There are lots of rules when it comes to washing denim jeans - you have to remember to turn them inside out, not to mix colours, don't use conditioner, don't wash them too often etc.

What a lot of you wont know is the importance of music in your laundry. Levi's cottoned (sorry) onto this years ago, and through its TV spots bestowed "one-hit-wonder" status on a countless number of songs that became popular because of their use by the brand.

These days, the big Levi's TV campaigns are few and far between as the brand turns its attention to more digital activity - but the music still plays an important part of the Levi's brand experience. To the point where consumers in Hong Kong have been given the opportunity to "soundwash" their jeans.

Anyone who knows fashion is sure to tell you denim jeans are an indisputable wardrobe necessity. Although the process of choosing the right style, fit, or color can be extremely frustrating and very time consuming once that special pair is found a true love relationship is formed.

Then out of the blue the inevitable happens, your jeans rip or the hem starts to fray. With the cost of some jeans hovering over $100 it can be devastating when they seem to be ruined. Don’t throw them in the back of the closet or cut them into shorts; there is a solution to rejuvenating that special relationship.

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.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the iconic 3-Stripes mark, Adidas Originals unveiled a fresh collection yesterday at Milan Fashion Week that reflects decades of rich heritage.

Adidas have also teamed up with Italian pop icon scooter manufacturer Vespa. The two brands, who both focus on design have collaborated to come up with classic and contemporary men's looks and colors, which serve the needs of both classic scooter riders and all fans of casual and clean design.

As a groundbreaking new men's sub-collection, the collaboration with Italian pop icon scooter manufacturer Vespa, one of the biggest and most original mobility brands worldwide, presents another product facet that speaks originality. Two authentic lifestyle brands, both focused on design, present a unique partnership with products referencing classic and contemporary men's looks and colors that serve the needs of both classic scooter riders and all fans of casual and clean design.

Some people seem to wear jeans forever and still not get it right. So do learn to be experimental with your denim look. But keep an open mind and take a good look at yourself and try to see what other people would think of your new look. Loop a scarf, or an interesting long, beaded necklace, through the waist instead of more conventional belts; have fun with your shoes; and add accents of color through a giant tote or a classy statement clutch (for the evening).

Dark denim trousers are more formal, so save them for the moments you need them, also they are perfect wear for wearing in the evening or night. Blessed with a great pair of legs? Go for the extra skinny silhouette, combined with a babydoll top which is more forgiving to your waist, and is a perfect foil to the skinny denim silhouette.

On February 1, 2008 two iconic lifestyle brands, Adidas Originals and Diesel will launch a landmark product collaboration - Adidas Originals Denim by Diesel.

Two male and two female models presented in four different washes will be available exclusively at Adidas Originals stores all around the world starting spring/summer 2008. Adidas Originals Adidas ORIGINALs DENIM BY DIESEL LAUNCH and Diesel - two global brands that stand for authenticity, self-expression and creativity for the fashion forward - have come together in the spirit of unconstrained exploration and collaboration.

All those empire-waist gowns and tops that looked so stylish not so long ago suddenly have turned into the fashion equivalent of pumpkins, morphing from au courant to out-of-date as quickly as the New Year's clocks chimed 12. Or so say northern hemisphere trend-watchers.

The high-waisted "baby-doll" look, which topped most must-have lists in early 2007, is one of several trends predicted to take a tumble early in 2008.

On the way out are micro-miniskirts, shapeless tunics and extremely low-rise jeans, according to several boutique owners. Those styles will be replaced by fitted tops, belted dresses and trousers with higher waistbands.

Jeans and casual wear company Diesel has introduced a new luxury sub-brand called Black Gold to its fashion lines. Designed for both men and women and launched for autumn 2008 at New York Fashion Week in February 2008, Diesel Black Gold, a self-standing, casual-luxury collection, will compete above the mainline and sell alongside luxury denim range Diesel Denim Gallery.

With 30 stockists already signed, Black Gold will have a separate distribution to the mainline.

The exciting new sub-brand will be exhibited at trade fair Premium in Berlin next February and will be shown on the catwalk at New York Fashion Week. The new line will then develop into shoes, bags and other accessories bearing the Diesel Black Gold label from spring 2009. The newly conceived men's and women's line has been created to meet a growing market demand for individualism in design, said Diesel.

China is to provide further tariff cut on Pakistan import of denim cotton fabrics, man-made fabrics, and home textiles, according to Ma Yi, a senior member of China's Textile Association.

Any reduction is expected to effectively push up Pakistan's textile export, which represents a significant 70 percent of Pakistan's total export to China.

With the Early Harvest Program (EHP), which came into effect for the Pakistan-China bilateral trade in March last year, the two countries have been pro-actively seeking collaboration in various areas.

The question on everybody's mind is, who is buying this high waist trousers everybody is talking about. Being for a few days in one of the worlds most respectable fashion towns, I decided together with a camera guy to stand guard at Paris biggest and most popular fashion stores. And wait and just count the amount of women who go in or leave wearing a high waisted jeans or trouser for that matter.

We located our self at a strategic location for the main entrance of Galeries Lafayette on boulevard Haussmann, if I can call that the main entrance. It is hard to indicate what is what in France now-a-days. Lafayette Homme & Gourmet and Lafayette Maison, the main store, offer a vast array of ladies, men's and children's apparel, VO for young people, skincare products and cosmetics, food products, kitchenware, cooking utensils, table linen, crystalware, Chinaware, and interior decoration items.