WOOL CAN BE JUST AS CRUEL AS FUR

The time for ignorance is over about the mistreatment of sheep who are battered and bloodied for their wool, argues Elisa Allen, director of PETA UK.

LONDON, United Kingdom — The fashion industry is shifting. Led by a social and eco-conscious generation, today's consumers are increasingly demanding to know about the journey their garments took before arriving on the shop floor. It's this awareness that's caused a great many to ditch fur, exotic skins, and angora — after all, who can really feel good strutting around in a fur coat once you've seen images of foxes living alone and petrified in tiny cages and having their skin peeled off? Yet, somehow wool seems to have escaped such scrutiny — until now.

Over the last year, PETA has released several video exposés of the wool industry, documenting cruelty at more than 30 farms and wool sheds across three continents, including Australia — the world's largest exporter of wool. In what looked like scenes from a horror film, the investigative footage shows workers as they stomp and stand on sheep's heads, violently punch them in the face, and hit them on the head with electric clippers and hammers. It's truly the stuff of nightmares.

Investigators also saw sheep penned and denied food and water the night before being shorn, in part to weaken them so they would put up minimal resistance. One shearer explained, “Imagine if someone attacked you after you'd had a full meal, you'd have more fight in you; but if you'd been starved for 24 hours, you wouldn't have much of a fight.”

Shearers are often paid by volume, not by the hour, which motivates them to work as quickly as they can. In their haste, nipples, ears, skin tags, skin folds and even penises are sometimes cut right off. If reading that makes you flinch — it should. It's as painful to a sheep as it would be if done to you or me. Shorn sheep are then left battered and bloodied — if they make it out at all. During one shearing session, a worker was caught on film as he twisted a sheep's neck so violently that it broke.

Many people who would never have touched fur continued to wear wool because they mistakenly believed that animals don't have to be killed or harmed in order to produce it.

Even those facilities that present themselves as "sustainable" and "responsible" are not immune to egregious abuse. At the Ovis 21 farm network in Argentina, eyewitnesses saw workers kneel on conscious lambs and cut through their necks with knives, causing them to bleed and vomit as they struggled, kicking and flailing. It's little wonder that Patagonia, which claimed that its wool was "responsibly sourced," cut ties with the supplier shortly after the video aired.

Other retailers are also reacting — Asos, Uniqlo, Topshop and H&M, for example, have ditched wool that comes from mulesed sheep, who endure a mutilation in which dinner plate–sized chunks of the skin and flesh around their tails are cut off in a crude attempt to prevent maggot infestation. In line with her stand against fur, exotic skins, and leather, Stella McCartney has said she is looking into developing vegan wool alternatives. Even the supreme queen of knitwear,Vivienne Westwood, crafts some pieces in her renowned knit collections in cotton and linen. With so many humane alternatives, including bamboo, rayon, ramie, woven metal, soya silk, hemp, and microfibre, consumers and designers are rapidly running out of reasons to use the real thing.

Previously, many people who would never have touched fur continued to wear wool because they mistakenly believed that animals don't have to be killed or harmed in order to produce it. But the time for ignorance is over. We now know that whenever animals are viewed as nothing more than commodities to be turned into wool coats or scarves, fur trim or leather boots, cruelty will always be a part of the production process. And we also know that whether it's a frightened fox's fur, a calf's skin, or the wool from a gentle lamb, it's not "fabric" and it's not ours for the taking. It had an owner who was robbed of it by greed and might. Now, with so many designers and retailers offering impressive vegan fabrics that are not only stylish but also warm and animal- and eco-friendly, isn't it time we leave wool and other animal skins out of our wardrobe once and for all?

Elisa Allen is director of PETA UK.

Source: https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/opinion/op-ed-wool-can-be-just-as-cruel-as-fur

FLIPKART BUYS JABONG TO EXPAND ONLINE FASHION SALES IN INDIA

Flipkart will buy Rocket Internet SE-backed online retailer Jabong for $70 million in cash to create India’s biggest fashion e-commerce business.

BENGALURU, India — Flipkart Ltd. will buy Rocket Internet SE-backed online retailer Jabong for $70 million in cash to create India’s biggest fashion e-commerce business.

Global Fashion Group, the parent of Jabong that’s backed by Rocket and Kinnevik AB, agreed to sell the business to focus on other markets, it said in an e-mailed statement. Flipkart will combine the business with its Myntra unit, creating a company with a base of 15 million monthly active users who shop for brands including Forever 21, Swarovski, Topshop and The North Face.

