Braconomics 2022 Update : Whats in a Bra Measurement $33Billion year in year out Harlette Contribution to Saudi Arabia Economy for 11 years running

It was a full moon as I left Brighton, I had just visited a made in UK corset factory and got to talking about how you measure for a corset. A few years later, a similar conversation happened with a very well known corset maker that was fitting me for a corset and the measuring process was discussed.

I first learnt about True Size Measurement when had a a few days work experience in Rigby Peller and then when I worked at a brand that had a store in Selfridges when brands were ranging from £2,000 pounds to £7,000 pounds a day and the floor on average was making £56,000 a day in lingerie sales on a great day brands ranged from £5000 to £10000 a day and I sold the most expensive set back then for £1300.00

Depending on the brand depended on the way you measured a customer. A few weeks ago I discovered that some brands have what is called “Vanity Sizing” and this was something I observed in Saudi Arabia in 2009 when I first conducted the Bra Measuring Module of the 10 day Training Course on How to Sell Lingerie as up till then only men were selling Lingerie and the brand store I was taken to in their shopping mall in Jeddah only had sizes up to DD, not an E,F,G or H in site.

Very curious as coming from London where it was booming in the plus size cups. This trip required me to measure an entire class and some of their friends and family when I arrived at the house as this service of measuring wasnt available in Saudi at the time. True Size Measurement is Different to Manufacturing Measurement.

As Manufactureres use Vanity Sizing to do this yourself take a tape measure in Inches around the rib cage and then at the highest part of the bra line and subtract the rib from the cup and you have the cup size. If the maker has true size measurement. If the maker has vanity sizing check their site for their cup size often a G or H can be renamed DDD in a vanity size.

This course got media attention around the world, Sweden, NewZealand, Australia, Malaysia and even a Washington Analyst wrote a section of his book about this class Thomas Lippman Saudi Arabia on the Edge. The suprising thing that occured as a result of this course, two years later the King of Saudi Arabia changed the law using his decree to allow women to work.

Braconomics 2022

This course resulted in 500,000 legally now able to work $66,000 USD a year began to appear in the Saudi Arabia economy which for the math boffins equals $33,000,000,000 a year extra to the Saudi Arabia Economy. $33Billion added to the bottom line of the Saudi Arabia Economy year in year out for the last 11 years is $363,000,000,000.00 $363 hundred billion dollars that did not exist in the economy before this course was held

A class that I travelled from Australia to Malaysia, to meet a celebrity chef Nicholas, who passed away in 2020. Took me to a market to buy my first head scarf, in Kuala Lumpur to arrive in the Jeddah airport it was pink with swarovski crystals. After taking the collection to Wimbledon Fashion Week June 2009 and travelling to France to meet a Lingerie & Swim Manufacturer that made our first bikini in just 6 days many years later in 2016 I arrived back to Malaysia on the way back and a couple of newspapers interviewed me on the experience. Harpers Bazaar Malaysia covered one of my catwalks many years later in 2016 from the Caribbean

Deep blue sea meets the landscape of an islandic skyline | Harlette Swim

Contemporary spin on animal prints, bringing to life the merge of Safari and Swim | Harlette Swim

BAZAAR EXCLUSIVE: Best Styles from International Swim Fashion Week 2016

Harpers Bazaar Malaysia – Harlette Swim

This class changed the world, it changed Wall St, it changed the London Stock Exchange, bringing increased investment to both markets. So if you think your idea is too small or your too small to make a difference. Think Again, the course I created, delivered in Saudi Arabia contributed and changed the World Economy adding the value of $33Billion year in year out for 11 years $363 hundred billion so far so good.

Braconomics 2009

Harlette Capital Ltd gifted Saudi Arabia a course for 5 days with a value today and a Luxury Wrap to a Princess that was valued £3500 in 2009 is worth with inflation £5002.44.

