Why Not Renting Wedding Dresses

January 15th, 2009

When preparing for a huge once-in-a-lifetime event such as your wedding, you’ll most likely book a special location for it; some of you may even hire a limo or go all out with a horse and carriage for transportation. But if you’re serious about trimming your wedding budget, you can always look into more family-owned venues for your reception, or style your own car for the occasion.

Beyond that, you can also save some bucks by renting everything else for your event. From the usual groom’s and men’s tuxes, you can go further by renting gown as well as the entire bridal party’s outfits. To add that final touch, the women can sign out jewelry as well, just for that one time. And don’t forget the wedding cake?

There is no doubt that your wedding dress will be one of the most expensive items in your wedding. In fact, you can save a fortune if you are going to rent the wedding gown. Renting a gown is also considered environmental friendly. However, renting a wedding gown is not the same as buying a new one because you have to return it after your wedding. In order to prevent unnecessary arguments with the bridal shop or the wedding dress shop, you should bear the following points in mind.

Reasons not to rent your dress Common arguments against renting a wedding dress include the fact that it’s not yours, someone else has already spent their special day in it. While that is true, what about the groom and his groomsmen? Most of the male participants in a wedding will rent their suits rather than buy them. If it’s good for the boys, it must be good for the girls as well! Like a rented suit, your rented wedding dress will have been thoroughly dry-cleaned and will be in good condition. There is nothing to be afraid of in terms of cleanliness. Other brides take a sentimental argument – the dress will be a special reminder of your wedding day and you may one day be able to pass it to your daughter. The likely scenario is that fashions will have moved on by the time your daughter gets married, and she may not want to wear your dress. As for memories, what about that expensive photographer you’ve got booked?

Renting will save you money The difference in cost between renting a wedding dress and buying your own (or having one made for you) can be staggering. Conservatively, a designer wedding dress could set you back $2500, while renting a wedding dress may cost you less then $250. The difference can be used to put towards a more extravagant honeymoon, or even towards a house deposit.

Modal Towel – So Soft and Cozy

January 15th, 2009

Chinese new year is coming and I bet every Chinese would like to collect new and exquisite household items to make your everyday life more comfortable and to start the 2009 with fresh feelings.

Today I wanna talk about the towels, the important items that we would touch everyday. So a great towel may give a great touch feeling and nice mood. Since towel is also the items that we would frequently replaced for the sake of healthy reasons, so new year would be the best time to buy youself a new Modal towel set.

I’m sure many of you have already heard about MODAL, but a surprising number of people have told me that they do not know what it is. Modal® is a bio-based fiber made by spinning reconstituted cellulose from beech trees. It is about 50% more hygroscopic, or water-absorbent, per unit volume than cotton is. It is designed to dye just like cotton, and is color-fast when washed in warm water.

In general, Model is a super soft, light, silky fabric that is made of 100% cellulose, extracted from the beechwood tree. Not only does the fabric have the benefits of being 100% natural, and therefore exempt from objections involving the synthetic textile industry (well, casting deforestation aside, I suppose…but I have witnessed the effects of a nearby DuPont plant while an undergrad at UVa…it ain’t pretty), but the fabirc has the added quality of wicking away sweat from the body – night/cold sweats are a thing of the past. Additionally, it supposedly stands up to repeated harsh washings and dryings better than other fabrics. There’s nothing better than the feeling of climbing into bed on a hot summer night into a cool set of silky sheets that comfortably cling to your body…and they’re great for the winter too.
Many people would never consider anything but white bath towel. White towels are classic, they remind us of our favorite spa or hotel, they evoke a clean and tranquil feeling. I personally love white bath towels too, since it’s not been dyed with color, more natural and clean. So a Model white bath towel set or face towel would be on my purchasing list. I will compare the prices between online C2C site like Taobao.com (This great C2C site only can be used in China, oh oh oh) and the surpemarkets, and I probably would buy towels on line instead of surpermakets. Oh, I’m a crazy online purchaser, a wise and brilliant one anyway.

How to Save On Your Wedding Cost

January 15th, 2009

In this terrible time of financial uncertainty, wheather you are directly influenced by this crisis or are still intact, you should be more careful about your cash flow from now on.

Since young people still have to get married, you have to give a good thought about how to save money and have a budget but still perfect wedding.

Budget wedding starts from renting a wedding dress. Renting is less expensive than buying. Men have been renting tuxedos for years, why not wedding dress rental for women? This isn’t as far fetched as it may sound. In addition to buying a wedding dress, most brides have to contend with preserving and storing the wedding dress. With a wedding dress rental, all the bride has to do is choose the dress, wear it, and return in within the allotted time period. She doesn’t even have to worry about the dry cleaning.

With careful planning, costs can be kept under control and a stylish wedding achieved for a fraction of this figure. Here are some more tips.

1. Rings
Ask yourself if you really need to spend thousands on something some people lose or which wears out and becomes unusable.

2. Food
Think about making the food yourself, or at least the puddings and starters. Ask at local catering colleges if they provide a service; you might still get quality but at half the price. Alternatively, ask everyone to bring a dish!
The wedding cake neednÂ’t be expensive either. Think about making it yourself, or go for a simple sponge. A current trend is to serve small individual ‘cup-cakesÂ’, which aren’t expensive but still look nice.

