BANGALORE, India, Oct 16, 2007 (AFP) - An Indian woman whose death while working for a supplier for clothing giant Gap sparked the retailer's concern and union anger died of a brain tumour, her employer said Tuesday.

Samir Goenka, owner of Bangalore-based Texport Overseas, said he had just received the report on an autopsy conducted on Padmavathi, 39, which determined she suffered a "natural death due to brain tuberculoma."

"Only God could have saved her," Goenka said in a telephone interview.

PARIS, Sept 30, 2007 (AFP) - Paris has long been the world's undisputed fashion capital but now it truly is going global, with ever more Asian designers opting to show here to grab a bigger share of the international market.

'I wanted to give myself a big challenge,' Manish Arora told AFP after becoming the first Indian designer to present ready-to-wear in the French capital on Sunday.

Asked why he had defected from London where he has shown for four seasons, he said: 'Let's face it, Paris is the city for fashion. I wanted a bigger audience, bigger press.'

PARIS, Sept 30, 2007 (AFP) - Spanish designer Estrella Archs, who has recently been named creative director at Cacharel, sent out a flurry of pretty but unfussy frocks onto the runway for her own label collection here on Sunday, boding well for her new job.

The core of the collection were dresses, almost all hovering round the knee, in floaty silk chiffons, in a palette of slate grey and black with the ocasional brilliant flash of emerald or pale quartz pink.

MUMBAI, Sept 30, 2007 (AFP) - A new line of bedspreads called the 'NAZI Collection' has provoked fury among India's Jewish community.

Jews in the financial capital Mumbai are now looking into legal options to block the sale of the product line, the promotional material for which features swastikas, the Times of India newspaper said Sunday.

'We Jews believe that the best part of living in India is that it is a country that has never ridiculed us or harmed us,' said Jonathan Solomon, chairman of the Indian Jewish Federation.

PARIS, Sept 30, 2007 (AFP) - Princess Sirivannavari Nariratan's grandmother Queen Sirikit of Thailand was a devoted customer of the French couturier Pierre Balmain and that relationship was celebrated with her granddaughter's first catwalk collection in Paris on Saturday night.

The 20-year-old princess, who has already presented two shows in Bangkok fashion week, said she wanted to come to Paris 'to learn how they do everything here.'

MILAN, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - Decadent 17th century French and Italian aristocrats might well have been able to pick out something to their taste from the offerings of Dolce and Gabbana in their ready-to-wear collection for next spring-summer.

Petticoats of frothy tulle, a riot of flounces, frills and furbelows, and hand-painted fabric in rich red, violet, yellow and grass green, would not have been out of place at any European court.

MOSCOW, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - A little black dress and a Soviet painting, gold embroidery and Russian icons: fashion and art are brought together at an exhibition devoted to French fashion house Chanel that opened here on Thursday.

'Chanel is a fashion phenomenon, an art phenomenon,' Irina Antonova, director of the Pushkin Museum, said at a press conference announcing the opening of 'Chanel: The Rules of Art,' which runs until November 21.

PARIS, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - Italy's anti-anorexia ads have divided France's powerful fashion industry -- with the high end couture federation deeming them 'scandalous' while its ready-to-wear cousin hails a fresh move to keep skinny models out of fashion.

Asked to comment on photographer Oliviero Toscani's striking image of a nude anorexic woman which was plastered on billboards and in magazines across Italy this week, Didier Grumbach, head of the French Couture Federation, told AFP:

'I'm pleased this is not happening in France. I find this absolutely scandalous.

PARIS, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - For the first time two Indian designers are unveiling their collections during the Paris ready-to-wear shows for next spring-summer, which get under way at the weekend.

Two other notable newcomers who stand out among the 90 catwalk presentations on the nine-day programme are Thai Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, who is holding a gala evening at the historic Opera Garnier on Saturday evening, and Limi Feu, the daughter of the veteran Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto, whose show is a week later.

