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La Bella Intimates

Gozooko

Studio Time

Tia Lyn 
Lingerie

Interludes Lingerie

La Lame, Inc

Shirley of Hollywood

Coconut Grove

Tony Shoes

International Lingerie Shows

McPete Sales

Questfinder

Quick Commerce Credit Cards

Internetgazette

Styles Fashion

Articles Of Interest

EU & South Korea Sign Trade Agreement
Page 1

 Canada to Drop Textile Import Tariffs
Page 1

Kohls Opens 37 New Stores
Page 1

  Business & Technology
 Page 2

CurveNV 
Page 2

 Buyers' Best Sellers
Page 2

McPete Sez
Mailbag
Page 2

 CurveNV Continued
Page 3

Magnet Bra 
Page 3

Ask Kevin
Page 3

Ask Andy
Page 3

 CurveNV Continued
Page 4

Gas Mask Bra Wins Ig Nobel
Page 4

New Zealand Continues Tariff Freeze
Page 4

 CurveNV
  Continued
Page 5

The Buzz
Page 5

Reps Corner
Page 5

Shows & Events
Page 5

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                                      Page 3      
$250 Per 60 Hour Work Week 
Paying textile workers a salary equivalent to US$475, the amount called for by the Asia Floor Wage Alliance, is not feasible, say Chinese garment exporters. 
The campaigners want to persuade US and European retailers to raise the wages paid to Asian factory workers to a 'living wage'. 
Their calculations are based on the World Bank's Purchasing Power Parity, which was used to work out the wage needed to allow workers to purchase the same set of goods and services that a US consumer can get for $475.
In industrial cities like Shenzhen, the monthly wage earned by most workers is around CNY1,000 - whereas the Asia Floor Wage would come in at CNY1,639 - which is 2.4 times higher than current minimum wage levels in China. 
"I cannot imagine this salary for workers," said James Fu, general manager at Fujian Green Garments co, a children's clothes manufacturer. 
His firm pays between CNY800 and CNY1,000 per month, a "normal" rate for Fujian province. 
Gross profit margins on baby clothes can be as low as 5%, he said. "For kids clothes this wage is not possible." 
Edward Kang, chief executive of Ever-glory, said workers at his Nanjing factory earn about US$250 per month for a 6-day week, working 9-10-hour days. 
"We already outsource much of our large volume, low-value products to factories in Vietnam and Cambodia. I don't see how we could implement this wage," said Kang. 
He expects minimum wages to increase a further 5-10% in the next two years.
However, representatives from the AFW campaign have stressed that the responsibility for absorbing the cost of higher wages lies with buyers paying higher prices to suppliers.

                    
11/12 
CurveNV Continued
                    Photos by Jerome Hamilton


Rafael Espinal, Fatima Walsh and Steven Walsh of b.up
                     fatima@fatimawalsh.com 


Richelle Lizares of PUMA.  info@unitedlegwear.com 


Brooke models Nu-Bra while standing next to Daren Peng. 
                           info@bragel.com 


              Amanda Karp is modeling BedHead. 
                        joanne@bedheadpjs.com 


        Eryn Campbell and Ben Gray of Munki Munki. 
                            eryn@munkimunki.com


Yvonne Lai and Jill Davis hold a garment by Kenan.  
                                 info@kenan.ca
                      
  CurveNV continued on page 4
 
If US Eliminated Import
           Barriers...
US consumers would be around $2.3bn better off each year if the US eliminated import barriers for textile and clothing goods, according to a new study published on September 30.
The projections are made by the US International Trade Commission (USITC) in an update of its report on 'The Economic Effects of Significant US Import Restraints."
It calculates that unilaterally lifting trade barriers would lead to a drop in domestic prices on textile and apparel goods and "increase US competitiveness in the global economy."
Apparel would be hardest hit, with jobs in the clothing sector falling 11.1% if import barriers were eliminated, and exports tumbling 69.1%.
Overall exports across the sector would drop by 42.1%, largely due to the elimination of rule-of-origin-based requirements for US inputs.
There would also be a 7.8% decline in production and employment in apparel (cut pieces), yarn, threads, and fabrics by 2013, while imports would 
rise by 2.2%, . 
The figures are based on an anticipated 23.2% rise in household demand for textiles and apparel between 2005 and 2013.
The report adds that: "Liberalization of textiles and apparel is estimated to have a relatively minor effect on production, imports, and exports," but it says this effect is the largest of any sector studied. 
The Economic Effects of Significant US Import Restraints is available on the USITC web site.

Cowboy's Favorite Bible 
The devout cowboy lost his favorite Bible while he was mending fences out on the range. 
Three weeks later, a cow walked up to him carrying the Bible in its mouth. The cowboy couldn't believe his eyes. He took the precious book out of the cow's mouth, raised his eyes heavenward and exclaimed, "It's a miracle!" 
"Not really," said the cow. "Your name is written inside the cover." 

