str Buzz - Street Fashion & Style

China is the new retail giant – and a fashion-conscious younger generation is bringing a fresh look to its city streets

As the finishing touches are made to the Olympic venues, across Beijing another temple to sport is rising from the ground. Or rather, a temple to sportswear in the form of a colossal Nike shop. International shops and malls are springing up in the city faster than a 100m sprinter.

With China predicted to become the world’s biggest luxury market within the next decade, every well-known international label wants a piece of China’s retail pie. In the Oriental Plaza mall in Beijing, Louis Vuitton, Burberry and MaxMara have all opened sleek new shops. There is a popular conception that the Chinese are obsessed with big brands, and to a great extent this is true, as the obvious logos that emblazon everything from an office worker’s fake Louis Vuitton bag to a teenager’s copycat Kappa tracksuit attest. It’s even possible to determine the popularity of a brand by how heavily it is imitated in one of the country’s malls or markets.

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Canadian clothing line Juma recently launched its online store at the aptly-titled website, www.jumaonlinestore.com! The store features a ready-to-wear, contemporary Spring collection from the design duo. Siblings Alia and Jamil Juma find inspiration for the innovative designs from their urban surroundings, eclectic group of friends and extensive travels. They have been creating comfortable, composed pieces known for their downtown feel, high quality and fashion-forward refinement. The Toronto-based designers have a strong creative vision of developing fresh silhouettes with modern details for the young, sophisticated, and professional with an astute fashion sense. These sound and look like practical, fashionable clothes, appropriate for our lives. We’re glad to be able to get their stuff Stateside!

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Comme des Garçons’ founder and head designer, Rei Kawakubo, will design a range for H&M this autumn. The collaboration is part of a wider trend for high street retailers to secure top designers to provide affordable fashion ranges.

The Swedish-based retailer said yesterday that Kawakubo would design a women’s and men’s collection. The collection will be launched in Tokyo in November.

When H&M carried some designs by Karl Lagerfeld last year, the rush to buy them nearly turned into a riot at its Oxford Street store. Lagerfeld later criticised the retailer for producing the clothes in large sizes when they were designed for slim bodies.

The Comme des Garçons autumn collection, was unveiled at the Paris fashion show in Febuary.

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