Heavily discounted the rate from £6000 & £5000 for each week to £1500 as it was a charity event for women to learn how to work I was requested to give another 5 days of my time. How do you value that time contribution in dollar value in 2022. £20,724.41 was gifted from Harlette to Saudi Arabia and this resulted in the country gaining $33billion new revenue year in year out to their economy just from the simple act of changing the law to make it legal for women to work and contribute to society

£1,500 in 2009 is worth £2,143.90

Gifted in Time and Donated to KSA Lingerie Training & Sales & Marketing 

£5,000 in 2009 is worth £7,146.35 today

£6,000 in 2009 is worth £8,575.62 today

After this event a piece from the collection was gifted to a Saudi Princess worth Luxury Wrap with Italian Hand Beaded Tulle and Silk Trims

£3,500 in 2009 is worth £5,002.44 today

The trip cost the Harlette Limited corporation 

£14,500 in 2009 is worth £20,724.41 today

A success fee for results on £33Billion each year for 11 years at either 1% or 5%

is a value of range $330 hundred Million per year to 1.65 billion per year & that would accumulate to $3.63billion from just a 10 day training course delivered in Saudi Arabia from Harlette

References for this Article

Saudi Arabia | Average Salary Survey 2022

Women’s Average Salary in Saudi Arabia Has Exceeded That of Men for the First Time, Report Says – 16.09.2021, Sputnik International (sputniknews.com)

Saudi Arabia: Gender pay gap widens in 2020 | Saudi – Gulf News

Saudi Arabia | Average Salary Survey 2022

Labor force, female (% of total labor force) – Saudi Arabia | Data (worldbank.org)

GASTAT: Saudi Workers Monthly Average Wage in Four Sectors: 10.238 SAR | General Authority for Statistics (stats.gov.sa)

Saudi Arabia’s female workforce grows by 282% in a year – Arabian Business

Note to the Reader

Average salary in Saudi Arabia is 261,287 SAR per year. The most typical earning is 101,265 SAR. All data are based on 1,311 salary surveys. Salaries are different between men and women. Men receive an average salary of 268,540 SAR. Women receive a salary of 203,655 SAR.

Rissikat Bade Miss London 2011 wears Harlette in Maxim UK

Miss London 2011 Rissikat Bade smouldered in Maxim this week wearing Harlette Luxury Lingerie.

Rissikat is wearing a Harlette Black Label Rendezvous Renaissance Tie Me Up Bralette and French Knickers set that was seen on the catwalk in Paris.  To see Rissikat smoulder in this set please see Maxim article by clicking here http://www.maxim.co.uk/girls/celebrity/27202/rissikat_bade.html

Rissikat has recently appeared in Vouge Italy in an aticle called ‘Miss London Dances in the Rain in Red’ shows Miss London in her red dress calling it ‘The Look of the Day’. http://www.vogue.it/en/vogue-black/look-of-the-day/2011/10/rissikat-bade

The image of Rissikat in the rain has been seen in both Vogue Italy and the Daily Mail

Born in Congo to Nigerian parents, the 5ft 10 model speaks fluent Russian and Ukrainian, is learning French and is studying for a law degree at London’s Southbank University as well as taking a journalism course. After growing up in the Ukraine Miss Bade moved to London.

Thanks to stylist and owner of UK Model Folios, Fay L Bacon, Harlette Luxury Lingerie was selected for Rissikat on her MAXIM shoot with celebrity photographer Alan Strutt. We are very excited to be working with Rissikat and you can follow all her adventures on twitter @RissikatBade

Once again thank you to MAXIM UK for showing us all just how smouldering Rissikat is.

Billie Piper Wears Harlette in Secret Diary of a Call Girl

Have you been watching the fourth and final series

Secret Diary of a Call Girl?

If so you will have seen Billie Piper in episode two wearing

Harlette Luxury Lingerie

Billie Piper wears Double Trouble luxury silk set.

Styled by EdwardKGibbon, Hannah Wood, Mofo Photography, Hair and Make-up – Steve Smith

To celebrate this Harlette Luxury Lingerie have created a special page on our website

http://www.harlette.com/luxury-lingerie/secret-diary/

 Keep up to date with all the looks from the show

Harlette has also launched as a special discount

 15% on everything on the Harlette online store.

Just enter the code secretdiary

when you checkout and you will receive 15% of all purchases

Free delivery for all orders over £50

Dont forget to read Billie Pipers fashion style blog from Tiger Aspect 

 Follow @secretdiaryUK  @itv2 and @harlette on Twitter for all the secret diary news

http://twitter.com/Harlette

http://twitter.com/secretdiaryuk

Our UK stockist @lucilelingerie has a special VIP list

They stock Harlette Housecoats seen on Billie Piper

You can be added to the VIP list for anything you see on the Harlette online store

Just contact the ladies and order through Lucile Lingerie.

http://lucilelingerie.com/ 

Decadance, Indulgence, Fun, Pampering & Low Tea v’s High Tea

Want Smart Design, Want Substance, Want Real Size, Want Indvidualistic Luxury, Want to be a Participant, Want Simplicity and want Value. Then look no further Harlette has the answer, Harlette Platinum Lingerie, it has an innovation patent, its limited edition, and cant be found in a store (yet).

