Monthly Archives: October 2009

Threading the Needle: The Future of Fashion Design Conference

Posted on October 26, 2009 by Shenlei | 1 Comment

New York, NY: October 27, 2009 Threading the Needle: The Future of Fashion Design Conference

Fashion Research Institute invites you to attend Threading the Needle: The Future of Fashion Design, the first virtual world-based fashion design conference in history.

Fashion design is changing rapidly in response to many factors. The recent economic collapse, coupled with a coming petroleum crisis and a wave of new technologies with a global emphasis have sent ripples through the industry. Young designers and design students are faced with an array of choices for their careers, many of which weren’t even an option a few years ago.

Threading the Needle gathers eight fashion industry thought leaders to present their views on a range of topics designed to help a global audience of new designers and fashion designers ‘thread their needle’ and launch their careers. And as anyone who has ever had hand sewn a hem knows, there is a trick to threading a needle. Please join us on Thursday, December 3rd from 8 am – 5 pm EDT at this free conference for fashion design students and new designers.

Conference speakers include Kerry Bannigan (CEO, Nolcha Fashion Week); Fiona Jenvey (CEO, Mudpie); Beth Harris (Director of Digital Learning, MOMA-NYC); Crosby Noricks (Founder, PR Couture); Suzie Norris-Reeves (FHEA, Head of School, Southampton Solent University); Elaine Polvinen (Professor & Coordinator – Fashion Textile Technology, Buffalo State University); Michiel Thissen (Founder, Mythos Consultancy); Shenlei Winkler (CEO, Fashion Research Institute); Steven Zucker (Dean of Graduate Studies, FIT).

In addition to the presentation track, additional displays will be available for conference attendees to visit. These include a 3-D trend report, with trend data graciously provided by Mudpie; a virtual fashion installation with fashions created by the Fashion Research Institute’s student interns; booths and displays about programs from other fashion industry organizations; exhibits about fashion history, and even a game developed just for fashion designers!

The trendy conference architecture is being provided by The ARCH Techwork. and hosting and hardware for the event are being graciously provided by Intel Corporation with additional support from Intel Labs. Threading the Needle is a HASTACA event. The conference is being presented and sponsored by Fashion Research Institute.

The conference is free for all attendees – simply create a user account on the ScienceSim grid at sciencesim.com. Then download the software, and log in. It’s that simple, and both the software and the conference are free. Attendees will want to log in a little early and customize their avatars, so they feel comfortable with their avatar representation and with the interface. There are 45 minute orientation sessions which will be provided on November 19th and 26th from 1-2 pm EDT, and November 29 from 9-10 am EDT. Experienced mentors will be on hand to guide you through the orientation, which takes about 30 minutes, with 15 minutes to customize your avatar.

For more information, please visit http://needlethreading.com/ or contact admin @ fashionresearchinstitute.com.

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Posted in apparel industry, Avatar, avatar apparel, Black Dress Technology, conference, Content, design, education, fashion, Fashion Research Institute, Intel, Missy Lavecchia, OpenSim, science, ScienceSim, Shengri La, Shengri La Chamomile, Shengri la Marketplace, Shenlei, Virtual World

Tagged Buffalo State University, Cyberextruder, event, fashion eduation, fashiond esign conference, Jon Brouchard, Mudpie, needle, Nolcha, Southampton solent university, threading

Today in Shengri La: Corporate Men’s Wear Show

Posted on October 24, 2009 by Shenlei | Comments Off

A rare experience: men’s wear presented in visually compelling, interactive, engaging manner. A dozen handsome male models work a dozen looks, showcasing how different pieces from the Mainely Men collection of corporate men’s wear may be mixed and matched to create very different looks. Set in a pristine northern forest full of wildlife, please join our models as they showcase looks mixing plaids, windowpanes and twills.

Naturally, what is a fashion installation without swag? Tiny pinecones full of great dude swag are tucked here and there in the set – find them to collect the full set of men’s accessories ranging from aviator-style sunglasses and hats to briefcases and shoulder bags. And of course, all of our fashion installations are interactive – chat with the models, and in some cases, you can even join in with them fishing or telling tall tales around a crackling campfire. There’s even a 7Seas server with extra special prizes, so join the fun with us.

Mainely Men showcases the corporate clothing of Debutante, the Fashion Research Institute’s lab line, which anchors the Shengri La Marketplace. Mainely Men will be held Saturday, October 24th, at 4 pm/SLT/7 pm Eastern in the Shengri La Hope region. The region is locked for an hour beforehand, starting at 3, and opens promptly at 4 pm. Please join us then.

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Posted in Avatar, avatar apparel, Content, design, education, fashion, Fashion Research Institute, secondlife, Shengri La, Shengri la Marketplace, Shenlei, Virtual World

Introducing the Shengri La Marketplace in Shengri La Hope

Posted on October 22, 2009 by Shenlei | Comments Off

Fashion Research Institute is pleased to unveil its latest effort designed to help emerging designers and content creators take another step to achieving their dreams.

The Shengri La Marketplace evolved from the emerging designer program, piloted by Fashion Research Institute over the past 18 months. The Marketplace is a full region development which incorporates runway services, photography sets, and a range of programs intended to help designers reach their next level or professional expertise.

The Markeplace hosts the Designer’s Coop, the Professional Virtua Designer Society, and the Emerging Designer program.

The Designer’s Coop includes meeting space and displays about Fashion Research Institute’s various educational and design programs, a gallery for exhibits and store fronts for some of our past graduates from the emerging designer program.

The Professional Virtua Designer Society is a new program the Institute will be launching. The Society members will benefit from a comprehensive suite of benefits ranging from major medical and other forms of insurance to member discounts and professional development courses and seminars.

The Emerging Designer Program remains the heart of the Marketplace, with a two-tiered approach to partnering with the Fashion Research Institute. The basic partnership includes basic store front space with full access to the range of runway and photography sets and free admission to a monthly design seminar. The Emerging Designer partnership includes not just store front space, but the opportunity to mentor directly with CEO Shenlei Winkler. These designers receive focused attention on their brand and their work, with compassionate critique specifically intended to help these designers move their brands forward. Applications for both levels of partnership are available at the Marketplace.

The Marketplace is also home to a new flagship store for Debutante, which is the Fashion Research Institute’s lab line. The new Debutante store anchors one corner of the Marketplace, with the other three corners anchored with the runway/photography sets, a special 7-Seas fishing pool and horseback riding area, and in the corner opposite to Debutante, the Designer’s Coop building.

We’ve also created a full roster of events, including runway shows and seminars, to help our designers who are joining the marketplace program.

We’d like to invite all interested parties to join us for a walk-through of the Marketplace on Sunday, October 25th.

You can practice on the new runway system, feed the parrots, or ride around the beaches. Bring your fishing poles, too, so you can try out our ‘special prizes’. Callipygian Christensen is exhibiting early fashion work for Prim & Proper. Hunt for the 35 seashells, each containing free special prizes related to the marketplace. The seashell hunt is ongoing through the end of November.

CEO Shenlei Winkler will be speaking about the Marketplace program at 3 pm PT, followed by the ever-talented Kyle Beltran at 4:30 pm PT.

If you are a Second Life fashion designer who is looking for an opportunity to improve your design or business skills, increase your exposure, or just have a group-access runway system waiting for you to show off your newest designs, then the Shengri La Marketplace may be for you. If you are a successful Second Life fashion designer who wants access to a regular schedule of “no-hassle” fashion installations, then the marketplace is right for you too. We invite you to come talk with us, visit the region, see our commitment to success, and make your own decisions about whether a partnership with the Marketplace is right for you.