Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.trends,americast.usa-today.trends From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: trends Thu, Aug 20 1992 Date: Thu, 20 Aug 92 04:20:23 EDT Message-ID: 08-20 0000 DECISIONLINE: Trends & Marketing USA TODAY Update Aug. 20, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network REALITY-BASED FILMS HIT HOME: The latest trend in Hollywood is reality-based films. New on the scene is "Single White Female," which follows in the fiendish footsteps of "Hand That Rocks the Cradle" and "Unlawful Entry," as well as earlier efforts "Fatal Attraction" (lethal tryst) and "Pacific Heights" (tenant terror). REALITY FILMS NOT AS COSTLY: People can relate movies like "Single White Female" to their own lives, says Martin Grove, film analyst of The Hollywood Reporter. As scare tactics go, reality-based goosebumps appeal to a broader audience than teen-oriented horror like the "Friday the 13th" and "A Nightmare on Elm Street" series. Plus, they use fewer costly effects. `ECO STYLE' IS FASHION WAVE: The wave to environmental responsibility has taken a new turn. A few mainstream companies have started mixing eco style into their fashion pot. Esprit, Girbaud and Levi's are just a few brands that have an eco line made from unbleached and undyed cotton. Still, the natural-colored fabric comes in only one color - that tannish beige known as ecru. Wearable Integrity is trying to change that. (For more, see special Earth package below.) HOTELS CHECK OUT OF CHECK-INS: Hilton Hotels is joining Marriott Hotels by offering an express check-in program. Marriott said it will begin phasing out front-desk check-ins this fall. By years end, most guests won't have to sign a registration form when they arrive at most of Marriott's 233 hotels. Instead, the information will be collected when reservations are made. Hilton's program will be launched next week. ANOTHER NICOTINE PATCH OK'D: A fourth nicotine skin patch to help people stop smoking has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Nicotrol, sold by the Parke-Davis Division of Warner-Lambert, is now available by prescription. It's aimed at 17 million Americans who try to quit smoking every year. All four patches allow nicotine to seep into a person's blood through the skin, lessening cravings. RECESSION TRAVELS ABROAD: The USA isn't the only country affected by layoffs, cutbacks and temporary shutdowns. Japan, land of corporate anthems and company loyalty, is also being hit. On Wednesday, Oki Electric Industry said it will cut 2,000 jobs by March 1995. Electronics giant Hitachi reportedly plans to furlough 2,200 workers, at 90% pay, for four days this fall. MULTIPLYING FAXES: More people are faxing. Dataquest projects the number of fax machines bought in the USA to more than double by 1995. There are more than 2 million fax machines in the USA now. Dataquest expects nearly 5 million fax machines will be sold by 1995. GO TO HOSPITAL IN STYLE: A marketer has come up with jewelry to be used for identification in the event you end up unconscious at the hospital. The jewelry is embossed with the winged caduceus, the universally recognized medical symbol. An insert folds out and bears the wearer's name, personal physician's name, blood type and HIV status, and other information. Call 1-800-678-3031 to order. COURT VIOLENCE SPOTLIGHTED: On Friday's "20:20" (10 ET:PT), ABC's Bob Brown reports on a frightening trend: Shootings during civil cases in courthouses. Actually, the number of incidents is small considering the 20 million civil cases a year that are processed. But a Virginia judge tells Brown that since metal detectors were installed seven years ago in his courthouse, police have seized 15,000 weapons. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON EARTH: EARTH LOOK GROWS: Every piece in Wearable Integrity's debut collection is made from cotton that has been organically grown - no pesticides, herbicides or fungicides. The cotton is tinted with non-toxic dyes. There are also some pieces done in FoxFibre, a fabric that gets its earthy heather hue genetically while it grows. More genetic colors are being developed. COLORS `DON'T LOOK DYED': "The colors, even the dyed ones, look like you just picked the flowers," says Sondra Hughes, owner of Sondra's, a Lake Arrowhead, Calif., a women's clothing store. "They don't look dyed." Hughes is also impressed with the quality and weave of the fabric and the cut and style of the garments. The collection features shorts, pants, long skirts, short skirts, dresses, jackets and tops. SHIPMENT TO HIT STORES SOON: Wearable Integrity founders Mark and Barbara Lesser put their design experience into the creation of the collection. The couple previously founded and operated the Felicity line for 10 years. Barbara calls her designs "classics with a twist." The first shipment will be delivered to more than 200 stores nationwide sometime in this month. (End of package.) Trends & Marketing Editor: Michele Coleman. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM