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NandoVision

Sweet Streak

Risque Wigs

Gozooko

Studio Time

Tia Lyn 
Lingerie

Shirley of Hollywood

Coconut Grove

International Lingerie Shows

McPete Sales

The Underfashion Club

Questfinder

Quick Commerce Credit Cards

Internetgazette

Styles Fashion

Articles Of Interest

DR-CAFTA Adjusted Apparel Rules
Page 1

Pakistan to Set up 'Textile City'
Page 1

Gozooko's Free Workshop 
at ILS
Page 1

Undercover
Page 2

The NY Intimate Apparel Boutique Show
Page 2

Free TechZone at ILS
Page 2

Business and Technology
Page 2

McPete Sez
Mailbag
Page 2

Houston 2011 Halloween & Party Expo
Page 3

Create Lingerie
Page 3

J. Valentine's New Swimwear Collection
Page 3

Ask the Gozooko Guys
Page 3

Ask Andy
Page 3

Addict Expose
Page 4

The NY Intimate Apparel Boutique Show Continued
Page 4

Pink Bunny Pleasures
Page 4

The NY Intimate Apparel Boutique Show Continued
Page 5

MCPETE SEZ CLASSIFIEDS
Page 5

The Buzz
Page 5

Reps Corner
Page 5

Shows & Events
Page 5




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March 15, 2011                                            Issue #285    The McPete Sez Lingerie Newsletter & Women's Wear Journal           

15/24
                   
                              Intimate Apparel
Sleepwear-Daywear-Foundations-Loungewear-Hosiery-
           Lingerie-Swimwear-Dancewear-Clubwear 
                              Ready-to-Wear
                              
        
This issue comes just days after a 8.9 earthquake and resulting tsunami, fires and explosions devastated Japan. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the people who have lost lives, loved ones, homes and businesses. 
McPete Sez supports the Red Cross, and those who want to help can go to www.redcross.org and donate to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami. People can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.


12/24  
Import Cargo Volume 
   Expected to Rise 
Import cargo volume at major retail container ports in the US is expected to be up 11% in March over the same month last year, according to recent research.
But recent political turmoil in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and elsewhere is also likely to drive up oil prices and is likely to increase shipping costs, the researchers warned.
Figures from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates showed that US ports handled 1.2m twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in January. This was up 5% from December and 12% from January 2010.
February, traditionally the slowest month of the year, was estimated at 1.12m TEU, which would represent an increase of 12% over February 2010.
March is forecast at 1.19m TEU, up 11% from a year ago; April at 1.24m TEU, up 9%; May at 1.32m TEU, up 5%; June at 1.39m TEU, up 5%; and July at 1.45m TEU, up 5%.
The first half of 2011 is forecast at 7.5m TEU, up 9% from the first half of 2010. For the full year, 2010 totaled 14.7m TEU, a 16% increase over 2009. Last year's percentages were high because 2009's 12.7m TEU was the lowest level since 2003.
"These numbers show solid increases over last year and are evidence that our nation's economic recovery is continuing to build momentum," said NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy, Jonathan Gold.

   Fashion Photo

      Stephanie Paige is wearing 
              Bella Beachwear
If you would like more information about Fashion Photo or 
   would to be included in the McPete Sez Fashion Photo 
          contact Jerome at jerome@studiotime.us  

