http://cottoninc.com

The cotton industry has taken a pounding from the economy and environmentalists lately, but the organization dedicated to its survival effectively employs a web site to further its cause. Cotton Inc. launched www.cottoninc.com in 1997, and since then, the site has evolved to become an educational tour and portal for those researching and designing with this popular fabric.

Some helpful features for students and designers include:

• Textile Encyclopedia complete with videos for each entry
• “Did you know?” section which offers the origin of denim, corduroy, and t-shirts
• THE COTTONWORKS® Global Fabric Library - an international cotton sourcing directory
• Cotton Sustainability page which details cotton's effect on the environment
• Lifestyle Monitor articles' survey-based reporting on consumer attitudes and behavior

Despite advances in performance fabrics, cotton will likely endure as a favorite fabric for designers. San Francisco native and fashion designer Alexander Wang worked with Cotton to develop Storm Denim, a finish that makes denim water-repellant, but still breathable. And Shipley & Halmos, inspired by “deliberate simplicity, basic geometrics, raw material” for their Fall 2009 collection, will be using Storm Cotton, another water-repellant finish. If you're interested in finding out which other designers are using cotton innovations in their collections, log on to cottoninc.com.

Reviewed by Library Staff Member - Kirstie Harless - S.F.

The book Paper Illusions is amazing and astounding.

It reflects the exquisite paper art of Isabelle de Borchgrave, an artist and designer from Belgium. She has devoted herself with passion to dresses, shoes, accessories, and objects made of paper. Paper has been transformed into visions of beautiful clothing. She cuts, folds, paints and glues her paper costumes, creating illusions of fabric such as renaissance - era brocades, silks, lace and trims. Every single detail, buttons, brooches, jewelry and even hairdos, hats, and vases are made of paper.

This book demonstrates how paper is a magical material. From our childhood years, we express our imaginations with the help of paper. We turn paper into new shapes, we color it or cover it with numbers, letters and symbols. We use it for newspapers, tissue paper, wallpaper, note books and for printing money.

Isabelle de Borchagrave knows all the secrets of paper: how it crackles and rustles, how to fold and paint it. She's an illusionist who uses pencils, paint, pastels and brushes to make us believe that we see a real garment in front of us.

This book is a visual feast. The vivid photographs by René Stoeltie make you literally breathe in the atmosphere. He placed the period costumes into real settings. Beautiful parks and rococo castles provide the background for this book which is a celebration of creativity, color, beauty and elegance.

Reviewed by Library Staff Member - Kristine Upesleja