New York, NY., (June 7, 2011) – In celebration of GALAGA’s 30th anniversary, leading video game publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., today announced a partnership with Nolcha, an award-winning global platform advancing the business of independent fashion, to offer designers the opportunity to create t-shirts inspired by the iconic world of GALAGA.

Released for North America in 1981, GALAGA, the popular space arcade shooter, has proven to be an extremely successful franchise, with the original arcade version being ported to more than 20 different gaming systems. The partnership highlights that creativity can collaborate in varying diverse sectors and delivers the opportunity for fashion designers to enter the gaming world and be inspired by an iconic brand like GALAGA.

Submissions are being accepted until June 24 and can be completed by going to www.globalfashionbrands.com/galaga. Once the submissions close, a panel of gaming and fashion experts will select the top 10 designs. From there, it is up the public to vote for the winner. The winner and four runner-ups will have their designs sold via GlobalFashionBrands.com and exhibited at Nolcha Fashion Week: New York September 8-11, 2011. This design initiative brings independent fashion to a broader audience, connecting aspiring talent to a loyal community fan-base who will have the voting power of the shortlisted 10 designs.

According to NAMCO BANDAI Games’ Vice President of Marketing, Carlson Choi, “This is a great way to kick off Galaga’s 30th anniversary and drive awareness around the franchise. We have been heavily focused on our community and this contest is a great way to get our more than 5 million community fans involved.”
Kerry Bannigan, CEO of Nolcha, commented, “We are thrilled to give aspiring fresh talent the opportunity to design for an iconic brand. Bringing together the worlds of fashion and videogames gives designers yet another avenue to expand their creativity.”

The judging committee features David Blend, Editor, Thrillist; Andy Dunn, CEO, Bonobos; Carlson Choi, VP Marketing, NAMCO BANDAI Games America; Kerry Bannigan, CEO, Nolcha; and Libe Goad, Video Game and Gadget Editor.

For more information on how to enter the contest, please visit: www.globalfashionbrands.com/galaga. Additional GALAGA 30th anniversary products and promotions will be announced through the year. Up-to-date information can be found at http://www.facebook.com/galaga.

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About NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., part of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content — including all major video game consoles, iOS, mobile and online. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN®, Tekken®, SOULCALIBUR®, NARUTO™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, Dragon Ball®, GALAGA®, RIDGE RACER® and ACE COMBAT®. More information about the company and its products can be found at www.namcobandaigames.com or www.facebook.com/namco

About Nolcha
Nolcha is an award-winning leading global platform advancing the business of independent fashion designers and retailers via social e-commerce, New York and London fashion week events and an educational video portal. The company has a strong brand presence with its unique platform and receives positive recognition from world-renowned media outlets such as CBS, Forbes, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Smart money TV, and BBC. Nolcha is sponsored by globally renowned companies including Coca-Cola, Paul Mitchell, Aveda, American Airlines, Ask.co.uk, Macy’s, Escada Perfumes and Procter & Gamble. www.nolcha.com

Press Release © 2011 NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.

CONTACTS:
Kelly Loughlin
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
kloughilin@namcobandaigames.com

Rebecca Strong
Nolcha
rstrong@nolcha.com

Craig Sinel
fortyseven communications
craig@fortyseven.com

Also Seen Here: http://nolcha.com/news/230-namco-bandai-games-partners-with-nolcha-to-launch-galagar-30th-anniversary-t-shirt-collection

Your Facebook fans can now shop your collection right from your page without leaving Facebook.  We’ve included features such as product zoom, commenting, sharing, and more.  Take a look at Estela Balan’s store front below, and follow the simple 3 step instructions on implementation to your own store.

Store Home

View Product Page

Shopping Cart

Checkout Page

To get started on your own Facebook Store, follow these easy steps:

1. Go to our Sell Your Fashion Application Page on Facebook
2. Click “Add to My Page” on the lower left hand column, and select your Facebook Page (example image)
3. Go to your Facebook Page and click the “Shop Now” tab below your profile image; then enter your GFB Login credentials (example image)
4. Done! Now all of your products uploaded to your GFB Store are immediately available on your Facebook Page!

