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Add another counterfeit seize to the list in the amount of $1.3 million in hats, shoes, blankets, wallets, wearing apparel and jewelry all bearing designer names reports Apparel News.

The bust was over two days April 8 and 11, but both shipments were from the same producer in China to the same receiver in Texas. No names were released on the buyer or shipper by the Customs agents.

As stated above the value of the goods were at around $1.3 million, but could’ve been sold as orginals for a total of $38 million. The counterfeited items included juniors labels like Baby Phat, and more pricier designer labels including Giorgio Armani, Burberry, and Dolce & Gabbana.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Well what do you know Tommy Hilfiger has his own television station based out of London online named Tommy TV.

I personally think it is a definite cry for attention considering consumers haven’t been giving Tommy too much of it for the last few years and things aren’t looking any better.

From DNR:

“The station will broadcast the Hilfiger Sessions, concerts the fashion label has organized in association with Sony BMG, which spotlight both established artists such as Wyclef Jean and undiscovered acts from around the world. ”

The move is part of Tommy Hilfiger’s effort to reach out to their consumer base who they say spend most of their time online. Since music and fashion go hand in hand what better way to reach them than online as a collection of music sessions of course tying in the Hilfiger brand with well known acts in the music industry.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Men’s and boy’s wholesale prices seen a decrease of 0.1% in March compared to the month before, but rose 0.6% compared to the same time a year ago. Prices on all domestically produced goods rose 1.1% in March.

Source: DNR News

Popularity: 6% [?]

Prices on domestically produced wholesale women’s and girls apparel declined 0.1% compared to last month and over 0.2% to the same time a year ago. Statistics released by the Labor Department Producer Price Index on Tuesday.

Source: Labor Department

Popularity: 7% [?]

Atlanta Shoe Market (Formerly known as North American Shoe Market) the 10th largest shoe show in the world announced Monday that the August 16-18 show will now occur on August 15-17. The reason being is the success of the February edition which ran on a Friday-Sunday schedule for the first time with a great outcome.

“After the show, we heard from retailers and vendors that the Friday-to-Sunday format worked better for them. And in fact, all three days were very active; in the past, Monday traffic has always been a little lighter than the weekend days. says Laura Conwell O-Brien

February Atlanta Shoe Market broke all previous records when it comes to attendees and exhbitors. Booth sales were up 19 percent, exhibitor attendance rose 28.5 percent, and retailer pre-registration increased by 53 percent from the previous year.

Source: FN

Popularity: 9% [?]

Thread is an independent fashion shopping event for independent designers to sell off samples and gain exposure to consumers, buyers, and press.

Held in two countries and three cities inside the US (San francisco,Seattle,San Diego) and in Bristol, UK. Thread is where up and coming designers can be exposed to top boutiques and key contacts within the media. All clothing lines are handpicked by Thread over 900 are invited to San Diego to show their lines, but only 65 will be selected for the exclusive event.

Quick facts about Thread show:

• More than 100 store owners and buyers have been invited and have signed up to attend
• 25 pre registered
• 10 sponsors
• 20 crew
• 5 guest DJ’s
• 15 Artists showing work in the art exhibition

You can apply to exhibit for the next Thread Show by clicking here.

Added to the Los Angeles Fashion District is a 60,000 square foot wholesale center catering to women’s apparel opened at 777 E. 12th St.

This area of the Fashion District specifically deals with cash and carry and importers dealing accessories, juniors and other segments of the fashion industry.

The developer Maxxam Enterprises who has developed other buildings throughout the fashion district has designed the building to be more aesthetically pleasing by building around parking so that the deck is in the ‘belly’ of the building says Behrouz Soroudi a partner of Maxxam.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Material World Trade Show a global fabric sourcing and trade event, which we spoke on earlier last year here has cancelled its New York show at the Jacob K. Javitz Center. The show may go on at another date and time confirmed a spokesperson for the shows producer from Urban Expositions.

The Material World New York was launched four years ago, but could never live up to its Spring counterpart in Miami Beach as far as attendance and show traffic is concerned.

Material World New York launched after the collapse of the IFFE (International Fashion Fabric Exposition) show in New York. Textiles companies are saying its a sign of the weak economy and buyers are saving money by going to fewer shows and spending less at the ones they do attend.

For more information on Material World visit them online.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Prices in the knit market are looking to rise by 20% during the Fall season due to the current economic condition, the weak dollar, troubled retail climates, and high oil prices that affect their shipping cost. I don’t predict it will be getting better anytime soon, but maybe things will see an up tick once the economic stimulus payouts arrive in the mail…only if consumers do the right thing with their checks.

This will ultimately affect you the retailer and designer who produce and sell clothing, because the prices will rise across the board and affect those buying knit fabrics wholesale.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Tarrant Apparel Group will settle with the IRS for a sum of $14 million for back taxes, penalties and interested owed over a seven year period ending in 2002. The agreement is for Tarrant Apparel Group to pay $4 million immediately and $250,000 per month until the debt is settled.

Tarrant Apparel Group is a private label apparel producer based out of California responsible for such private labels fashion lines by Chicos, Dillards, Federated Department Stores, J.C. Penny, K-Mart, Kohl’s, Lerner New York, Sears, Mervyn’s, Lane Bryant, Mother Works and Walmart.

Popularity: 4% [?]

The fastest growing segment of the apparel industry is footwear, regardless of that fact there is still many barriers to entry and very stiff competition from dominant brands.

Many entering the footwear industry are carving out there own niche, therefore creating specialty footwear brands that cater to certain disorders and consumers. An example is the launch of a footwear collection that provides shoes for diabetic or obese consumers with foot problems or are just on their feet a lot and seek comfortable shoes.

Popularity: 4% [?]

In the mist of the hustle of New York Fashion Week many other city Fashion Weeks seem to get overshadowed. Mainly being that New York is to me…the fashion capital of the United States. Nevertheless Los Angeles Fashion Week begins this Friday March 7 to next Friday March 14.

Below is a breakdown of the LA Fashion Week events: Friday March 7, 2008

1. GEN ART’s The New Garde: Park Plaza Hotel, 607 S Park View St, LA.
   Friday, March 7– 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm. Award-winning GEN ART showcases essential emerging talent. This season: JMARY, Jesse Kamm, and Le Sang des Betes by Trang Chau. Media contact Evolutionary Media Group 323.658.8700. Event Tickets $40-$90 available online* at www.genart.org
2. ERIN FEATHERSTON’S LA Fashion Week Kick-off Party. Villa, 8623 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood. Invitation only. Party and short film debut for her latest collection starring Kirsten Dunst and Zooey Dechanel. MEDIA inquiries: Kat Van Leer 212.226.1717 kat@syndicate-ny.com SALES inquiries: Meghan 212.391.0050 meghan@gregmillsltd.com www.erinfeatherston.com

Saturday March 8, 2007:

Nothing new to many of us is the current value of the American Dollar versus the almighty Euro. Bad news for European fashion due to US retailers recent cutback on buying their clothing lines. With the current exchange rate being heavily in the Europeans favor US retailers are making the move to drop European lines in their entirety or cutting back on the amount they carry.

Small specialty stores are affected by the current exchange rate more than their larger department store counterparts who can gauge the impact of the weak dollar by way of currency hedging due to their financial positions in the market.

Fashion designers who source fabrics, trims and other supplies through Europe are seeing cost rise and therefore facing similar hardships.

Popularity: 3% [?]