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Image by Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week; Cruise Bar hosts famous fashion event; MBFWA business wheels in motion Cruise Bar Hosts Fashion Week... When it comes to style the Cruise Bar and Restaurant is a perfect host partner for the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Australian Fashion Week. For the first time in many years, Cruise Restaurant is open to the public everyday of fashion week for lunch and dinner. Fashion Week is Sydney’s premier fashion and lifestyle event showcasing some of our most talented and contemporary designers. The beautiful waterfront location of Cruise Bar in Circular Quay is an ideal location to enjoy gourmet food, decadent wines and delicious cocktails while enjoying the cultural surrounds that is Fashion week. For more information visit their official website. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: Business, fashion, beauty, deals and gossip... Sydney will be enjoying a bevy of catwalk shows and party like events as Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia commences tomorrow. But unlike the increasing number of fashion festivals across the country where people can buy tickets to events, MBFWA is invitation only. Today was media registration day, which was quite an event in its own right. Over five days, fashion designers show their latest collections to media reps, celebrities and retail buyers, and the response can be paramount to the bottom line. This year happens to mark Mercedes-Benz’s return to Fashion Week as the title sponsor, which many media and fashion commentators have welcomed. “The strong link between Mercedes-Benz and fashion was initiated in Australia with the launch of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 1995, so it’s come full circle,†advised Mercedes-Benz senior manager of corporate communications David McCarthy. The car maker’s Fashion Week events have spread around the world to places such as New York and Berlin, and to Swim Fashion Week in Miami. The Mercedes-Benz’s sponsorship deal was not exactly a secret last year as Rosemount’s (wine) five-year run came to an end. The new deal is understood to be valued at million over three years but McCarthy says the details are confidential. MBFWA comes with a many change. A key change from the festival organisers is that IMG Fashion have reduced the price of on-site venue fees. A trend over the past few years. This year, it set back exhibitors ,250 to use the newly returned Tent at the Overseas Passenger Terminal as a catwalk venue, 00 to be a part of Fashion Week but show off-site and between 00 and 00 to showcase collections at The Rocks Pop-Up suites. Two of the festival’s biggest names, Josh Goot and Dion Lee, pulled out a fortnight before their respective shows. The designers who have fallen by the wayside in the lead-up to the five-day event have either opted to concentrate on upcoming overseas shows (Lee), to focus on getting collections out to coincide with northern hemisphere seasons (Goot) or have chosen to disregard Fashion Week from the get-go, with Fairfax Media pointing to Alex Perry as the example. For Melbourne Business School associate professor of marketing Mark Ritson, having Australian designers drop out is a “tricky†scenario. “On the one hand, you have to respect any Australian designer focused on building their reputation overseas,†he says. “We are perilously under-represented in Paris and Milan. “But at the same time, a designer has to be careful of burning branding bridges back home. That said, if Goot or Lee make it in Europe they’ll be welcomed back home in 2013 with open arms.†Fashion Week is serious business. Alongside Mercedes-Benz, sponsors that have signed on this year include DHL, EYE, HP, Maybelline NY, Redken, Shangri-La Hotel Sydney, Pentax, Keystone Hospitality and Getty Images. The NSW government, Destination NSW and Austrade are also supporting the event. In addition, designers are obtaining their own sponsorships. Jayson Brunsdon’s show, for instance, is being presented by Myer and sponsored by Qantas, Woolmark, TRESemme, MAC Cosmetics and Joh Bailey. Couture designer Johanna Johnson is the virgin Australian designer to showcase her collection at the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Presents show, which has previously featured big fashion names such as Herve Leger by Max Azria, Carolina Herrera and Badgley Mischka. “To do [the Presents show] during our first year back was a priority,†McCarthy says. Johnson recently found international success, with Hollywood actresses Christina Hendricks and Maya Rudolph wearing her feminine creations on the red carpet. The show will have the same feel â€" glamour, lots of hand-beading and detailed finishes. “I hadn’t really considered doing it and was focusing more on overseas expansion this year,†Johnson says. “But we’re having so much feedback from Australians wanting to know more now, it will be really good to showcase our luxury lifestyle line and red carpet ready-to-wear.†She initially signed on to show in the smallest of the three catwalk venues, the Box, but had to move the show to the Tent (the biggest) as the number of outfits she wanted to parade expanded. “It’s our debut show so we want it done as well as it possibly can be,†she says. Australian accessories giant Oroton is launching its first ready-to-wear collection. But for creative director Ana Maria Escobar, the clothes are there to show off the accessories â€" be they handbags, jewellery or shoes. “The biggest thing is when I walked into the stores, I saw they needed something soft to highlight the accessories,†she says. Customers can expect “understated quality†from the new Oroton clothing range. “To me, functionality is important,†Escobar says. “So are the materials . . . it can be a simple singlet but made out of really beautiful silk or customised fabrics. There’s a tone of heritage as well.