Order your diamond and platinum Luxury Objet D’art directly from Harlette by applying at http://www.harletteplatinumlingerie.com

 Special Previews of the Harlette Platinum Lingerie, that has been held under lock and key until now will be shown to exclusively at the Harlette High Tea where Harlette wants you to revel in the Rendezvous Renaissance.

Harlette will be holding a Harlette High Tea in London, Oslo, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Jeddah and Los Angeles to showcase the new Harlette Luxury Lingerie range please contact harlette@harlette.com to rsvp.

P.S Harlette want to point out that the High Tea we indulge in these days was known in Victorian times as Low Tea.

Low tea (Modern day High Tea) etiquette is steeped in controversy. Debates roar over what to do with your pinkies,  whether you should pour milk or tea into your teacup first and much, much, more. I say if these things are in your mind best to be in a place that serves you, leaves less to think about.

However, I will cover the main points here.

First, if you are invited to low tea/(modern day hightea) by mail (which you should be), then RSVP as soon as possible. Do so with a mailed (not emailed), handwritten card, preferably on your personalized stationery. After the tea, handwrite a thank-you note (once again, on your stationery) and mail it immediately.

Always remember the rules that I know your mother told you: don’t chew with your mouth open or speak while you have food in your mouth, take small bites, don’t play with/mash/mix your food, don’t blow on hot foods, don’t slurp or chew loudly, don’t put your elbows on the table unless all the dishes have been cleared, keep your napkin in your lap, never cup up more than a few bites at a time, don’t reach across the table, sit up straight, cover your mouth and say “excuse me” when you wish to leave the table.

There are a few major rules you may not know. It’s OK to use your hands for many low tea foods. If a utensil isn’t provided, assume that it’s a finger food. The purpose of finger foods is to allow guests to take small bites and enjoy conversation over the course of the tea.

Keep that in mind, take small bites, and focus your energies on the conversation rather than the food. When adding clotted cream and jam to your scones, first add the jam, and then add the dairy. Scones, like the rest of the meal, should be eaten in small bites. If you have a spill that gets on someone else, hand them a napkin (some call it a “serviette” in England, but the more upper-class name is “napkin”) and offer to pay for the garment’s cleaning.

If you spill something on yourself, calmly use your napkin to clean what you can, then ask for sparkling water to clean the rest. Never dip your napkin into your water glass. If you have something stuck in your teeth, quietly excuse yourself to remove it in the restroom.

As for the pinkies and milk/tea first debates: Many “experts” will tell you that you should stick your pinkie out. This is incorrect. The pinkie should be gently arched to keep it from getting burnt by the body of the teacup, but it should not point anywhere. The milk/tea first debate came from an early style of European teaware that would crack from quick temperature fluctuation. Today, it’s irrelevant. However, it is generally considered to be classier (and more sensible) to add the milk last in England today.

 

If you’re American drinking tea in England especially the Ritz as seen below, there are a few extra rules to know. Please know that dress is usually formal (any skirt above the calf is too short) and the topics of politics and business should be avoided, as should anything very personal.

If you’re using utensils, keep your fork in your left hand and your knife in your right hand at all times. When you are done eating, place all your utensils (including teaspoons, dessert spoons, etc.) on your plate or saucer, with the knife and fork at the 4:20 position (knife oh-so-slightly counter-clockwise from the fork). Fold the napkin and place it to the left of your plate when you are leaving the table, but not before then. (If your host/hostess does this, it signals the end of the tea.)

Do not push the plate away from you when you are done eating. If you are eating out, you should be very polite to your servers. Always say “excuse me,” or wave (not snap) to get their attention and thank them when they bring you food. A service fee of 10% is customary, unless it is built into the cost of the meal. (If it’s built in, the bill will say “Service Included.”)

