Tuesday 22 January 2013

MAC - Eyeliner - Fluidline Eye-Liner Gel




MAC - Eyeliner - Fluidline Eye-Liner Gel


so my mother introduced this to me two years ago, let me just say, this is my prise possession in my make up bag. Due to the fact it is small is a massive bonus it actually lasts and wears really well.




I usually start applying the eyeliner gel mid way of the eyelid just above my lashes then drag it out.  With this eyeliner my look is complete. I use this eye liner gel everyday for the last two years and it has done a superb job. it lasts me about a year each tub. It lasts long too.


The best big about the eye liner gel is the fact you can wear it how you like.
PRICE : £14
for example, if you fancy wearing the eyeliner on top of the eyelid or underneath it is possible AND STILL LOOKS GOOD.

or , if your want a natural smokey look you take your finger and blend the eye liner in.  It is so Simple and easy.

i have never had any irritation or difficulty with it so MAC you've done a good job.

OPIONION - GET IT


Lots of love H x

How important is China in the Fashion industry?


After spending a year abroad in Ningbo, China, which was compulsory. I was intrigued in the Chinese fashion industry.

How important is China in the Fashion industry?
 
By Hope Allsuch

In the late 20th Century, with the ending of the Cultural Revolution, the Chinese economy has witnessed a boom in the Chinese fashion Industry and no doubt it is a burgeoning market. "The Chinese fashion industry has tripled over the past decade and it is expected to increase multi fold over the coming years."[1] China’s fashion market the last 5 years has increased 10% per annum.Where once Chinese good were looked upon as being relatively cheap and of poor quality; it is now regarded as an influence to the worldwide Fashion industry. “China’s clothing market has been growing at 7% and is now a USD40 billion industry. Department stores account for approximately 40% of the market.”[2] Whilst several Chinese technological brands such as Huawei and Lenovo are becoming more popular, in general Chinese fashion brands still remain unknown internationally, although that is clearly changing. Within the fashion sector whether it be modeling, socialites, fashion designers or generally the influence of the Chinese fashion, China is now emerging and becoming hugely important in the Fashion Industry. “in 2020, total fashion sales in China are expected to be triple their current level, rising to more than RMB 1.3 trillion ($200 billion) from RMB 398 billion ($60 billion) in 2010.”[3] Whether top luxury goods to downscale street fashion, it is clearly accepted that much of the clothing in the worlds fashion industry is manufactured in China. As a result, western brands such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Chanel and Gucci’s main consumers come from the Chinese market place. It can be seen when shopping in London whether it being Harrods or Selfridges; every top designer employs a shop assistant who speaks Mandarin Chinese.


Certain individuals such as Joe Wong at Gucci and Josephine Chien at Cartier are contributing to those international companies success in China. Investors from Greater China such as Hong Kong and Taiwan also are having influences on the importance of China in the fashion industry. The Forbes ’Fashion 25’ listings indicate those persons who were born in Greater China and have made it in the fashion industry in the past year. This emphasizing that China is seen as the Dark horse in the race to top the worlds fashion industry. China has many advantages; whereby clearly there is a market and demand within China providing most of the world with their goods. Although most designer labels are stuck on in other countries such as Germany, the US and the United Kingdom, in fact the clothes are all made in China. Zhejiang is famous for Clothes; and one only needs to go to Ningbo or Yiwu to witness this phenomena. Ningbo has been selected as the headquarters of Peace bird a Famous Chinese clothing company. Whereas, Yiwu is the factory supply outlet for many goods such as underwear, lingerie, shoes and much more. Additionally, Guangzhou is famous for handbag factories. Shaoxing every year holds its fashion exposition. "China is predicted to become the world's biggest luxury market with sales of $14.6 billion in the next five years, according to the World Luxury Association."[4] Therefore emphasizing the growth of the fashion industry in the last decade and how important China has become in the fashion industry due to combining social and economic factors.

Shoppers outside Selfridges.

