press releaseS

Sourcing at MAGIC:
There’s A New Kid In Town

US Companies Offer Apparel and Hosiery Products for Every Lifestyle Need

Immediate Release: There is clearly strength in numbers agree those launching the “You Wear US Well ™” concept at Sourcing at MAGIC August 28-31 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Located in the Original Design Manufacturer Section at Booth 20945, The Hosiery Association (THA), the Hosiery Technology Center (HTC), and SEAMS, the National Association for the Sewn Products Industry, have teamed up with their respective industry member companies to exhibit the latest styles and innovation available in ready to wear, legwear, and footwear items that are made in the United States. The tag line, You Wear US Well ™, employing a clever entendre of the term “us” and the “United States,” underscores the vast array of fashion-oriented products domestically.

In addition to the sponsoring entities, the companies that will be represented include: AS Tees Manufacturing, Angel Hosiery Company, Cal Cru, Carolina Apparel Group Inc., Creative Outlet, Earl’s GUNG HO Stanray Apparel, Fox River Mills Inc., Johnson Hosiery Mills Inc., Kentucky Derby Hosiery Company Inc., Knit-Rite Inc., Twin City Knitting Company Inc., Ultimate Sports and Apparel, Vinci Clothiers, WY Shugart & Sons Inc., Wells Hosiery Mills Inc. and Wrights Hosiery Inc.

Apparel, hosiery and sock products for men, women and children will be featured in the following lifestyle themes: career, casual, at home, performance, eco/environmentally friendly and wellness. Not only will retail buyers experience first hand the blending of fashion forward styles, these US companies have also perfected raw material innovation to ensure their products can provide consumers with superior fit, comfort, moisture management, thermal and UV protection, antimicrobial and odor control properties along with those that are “green.”

Flexibility, agility, quick response and geographic proximity of US-based companies enable retailers to buy smaller quantities, thus reducing the chances of mark downs and closeout sales which can occur with too much inventory or the wrong inventory. These advantages should be considered when calculating the total product cost. While the price from offshore may seem less, the total cost to the retailer could be equal to or higher than that of a US supplier.

“You Wear US Well”….offering a variety of innovative products for every lifestyle need.

For the past 101 years, The Hosiery Association (THA), through its voluntary membership, endeavors to foster a competitive advantage and economic well being for approximately 300 hosiery and sock manufacturers, marketers, distributors, and suppliers to the industry. THA supports its members worldwide and promotes the leg wear business by serving as the central resource for industry information and education, providing a conduit for resolving industry issues, and functioning as the voice of common industry concerns.

The Hosiery Technology Center (HTC) was created in 1990 to enhance the core curriculum of Catawba Valley Community College by training floor level hosiery employees. During the past sixteen years, the HTC has evolved into a national resource for testing, prototyping of new products, research and development, US product sourcing, e-commerce, retail and manufacturer training, hosiery product exports, and government procurement assistance programs.

SEAMS is a 39-year-old not-for-profit association comprised of manufacturing, contract manufacturing, and supplier companies in the sewn products industry located throughout the United States. SEAMS member companies provide valuable products and services to the sewn products industry.

###

Contacts: Sally Kay, President, The Hosiery Association
(704) 365-0913, ext. 212, sally.kay@hosieryassociation.com

Dan St. Louis, Executive Director, Hosiery Technology Center
(828)327-7000, ext. 4292, sockman@legsource.com

Sarah Friedman, Executive Director, SEAMS
(803) 772-5861, sarah@seams.org