NC State University’s 2006 Continuing Education Schedule: The next courses scheduled through the end of March are: “Nonwovens Manufacturing Process Fundamentals” - March 20-24; and “Design for Six Sigma” – March 28-31. Most of the courses are held on NCSU’s Centennial Campus. To view the entire 2006 schedule or if you are interested in registering for one of these courses, visit www.ContinuingEducation.NCSU.edu.
Prime Source, a new networking event for the international apparel industry, will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from March 28-31. The 2-day forum will bring together 200 participants who have significant influence in shaping the future of the International apparel industry. Participation is by invitation only and has been targeted at high-level representatives from apparel brand owners, retailers, importers and manufacturers, as well as ministerial-level government officials from apparel importing and producing countries.
The 4-day trade show will be the venue where senior management of large importers and retailers, buying and purchasing offices of major brands, executives of brand label manufacturers, and merchandisers can meet with service providers. These exhibiting companies will introduce their production capabilities and strengths to buyers, allowing both to gain new, high-level business contacts and to meet with companies that can provide solutions to improve business. Find out more about the forum at www.internationalapparelforum.com. Find out more about the trade show at www.primesourcetradeshow.com.
Dallas Market Center Show – The Men’s & Boys’ Apparel Market and the Women’s & Children’s Apparel and Accessories show will be held at the Dallas Market Center in Dallas, TX March 30 – April 2. Dallas Market Center, the largest wholesale merchandise resource in the world as recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records, is the one location where retailers from around the globe source a wide range of products including textiles, fashion accessories and women's, men's, children's and western apparel. With more than 50 markets each year attended by more than 200,000 buyers, Dallas Market Center offers an array of services geared toward helping retailers expand business & increase profits. Additional 2006 show dates: June 1-4, August 17-20, and October 26-29. For more detailed information, visit www.dallasmarketcenter.com.
2006 Seattle Trend Show – Show dates for 2006 have been released for the Seattle Trend Shows. This show is a regional tradeshow for the Pacific Northwest, featuring women’s, children’s and men’s apparel and accessories. For 65 years this show has served independent retailers from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and British Columbia. The shows will be held at the Qwest Field Event Center in Seattle, Washington. Dates are as follows: March 31-April 3, June 10-12, August 5-7 and October (TBD). For more information about this show, contact Patricia Hodges, Executive Director, Pacific Northwest Apparel Association: T – 206-767-9200, F – 206-767-0707, E – pnaa@earthlink.net, W – www.seattletrendshow.com.
Florida Fashion Focus – An upscale, open-booth trade show offering the latest trends in ladies’ apparel and accessories. Florida Fashion Focus brings wholesalers and retailers together in a professional environment designed to provide the optimal buying experience. This industry show will be held at the Sheraton Miami Mart Hotel and Convention Center in Miami, FL on April 1-3. Visit www.floridafashionfocus.com for additional information.
Material World Show – Material World will have two shows in 2006: April 4-6 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, FL and September 26-28 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York, NY. “From Design to Delivery, the Premier Global Trade Event for the Sewn Products Industries.” Additional information can be found at www.material-world.com.
TÜYAP Fairs and Exhibitions Organization Inc. will organize the 4th International Istanbul Yarn Fair between the dates April 05 – 09, 2006 at Tüyap Fair, Convention and Congress Center, Beylikdüzü - Istanbul – Turkey . Simultaneously with the above fairs and at the same location, 23 th International Knitting, Embroidery, Hosiery Machines, Side Industry and Chemicals Fair will be organized in cooperation with TEMSAD Textile Machinery and Accessories Industrialists Association.
PAM Trading Corp ( Greensboro NC ) and Santoni spa ( Brescia Italy ) are conducting an event in Greensboro NC "Santoni Seamless Days" April 4th, 5th and 6th 2006 at PAM Trading. For questions please contact: Alan Parker Exec VP PAM Trading Corp 336-668-0901 ext 106 aparker@pamtrading.com
Lane Bryant Rolls Out New Plus Size Lingerie Stores Nationwide; The ''Victoria's Secret'' for Plus Sizes Has Arrived; Cacique(R) Lingerie Stores for Women Sizes 12-28 Open 50 New Stores in 2006: Plus-size women searching for a complete lingerie wardrobe now have their very own store. Lane Bryant, the nation's largest women's plus-size specialty apparel retailer, is proud to announce its new Cacique(R) intimate apparel stores featuring the latest styles and trends in lingerie and sleepwear for women sizes 12-28 opening across the country.
