July 2006 127th Issue

Hua Hin Events

Dave and Supa cunningham pose once more after their recent wedding - congratulations!

Glen and sumalee Thompson after their wedding on june 10th - more congratulations!

Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort recently won the Safety, Hygiene and Environment (SHE) Awards 2005. The hotel general manager Remko Kroesen (in the middle) is surrounded by the SHE Committee, holding the 3 trophies presented by The Ministry of Welfare and Labour of Thailand won consecutively in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Dave Stewart (centre white shirt) enjoying a beer in Billy's after his British Lightweight title fight in London

HSH Prince Albert II with Khun Tan, whose husband jim ford has known the prince for over 20 years

Lenny counts the candles on his birthday cake - happy 11th birthday lenny!

27 May 2006 Relationship football Match

Nopporn Wuttikul, Deputy Mayor and Police Lieutenant General Rangsiman Wichitthamrongsak, Chief of Tourist Police Station 7 and their team recently organized the match competing with Wora Bura Management team led by Paisarn Boon-In, General Manager at Wora Bura Resort & Spa.

World Cup Beach football!

A much anticipated match was played on Friday 16th June next to the Sofitel, coinciding with the World Cup in Germany. the Hua Hin Tourist Police (England red strip) played the Royal Protection Marines (French white strip) in a seven a side beach match. a very competitive match finished 7 - 5 to the Marines. Many thanks to Chris Brown and Steve Richardson for the photos and information.

Hua Hin Online Community

PROPERTY PROBLEMS A very busy month on the boards as people came from all over to get the scoop on the recent changes in legislation regarding foreign ownership of property via the limited company route. General consensus is that the clampdowns were to prevent purchase of land for subdivision and resale, tax evasion and money laundering. What the true intentions of the government are have yet to be seen but there are many paranoid buyers out there that are in search of a little reassurance. Many readers use the property section to air their own views and their experiences; this makes it an invaluable online resource for anyone considering heading down the property path in Thailand.

The alternative route for those married to Thai nationals is to buy property in their name, this is not as easy as it sounds as one reader finds out. A signature relinquishing all your legal rights at the land office is required here, however it is possible to lease the property back for 30 years as a form of some security for the foreigner.

FOOTBALL FEVER World cup fever has taken its grip but disappointment for many as the earlier games are not shown on Thai TV in favour of news re-runs. Getting an English commentary also becomes a challenge as many websites only provide for listeners in their own country, it has become a competition of big money as companies battle over broadcasting rights ... it's a funny old game! A local fantasy league has been setup between local expats, all in the name of fun of course.

A small skirmish in the local pool leagues was finally resolved albeit after some heated discussion and strong words by the occasional member whose legitimacy was somewhat questionable. The boards are put online in good faith but as in all things in life there is always someone that will abuse it.

NEW BUSINESS DIRECTORY We welcome the launch of the new Hua Hin Business Directory which can be found at www.HHbd.net It offers free listings for Hua Hin companies and services and should be a great resource for the Hua Hin area. The directory provides a good alternative to the local Yellow Pages which is all in Thai language.

MUSICAL MOMENTS The HHAD team was on the scene for the three day event and took some great photos. The event is getting bigger and better every year and this year's musicians were simply fantastic. We did miss the beer parks though and a table to sit around and hope they will be a feature again for next years jazz festival.

On the subject of music we also welcome Surf 102.5 FM to the airways of Hua Hin, they will be playing what you want to listen to so phone in those requests, and there are also English language news broadcasts from the BBC on the hour. HHAD will be supporting the “listen online” Hua Hin radio when it is launched, check the forum for updates.

Other highlights of the month included discussions on scuba diving from Hua Hin, planning for retirement, getting married to a Thai national, seafood restaurants, renting condominiums and the day market in the center of town.

HHAD forums are the definitive online message boards and discussions for the area, there are sections for finding and booking accommodation, seeking out bargains, and exploring the local area and beyond. There is also a nightlife section for the night owls, a restaurant and feeding guide along with an online meeting point for visa runners and clubs. The ever popular “Ask the expats” section is great for quickly getting the answers you need from the people that live here. Logon and find out what is happening in Hua Hin:

Jazz

The 2006 hua hin jazz festival was another huge success, with thousands flocking to the town. here are some scenes from the three day event, with many thanks to the team at hua hin after dark for contributing their photos:

More photos of the Hua Hin Jazz festival can be seen on the Hua Hin Photo Gallery here: hua hin jazz festival photos

King's 60 th

As everyone should know by now, june saw the massive celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the king of thailand's reign. a parade through hua hin was part of those celebrations, and these pictures capture the love and respect that the king has from his people.

long live the king!