There has been a steady growth pattern in the last 10 years in the fashion industry.With the annual capita disposable income of urban households growing by 7.8% in real terms in 2010 and the annual net income per capita of rural residents growing by 10.9% in the same year. The fashion industry has seen urban households spending on average 10.7% of their annual expenditure on clothing compared to rural households spending 6.8% of their total annual expenditure in the same year.This is reflected in department stores and speciality stores being the major distribution channels for branded apparel in China..The number of these Chinese apparel brands have increased from 10 to 18 from 2010 to2011,although the foreign brands still dominate the chinese luxury apparel market such as Armani and Burberry.With the introduction of online retailing this has also seen a massive growth in online shoppers especially in the fashion industry estimated from 108 148 million shoppers over a one year period from 2009 to 2010.

The growth in the number of Chinese models on the catwalks worldwide emphasizes the growing influence and importance of China in today’s fashion industry. "Modeling has become a flourishing industry in China since famous French fashion designer Pierre Cardin hosted the country's first fashion show in Beijing in 1979."[5] This is listed by Models.com.  One such famous model Liu Wen, was born in Yangzhou, Hunan province. She is now 5th in the Top 50 women models in the world.  She walked 22 shows in New York Fashion week, modeling for famous brands such as Michael Kors and Jason Wu. In addition, she modeled another 10 times at the Milan Fashion week in Italy. Liu Wen was the only Chinese model to appear in the Victoria Secrets Fashion show between 2009 and 2010, which is one of the most prestige fashion shows in the Industry. Mo Wandan was the only Asian model to walk in 2008 all of the four international fashion weeks London, New York, Milan and Paris. She was praised by the world famous fashion designer Georgio Armani and has featured on the covers of FHM, French and Elle. This further justifies the ever increasing influences and importance of the Chinese in the fashion industry. Other models such as Sun Feifei and Qin Shupei have also modeled down catwalks of New York, Milan, Paris and London. "Overall, at 10 major brands' shows, there were 26 Asian models, eight more than those brands used in the previous New York Fashion Week in February."[6] Although Chinese brands are still not household names to many peeople and there is a long way to go, China is beginning to emerge from being an international factory to becoming a fashion house with its own ideas and designer brands. "As the fashion market continues to grow, hopefully Chinese Designers and brands will secure their sports in the international scene."[7] 



China’s significant importance to the Fashion industry can be witnessed by the ever increasing number of fashion designers. Their job and aim is to direct Chinese fashion through their designs that are emerging in the fashion sector. "The less than desirable image of the "Made In China" label is set to be replaced by a much more covetable "Created in China" one as Chinese-based designers go to the top of the must-have scale.”[8]   Since China has the mind thought of fashion being elegant and quaint, many worldwide famous designers have shown increased interest in Chinese fashion. China has up and coming designers such as Guo Pei who look at the more couture end of the spectrum and in fact turned down a Milan Fashion week invitation. "At the annual Central China Television (CCTV) New Year’s Gala, hosts and performers wear Guo’s designs.  She was also the designer behind the ceremonial dresses in the 2008 Beijing Olympics."[9] This portrays Guo as an influential and an important up and coming designer. Ma Ke, another famous Chinese designer, has been credited with being the designer behind the brand Exception. This brand is sold to 30 cities in China covering approximately 60 stores. Other designers such as Uma Wang are important to the fashion industry. “Dubbed "China's hottest emerging designer" by Business of Fashion."[10] She was also a major feature by the Italian Vogue magazine. The Central Saint Martins graduate created her label in 2005 and now is based in Shanghai. Her labels with her designs are sold everywhere from London to Moscow. She recently joined forces with Swatch the world famous watch company. "Other countries too have shown an interest China's fashion-focused culture; with Donatella Versace choosing Beijing to show Versace's spring/summer 2009."[11] For China in the modern world, this is a huge step towards fashion victory.
 (picture)


Where fashion was once associated with Paris, Tokyo or Milan, much of the spotlight is now focused on China and the potential China has to give to other foreign designers. In November 2008 designers such as Christian Dior, MaxMara and Salvatore Ferragamo were investing in Chinese Fashion houses.  It is evident that China is becoming increasingly important as "The next big issue for fashion is not China's economic boom but Chinese creativity," Italian trend-setter designer and retailer Elio Fiorucci said on the sidelines of a Dolce and Gabbana show."[12] Elio Fiorucci suggests that China will become a major fashion influence further justifying its importance in the Fashion industry. As quoted by Chen "The promotion of fashion modeling is closely linked with the promotion of the textile industry in China, and many modeling teams are attached to garment industry organizations."[13] Chen signifies the importance of Chinese models to the Chinese Fashion industry, emphasizing the importance of their success on the world’s runway shows in order for China to become important in the Chinese Fashion industry. Below is a graph of the predicted fashion market, it suggests that the market since 2010 is on a sharp rise and the sales in china are expected to exceed in 2020. Suggesting how important China’s growth is in the fashion industry.