Jabong has struggled to compete with Myntra in the race to raise funds and increase market share in India, where e-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc. has entered the fray. Online fashion retailers have used aggressive strategies for growth, including same day delivery, doorstep fitting and sponsoring fashion events.

“The price reflects the competitive market conditions in India and it is the result of ongoing talks for several months with different parties,” Romain Voog, chief executive officer of GFG, said in an interview. “Profitability is a key focus for GFG. The sale of India is part of a strategy to refocus GFG on core markets with high growth potential and large sales potential.”

Rocket, Germany’s highest-profile internet company, is trying to prove that a publicly traded backer of startups can be a rewarding investment for shareholders. Rocket, which funds companies in areas including food delivery, furniture and fashion, listed its shares in 2014 but has seen the stock tumble about 47 percent in the past year as some of its investments have faltered. Analysts have questioned its ability to wring profitable growth out of startups that operate in unproven markets.

Rocket owns 20.4 percent of GFG, with Kinnevik owning 26 percent.

Started in 2012, Jabong generated sales of €126 million ($139 million) and reported an adjusted loss before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of 56 million euros for the 12 months ended March 31. GFG last week raised €330 million at a valuation of about €1 billion — less than half what the holding company was worth last year.

Fashion and lifestyle are one of the biggest drivers of e-commerce growth in India, Flipkart chief executive officer Binny Bansal said in a statement Tuesday. Jabong’s suitors included one of India’s biggest offline retail entrepreneurs Kishore Biyani and his Future Group.

Jabong is only a small part of GFG, which also operates Lamoda in Russia, Dafiti in South America, Namshi in the Middle East, the Iconic in Australia and New Zealand and Zalora in Southeast Asia.

The deal is expected to close in the third quarter, the company said.

By Saritha Rai and Stefan Nicola; editors: Robert Fenner, Anthony Palazzo and Crayton Harrison

Source:https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/flipkart-buys-jabong-to-expand-online-fashion-sales-in-india

DOTS AND LINES CAN MAKE GARMENTS THAT SUIT THE WEARER

A product is developed according to a planned layout that should result in a functional and aesthetically pleasing outcome. When a designer works on a design for a garment, thought has to be given to make the garment appeal to the target client. It is essential for the designer to keep in mind the psychographics and demographics of the wearer.

So when a motif, design or silhouette is visualised as a component of the final garment, the aim must be to give the wearer a well-composed and suitable appearance by experimenting with various elements and principles of design.

The elements of design are the building blocks of any design. Compiled skilfully, they create effective visual communication.

The elements of design discussed are:

-->         Dot/Point

-->         Various styles of lines

Dot/Point

-->         A dot is the basic element of design.

-->         It is the smallest and the simplest unit suggesting its presence.

-->         Dots are the building blocks of everything else in a design.

-->         The size of dots in a design is not related to any kind of illusion of height or length in any garment.

-->         Larger dots create an illusion of increased surface area, making the wearer appear to be wide. So, larger dots are suitable for slim people and inappropriate for those with a heavy body type.

-->         Small dots look best on people with a wide and heavy body structure as the dots have a smaller surface area and create an illusion of slimness. They have the added advantage of looking good even on slim people.

Line

A line is a versatile mode of expression. Its various qualities evoke different feelings and each type has distinguished significance.

Various styles of lines are:

-->         Vertical lines: These relate to the length of the garment and give an illusion of height as the eye of the viewer runs from top to bottom, concealing the width of the wearer. So, vertical lines are suitable for the heavy body type and for those who are short.

-->         Thin vertical lines: These are explicitly suitable for heavy people as well as wearers with an athletic built. They have come to be associated with a strong personality, and so, they are used mostly for formal wear.

-->         Broad/Thick/Dominating Vertical lines: These are not suitable for a person with a heavy torso as they highlight just what needs to be concealed, but they can be worn by a petite person as they give an illusion of height. The outcome may be a masculine look, so they are more suitable for men's wear.

Horizontal lines: Running across the body, horizontal lines widen the look of the wearer as the eye of the beholder is guided across the width of the body rather than the height. Horizontal lines are inappropriate for people with a heavy body type, but suitable for a slim tall person who wants to distract attention from height.