Local Report – Bits

Foreign land ownership

Most readers are well aware of the difficulties foreigners face when trying to buy a home here in Thailand. There have been a number of choices available, the most common being through a Thai company. The foreign share ownership had to be less than the Thai shares, no more than 49%.

Commonly the Thai shareholders then sign the voting rights to the foreigner, thereby giving him/her control of the business.

Contrary to public opinion the Thai government have not changed the rules on foreign share ownership, merely tightened up existing rules. It seems the plan was to make it difficult for ex-pat developers to buy large tracts of land. However the effect was to make life difficult for everyone trying to buy or sell even small plots of land or homes. We have heard unofficially, that the powers to be are relenting for small purchases and will toughen up on large transactions.

Anyone who has an existing company need not be alarmed.

Observer homes co ltd

We are pleased to announce that Mr Roger Perrin has joined the board of directors. Mr Perrin has vast experience of business in Hong Kong and the Far East and his business accumen will be most welcome.

NOTICE FROM OBSERVER MANAGEMENT

We recieved a number of complaints regarding a customer's advert in our May issue, page 48-49, including an official complaint from the Municipality. The Observer management take this opportunity to apologise if the text in this advert offended any of our readers.

We would like to stress that the views expressed in this advert in no way reflect the feelings of the management or staff at the magazine. While we take every effort to provide factual and interesting information for each issue, the offensive material slipped through.

Once again sincere apologies to all those upset by the content of the advert.

Notice from Hua Hin Municipality

A warning has been issued by the Hua Hin Municipality to owners of buildings and properties that they must prepare the correct documents to make a proper application for building permission.

Mr. Somboon Chartgijjarern, the Deputy Mayor, with officer Nitigorn from the surveying unit and officers of Hua Hin Police station, went to check properties in the Borkeaw area, Kao Tao Subdivision, Hua Hin District, Prachuabkirikhan. They found that in this area three buildings had been built without permission to build from the Municipality of Hua Hin. This broke Thai law dating from 1979, which states that any owner of the building changing, renovating or moving a building without building permission from the Municipality of that area can be imprisoned for not more than 3 months or fined not more than 10,000 THB. or both, and will be fined 10,000 THB. until building permission has been approved.

Mr. Somboon Chartgijjarern has already halted construction on the case in question.

He would like to warn anybody who aims to start building a house or any building in this area must present a master plan for the application of building construction, at Hua Hin servicing unit Municipality of Hua Hin, and to please comply with the laws of Thailand when building or renovating buildings.

Please contact 032-534 461 ext 300 if you have any questions or need any documents.

Pub Quiz

This piece is to give those of you who haven't made it to the best pub quiz in town, yet, an insight into what fun you can have.

Now running for a year entertainment has been had by many of the local Hua Hinners as well as tourists holidaying here. Run by Terry and Hugo this now established Sunday night feast, sporting events permitting, is a great way to pit your wits against the Quizmasters and have an enjoyable night also.

The format is quite simple. Six rounds of questions either asked or listened to (music category) and a picture round. To make the compiling of the sections interesting to the members of the audience as well as the setters the subjects have been as diverse as Cold War to Movie Quotes. Always something different, everyone has a chance to shine, as there is usually one thing you know something about. Some picture rounds have taxed the grey matter to the limits as well. How is your knowledge of the stickers on the back of cars denoting their country of origin, e.g. GB = Great Britain.

Some extra diversions thrown at the suffering J participants are anagram sentences of some topical subject and prizes for the wittiest team name. All introduced so everyone has to keep thinking all night. The start time is aimed at 19:30 but by the time people have eaten and settled down the quiz kicks-off about 20:00. So as to limit brain overload it is completed by 21:30. Plenty of time to verbally abuse the mental torturers and maybe buy them a drink!

There is a sabbatical going on at the moment as Hugo is in England and Terry is glued to the World Cup. Quiz will resume on 16th July at Dick's Office, go up the Soi with Hot Pot on the corner and it is on the left hand side. Approximately 75 yards/metres. After the 16th they will be held every two weeks.

To give you a flavour of what you can expect here are a few of the questions that were asked in the last quiz.

Movie Quotes: From which film is the quote “I'll get you and your little dog”?

World Cup: What is the capital of Angola?

Japan: Name the hot springs the Japanese like to soak in?

The picture round was “Birds”. No one spotted all twelve.

If you haven't experienced this super night then take a chance on the 16th and if you have, hope this hasn't given you too many flashbacks to that question you knew but couldn't remember at the time.

See you there, Terry and Hugo

Hua Hin Dor Rescue Center

An open letter from Maureen Taylor of the Hua Hin Dog Rescue Centre

To all residents of Hua Hin and the surrounding area.