So far, we’ve covered general behavior and food etiquette. Let’s move on to tea. It is considered rude to sip tea (or coffee, for that matter) from a spoon. Never dunk biscuits (cookies) in your tea. Swallow your food before you sip your tea. Use a fork or other tool (not your fingers) to add lemon to your tea.

Do not add milk and lemon together, or the milk may curdle. Do not stir your tea vigorously or make a clinking sound with your spoon. Instead, gently move the teaspoon from the six o’clock position toward the twelve o’clock position. If your teacup has no handles, place your thumb at the six o’clock position and your fingers at the twelve o’clock position. If it has a handle, hold the handle with your fingertips, but do not put your fingers through the handle.

Finally, etiquette is SUPPOSED to be about the comfort and happiness of everyone involved, and not about making anyone uncomfortable. So please play graciously

 

 

Looking for Alternative Investments Then Lingerie Maybe It

Myla did it in 2005 for £1m and Agent Provocateur did it in 2007 for £60m both MBO’s (management buy out) proved that investment and equity firms in recent years have taken a substantial interest in lingerie companies as solid investments.

In most cases, they have bought controlling interest of the company and then end up actually owning the business. There is nothing  alternative about these kinds of investments and are normal considering the  fact that lingerie companies are valid businesses with significant return on investment.

An article peaked our attention this week when researching the topic of lingerie company valuations and investments into lingerie companies. It appears that structured investment funds specializing in niche assets have expressed interest in lingerie memorabilia from artists and stars who possess long-standing and long-term future marketability.

It is no suprise that the lady that put the corset back on the map, Miss Madonna is one of those stars whose items are hot commodities. In fact, Marquee Capital Ltd. owns more than one hundred and twenty-five Madonna pieces including several of her iconic lingerie items.  Included in the collection are:

1986 “Open Your Heart” gold-tasseled bustier
1990 white satin bustier with cone cups, suspenders, and eleven hook and eye attachments
1990 “Blond Ambition Tour” full length white lace robe and gloves
1999 “American Pie” camisole synthetic blue top

So what is the value of Madonna lingerie that has sold in past auctions:

June 1999, Sotheby’s New York, sells “Who’s That Girl” tour bustier and hat for $12,650
April 2001, Christie’s, London, sold black satin “Blonde Ambition” Jean-Paul Gaultier conical bra for £14,100
August 2001, a New York store Gotta Have It in conjunction with Sotheby’s, sold a “Who’s That Girl Tour” bra with gold tassels for $20,550
August 2003, Sotheby’s New York, auctioned beaded Dolce and Gabbana bra for £12,000

Other stars’ lingerie in the Marquee Capital collection are:

LaToya Jackson’s bustiers consisting of two white seed pearl and sequined beading and one red lace with red satin trim
Marilyn Monroe’s “Some Like it Hot” pink and white Georgian cotton corset
Marilyn Monroe’s burgundy wool bathing suit, a pre-1950s style made by Swimaway

Marquee Capital is a niche asset management company specialising in “Alternative Investments”. Established with an explicit aim to make “Alternative Assets” accessible and affordable to wider group of investors, they welcome investors who are seeking to invest a minimum of £10,000.

Marquee Capital has established the world’s first investment vehicle specialising in Madonna memorabilia. The company also owns over 25 memorabilia items once owned and treasured by the Jacksons. Given the recent passing away of Michael Jackson the King of Pop, Marquee Capital will see interest from all types of investors in the coming months.

The collection of Michael Jackson includes 1990/91 White Fedora worn during concert, owned and worn pinstriped suit, personal collection of Michael Jackson plaquesand  I have included the link for the

Gold Single Record “I Want You Back”, 1969

A Taste of Jeddah and a new £288m Yacht for Roman Abramovich

So a taste of  Jeddah, my abaya was delivered the first day with a sim card to get me up and running enroute to an appointment at a hair salon with a swimming pool in it just to look at. Saudi Arabia is as mysterious as one imagines, it has layers and it has lots of love and affection.

People are amazingly kind, considerate and genuinely happy to help. I have a chauffeur that supposedly speaks German, English and Arabic.. So far I think English is his third language so there is lots of interesting adventures that Asraf has been taking me on, infact, he likes to go walk about in the middle of driving to stop and ask questions, leaving me in the car on the side of the road.