†While Oroton views Fashion Week as important, Escobar says there is also “life beyond those 15 minutes on the catwalkâ€. For the retailer, it’s about reminding people of the brand. “We want to talk a little louder about the product we design,†she says. “Fashion Week gives us that space without having to scream.†This year, a great spread of overseas buyers will be in attendance, many from online retailers such as Net-A-Porter, My Wardrobe, Shopbop, Moda Operandi and ASOS. Department store Harvey Nichols and Hong Kong-based Joyce will also have buyers present. The retail picture in Australia is not particularly strong, and IBISWorld analysts are predicting growth for the local rag trade over the coming financial year will be flat at just 0.5 per cent. IBISWorld general manager Karen Dobie says the high Australian dollar is a double-edged sword for retailers, as local vendors can buy overseas at a favourable rate, but increasingly tech-savvy competition is straining profit margins. New to MBFWA: Dylan Cooper; Flowers for a Vagabond; Toi et Moi Sydney; By Johnny; Oroton; Watson x Watson; An Ode to No One; Jenny Kee; Aje; Roppa Pemmaraju; Bless’d Are The Meek and Nana Judy Not present this year: Dion Lee; Josh Goot; Alex Perry; Arnsdorf; Morrison; Friend of Mine; Flannel; Karla Spetic; Lover; Therese Rawsthorne; Ms Couture; Rachel Gilbert; Little Joe Woman (voluntary administration); Nookie; Amber & Thomas; Marnie Skillings; Kate Sylvester; Shakuhachi; Bianca Spender; Dhini; Camilla & Marc; White Suede; Yeojin Bae; Lisa Blue; Limedrop; Stolen Girlfriends Club; Alistair Trung; Saint Augustine Academy (which shut up shop late last year) Returning to the show: Romance Was Born; Camilla; Aurelio Costarella; Ksubi; Jayson Brunsdon; Akira Camilla... Since launching her label eight years ago, Camilla Franks continues to receive global recognition as an Australian designer who has a unique approach to creating colorful, playful and luxurious lifestyle fashion. Her unique ready-to-wear and resort wear designs are becoming highly sought after products, capturing the attentions of celebrities and fashionistas alike. Camilla’s global fan club (which includes the likes of Beyonce Knowles, Miranda Kerr, Kate Hudson, Lily Allen and Gwen Stefani) reached new heights 2 years ago when the queen of television, Oprah Winfrey, glowed in one of her designs while taping her ‘down under’ series. The general public and the fashion world gushed and stock sold out overnight. Camilla is definitely a brand on the move. So, how did Camilla Franks become one of Australia’s most iconic fashion designers? This iconic brand came to be whilst Camilla was exploring her passions for theatrical artistry. Here, she embraced her inner creative spirit to craft beautiful elaborate costumes for the various characters in her productions. It wasn’t long before the Australian fashion market caught eye of these imaginative, easy-to-wear designs and catapulted Camilla on this amazing journey. Today, Camilla has evolved from beach and resort fashion into ready-to-wear clothes that cater to all her client’s needs. Globally, Camilla has begun weaving into the various fashion niches, resulting in a kaleidoscope of high-end editorial and extending an already growing customer database. Over eight years, Camilla has produced nine collections: these include the highly anticipated 2011/12’s Spring Summer Collection, Labyrinth; which has received significant media attention and 2012’s Autumn Winter Collection Caravanserai, Camilla’s second winter season. The success of her brand is derived from Camilla’s philosophy that “all women have the right to look and feel beautiful no matter their age, colour, size or originâ€, this is also a testament to the company’s popularity and growing awareness. Camilla is a brand that celebrates women, self-expression, beauty and individuality. The signature ‘Camilla’ piece is a statement of brilliant colour, graphics and material rhythm. It is a celebration of shapes that can be tailored to individual styles and that follow global trends. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia Announces Preliminary Line-up... Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia Announces Preliminary Line-upfor Spring/Summer 2012/13 Collections Sydney, Australia (February 29, 2012) Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia is excited to announce cult label Ksubi, celebrity favourite Camilla, Zimmermann, Lisa Ho, Toni Maticevski, Aurelio Costarella, Jayson Brunsdon, Ellery, and Carl Kapp will be amongst the line-up of designers showcasing their Spring/Summer 2012/13 Collections at Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal, April 30 to May 4, 2012. "MBFWA is a fantastic opportunity for emerging Australian designers to join already well established designers in showcasing their creations not just in venues that people expect but in venues and spaces that will reflect the diversity and vibrancy of the Australian fashion scene. The shows, presentations and locations demonstrate that MBFWA has a flavour and style that can more than hold its own around the world" says Gavin