3. Photography
If you do go for a professional photographer, ensure youÂ’re certain of the number and type of prints you want and ask yourself how many you really need.
Alternatively, ask a friend who has an interest in photography, but make sure they have a good camera.

4. Honeymoon
Do you really need a villa in the Seychelles with every conceivable luxury? Honeymoons can add thousands to wedding costs. Think of hiring a romantic cottage somewhere in the UK instead. Or take advantage of low-cost flights to a European city and try to negotiate a good hotel deal (especially if you intend to go out of high season).
Alternatively, ask around among friends and family and see if anyone has a second home you could borrow, or at least rent cheaply, in the UK or abroad.

Bargain, bargain, bargain. You can negotiate for everything, from flowers to the band to the venue. Katie says she got a deal on her dress and the bridesmaid dresses by purchasing them from the same shop. Cut back on things that guests won’t notice. Carley suggests eliminating a couple of courses from the dinner, limiting the bar by featuring a special cocktail, or only buying flowers that are in season. Don’t lose sight of the purpose. The wedding is to celebrate your relationship, so focus on creating a memorable time as opposed to simply a lavish one.

Do You Have Bad Experience When Online Clothing Shopping

January 14th, 2009

Some people would never take the idea of buying clothing online, because they think clothing should be tried before you know if you fit it or not.

But I don’t think so, I began buying clothes online from 3 monthes ago. And most time I spent less money and bought quality clothes that I love very much. It all depents on the sellers’ quality. Great people won’t sell bad clothes online.

Recently, however, I have a bad experience, the clothes I bought is far away from my imagination. It’s not that I’m too crictic, it’s the description that don’t concord with the actural quatlity of the clothes. The fabric is just so-so, and the down clothes even have feathers leak out.

SO I asked about the seller why she said in the description that this is top-quality and with customer provided quality fabric and it would cost 2000 RMB in the malls.

Finally, I succeed in sending the goods back, but not getting my money back until now. I wish they won’t turn any tricks on me. I will never come to their shop again, and this experience teach me more about online shopping and I would do better from now on.

Why Online Clothing Shopping is Hot

December 26th, 2008

I would call myself a crazy online buyer.:) But I’m not at all lose my mind. I buy the stuff that really worth to buy and not regret any of my online purchasing experience ever.

The same clothing that in the malls and onlines should be varied greatly in the price, so why not pick the cheap yet with the same quality. It requires a little enegy to pick out the good online store anyway since there is certainly many liars out there onlline.

You need to know your body size well to buy suitable clothing online. No blind buying :) Pants is the hardest to buy, but I have been sucessuful in buying one nice boot cut pants, so it greatly boots my enthusiasm to online shopping.

Up to now, my online shopping clothing experience has been very sucessful and I was more and more loving this way of lifestyle.

Women Boots Price is Getting Crazy

December 26th, 2008

Despite the worldwide fanantial crisis, in China, I find many apparel price has increased greatly, including the women boots. The price may make me stare my eyes out, it is way out of my boundage.

I’m not that poor and not rich either. That’s too say, the boot price is way out of reach for us general office ladies. Is it too crazy to buy a pair of shoes that cost you half a month salary?

I think it’s totally crazy. The thing is, I don’t find any improvement or any better items than 2007, but the price with nearly the same boot has increased in such a unbelievable degree.

I still got a hope that the price may be a little down when the chinese new year is coming and that’s mean spring is yet to come. Will they make some real cancel in the price or just doing some trick to attract you there and trick you to buy some horribly pricy goods that is way out of their original value.

Boot Cut Pants are Big Hot

December 26th, 2008

Women love boot cut pants, but it requres a long and slim leg shape to wear it beautifully.

Otherwise, it may manigfy your disadvantage, making you seem more fat. I’m luck to have a nice shaped leg, so I bought myself a Moussy Boot cut pants. I love this brand, it’s pants shape are great and cozy.

Boot cut pants are suitable to fit in nice boots and casual shoes, it makes your leg seem slim and pretty. But in the winter, if you only wear an pants, not with any warm items inside, your leg would catch cold :) The boot cut pants won’t allow you to insert any heavey side item in, or it will become too fat and tight.

But I have figure out a good idea, that is to buy an nice kee protector to wear because kee is very important and need us to protect it well.

Nice Gloves to Protect Your Second Face Well

December 2nd, 2008

Womens’ hands is her second face, so we need to protect it well and carefully.

For a larger part of people, we mainly buy gloves for practical purpose, which is to keep our hands dry and warm? Most times, we would choose thick cotton or leather ones.When I know that I will be work outside for an extended period of time in the cold, I try to stock up on hand warmers. They are placed inside your gloves and are pretty effective. You could even place them inside the pockets of your jackets for some added boost of heat. You won’t be sorry. Sometimes, I just pick one pair of mundane work gloves because my work requries it.

Not only we beaufiful girls need warm, we also need grace and style.

If you are a true styleaholic, you are already right up on this trend.. gloves darling! They are everywhere this season and no I’m not talking about those woolly, warm mitts or work gloves..I’m speaking about elbow length, satin gloves with vintage threading; metallic fingerless motorcycle gloves, soft buttery gloves in dark greens with white capped collars; hot pink tranny gloves and more!

