Voters overwhelmingly support more solar energy, will oppose candidates that are anti-solar, industry poll says

Overwhelming majorities of both Republican and Democratic registered voters want their utility companies to get more power from solar and wind energy, according to a new survey released Monday during the first day of the Solar Power International conference in Anaheim.

Survey respondents from across the nation indicated widespread appeal of solar energy, saying they agree with net metering and renewable energy portfolios of at least 50 percent by 2030.

Of the registered voters polled, 76 percent supported more solar while 71 percent wanted more wind power from utilities to create electricity that is cleaner, contributes far less to global climate change and creates jobs.

Nine out of 10 respondents also said that their power company should not be able to stop them from using solar energy.

“Democrats, Republicans and Independents all said, everything being equal, they would vote against a politician who opposed solar power,” said Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) president and CEO, Abigail Ross Hopper in a prepared statement. “Politicians can take this to the bank – Americans will not stand for government or company policies that prevent them from accessing clean, renewable, job-producing, affordable power.”

Responses

Global Strategy Group conducted the online national survey of 750 registered voters and 480 opinion leaders between Aug. 27 and Sept. 4 at the behest of the Solar Energy Industries Association, a national trade group. The New York-based firm has done polling for General Electric, Conde Nast, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, United Way and Democratic candidates.

The fresh polling showed the strongest support from younger voters, men and Latinos and also from opinion leaders. The most convincing arguments were that solar emits less emissions that contribute to air pollution and global warming and creates economic growth, the SEIA reported on Monday.

A majority of Republicans, about 53 percent, and three-fourths of Democratic voters, 76 percent, said they would vote against anti-solar candidates. The intensity rose with Latinos and with those who know someone with solar panels.

Respondents were mixed on the question of affordability. A small majority said solar is affordable but “sentiments on costs are mixed, with some people believing that solar is already cheap, and others that it remains expensive,” according to the survey findings.

Some other survey questions asked of registered voters and the accompanying results:

Q: The only thing holding us back from using much more solar power are big energy companies: Total Agree: 68 percent.

Q: Our government should be doing more to encourage the use of solar power: Total Agree: 79 percent.

Q: I trust my electric utility to offer the best products at the best prices possible: Total Agree: 54 percent.

Q: I am interested in installing solar panels on my home: Total Agree: 55 percent

25.09.2018No comments
Supima Design Lab to Launch at Paris Fashion Week

PARIS — Supima is promoting its cotton expertise in the French capital for the first time with a presentation featuring looks created by the winners of the Hyères International Festival of Fashion and Photography, alongside creations from Paris-based designers including Véronique Leroy and Martin Grant.
The inaugural edition of the Supima Design Lab, to be held at the Hôtel de Talleyrand on Sunday evening, will also feature “Made in Supima” looks by the seven participants in the Supima Design Competition held in New York City earlier this month.
The Hyères contingent consists of Rushemy Botter and Lisi Herrebrugh, whose Botter brand scooped the Première Vision Grand Prize at the festival in April; Canadian designer Marie-Ève Lecavalier, who won the Chloé Prize; Sarah Bruylant, who took away the Public Prize; and finalists Linda Kokkonen and Ester Manas.
Joining Leroy and Grant in the designer segment are Rahul Mishra, Leonard’s Christine Phung and Richard René at Guy Laroche. The New York design students are led by the winner of the $10,000 prize, Lili Shi, who graduated in June from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
“It’s really an extension of our program in the U.S.,” said Buxton Midyette, vice president of marketing and promotions at Supima, noting

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Hedi Slimane Gives First Interview At Celine