-->         Diagonal lines/ Zigzag lines: These lines are highly kinetic in appearance and would suggest liveliness and movement. Diagonals and zigzags can be used to create a focal point in an area of a design or a garment to highlight it, while concealing others. These lines are very striking and easily capture the attention of the onlooker. They counter natural curves. Credited with creating a masculine look, they are more suitable for menswear.

-->         More horizontal diagonal lines: These would give a widening effect so they are not suggested for a short or plump person.

-->         More vertical diagonal lines: These would give an illusion of height and slim build, so they are suitable for a squat person. However, these lines should not be used in an area which is to be hidden. A slim person may look more slim in these lines.

Perpendicular lines: These lines are bold and eye-catching, useful in making a blank, large area in a garment or design more exciting and conspicuous. They counter roundness and conceal flab.

-->         Dotted or slashed lines: These lines are more attractive than regular, continuous lines. These break the monotony in a design, making a basic outfit more interesting and attractive.

-->         Curved/Undulating/Spiral/Wavy lines: Graceful and elegant, these lines create a feminine look and emphasise roundness. So, they are not very suitable for the skinny wearer. These lines suggest fullness and are used frequently in sportswear to counter the masculine look of the sportsperson.-->

About the author

Ankita Sodhi is assistant professor with the School of Fashion Design, Lovely Professional University.

Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/7724/dots-and-lines-can-make-garments-that-suit-the-wearer?page=4

SITES LIKE MODCLOTH

Are you addicted to online shopping? Is vintage or retro your style? Try these popular sites like ModCloth to find the perfect outfit.

ModCloth is a popular online store that focuses on retro, vintage, and indie styles. The biggest selling items come from the store's extensive dress section with accessories, shoes, decor and handbags coming close behind.

Adding to its popularity, ModCloth also offers competitive international shipping and plenty of regular sales and promotions. After watching my girlfriend browse the store for hours on end, I started looking at some alternatives that she would enjoy and after checking them out together I've collected our favourite eight here.

The sites and stores featured on this page offer a similar style of merchandise and will appeal to any ModCloth fan. Don't forget to leave us a comment about your favourite store or share a website that we missed.

1 - Alice and Olivia

Alice and Olivia is definitely one of the stand out online stores like ModCloth. The website offers similar clothing styles and collections but chooses to focus more on high fashion with a retro inspired flair.

If you find something you like on ModCloth, its often best to check Alice and Olivia to see if they have it because their prices are often a little bit lower.

With new interesting products constantly being released and a good mixture of sales and promotions it is easy to build a wardrobe with Alice and Olivia.

2 - Shoptiques

Shoptiques is a great option for fans of ModCloth especially with its flat $15 shipping fee, no matter how many items you purchase.

The store offers clothes from boutiques from around the world and features their unique items on their website. This allows you to buy clothes from popular Paris, London and US based boutiques without ever actually leaving your home all the while ensuring that your clothes are unique (no chance of running into someone wearing the same thing!).

The site mostly focuses on dresses and other clothing items but does incorporate accessories, bags and shoes into its product mix. Shoptiques easily lets you browse based on location, which means you can find a geographical style that suits you.

3 - Charlotte Russe

Charlotte Russe is another popular online fashion stores that combines some vintage items along with modern clothing and the latest fashions.

The combination of vintage and modern clothing is perfect for people who like a vintage style but also enjoy a more up-to-date look.

Sales are never scarce, as the sales page regularly has several pages of marked down items to browse through, and there are often regular shopping codes that take a extra few bucks off of the total price. Bargain hunters are definitely taken care of.

Charlotte Russe focuses mostly on dresses and other clothing items and also offers a small collection of accessories (mostly jewelry) and swimwear. Bonus: free shipping on orders over $65

4 - Betsey Johnson

Betsey Johnson is another popular websites like that features a similar style of pieces. If you're a regular on Modcloth you have likely already run into some of her products.

On Betsey Johnson you'll find affordable and stylish vintage-inspired pieces. While you'll mostly find clothing, shoes and accessories, you will also find a good amount of kids apparel and even jewelry to design that perfect look.

It's hard to resist what Betsey Johnson has to offer, especially since it has slightly cheaper versions of what you'll see on Modcloth.

5 - Forever 21

Forever 21 is an American clothing retailer that also has stores around the world. The store focuses on fashionable and trendy clothes for both women and men.