DR-CAFTA Adjusted 
       Apparel Rules
The first meeting of the Central American trading partners who make up the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) has approved a number of changes to the five year old pact's rules-of-origin for textile and apparel goods.
While details are sparse, the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC) says one of the main changes is the definition of sewing thread under the DR-CAFTA, which fixes a long-standing loophole in the pact.
The original agreement required the use of sewing thread from US or CAFTA region suppliers in order for the finished product to qualify for duty-free treatment. 
But AMTAC says a drafting error in the definition of sewing thread means that single multifilament yarns used as sewing thread do not have to originate in the US/DR-CAFTA region. 
"The single multifilament yarn loophole has been very damaging to US thread manufacturers as their thread exports to the DR-CAFTA region have been increasingly displaced by multifilament yarns from thread suppliers outside the region, such as China," says AMTAC executive 
director Auggie Tantillo. 
Although no timeframe has been given for the US Congress to enact legislation to implement the change, when it does come into effect it will require all sewing thread, monofilament and plied, to originate in the US/DR-CAFTA region.
The National Textile Association, meanwhile, says other changes to the trade agreement will allow non-originating elastomeric yarn in the case of a fabric on the short supply list, and that some waistband ribs of the same construction as the collar and cuff of a sweatshirt will also be allowed to be non-originating.
It also says that sewing thread, narrow elastic fabric, pocketing, and lining fabrics, if not available in the region, can be added to the short supply list. At the moment, the short supply provision applies to only the single textile component that determines the tariff classification of a garment.
The amendments coincide with the fifth anniversary of DR-CAFTA, which has eliminated tariffs and facilitated trade and investment between the US, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic.
"We approved a series of changes to the Agreement's rules-of-origin for textile and apparel goods that will facilitate regional trade and integration," said a statement following the Free Trade Commission's meeting in El Salvador.
"These changes will expand opportunities under the CAFTA-DR Agreement and encouraging a vibrant textile and apparel supply chain in the western hemisphere to effectively face the challenge that Asian competitors represent.
"We also agreed to increase the cumulation limits to encourage greater integration of regional production through limited reciprocal duty-free access with Mexico and Canada to be used in Central American and Dominican Republic apparel."
It added: "We also welcomed the support and assistance of the Inter-American Development Bank in developing a CAFTA-DR textile and apparel sourcing directory to enhance communication and sourcing between buyers and manufacturers within the region.
"This collaborative effort among governments and industry in the region aims to encourage integrated supply chains, and to grow regional textiles trade and assist producers to capitalize on the benefits of the Agreement and increase regional competitiveness."


9/24 Watch Tia Lyn's NY Fashion Show with beautiful models of ALL SIZES!
  
          Trade Deal Delays 
Frustrating Apparel Industry 
The Obama administration has reiterated its commitment to approving long-delayed trade deals with Colombia, Panama and South Korea this year - but frustrated the apparel industry by refusing to lay out a clear 
timetable for action.
The President's 2011 Trade Policy Agenda and 2010 Annual Report, which was published March 1, says key goals for the year ahead include implementing the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).
Also on the agenda is work to resolve outstanding issues related to trade agreements with Panama and Colombia, and substantial progress in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks and the Doha round of trade talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The administration has also called for the renewal and long-term extension of key programs such as Trade Adjustment Assistance and expired trade preferences.
But while the President has made no secret of his goal of boosting the US economy by doubling the country's exports by 2014 and creating new jobs, the trade deals with Colombia (agreed in 2006) and South Korea and Panama (2007) have still not been passed by the US Congress.
"The US apparel and footwear industry remains concerned that the US trade policy will continue to stall without clear indication of meaningful progress on the pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea," confirmed Kevin Burke, president and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA). 
"Furthermore, uncertainty has been injected into our industry's global supply chain with the recent lapse of key trade provisions, including the Andean Trade Preference Act, the Generalized System of Preferences, and Trade Adjustment Assistance.
"While these agreements either continue to sit on the shelf or find themselves obsolete without renewal, American exporters and American consumers miss important opportunities while paying higher costs. 
"This is unacceptable if the United States wants to continue on a path toward job creation and economic growth. 
"I urge to Administration and Congress to work together and ensure that all of the pending free trade agreements can be approved and that expired programs can be quickly, and retroactively, renewed and extended." 


11/24    CLICK HERE to watch Risque's Video on YouTube

Gozooko's Free Workshop
                 at ILS
Good news for all the March International Lingerie Show attendees and exhibitors!
The Gozooko Guys will be holding a free workshop on Search Engine Optimization and Social Networking for your Business. 
This is a workshop you won’t want to miss!
Learn how to improve your search engine results and expand your presence in the growing social media market. 
Planning on attending the workshop and have questions regarding these topics?
Send an email to gozookoguys@gozooko.com so they can be answered at the workshop. 
The workshop will be held in the Tango Room on Tuesday, March 29th, directly after the show closes for the day.  
To RSVP to the Free Workshop email Gozookoguys@gozooko.com
Meet the Gozooko Guys at booth 301 at the International Lingerie Show March 28-30 at the Rio Hotel, Las Vegas.