MILAN, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - Gucci, which Texan designer Tom Ford put on the international fashion map with his steamy, overt sexuality, has taken a step back in time to revisit the more restrained 1950s for its collection for next summer.

Frida Giannini, now in charge of the label, delved into the fashion archives for her circle skirts, cinched into the waist with a neat bow and billowing out to mid-calf, draped or pleated in graphic black and white with splashes of yellow and candy pink or exotic floral prints. Others were seamed with bands of patent leather.

ROME, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - Photographer Oliviero Toscani on Wednesday defended his images of a nude anorexic woman appearing in magazines and on billboards across Italy in a campaign to raise awareness about the disease.

Toscani, known for his hard-hitting ad campaigns for the Italian clothing company Benetton, dismissed suggestions that anorexic girls would look to the French actress shown in the photos, Isabelle Caro, as a role model.

MILAN, Italy, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - British designer Vivienne Westwood's warm eccentricity and frank sensuality imbue a retrospective opening Wednesday in Milan alongside fashion week.

Westwood, radiant at 66 with flamboyant red locks poking out of a grey military cap, said she started out with the aim of helping her then fiance Malcom McLaren, the manager of the punk group The Sex Pistols, to dress vocalist Johnny Rotten and the band.

MILAN, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - After one of northern Europe's wettest summers on record, fashion designers showing in Milan this week are confidently predicting more seasonal sunshine next year for their airy, light-as-a-feather creations.

Certainly Miuccia Prada did not have downpours in mind when she sent out her models like a flock of fragile butterflies, all a-flutter in outfits fit for Tinkerbell.

ROME, Sept 25, 2007 (AFP) - An Italian advertising campaign featuring photos of an emaciated girl won praise Tuesday from designers and the government for targeting anorexia, but campaigners warned it could encourage the disease.

Italian photographer Oliviero Toscani, famed for his shock campaigns for clothing company Benetton, launched a new campaign Monday -- in the middle of Milan fashion week -- featuring the naked body of an emaciated young woman.

MILAN, Sept 25, 2007 (AFP) - Laid-backed Mediterranean chic was the look for next summer at Giorgio Armani, while Roberto Cavalli's vision took him to sun-baked Africa as the Milan shows got into full swing here.

Armani's girls wafted languidly down the catwalk in full-length voile dresses, some loosely knotted at the ankle, their hair flowing loose or just kept in check with a net scarf spangled with gemstones.

Outsize silk shirts came in pearl grey, gunmetal and blue, topped with little waistcoats or boleros.

SEOUL, Sept 23, 2007 (AFP) - Samsung Electronics said it agreed Sunday to develop new premium electronic products with Italian luxury goods designer Giorgio Armani.

Under the business tie-up the two firms would jointly develop mobile phones, flat-screen televisions and other electronic products, it said in a statement.

The 'Giorgio Armani-Samsung luxury mobile,' the first of the jointly-developed products, will be unveiled during a Giorgio Armani fashion show in Milan, Italy, on Monday, it said.

MILAN, Sept 23, 2007 (AFP) - British supermodel Naomi Campbell put in a surprise celebrity appearance on the first day of the Milan ready-to-wear fashion shows, which got underway at the weekend.

She opened and closed the show for 'Miss Bikini Luxe', one of the first collections unveiled in a low-key start to fashion week, with the heavy hitters not due to start showing until Monday.

Elena Miro, who specialises in clothes for the fuller figure, was first on the official calendar, presenting her fifth collection.

LONDON, Sept 23, 2007 (AFP) - When British Prime Minister Gordon Brown takes centre stage at his governing Labour Party's annual conference next week, it is a safe bet what he will be wearing.

The 56-year-old politician has rarely been seen out of a crumpled dark suit, slightly too small white shirt and either a red or light blue tie since taking over from Tony Blair on June 27.

He wore much the same thing during his 10 years as finance minister.

