Global Vibes

Size issue remains
SPAIN: A study by Spanish scientists has discovered that 40 per cent of women are unable to find clothes to fit them. Spain has taken full-body laser scans of more than 10,000 women and compared the resulting three-dimensional measurements with clothes on the high street. The study found four in ten women were unable to find clothes to fit them properly. It shoed women had three body types: a 'cylinder' where the top, middle and bottom were broadly aligned, 'hourglass' and 'pear-shaped'. Instead of European dress sizes such as 38, 49 or 46, Spanish apparel manufacturers will introduce new sizes, including measurements for height, hips, waist and breast. Efforts will also be made to standardise those sizes across the industry to put an end to the "size lottery".

Eye spy
UNITED KINGDOM: Actors union Equity set up a "drop in office" at London Fashion Week last week where seven top models acted as spies to expose any anorexia problems, bullying and forced nudity. The move comes just weeks after the British Fashion Council, which is part-funded by high-street chains, concluded in an inquiry the "vulnerability of the models is startling". Now nearly 100 models have joined Equity, with complaints including being pressured into nude and semi-nude work. There are also allegations of orders to lose weight and of allergic reactions to hair dyes and spray paints. Some models say they frequently do 10-hour days with just a 15-minute break.

Unique partnership
UNITED STATES: Online fashion retailer net-a-porter.com has partnered with social networking site asmallworld to allow members to shop directly from the latest international designer collections. Asmallworld's 'invitation only' community will be able to log on to the site and enter a net-a-porter micro-site, that will showcase the latest looks and must-haves from fashion brands including Chloé, Tibi, Miu Miu, Michael Kors and Stella McCartney. The site will be weekly updated and feature the most-coveted items as well as a Gift Guide.

Lingerie line up
HONG KONG: The second instalment of the Hong Kong Mode Lingerie Fair has been set down for April 8 and 9 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event, which staged its inaugural show last year, will feature fibres, fabrics and accessories as well as international top lingerie and beachwear brands. In all, the expected number of delegates visiting the fair is expected to increase by 15 per cent up to 4000 while the expected number of exhibitors is believed to be around 160. For more: hongkong-mode-lingerie.com

Direct to China
CHINA: Sports Direct has signed an agreement to supply Chinese multi-brand retailer ITAT with a variety of its labels. The UK-based apparel company will invest £20 million ($A4302 million) in the venture which will see it supply product to ITAT's Super Club stores via a shop-in-shop concept. Sports Direct will supply the retailer on a consignment basis and will receive a proportion of sales generated. ITAT has more than 700 stores and is the largest multi-brand fashion retailer in China. Of those, around 120 are Super Club shops.