Chinese factories are important to the fashion industry because major fashion houses manufacture a significant amount of clothing and fashion accessories in China. "These days, Italian fashion is as likely to be made for China as it is made in China."[15] Many fashion brands, in the 1980s moved their labor and decided to make their products in China in order to reduce labor costs. “Luen Thai provides major clients such as Polo Ralph Lauren and U.S. department-store chain Dillard's with dedicated teams of designers, merchandisers and sales staff all housed in plush offices located on the factory site.[16] This suggests that many of the major designer’s clothes are made in china both suggesting and emphasizing Chinese contribution and an influence to the fashion industry of the world.



China’s expansion in the fashion industry has greatly influenced western fashions. China "caught the attention of the fashion industry for a different reason: thanks to its booming economy, numerous high-profile fashion houses have announced their intention to expand operations on the Chinese mainland."[17] The Chinese are becoming increasingly important in the fashion sector, as they are the major purchasers for designer goods. Due to the fact that the Chinese are attracted to western brands but due to their traditions, many designers have begun creating Chinese versions of their designer label such as Levi Strauss & co and Hermès. Levi Strauss & Co created the brand Denizen which is known to be more affordable, Hermès have created a luxury brand known as Shang Xia. “The idea is to bring the Hermès philosophy to China, to create a Chinese Hermès,” said Hermès Chief Executive Patrick Thomas.”[18] The investments of international brands in China clearly portray their respect for Chinese culture and their fashion needs. In addition, certain brands such as Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs introduced Chinese orientated products, which have bright colors, panda motifs and glitter to reminisce Shanghai in the 1920s. In 2010 Christian Dior introduced its Shanghai Blue mobile phones. This was aimed at the Chinese fashionistas. Once again justifying the importance of China and how far it has come in the sector, showing the importance and power it has in the influence in the Fashion industry.



Foreign direct investment is the direct investment into a production or business in a country from company in another country. FDI increased greatly in the early part of 21st century, around $59.1 billion. In the first six months of 2012 was invested, overtaking the US which had $57.4 billion of FDI. This makes China the largest country for foreign direct investment. It was reported that the popular Chinese online retailer and wholesaler Milanoo.com has successfully acquired an investment of multi-million dollars from the U.S. based capital firm Sequoia.[19] Milanoo is looking for the chance to join with Chinese distinguished brands in clothing and accessories to expand its business mission, in order introduce affordable fashion. Milanoo invited some of the most famous Chinese fashion brands into its Store, which included YiMiLAN, VANCL, Moonbasa and AOKANG.  A company called Novo is expanding with the help of $30 million from FDI “Fast-growing Chinese fashion retailer Novo is expanding its store network and signing new licensing agreements on the back of a US$30m cash injection from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR).”[20] Even big chains store such as “Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and a group partners last month agreed to invest more than $500 million in Chinese online retailer 360buy Jingdong Mall.”[21] Emphasizing the importance of China in the world economy, not just in the financial markets but also in the retail and fashion sectors. To support this argument, Frank Trentmann says “China’s retail sector has opened gradually to FDI; foreign companies have been allowed to participate in this sector since 1992”[22]  suggesting that the real importance of China in the fashion industry was due to Deng Xiaoping’s southern tour.

