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If it’s the Monday of Milan Fashion Week, it also means that the Financial Times has published its regular supplement on The Business of Fashion. We’re a couple of days late, so in case you missed it, here is a link to a PDF of the entire supplement available on the FT’s Partnership Publishing site.

Amongst the best reads are a fascinating article by Josh Sims featuring a brand that I have come to know well in recent times, Clemens en August. Founder Alexander Brenninkmeijer ably describes the counter-intuitive, but successful business model that underpins this innovative company. Another article, on A Bathing Ape, asserts that the Japanese streetwear company has a 98% sell-through on its goods and suggests they might be looking for an investor.

I also made my own contribution to the supplement in an article exploring the short- and longer-term potential of the Indian luxury market. I was fortunate to speak to Yves Carcelle of Louis Vuitton, Patrick Thomas of Hermes, Amin Jaffer of Christies, Mohan Murjani of the Murjani Group, Priya Tanna of Vogue India and the French jewelry designer Marie Helene de Taillac, to get their expert points of view from inside and outside the sub-continent.

So what’s the quick verdict? Is India going to be the next China? The answer appears to be ‘not just yet’.

Main Styles

Gothic Lolita

Probably the most common lolita style. The traditional blackxwhite scheme is very recognizable, but not all gothic lolita is black and white. This style incorporates the darker colors and themes (like cross motifs and veils) from Western goth into the more adorable lolita style to produce a very unique style that takes a lot of practice to perfect. So it’s darker than sweet lolita, but much sweeter than Western goth. Most lolitas start off with this style because it much easier to find gothic items locally and it’s very easy to coordinate. But be aware that Gothic Lolita is nt a substyle of Goth fashion, though it incorporates some of its elements.

This style may also be called ‘loli-goth’, ‘goth-loli’, ‘Elegant Gothic Lolita’ or ‘EGL’, but these terms are somewhat misleading, though they are commonly used so be aware. Some people also consider Gothic Lolita a coverall term for lolita fashion, probably because of the Gothic Lolita Bibles, but this is also misleading because many lolita styles possess no gothic elements.

Sweet Lolita

The second most common lolita style and definitely one of the cutest and most colorful. It has all the traditional lolita elements but with a more wider choice of colors, like light pinks, baby blues, deep red, deep blue, black, and even sometimes colors like lavender, canary yellow and mint green. This is also where you’ll find the most fluff and frill. Other popular colors used might be deep reds, deep blues. Lolita brands that sells Sweet Lolita clothing might often have themes, such as fairy tales (i.e.: Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Snow White, etc.), cupcakes, fruits, and other sweets, puppies and kitties, and fragrances.

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Just recently, it was suggested to a friend of mine that her high-school sophomore consider taking a few “voc-ed” classes. It was said behind closed doors in the principal’s office, almost whispered, as though it was a disgraceful prospect. Naturally, my friend recoiled at the thought.

But she shouldn’t have. A growing trend shows that these non-traditional classes may just be the first step in a successful, hand-on career, such as fashion design. If you’re in high-school, and you think you might even be remotely interested in the world of fashion, I would seek out one of these classes, stat.

Why? Because while you spend your days learning complex equations and why economic policy matters, the non-traditional, “voc ed” classes let you get your hands on real product and process, thus giving you a peek into what life will be like when you’re doing it full-time, or in a fashion internship.

For a long time, “voc-ed” classes have been for the students that haven’t done very well in traditional classrooms, relegated to hours of auto mechanics or baking; but as high-technology and “blue-collar” jobs begin to intertwine, these classes are less for the select few, and more for anyone who wants to try something new.

For example, take Monica Matthai, an honors student at Athens Drive High School who had big plans to become an orthodontist. But one semester in a clothing design class that was meant to “give her a break from her rigorous course load,” and she was smitten with the thread and needle.

Guess who’s not going to dental school?

Truly a unique way to gain insight into life beyond the high-school campus, these classes go beyond the mighty thread and needle. They also offer glimpses into fields like biochemistry. But, of course, that is not our focus here at Fashion-Fox.

We’ve mentioned before what a travesty it is to skip the fashion internship all together, and this is a great way to get your feet wet before you even hit the internship-finding-pavement. Your high school doesn’t offer classes such as these? Check your local adult education and see what they’ve got; I’d be willing to bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised.