty specialized magazines and newsletters worldwide. Textile Forum Magazine is available only by subscription or via special retail outlets.

Textile Forum Magazine offers an array of excellent textile resources such as:

• International reports on fibers, textile techniques, textile awards
• Book reviews
• Calendar of events of conferences, competitions, fair/markets
• Previews of exhibits, fairs/markets, competitions, and conferences
• Reviews of international textile fairs

Textile Forum Magazine functions as liaison for Textile specialists and people interested in learning about contemporary culture in the arts, crafts and industry of textiles. Textile Forum is an excellent informative and educational tool for those interested in obtaining a global perspective on textiles. With this magazine you will never have to worry about attending another textile trade show. Everything you would ever want to know is contained within the pages of this comprehensive trade journal every month.



Reviewed by R & RC Staff Member - Varinia Rangel

 

 
Monthly Book Review - July 2004
Title: Vivienne Westwood

Author: Claire Wilcox
Publisher: V&A Publications
Distributed by Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers
100 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
212.451.2767
212.451.0880 fax
Website: http://www.abramsbooks.com
ISBN: 0-8109-6622-0
Copyright: 2004
Pages: 224
Price: $45.00

The Queen of British Fashion

Vivienne Westwood is arguably the reigning Queen of British fashion. So it seems fitting that after a career spanning 34 years she would finally have a much-deserved retrospective at the world famous Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Published as a companion piece to this exhibit, Vivienne Westwood is a loving tribute to a true legend and innovator in the world of fashion design. Written by Claire Cox, the fashion authority behind, Radical Fashion, Bags, and The Art Ad Craft of Gianni Versace, this book is a well-illustrated testimonial historical record of some of this century’s finest collections.

Some of Westwood’s ground-breaking collections are covered here including:

• Pirate
• Witches
• Let It Rock
• Anglomania
• Salon

Vivienne Westwood also chronicles the designer’s storied career from the time her mother, a weaver, excitedly called her over to see a neighbor who was wearing Dior’s “New Look”. Dior has continued to be an inspiration for Westwood over the years. She has done various takes on his classic suits and jackets. Another staple of Westwood design are the Orb log buttons and classic Tartan plaids. Another aspect of Westwood’s life chronicled extensively is her relationship with Malcom McClaren, who was to be of undeniable influence on her professional development. A fun fact, one of the crowd favorites at the Victoria and Albert exhibition are the purple platforms worn my supermodel Naomi Campbell as she walked down the catwalk. These shoes are wonderfully photographed within the book. This book is a great alternative for those of us not lucky enough to get to London for the retrospective. Vivienne Westwood is a wonderful look at a truly inspiring and creative life.



Reviewed by R & RC Staff Member - Monika Earle