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Kavita Daswani

If the people on your Christmas list have enough pashmina shawls to last a lifetime, but still enjoy enveloping themselves in an exotic wrap, here is a new option: the pashum shah.

 These are shawls made from the same fine wool as pashminas (from the Capra hircus goat), but woven to replicate the look of the illegal shahtoosh shawls. The weave is light and delicate, and is known officially in India as chasme bul bul.

 The trend was given a major boost last week when a socialite, with a store in Central, began selling the product, calling it 'the legitimate next best thing to shahtoosh'. Another company is holding a two-day exhibition, starting tomorrow at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, with the focus on pashum shah. Solid and shaded varieties will be on offer, with selected items heavily discounted.

 For details, e-mail fnr@hotmail.com or call 2721 8166.

Going, going . . .

This rocking horse (pictured) is among an exhibition of designer toys scheduled to go under the hammer at a charity auction organised by New York-based magazine Visionaire.

 The rocking horse, of natural bridle leather, was designed by Jean-Louis Dumas Hermes, chairman of luxury brand Hermes. Bids for it are expected to start at US$10,000 (HK$77,700).

 To see what else is on offer, e-mail the Visionaire Gallery at galleryvisionaire world.com, or call 212 2749964. The event runs through to January 15.

Age of inspiration Hong Kong's next Fashion Week, not surprisingly, will have a strong millennial feel.

 'There's no better way to raise the curtain on a new millennium than by staging a total fashion experience that is bigger and better than the 1999 show,' said C S Lee, director of exhibitions of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), which is organising Hong Kong Fashion Week for autumn/winter 2000-2001.

 'We look forward to the new millennium with an extraordinary upbeat note set against a background of rising optimism and confidence.' Running from January 17 to 20 at its usual home, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event will feature a packed schedule of events, seminars and designer shows.

 Designer Walter Ma is calling his collection 'Colouring The Millennium'. He says colour - shades of green, pink and orange - will be the focal point of his line, which will include loose knit tops and comfy fabrics such as mohair, angora and suede.

 Rib Yeung's collection, meanwhile, is inspired by the idea of rebirth. 'With the use of vibrant colours with cotton, knit and nylon, I aim to introduce an alternative to the three-dimensional textured cutting and styling forms of the past.'  For more information, check out the Web site www.hkfashionfw.com or contact Winny Siu of the HKTDC at 2240 4030.



Shahtoosh copy but strictly legal