PARIS, Oct 17, 2004/ FW/ --- In a show that reminds us all who have material possessions not to forget those who suffer and who have not, fashion house Xuly Bėt consolidated its own return to the Paris runways with an urban collection devoted to the beauty of Africa and to its children.

The show began with a yellow tee shirt dress in tie-dye, which was followed by a blue skirt and jacket ensemble in blue-green and covered in stars.

Xuly Bėt’s tie-around-the-neck, backless dress in multi-coloured print is exactly what urbanites will be wanting for their summer parties. And once they’ve been seen in it, they will then want to switch over and wear Xuly Bėt’s tie around-neck, mid thigh length dress with its eight inch elastic and gathered band finish. A similar look is done with a V-neck.

Two pregnant models, one of which is local model and runway star, Djariata, proves that Xuly Bėt’s style is a sexy and realistic alternative for first to mid-second trimester mothers-to-be. The dresses move gracefully and liberate these women from the horror of lacklustre and unstylish maternity clothes. Not since the early 1990s when the ex-supermodel Beverly Peele saw her own nude silhouette sculptured have pregnant women been shown in such a naturally desirable way.

The white angled ends and off-the-shoulder shirt bears the house’s trademark red thread detailing. When one sees either it or the deep blue-black jacket and pants ensemble which too bears the trademark, one will automatically say, “Now that is Xuly Bėt!”

The A-line wrap skirt, along with the majority of the other garments done in traditional and colourful African fabrics, represents the cultural marriage between Africa and the West.

The low-rise skirt in denim is the first of its kind seen on the Paris runways. What is now clear to me is that no self-respecting banjee Latina, or ghetto-fabulous “Shamecka-girl” or high rolling white chick will be ever able to resist its urban appeal. For them, it is the undisputable summer must-have!

The house’s swimwear was a wonderful surprise too. While most are printed one piece numbers, some do have Xuly Bėt plastered all over them. However, the most stunning is certainly the one-piece number in gold.

And finally Xuly Bėt’s knee-knockers and black & white hot pants all deserve notable praise from this critic. However, I respectfully take my hat off to his green and yellow leaf printed, long shirtdress with short sleeves and to his hooded wrap dress ą la Diane von Furstenberg. They have superb lines and look great as when set in motion.