Forever 21 also has a commitment to affordable prices making it a great store to pick up a bargain. Regular sales are also a great feature, and with the ever expanding collection of thousands of products you can really save some serious money.

As a bonus, the store hosts a popular blog that discusses the latest developments in fashion trends and the industry which will help keep you up to date.

6 - Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters is a popular chain of retail stores in the United States and also has a great online store for fans of online shopping.

The store focuses on selling ironic and hip merchandise and so will mostly appeal to those that are more inclined toward hipster culture. Urban Outfitters targets a younger age group with products designed for buyers aged between 15 and 30.

The store has a great review system available on their website allowing you to easily make product decisions and with the flexible return policy you can easily get your money back for poor purchases.

7 - Asos

Asos is another great website that offers clothing for both men and women.

Asos is the largest UK retailer (online only) and specialises in both fashion and beauty products. While the collection is slightly more modern and mainstream than what ModCloth has to offer the websites usability, range and free shipping makes it one of the best alternatives.

For those in the UK, Asos is even better deal. British shoppers can apply for unlimited next day delivery for only £9.95. The store combines brand name products and its own clothing lines to create a great shopping experience for people aged between 18 and 35.

8 - Kate Spade

Kate Spade is a popular online store focusing on cute dresses, fashionable shoes, bags and even offers some homeware in its collection. If it's high fashion you are after with only some of the price tag then Kate Spade might be the quality shopping experience you've been searching for.

Kate Spade offers free shipping to US customers along with free returns so you know you can shop with your mind at ease. The range of clothing (especially dresses) is the real appeal to Kate Spade meaning you'll be able to find something no matter what your preferred style is

Source: http://hubpages.com/style/sites-like-modcloth

PRISON TATTOOS

What Is a Prison Tattoo?

Prison tattooing is the practice of "getting inked" while behind bars. Many prisoners do so in order to affirm and convey gang membership, indicate their rank in that gang, or to display their ability to endure pain, while others choose designs that symbolize their time inside or use the tattoo as a sign or code to display their crimes on their skin for all to see.

Because tattooing is not legal in US prisons, inmates don't have access to the proper equipment or supplies, and this is why they invent other methods and devices from the materials at hand, things like paper clips, staples, mechanical pencils, ballpoint pens, and other random spare parts. They also improvise their own ink by taking it from pens or making it from mixing melted rubber, plastic, or Styrofoam, soot, and shampoo. Lack of equipment and sterile conditions can lead to health risks like infection or diseases (including hepatitis, HIV, tetanus, and many others). This is why most prison tattoos look rougher than professional ones and represent an additional level of danger and risk.

Tattoos made in the prison style are done with only black ink and have dark outlines with little or no interior detail or shading. Recently, the stick 'n' poke method of do-it-yourself tattooing has become a fad, but this style of self-decoration has been happening in prisons all over the world for over a hundred years.

Below, you'll find information about various US gangs' tattoos and the interpretations of other common prison ink designs.

Note: The term "prison tattoo" can refer to one done in prison, done to mark time in prison, done in the style of a prison tattoo, or in more general terms, done to indicate criminal activity.

Mexican Mafia Tattoos and Their Meanings

The Sureños

The Sureños, or southern Mexican Mafia, originated in Los Angeles, a city notorious for its gang activity. The gang identifies itself through the colors blue and gray (which are also the colors of the L.A. Dodgers and Duke University). The Sureños are often highly visible by their body art.

The Number 13. They particularly love the number 13 and display it in many different styles. They may use Arabic, Roman, or even Aztec numbers. The 13th letter of the alphabet is the letter 'M' which stands for Mexican Mafia. This is also expressed as 'EME' (pronounced emmy) and therefore the letters EME or eMe may be tattooed somewhere on the body, particularly the upper arm. The letters MM may also be used.

Three Dots. The three dots are also closely associated with the Sureños. You frequently see them on gang members' faces. They sometimes signify a high rank in the gang. Usually, only people who have actually gone to prison will have the three dots on their face. The dots might also represent the words "mi vida loca," or "my crazy life."

The Norteños

The Norteños are the northern group of the Mexican Mafia. The general dividing line between the northern and southern mafias is Bakersfield, California. The Norteños are the enemies of the Sureños. They call themselves Nuestra Familia (Our Family) or use letters to indicate gang allegiance.