Hello, my name is Maureen Taylor (better known to Hua Hin residents as Mum) - because I am Dawn Poole's mum (the other and better known manager of HHDRC). Usually I leave any information about the Dog Centre to be written by Dawn as she is far more articulate than I, but for reasons which will become clear to you I have taken it upon myself to do this month's information article as an open letter. This one will vary vastly from the ones that Dawn normally does, but I feel that the residents of Hua Hin deserve to know the facts about Dawn, myself and our involvement in the Dog Centre.

Thailand became my husband Paul ‘s and my country of residence in November 1999. Paul set up his own company in Bangkok after being a managing director in a well-known security company in Hong Kong for 10 years. Dawn remained in Hong Kong teaching English to many students of varying ages. In January 2001 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and returned to Hong Kong and the doctors I knew to have a mastectomy and chemotherapy treatment. I returned to Bumrungrad Hospital for my radiotherapy. While in Hong Kong I stayed with Dawn and her 4 dogs who (along with Paul and my dogs) gave me the will to live. Dawn's dogs made it so much more like normal life rather than the fact that I was fighting for my life - especially Hobo who would guard my “sick bowl” (necessary after having undergone chemo) like it was his duty to me. Many things like that made me feel normal and not a freak. Dogs don't care what colour or creed you are or what your body looks like - they just love you for being you.

Dawn joined us in Thailand in September 2001 to run Paul's company, Action Pursuits, in Hua Hin. Paul and Dawn worked very hard trying to make the company take off - but because of SARS and the Bali bombing the tourist trade suffered a severe blow that year, and, because our funds were limited due to the fact that we had to pay for my cancer treatment, we had serious financial problems which finally led to Paul taking his own life. Dawn, Joy (my other daughter) and I were all devastated and I felt that my only option was to return to UK. Dawn had in the meantime met and fallen in love with a young man called Du who was of Thai origin. He played keyboard in one of the well-known bars in Hua Hin. She was distraught at the thought of leaving him and so we decided to remain in Hua Hin for a time. Because Paul had died, the nature of the Action Pursuits business was regarded by the people involved, as being better not to be run by women - which meant that both Dawn and I were unemployed and had to support ourselves without jobs.

Dawn felt the need to do some form of work and as she had a great love for dogs, she decided to do some voluntary work at Hua Hin Dog Rescue Centre which was then run by Christine Bouille, the founder who is of French descent. Unfortunately, Christine's husband Jean Claude was seriously ill and had to return to France for major heart surgery. The dog centre had to be left in the hands of the two volunteers - Dawn and Verity Poole, a longstanding HHDRC volunteer. They coped amazingly well under the circumstances and with very limited resources as Christine didn't have any time to make arrangements for bank access etc before Jean Claude was rushed back to France to undergo a life saving operation. My involvement happened in late August of that year when Dawn and Du were due to fly back to UK on holiday. I took over Dawn's duties, but thankfully at that point in time the dog centre consisted of 35 dogs, which was quite an easy number to cope with. Unlike now when the dog centre consists of 121 dogs - 50 of which are in the original centre, 40 of which are in Dawn's home and 31 of which are in my home. We have had many calls and visits from residents and tourists alike. Quite a few of the dogs that we took in would have died without us and we thank everyone involved for reporting them to us, but I can assure you it is a very taxing 24 hour a day job. No one seems to realise the hard work we have to put in firstly in catching the dog, then taking it to the vet's, sometimes daily, for weeks on end until the dog has recovered, by which time the dog has lost its territory and so it is destined to remain with us until we might be fortunate enough to find it a new home with a kind, loving family. Otherwise we are left with the dog taking care of all its daily needs - perhaps until the end of its life - years in the future. No one appreciates the destruction both Dawn and I have experienced in our homes when the centre filled to its maximum and we had to place the ever-increasing numbers in our homes. No matter how good the individual dog might be 20 together in one room overnight inevitably does lead to destruction.

You may think that we knew what we were taking on when we took over the HHDRC, but this is not true. Neither Dawn nor I ever thought that we were going to have to open our homes to centre dogs, but often people would make us feel so guilty if we said that we might treat their dog as an outpatient. They would not give up until we took the aforementioned dog in - and this just added to our immense overcrowding at home, our exhaustion when caring for 40 and 31 dogs at home, putting up with constant barking at night because people in the area think it is funny to upset the dogs. We are the ones who had the nightmare when there was an outbreak of distemper in our area and Dawn was unable to work in the centre for a period while her home is isolated due to the fact that 9 of her dogs (mainly pups) developed distemper and to save them a horrendous death, Dawn found it a kindness to have them put down although her heart broke each time.

