Trade

Taking a class at a yoga or Pilates studio is not cheap. I did an informal survey of classes in San Francisco, and came up with an average drop-in rate of $17. If you buy classes in bulk, it's more affordable, but for many, it's still a luxury that's hard to maintain. A friend of mine recently opened up his own studio. Since he can't afford a receptionist yet, he has a steady rotation of friends who work there in return for free classes. Same goes for any friends who have more specialized services to offer. The studio's Twitter account, marketing material, and branding are all done free of charge by friends who, in exchange, get a free monthly membership.

When he first told me that he was doing this, I thought, "How brilliant!" But my friend says that this is nothing new. Bartering is a pretty common practice in private studios — at least the ones he's worked at. I also have a friend who is a member of the "karma yoga" program at her Bikram studio. For every hour of work she donates to the studio, she's given a free class.

Find out how to barter for your own free classes when you read more

In business they say "always be closing" but in fashion it is "always be delivering" and Maison Martin Margiela is taking that to heart with a collection they are calling Avant Premiere that will be unveiled to the trade late next month and delivered to stores in May. A Margiela spokeswoman told WWD the collection would consist of about 60 styles for women and 60 for men, plus a small selection of shoes and accessories: less expansive than many pre-collections.

With a little help from stylist Ilaria Urbinati handbag designer Rebecca Minkoff is relaunching her contemporary clothing collection. Minkoff said they were inspired by Elizabeth Taylor in the Fifties and the darkness of the 1982 film “Blade Runner.” We have never before associated the two and are having a hard time making the leap looking at the garments.

Garmentos can feel evern better about their support for Barack Obama. While campaigning in North Carolina he made the most definitive statement yet about his positions on trade as it relates to textiles. He pledged to support five key textile industry policy positions, including a monitoring program for Chinese apparel and textile imports.

Speaking at London College of Fashion, Stefano Pilati reiterated his position that he prefers seduction over sex.

The Anand Jon sexual assault trial heard its closing arguements yesterday.

Swahili Fashion Week is set to start from November 5 in Dar es Salaam.

The International Quilt Festival is apparently quite fashionable. We would just settle for cute.

Purple is the new black. Except that black is in fact still the new black.

There is a new 12-piece Damien Hirst X Levi’s Collection