The Number 14. For the Norteños, the number 14 is significant. The 14th letter of the alphabet is the letter 'N' for Norteños. They also use variations of this number in Arabic, Roman, or Aztec notation.

The Initials MS. The Norteños use many abbreviations. MS may stand for Mara Salvatrucha or Mi Sueño or any kind of Spanish phrase, so be careful not to have those initials tattooed on your body if you can avoid it.

The Number 13 Tattoo

• 13
• X3
• XIII
• Tres Puntos (three dots)
• Any other version of the number 13
• 213 (the area code for Los Angeles)
• La Eme (M is the 13th letter of the alphabet)
• L.A. (L is the 12th letter in the alphabet and A is the first, which add up to 13)

Mexican Gang-Associated Words, Phrases, and Acronyms

• MF - Mi Familia (My Family)
• MVL - Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)
• MS - Mara Salvatrucha (a Salvadoran Gang)
• NF or LNF - La Nuestra Familia (Our Family)
• Catorce - 14 in Spanish
• Trece - 13 in Spanish

Teardrop Tattoos

Getting inked on the face or hands is a serious step, as getting one there marks you for all the world to see. There are few people willing to go through life with a "brand" on their faces, especially one that marks them as a criminal. In prisons and jailhouses, the face and hand tattoos are the most telling of all.

Teardrops have many meanings to the wearer. They also mean different things to the people looking at the tatts. The meaning of a teardrop is very personal and may or may not mean the same thing to everyone: This is what makes it a dangerous design choice.

• Some say the teardrop is a sign of a killer. The number of teardrops indicates how many "kills" the wearer has committed.
• It may also signify a memorial for a gang member who was killed in action, so to speak. Sometimes women will put a teardrop on their face if their man has died or gone to prison.
• Teardrops on the left side of the face can mean something different from teardrops on the right. Only the wearer knows for sure what it means.
• Teardrops can be filled in, half-filled in, or empty. An empty teardrop might signify an attempted murder. It might also mean that one of the inmate’s friends was murdered and they want revenge. Each of these designs has its own meaning to the wearer.

The teardrop has been made popular by rappers and other celebrities, but it means something dead serious in prison. The best advice for anyone considering one would be to consult with an experienced artist before getting any kind of facial or hand tattoo. Some artists refuse to put tattoos on the face of hands, for good reasons, which you should know about

The Aryan Brotherhood

The Aryan Brotherhood is a tight gang of white supremacists. These guys are neo-Nazis who strongly believe in the superiority of the white race. Hitler is their hero, and they do not acknowledge the rights of other races, believing that non-whites are only useful as slaves. These guys are deranged and dangerous. As a result, if you get an "AB" tattoo, you may provoke both Black and Mexican gangs.

The Aryan Brotherhood is very protective of its members. The AB design is not allowed on a non-member under any circumstances. The only way to obtain membership is by the "blood in/blood out" method. In other words, you must kill an AB target to "make your bones" and you must be voted in unanimously. The only way out is by your own death.

If you are white, you may choose to associate with the AB and receive protection while in prison, but the tattoo is reserved for true members.

The AB usually support themselves through drug trafficking, but they are not limited to any specific activity and will readily engage in nearly any kind of crime. These guys are ruthless and unless you are one of them, it is certainly best to avoid any design that has Irish or German associations. Even Norse Gods may be a new style for the AB.

Don't use the numbers 666 or the Gothic letters "AB." A swastika or Nazi symbol is also a bad idea. The number 1488 (or the numbers 14 or 88) is often displayed on white supremacists. This is a reference to the 14 words in the quote by Nazi leader David Lane: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for White Children.” The 88 refers to the 8th letter of the alphabet twice, or HH, or "heil Hitler." Typically, these tattoos can be found anywhere on the body.

Celtic knots are probably all right, although there is no telling whether the AB will adopt them.

The Black Guerrilla Family

The Black Guerrilla Family consists of many groups. They are politically oriented and fight for equality. The Black Guerrilla Family became a force to be reckoned with in 1966 during the Civil Rights Movement. Black people organized into many organizations including the Symbionese Liberation Army, the Black Liberation Army, the Weather Underground, United Blood Nation, Black Family, Black Vanguard, Black Mafia, and others.

