The question marketers are always interested in: how big is the market?   World Muslim populations. The Islamic fashion is particularly interesting because of the huge Muslim population in the world.  In 2010, 23.4% of the world population or 1.6 billion people are Muslims.  (For those of you who may be confused, Islam is a religion, while Muslims are the people with Islamic faith.)  Islam is the second largest religion in the world, next to Christianity.  But based on the high birth rate of Muslims, it may become the largest within this generation.

What do most of us know about Islam fashion?  Except for the exceptional few, the answer is next to nothing.  And yet, Islam is the second largest religion of the world.  And the trick is, many dress like Muslim, or the Islam fashion.  We don’t have Christian fashion or Buddhist fashion, do we?  Interesting, hah?

I am doing a research project, out of personal interest, on Islamic fashion.  What I have found is so fascinating, that I decided to start a series of blog on the topic, in case anyone wants to read up on this later.  

ZangToi, Malaysia's best-known icon in the haute couture world, recently presented some stunning items from his Fall 2012 collection at New York's Lincoln Center where the New York Fashion Week was held.  

Last October, I received an invitation from K. Tirapan Wannarat, one of Bangkok’s best high fashion designers for the past few decades.  The occasion was to celebrate his 34th anniversary- known under his brand, Tirapan.  I was very excited , but, like any major events planned at the time, the party was postponed due to the Big Flood.  

Actress Kirstie Alley, who played the major female character in the hit American television series “Cheers” and was cast in several other Hollywood feature films, recently did the catwalk at the fashion week for Malaysian fashion icon, Zang Toi.  

Allocating 10% of revenues for marketing & media communication, Levi’s distributor, DKSH (Thailand) Limited, will soon launch Levi’s® Live The Dream – On The Road, allowing

Upholstery techniques are in the spotlight this season and WGSN-homebuildlife has observed a particular trend for quilting, merging luxury with craft. More and more designers are using it to create voluminous upholstery that comforts and cocoons. We look at how they are incorporating it, and the key themes leading the way.

In Summer 2012 extremes will conquer the world of fashion. The motto goes “all or nothing”! While fashion over the past few seasons was often inspired by old values and traditions it now sets off to discover, experience and conquer. Fashion looks to the future and tries to astound us with the unusual, allowing new worlds to evolve. Classics are a thing of the past. With 2012 summer fashion the borders between casualwear, business and evening wear blur. We have arrived in the future.

Trend analysis WGSN highlights the key spring/summer textile trends seen at the LA Textile Show.