Later that year (2003) Christine decided that she was unable to continue running the dog centre and Dawn and I decided that we would undertake the running of it. It became known to people that it was under new management and we seemed to be inundated with calls from people sometimes demanding that we take dogs in because it was the “worst case of whatever disease” they had ever seen. We would always go out on the calls and 9 times out of 10 ended up taking the dogs in. We even got calls from both people who were coming out here to live in the near future and Thais alike, who had taken a liking to a certain dog and asked us if we would house the dog until such time as their property was completed and they were able to move in and take the dog from us. We did this in good faith believing that the dog was going to get a good home, only to be let down by the parties concerned when they changed their minds and told us to release them back onto the streets. We would never have taken these dogs if we had known that this would have been the outcome, because they were living reasonably happily on the street, but once we took them in, the dog had lost its territory and would have to fight to gain a new territory. We just could not risk putting the dog through that sort of trauma just because of a person's whim - so these dogs are still with us.

In April 2004 I was again diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo yet another mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy (all of which were carried out in Bumrungrad Hospital Bangkok.) If it hadn't been for Dawn, Du, Farook (Du's little son who was almost 3 at that time) and the dogs in the dog centre and our homes - I might just have given up, but when you have a reason to carry on, it gives you the incentive and a verve. The treatment this time didn't seem nearly so bad and I believe that was because I didn't have the time to dwell on my situation - there were far more pressing things to be dealt with at the centre. Dawn insisted that I spend at least three days at home after each chemotherapy treatment - that actually was the most difficult part of the whole treatment. But once more I pulled through thanks to my dearest friend Dawn who has spent so much of her time here in Thailand looking after me and the dogs.

Again, I was not insured for this as no company would entertain me after having already succumbed to cancer, so that ate into the insurance money that Paul left me when he died. Dawn and I have never drawn a cent for our living expenses in Thailand - the money that Paul was insured for has sustained both Dawn and I since he died. We have even spent our own money renovating the roofing and cementing the centre because there were insufficient funds in the centre's coffers. Donations are not hugely forthcoming although many people do give as generously as they can. We still have huge problems making ends meet. Until recently we had a website but Dawn has had problems with her computer which has been in the repair shop for 4 months without any of the repairs being done although she was constantly trying to find out what had happened to it. The fate of the website itself is also unclear at this moment. This was one of our main sources of donations along with some donations coming from the HHDRC collection boxes, which are strategically placed around Hua Hin. The last and most constant source of finance that we have is the HHDRC Charity shop on the third floor of the Shopping Mall. Unfortunately we have been unable to man this as we would have wanted to recently, because Du (Dawn's boyfriend and a regular helper in the shop) died on the 19th March this year after a short illness. It was such a sudden and sad loss to the whole family but most especially for Dawn and his son Farook. This left Dawn totally devastated and she has had to deal with her grief, Farook (her son hopefully) and the numerous dogs in her home and the dog centDawn is trying at present to adopt Farook - who is a Thai national, but knows Dawn as Mummy and me as “Anma” - Grandma. We are the only family he knows and Dawn wants to continue giving him the love and security of a stable home. The adoption could take a long, drawn-out time to process and I have very limited funds left.

Therefore it looks as if it is going to be necessary for me to return to UK and get employment while leaving whatever funds I have left with Dawn and Farook to support them while she tries to sort out the adoption. This means that I am leaving Dawn with the whole dog centre to run on her own apart from the help she gets from Josette on a Tuesday and Verity on a Thursday. It means that the HHDRC is going to have to be wound down over the next couple of years. Dawn definitely cannot take in any more dogs. We very rarely get any dogs adopted and so, unless a magic wand is waved- to allow us to continue in new premises where all the dogs can be housed and not more than half in our homes, whereby there are sufficient funds to allow Dawn to draw a very meagre salary - then Dawn has the nightmarish responsibility of trying to find all these dogs homes before all of the money that I can leave her runs out.

There are several ideal options that Dawn and I would have wanted in an ideal world - the main one being to be able to build a new centre big enough to house all the dogs in our care and have sufficient funds not to worry about what is going to happen to the dogs - knowing that they would be safe and well with us - but no one ever said this was an ideal world and Dawn will need whatever help anyone out there can give her whether it be volunteering to work in the shop or the centre as after September I will not be here. If you can afford to give a donation of any size this would also be most gratefully accepted. Maybe you could even consider adopting one of our dogs - I can promise you that they would give you hours of pleasure and lots of love. Perhaps you can come up with an idea to keep the dog centre running - but please, most of all, don't phone Dawn demanding that she take another dog in and making her feel guilty because she has to refuse. She is not refusing because she wants to, she cannot manage to cope with any more dogs - no matter how sick or injured they are; she simply no longer has the resources.

