In a first of its kind, all Bangladesh apparel factories are to be digitally mapped as part of a new initiative aimed at offering more transparency in the country’s garment industry, signalling a transformative shift within the ready-made garment sector.

At age 34, Misty Copeland is finally performing many of ballet’s iconic roles. In May, she tackled “Don Quixote’s” Kitri for the first time and made her New York debut in the title role of “Giselle” with American Ballet Theatre, where she has spent her entire career. She has been a principal dancer with the company for two years.

Nobody would deny that’s rather a late start for some of classical ballet’s most demanding parts, but nothing has come easily for this beloved star. Copeland’s early life was fraught with family conflict, and her career has been marked by injuries. Her much anticipated performance in the world premiere of ABT’s “Whipped Cream” at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in March was canceled out of concern for her fragile left leg; a 2014 fracture left her with a plate in her tibia.

So when Copeland does appear in a canonical part, as she did  Friday at the Segerstrom Center in Teatro alla Scala’s production of “Giselle,” her many fans – and Southern California is full of them because she was raised in San Pedro – understandably approach the date with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

Orange County is no stranger to memorable “Giselles.” In the last decade we’ve seen the Kirov’s Old World version, with Diana Vishneva as a fiery yet elegant Giselle, and a 2009 ABT production starred veteran Julie Kent in a thoughtful and restrained interpretation of the role.

In Copeland’s performance on Friday (her only appearance during the company’s Orange County run), she opted for the latter approach. Her Giselle may have lacked girlish virtuosity, and in the second act her solos were delivered with a sense of caution – understandable, but not a desirable quality for the part.

Still, Copeland has worked hard on her acting chops over the last decade, and that investment has paid off. Her Giselle is no empty-headed teen without a clue about the inherent dangers of a suitor such as Albrecht, the princeling who slums with peasants for fun. From their first encounter, Copeland projects a more knowing and even worldly young woman that the role’s 19th-century originator, Carlotta Grisi, probably wouldn’t have recognized.

Copeland is careful with the details during that initial encounter: a down-turned gaze, a hint of hesitancy at the beginning of some phrases. It’s the body language of someone who suspects this handsome young man can’t be trusted. The end of the first act is tricky: Giselle is driven mad when she discovers Albrecht is betrothed to another. Copeland doesn’t overplay the moment – her Giselle internalizes the pain rather than breaking into fluttering histrionics – and the effect is devastating.

Roberto Bolle, a veteran of the Milan company who is also an ABT principal dancer, is 42 but still boyish looking, and his physicality is as sharp-edged as ever, so it isn’t difficult to see him as an impetuous young prince on the verge of adulthood. His acting, though, resides in a different world than Copeland’s. Bolle is deeply schooled in classical ballet’s mime-heavy approach to role playing, and the contrast between his interpretive style and Copeland’s can be jarring at times.

Fortunately, Friday’s performance contained many other strengths and inspired performances. Nicoletta Manni made a captivating entrance at the top of the second act as Myrtha, Queen of the Willis. Vittoria Valerio and Antonino Sutera were fresh, charming and full of verve in the Peasant Pas de Deux. Members of the corps de ballet were precise and ethereal when the Willis descend to wreak havoc with the mournful prince.

This production is also lovely to look at. The late Yvette Chauviré, France’s greatest prima ballerina of the postwar years and a memorable Giselle herself at Teatro alla Scala, restaged the original choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, and her work seems crisp and concise yet faithful to 19th-century traditions. Aleksandr Benois’ sets and costumes for the 1910 Ballets Russes production have been artfully elaborated by Angelo Sala and Cinzia Rosselli. The second-act graveyard scene is wonderfully eerie, and the villagers’ costumes in the first act are a riot of rustic color.

