It seems an appropriate time for Christian Dior to be going east with its Christian Dior and Chinese Artists Exhibit as Western economies scramble and China's impressive mastery of capitalism growing stronger each quarter. After all China owns most of America's debt so why not focus a grand new exhibit on the inspirations of China to help encourage a new generation of aspirational Chinese consumers. The Christian Dior and Chinese Artists Exhibit exhibit will focus on the greater inspirations of the Far East on the house of Dior.

According to WWD, The show will feature more than 20 specially commissioned works — many of them large scale — alongside some of the Dior originals that inspired them, from archival dresses by the founding couturier and John Galliano to fine jewelry by Victoire de Castellane, men’s wear by Kris Van Assche, perfumes and accessories. It will include video works, photography, paintings, sculptures and a garden like installation, interspersed with dresses, sketches and photos from the Dior archive, with an accent on dresses by Christian Dior himself and Galliano, couturier since 1997.

Works include a 23-foot-high Lady Dior bag made of a lattice of fluorescent tubes by Li Song Song, a giant portrait of Galliano by Zhang Dali composed of Dali’s pseudonym AK-47 and a re-creation of the couture atelier in white porcelain by Liu Jianhua

The exhibit will begin on November 15th at Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art in Beijing. Galliano told WWD "I love travel, I love to mix cultures and influences. I find that such a potent source of inspiration and I find the exotic grace and appeal of Asia endless. I was thrilled that we were able to not only take influence, but inspire influences, and I love the collaborations and synergy between the two."

We say clever clever Bernard Arnault for stoking the interests of consumers in easy to churn out Lady Dior handbags. This will sure keep those share prices from being dragged down by the market. Luxury shouldn't have to suffer with the rest of the plebians we say. Just move on to a new market!

Payless ShoeSource announced today plans to launch the first-ever affordable green footwear line due in stores early next year and that it has signed an agreement with Summer Rayne Oakes to serve as the green footwear brand's Eco Consultant. Oakes is the Discovery Network's Planet Green fashion and beauty expert and author of Style, Naturally: The Savvy Shopping Guide to Sustainable Fashion & Beauty.

The greening of fashion across the board has led to significant increases in interest and sales in the category and Payless throwing their hat into the ring is sure to have as big an impact as Wal-Mart's decision to begin selling organic cotton tee-shirts when it became the biggest buyer of organic cotton in the world virtually overnight.

We appreciate that they did not go the Te Casan route and latch onto a celebrity but instead signed with a genuinely respected member of both the green and fashion communities.

According to the press release: The new brand is a key part of Payless' mission and strategy to democratize fashion, design and new ideas in footwear and accessories and to position Payless as a "House of Brands" retailer, offering well-recognized, fresh new brands -- all at a great price. The new line is unique not only as the first-ever affordable green footwear, but also because it will stress fashion first, while being eco-smart.

While no images of the collection are yet available we certainly hope it will manage to be both stylish and eco-friendly.

Its time for another edition of its always fashion week somewhere with both Los Angeles, Seoul Montreal and two India Fashion Weeks on our radar

Seoul Fashion Week begins on Saturday at Seoul Trade Exhibition Center. Womenswear designers showing include Song Jain, Gee Choon-hee, Lee Young-hee, An Yoon-jung and Cho Sung-kyon. Noticeably absent from Seoul Fashion Week are top designers like Rubina, Lie Sang-bong, Son Jung-wan and the rest of the members of the Seoul Fashion Artists Association (SFAA). A rift between the organizers and the SFAA has once again resulted in the association's non-participation in the event.

The LA Times says Los Angeles Fashion Week is failing because its too much in the mold of New York Fashion Week success is a front row stocked with retail buyers and New York magazine editors. Really? Our front rows are filled with editors and buyers. Here we thought the celebrities were displacing the important people. You know the ones that buy and promote clothing to the public.

Montreal Fashion Week kicks off today with the week focusing on both charity and commerce.

Delhi Fashion Week and India Fashion Week start next week and the hope is for high hemlines.

In other fashion news Takashima and H20 Retailing are planning a merger

Buying into mills is the new way to shore up your supply chain with Baruffa and Brooks Brother both buying into a Scottish cashmere mill.

Sir Philip Green has shown interest in making a deal with Baugur the Icelandic retail investment company behind Karen Millen and House of Fraser.