PARIS – Hedi Slimane has given his first interview since his nomination at Celine to French daily newspaper Le Figaro. The famously discreet designer spoke to journalist Laurence Benaïm in Tuesday’s issue of the newspaper.
The interview comes days before his debut collection at Celine, which will be unveiled on Sept. 28 during Paris Fashion Week.
“I am delighted to come back to a French house, a tradition, professions, ateliers,” said Slimane. “Paris is the best at ‘handmade,’ which is incredibly chic. Beyond the virtuosity of the ateliers, this savoir-faire is due to a state of mind, a way of working, the immediate understanding of a model, a particular feeling that can only be found in Paris.”
He explains that an additional atelier has been added to the 17th century mansion that houses Celine’s headquarters, the Hôtel Colbert de Torcy in the 2nd arrondissment, which will be dedicated to the creation of Celine’s first men’s wear line.
Upon arriving at Celine, Slimane chose to rebrand the maison by taking the French accent off the house’s name.
“It’s in no way about marking my territory, quite the contrary,” said the designer, adding that it was his way of “putting the church back at the center of the

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Ones to Watch: Carine Gilson

Carine Gilson has extended the rigorous production methods and codes of her namesake lingerie label into an eveningwear capsule, Flora.
Produced by hand in her Belgian atelier, the collection includes riffs on house signatures like the bustier, the kimono, and mixes of Caudry lace and Lyon silk.
Gilson, who will soon be celebrating the 30th anniversary of her label, said she’d been mulling the line for a while, as a new expression of savoir-faire. Each piece takes two full days to produce, involving eight different steps.
Styles include a kimono that flips to transform into an evening dress, wide flowing pants in imperial crepe, lace blouses that can be layered over silk blouses, and evening caftans and coats. A giant hand-embroidered flower adorns certain looks. White is the common thread of a palette intermixing black, acacia and lilac.
Prices start at 600 euros for a top and cap at around 5,000 euros for an evening dress.
Gilson will present the collection in her renovated Paris boutique on Rue de Grenelle on Sept. 28. A selection of pieces are already available in the designer’s new concept store in Brussels.
Bergdorf Goodman has already picked up a selection of pieces for its Noir space, Gilson said.

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25.09.2018No comments
Ones to Watch: Anton Belinskiy

Anton Belinskiy is in more of a soul-searching, spiritual mood for spring 2019, with his first coed show and debut slot on the official Paris schedule.
“For me, it means taking things to the next level. It’s an incredible opportunity that brings maximum visibility,” said Belinskiy, who used religion as the starting point of the collection, with nods to a range of faiths including Greek Orthodox and Buddhism.
The designer — an emissary of post-Soviet streetwear cool who was a finalist of the LVMH Prize in 2015 and showed as part of VFiles in February 2016 — will show on Oct. 2 in the foyer of the Palais de Tokyo.
Local artist Vova Vorotniov collaborated on the new collection, which uses a palette inspired by “human auras” and features new material mixes, combining sportswear with luxe fabrics like a chiffon made from vintage silk.
The lineup will include new denim items as well as reworked blasts from the past. Things will be less charged and colorful than usual — “my take on minimalism,” said Belinskiy, who counts early Prada among his key influences.
Describing the situation in his native Ukraine, since the revolution in 2014, as “still complex and challenging,” Belinskiy is part of a creative community in

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25.09.2018No comments
Germanier Unveils Sustainable Christian Louboutin Collaboration

PARIS — In his short fashion life, Kévin Germanier has managed to carve out a niche for a glittering, digitalized, hyperfeminine take on sustainable fashion. Next up, for spring 2019, the wunderkind Swiss designer is stepping out with a footwear capsule designed in collaboration with Christian Louboutin.
Germanier at his presentation today will show eight pairs of shoes, including colored stilettos with caviar beading and high boots, made from leather leftovers or reworked stock provided by Louboutin.

A pair of heels from the capsule. 
Courtesy

The hook-up is bound to intensify the buzz around the rising talent, fresh from presenting a capsule for Matchesfashion.com at London Fashion Week.
Despite only one official collection under his belt, Björk and Lady Gaga have already commissioned show costumes from Germanier, aged 26, who developed his magpie penchant for sparkle and resourceful instincts while studying fashion at London’s Central Saint Martins.
“I feel super blessed. I didn’t assume that people would be ready for this. It was — and still is — the time of Vetements, and things like fast fashion, and then I arrive with the most glamorous collection made from trash,” quipped Germanier during an interview with WWD here in the run-up to his presentation.
Attending the school proved

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