Giselle

When: July 28. Next: 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 29, 1 p.m. Sunday, July 30

Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

Tickets: $29-$159

Call: 714-556-2787

Info: scfta.org

Saturday, July 29 

ADYA Culinary Demo: Join Chef Shachi Mehra, as she hosts a cooking demonstration on the Culinary Main Stage at the OC Fair. She will be teaching her audience how to make refreshing Watermelon Chaat. $12-$14. 3 p.m. 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. 714-708-1500 or ocfair.com

OC Meets Napa & Mexico Food and Wine Festival: Hosted by AltaMed OC, this tasting event will include wines from different wineries throughout Napa and Mexico. Guests can enjoy live music, food from the top latin restaurants in Orange County and a few entertaining surprises. All proceeds from this event benefit AltaMed OC Pediatrics and Breast Cancer Screenings. $125. 7-10 p.m. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 877-462-2582 or altamed.org

Tuesday, Aug. 1

Dinner with Chef Leo Razo: Enjoy an exclusive dining experience at Villa Roma Argentine and Italian Restaurant, in anticipation of Orange County’s first ever paella wine and beer festival. The menu, curated by Chef Leo Razo, includes paella mixta, an assortment of tapas, sangria and desserts, accompanied by live music. R.S.V.P. by Friday, July 28. Space is limited. 6-9 p.m. 25254 La Paz Road, Laguna Hills. 949-261-2216 or paellawinefest.com

Friday, Aug. 4

Franciscan Wine Blending Seminar: Enhance your knowledge and appreciation of wine by learning to blend your own. In this seminar hosted by winemaker Marla Caroll for Franciscan Estate Winery, guests will learn the processes involved in selecting varietals to produce the perfect wine. Attendees will also receive their own blending kit to take home. Seating is limited. $55. 3800 Plaza Drive, Santa Ana. 714-751-7153 or antonello.com

TORONTO — Troy Scribner saw his major league debut turn from a loss to win while he sat in the dugout.

The Angels scored three runs in the top of the ninth against All-Star closer Roberto Osuna, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 on Saturday afternoon.

Before the rally, Scribner had been on the hook for the loss after he gave up a tie-breaking two-run homer to Miguel Montero in the sixth. He tacked on two more scoreless innings, though, and that gave the Angels time to come back.

With one out in the ninth, Kole Calhoun singled. Martin Maldonado was then hit by a pitch. Ben Revere, who had entered as a pinch-hitter in the seventh, lined an RBI double into right, cutting the deficit to 5-4. With runners at second and third, Osuna then uncorked a wild pitch that tied the game.

Cliff Pennington then hit a fly ball to shallow center. Kevin Pillar, the Blue Jays outstanding center fielder, threw the ball just up the first-base line, allowing Revere to slide home safely.

Bud Norris worked a scoreless ninth to record the save, atoning for his meltdown earlier this week in Cleveland. Norris walked two, but escaped with a game-ending double play.

The Angels’ ninth-inning rally was their second comeback of the day. They trailed 3-0 before they scored three times in the sixth, two on a two-out single by Andrelton Simmons.

The late runs not only spared Scribner, but also Albert Pujols. Pujols went hitless in three at-bats, although he did walk and one of his outs was a line drive. Pujols is now hitless in his last 24 at-bats. The longest drought of his career was 0-for-26 last April.

Yusmeiro Petit started for the Angels, and he delivered four innings on 48 pitches, with just one unearned run. A reliever all season, Petit made a spot start in place of injured Alex Meyer.

More to come on this story.

ANGELS at BLUE JAYS

When: 10 a.m.

Where: Rogers Centre

TV: Fox Sports West

THE PITCHERS

ANGELS RHP JESSE CHAVEZ (5-10, 5.35)

vs. Blue Jays: 1-4, 6.27

At Rogers Centre: 1-2, 5.82

Hates to face: None

Loves to face: Kendrys Morales, 2 for 13 (.154)

BLUE JAYS RHP CESAR VALDEZ (1-0, 4.97)

vs. Angels: 0-0, 0.00

At Rogers Centre: 1-0, 1.50

Hates to face: None

Loves to face: None

DANA POINT — Josh Johnson’s two sons, 10 and 13, regularly play on a basketball court at the bottom of the slope in their backyard near Niguel Road.

