Comments on the Article blog are now OFF! If you wish to leave feedback or your opinion of an article individual threads will be created in the Dobizo Community for further discussion. Go to discussion by Clicking Here Now

Kingpin is an invite only bi-annual trade show that was held in New York, but has now found a home in sunny Los Angeles, California at the Marvimon House. Their last show held on October 17-18 was one of their best shows yet according to Andrew Ola co-founder of Olah Inc the New York based garment and fabric agent that created Kingpin trade show.

The last event packed with more than 50 designers and brands representatives share neighboring space in Chinatown with 13 vendors of denim, garments, trim, hardware, and representatives from specialty cotton and chemical companies.

Big name companies within the apparel industry were in attendance including BCBG, Gap, Kill City, Swell, and Quicksilver and each made their rounds looking for the latest in eco-friendly dye, chatting with Japanese denim mills, fabric cotton mills, and full package manufacturing services to textile development companies.

For more info on the Kingpin sourcing and textile show visit Olah online today.

This should be a pretty obvious article considering most of you know about the declining value of the US greenback compared to European currency.

Compared to earlier years where one US dollar equaled to one Euro as of now it will take $1.43 dollars to buy one Euro and the overseas buyers are loving every bit of it. It may not sound like much on a small scale, but consider when your buying tens of thousands in garments per month in Euro compared to US currency…a good deal for them, good for your international distribution and brand awareness.? The US dollar saw an even worse decline compared to the Canadian currency, which now translates one US dollar into 97 Canadian cents, compared to two years ago where one US dollar equaled $1.58 Canadian dollars nearing a 40% decline in the translated value.

In August United States imports increased by 12.8% compared to a mere 3% at the same time a year ago and foreign sales keep growing while US retail sales suffer.

Colcci a popular Brazilian clothing company well known in outer lying countries has just launched in the United States this past February and has paid internship positions open, which means you will be compensated while learning and also receive free products.

Their New York office has just opened for business and Colcci is looking for interns to assist their New York Sales Manager, because merchandise just hit stores in August.

What are your requirements?

• Passion for the Apparel industry
• Strong desire to learn
• Willing to go the extra mile

Responsibilities:

• Assist with sales & merchandising
• Help with preparation for market week and apparel trade shows
• Tagging and handling samples going in and out
• Organizing and handling filing system

Your work days will either be on M-W-F 10-5:30pm or T-TH-F 10-5:30pm. If you’re interested in this paid internship opportunity with benefits (i.e. Men’s and Women’s clothing & Women’s shoes and accessories) than email kim@colcci.com with your resume or call today at (917)-523-6930. For more information visit their website by clicking here.

In a strategic move to strengthen there presence in the US retail industry and bring it back to what it once was Tommy Hilfiger has signed an exclusive deal with major department store Macy’s.

With this alliance formed Tommy Hilfiger sportswear will no longer be available in department stores throughout the United States where it is currently selling only within Macy branded stores excluding Bloomingdale’s. (Belk’s, Dilliards, Bon-Ton, Carson Pirie Scott) Tommy Hilfiger licensed products will continue to be sold at other retail accounts, online, and at the freestanding stores. The plan is to increase Tommy Hilfigers presence in Macy’s stores nationwide and it plays well for Macy’s because Tommy Hilfiger menswear is a top-seller along with the women’s counterpart.

With this agreement inline Tommy Hilfiger will continue to focus more effort on their nationwide wholesale accounts and increasing the plans for the rollout of more freestanding retail stores in key locations around the United States. This is a good chance for Tommy Hilfiger to make a comeback, because recent times have shown retailers cutting back on floorspace for the brand. This kind of plays sort of like an exclusive brand or private label deal with an already established company.

I had already made that prediction in the article about the International Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement.

During the discussion in the World Trade Organization forum that more than 80 percent of counterfeits seized by customs authorities agents at their borders came from China and last year more than 70 percent of counterfeit goods seized were made in China.

Popularity: 4% [?]

This is a quick definition of Asymmetric Styling which is when each side of an apparel structure is different than the other. Asymmetric designs are usually put to work in hems, necklines, closings, collars…even haircuts, but that’s another discussion in itself. In a symmetric style each side would be the same.

Here is an example of a asymmetric design:(Look at the bottom hem)

Popularity: 1% [?]

First if you’re not familiar with Lawson they’re a leading software solutions provider across many industries including health care, financial, food, rental services, the fashion industry and more.