Asraf always returns eager to go another 1km before asking again fun and games fun and games… Our last little adventure after the hair salon, was to visit the Louis Vuitton store in Jeddah, unfortunately my timing was off and the store was closing for prayer time.

Shopping here is all about timing, as stores close a couple of times a day for prayer time, the interesting thing is if they are women only stores they can remain open, so that is why the ladies at La Perla on Thalia st, do so well. Yesterday I visited the ladies that I am currently training at their store.

I discovered lingerie Saudi style, and it fun and it free, things are slowly changing in Saudi Arabia and that is great to see. Saudi Arabia made important commitments on women’s rights, on ending the juvenile death penalty and on other human rights issues during its review by the UN Human Rights Council on June 10, 2009 in Geneva. To read more

http://www.hrw.org/ar/news/2009/06/12/un-saudi-arabia-pledges-end-men-s-control-over-women

On an interesting note Roman Abramovich is sending strong signal to the world that the recession is over. He has just purchased a military style super yacht, in what people first described as gun metal grey.. As you can see from the picture it is white. This new military style trend is increasing and costing €340m (£288m), it has many original features, including a German-built ­missile defence system – useful in the event of attack and is leading the trend in anti paparazzi technology.

The Eclipse set sail from Hamburg’s Blohm + Voss shipyard last week, and is due to be delivered to Abramovich next year, after the finishing touches have been applied. Nearly 170 metres long, it is bigger than Abramovich’s other three mega-yachts – and is 11 metres longer than the world’s previous biggest yacht, which belongs to Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai.

Wimbledon Fashion week is just under a week away and a little sneak peak of Angelic Alexandria is just how I will end this week. Miss Sonia Lipski is modelling this amazing piece, with black silk finishes on a highly  beaded ornamented black lace on white mesh. Its one of the show pieces for the Harlette Housecoat collection.

For those of you at Wimbledon next week please come and see the collection. Press opportunities are 1pm to 3pm 25th and all day 26th June. 

Wimbledon Fashion Week
Bar Sia, 105 – 109 The Broadway
Wimbledon, London SW19 1QG

Thursday 25th June, Press Day, 1 – 3pm
Friday 26th June, Public Day, 12 – 5pm

Spotlight on Sonia Lipski & the Miss World Australia Competition

 

This week we are putting the spotlight on Miss Sonia Lipski who is acting Miss World Australia while Katie Richardson is filming a reality TV show. Sonia Lipski the 1st runner up for Miss World Australia in 2008, and will be a running again as a contestant for Miss World Australia 2009.

Sonia as you know, is the face of Harlette Luxury Lingerie

 

Sonia is also an ambassador for Mission Australia as well as fourth year student at the University of Sydney studying a triple major in Sociology/Social Policy, Government/International Studies and Pharmacology.

 

Sonia believes strongly in the Miss World motto Beauty with A Purpose, and is committed to using her time and talents to continue to raise awareness for the cause of poverty and homelessness throughout her Miss World experience and beyond.

“The most wonderful thing a human being can do, is to help another, and this is exactly what Miss World’s Beauty with a Purpose encourages. My volunteer work with the homeless has put a human face on a social problem that is often ignored or misunderstood,” these are real Australians in crisis, and we all need to do our part in offering genuine compassion, understanding and a hand up.”

 

Sonia has been the face of Harlette Luxury Lingerie since 2008 after meeting at a the  Five Designers Starlight Foundation Charity Auction in Sydney hosted by Bianca Dye at the Sydney Hilton when the T-shirt Soft Landing was auctioned. The T-shirt was designed for 190m Abseil down one of the tallest office towers in Sydney for the Starlight foundation Star Jump

Harlette Luxury Lingerie wishes Sonia Lipski much success for the upcoming Miss World Australia contest on 22nd of July in Sydney

We will keep you posted on the results of Miss World Australia.

UK Bra Tax WAR leads to DD Day While Sweden Follows Saudi Lingerie Campaign

Last week was an interesting week, the Saudi Lingerie campaign got an unexpected article in a Swedish newspaper and I got a new title Australiensiska Underklädesexperten. The campaign headed up by economics lecturer Reem Assad, has expanded beyond just lingerie to include the retail industry and the topic of Women at Work. 

http://sydsvenskan.se/varlden/article429631/Hon-leder-behaupproret.html 

Back on English Soil I have decided to create a word BRACONOMICS™ to describe this NEW FURY that has  in-sighted another group of women on facebook escalate the issue of £2 bra tax that M&S imposed on bigger cupped Bra’s. The Sun newspaper and page 3 girls got behind the campaign, to ensure that large breasted women were not discriminated against with increased to the price of their bra’s.