PARIS, Sept 22, 2007 (AFP) - Hedi Slimane, the designer who revolutionised menswear at Christian Dior, left the house because he wanted a chance to design for women, he told Le Monde's Sunday edition.

'After seven years at Dior I wanted to move on and I wanted to dress women, which wasn't possible at Dior,' he explained in an interview with the French daily.

Britain's John Galliano this summer celebrated a decade in charge of women's ready-to-wear and couture at the prestigious fashion house.

LONDON, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - Playboy continued its evolution from adult magazine to international merchandising brand by opening its first store in Europe Friday at the heart of London's shopping district.

But customers expecting an erotic extravaganza of shop assistants parading in Playboy's trademark bunny ears, bow ties and not much else might be disappointed -- the store's focus is fashion and homewares, not titillation.

PRAGUE, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - Prague's Wenceslas Square, scene of some of the turning points in the country's history, for the first time hosted a fashion show on Thursday evening with the presentation of Osmany Laffita's Summer 2008 collection.

The 40-something Cuban-born fashion designer, who has lived here since he was 22, told AFP he enjoyed surprising his guests with the concept of each collection in the Czech capital, 'a city where there are so many incredible locations.'

MUMBAI, Sept 20, 2007 (AFP) - The fashion magazine Vogue will launch its Indian edition on Friday across 40 cities and towns, its publisher Conde Nast said Thursday.

The magazine, a monthly, will be priced at 100 rupees (2.5 dollars) and is the 17th international edition of Vogue.

'There are more than a million Vogue women in India, each with high awareness of international luxury, fashion and beauty brands,' said Alex Kuruvilla, the managing director of Conde Nast India.

'India is in Vogue and now Vogue will be in India,' he said in a statement.

LONDON, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) - US pop star Prince caused a sensation at London Fashion Week Wednesday by staging a surprise performance on the catwalk.

The diminutive singer, currently staging an extended series of concerts at London's 02 arena, took fashionistas by surprise at British designer Matthew Williamson's 2008 Spring-Summer collection show.

The first indication of the unexpected show came when a Prince track struck up as models prepared to head down the runway -- nothing unusual at the fashion festival which ends Thursday.

PARIS, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) - With textile quotas about to expire, dozens of Chinese fashion firms are strutting their stuff jointly for the first time on Paris catwalks this week as Beijing attacks the high-end European market.

Making a debut appearance in the world's fashion capital, 82 clothes-makers from China descended on Paris for a four-day stint at a top trade fair, bringing their top models, including Miss Chinas 2003 and 2006, as well as the country's 'most handsome man several years running', Zhang Xinghe.

LONDON, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) - While the British fashion industry seems in fine creative fettle, many insiders say it needs to smarten up its act on the business side to compete on the international catwalks.

The country's chic elite have been on display at London Fashion Week, where the return of some long-absent designers has been welcomed by many.

But critics warn that a few big names alone are not enough to push it into the superleague of countries like France and Italy.

LONDON, Sept 17, 2007 (AFP) - Designers trumpeted warmth Monday at a London Fashion Week preview with models draped in silk and muslin taking to the catwalk splashed in bronze, brass, chocolate and caramel.

Models showed off a variety of short skirts, shorts and dresses from the 2008 spring-summer collections of Jasper Conran and Marios Schwab, Best New Designer at the British Fashion Awards.

John Rocha's show was a clash of black, mustard, and rose, while Basso&Brooke took a high-tech approach to land their 'paint' creations.

LONDON, Sept 16, 2007 (AFP) - Designer Gareth Pugh, a rising star in British fashion, wowed the second day of London Fashion Week on Sunday with a collection that drew gasps and applause from a packed room of observers.

Staying true to his reputation, the young man from northeast England held the several hundred people who had managed to get ahold of invitations in suspense, as he unveiled his 2008 spring-summer collection.

