Need a gust of grandeur in the sea of low-slung skinnies and throwback high-tops hailing out of Hipsterville? Meet Michele Savoia, the tattooed, needle-wielding daredevil (and FIT prof) who gets his kicks from crafting forties-inspired bespoke suiting for the likes of Robert De Niro, Mickey Rourke, Chris Noth, and Matt Dillon. We rang the designer’s Essex shop for a double serving of Savoia

The Daily popped next door to hit up the People StyleWatch offices for the newest dose of “The Assistant Files,” and Kara Studzinski, 24, was more than happy to dish! After an immersive internship run at Elle and a first gig in the fashion department at Glamour, this N.J. native is six months into her job assisting People StyleWatch editrix, Susan Kaufman. Read carefully, whether you’re a chicette hoping to break into the biz or a seasoned EIC cycling through your upteenth assistant! Studzinski is brimming with wise words on being unforgettable while inching up the career trajectory totem pole, and also how to treat underlings a la Kaufman (and certainly not in Miranda Priestly fashion).

One of the largest manufacturers of wet wipe and coffee filter products, US-based Rockline Industries recently announced that it had achieved “zero landfill” status at its manufacturing facilities in Springdale and Booneville, Arkansas, the US.The company explained that through its partnership with Marck Recycling, all waste leaving its two Arkansas facilities will be diverted from conventional landfills, and will either be recycled or incinerated for energy recapture. The waste-to-energy incineration will provide power to both residences and businesses in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the US.”Over the past three years, Rockline has proven its commitment to environmental sustainability through a number of initiatives

Latest statistics of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGMEA) showed that during the first four months of the financial year of 2011/12 (July-October 2011), Bangladesh’s garment exports to the US amounted to US$1.48 billion, a drop of US$43 million as compared with US$1.63 billion in the same period of last year. This is mainly the result of decrease in orders for underwear.In face of economic recession and debt crisis respectively, Bangladesh’s two major export markets, the US and Europe, saw drop in retail sales of consumer products. Besides, the diminishing purchasing power of the US and Europe in apparel has further worsened the cotton yarn sector which was already on a low price level.Bangladeshi industry professionals suggested that the Bangladeshi government should proactively promote “duty-free” and “tariff-free” for its garment exports to the US, in attempts to help expand the bilateral trade.

Indorama Industries, Ltd will commence domestic production of Spandex in India in February-March 2012.Shalendra Vasudeva, General Manager (Marketing) of Indorama Industries told the scribe that India’s first plant for Spandex will begin its production in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh state in February-March 2012.According to the company, the total capacity of the Spandex facility will be 15,000 tons per year and the capacity will be achieved in three phases. The initial capacity will be 5,000 tons in 2012 and an additional 5,000 tones will come online by 2013.Mr Vasudeva advised that so far India has been importing Spandex from Vietnam, China, Korea and Taiwan. With the domestic production of Spandex, India’s textile Industry will have indigenous Spandex on time and at competitive rates.India’s current market size for Spandex is 6,000 tons per year.

As part of its rebranding strategy, the UK-based testing equipment supplier James Heal has extensively redesigned its key instrument Elmatear2, incorporating contemporary styling and a wide range of new features which offer such benefits as better value, increased accuracy, safety and flexibility.Applied for testing textiles, nonwovens, paper, board and plastics, the instrument is supplied with a full set of pendulum weights (A-D), a complete set of check weights and specimen, one spare blade and four specimen preparation tables.An optional feature is Pendulum Weight Kit (E), which allows double capacity to 128N. As introduced, this has made it ideal for testing higher strength technical textiles such roofing shingles, personal protection equipment (PPE) and high strength upholstery and apparel fabrics. Pendulum E allows for quick and easy clamping with innovative rotary cam lock jaws and interchangeable jaw faces.Fool-proof in operation, Elmatear2 has automatic level compensation, automatic pendulum weight detection, automatic zeroing and visible and audible indicators

WASHINGTON – In advance of the 8th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation, the United States is offering new financial incentives to boost cotton production in West African countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali as a way to revive the stalled Doha talks while at the same time moving millions of people out of poverty.

LONDON – The 6th edition of the RITE Group conference on sustainable textiles will take place on 10th October 2012 at Central Hall, Westminster, London.

SHANGHAI – Chinese scientists claim to have developed a new cotton textile that cleans itself when exposed to ordinary sunlight that could result in jeans, t-shirts or socks that clean and de-odorise themselves when hung on a clothesline in the sun or draped on a balcony railing. And since cotton’s biggest environmental impact occurs during consumer laundering, this new technique could work wonders for cotton’s eco-credentials.

LUDWIGSHAFEN – Chemical industry giant BASF, which also supplies auxiliaries and finishes for the global textile industry says sustainability will become a main driver of growth and value creation as the company sets ambitious growth plans to 2020. As it looks to increase sales by an average of six per cent per year until 2020, BASF says that its customers want sustainable products and system solutions, and says even its employees expect BASF to closely integrate sustainability into its day-to-day activities. “More sustainability can only be achieved through innovation – and that is where chemistry plays an essential role,” said BASF Vice Chairman Dr Martin Brudermüller