Don’t have a Global Fashion Brands Store yet?  Create your store for free here.

Tip: To help catalog your products, we’ve also added the Product Groups feature. Once you create your own unique groups, you can catalog your new (or existing) products at the bottom of the Add/Edit Product Admin Pages.

Please be sure to send us your Facebook Stores as examples!

The winning apparel line will have their own designated runway exhibition of ten looks accessorized by Maleku Jewlery. Package includes:

• Professional staff (on-site): event managers, fashion director, assistants to fashion director, lighting manager, sound and production staff, hair and make-up team, choreographer, security and dressers
• Registration and Guest Relations staff and on-site ushers
• Photography images of collection on catwalk
• Company name and live link on event website
• Company name included in PR campaign
• State-of-the-art venue
• Professional lighting throughout
• Professionally built catwalk
• Professional surround sound
• Changing and preparation area complete with clothing racks, clothing hangers, mirrors and make-up lights
• Professional Models from reputable New York City Modeling Agencies
• Professional Hair team
• Professional Make-up Team

About Nolcha Fashion Week: New York

Award Winning Nolcha Fashion Week: New York now in its 5^th year consists of runway shows, exhibition and industry networking events. Held simultaneously with New York Fashion Week and officially listed with Mercedes Benz Fashion Week as the two recognized Fashion Weeks in New York. Season after season Nolcha introduces a range of cost effective innovative options allowing press and retailers to preview brands from across the globe. The invite list consists of media, retailers and industry decision makers to assist designers recognition, building a sales network and growth within the New York fashion market. www.nolchafashionweek.com

How To Win:

• Send your GlobalFashionBrands.com store link to entry@globalfashionbrands.com
• If you are not yet selling on GlobalFashionBrands.com then sign up today in minutes
• Deadline: June 21st

Judges:

Kerry Bannigan | Nolcha CEO

British born Kerry Bannigan began her career in Public Relations and Marketing while completing her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Communications at Sheffield Hallam University.  With a background in marketing, events and brand management, Kerry co-founded Nolcha in 2006 creating an award winning global platform advancing the business of independent fashion designers and retailers via social e-commerce, fashion week events and an educational video portal. To continually grow the Nolcha vision Kerry integrates independent fashion into renowned enterprises via event, media and retail partnerships including Lucky Magazine, Vogue Bambini, Yelp, NY Post, Macy’s, Mandee and Ask.co.uk. Driven to create cost effective brand strategies for the independent fashion market Kerry has created landmark events in NYC, Chicago, Philadelphia and London including Nolcha Fashion Week: New York, The Ethical Fashion Preview and Independent Retail Week. She is regularly featured in the media discussing the independent fashion market including NBC, CBS, BBC, Smart Money TV and Wall Street Journal. Kerry is on the Board of New York Entrepreneur Week assisting to facilitate this week long event as well as manage media placement including Fox News, NBC and New York 1.

Twitter: missnolcha | www.nolcha.com

Ileana Rojas – Bennett | Maleku Jewelry Designer

Prominent Costa Rican Jewelry designer Ileana Rojas-Bennett is the force behind Maleku Jewelry, a line of chunky yet dazzling embellishments fashioned with the colors and textures of the tropical rainforest in mind. Ileana has participated in Nolcha Fashion Week: New York for several seasons and won the 2010 Beyond the Runway Award. She most recently was invited to the Latin Grammys celebrity lounge where she gifted the many artists before the awards ceremony. Fashion conscious women are now recognizing Maleku Jewelry as one of the most sought after emerging brands available.