Qin Shu Pei Supermodel Qin Shu Pei attends a special dinner to celebrate Calvin Klein Collection at the Long March Space in 798 Art District on November 12, 2012 in Beijing, China.In conclusion ,China has become vitally important to the fashion industry whether it be through  influencing the fashion sector through the emergence of up and coming Chinese designers and their designs or on the other hand the lure of the massive consumer market which attracts all the large and famous fashion houses to China. Western designers are being attracted to the Chinese fashion sector and opening up more shops and in departmental stores as well as collaborating with retailers such as Lane Crawford. It should be noted that not only are the designers vital to the importance of the fashion industry, but equally are the people who wear and represent them such as famous international models, or celebrities. After compromising photos appeared online, the annual “Two Sessions” or NPC and CPPCC meeting was ironically labeled “The Beijing Fashion Week.”[23]  The importance of China in the fashion industry can be witnessed with the increased use of Asian models compared to say15 years ago where this would have been a rarity. These models are now more in demand than ever. It has become common practice that top designers whether Chinese or foreign want Chinese celebrities in their front rows at the runways at their fashion shows in order to draw attention to the Chinese public who are attracted to the  consumer market. China’s fashion market the last 5 years has increased 10% per annum. The fashion industry believes that in the next 5 years China will become the largest fashion market in the world even surpassing the USA in volume. “The high growth rate of the Chinese economy is enticing market for the luxury fashion goods industry.” [24] For example, China has outgrown japan in the race to become the world’s biggest market for luxury watches. Further evidence of China's importance to the fashion industry can be seen in conjunction with the rapid growth in China's economy, where brands all over the world are desperate to get a foothold in the Chinese market place and capitalise on China's booming retail market. China's fashion sector has been growing at 7% and is a $40 billion industry. The youth of China more than ever are hungry for anything relating to fashion and luxury goods and amounts of investment have been ploughed into advertising, marketing and the media in order to endorse the fashions from the west. Such exposure can be seen through fashion shows, editorials and adverts screened on planes, subway stations and buses throughout all the major cities in China. It has become widely acknowledged that China's textile factories has turned the country into the workshop of the world and it is only a matter of time before China will have to decide whether it concentrates on manufacturing or creating in its own right its own styles and standards. China’s ever increasing population estimated at 1.3 billion people is a big enough incentive for foreign brands to invest in the fashion industry in China in order to break into the consumer sector and offer western fashion to this lucrative market. Profit margins for retail chains in China are high due to the lower costs of manufacturing in China. Fashion houses are aware of the rapid growth in China's middle classes and the immense demand in quality brands both Chinese and foreign which are sold in departmental stores in the main cities such as Shanghai and Beijing. The collaboration between Western and Chinese fashions has emphasised that China's fashion sector has arrived on a global scale. Together with the emergence of more inventive and artistic designer, attracting the Chinese populace and the market place and China's current openness in encouraging trade with the capitalist western world. China has become vital, important and influential in the worldwide fashion industry.





Bibliography

(Author unknown), China’s Fashion Industry: A Burgeoning Gold Island, (October 24th,) 2011 http://www.asiaperspective.net/china%E2%80%99s-fashion-industry-a-burgeoning-gold-island/

(Author Uknown) China’s fashion industry, http://www.chinatownconnection.com/china-fashion-industry.htm

http://www.danviews.com/sequoia-capital-invests-multi-million-dollars-in-chinese-fashion-retailer-and-wholesaler-milanoo-com/

(Author Uknown), “Fashionable” brand strategies to adopt in China


(Author unknown) , Emerging Chinese Fashion Industry, CNTV, November 16, 2012, Accessed in http://www.china.org.cn/video/2012-11/16/content_27130533.htm

(Author Unknown) , The 8 most influential Chinese Designers (6 October 2010). Accessed in - http://red-luxury.com/2010/10/06/the-8-most-influential-chinese-designers/

Chen, Nancy N. China Urban: Ethnographies of Comtemporary Cluture,(Feb 2001) P.133

Ciancio, Antonella. Milan Fashion awaits Chinese design boom, (Feb 27 2011), Accessed in - http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/27/us-italy-fashion-china-idUSTRE71Q1RR20110227

Cochrane, Lauren. Five Chinese fashion designers to watch, (30 October 2012)accessed in -  http://www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/fashion-blog/2012/oct/30/five-chinese-fashion-designers

Goldman, Corrie. Made in translation: Stanford scholar explores Italian-Chinese collaborations in fashion, (December 21, 2012) Accessed in - http://news.stanford.edu/news/2012/december/italian-chinese-fashion-122112.html