They have anti-government views which cause problems for prison administrators. The Black Guerrilla Family is close-knit and can be very dangerous. Be careful with tattoos that have the number 276 in them. Also avoid marking yourself with an area code which designates what part of the country you are from.

They may associate with almost all gangs except the Aryan Brotherhood, but will sometimes try to work with the AB if it is mutually agreeable and beneficial. A large segment of the prison and jailhouse population is Black and Hispanic so they generally outnumber and oppose the AB. For this reason, the Aryan Brotherhood has toned down their tattoos in order to blend in with the general population while incarcerated.

Black Gang Tattoos

Black gang tattoos include many symbols associated with prisons and fighting for the "cause."

• chains
• jungle animals
• sign language
• numbers (like 276)
• phone area codes
• locks, keys, and keyholes
• guns, knives, artillery, weapons
• Initials of specific gangs, e.g. BGF for Black Guerrilla Family

Other Miscellaneous Gangs and their Tattoos

The Texas Syndicate: A gang of Texans incarcerated in California started this group. They are closely related to the Aryan Brotherhood and known for their extreme violence and a special "TS" marking that they rarely use.

The 18th St. Gang out of the West Side of Los Angeles: They started out as second-generation Mexican immigrants. This group has become national and now includes non-Hispanic members. They may have "18th Street," "XV3," "XVIII," "666" (which equals 18), "Dieciocho," or "Eighteenth Street" spelled out.

The Latin Kings out of Chicago are known for their three-point and five-point crowns and their five-point stars. They begin their gang names with "king," as in King Carlos or King Beto, etc. They are a Latino gang and their slogan is "Amor del Rey'"(ADR) or Love of the King.

Female Gangs are still in the making. Most women are attached one way or another to a male gang and may have the same tattoos, though they aren't considered true members. Their ranks are increasing, however, and all-girl gangs are beginning to show up in the prison population.

Asian Gangs have existed for many years, some transplanted from an originating country. There are the Triads, Tongs, Yakuza, and Boryokudan. They are into home-invasion-type crimes and car theft and they will often team up for protection in jail. These gangs have many names and many tattoos. It is probably best to avoid Chinese or Japanese characters unless you are quite certain what they mean and that they don't signify gang affiliation.

Native American Gangs have formed all over the country in response to the other gangs crowding in on them. Native Americans may be associated with outlaw biker gangs. They do tend to protect Native American interests in and out of prison. At best, these gangs help protect Native Americans. At worst, they are a collection of teenagers who indulge in crime, drugs, and violence. Native American tattoos are all considered sacred and must be earned. As long as you don't go overboard with Native American symbols or have them put on your face and hands, you should be safe enough.

Outlaw Biker Gangs should be avoided at all costs. These gangs are very violent and protective of their members. They have many requirements for club membership. Skull tattoos are common, as are motorcycles, leather items, and weapons. They prefer to use patches sewn into their leather "cuts." However, they do love to get inked —a lot.

Other Common Prison Tattoos

Spiderwebs, often seen on the elbow, usually represent a long time in prison— so long the wearer is covered in cobwebs. This design represents how the wearer is stuck behind bars like a fly in a spiderweb. (If you see a multi-colored web, it’s probably not a real prison tattoo; in jail, there is no access to colored ink.)

A cross on the chest, especially in Russian prisons, represents a "prince of thieves," which is the highest rank a convict can achieve. This sign is reserved for the mob's kingpins.

Five dots is an international design that represents time done in prison. Also known as the quincunx, four dots are placed where the corners of a square might be to represent four walls, and the fifth dot in the center to represent the inmate.

A clock without hands is, fairly obviously, a symbol of "doing time." Sometimes it's inked on the wrist like a wristwatch, other times elsewhere and shaped like a pocket watch, a wall clock, or a grandfather clock. The fact that the clock has no hands represents how time stands still or loses meaning when you're "inside."

Playing cards are often used to indicate how life is a gamble and the criminal who's caught has been dealt a bad hand.

EWMN: Sometimes found inked on knuckles, these letters stand for "evil, wicked, mean, and nasty" and are worn by criminals who revel in their crimes.

A.C.A.B.: This acronym is often found on British inmates and stands for “all cops are bastards.”

Be Careful Getting a Tattoo

It's your responsibility to know ahead of time what the meanings of your tatts are. Should you get the wrong kind and end up in jail, you may have to pay for that tattoo with your life.