Wedding Gifts and Popular Trends

August 18th, 2008

Wedding Ceremony is one of the best moments in your life. So it’s extremely important that you make it as perfect as possible. You need to gain some knowledge first about the latest wedding trends before starting your own wedding. Based on many previous learning, you will have large chance of planning a wedding just for you, targeted to your own personality and flavor. Remember, the wedding plan is not just the business for the wedding planer organization. You need to be creative too.

For those people who are going to attend a wedding, how to choose a most suitable gift is a big issue and sometimes a headache. The wedding gifts, if with some personality, would be much better, makes the brides and bridegroom feel that you have really dedicated into this gift, it’s specially prepared for them.

Wedding go green

As everyone continues to go green, wedding favors do the same. If you are looking for eco-friendly favors, consider flower seeds, mini potted plants or even bird’s nests.

Many wedding traditions and trends have changed along with wedding fashions. Though wedding trends may come and go, many items like reception favors and the use of calligraphy remain constants.

Couples that are tying the knot in 2008 are doing their best to be part of the environmental green movement by serving organic foods at their weddings and brides are carrying organic flowers, using recycled paper products, and serving organic foods at the reception. Today’s bride and groom are holding showers and receptions at unconventional sites such as homeless shelters as well as donating to charitable causes instead of receiving gifts.

Organic brides can choose wedding dresses made from sustainable materials such as Hemp, reuse a wedding dress, or make a wedding dress from eco-friendly materials. Green weddings will play a big part in weddings for 2008.

Why not choose a personalized Cake towel

Cake towel is practical and yet full of personality; so despite of the price, which is a bit higher than traditional wedding gifts, people still prefer it as cute and romantic wedding gifts for the once a lifetime occasion.

Currently, towels sold as, for instance, a gift are folded in various manner and arranged in a storage box, and the top side of the storage box is covered with a transparent film, so that the customers can see the arranged towel(s) inside the box through the film, thus drawing the attention of the customers and increase the customer’s desire to purchase. Among these, with the focus on characteristics such as the towel’s texture, thickness, and flexibility, some towels are formed into animals and dolls by way of attaching the towel cloth by sewing or fastening with a pin or the like, thus being offered exclusively as decorations.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for cake-shaped decorative accessories using a towel cloth as a gift or present, and there has been a demand for other types of decorative accessories that have a cake shape. Cushion cover that with China Embroidery Art – Cross-stitch is also a hot choice.

Traditional wedding gifts such as chocolate gifts are so common that people want to add some personality and uniqueness to their wedding gift; cake towel seems to be a perfect choice.

Women Love Chiffon Fabric

August 11th, 2008

We love it!

Chiffon’s biggest USP is the way it clings to the curves of the wearer and it is, in my opinion the perfect foil for our naturally curvy figures. I am talking real women here, size 10 upwards. Namita Manek, 30, a businesswoman buys sarees only in chiffon. She says,” In my opinion there’s no fabric like chiffon to hide your body flaws and play up its best points. Especially chiffon sarees. I love my chiffon sarees with sequins and beads, they are downright glamorous and the colours are so pretty.”

Tripti Ganatra, 25, an upcoming trousseau specialist, agrees with Namita, “I am into the business of putting together trousseaus for young brides and when I am planning the trousseaus I have seen that chiffons are a must-have. I am told to get sarees, lehengas, salwars and even western outfits in chiffon. For functions like the pre-wedding cocktail parties, chiffons with heavy embroidery are hot favourites.”

What’s chiffon all about?

You could learn some Basic Information about Chiffon Fabric in my previous article.
Chiffon is an artificial fabric created out of cotton or silk. It can also be created out of synthetic fibres. The best part about chiffon is that it can be dyed in any colour. Which is why you see chiffons in such beautiful shades. Though people prefer chiffons with lots of embroidery and threadwork, it is very difficult to get this done because of the slippery nature of the fabric. If you ask me, plain chiffons look the best.”

Ajanta Sahani, boutique owner, finds chiffon salwar kameezes the fastest moving item in her store, “Whatever the season, I always have customers coming in and asking for chiffon outfits. I love chiffon. I am also very nostalgic about this fabric, as my mom, who is no more now, would wear only chiffon sarees and that too plain. She had them in all the colours possible and she would wear stunning accessories with it. I have never seen a more elegantly dressed woman than my mom. In fact, even people who didn’t know her, knew her as the woman in chiffons.”

So it looks like, chiffons will never really go out of wardrobes in India, age no bar!

Not only in india, chiffon is a fashion fabric around the world now. Women love this fabric expecially during summer time.

The Fashion of Chiffon

August 11th, 2008

A major material adopted by fashion designers in the design of high class fashion is Chiffon. Chiffon is originated from the French word for cloth which has reflected its importance in fashion history. Chiffion fabric is very popular during summer time mainly because of its cozy feeling and delicate softness. So it’s now a fashion material for many designers.

Most chiffon nowadays is made from polyester (for stain resistance). Silk chiffon is regarded as the premium type of chiffon. It is dry cleanable and does not suffer from the same level of degradation and tearing as polyester chiffon.