 Gough, Neil, made in china, Time Magazine (October 2004)http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,733846,00.html
Gould-Simon, Alisa. Leading British fashion brands entice China's nouveau riche , (Sunday 6 June 2010), Accessed in - http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/06/china-fashion-designer-shops

Junmian Zhang, Top 10 Chinese models ,China.org.cn, (November 6, 2012)

Liu , Vincent. Capturing the dynamic growth of China’s fashon market,  (july 2011) https://www.bcgperspectives.com/content/articles/retail_consumer_insight_dressing_up/

Milligan, Lauren. Chinese Top Ten, Vogue (29 April 2009) accessed in - http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2009/04/29/top-10-chinese-designers

[1]Rasi, Alena (13.11.2012)  Scandalous political fashion http://gbtimes.com/third-angle/chinas-leadership-change/features/web-tv-third-angle-insight/fashion-chinese-politics

Smith ,Ray A. More Asian Models on Fashion's Big Stages, The Wall Street Journal (September 13,2012) accessed in - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444426404577647651939481504.html

Sung, Chinme. ,Foreign Direct Investment in China in 2010 Rises to Record $105.7 Billion. Bloomberg news (Jan 18, 2011) http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-18/foreign-direct-investment-in-china-in-2010-rises-to-record-105-7-billion.html


Trentmann, Frank . The making of the consumer: Knowledge power and identity in the modern world, Berg, (2006) ,P177

Welters, Linda. The fashion reader : second edition, Berg (2011) P610

Woodard, Richard. CHINA: Fashion retailer Novo gets $30m investment (21 August 2012) http://www.just-style.com/news/fashion-retailer-novo-gets-30m-investment_id115326.aspx

Zhang, Ella. Fashion – hungry Chinese market expected to triple by 2020, CNBC (july 2011) http://www.cnbc.com/id/43826546/FashionHungry_Chinese_Market_Expected_to_Triple_by_2020





[1] (Author Uknown). China’s Fashion Industry: A Burgeoning Gold Island, (October 24th,) 2011http://www.asiaperspective.net/china%E2%80%99s-fashion-industry-a-burgeoning-gold-island/

[2]  (Author Uknown) China’s fashion industry, http://www.chinatownconnection.com/china-fashion-industry.htm
[3] Zhang, Ella. Fashion – hungry Chinese market expected to triple by 2020, CNBC (july 2011) http://www.cnbc.com/id/43826546/FashionHungry_Chinese_Market_Expected_to_Triple_by_2020
[4] Ciancio, Antonella. Milan Fashion awaits Chinese design boom, (Feb 27 2011), Accessed in - http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/27/us-italy-fashion-china-idUSTRE71Q1RR20110227
[5] Junmian Zhang, Top 10 Chinese models ,China.org.cn, (November 6, 2012)
Accessed in - http://www.china.org.cn/top10/2012-11/06/content_27006189.htm
[6] Smith, Ray A. More Asian Models on Fashion's Big Stages, The Wall Street Journal (September 13,2012) http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444426404577647651939481504.html
[7] (Author unknown) , Emerging Chinese Fashion Industry, CNTV, November 16, 2012, Accessed in http://www.china.org.cn/video/2012-11/16/content_27130533.htm
[8] Milligan, Lauren. Chinese Top Ten, Vogue (29 April 2009) accessed in - http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2009/04/29/top-10-chinese-designers
[9] (Author Unknown).  The 8 most influential Chinese designers, (6 October 2010). Accessed in - http://red-luxury.com/2010/10/06/the-8-most-influential-chinese-designers/
[10] Cochrane, Lauren. Five Chinese fashion designers to watch, (30 October 2012)accessed in -  http://www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/fashion-blog/2012/oct/30/five-chinese-fashion-designers
[11]Milligan, Lauren Chinese Top 10, Vogue (29 APRIL 2009)
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2009/04/29/top-10-chinese-designers
[12] Ciancio, Antonella. Milan Fashion awaits Chinese design boom, (Feb 27 2011), Accessed in - http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/27/us-italy-fashion-china-idUSTRE71Q1RR20110227
[13] Chen, Nancy N. China Urban: Ethnographies of Comtemporary Cluture,(Feb 2001) P.133
[14] Liu , Vincent. Capturing the dynamic growth of China’s fashon market,  (july 2011) https://www.bcgperspectives.com/content/articles/retail_consumer_insight_dressing_up/
[15] Goldman, Corrie. Made in translation: Stanford scholar explores Italian-Chinese collaborations in fashion, (December 21, 2012) Accessed in - http://news.stanford.edu/news/2012/december/italian-chinese-fashion-122112.html
[16] Gough, Neil, made in china, Time Magazine (October 2004)http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,733846,00.html
[17] Gould-Simon, Alisa. Leading British fashion brands entice China's nouveau riche , (Sunday 6 June 2010), Accessed in - http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/06/china-fashion-designer-shops