I am so sorry to have to say goodbye to Thailand and Hua Hin. My heart is breaking to have to leave all the dogs - I just can't bear the thought, but like everything else in my life, I am just going to have to accept it. Someone once said to me, “We do not choose our home - it chooses us!” I truly believe that Hua Hin chose Dawn and I. Hopefully if Dawn can find a suitable centre for the dogs or alternatively find homes for them, then she might be able to find work here that would allow her to stay. At least part of my heart could remain here in her. Please find it in your hearts to help her.

Maureen Taylor HHDRC

A NOTE FROM THE OBSERVER.

We printed this letter in it's entirety in the hope that the hearts of those that read it will be moved to help out in whatever way they can - the HHDRC has helped so many, now please help them.

Visiting the past

“Visiting the past” is a group exhibition of paintings by Wakako Seiren Yamamoto, Lucia Nascimento and Marianne Hvass Kure, who are from Japan, Brazil and, Denmark respectively. When Wakako Seiren Yamamoto, Marianne Hvass Kure and Lucia Nascimento met in Thailand, they were drawn together by their passion to visit their past in search of their roots. In these complex, chaotic times, the three artists seek inspiration in the simplicity and power of ancient art from their countries of origin and interpret it for today's audience in a unique way. These three artists have exhibited together in Pattaya and at the Burapha University in Chonburi, but this will be their first group show in Bangkok.

Japanese Master of Calligraphy, Wakako Seiren Yamamoto, is attracted by the dynamic strokes and symbols used in ancient calligraphy, dating back over 3,000 years. She creatively interprets this, using Japanese ink, rice paper and some natural materials, always maintaining the simplicity and power of the brushstrokes to capture the essence and express it as modern art.

The Scandinavian artist, Marianne Hvass Kure has lived, learned, and taught in several countries around the world, therefore her background is composed of knowledge and experience in both Western and Eastern art forms. Her oil and acrylic abstracts are characterized by simple strokes and bold colours reflecting phenomena from the Nordic Bronze age and Nature.

Lucia Nascimento, a Latin American musician and painter, has a background in performing jazz and Brazilian music. Lucia has the great ability to connect both music and painting in her artwork. Her work on show in “Visiting the past” is mainly inspired by the Amazon Indians in their art and connection with Nature. Lucia uses a combination of oil and acrylic techniques. Her use of harmonious warm earth colours gives the paintings a rustic effect, which reinforces the theme of ritualistic music and ceremonial instruments used by the Indians in her home country.

The exhibition runs from 1st to 30th July at The Rotunda Gallery, Neilson Hays Library, 195 Surawong Road, Bangkok. Tel: 02-233-1731.

Opening hours are: Tue – Sun 09:30 - 16.00.

Fashion - Part 1

Our fetching little cover feature this month is the first of our two part look at the fashion world. We can't and won't try to tell you how to be fashionable but will in this first part tell you about some of the people who have set the trends - the fashion designers. So the ladies can learn more about their heros and who designed that ‘darling little bag' they have been eyeing, and the men can comprehend what those women are talking about, and maybe even surprise them with their knowledge of haute couture. Next month's ‘ready to wear' second part looks at the history of the fashion world, and some of the workings of recognised fashion houses. We will also take a peek at the Thai fashion industry, focusing on the annual Bangkok Fashion City initiative. So whether you are a prancing pensioner or a posing prima donna, get the fashion lowdown here!

Here is a look at just a few of the designers who have moulded the fashions of the last 150 years.

YVES HENRI DONAT MATHIEU-SAINT-LAURENT (born August 1, 1936 in Oran, Algeria). Born to Charles Saint-Laurent and his socialite wife, Lucienne Mathieu, Saint Laurent left home at the age of 17 to work for the designer Christian Dior. Following the death of Dior in 1957, Saint-Laurent at the age of 21 was put in charge of the effort of saving the Dior house from financial ruin. He started his own couture house, which was financed by his lover Pierre Berge in 1962. The couple split romantically in 1976 but remained business partners. Shortly after this success he was conscripted to serve in the French army but the stress it caused made him suffer a nervous breakdown, and he was in a mental institution for a while after.

In the wake of this, Saint Laurent was released from Dior and started his own label together with Pierre Bergé with the now-famous initials of YSL. During the 1960s and 1970s the firm popularized fashion trends such as the beatnik look, tweed suits, tight pants and tall, thigh-high boots, including the creation of arguably the most famous classic tuxedo suit for women in 1966, the Le Smoking suit.

In 1993, the Saint-Laurent fashion house was sold to the pharmaceuticals company Sanofi for approximately $600,000,000. In 1999 Gucci bought the YSL brand and Tom Ford designed the ready-to-wear collection while Saint-Laurent designed the haute couture collection. Since his retirement in 1998 Saint-Laurent has become increasingly reclusive and has spent a much of his time at his house in Marrakech, Morocco.