Becky Mount and Becki Williams established the busts for justice campaign on Facebook to raise concern about this issue and appeared on GMTV. 

http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fsol%2Fhomepage%2Ffeatures%2Farticle2418288.ece#/group.php?gid=18589103563&ref=mf

UK Media personality ULRIKA JONSSON joined the debate with her article in the Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1178166/Youve-huge-boob-M-S-Charging-2-extra-bigger-bras-discrimination-says-ULRIKA-JONSSON.htmlThe

Sun claimed victory in their war against the bra tax and declared a DD Day to celebrate 64 years after VE Day.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/article2418288.ece

Its been over 30 years since women began burning bra’s to establish themselves in the community and now in the 21st century we see a resurgence of the bra and the impact it is having on women in society again.

1. The size of the bra
2. The cost of the bra
3. The service one receives when purchasing a bra 

Are all key elements in BRACONOMICS™.

One wonders though is the UK really safe from further attacks in BRACONOMICS™ when the front line defence is left to Page Three Girls and a Newspaper that M&S advertises in? I think we should all keep watch on this debate

Where Do Diamond Bra’s Go Once They Have Debuted on the Runway

There has always been much debate about the Diamond Bra, and the purpose of it.  Since 1996 Victoria Secrets have produced a spectacular array of these amazing pieces and have seen meteoric press coverage as a result. Yet it appears none of them have been sold,  I have even heard rumours that the diamonds were simply recycled etc much to my horror.

I am a little surprised that diamonds bras are not more widely adopted, as the use of diamonds to adorn oneself is very prevelant in all societies. Yet when actually included on a bra in a beautiful and celebratory fashion why is not purchased. 

The lingerie, fashion, shoe and handbag industry on a whole spends a lot of money replicating the glamourous appeal and allure of the Diamond with the use of Swarovski Crystals.  Given a preference I know most people purchase a diamond over a cubic zirconia or crystal.

So I am not sure why more designers are not jumping into the diamond dresses, diamond bras, diamond shoe and diamond handbag fashion race. Ok I hear the battle cry that Bling is Bad, Credit Crunch and Global Economic Crisis.. Yes Yes but I believe in getting back to the basics, getting real and getting value for money.

By the time you have set a cubic zirconia or Swarovski Crystal into a bra, dress, shoe or handbag, in my opinion for what it is worth you could have easily set it with a diamond. Giving the client a real level of luxury, a real sense of worth and in these interesting economic times diamonds do make for sensible currency especially if they are Pink.

Harlette Luxury Lingerie loves to work with diamonds and platinum and has a special service www.harletteplatinumlingerie.com it is by invitiation only and is not for the faint hearted.

I decided to do a little investigation work into the Diamond Bra’s and discovered a that the GIA have a couple of replica’s on display in California. I received this email below.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Guestservices Mailbox <guestservices@gia.edu>
Date: 2009/4/17
Subject: RE:
To: Harlette DeFalaise <harlette.limited@gmail.com>

Hi Harlette,

The bras you are inquiring about are actually replicas of the originals, made with cubic zirconias and synthetic gemstones. I’ve included the press release from Oct. 8, 2004 when GIA first received the donations

 

GIA Displays Jeweled Victoria’s Secret Bras Created by Mouawad The “Star of Victoria Fantasy Bra” replica is now on display at GIA. When supermodels Karolina Kurkova and Heidi Klum strutted down runways in them, they were dubbed some of the world’s most luxurious and expensive lingerie. Two of the Victoria’s Secret Fantasy bras designed by Mouawad – studded with a total of more than 2,500 carats of diamonds, sapphires, and other gemstones – caused quite a stir when they were unveiled at the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Now, anyone who visits GIA’s world headquarters and Robert Mouawad Campus in Carlsbad can see firsthand replicas of those one-of-a-kind bras, each originally valued at more than $10 million. Mouawad handcrafted the replicas of these world-famous jeweled creations and donated them to the GIA Collection.