The romance of chiffon

Chiffon is quite the rage on the international fashion scene. Women Love Chiffon Fabric. In India it remains an eternal favourite. Say chiffon and you can see Yash Chopra movie heroines drifting down innumerable dream sequences in a sensual haze. The pallu of the sheer fabric going over the hero’s face, while the camera pans in to his expression of longing and adoration. With any other fabric the idea doesn’t work as well. That’s the beauty of chiffon, it is perhaps the only fabric that conveys that sensuous and dreamy feel. Just like the Switzerland tourism industry, the chiffon fabric industry certainly owes a big one to the Yash Chopra banner, he has single-handedly brought in a lot of takers for this fabric. Check out any of the innumerable rain songs in our movies, nine out of ten times the wet saree is chiffon! Remember Sridevi in the sensual rain dance in Mr India? Raveena Tandon in Mohra? Madhuri Dixit in Beta? The list is endless.

New age chiffon

Today on the international fashion scene too chiffons scores high on the style meter. But not chiffon as in see-through, dreamy or romantic variety, but as chiffon that’s young and adventurous.

The new way for chiffon in the west to be is completely un-baby doll like and very unexpected.
Cavalli, Paulo Andersson at Chloe, Stella McCartney, Alberta Ferretti are some of the big names that have given chiffon a whole new twist. Literally.

While McCartney and Andersson teamed up jackets and cardigans to counter the see-through wispy mood of chiffon, Ferretti’s chiffon creations are stiffened with drapes and pleats.

Indian designers’ fabric

Back home, Vineet Bahl’s collection ‘Autumn Affair’ at LFW featured kurta dresses, kimono tops, jodhpur churidhars and kaftans in chiffon in addition to other materials.
Designer Swapnil Shinde too went for chiffon to achieve fluid effects for his dresses. His opening creation at LFW was a deep blue chiffon gown with black floral appliqué down the front. Swapnil also teamed net with chiffon to achieve that dreamy effect that is popular in India. As I said earlier give us our chiffons flowing, diaphanous, feminine…highly romantic!

Basic Information about Chiffon Fabric

August 7th, 2008

Chiffon is a lightweight, balanced plain-woven sheer fabric. Chiffon can be made from cotton, silk or synthetic fibers, but is usually associated with silk or nylon. Chiffon can be dyed to almost any shade desired, however if made from polyester it is difficult to dye. Chiffon is a good companion with satin as both are are light weight and give a feeling of elegant and floating by overlaying each other.

Therefore it is a popular fabric used in evening wear such as gowns, blouses, ribbons, scarves and lingerie. Like other crepe fabrics, chiffon can be difficult to work with because of its light and slippery textures. Due to this delicate nature, chiffon must be hand washed very gently.

Chiffon can be made from cotton,silk or synthetic fibers, but is usually associated with silk or nylon. Chiffon can be dyed to almost any shade desired, however if made from polyester it is difficult to dye. Under a magnifying glass it resembles a fine net or mesh which allows chiffon to have see-through properties.

Chiffon is most commonly used in evening wear, especially as an overlay, giving an elegant and floating appearance to the gown. The Fashion of Chiffon is greatly recognized. It is also a popular fabric used in blouses, ribbons, scarves and lingerie. Like other crepe fabrics, chiffon can be difficult to work with because of its light and slippery textures. Due to this delicate nature, chiffon must be hand washed very gently.

Since Chiffon is a light weight fabric that frays very easily, bound or french seams must be used to stop the fabric from fraying.

China Embroidery Art – Cross-stitch

August 6th, 2008

Embroideries refer to embroidery decorations that can be taken personally, such as pouch, fan cover, perfume (spice) bag, handkerchief bag, purse, etc. Cross-stitch has a unique status in the development history of Chinese embroidery, with a long time of existence, a wide scope of popularization, fancy styles, wide applications, exquisite workmanship and rich and varied stitches.

Needlecraft in the form of cross-stitch has captured human attention since times immemorial.
From tacking two plies of fabric together, cross-stitch has grown into a chic medium of expressing personal style. Cross-stitch, which treats every visual in a graphic way, is so right in a season that talks of ideas flagged under a vision of geometry. From garments to fashion accessories, from bed liner to made-ups, cross-stitch is topping the style charts.

Pay attention to the four elements
Graph. This is the pattern or design you chose to stitch. There are thousands to choose from.

Needle. A tapestry needle is used, usually a size 24 or 26 (size 26 is smaller than size 24). This type of needle has a blunt point and a large eye. Use a size 24 for stitching on 14 count fabric; use a size 26 for fabric with a stitch count greater than 14.
Embroidery hoop. A plastic embroidery hoop is helpful to hold the fabric while you stitch. Remove the fabric from the hoop when you are not stitching to keep from getting ’hoop marks.’

Scissors. You can start out with any pair of scissors, but pretty soon you will want to get a nice pair of small embroidery scissors. Get a good quality pair with sharp points. A good pair of scissors makes stitching a lot more fun.

Development and Prospect of Cross-stitch

With improvement in the living standard of the common people, they long for cultural, fashionable and individualized consumption. Because of wide range of application of embroideries and cross-stitch, Aimai Qite has continuously conducted research on workmanship and application of cross-stitch through exploring traditional Chinese cultures and taking into account the ideas and lifestyles of the present society, and has developed cheap products suitable for lives of the common people, such as tens of varieties of cross-stitch slippers, cushion, perfume bag, handset chain, tablecloth, handset case, auto seating, etc.; introduced new ideas in terms of designs, such as Christmas series, constellation series, twelve animals series, cartoon series, animal series, scenery series, home decoration series, Chinese folk custom series, etc. It has achieved combination of the traditional workmanship with modern idea, as well as of fashion with practicality. The Chinese folk custom series has had certain competitiveness in the world, and other fashion series are preponderant in the domestic market.

