LYRA MAG.

IN OUR INBOX... Two thumbs up for Levi's -a clothing giant with a conscious---taking an eco take on re-purposing artisan hand crafted vintage blankets from India-and interweaving them with modern twills and  chambrays fabrics-over-dyed in indigo ...then made into stylish apparel...in the basics we live in. This Capsule Collection-dubbed the  Artisan Blanket Collection--- are for women...and each item- woven shirts, cropped pants, shift dresses and reversible vests) are available at select Levi's® Stores and Levi.com this week $148 to $198.

Thalé Blanc Designer-Deborah Sawaf Trump Hotel/NYC Let's just start out with a few adjectives that came to mind the minute we got our first glimpses of the Thalé Blanc collection of uniquely stunning clutches that were displayed alongside a bank of windows -overlooking a snowy Central Park...a few weeks back.  Staggeringly marvelous, extraordinary, statement making, one of a kind seriously coveted... Obvious ... non ? According to her website...Thalé Blanc designer Deborah Sawaf- was born in Bombay-and "raised in the intimate world of couture embroidery and design"---which led to an education-here and abroad in those creative arts-as well as work with high-end labels Valentino, Roberto Cavalli, and Gianfranco Ferré...  In a media preview timed to coincide with New York's Fashion Week...currently available handbags, shoulder bags, evening and day clutches and accessories-as well as some autumnal offerings were lavishly on display in a

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week/NYC words/pics Judith Ecochard VANTAN TOKYO pics/video-MB Fashion Week  Salvatore  Prete  and Filippo  Bruno ---two designers who have shown a prior season at Lincoln Center-staged a small presentation at a private space-down in SOHO. They were running late-and with a show uptown, we could only grab a few pics before leaving.  Impressions overall- wearable frocks--- an ode to the 70's/ 80's glam of club days past---like the fabulous B/W gelatin-silver prints that lined the walls...capturing a NYC era like no other---including Studio 54 regulars and Warhol's entourage ...mixed with lower East Side artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat sharing a moment with rocker lggy Pop. this model reminded us of Candy Darling Back up at Lincoln Center, VANTAN TOKYO -a design school based in Japan-presented a trio of graduates of its X-Seed Program-an advanced design course given in both English and