In 2002, dogged by years of poor health, drug abuse, depression, alcoholism, criticisms of YSL designs, and problems with lead designer Tom Ford, Saint-Laurent and Gucci closed the illustrious couture house of YSL. While the house no longer exists the brand still survives through its parent company Gucci.

The pret-a-porter line is still being produced under the direction of Stefano Pilati after Tom Ford retired in 2004, while the boxer briefs sold all over the world still carry the brand name.

LOUIS VUITTON (August 4, 1821-February 27, 1892) was a luggage-maker and luggage-designer in Paris in the mid-late 1800's. More than a century later, Vuitton's handbags and luggage are now a status symbol around the world and are often looked to in the world of fashion. The Louis Vuitton “LV” Monogram design can be considered the very first “designer label” on a product (first in the contemporary sense), as it was created in 1896 with the intent of preventing counterfeiting. Unfortunately, Louis Vuitton is the most counterfeited brand in fashion history: just over 1% of all “Louis Vuitton”-branded items are not counterfeit.

Vuitton was born in Anchay, Jura, France (now part of the commune of Lavans-sur-Valouse). He moved from his hometown of Anchay in 1835 at the age of fourteen. Two years later, he arrived in Paris and started working as an apprentice for trunk-maker and packing-case-maker Monsieur Marechal.

In more modern times, Louis Vuitton has carefully cultivated a celebrity following and has used famous models and actresses within its marketing campaigns, most notably Uma Thurman, but also Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johansson, Chloe Sevigny, Christina Ricci, and more recently, models Gisele Bundchen and Naomi Campbell. All have appeared in ads and commercials for the line. Vuitton bags and purses have a considerable list of celebrity adherents who proudly display their LV logos -- Lindsay Lohan, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, Paris and Nicky Hilton, Nicole Richie, Angelina Jolie, Ayumi Hamasaki, Anna Kournikova, Pamela Anderson and Carmen Electra can all be seen with multiple LV accessories. The cult of celebrity also aids in the branding of the products which has elevated the Louis Vuitton brand to the foremost position in accessory design, alongside design houses like Gucci, Prada and Hermès.

JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER (born April 24, 1952, in Arcueil). Gaultier never received formal training as a designer. Instead, he started sending sketches to famous couture stylists at an early age. Pierre Cardin was impressed by his talent and hired him as an assistant in 1970. His first individual collection was released in 1976 and his characteristic irreverent style dates from 1981, and he has long been known as the enfant terrible (bad boy) of French fashion. Many of Gaultier's following collections have been based on street wear, focusing on popular culture, whereas others, particularly his Haute Couture collections, are very formal yet at the same time unusual and playful. Jean-Paul Gaultier produced sculptured costumes for Madonna during the nineties and has also worked in close collaboration with Wolford Hosiery. He popularized the use of skirts, especially kilts on men's wardrobe, and the release of designer collections. Gaultier caused shock by using unconventional models for his exhibitions, like old and fat women, pierced and heavily tattooed models, and by playing with traditional gender roles in the shows. This granted him both criticism and enormous popularity.

Gaultier also designed the wardrobe of many motion pictures, including Luc Besson's The Fifth Element, Pedro Almodóvar's Kika, Peter Greenaway's The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet's La Cité des enfants perdus (The City of Lost Children). Madonna's Blond Ambition Tour (including the iconic cone bra) also featured his creations. He currently designs for three collections: his own couture and ready-to-wear lines, as well as the newly relaunched clothing line for Hermès, a French leather goods company well-known for their equestrian background, scarves, and expensive and difficult to obtain handbags. Most recently, Jean-Paul Gaultier designed Madonna's wardrobe for her 2006 Confessions Tour, continuing their long-standing relationship.

Jean-Paul Gaultier is also known for a popular line of perfumes. His first fragrance, Classique, a women's floral-oriental, was introduced in 1993, followed by Le Mâle for men two years later. Both were highly successful, and Le Mâle is now the number-one men's fragrance in the European Union based on sales; it also holds a strong market position in Australia and the United States. Most recently, the unisex “fragrance for humanity” Gaultier2 (pronounced Gaultier to the power of two) was launched in 2005 in most countries except Canada, where it was launched in January 2006 at Holt Renfrew; and the United States, where it will be launched nationally in early June 2006 to coincide with Madonna's Confessions Tour.