Cross-stitch is a sunrise industry, which adopts traditional workmanships but uses high technologies. With support from the allies across the country, this sunrise industry will become a competitive industry with long-term prospect

Cross-stitch has passed through vicissitudes of varied forces accommodating different ideas, motifs and designs. Age-old art of this needlecraft has reached out towards newer horizons, finding a high rank this season.

Cake Towel as Your Wedding Gift

April 27th, 2008

An Unforgettable Wedding Gift – Cake Towel
One of the most remarkable and beautiful wedding gifts I have ever seen was created by one of my sisters for another sister’s wedding. She built a pristine “wedding cake” from white towels and decorated it with ribbons, held in place with pearl pins, and hid a cd in one of the layers, not that anything additional was needed. The “cake” was such a work of art it stole the show from the real cake! Everyone wanted to know who had made it, how long it took, etc, and no one with a camera passed up a chance for a snapshot of it.

Creating a towel cake can be as simple or as complicated as you need it to be. It is easy to make it unique with your own special touches and add personal touches that will make it an unforgettable part of any wedding or shower.

This is easy to make and the bride to be will love the personalized touch! The colors can be coordinated to go with the wedding theme and colors.
Step 1. Roll the Towels
Fold each hand towel in half lengthwise twice. Start with one end and roll the towels together. Set aside. Repeat this process with the wash cloths. Fold each bath towel in half lengthwise and repeat the folding until the width of the towel is roughly 6″. Roll the two towels together in the same way as the hand towels. You should now have the three layers of the cake.
Step 2. Assembling The Layers
I used large wide rubber bands to hold each individual layer together for ease of handling. To decorate choose ribbon in colors that coordinate with the towels or wedding colors. My niece had requested purple towels so I selected a wide white ribbon adorned with pearls. Cut the ribbon into 60″, 40″ and 30″ lengths. Tie the large piece around the bath towels layer and repeat for the other two cake layers. When complete, stack the cake layers starting with the largest layer at the bottom. I used small pins to hold the layers in place. If you do use pins try to place them through the tags on the towels not the towels themselves.
Step 3.
This is the fun part! Use your imagination and decorate with silk flowers, fall leaves or wedding bells. I placed the cake on a footed cake plate for presentation.

These tasteful cakes look so delicious. But please do not eat. It is the soft cotton washing clothes artfully hand wrapped to resemble a tasteful cake. This delicious looking designed favor will make your mouth water, but it is calorie free. They are great for wedding favors, bay showers, gift baskets, Christmas stocking items and all other occasions

Different Towel Cakes for Different Occasions
A towel cake is a unique and creative way to give a Gift for a wedding shower or a housewarming gift. I use matching bath towels, hand towels and wash cloths for the Towel cake. There will be 2 – 30 X 54″ bath towels, 4 – 16 X 26″ hand towels and 3 – 12 X 12 wash cloths. For a romantic theme, I use bath products such as lotions, bubble bath, incense, bath beads and other items. For a bath/kitchen theme, I use wooden spoons, wire wisks, spatulas and other cooking utensils. The color schemes vary and can be specified by the customer. The ribbons used can be specified to be a wedding theme, otherwise the ribbons will be color coordinated to the color of the towels used. The towel cake pictured is a chocolate cake theme. The bottle in the top of the cake is a champaign shaped bottle of scented bubble bath. Additional picture will be posted in the future.

Wedding Towel Cakes are Full of Charming Surprises!
The first thing to consider when makeing wedding towel cakes is what kind of towels to use. The usual “recipe” calls for two bath towels, two hand towels, and two washcloths, all white. But you can adjust towel cakes to include any type or number of towels you want. If you know what color towels the couple would prefer, choose accordingly. Don’t skimp on quality. You’ll only save a few dollars, and the appearance of your towel wedding cakes will suffer.

Decorations for your wedding towel cakes are limited only by your imagination. The tiers of wedding towel cakes would look elegant “belted” with wide ribbon. Or tie smaller bows and pin them here and there. Faux flowers are another possibility. Pearl-topped straight pins inserted around the edges give a finished look, help hold the cake together, and are a gift in themselves. Make sure, though, to warn the recipient of the hazard.

Your finished towel wedding cakes will have to sit on something, and a pretty bath tray would be perfect. You might want to buy the tray before putting the towel cakes together to make sure of a good fit. You could also set the cake on a matching round bath mat or rug. Surround the cake with scented flower-shaped soaps. Tie a bow around the handle of a fancy pumice scrubber and lay it beside the towel cake as a “server.”

Cake Towel Gain More Popularity

Cake towel is practical and yet full of personality; so despite of the price which is a bit higher than traditional wedding gifts, people still prefer it as cute and romantic Wedding Gifts for the once a lifetime occassion.