On March 15th, the seventh Cacique(R) store opened in Reno , Nevada kicking off the plus retailer's 2006 plan to open fifty new stores this year. The new Cacique(R) stores offer plus-size women a shopping experience specifically created for them. Larger dressing rooms with flattering lighting and tri-fold mirrors allow customers to view themselves from every angle ensuring proper fit. A special 'fitting salon' has been created offering a private, convenient and comfortable space where trained associates assist in fine tuning lingerie selections. The feminine, romantic, boudoir-esque decor creates an atmosphere where the long-underserved plus customer can feel comfortable, find beautiful lingerie that fits her body, and enjoy a sensual shopping experience.
Ludhiana's Hosiery Units Attract French Buyers: A group from French Exporters Textile Federation known as ‘La Federation' visited the city's local woolen knitwear units, under a CII-European Federation of Textile initiative, and discussed the modalities of business exchanges to source knitwear products directly from the city. “I have come to know that Ludhiana is well known for manufacturing a wide range of high fashion products such as cardigans, pullovers, jerseys etc. That is why I decided to come to this city for seeing the knitwear products which could be sourced from here for the members of our federation,” international manager of La Federation Anne Laure Lingetsaid.
French buyers are now eyeing Indian and Chinese industry for meeting their textile and apparel requirements. ‘La Federation', with its membership between 200 and 600 across France, was hoping to source knitwear products from either India or China, Linget said. Considering the region's expertise in knitwear industry, chances were high that the federation would decide to source materials from India rather than China, she added.
Fashion Bug Offers Lucky Plus-Size Teen the Prom of a Lifetime: Fashion Bug, the 1,100-store chain that features on-trend fashion at affordable prices for plus, missy and junior size women as well as girls and maternity, is offering one lucky teenage girl the chance to have her dream prom. High school girls, sizes 16-24 can enter Fashion Bug's "The Best Prom Ever" Contest at Fashion Bug stores nationwide or online at http://www.fashionbug.com now through March 24, 2006. The lucky winner will receive a trip to Philadelphia where she will get to pick out a glamorous Fashion Bug prom dress as well as accessories, lingerie and shoes for the perfect prom night look. She will also receive a $250 gift check for salon services and a round-trip limo ride on the day of her prom. "Prom is such an important event in a young girl's life," says Diane Paccione, president of Fashion Bug. "This contest gives one lucky plus-size teen the chance to have the night of her dreams. We are going to make sure that she looks amazing, feels amazing and has the best prom ever."
One second and one third prize winner will each receive a $100 and $50 Fashion Bug gift certificate respectively. High school girls, ages 15-19, can enter by visiting either their local Fashion Bug store or http://www.fashionbug.com for an entry form. Each entrant must write a 200-word essay describing why she feels she deserves to have the "Best Prom Ever" and submit two color photos of herself, one head-shot and one full-length. All entries must be received by March 24, 2006.
Sock Maker, PBA on 20th Year as Partners: Burlington, the socks authority, and the Philippine Basketball Association mark their 20th year of partnership with the staging of the 3rd season of the Junior PBA League in April. This was announced by Ruddy Tan, general manager of Burlington Industries Philippines Inc., the country's leading hosiery firm that has just come out with another innovative product, Bio Fresh Anti-Microbial socks after the successful launching of Shocks XT.
“We are proud to be the PBA's partner in discovering the new Espinos, Aquinos, Alvarezes, Ildefonsos and Tugades,” said Tan, the RP Youth team benefactor since 2002. Burlington's tie-up with Asia's first-ever professional cage league started in 1986 when the socks trend-setter agreed to be the sponsor of PBA “Mr. 100 Percent” Norman Black's on-air basketball clinic, a segment of the TV coverage. The Burlington portion was awarded a special citation by the Catholic Mass Media Awards, Philippine Sports-writers Association and Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines for its pioneering effort. Later, the PBA named Burlington as the league's official socks while Black became an image model-endorser of the No.1 brand. Black, who now coaches the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles, is the tourney commissioner.
Oakland Raiders' Randy Moss continues to excel on the field and add to his Hall of Fame Career, one of NFL's hottest wide receivers (Moss, a.k.a. The Grabman), is now excelling in the fashion industry with the launch of his two new clothing lines: The Randy Moss Collection, an up-scale, active lifestyle line, of blazers, woven button-downs, collard polo shirts and hooded sweatshirts; and The Grabman by Randy Moss, an athletic apparel line of t-shirts, jerseys, athletic shorts, fitted hat, track suits, socks, head, wrist bands and accessories.
Success Alert Ventures are proud to announce the release of their new book "Conversations with Successful Internet Entrepreneurs" which presents interviews and detailed case studies of 11 unique and highly enterprising web entrepreneurs. What is unique about all the entrepreneurs interviewed is that they all started their businesses from home, they each became profitable within 1 year of the start-up date and each have exploited some highly unusual niche markets. One example is of a Swiss entrepreneur who makes an excellent living selling black socks to men and women in a subscription format. i.e. customers receive their socks on a monthly or quarterly basis via post. Given that socks are essentially a consumable item he has successfully leveraged this into a multimillion dollar business.