www.malekujewelry.com | www.globalfashionbrands.com/MalekuJewelry

Maxine Trowbridge | Pink Memo, Founder and Editor in Chief

British born and American by choice, entrepreneur Maxine Trowbridge is the Founder of PinkMemo.com and refers to herself as a Britican. A dedicated Fashionista at an early age, and inspired by designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Thierry Mugler, and Rifat Ozbek, Max absorbed the fashion industry as her mantra.  After studying fashion design at the London College of Fashion, Max spent four years designing for an established British luxury fashion house – Mansfield, a collection coveted by Princess Diana.  Arriving in the USA over 14 years ago, Max began her journey and love for the Internet by capitalizing on the dot-com boom, and debuted a women’s sportswear collection and online store in 2000. As the dot-com boom crashed, Max joined Ocean Drive Magazine, where she promoted the glossy publication through marketing and product licensing. From London, Palm Beach and Miami Beach, Max moved to Dallas with her husband Ben in 2003 and collaborated her passion for the Internet, marketing and fashion, and created the concept for PinkMemo.com.  With three pets – Macarthur the Sheltie, and cats Mr. Big, and Ms. Muffin, Max supports the SPCA, and is an avid supporter of the local fashion and art community as a Board Member for the Dallas Contemporary, and Fashion Group International of Dallas.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/maxtrowbridge | www.pinkmemo.com

Jaimen | Lucky Style Spotter

Brad Redding | Co-Founder of Global Fashion Brands and CEO of Boutique Savvy

Brad lives and works out of Washington, D.C. and has been involved in the independent retail business since 2008 building MYiLIVE, a personal shopping website with retailers and boutiques from across the country. Brad continued to grow in the retail sector expanding to create Boutique Savvy which offers a wide variety of web-based services to the retail world.  Brad will bring his unique eye for fashion to the judges panel.

Who: Jennifer Margolin (of RedSoleDiary.com)

About: Fashion stylist & creative consultant, Jennifer Margolin specializes, in fashion styling, wardrobe refinement & management and trend forecasting. Jennifer’s life-long love affair with fashion began when she opened her first copy of Vogue while still in elementary school. Since then, her passion to find new trends and designers – and her self-proclaimed addiction to shoes – has only grown.

She has been featured in publications such as WWD, San Francisco Chronicle, StyleBistro and more. She has styled and worked with international companies such as WWDMAGIC, Teen Vogue, French Connection, and Levi’s among others.

Never afraid to make a statement, Jennifer has a welcoming personality and a discerning eye for fashion that she’s always willing to share. Jennifer is founder and creator of RedSoleDiary.com, a fashion website offering the latest fashion news and styling tips.

Gay Boyer designs and manufactures costume jewelry for sophisticated women who love great style and appreciate quality craftsmanship. Their jewelry is made in the U.S. from materials found all over the world.

Shop and learn more about Gay Boyer

Who: Beba Zeva (blogger) – Fated to be Hated (Blog)

About: Teen Vogue Fashion Blogger Beba Zeva, is fairly new to blogging when starting after undergoing an epiphany when realizing showing people her outfits wasn’t nearly as inspiring as sharing the story behind them.  Most of her outfits fall into specific themes that require explanation and emphasis. Instead of providing a simple picture without words, she wanted to provide a flowery description of her influences and intentions.

GlobalFashionBrands.com Must Have: Adolfo Sanchez. Shop it here

About Bel Esprit

Bel Esprit is the showcase for international designers of responsible fashion. From couture to streetwear, avant-garde to casual, Bel Esprit brings together cutting edge, contemporary designers whose collections respect the world and its inhabitants, and support causes that work towards a beautiful world.

Shop Bel Esprit here.

Who: Hilla Ohayon (blogger) – Hilla Ohayon (Blog)

About: Currently working as a Director of New Media at Sense Of Fashion, which is a wonderful marketplace for emerging fashion designers, Hilla also works as a freelancer for start-ups and companies as a new media strategist and consultant. Hilla also she works with several fashion brands, designers, startups and companies, creating their internet presence, online branding and digital marketing strategies and implementations.

Hilla is a journalist, writing about fashion for one of Israel’s biggest daily newspapers called Haaretz. You can find links to her articles published on the online version of it’s occasionally updated on my portfolio or as it’s being posted on her blog.

GlobalFashionBrands.com Must Have: Anavaa Kisasa. Shop it here

RESTORE Clothing creates simple and sophisticated apparel with versatility for living life. Our products are kind to the environment and help sustain American industry and economy. Since 1994 the companies have grown into a larger enterprise that now designs, sources and develops custom private label active wear programs for retail fashion as well as the health and wellness industries.

Shop and learn more about RESTORE Clothing