Tattoos are often a crucial way for prison gangs to mark membership. If you are arrested, gang members will either protect you as one of their own or target you if they think you're posing as one of them. Only true members are allowed to have certain designs, and if you are not qualified, they will burn it off of your skin or worse. They will not use anesthesia either, so be very, very careful!

Source: http://hubpages.com/style/Prison-tattoo-meanings-Jailhouse-tattoos-Prison-tattoo-art

TOP 10 WEIRD FASHION TRENDS AROUND THE WORLD

10. HITLER CHIC-THAILAND

Earlier this year, the city of Bangkok has been invaded by Hitler. If you’re wondering why you haven’t heard anything about that, it’s because this invasion has been into the world of fashion. Nowadays, Bangkok is said to be experiencing a veritable Hitler-mania, with the image of the infamous German leader appearing in cartoon form, on T-shirts, sweatshirts, posters, you name it. Ronald McDonald? Yes, Bangkok has a Hitler version of him in as well, together with Hitlerized pandas and even the Teletubbies. Foreign correspondents explain that this modern trend can mostly be chalked up to ignorance rather than underlying fascist tendencies of the young people of Thailand, no different than the treasure trove of ethnic and homophobic slurs that is a typical internet message board here in the West. It appears that no matter where you go, kids are just always going to be stupid, and while we’re on the topic.

9. SOUTH AFRICAN METAL HEADS, BOTSWANA

From: Botswana At the risk of generalizing, heavy metal has usually had problems with attracting audience members of African descent. Lately though, classic, old-school metal fashion—of the leather and chains variety—has dominated the counter-culture movement in the Southern African nation of Botswana. Walking down the street in big cities and small villages, the Botswanian metal heads, clad in an entire cow’s worth of black leather, create a peculiar sight in the country known primarily for its wildlife parks. To them—as the Southern African metal warriors explain—metal music and the culture surrounding it is all about power, strength and freedom, which means that they thankfully haven’t discovered Korn yet. It’s also why many of them give themselves nicknames like Demon or Gun smoke well, THAT and no one ever having the guts to call them out on it.

8. MEGGINGS, ALL OVER THE WORLD

Trends for male in Fashion World are not much less than woman, an example for this is the “meggings"- male correspondent to leggings which is highly in trend into the lanes of Tokyo, Paris, London and New York. Initially the introduction of leggings in female fashion world was a hot button topic, and now this trend is extended for the males too. Printed meggings are very popular among the dancers, choreographers, fashion designers and many more such cool professionals. According to Lindsay Lohan leggings are versatile, awesome and leopard printed leggings are amazing and so are the meggings for men.

7. ELF BOOT, MEXICO

It is a part of the Elven Outfit. These boots are long, pointy and sort of asinine looking, and were in trend in Mexico. Because of this the cowboy boots with stretched tips again came in fashion among the young generation of southern Mexico. It is kind of a trend when the male dress up to get interest of females, but at the end becomes a reason to laugh at. It is really a bombshell trend, then also can be seen in the feet of TV actors, stage showers etc.

6. GOTHIC LOLITAS, JAPAN

Not to be confused with the Western meaning of the term, the Japanese “Lolita" is an extremely broad fashion subculture that emphasizes cute and stylish Victorian-era clothes. It’s “Gothic" sub-style, probably the most famous of the group, is in turn all about darker, gothic aesthetics which in the hands of misinformed Japanese teens basically boils down to “faux-vampire fashion as understood by a 15-year-old." Also: “umbrellas." As in, every other picture of a Gothic Lolita on GIS shows them holding an umbrella because without one they would all apparently look silly.

5. EYE JEWELRY, NETHERLANDS

You know what body part often gets overlooked in the world of fashion? The eyes. Sure, you can paint around them or change their color with contact lenses, etc., but how often do you see some actual, serious fashion being done on the eye itself? Almost never, because that is a terrible, terrible idea. Well, the Dutch seem to disagree. A new technique that allows small studs made from precious metals to be inserted into the eye was developed more than 8 years ago in Rotterdam, giving teenage girls everywhere an alternative to dating black guys to anger their parents. The Dutch claim that the procedure is perfectly harmless, while eye specialists argue that it is insane; also: potentially dangerous. But, come on, what is a little eye bleeding or risk of impaired vision when you get to wear a tiny, near-invisible heart or half moon in your peeper? Don’t answer that. But while we’re on the topic of eye-related horrible ideas.