[18] (Author Uknown), “Fashionable” brand strategies to adopt in China


http://www.danviews.com/sequoia-capital-invests-multi-million-dollars-in-chinese-fashion-retailer-and-wholesaler-milanoo-com/
[20] Woodard, Richard. CHINA: Fashion retailer Novo gets $30m investment (21 August 2012) http://www.just-style.com/news/fashion-retailer-novo-gets-30m-investment_id115326.aspx

[21]Sung, Chinme. ,Foreign Direct Investment in China in 2010 Rises to Record $105.7 Billion. Bloomberg news (Jan 18, 2011) http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-18/foreign-direct-investment-in-china-in-2010-rises-to-record-105-7-billion.html


[22] Trentmann, Frank . The making of the consumer: Knowledge power and identity in the modern world, Berg, (2006) ,P177
[23]Rasi, Alena (13.11.2012)  Scandalous political fashion http://gbtimes.com/third-angle/chinas-leadership-change/features/web-tv-third-angle-insight/fashion-chinese-politics
[24] Welters, Linda. The fashion reader : second edition, Berg (2011) P610

L'Oreal Elvive: Damage Care Repair Shampoo + Conditioner Review


L'Oreal




Name: Damage Care Repair Shampoo + Conditioner
Brand: L’Oreal Elvive

When it comes to hair products, I like to stick to what works. And for me, that’s L’Oreal Elvive Nutri Gloss Shampoo + Conditioner. I was attracted to the bright yellow bottle of L’Oreal Elvive Damage Care Repair Shampoo + Conditioner and, seeing as my hair IS damaged, I thought I’d try it. The Shampoo as well as the conditioner has a white colour, additionally it has a creamy consistency that spreads easily throughout the whole length of my hair. It also has a lovely and too much of a whelming scent. It’s seemed to have a sort of Orangy/Lemon and flowery scent which was quite lovely and refreshing, and lasted day. The conditioner left my hair soft, shiny and easy to manage. I have very knotty easily, especially after washing, but this conditioner leaves it easy to comb and style. Which I thought was excellent. ut the formula is good and promising. It contains silicones, which improves the appearance of damaged hair and seal split ends therefore they cannot be seen.  ceramides forms a protective wall on the hair protect moister and stop it in from damage (such as heat damage for example). So, although nothing can repair damaged hair, this conditioner improves the hairs appearance, making it look healthy, shiny and beautiful.

 What I found I liked in the product: I found that the product had a creamy consistency touch it was easy to spread. It left my hair feeling soft and shiny
which made my hair easy to manage and style. The packaging was good and the lid didn’t break. In addition there was a lovely scent to it.
What I found that i didn’t like:
- I found that the product that is for damaged hair didn’t leave my hair prone to breaking. 
 Overall, it did improve the appearance of my hair, even if just temporarily.
RINSE OUT MASK


I ADORE L'Oreal Elvive Rinse out mask. It nourishes your hair from the root,which is vital. It makes you feel as if your hair is stronger and protected. Which lets be honest is never a bad thing.
The Masque fills in gaps and seals damaged hair fibres, which left my hair feeling really silky and soft.  It gradually helps repair damaged hair. Always use the Rinse out mask after washing your hair to give it the full Damage care repair effect.


Available at: Boots, Superdrug, Asda and most stores.

Lots of love H x