Live From New York: FGI Honors Rising Stars

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On Jan. 24, The Fashion Group International (FGI) presented its 11th Annual Rising Star Award luncheon at New York City’s Rainbow Room overlooking Rockefeller Center. “The awards were created to recognize innovation and creativity and promote the career development of Rising Stars in the fashion and beauty industry,” said Margaret Hayes, president, The Fashion Group. She acknowledged the talent of the 110 nominees in the categories of Beauty and Fragrance Corporate, Beauty and Fragrance Entrepreneur, Accessories, Home and Interior Design, Fine Jewelry, Men’s Apparel, Retail and Women’s Apparel.

“FGI’s Rising Star Awards are the most fun in the industry, without a runway,” said keynote speaker, Catherine Black, president, Hearst Magazines, and author of Basic Black—The Essential Guide to Getting Ahead in Work and in Life.

Winners:
Natasha Coté, Givaudan, Beauty Fragrance Corporate
Francesco Clark, Clark’s Botanicals, Beauty Fragrance Entrepreneur
Kara Ross, Accessories
Gilles-Fleur Boutry, Clodagh Design, Home/Interior Design
Christine J. Brandt, Fine Jewelry
Hisham Oumlil, Men’s Apparel
Jason Wu, Women’s Apparel
Charles Nolan, Retail

Sponsors of the 2008 event were Cosmopolitan, Bebe and Movado, which created and donated the Rising Star Award sculptures.

LATHER Spa Launches Product and Service in NYC
With four LATHER retail stores, a full-service spa on East 57th St. in New York City, a hotel amenity business and an on-board partnership with Delta Air Lines, LATHER has established itself as a spa and retail business with a difference. Founded by California-based entrepreneur Emilie Davidson Hoyt in 1999, the spa and product collection, grew out of a passion for skin care and aromatherapy to now feature a wide range of products and services based on a holistic approach to skin care focused on natural ingredients, essential oils and aromatherapy.

On Jan. 30, LATHER invited editors to sample its newest therapeutic treatment, The LATHER Spa Bamboo and Hot Stone Pedicure—featuring the healing benefits of aroma stone massage, the brand’s signature scrubs and moisturizers and its latest launch, Bamboo Lemongrass Body Crème.

The treatment began with a rose-petal strewn footbath filled with Bamboo Crème Body Wash to cleanse and soften, followed by a Eucalyptus Foot Scrub with Pumice, Lavender & Eucalyptus Foot Crème and exfoliation with Bamboo Lemongrass Foaming Body Scrub—containing sea algae extracts, almond proteins and essential oils. Smooth black aroma stones bathed in warm water then warm the feet and toes, which are wrapped in a cocoon of terry cloth. Larger stones are used to massage the legs and soothe away stress, and Bamboo Lemongrass Body Crème is applied in tandem with the massage therapy. Polish is applied at the conclusion of the luxury treatment. The treatment is offered exclusively at LATHER Spa.

LATHER, which does not animal-test any of its products, works to maintain a holistic vision through environmental initiatives and the sourcing of natural ingredients. Each location offers a Custom-Blending Bar, with a selection of over 20 essential oils, where guests may custom blend their own bath and shower products. More information is available at www.latherspa.com.

Eau de Protection at Bendel
Rossy de Palma, an acclaimed Spanish actress and singer, launched her fragrance, Eau de Protection, at Henri Bendel in
New York City, on Jan. 23, 2008.

The event, arranged by Sniffapalooza founder Karen Dubin, brought together a group of dedicated fragrance lovers and industry professionals to celebrate the exclusive launch of the seductive new scent.

According to Etienne de Swardt, founder of Etat Libre d’Orange (the house that launched the scent), the fragrance was designed around rose absolute, albeit “with a twist.” It is blended with jasmine, chocolate, geranium, and metallic and aldehydic notes—which impart a rusty quality and enhance the scent’s character. Perfumers Antoine Lie and Antoine Maisondieu created the scent. Noting the story behind Etat de Libre d’Orange, which offers a unique line of fragrances, de Swardt said, “Our credo is to have fun. The more emotion we can give to the consumer, the better.”

De Palma—whose film credits include Pedro Almodovar’s Women on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown, Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down and The Flower of My Secret—described the fragrance as an “expression of love and protection in today’s world.”
The fragrance is available in 1.6 oz ($85) exclusively at Henri Bendel.

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