4. FACEKINI, CHINA

Sometimes new trends in the Fashion world arise due to the needs of the people, an example for this is the introduction of “Facekini". A simple way to keep away from the harmful rays of Sun is to avoid going out, or to put on a good quality sunscreen. But the residents of China found a new way to protect themselves by wearing face-kini, according to name it is a shielding head mask wore by the beach-goers.

3. MANBA, JAPAN

Japan keeps coming in light, while talking about some peculiar fashion trends. Another example of unusual trends is the Manba. It is a craze very common among the young girls of Japan, who normally date men who are style crazy. Manba is a little varied form of the very famous Ganguro culture which basically accentuates strong makeup and dark complexion. Girls following the Manba trend normally coat their complete face with deep and dark brown, with two circular marks of white color around their eyes and silver light colored hair along with wishy-washy makeup and dazzling attire.

2. EYE TATTOOS, CANADA

Being an intense practice, people go for eye tattooing for enhancing their aesthetic appearance and the improvement of vision. In this the white part that is cornea of the eye is tattooed. It is medically prescribed method for the persons with scratch marked eye tissues. There are various methods of tattooing of eye, also various options for the success and medical safety of the procedure exists. Tattooing of eye is practice from approximately thousands of years and is now again in trend in Canada. In this process the dye/ink in inserted in the white portion that is Cornea of the eye using some syringes and injections and designs are made.

1.BAGEL HEADS, JAPAN

Getting injected a saline into the forehead to get a bagel/doughnut type shape on forehead is not an easy task. Being such a painful job to get such shapes, people of Japan promoted the trend called as “Bagel head". It is a kind of Body modification technique initiated in Canada and highly encouraged by the Japan’s Fashion World. The process is basically a swelling distortion caused by the saline drip. Media channels ambiguously asserted it as “Japan trend". People here get this done on their forehead during special occasions like subversive fetish gatherings. For this, the person’s forehead is to be injected by a medical 300-400cc saline for about duration of 2 hours, and to change the designs the swelled part is sometimes given a down turn at the center.

Source: http://amazingbeautifulworld.com/fashion/top-10-weird-fashion-trends-around-the-world

NAIL TRENDS AND COLOURS

2016 is passing so fast and there are oh-so-many beauty and fashion trends we need to catch up with! While we introduced you to hair colour and cuts trends and beauty trends for this year, we  missed out on an integral part of beauty - nail trends!

And who better to give us the latest in nail trends than, Darshana Patil, who is the owner and founder of Elan Nail Studio and Spa, an elite nail spa in Bangalore! Read on to find out what she has to say.

Colour Trends For 2016

2016 brings in the fresh colour breeze of the soft pastels and happy hues. The soothing, calming nature of colours in the Spring collections are led by Rose Nudes or Blush Pinks. Taking it forward to Peach Echo and High Energy Red Orange Fiesta to the Dark Magentas, Cherry Reds, Mahagony and Plums for the holiday season and Fall Pale Aqua, Mossy Greens clean and defined to Green Flash calls on it's wearer to explore and push the envelope.

Serenity Blue comforts with a calming effect while the Snorkel Blue plays in with the Navy Family, but with a happier, more energetic context. A basic, the subtlety of the lilac undertone in, Lilac Gray, adds a distinctive edge; Iced Coffee and Pale Gold remains a strong neutral throughout the year with its natural earthy quality and Pale Gold adding the glamorous touch subtlety.

Nail Art Trends

Cute florals and dots are definitely out! They have become mundane and don't have appeal anymore.

Blocks, stripes, geometric, shimmer gradations, pops, light to dark of the same color family and negative space nail art will continue for a while into 2016.

Super pointed, ovals and coffin shapes acrylic nails will dominate the fashion ramps. They're trends that are catching not just in India, but worldwide.

If you plan to take the plunge, keep in mind that everyday chores like tying shoe laces, typing on your computer and opening a can will be more challenging. On the flip side, rocking sassy new nails almost always comes with an alter ego, so have fun!

Which of these nail art trends, colours and cuts are you going to try? Do you have some favourites of your own? Tell us, in the comments section below.

Source: http://www.msn.com/en-in/lifestyle/style/a-leading-nail-expert-shares-with-us-the-trends-and-colours-for-the-year-ahead/ar-AAgKWMe#image=1