But after Johnson discovered recently that homeless people had put up a small tent city on the other side of the fence, he asked his boys to stop using the court.

“I feel uncomfortable with people there,” said Johnson, 42, who operates senior living homes and bought his Dana Knolls house in 2005. “I don’t want my sons down there with people I don’t know.”

He said he often finds trash and debris in his yard. And a recent water bill rocketed from the usual $80 to $800 after someone from the homeless encampment climbed over the fence and left water running, he said.

At the July 18 City Council meeting, Johnson was one of dozens of frustrated residents who pleaded with city officials to get control of what they called the exploding homeless community in the city.

Homelessness in Dana Point is not new, but residents and business owners say they’ve seen the population more than double in the last few years. Homeless people are camping out in alley ways, public parks, county rights-of-way and now on private properties like Johnson’s, residents told the council. And they are using those properties as toilets, having sex there and dumping trash, residents said.

While many cities in Orange County are facing similar issues, Dana Point seems to be a target for the homeless in the south part of the county. The city’s hilly topography creates hidden shelters and the industrial area in Capistrano Beach is a popular camping spot — close to Doheny State Beach, which offers a comfortable place to rest during the day, according to city officials and support group leaders.

An increase in the number of sober-living homes in the area has created a pool of people who become homeless after they are evicted from the homes and settle in Dana Point, said Police Chief Lt. Russ Chilton. Like the owners of the multimillion dollar homes spread throughout Dana Point, many of them want to live near the beach.

Another big draw is the free meals provided daily by a faith-based group at Doheny, Chilton said.

“People come here for the climate and resources,” he said. “A recent shift in the criminal justice system forces us to give low-level drug offenders a ticket. The Affordable Care Act has given people access to drug and alcohol programs contributing to sober living homes. That was an unintended consequence.”

Police calls for service from 2014 to 2016 increased from 16,681 to 19,755, an 18 percent jump, officials said.

The issue has grown increasingly frustrating for city officials, who are in the midst of a plan to brand the city as a five-star destination that can compete for tourism with Laguna Beach.

Efforts are also under way to spruce up the downtown with a swanky Lantern District that includes fine dining, high-end condos and outdoor cafes. And the city has plans to overhaul Capistrano Beach’s Doheny Village — not to mention the $200 million revitalization of the Dana Point Harbor.

Mayor Debra Lewis asked Chilton to address the problem during a recent City Council meeting that lasted past 1 a.m.

Lewis shared complaints from residents and merchants in Doheny Village, on the border of Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano, who reported getting into physical altercations with the homeless.

“We understand these people need help,” Lewis said. “But residents and their children and businesses and customers all need to feel safe and free from aggressive behavior.”

Affecting resident quality of life

Linda Stites, who lives close to the harbor and a block from the Lantern District’s main drag, said the number of homeless living there has doubled in three years.

She said her house has been broken into twice in the last three months and her car window was smashed and briefcase and lap top taken.

“There are people sleeping next to my garage,” she said. “It creeps me out to walk down the alley when someone is sitting there tweaked out, staring and screaming at you.

“It’s turning into a mini Santa Ana and the cops are turning a blind eye,” she said.

Bill Downing, who lives near Stites, designs security for high-end companies and private clientele. Recently, he installed multiple cameras around his property and has offered footage and live feeds to local police.

Downing said he recently awoke to see a homeless man trying to break into his Porsche. Downing chased the man up Blue Lantern and along Pacific Coast Highway to near Cannon’s Restaurant but failed to catch him.

“It affects my sleep habits,” he said. “I’m always hearing things and reacting to it.”