PARIS, Sept 16, 2007 (AFP) - Once cheap and often nasty, T-shirts are back on the streets as ethical message-carrying PC wear that comes with a sizeable price tag for the high-end urban chic.

'Absolutely everyone is making T-shirts nowadays,' said Guillaume Salmon, a spokesman for Paris' trend-setting Colette concept store. 'You can wear them anywhere with anything nowadays, at work or at night, like jeans -- and they allow people to express themselves.'

PARIS, Sept 15, 2007 (AFP) - The elite of France's luxury industry will converge on Moscow in December to celebrate 300 years of links with Russia, seen as both a strategic and expanding market.

More than 40 chief executives of top companies in high-end fashion, jewellery, perfumes and tableware will attend the two-day event on December 3 and 4 being organised by the Committee Colbert, which groups 70 names in the luxury business.

LONDON, Sept 14, 2007 (AFP) - Models aged under 16 will be banned from London Fashion Week after an industry report Friday which also said they should have to show a health certificate before being allowed on the catwalk.

But the Model Health Inquiry, set up by the British Fashion Council (BFC), stopped short of barring all models with a body mass index (BMI) below a certain level from the event, which starts Saturday.

LONDON, Sept 14, 2007 (AFP) - Models aged under 16 will be banned from London Fashion Week after an industry report recommendation Friday which also said they should have to show a health certificate before being allowed on the catwalk.

But the Model Health Inquiry, set up by the British Fashion Council (BFC), stopped short of barring all models with a body mass index (BMI) below a certain level from the event, which starts Saturday.

LONDON, Sept 14, 2007 (AFP) - Models aged under 16 will be banned from London Fashion Week after a report Friday calling for them to show a health certificate before being allowed on the catwalk.

The Model Health Inquiry, set up by industry body the British Fashion Council (BFC), stopped short of barring all models with a body mass index (BMI) below a certain level from the event, which starts Saturday.

NEW YORK, Sept 13, 2007 (AFP) - New York wrapped up its fall Fashion Week Wednesday, promising retro elegance, light femininity and longer lines for next year's spring and summer ready-to-wear collections.

Top designers like Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Diane von Furstenberg and Oscar de la Renta showed their collections, along with dozens of relatively unknown aspiring young creators wanting to become the next big thing.

LONDON, Sept 11, 2007 (AFP) - A top London fashion agency rejected a size zero model because she was judged too skinny, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe-born Charlotte Carter was told to gain weight if she wanted to work with Models 1, just days before the independent Model Health Inquiry publishes its final report on the ways to protect the lives of supermodels on Friday, and the opening of London Fashion Week the following day.

LONDON, Sept 10, 2007 (AFP) - Supermodel Naomi Campbell said Monday she would stage a fashion show to help the victims of deadly floods in Britain earlier this year.

The 37-year-old Briton has teamed up with the fellow models Elle MacPherson, Yasmin Le Bon and Jodie Kidd for the 'Fashion for Relief' event, to help those affected by floods which left seven people dead over the summer.

PARIS, Sept 9, 2007 (AFP) - 'There once was a clothes-conscious but obese woman who dreamt of being fashionable, seductive and feeling beautiful,' says new designer on the block, Veronique Sibille.

Like a growing number of fashion firms across Europe, Sibille, a once overweight but now curvaceous former ship's cook turned clothing entrepreneur, is stepping into the breach to provide smart clothes for women unable to fit into the petite sizes offered by most boutiques or department stores.

TOKYO, Sept 7, 2007 (AFP) - Muji, Japan's trendy 'no-brand' brand of sleek but simple housing goods and clothing, will enter the United States with a store in New York.

Muji, which has developed a loyal following in European and Asian cities among style-conscious young professionals, will open the store in November in Soho.

The 3,200 square-foot (300 square-meter) store will offer more than 2,000 Muji products ranging from furniture to beauty products, parent company Ryohin Keikaku Co. Ltd.'s US unit said in a statement released Thursday in New York.