Come see what’s Delicious at ILS, Pavilion Rm, booths 106-110&125

Cotton Production Expands,
   Prices Expected to Fall
Worldwide cotton production is expected to rise by 9% to 127m bales in the 2011-2012 season - and prices are likely to fall from the current record levels - according to the latest forecasts from an inter-governmental group.
The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) warns, however, that prices are likely to stay substantially higher than the average of 60 cents per pound that prevailed during the past decade.
Higher prices, and competition from chemical fibers, it says, are expected to limit growth in mill use to 25.4m tons during 2011/12, a rise of 3%. The largest increases in mill use are seen in India, China, Pakistan and Turkey.
World cotton prices reached new records during February 2011, driven by limited supplies, robust demand and depreciation of the US dollar.
The Cotlook A Index reached a record of 233.5 cents per pound on February 18, and averaged 147 cents per pound during the first seven months of 2010/11. This compares to an average of 77.5 cents per pound during 2009/10.
The New York futures contract for March 2011 delivery rose from 77 cents per pound on August 2, 2010 to a record of 205 cents per pound on February 28.
Production is set to rise as farmers respond to higher demand and prices, with cotton planting around the world projected to rise by 7% in 2011/12 to 36m - the largest in 17 years.



            Pakistan to Set up
           'Textile City' 
The government of Pakistan has pledged PKR1.5bn (US$17.6m) towards setting up a new 'textile city' in the country.
The facility is being set up at Eastern Industrial Zone of Port Qasim at Karachi, 6km from the national highway.
It is a public-private joint venture industrial zone, focusing on textile manufacturing and related industries. It is expected to be completed by 2012 at an estimated cost of PKR3.6bn.
The city covers an area of 1,250 acres and includes natural gas, power plant, dedicated water pipeline, workers' residential complexes, transportation systems and training institutes.
Pakistan has been investing in its textile infrastructure under a five-year textile policy (2009-14) aimed at increasing textile and clothing exports to US$25bn by the year 2015, from current levels of US$10bn. Three garment cities are also being established at Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad.

UK's February Sales Down
UK like-for-like retail sales volume was down by 0.4% in February
Worries about jobs, tax rises and economic uncertainty weighed on British shoppers last month, pushing retail sales down by 0.4% compared with a year ago.
The fall in like-for-like sales was most marked in products such as clothing and footwear, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said. But it also noted that total sales in February were 1.1% higher than the same month last year. 
Non-food non-store (internet, mail-order and phone) sales growth fell to 10.4% in February. This compares with a rise of 12.3% in January and is the smallest gain since August 2009 the BRC said. 
"Apart from a bit of help from half-term for some retailers, February's sales were weak," noted Stephen Robertson, BRC director general.
"Other than the negative figures last April (caused by the year-to-year movement of Easter), this February's 1.1% total sales growth is the poorest since May 2009 - even poorer when the impact of the VAT rise on inflation is taken into account. 
"After the big boost to January's figures from one-off factors, including a strong final burst of pre-VAT rise spending, February's figures are a return to a more realistic picture of how things are for customers and retailers. "
Analyst Clive Black at Shore Capital Stockbrokers, said the sales results from clothing retailers in particular "have long been a concern for us. Not only is there an issue with like-for-likes, but there is also a growing concern with regards to the gross margin should sales continue to be weak."
He added that confirmation that February was a poor month heightens the need "for March to be a better month for trading to avoid further downgrades to earnings for the quoted non-food retailers.
"There is a growing need for a pick up or the 'red pen' will be out."

Mexico's Textile & Clothing
    Sector Show Growth 
Mexico's textile and clothing sector has reported a 6% rise in output in 2010, thanks to a combination of higher domestic sales, exports and increased investment - all of which have combined to lift production to the highest level for a decade.
According to data from the National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics (INEGI), the production of textile inputs - which includes yarns, fabrics, nonwovens and textile finishing - rose by 8.8%. This was followed by garments (up 5.2%) and textile products (up 4.7%).
The recovery was helped by a 7.4% rise in Mexico's textile and clothing exports to the United States, and an 11.7% rise to the rest of the world.
Domestic same-store sales at clothing retailers also rose 9.3%, with total sales climbing 12.1%.
The textile-clothing sector employs around 400,000 people and attracted foreign direct investment worth US$101.6m in the nine months from January to September 2010.

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