             Magnet Bra
Ladies, say goodbye to hooks and hello to magnets.
A bra design that relies on a magnet for closure is busting into the lingerie market.
Designed to be easy to clip on and take off, with a front closure that provides a smooth back, this bra is said to be a first for the Canadian market. 
"We wanted to do something new and innovative," says La Vie en Rose spokeswoman Candice Pantin.
It's not the only magnetic bra out there. Recently, burlesque star Dita von Teese launched a line of Wonderbra lingerie featuring quick-release magnetic closures, but it's only available in Europe.
Canadian lingerie company La Vie En Rose unveiled Magnetic Attraction earlier this month. The line comes in three styles – the Boost push-up, the Daily lightly padded and the Au Naturel unpadded. 
But just how powerful is this magnet? Can it be trusted in moments of stress, such as, say, a D cup running to catch a bus or busting out some new moves on the dance floor?
A student in George Brown's community work program, wears a 36D and took the Daily model for a test drive.
Originally from Newfoundland, the student is a dancer who loves to jig. And she was impressed.
"I jigged as hard as I could and the bra didn't budge.
"It is so comfortable and it gives a lot of support," she says. "The front magnetic closure is easy and super strong. It really surprised me."
A personal trainer who is a 34A cup, chose the Boost model, whose "padded push-up gives you that oomph you crave in a plunging neckline," according to the media kit.
"I put the bra through the wringer. I ran in it, did some plyometric (jump) training in it and even took it to a Muay Thai class and the clasp didn't budge at all," Kurchak says.
Her bosom may have been a little perkier than she likes for exercise thanks to the padded cups, but otherwise she is impressed with the magnetic hold.
While the little magnet's strength is a source of comfort for the girls, it is proving to be a source of frustration for the boys.
Having spent years refining his bra-opening skills to the point where he can undo the traditional hook-and-eye model with one hand, John Koplimae was not impressed when the Magnetic Attraction repelled his advances in an informal man-on-the-street interview in which the bra was handed over and men were asked to try to open it.
"It's a lot stronger than I thought," says Koplimae, 26, a cook at Bymark. "That is solid hold."
"I need two hands with this," he says. "It holds so well there's no way to flick it open."
Adam Cowan, 24, who takes gender studies at the University of Toronto, is not a fan.
"Why did they invent this? Is it supposed to make it easier? 'Cause it's not."
It took a few tries before the George Brown student's boyfriend could figure it out.
"It's a mighty powerful magnet keeping in those guns," he laughs. "At first I was like, `I don't get this at all. It's not working.' It's a good design, it just takes a little muscle."
Joan Chang, 25, a producer with CBC Radio, has a more practical concern: "I'll get paper clips stuck to my shirt. I don't need scrap metal accessories, thank you very much!"
As for worries that a Magnetic Attraction bra could demagnetize a credit or bank card, Pantin says no such cases arose during testing.
"The magnetic closure is no more harmful than a purse or wallet magnet, if not less, due to its smaller size," she says.
However, going through airport security could be a concern. It all depends on the location and calibration of metal detectors and not necessarily the strength of the magnet, says Mathieu Larocque, spokesman for the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority.
Nonetheless, one anonymous blogger cracks, "Finally a bra I can open, and also hang on my fridge!"
Ivy Knight wrestled with her Boost bra for 10 minutes before she managed to open it. She later went through an entire workout with her locker key stuck to it outside her shirt.

Coquette Sponsors Everything
     To Do With Sex Show
The Everything to do with Sex Show is quickly approaching, with an entirely new and refreshing line up of seminars, exhibits, exciting stage shows and more! It will be taking place in London & Toronto Ontario, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Montreal, Quebec. This year Coquette International Inc. has teamed up with the show and is the official lingerie sponsor. 
The show kicks off in London, Ontario, at the Western Fairgrounds, in the Progress Building, on October 2nd until October 4th. This will be London’s 2nd annual show. The second stop is Toronto, Ontario, where the show will be celebrating their 10 year anniversary, Taking place at the Direct Energy Center, Exhibition Place, from November 20th until November 22nd. The other two shows will be taking place in the New Year, beginning in Montreal on January 22nd until January 24th and finishing in Halifax from January 29th until January 31st.
Coquette International has provided their sexiest outfits to be worn throughout the shows. The Everything to do with Sex Show is one of Canada’s largest sex shows open to the public, “We are very proud to sponsor this event and have our lingerie on display for all of those attending. The show always exceeds our expectations and turns out better than the previous year,” Marcus Horea, VP of Sales & Marketing, commented on Coquette’s involvement. 
All of the shows are 19+ and equally targeted towards both couples and singles. With the intent to deliver more products this year, stimulating entertainment and informational seminars, the turn out is predicted to be huge, therefore it is highly recommended that tickets are purchased online prior to the show. A complete list of events and schedules are available online at: www.EverythingToDoWithSex.com. For further information regarding Coquette International Inc. visit: www.coquette.com.

ASK Kevin
      For all of your website questions...
Kevin and his wife have been retailing lingerie and adult products since 1988. They believe that a large portion of their business success came from the  addition of their websites to their retail store and that in today's fast paced market, internet marketing goes hand in hand with any business.
Kevin's personal site design experiences include all levels of internet marketing and design including secure server ordering processes, merchant account integration, HTML editing, photo editing, graphic design and banner advertisements. All of which are needed on a business style website.
Kevin also designs websites and consults clients who want to do more business online.
Kevin welcomes your questions and comments regarding website design, internet marketing, photo editing, domain registrations hosting and more. For serious website entrepreneurs, he recommends this course for complete Internet marketing training. Internet Marketing & Site Optimization Tips: http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/848190
You can ask Kevin your questions at Kevin@mcpetesez.com

The "Ask Kevin" Column is an opinion Column and may not necessarily  reflect the views of  McPete Sez. 

                       "Ask Andy"
Andy Weinstock has been in the fabric and textile business all his life, but professionally since 1969. 
"I love what I do, selling fabrics around the globe. I've met lots of interesting, creative, dynamic folks; some have become dear friends. I love to help new businesses find the things they need to become successful. It works for everyone." 
You can ask Andy questions about Fabrics at
               Andy@mcpetesez.com 



The "Ask Andy" Column is an opinion Column and may not necessarily  reflect the views of  McPete Sez  


     The McPete Sez Lingerie Newsletter & Women's Wear Journal           
                                      End of page 3