GIORGIO ARMANI (born 11 July 1934 in Piacenza, Italy). He originally trained in medicine, then gave it up to pursue photography, before being called up for national service in 1957. He then worked in a department store, La Rinascente, as a window dresser. From 1961 to 1970, Armani worked as a designer in well-known fashion house Nino Cerruti, after which he left to pursue freelance work. In 1974, with his partner Sergio Galeotti, he established Giorgio Armani S.p.A. with a menswear label, introducing a womenswear line in 1975. He is known today for his clean, tailored lines. He achieved his international breakthrough by tailoring for numerous Hollywood names and especially for Richard Gere in the title role of American Gigolo in 1980. His sister Rosanna Armani joined him in the company; Galeotti died in 1985.

GUCCI (or the House of Gucci), is an Italian fashion and leather goods label. It was founded by Guccio Gucci (1881-1953) in Florence in 1921. Like many other high-fashion companies, Gucci began as a small, family-owned saddlery and leather goods store. Guccio Gucci was the son of an Italian merchant from the country's northern manufacturing region. As a young man, he quickly built a reputation for quality, hiring the best craftsmen he could find to work in his atelier. In 1938, Gucci expanded and a boutique was opened in Rome. Guccio was responsible for designing many of the company's most notable products. In 1947, Gucci introduced the bamboo handle handbag, which is still a company mainstay. During the 1950s, Gucci also developed the trademark striped webbing, which was derived from the saddle girth, and the suede moccasin with a metal bit.

Guccio and his wife Aida Calvelli had a large family, six children in all, though only his sons—Vasco, Aldo, Ugo, and Rodolfo—would play a role in leading the company. After Guccio's death in 1953, Aldo helped lead the company to a position of international prominence, opening the company's first boutiques in London, Paris and New York. Even in Gucci's fledgling years, the family was notorious for its ferocious infighting. Disputes regarding inheritances, stock holdings, and day-to-day operations of the stores often divided the family and led to alliances. As Gucci expanded overseas, board meetings about the company's future often ended with tempers flaring and luggage and purses flying. Gucci targeted the Far East for further expansion in the late 1960s, opening stores in Hong Kong and Tokyo. At that time, the company also developed its famous GG logo (Guccio Gucci's initials), the Flora silk scarf (worn prominently by Hollywood actress Grace Kelly), and the Jackie O shoulder bag, made famous by Jackie Kennedy, the wife of U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

Gucci remained one of the premier luxury goods establishments in the world until the late 1970s, when a series of disastrous business decisions and family quarrels brought the company to the verge of bankruptcy. A turnaround of the company devised in the late 1980s made Gucci one of the world's most influential fashion houses and a highly profitable business operation. In October of 1995 Gucci decided to go public and had its first initial public offering on the AEX and NYSE for $22 per share. November of 1997 also proved to be a successful year as Gucci acquired a watch licensee, Severin-Montres, and renamed it Gucci Timepieces. Gucci watches have become some of the most beautiful and most sought after timepieces in the world and sell internationally.

MARY QUANT OBE FCSD (born February 11, 1934) is a British fashion designer, who was born in Kent to Welsh parents, Quant studied illustration at Goldsmith's College before taking a job with a couture milliner. In October 1955, she teamed up with her husband Alexander Plunket Greene, and an accountant Archie McNair, to open a clothes shop on the Kings Road in London called Bazaar.

Following the positive reaction to a pair of “mad house pyjamas” designed for the opening, and dissatisfied with the variety of clothes available to her, Quant decided to make her own range of clothing. Initially working solo, she was soon employing a handful of machinists, and by 1966 she was working with 18 different manufacturers concurrently.

Her skirts had been getting shorter since about 1958 - a development she considered to be practical and liberating, allowing women the ability to run for a bus. The miniskirt, for which she is arguably most famous, became one of the defining fashions of the 1960s. The miniskirt was developed separately by Andre Courrèges, and there is disagreement as to who came up with the idea first. Quant named the miniskirt after her favourite make of car, the Mini.

In addition to the miniskirt, Quant is often credited with inventing the coloured and patterned tights that tended to accompany the garment, although these are also attributed to Cristobal Balenciaga. Irrespective of whether she invented these items, Quant was one of their major popularisers, largely thanks to the fact that Bazaar was a popular haunt for the fashionable “Chelsea Set” of “Swinging London”.

Quant's popularity was at its peak in the mid 1960s, during which time she produced the dangerously short micro-mini skirt, “paint-box” make-up, and plastic raincoats. She was described as being the leading fashion force outside Paris. In the late 1960s, Quant launched hot pants, which was her last big fashion development. Through the 1970s and 1980s she concentrated on household goods and make-up, while in 1988 Quant designed the interior of the Mini (1000) Designer car.

In 2000, she resigned as director of Mary Quant Ltd., her cosmetics company, after a Japanese buy-out. There are over 200 Mary Quant Colour shops in Japan, where Quant fashions continue to enjoy some popularity.