Allen, General Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific. A stand out on the 2012 schedule is expected to be Romance was Born. The label is showcasing their polished ready to wear collection combining art and wearable fashion in a sophisticated Spring Summer range. Johanna Johnson will also attract hype as she hosts an intimate salon show for her debut at MBFWA. Mixing old Hollywood charm and modern simplicity, Johnson is renowned for her recent Oscar’s role dressing starlets in her eponymous label. Iconic Australian brand, Oroton will also debut on the runway at MBFWA for the first time demonstrating the brand is as skilled at creating Ready to Wear women’s wear as well as their well known luxury accessories. Joining this incredible line up of iconic designers are Magdalena Velevska, Alice McCall, Lisa Maree, Gary Bigeni, Bec and Bridge, Miss Unkon, Bowie, Kooey Australia, Michael Lo Sordo, Kirrily Johnston and Talulah. New talent showcasing for the first time, Watson x Watson are sure to excite international buyers and media with their collections, providing new ‘ones to watch’ for our global audience. Watson x Watson focus on everyday luxury and easy glamour, with a relaxed, sexy appeal that has become synonymous with Australian fashion. Other newcomers joining the MBFWA family: We are Handsome, Aje, Elliot Ward Fear, Roopa Pemmaraju, Flowers for a Vagabond, Suboo, An Ode to No One and Project Runway Australia winner Dylan Cooper and alumni by Johnny. Designers involved in the 2012 New Generation, Fashion Design Studio and Raffles emerging talent shows will be announced shortly. “We’re extremely excited by the response from designers and brands and are looking forward to showcasing the new seasons Spring Summer Collections in our world class facilities on site as well as sharing more of the city of Sydney’s wonderfully unique locations with our expanded off site program of shows and presentations’†says Jarrad Clark, Global Production Director, IMG Fashion. Leveraging our global network, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia is introducing new showroom spaces, exciting venue upgrades and unique presentation spaces to ensure our line up of designers have innovative way to communicate their artistic vision for 2012. For the first time on Australian soil, many designers will showcase their collections via a studio style presentation space known as The Box. Having established itself at MBFW in NY and Berlin, designers are redefining how they showcase their collections using this blank canvas. Australian designer Dion Lee recently used a presentation style space to showcase his collection at London Fashion Week and wowed crowds with his use of lighting to create drama and engagement around his collection without the confines of the runway. 2012 will also see the much anticipated return of The Tent. Synonymous with international fashion events, the sheer scale of The Tent showroom set on the Sydney harbour foreshore will create an incredible billboard for MBFWA and the Australian Fashion Industry for our attending local and international guests. Key buyers will have the opportunity to get up close with designer collections during the week via a unique offering of Designer Showrooms via The Rocks Pop-Up Suites, utilising retail spaces within The Rocks historical precinct, designers will be able to house their collections off runway, and meet buyers and media in one on one appointments. It is here that designers are encouraged to create consumer offerings around the Fashion Week schedule to create more retail opportunities for our participating designer brands. MBFWA hosts the world’s most influential buyers, media and industry players during the 5 day event and bring Sydney city to life with Fashion Week fever. With the support of our official partners, and showcasing designers, the 2012 season will be a standout year showcasing the creative energy and raw talent that Australia has to offer. Title sponsor Mercedes-Benz is proudly supported by Government partners Destination NSW and Austrade, Maybelline New York, DHL, HP/Intel, Redken 5th Avenue NYC and EYE and as well as media outlet Getty Images. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia is an IMG event. The Spring Summer 2012/13 Collections will take place April 30 to May 4, 2012, Press and Industry Registration opens March 1, 2012. For more information please visit us online at mbfashionweek.com Follow us on Twitter @MBFWA and on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Facebook Websites Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (Australia) australia.mbfashionweek.com IMG Worldwide www.imgworld.com Cruise Bar www.cruisebar.com.au Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography Eva Rinaldi Photography www.evarinaldi.com
NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT 2014 @PEACE PALACE in The Hague "Don't feed the doves" ... 
