So, what makes Hemp Jeans so eco friendly? According to the North American Industrial Hemp Council, hemp fibers are stronger, more absorbent and more mildew-resistant than cotton. Naturally resistant to most pests and out-competing weeds, it typically doesn't require pesticides or herbicides to grow.

One of hemp's greatest properties is that it's naturally bacteria resistant. That means it resists bacteria that creates odors. Hemp clothes can be worn many days without developing odors. This has the added benefit of reducing washing and water consumption. Reducing washing also means clothes last longer due to less wear from washing.

How does hemp clothing promote healthy lifestyles or fair for people with sensitive skin, allergies or multiple chemical sensitivities (mcs)? according to our expert, "They are great choices! Hemp, as well as bamboo and organic cotton, are non-irritating to the skin due to the absence of the chemicals used in many conventionally produced clothing." Also, there's no fear of skin absorbing cancer causing toxins while wearing clothes since the farming and manufacturing processes are also eco friendly.

The Indonesian textile industry may benefit from the global crisis as buyers from US, EU and Japan relocate US$648 million of orders from China.

Indonesian Textile Association (API) deputy chairman Ade Sudrajat said Tuesday that relocated orders could amount to a total of US$648 million -- equivalent to about 6 percent of Indonesian's $10.8 billion total textile exports in 2008.

“This relocation of orders is partly triggered by social instability with crime figures in China increasing due to the impact of the global economic crisis, which has caused big manufacturers to collapse and massive unemployment,” Ade told reporters Tuesday, saying “Trade and investment are sensitive to security.”

Ade said that the more stable social and economic conditions in Indonesia had attracted buyers to relocate their orders to this country.

Distressed denim is all the rage, has been for some time, and doesn’t seem to be going out of style anytime soon. Why would it? You can dress it up or down, and there are so many different styles, which makes it extremely versatile. The only downside is that it is rather more expensive than your regular jeans. This is most likely because each pair of denim takes much longer to craft since “ruining” or distressing denim can get tricky. If you aren’t paying attention, it is easy to ruin a perfect pair of denim.

I have seen everything from pain splatter, fringed seams, rips, bleach spots, brown tinted spots, frays and so on. Really the possibilities are endless. Unless I see a pair of jeans that are AMAZING, I have decided to hand create my own distressed denim. This is a great idea, but you do need patience. This way you can save around $50 or so depending on the brand.

Anyone who recalls disco-era designer jeans knows you could spot a pair of Gloria Vanderbilts across a dance floor. Or Calvins. Or (ooo, la la) Sassoon. Each brand's back pocket bore an unmistakable squiggle or swirl.

Not so today, when stitches skitter across derrières according to designers' moods. Some sew it old school, with distinctive symbols - True Religion's "U" stitch; Guess' classic triangle. But Guess jeans also bear arches, script "Gs" and rhinestone roses. James Jeans backs up its brand with buttons, pleats or stitched loops. Victoria Beckham is gaga for glitz: Her 2004 collection produced with Rock & Republic embellished rumps with crystal crowns; her new dVb line, mega stars. Antik Denim, Marc Ecko and Coogi splash loud designs over the seats of men's jeans.

They may have our genes, but when it comes to jeans, our offspring are from an upscale galaxy far, far away.

If you doubt this, go shopping for a pair of jeans. Notice I didn’t say new pair of jeans because, as I was to discover, jeans don’t come in new anymore. They come in faded, pre-beaten up and holey. They also come in a multitude of similar styles, all of which are must-have.

In contrast, baby boomers come from an era where everyone owned a single pair of jeans, which were worn so often that, over time, they came to seem like a second layer of skin, only with pockets.

The launch of Guess Denim at the Guess store in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur was a hip showcase of its new denim campaign with 80 guests, including celebrities like Amber Chia, Jojo Struys, Elaine Daly and Hansen Lee, turning up in denim outfits.

The show started with an introduction of the Guess Denim history by emcee Elaine Daly, followed by the much awaited Fall/Winter 2008 fashion show.

Guess by Marciano has just unveiled an unprecedented denim campaign that unites the spirit and distinctiveness of the iconic brand. The campaign marks Marciano’s commitment to establishing the denim roots of Guess Inc.

Hundreds of workers in Turkey are exposed to the deadly disease silicosis simply because they were hired to manually sandblast denim in makeshift illegal workshops where the health and well-being of laborers were disregarded and safety gear ignored, activists say.

As manual sandblasted jeans and denim became popular among youth, illegal and unregistered workshops popped up all over to exploit the increasing demand. Zeki K?l?çaslan, a medical doctor, estimates that at least 3,000 to 5,000 people have contracted silicosis, though only a little over 500 patients have been diagnosed with the disease so far. Speaking to Sunday’s Zaman, K?l?çaslan said many workers who went through these workshops have no insurance and shied away from going to doctors. That might explain why the registered number of patients we have is small compared to our estimates, he added.

If you love a pair of knee-high boots, but you can never do the zips up, as you calves are quite muscly. What to do, does anyone sell boots for the wider calf, and what styles should you try..

You should go for good-quality boots made from thin leather, as they will mould around your calf, giving a snug fit, and will stretch more easily than cheaper boots made from thicker leather or PVC.

Alternatively, buy boots with elasticated panels on the inside of the leg. Try the more exclusive stores in your area, they have likely a larger collection.

Could the shaky economy spell the end of $200 jeans?

With retail sales slowing, some makers of premium denim are worried that shopper appetite for jeans that cost $150 and up will disappear. Some are trimming retail prices while others are rolling out new styles that they feel are different enough to entice shoppers to buy. Kasil, a Los Angeles brand, for example, is introducing a pair of waterproof jeans for the holiday season that it says is so impervious to liquids that even spilled red wine will roll right off of it. The $189 jeans, named “Portland” after the notoriously rainy city, will hit stores next month.

Audrina Patridge is following in the footsteps of her Hills co-stars Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port and launching a clothing line.

Audrina has inked a deal with Divine Rights of Denim not only to co-design a line, but be the face of it as well. Cha-ching!