Korean Fashion Designers Hit New York

Korean Fashion Designers Hit New York: Nine of Korea’s top fashion designers presented a selection of looks from their 2010 collections at a special runway show in New York on Wednesday, Nov. 4, kicking off a two-day preview event for local buyers

Korean Fashion Designers Hit New York:Nine of Korea’s top fashion designers presented a selection of looks from their 2010 collections at a special runway show in New York on Wednesday, Nov. 4, kicking off a two-day preview event for local buyers.

Making their debut in the U.S. retail market, the designers are all members of the Korean Federation of Design Association, who organized the event in conjunction with the Korea International Trade Association and Korea Women Entrepreneurs Associations.

Collections ranged from contemporary daywear like Cubellia, with smart mod cashmere A-line coats and cheery ruffled blouses – “My style is feminine, elegant, practical and wearable,” said designer Soo Hyun Choi, who uses a lot of stretchable fabrics for added comfort – to couture, like Lilycomes Paris by Jeone Mi Young, who showed a series of dresses with feather-covered bodices and over-the-top ruffles, which were not for the faint of heart.

Other designers, like Lee Young Hee Presents and ANS An Yoon Jung focused on flirty cocktail dresses?sequined, in the case of Lee Young Hee and with flouncy, flared skirts from An Yoon Jung.

For a more bohemian sensibility, Ecole de Paris offered a romantic pairing of high collared ruffled blouses paired with structured military jackets, while Yan’s by HEEDEUK focused on texture, like a fuzzy Mongolian lamb fur vest paired with silk genie-style trousers.

source:http://news.yahoo.com/

Pakistan Suggests Removal Of D-8 Non-Tariff Barriers

KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday proposed for the removal of all non-tariff barriers to facilitate intra-D-8 trade to meet the challenges posed by global economic slowdown as well as to stimulate economic recovery in member countries. He was speaking at the 12th opening session of the D-8 Council of Ministers’ meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, according to a message by Pakistan’s High Commission in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday proposed for the removal of all non-tariff barriers to facilitate intra-D-8 trade to meet the challenges posed by global economic slowdown as well as to stimulate economic recovery in member countries.

He was speaking at the 12th opening session of the D-8 Council of Ministers’ meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, according to a message by Pakistan’s High Commission in Malaysia.

The Foreign Minister said it was encouraging to note that since its inception in 1997, the intra D-8 trade had quadrupled from US$14.5 billion to US$61 billion.

This, he said, however, is much below than the potential of D-8 countries, therefore, we need to take concrete measures, to leverage the true potential of D-8 members countries.

Qureshi said that D-8, with its more than 930 million population, has a promising future with vast natural resources such as oil and gas, mineral and agriculture, scientific know how and industrial manpower.

Foreign Minister said to benefit from these opportunities, D-8 countries need to invest in research and development and human resource development.

Our mutual cooperation in learning from each other experiences and sharing good practices, would certainly help in achieving shared objectives, he added.

Qureshi said in order to make the organization more relevant and vibrant, there was a need to focus on expanding mutual economic cooperation, and increasing intra organizational trade and commerce.

He suggested that the D-8 countries should work toward achieving the modest target of US$200 billion intra D-8 trade by 2012.

The Foreign Minister said Pakistan offers one of the most liberal investment regimes in the region. All sectors are open for any foreign investment without any restriction on repatriation of capital and dividend.

He invited the entrepreneurs from D-8 countries and beyond, to come to Pakistan and benefits from Pakistan’s liberal investment regime. He said, in turn, Pakistan will guarantee protection of their investment and help them in every possible way.

He also urged the public and private sector in D-8 countries to come together and invest in the development and promotion of tourism industry in Pakistan as it is blessed with great scenic and archaeological wealth.

He said Pakistan aspires to become a trade and energy corridor at the crossroad of South-Central and West Asia.

‘In the context of D-8 countries, we should pay special attention to strengthen shipping linkages, for expansion of trade and commercial relations,’ he said.

He said Pakistan has already developed a modern port at Gwadar, very close to the straits of Hormuz, to facilitate commercial activities and transit trade with Central Asian states.

Qureshi said Pakistan as an agrarian economy, would be happy to share its technical know how with other member countries to ensure food security in the group.

He suggested that D-8 countries should pay special attention to boost agricultural productivity; through introduction of modern techniques and hybrid seeds. As this is the most effective tools to alleviate the poverty in rural areas, he added.

The Foreign Minister of Pakistan said climate change is another area where D-8 countries should focus. He extended full support of Pakistan to a new comprehensive and science based approach to vulnerability, covering physical, economic and climate related aspect. —APP