Image by Imaginary Museum Projects: News Tableaus NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT 2014 (1) @PEACE PALACE (2) in The Hague "Don't feed the doves", as long as the eagles of war still have their nuclear nests in the Netherlands. (3) We should keep in mind, that in spite of the Netherlands hosting the Peace Palace for over one century, the military policy of the Netherlands is not one of peaceful disarmament. The Netherlands is one of the countries that is host to USA nuclear weapons in Europe for decades. These nuclear war heads (B51) are stored on the Volkel Air Base in the south of the Netherlands. Last year the Dutch parliament was forced to accept - implicitly - this nuclear war role, also for the future, by the governmental decision to buy a new type of jet-fighter JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) that has as one of its features to carry a nuclear war head inside it's 'stealth' body... for secure disastrous delivery. The decision for using such a monstrous device does not even lay with the Dutch government, but is managed by the Americans, who do control the whole storage and activation of nuclear weapons in the Netherlands and at a few more spots in Europe (Belgium, Germany, Italy, Turkey (is grouped for this 'occasion as a European nation as a NATO partner). This practice is called 'nuclear sharing'.(4) It is not only the hosting of these nuclear weapons for mass destruction by the Netherlands to which attention should be drawn, the Netherlands also is a provider of components for chemical- and -nuclear weapons for other countries (the United States, Israel and Pakistan still today, and Iraq in the past). (5) This is situation that is not at all mentioned in all the statements of the actual Nuclear Security Summit. Not only can the Americans - during a conflict - decide to use the nuclear devices stored in the Netherlands, it also makes the Netherlands a target in the military logic of 'strike first' of opponents of NATO, the Netherlands or the USA. Even worse, the whole concept and practice of 'nuclear sharing' is seen by others than the United States and it's allies (NATO, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan) as a breach of the principles laid down in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. This treaty prohibits "the transfer and acceptance, respectively, of direct or indirect control over nuclear weapons." (6) As world leaders are flocking to The Hague to the Nuclear Security Summit 2014, there are many that are 'eagles' and 'hawks' cloaked as doves. The dove of peace can not be fed while the eagle of war has it's nuclear nest in the Netherlands and elsewhere. ---- post scriptum ---- Yesterday I made an associative 'news-tableau' about celebrities and world leaders making their presence in Amsterdam these days (from Byoncé to Obama and Xi Jinping), all my associations come together on the Amsterdam Dam square. This square carries the National Monument for WWII victims and is bordered at the other side by what is called The Royal Palace (a historical 17th century building that was once the city hall). As visual and text associations kept popping up in my brain, I also noticed something that was about the ubiquitous use of the symbol of peace, a white dove: "At the back of the pillar of the National Monument of the Netherlands, the sculptor has sculpted a series of doves that are about to free themselves from the marble column... are these doves messengers, angels of peace, pure and white like the dress of Beyoncé?", was my comment. www.flickr.com/photos/7141213@N04/13357161104/ This morning I looked around for the logos', icons and symbols used by the Nuclear Security Summit 2014 in The Hague and, once again, it is full of doves, associated with the metamorphosis graphics of the Dutch artist Esser. (7) Not that it has been done in any intelligent way... it is mere decoration for what otherwise would have been just text. One can say that often the graphics do express the quality and intent of a meeting, or the lack of it. ---- /post scriptum ---- ==== notes (1) "The Nuclear Security Summit 2014 is a world summit, aimed at preventing nuclear terrorism around the globe." www.nss2014.com/en (2) "The foundation of the Peace Palace marks a pivotal point between two centuries. At the end of the 19th century, the idea of world peace was blooming as never before. Europe and America had hundreds of active peace organisations, some of them with millions of members. This huge international peace movement was fed by high-profile writers and pacifists such as Leo Tolstoi (Russia), Bertha von Suttner (Austria) and Jean Bloch, a French banker who worked for six long years on a monumental description of "The Horrors of War". A Swiss organisation, the Société de la Paix, introduced the word pacifism into the world. At the dawn of the 20th century however, expectations had toned down considerably. One year after the festive opening of the Peace Palace in 1913, the First World War broke out." www.vredespaleis.nl/index.php?tl=1 (3) See my news-tableaus on the subject: - 18/9/2013: "2013 Dutch JSF Decision? It is just an old secret deal! After decades Parliament outmaneuvered by Spin Doctors & Lobbyists" www.flickr.com/photos/7141213@N04/9801217683/ - 17/9/2013: "STRAALJAGER POLITIEK: "Nederland Sterker & Socialer" door het breken van verkiezingsbeloften & steun aan de oorlogsindustrie en NAVO-koloniale Atoomwapen-avonturen" www.flickr.com/photos/7141213@N04/9783881013/in/photolist... (4) Netherlands and weapons of mass destruction en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands_and_weapons_of_mass_des... (5) One constant good source on European involvement in American nuclear weapons is Hans M. Kristens: "After a US Air Force Blue Ribbon Review in 2008 discovered that “most†U.S. nuclear weapons sites in Europe did not meet U.S. security requirements, the Dutch government denied there were security problems. Yet more than million of the over million spent on improving security since 2000 were spent in 2011-2012 â€" apparently in response to the Blue Ribbon Review findings and other issues. The additional 4 million suggests that the upgrades in 2011-2012 