Labeled “Star of Victoria” and “Very Sexy,” the bras, which each took more than 370 hours to create, were part of the Fantasy series created by Mouawad to highlight the Victoria’s Secret 2002 and 2003 holiday campaigns. The multi-million-dollar lingerie featured the 60-ct. pear-shaped Mouawad Mondera diamond (on the “Star of Victoria”) and the 70-ct. Mouawad Excelsior diamond (on the “Very Sexy”), both of which have been duplicated in the center of the replica bras. The bras are Mouawad’s first in-kind gifts to the Institute and promise to be hugely popular with the public. A replica of the “Very Sexy Fantasy Bra” is also on view at the Institute.

Sterling silver, cubic zirconias, and synthetic colored gems represent the white gold, and 2, 200 diamonds, sapphires, amethysts, and rhodolites of the original “Very Sexy” bra.

The “Star of Victoria” reproduction is composed of sterling silver, cubic zirconias, and synthetic colored gemstones, and features a rose and leaf motif. The original contains 320 carats of gems. “As the GIA Collection and Museum grow, gifts such as these illustrate our efforts to engage the public, not only with gems and jewelry, but with unusual one-of-a-kind jeweled objects,” said GIA’s In-Kind Gifts Manager Patricia Syvrud. “As our most significant donors, the Mouawads continue to demonstrate unparalleled support for the Institute.” GIA’s Robert Mouawad Campus in Carlsbad was named in honor of the firm’s generous $6.9 million donation in 1996.

Regards,

 

Larne Antrim

__________________________________
Larne Antrim, A.J.P.
Guest Services Supervisor
Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
The Robert Mouawad Campus
5345 Armada Drive
Carlsbad, California  92008
Tel: 760-603-4119
Fax: 760-603-4267
E-mail: larne.antrim@gia.edu
http://www.gia.eduThe World’s Foremost Authority in Gemology™
Ensuring the Public Trust through Nonprofit Service since 1931.

 So here is the Diamond Bra Hall of Fame… 1996 – 2008

Upsetting the Apple Cart – Human Regeneration, Where is the Lingerie Industry Taking Us?

 Today’s post is intended to upset the apple cart, agitate a few minds and ask one and other where indeed is the lingerie industry heading. Before I do jump of the apple cart and send apples flying for another week, its time to have some fun.

What better way to have some fun than taking a trip into the not so distant future, a future that is right here right now. Yes I am talking especially to those of you, that maybe had a little slip up over the long weekend, maybe a little too much over indulgence. Well it can all be forgiven,  this could be the perfect solution.

 The Human Regenerator, is splashing about all over the place this week. Launched by a German company  creating luxury and futuristic products http://www.human-regenerator.com/. The human regenerator is available in Dubai in 2009 and Las Cruces in 2010.

This is totally a thought leaders type of product. What is so impressive when you register for a login and password a bar code appears very futuristic.  Strictly limited edition only 50 will be produced in 2009 at 420,000,00 euros  you can email sales@human-regenerator.com the website music is so space odessy 2000.

Regeneration using the Human Regenerator activates the cells membranes and harmonize vibration frequencies of every individual cell leading to unexpected postive results

I recently joined TED, ideas worth spreading. For those of you that have not heard of it, its a wonderful meeting place of today’s minds that matter, speakers that actual speak and to quote a wonderful community started in Australia called Thought Leaders, where thought leaders all congrugate through use of pc, modems, wifi and screens and the occassional face to face get together at the TED Annual Conferences.

I posted my profile and received an email from a ted member for the purpose of confidentiality I am sharing the email without their details and I have kept it unedited, as I received it. (Please also note that english is not this persons first language)

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: xxxx>@comm.ted.com
Date: 2009/4/9
Subject: ciao
To: Harlette De Falaise <harlette.limited@gmail.com>

I think lingerie is a misterious artifact – it a designed product to celebarte
beauty and desire, but also to le women to feel special. I am a man – so for
sure I cannot fully understand women, but as a man I love lingerie which make
any women even more beatiful and attractive. So behind lingerie thre for sure a
lot f psycology. Nice to meet you – XXXX

Now this email did not register until just a moment ago when I happened across this image in my internet travels as I do.

  A wonderful image that evokes all things wonderful, playful, 1950’s pinup girl, waiting by the phone and giggling with her girlfriend in her lingerie. It takes us to a time of simplicity and transcends all of this around us. Wonderful YES, Powerful YES.