Homeless population is growing

Chilton agreed the homeless population has increased, calling it a domino affect. Deputies post signs telling the homeless they must vacate campsites on city property and county agencies do the same on areas that belong to them. But that only prompts the homeless move on and relocate elsewhere in the city, he said.

“It’s a very challenging issue,” he said. “Depending on who you talk to, they are either derelicts or disabled. People in the community say you can arrest away the homeless situation but it’s not that easy.”

Chilton said he has added a full-time homeless liaison officer who partners with the Mercy House organization to better work with the homeless population.

On a recent tour around the city, Chilton stopped in to check on a few sites in Capistrano Beach that have been posted with signs telling the homeless to move on.

Jeffrey Barro, a 56-year-old former tile layer who is one of the elders in a community of about 60 homeless there, said he understands why residents and business owners complain about the influx of homeless in the city.

“I tell the young guys, ‘If you’re going to steal, don’t do it in Dana Point,” he said. “The merchants don’t want us anywhere near their stores and the kids are afraid of us.

“But not all of us are pedophiles,” he said. “Kids look at me like I’m a monster. I’m ashamed and embarrassed. I put the tile in a lot of these castles.”

Many homeless people are drawn by the free daily meals at Doheny, he said.

“You can go anywhere in California and they don’t feed you as good as they do here,” Barro said.

Tommy Waldo, a square-jawed 38-year-old who said he has been homeless on and off for 15 years, said he has sought out private properties in Dana Point.

“You’re hidden from the police and the public,” said Waldo, who now lives out of his car and has picked up work with a local contractor. “You won’t get your stuff stolen or go to jail. We come in late and stay quiet.”

What’s next?

On Wednesday, July 26, city officials held a task force meeting on homelessness. They discussed bringing in more homeless outreach support, pooling resources with surrounding cities and bringing a plan to the City Council at a future date. Representatives from the local VFW post 9934 discussed services to benefit homeless vets. The group will meet again on Aug. 30.

Chilton has told home and business owners to report trespassing violations. Mostly, the homeless agree to vacate once deputies arrive, he said. If they don’t, they are cited for trespassing, which frequently lands them in jail when it goes to a warrant, he said.

In the end, as in Johnson’s case, homeowners are left cleaning up their property, Chilton said.

When it comes to public property, deputies are required by law to put up a warning and give the homeless time to vacate.

Chilton points to organizations like Family Assisted Ministries of San Clemente and Mercy House that can help stop people from getting into the homeless cycle. This year FAM has helped find housing for 17 homeless people in Dana Point.

“People look to law enforcement to solve this issue,” he said. “But this is a community issue. It’s up to city leaders, faith-based leaders and the community. We all have to work collaboratively to move the needle.”

SHANGHAI – Couturissimo, the one-year-old brand backed by the Asian Couture Federation [ACF] and charged with a mission to democratize couture, formally introduced itself to Chinese consumers Friday with the launch of a pop-up store.
The week-long pop-up in Huaihai Road’s K11 Mall is designed to allow consumers an opportunity to get up close and personal with Couturissimo’s current season garments, which are normally available via the brand’s online platform but are also increasingly appearing at trunk shows, as well as boutique-in-boutique and pop-up concepts around Asia and the rest of the world.
According to the brand’s founder, Dr. Frank Cintamani, who is also founding president of the Asian Couture Federation, Couturissimo is looking to an online-to-offline strategy in order to attract a wider customer base. As well as K11, the brand is working with Lane Crawford in China and is also in talks with Harrods and Selfridges in London.
“For quite a while people have been debating what is better, offline or online. I think the answer is to have both positions, in an intelligent manner. I think brick and mortar has been challenged quite dramatically, so for us not to have to go straight into only standalone boutique, but working with retail

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

The chef’s new spot in The Connaught hotel is a study in relaxed luxury.

Skolorr opens its digital doors as a first-of-its-kind hub for online independent watch brand sales.

Let the imagination run rampant as your dream home manifests in the exclusive locale of an all-inclusive golf resort.