did not fix all the security issues at the European nuclear bases." blogs.fas.org/security/2014/03/nato-nuclear-costs/ (6) Nuclear sharing en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapons_sharing A more detailed description of how to see the 'nuclear sharing' of the USA with other countries in the light of 'non-proliferation' and it's treaty (short name = NPT) can be found on many sites. I did choose this serious one of the British American Security Information Council: - "NUCLEAR SHARING REGULATIONS Approximately 200 U.S. tactical nuclear weapons are thought to be currently deployed in Europe at six NATO bases in five non-nuclear weapon states.iii Through various NATO nuclear sharing agreements, the vast majority are assigned for delivery by the air forces of four non-nuclear NATO member states (Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands) and are stored within vaults using the WS3 Weapons Storage and Security System under the control of the USAF. The codes required for detonating them are all under U.S. control, with the intention of the transfer of the warheads to the host state and codes at a time of conflict. (...) The particular problems of compatibility focus upon NPT (Non Proliferation Treaty) Articles 1, 2 and 6. Article 1 prohibits nuclear weapon states sharing their weapons with non-nuclear states: "Each nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control over such weapons or explosive devices directly, or indirectly; and not in any way to assist, encourage, or induce any non-nuclear-weapon State to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, or control over such weapons or explosive devices." Article 2 provides for a corresponding obligation on the part of non-nuclear states parties not to receive nuclear weapons: "Each non-nuclear weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to receive the transfer from any transferor whatsoever of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or of control over such weapons or explosive devices directly, or indirectly; not to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices; and not to seek or receive any assistance in the manufacture of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices." If the United States explicitly transferred nuclear warheads to its NATO allies it would unambiguously break Article 1, and their allies would be breaking Article 2. The tactical warheads based in these host states are intended for delivery by those host states. How does this not break the two articles?" - [BASIC Getting To Zero Papers; number 13; 22/4/2009;.Laura Spagnuolo. (London British American Security Information Council). on-line resource: www.basicint.org/node/320 ; p. 2. ] "The particular problems of compatibility focus upon NPT Articles 1, 2 and 6. Article 1 prohibits nuclear weapon states sharing their weapons with non-nuclear states: "Each nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control over such weapons or explosive devices directly, or indirectly; and not in any way to assist, encourage, or induce any non-nuclear-weapon State to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, or control over such weapons or explosive devices." Article 2 provides for a corresponding obligation on the part of non-nuclear states parties not to receive nuclear weapons: "Each non-nuclear weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to receive the transfer from any transferor whatsoever of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or of control over such weapons or explosive devices directly, or indirectly; not to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices; and not to seek or receive any assistance in the manufacture of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices." If the United States explicitly transferred nuclear warheads to its NATO allies it would unambiguously break Article 1, and their allies would be breaking Article 2. The tactical warheads based in these host states are intended for delivery by those host states. How does this not break the two articles? The United States government points to two particular reasons, or loopholes. Firstly, the transfer of the warheads only happens at a point when hostilities break out and secondly, the transfer of related technologies and hardware is not covered by the NPT. The claim that the NPT is not applicable during wartime, and that member states can prepare now to break off their NPT commitments in advance, is highly controversial. The traditional view maintains that the declaration of war renders most treaties null and void. Contemporary legal doctrine denies that war has extinctive effect on multilateral treaties, unless, in the light of the clause rebus sic stantibus, there has been a radical change in the circumstances rendering the treaty obsolete. The US view specifically in this instance has been that the purpose of the NPT is to prevent proliferation, and that if nuclear war were to break out it would have failed and would therefore no longer apply. Whether it is legal or not, the preparation by NPT members to break with the terms of the Treaty certainly and undeniably undermines its efficacy, the commitment of the Alliance to the Treaty, and the willingness of members outside the Alliance to stick to its provisions." [Ibid.; p. 3.] (7) On the tower of the Congress Building in The Hague a huge banner has been hung with a pure decorative euphemistic design, as can be seen in this photograph on Flickr: farm4.staticflickr.com/3759/12904685034_a638cbbe7b_o.jpg