DAME VIVIENNE WESTWOOD DBE (born Vivienne Isabel Swire in Tintwistle, Cheshire, England on 8 April 1941) is an English fashion designer largely responsible for modern punk and new wave fashions. Westwood was seventeen when her parents bought an office in the North of England. She studied at the Harrow School of Art (later to become the University of Westminster) for one term. Vivienne went on to attend a teacher training college and later taught at a primary school in North London. She loved teaching.

Vivienne's first husband was Derek Westwood but their marriage only lasted three years before she met Malcolm McLaren, later known for being the manager for punk band The Sex Pistols. The two had a son named Joseph, and Westwood continued to teach until 1971, when Malcolm decided to open a shop, Let It Rock (also known as Sex, Too Fast To Live Too Young Too Die, Seditionaries) where Westwood began to sell her outrageous designs; she still owns the shop, which is at 430 King's Road, and sells her Anglomania label from there (it is now known as World's End).

The punk style began to gain notoriety when the Sex Pistols wore clothes from Westwood and McLaren's shop at their first gig. The ‘punk style' included BDSM fashion, bondage gear, safety pins, razor blades, bicycle or lavatory chains on clothing and spiked dog collars that were used as jewellery, as well as outrageous make-up and hair. The inclusion of more traditional elements of British design, such as tartan fabric, amongst the more unusual elements of her style only served to make the overall effect of her designs more shocking.

Together, Westwood and McLaren revolutionised fashion, and the impact is still felt today. Westwood accepted a DBE in the 2006 New Year's Honours List “for services to fashion”, and has twice earned the award for British Designer of the Year.

ISSEY MIYAKE was born in Japan in April of 1938. Miyake studied graphic design in Tokyo, graduating in 1964. After graduation, he worked in Paris and New York City, absorbing the cultural and creative spirits of both cities. Returning to Tokyo in 1970, he founded the Miyake Design Studio. Miyake's futuristic and technology-driven creations stem from a single touchstone: the idea of creating clothing from a single piece of cloth, an idea to which the designer returns whenever he needs new inspiration. Inspired by the young people and the spirit revolution in the streets that he witnessed in Paris in the late 60s, he sought to create ‘clothing that was universal' as jeans and a T-shirt. In the late 80s, he began to experiment with new methods of pleating that would allow both flexibility of movement for the wearer as well as ease of care and production. This eventually resulted in a new technique called garment pleating and in 1993's “Pleats Please” in which the garments are cut and sewn first, then sandwiched between layers of paper and fed into a heat press, where they are pleated. The fabric's ‘memory' holds the pleats and when the garments are liberated from their paper cocoon, they are ready-to wear.

In 1994 and 1999, Miyake turned over the design of the men's and women's collections respectively, to his associate, Naoki Takizawa so that he could return to his first love: research. He continues to design A-POC (an eponymous name for A Piece of Cloth) a technology-driven line that was introduced in 1999 in which fabric, texture, and the components for a fully finished woven or a fully finished knit garment are made in a single process. His exhibitions, books, and work with photographer Irving Penn are world-renowned and the designer continues to relentlessly pursue new technologies by which to make things and projects that celebrate design in our everyday lives.

BURBERRY is a U.K. based outfitter, manufacturing clothing and other apparel, often in a distinctive check pattern, that has become one of its most common copied trademarks. The company has branded stores and franchises around the world, and also sells through concessions in third party stores. It also runs a catalogue business and has a fragrance line. Both HM Queen Elizabeth and HRH The Prince of Wales have granted the company Royal Warrants.

Burberry clothing was founded in 1856 when 21-year-old Thomas Burberry, a former draper's apprentice, opened his own store in Basingstoke, Hampshire. By 1870 the business had become well established and focused on the development of outdoors attire. In 1880 Thomas Burberry invented gabardine fabric, which is hardwearing, water-resistant, yet breathable, in which the yarn is waterproofed before weaving. A patent was taken out for this in 1888. In 1891 Thomas Burberry opened an emporium in the Haymarket, London, which still stands today as the company's headquarters.

After a protracted period of relative slow decline the company became labelled as an old-fashioned raincoat manufacturer, but was reinvigorated in 2000 by RoseMary Bravo and designer Christopher Bailey. Central to this turnaround were the designs produced by Bailey and his creative team. Basing his design concepts on the heritage of the company Bailey won wide acclaim from critics and from buyers. The brand was also expanded to include franchised items such as household items, watches, fragrance, sunglasses and golf items.

The Burberry Check. The red, white, black, and camel check, known as the ‘Nova,' has come to be synonymous with Burberry. It was first used as a lining for the company's trenchcoat in 1924, although it was not widely used as an outer layer until the late 1960s. By then the Burberry Check was used on items including umbrellas, scarves and luggage, and was registered as a trademark.

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