CITA Denies NCTO Short Supply Petition on Ring-Spun Yarns
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has denied a petition filed by the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) requesting that CITA revoke a short supply designation under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) and the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA). The NCTO alleged that a substitutable product for certain compacted, plied, ring-spun cotton yarns, with yarn counts in the range from 42 to 102 metric, classified under HTSUS 5205.42.0020, 5205.43.0020, 5205.44.0020, 5205.46.0020 and 5205.47.0020, can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. However, CITA has determined that these yarns cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and that the NCTO has not substantiated that ring-spun yarns currently produced by the domestic industry are substitutable for the subject yarns.
Time Limited on Adding Provisions to Miscellaneous Tariff Bill:
On March 15, the House of Representatives passed the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2006 (H.R. 4944), commonly called the miscellaneous tariff bill, by a vote of 412 to 2. The package contains numerous trade provisions, primarily duty suspensions or reductions for imports of products that are not made domestically. Companies interested in lowering or eliminating the import duties they pay on goods not included in the House bill may still have time to do so. The Senate is likely to take up the House-passed measure and amend it with provisions sponsored by individual senators, usually at the request of companies located in their states.
Hayes Pursues Expansion of “Made In America”:
Robin Hayes filed a bill Tuesday night that would require the Department of Homeland Security to buy American when it comes to materials related to national security. Such requirements -- outlined in the so-called Berry Amendment -- currently cover only the Pentagon and the Coast Guard. Besides uniforms, the bill would apply to items such as tents, cots and specialty metals used for military medals. Among co-sponsors: Reps. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., John Spratt, D-S.C., Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., Howard Coble, R-N.C., Walter Jones, R-N.C., Bob Inglis, R-S.C., and Joe Wilson, R-S.C.
CITA Seeks Comments on AGOA Short Supply Request
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) is seeking comments by March 30 on a short supply request received on March 6. The petitioner alleges that certain combed and ring spun yarn, of a 92% cotton/8% cashmere blend, comprised of 2/32 Nm resulting in a 16 Nm yarn size, classified in HTSUS 5205.42.0020, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. The petitioner is therefore requesting duty- and quota-free treatment under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for men's knit sweaters that are both cut, or knit-to-shape, and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more AGOA beneficiary countries from such yarns.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Says China Economic Ties Under Scrutiny In his March 14 remarks to the Asia Society, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez warned that the United States might be forced to reassess its economic relationship with China if Beijing fails to address economic frictions between the two countries quickly and effectively. While espousing the benefits of bilateral trade for both countries, the Secretary said the potential to increase trade and related benefits increasingly is being overshadowed by the large U.S. trade deficit with China that in 2005 exceeded $200 billion.
U.S. , United Arab Emirates Postpone Free-Trade Negotiations
On March 9, USTR announced that the United States and the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) postponed free-trade agreement (FTA) negotiations but have not indicated whether the delay is related to the decision by a Dubai-owned company to sell its U.S. port holdings."
“It was very well put together. Congratulations to you and your team!” “You held a great meeting and the kid panel was not only cute, but highly educational!” 
CHA Suppliers Luncheon will held NEXT Thursday, March 23 at the Peppertree Inn located in Greensboro, NC and features Nicole Bivens Collinson, Vice President, Trade Negotiations and Legislative Affairs for Sandler, Travis and Rosenberg, PA. Collinson will review the overall trading landscape with a particular focus on the latest developments of DR-CAFTA as well as upcoming FTAs with Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, etc. To register to attend this luncheon, contact Mike Austell – E: 
room block is still open. The 2006 sessions include presentations from the following speakers: Scott Quesenberry (USTR) and Jim Leonard (US Dept of Commerce) will provide an overview of domestic opportunities as well as upcoming trade agreements and how they impact the legwear business. Doug Durrett and Shahab Ahmed (Global Synergies, LLC) – Observations on Asia ; Sandy Browder (Global DBMM) – DR-CAFTA: An Update and What Does it Mean to the US Hosiery Industry? Marshal Cohen (NPD) – The New Consumer – Now What? ; and Nancy Cassill (NCSU) – NC State School of Textiles. Larry Brill (DOC) will provide an update on the MDCP Exporting Program that was awarded to the Hosiery Technology Center last fall and Sally Kay will present an industry overview and the association's legwear communications program. Make plans now to be in Savannah, GA on April 27-30. 
March/April issue of Hosiery News is out! 
Lindsay Lohan 