Currently, towels sold as, for instance, a gift are folded in various manner and arranged in a storage box, and the top side of the storage box is covered with a transparent film, so that the customers can see the arranged towel(s) inside the box through the film, thus drawing the attention of the customers and increase the customer’s desire to purchase. Among these, with the focus on characteristics such as the towel’s texture, thickness, and flexibility, some towels are formed into animals and dolls by way of attaching the towel cloth by sewing or fastening with a pin or the like, thus being offered exclusively as decorations.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for cake-shaped decorative accessories using a towel cloth as a gift or present, and there has been a demand for other types of decorative accessories that have a cake shape.
Traditional wedding gifts such as chocolate gifts are so common that people want to add some personality and uniqueness to their wedding gift; cake towel seems to be a perfect choice.

For purchasing on line, you could check the Kitchenware Directory and looking for the qualified China Kitchenware Manufacturers.

Things You Don’t Know about China Shoe Industry

April 2nd, 2008

The Unfavorable Factors Now Facing Shoe Industry in China
More Cost for Labors
The Uprising in RMB
Raw Material Price Keeping Rising
Foreign Anti-dumping Charges
America Sub-prime Mortgage
The “Red Sea” Competition Within Shoe Manufacturers Themselves

Shoe Export Slows Down
Guangdong, a province in south China, exported 490 million pairs of shoes in January and February 2008, valued at USD 1.59 billion, decreasing 27.5% and 0.6% from one year before, citing customs statistics.

In the meantime, the average price of the exported shoes surged 37% year on year to USD 3.2 per pair. In the first month of 2007, the Beijing authorities reduced the export rebate rate in footwear products by 2 percentage points. The move has been further weighing on shoe makers, whose profit margin are not high, especially in the country’s key footwear production base in the Pearl River Delta region, part of which are located in the province.

From September 2007, Guangdong’s export of shoes began to fall, 18.5% year on year in November of the year and 20.3% and 35.7% in January and February 2008. Besides, in the first two months, the number of shoes exporters in the delta decreased 1,855 year on year to 1,512, due to a rising renminbi, the US’ subprime mortgage crisis and a rise in China’s labor cost.

Four Manufacturer Bases of Footwear Industry in China
Guangdong Province
Many factories Close-downs is the must paid price for the industry transformation
Jingjiang City in Fujian Provice
Who will laugh at last? The “red sea” competition condition for the sports shoe in Olympic 2008 is getting more and more fierce.
Jiangsu Province
Brand cultivating and promotion is the core

China Shoetec – an UFI Approved Trade Show
Dongguan China Shoes.China Shoetec is an UFI approved event and the only shoes fair in Dongguan of PR China. It is the best one-stop sourcing platform in Asia for middle-to-high end footwear, materials & machineries. Dongguan, being the production hub of middle-to-high end shoes in PR China, provided an ideal platform for shoes exhibition and it’s convenience to plan for factory visits after show. To facilitate buyers’ visit, Dongguan China Shoes will be held in the same period of Canton Fair, and free shuttle bus will be provided to ease the traveling.

New Opportunity Especially for Sports Shoes Market: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
With the approaching of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, more and more Chinese customers attend in various of sports, athletic sports gradually become one of the parts which can’t lack of in common people’s life, sports shoes market will be more and more larger. Besides townsman’s professional demand to sport shoes is advancing.

The influence of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games to science and technology content of sports shoes product. Nowadays the current of product with the same quality is more and more serious, who can keep ahead of technology and make out larruping and suitable product for customers, who will be favorite. Besides, sport shoes manufactures need improve professional capability, at the same time enclose with athletic sports requirement, via reduce cost to supply bargain gym shoes product for person.

Compared with burgeoning markets such as Vietnam and India, experts said China still has advantages in terms of cheap power and water supply, excellent infrastructure and an integrated industry.

E-business Web Choice – Finding Authentic Shoe Suppliers in China
If you happen to be a buyer, looking for appropriate China Supplier partners. Would you like to get comprehensive information, such as company business registration condition, actual production, trade, R & D abilities and quality management system, of potential partners quickly? Do you hope that this information is from an impartial authoritative organization like SGS? If you are looking for such suppliers and need such important business information, please choose www.Made-in-China.com. It has already become a leading B2B portal especially in assisting global buyers and Chinese manufacturers to make contact and conduct international trade.

For purchasing on line, you could check the Kitchenware Directory and looking for the qualified China Kitchenware Manufacturers.

Shoes manufacturers in China now encounter many difficulties due to many reasons stated in this article. But the market is promosing, In Olympic year 2008, Sports Shoes market will facing great opportunities.

New Focus in The Bag Market – Reusable Bag

January 2nd, 2008

Anya Hindmarch’s trendy “I am Not A Plastic Bag” design makes enormous gains in popularity, which sold out of London stores just hours after being released. The aim of the design is simple — to encourage people not to use plastic carrier bags. The simple bag has become a symbol of ethical intent – and a very fashionable one at that.

The popularity of this bag should be proof that consumers are willing and excited to have some non-plastic reusable alternatives. Hindmarch told the media: “I hate the idea of making the environment trendy, but you need to make it cool and then it becomes a habit.”

We are now pleased to see all kinds of reusable bags step into the market and become a focus. Bag manufacturers have sensed this trend and making actions.

Reusable Fabric Options – No More Plastic Bag

String bag: This bag is completely lightweight yet able to carry a lot of groceries. The best thing about it is its ability to stretch, so just when you think you’ve fit all that, you can still throw in that last stuff. Meanwhile, the problem with the string bag is its lack of structure when loading and also the perception that it could be unsanitary, especially when it comes to food.