If you remember a few weeks back we spoke about QR (Quick Response) and the supply chain system you can read about that by clicking here. The Lawson Assortment Replenishment Planner does in one solution what it usually takes many spreadsheets, software solutions and word documents to accomplish.

Lawson has introduced the Assortment Replenishment Planner, which is an application designed to manage the entire product assortment and store replenishment process for fashion label owners in the apparel, footwear, home textiles and accessories industry

The solution manages different aspects of the supply chain process to store introduction including: planning store assortments, executing merchandise buy-plans, store push-plans, and managing store inventory replenishment.

The solution reduces the manual process of keeping inventory and store product introductions while keeping the chances for error low, because of the automated processing of the workload for the clothing owner.

Abstraction Fashion is looking for a showroom coordinator for their Detroit Showroom.

What will you do?

? Coordinate internal and external sample distributions for brand

? Prepare the Showroom for seasonal markets and corporate
meetings

? Work along with select buyers

? Work along with our brand manager to develop and
maintain seasonal account reports

What are the benefits?

? College credit

? Clothing allowance

? A rewarding career

REQUIREMENTS:

Abstraction Fashion is seeking a person that is organized, upbeat, fashion conscious, self-motivated, ability to work independently, able to multi-task, is a fast learner, and has a take charge type of personality!

You must be fluent in Microsoft Word & Excel! Plus be able for occasional traveling to metro locations and/or Vegas for trade shows, fashions shows and events.

TO APPLY:

Send your resume and references to the address below:

EMAIL: brooke@abstractionfashion.com

Please reference the Job Title in the subject line of your message when
applying by email.

The Los Angeles Shoe Trade Show is the only footwear trade show exclusively for the Los Angeles market.

This is the premier event for the Los Angeles footwear scene with over 230 booths including shoes and boots from every segment of the footwear industry:

• Contemporary women’s and young designer.
• Junior and kid’s.
• Urban and men’s.
• Trendy or classic.
• Casual or dressy.

As you can see they cover most basis no matter if you’re looking for the high designer heels, clogs, or the latest sneakers the LA Shoe Show has exhibitors in your footwear category. Considering it is going on at the same time as the LA Fashion Market you can cover all surfaces from shoes to apparel at one show.

Booth prices range starting from $800 to upwards of $2000.

Los Angeles Shoe Show is held at the California Market Center from October 27-29, 2007 for more information please log onto their website by clicking here.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The Urban Fashion Network is an up and coming corporation looking for four proactive and diligent interns who want to grow with the company. An important aspect of the company is integrity and an unparalleled workforce and Urban Fashion Network expects the same out of any potential candidate.

What is the Urban Fashion Network:

“ The Urban Fashion Network is a networking organization that provides an outlet for up and coming and established fashion designers/stylist, make up artist, photographers, hairstylist to express his or her self through their art. “

No website is available for the Urban Fashion Network although I did make one observation and that is there is another company online with the same name. I wrote about them earlier this month here.

If you’re interested in securing one of the internship positions than you should forward a cover letter and resume to Martimar2035@aol.com.

Popularity: 1% [?]

When starting a clothing line the cheapest way usually isn’t the most productive or will not spun the best results for your efforts.

Something I noticed amongst many indie clothing brands is to get a Myspace or social networking profile and most have no plan of establishing a more traditional web presence. This is a good choice as a short term alternative, but what impression will you give to a buyer when you tell them to go to http://www.myspace.com/(insert your clothing brand) to check out your clothing line or what if they want to get in touch with you? Many people do, but everyone doesn’t have a Myspace page neither do they want one.

We sure have a lot going on in Los Angeles today. University of Dreams is part of Los Angeles Internships, which provides industry specific internships to college students looking to earn college credit and valuable experience in our case for the fashion industry.

Many prior students had the chance to experience working with such prominent brands including: BCBG, Betsey Johnson, Levis, Juicy Couture and many more.

Each person interested will be assigned a placement agency that will guarantee your inclusion into a fashion internship position.

If you need a place to stay you will receive room & board at the UCLA where you will be living with 250 other college interns enrolled in the program (Hopefully not in the same room ). University of Dreams also supplies you with daily transportation to and from your internship. There will be weekend activities to see destinations around the city of Los Angeles. Plus Once a week University of Dreams participants are given the rare opportunity to attend seminars to hear the stories and advice of corporate CEOs, best-selling authors, high-powered political figures and famous figures from the entertainment world. Okay where is the catch

Global futbol/Soccer U.K. based brand Umbro has a very inspirational message for us today. They’ve