I have to ask the question is it, the most relevant imagery for the lingerie industry to be recycling, it’s a tough game fashion and more so for in lingerie for you have limitation to 8 garments and 8 only.

 

  As the industry is limited by innovation in the number of pieces, excluding accessories of course, I can see the tendency to look to the past for innovation, to assist with themes for each new spring and autumn collection. My point is while we look to Sirens, Pin Ups and Burlesque Dancers, Pirates and Angels for inspiration. How do we truly find innovation?

A balance between old and new is needed I agree, yet we have gone from burning the bra, wearing only G Strings to a full return of lingerie that our grandmothers were wearing pre and post war in the space of 10 years. Please do not misinterpret me, I am in praise of the seemless shapemakers, they make the female form amazing and bring many women a new set of secret tools, increased level of confidence and a spring in their step that was lost briefly after child birth.

Note to reader (I refuse to use the word thong on the grounds that it is something that one puts on ones feet and goes between the toes and not used to describe the delicate piece of lace material highly crafted to make ones bottom more appealing.

Ah but I hear the cry of no a thong is a flip flop, no matter if you are on the European Continent or South or North American Continent, observe and take note the use of the word Thong a generalist lazy person’s answer. A thong is a word to describe footwear, it has a separation between the toe and a flip flop is anything that is fashionable that resembles in design a bar across the toes from the original extremely unflattering things created by Dr Scholls that brought terror and skin loss to all those that attempted to wear them in the 80’s.)

Now that we are clear on the use of G String forever more, I will move on.

 I do honour the changes in fabrics are assisting with the changes in look and feel, but have we really evolved, or are we stuck in a cycle of recycle. The most innovation that the industry has seen has been the cut out segments while retaining the frame work of the garment. That was avant garde

As for lingerie with GPS, could we ponder what its real use is, other than pandering to an obsessive compulsive nature and using technology to enabled tracking of one’s civil lingerie liberties. One wonders when the chastity belt will be back in?

 I am guilty as charged with all of the points above, I have used my grandmothers silk stockings threaded with silver as inspiration, bought all the fabulous TASCHEN books that I could get my hands on. Watched all the 60’s, 50’s and 20′ and 30′ films that related to lingerie that I could find. My particular favourite being Sophia Loren at her best in a Corset in The Millionairess (1960):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPypUvF_a40

    I regularly trove through Jeff’s store One of a Kind  in Portobello Road Notting Hill, Madonna has, just as designers from La Perla have , and countless designers will continue to,  keeping the tradition alive as his wall of fame confirms.

You see Lingerie Design is about hope, about magic, about capturing that moment of precise femininity, empowering it, adorning it, allowing it, evoking it, seeing it, and transforming it. 

So with all of that in mind can our past really help the modern women that spends hours with tending to children, fighting traffic, fighting with the internet, the cable TV, finding food free from pesticides, finding time for herself just to be herself, let alone for her husband.

Lingerie is a luxury, and it is a necessity, it performs a practical function and also has a double property in that it can create a fantasy, it can engage the wearer to a new mindset, its fashion can transcend the wearer just for a moment if wearing the right piece for her at the right time.

For that is the customer in which the industry owes a duty to, it is the mother, the home maker, the creator of amazing children that inspire and captivate you from the moment you meet them. The single upcoming career city girl, knows what she wants, and she is not so afraid to try the new. The teenager is eager for anything that is fun fresh colourful and expresses although one might have a struggle with getting the right fit on someone so young.

So images of 50’s pinup girls, are helpful but will they allow the tigress and lioness hiding inside to break free of all that this modern world imposes upon her.  I would like the lingerie industry to challenge the allure of looking to the past, to start predicting the future, start creating again and start pushing the boundaries of society through intimate apparel.

Thats whay Harlette is heading fearlessly into the unknown and conducting tests into 3D scanning to create a future outlook for Harlette’s products. Once our tests are completed, they will be publsihed in this blog, please be patient. The process has required scans in Bracknell, UK, a visit to the London College of Fashion just of Oxford street in London and trial scans conducted in Sydney.

 

Resources 

For more details on  check out www.ted.com.

For more details on  checkout www.thoughtleaders.com.au.

For more details on  checkout  http://www.human-regenerator.com