Lightweight Nylon: The cool thing about this alternative is that it fits in with the current system for bagging groceries at the check-out counter. It is a more durable but still lightweight material compared to the plastic bag. But again it lacks structure when loading.

Heavy Duty Nylon: This bag is made to last a lifetime. Tote bag often made of this heavy nylon. It resembles a traditional paper grocery bag with some added handles; it stands nicely on its own for easy packing. However with that durability and quality of materials come a not-so-compact package. It folds similarly to a paper grocery bag.

Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. The thing is, they all have the potential to save thousands of throw away PGBs from plastic bags.

Supplementary to Typical Leather Handbag or Designer Bag

At first blush, the trend of reusable shopping bags would seem at odds with the explosive growth of high-end handbags. But it turns out that some consumers are eager to walk around with a $1,000 Coach purse on one arm and the Coach shopping bag it came in on the other.

Until recently, high-priced, top-of-the-line imported handbags were a status symbol. But today, designer goods have flooded the market, are no longer as exclusive as they once were. Every woman needs a leather handbag or a designer bag, but they also need a practical bag, such as a tote bag or shopping bag for holding many stuff that their leather bag can’t handle, such as A4 document, a cup of coffee, lunch box, some big accessories…

For example, last summer in 2007, many women in china are choosing straw bags for their reasonable price, their suitability for the summer season, and the possibility of matching them up with many different styles. The best of all, it is nature and reusable.

Pattern and Style Choice

Environmental friendly people want to be associated and seen with natural fabric bags. Available in soft and natural hues, some bags ooze class and concern. Multicolored patchwork bags, printed bags, embroidered and embossed bags are everyone’s favorite.

In bag related trade shows, lots of design elements and latest fashion trend is revealed. Certain bags are cute, featuring a corsage, embroidered beads, or braided ribbons as decoration, while others are more flashy, featuring rhinestones, of are inspired by classic Asian styles, with wooden beads or sea shells. There are bags for all outfits and occasions. Some women at fireworks festivals and other summer events this year prefer carrying straw bags. Some bags can be paired with dresses for a softer, more feminine look, but they also go will with slightly mannish short-sleeved jackets and pants sets and suits. Anyway, versatility is an appeal.

Popular Items – Straw Bag, Tote Bag in Green Design

Tote Shopping Bag – Big and Practical

Big is the fashion. Bags get bigger with cooler weather because you have more to carry (umbrellas, wraps, hats). Nearly every woman has at least one tote bag, whether it’s for a day at the beach, a picnic, browsing at the flea market or just a day at the mall. After all, a good tote bag is very popular – an absolutely indispensable item. Because canvas tote bags come in a variety of designs and styles, you can match them with coordinating sandals, a t-shirt, gym clothes, or your favorite dress. You can make a bold fashion statement with these versatile bags. Tote bags can replace traditional plastic and paper shopping bags. After you use the tote bags for groceries, fold them and place them near the door so you can pick them up next time on your way.

Straw Fashion

Straw handbags combine colorful and funky designs with the latest trends for natural looks and environment-friendly statements, carrying a unique appeal to consumers. Compared to the conventional leather and fabric handbags, they are much lighter. The use of natural grass also fits in with the trend for environmental protection, while many handbags even come as “natural” straw to accentuate their appeal – and probably even enhance health requirements for the product.

Trend or Demand for Future Reusable Bag Industry

The reusable bag is still the bag of choice for most occasions under the prevailing theme about environment protection. So people would strive to make it better, and the solution should be a bag that is, (I mean many kinds of bag suited to different occasions):

1 Easily folded flat, both for storage at the checkout counter and for refolding for the return journey;

2 Relatively inexpensive to produce, so the supermarket and grocery stores would use it in greater amount not worrying about their cost control.

3 Made of durable, sustainable materials that give the bag structure but also keep it lightweight;

4 Easy to carry, possibly in different configurations (traditional handles, over the shoulder, etc);

5 Has an appropriate strategy for end-of-life disposal when it is finally properly disposed of after a lifetime of good use.

6 Not only durable and long lasting, but also attractive, comfortable and classy.

The last point means that the reusable bags can also be connected to “fashion”. When you think of the “I’m not a plastic bag” craze though many western countries recently.

Alluring Business Potential for Reusable Bags in this Eco-friendly Market Atmosphere

Use of recyclable and reusable bags has now been promoted as a lifestyle. In cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, customers have begun treating eco-friendly bags such as nylon bag as an indispensable accessory that can be reused for weeks, even months, to carry laundry to the cleaners, books to the beach or lunch to the office.

These bags are the most popular choice for both corporate as well as personal gifting. So stores or manufacturers, sensing a marketing opportunity, are racing to a heated competition to make the most durable, fashionable reusable bags. From upscale emporiums to midprice chains, retailers are investing millions of dollars in new flourishes like plastic-coated paper and heavy fabric cord handles.

Resource Box: For purchasing on line, you could check the Kitchenware Directory and looking for the qualified China Kitchenware Manufacturers.

China Gift Market Trends

January 2nd, 2008

Potential Opportunities Catalyzing the Alluring Markets

In recent years, a great number of overseas orders of craftwork and gifts have been transferred to China, mainly from the European and USA general merchandise industry, multinational chain supermarkets, and professional distributors, etc. Meanwhile, Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the World Expo Shanghai 2010 will also bring great business opportunities to the craftwork and gifts industry.

Popular Gift Ideas (Buying Trends)

Gifts for Family Decoration

Craftwork is an important composition of family interior soft-environment design, reflecting peoples’ temperament and interests. Practicality and nice design are two important factors people considered when choosing home gifts.

Promotion Gifts Complement Traditional Marketing Methods

The value of promotional gifts in today’s competitive marketplace can’t be underestimated. Many businesses nowadays turn to promotional gifts to help them enhance their brand awareness, improve customer loyalty and increase sales.

Holiday Gift: Nurture Your Relationship

Holiday occasions or a special day for an individual bring us together, creating a chance for our relationships to grow. Gift giving in this case is indispensable to enhance the feelings or atmosphere. Personalized and engraved unique gifts especially make distinguished and memorable presents.

Fashion Jewelry Gifts a Timeless Favorite

Since ancient times, jewelry has been one of the most popular gifts to give and to receive, and it still ranks among the top gifts as a universal, particularly pearls and birthstones. A gift of jewelry delights the recipient and evokes a genuine smile. Birthstones, among various choices, are very popular with Its Culture-added Value. Almost everyone appreciates a birthstone, and it shows that you actually put some thought into the gift. Many people believe that wearing their birthstone protects them and brings them good luck.

Yiwu City: a Terrific Destination for Your Gift-purchasing Plan in China

China Yiwu is the largest mart for petty commodities. Currently, Yiwu has the largest wholesaling market around the world. The business area of the market covers 1,500,000 square meters, gathering 320,000 kinds of commodities from all over the country with a daily customer flow of more than 200,000 person-times, and the daily output of commodities up to nearly ten thousand tons. Up to now, more than 300 overseas trading offices and 10,000 foreign purchasers have resided in Yiwu.

Notable Domestic and International Gift Fairs

International Gifts & Home Decor Trade Fair

The largest fair of its kind in East China, was held in Shanghai every year, which can both serve the industry and add luster to life, creating a real buzz in Shanghai Mart.

Shenzhen International Toys & Gifts Fair

This event is an ideal platform for sourcing from China. Many of these exhibitors are already leading suppliers in the China market, and they have expressed keen interest in developing business overseas.

Sands Expo Center — The ASD/AMD Las Vegas Gift Expo

Dollar for dollar ASD/AMD Trade Shows are the most cost-effective and convenient way to get buyers and sellers together in a sales and profits-oriented marketplace.

Challenges Facing the China Gift Industry and What’s On Trend

China gift industry desires for professional and creative designers. Competition enhances design capability in a positive way. Brilliant designer teams stay abreast of trends and always scout for new ideas or options when going to some relevant events or shows. Gift magazines and Internet sites are used as references as well.

Brand Name Promotion

Companies that do not have any awareness in promoting their brands cannot survive. Companies are now getting to that awareness. Brand stands for everything – low price, convenience of purchase, emotional attachment, and for performance and quality. As far as allocation of funds (for brand promotion) is concerned, it should be carried out on a sustainable basis. It has to be part of the overall budgetary allocation of the company.

Creating Value, Adding Value and Maintaining Value

Whether it is Culture Value added or Technology Value added, they would undoubtedly make your gifts more competitive. Many traditional Chinese gifts maker should strive for new technology to bring novelty to their products and maintain freshness. Meanwhile, we can’t ignore the culture value of the gifts or even an enterprise. For instance, Swarovski Crystal are paying much attention and funds in its culture value promotion (crystal history, magic function etc.), it’s the culture connotation that contributes much to its overall success, attracting people to buy it and enjoy it.

Know the Psychologic Profile of The Target Market

How can gifts marketers and retailers better understand the hearts and minds of their consumers and use that insight to capture a greater share of the consumers’ gifting budget? These are questions every gift enterprise should investigate into seriously. For the foreign gift trade business in china, it would be favorable for the profits and markets to grow, for example, if the manufacturers could produce gifts that taking in more western flavor, religious imply, personalized demand, or of high quality level.

Environmental Friendly – Go Green

The environment is increasingly on consumers’ radar screens, according to many surveys. “Eco-friendly” products are more popular in holiday season than in the past. Wrapping stuff like plastic bags are not so welcome. This shopping intention was consistent across gender, age and income groups based on many survey statistics.

E-business Web Choice – Finding Authentic Suppliers in China

If you happen to be a buyer, looking for appropriate China Supplier partners. Would you like to get comprehensive information, such as company business registration condition, actual production, trade, R & D abilities and quality management system, of potential partners quickly? Do you hope that this information is from an impartial authoritative organization like SGS? If you are looking for such suppliers and need such important business information, please choose from the china manufacturer directory.

For purchasing on line, you could check the Kitchenware Directory and looking for the qualified China Kitchenware Manufacturers.

China Manufacturers

February 6th, 2006

China Apparel & Textile

January 24th, 2006

China Scooter

January 20th, 2006

China Scooter
China Electric Bike & Scooter catalog and Electric Bike & Scooter manufacturer directory. Trade platform for China Electric Bike & Scooter manufacturers and global Electric Bike & Scooter buyers provided by Made-in-China.com.