In a historic first, a separate pavilion is set up only for WRAP-certified factories at the upcoming Sourcing at MAGIC show in Las Vegas from August 30 – September 2, 2009.

Sourcing at MAGIC is the premier sourcing trade event and conference in North America for the fashion apparel industry.

Co-located with the MAGIC Marketplace, the largest and most comprehensive fashion industry trade event in the world, Sourcing at MAGIC provides exhibitors direct access to the largest concentration of buying power in the United States.

The WRAP Pavilion serves as a communications platform for buyers who are seeking to purchase apparel and accessories only from socially and environmentally compliant factories.

Factories exhibiting at the Pavilion are compliant with WRAP certification, the world’s largest social and environmental certification program in the apparel, footwear and sewn product sectors.

Exhibitors at the Pavilion are from countries around the world, including China, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, and the United States. Their booth numbers are listed from MA33405 to MA33412.

At the booth MA33404, WARP representatives will display sample products manufactured in WRAP certified factories from countries around the world.

Visitors to WRAP’s booth will receive valuable sourcing information on socially and environmentally compliant products.

If you are a WRAP-certified factory and would like to exhibit samples of your products in future events, please contact WRAP at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Source: Fibre2Fashion, August 4, 2009

Last month, UniformMarket News Magazine presented the first installment of an executive summary from Frost and Sullivan, a global consulting company that partners with clients to support the development of innovative growth strategies. Part one defined the workwear and uniform marketplace, forecasting trends which may influence its expansion.

In part two, appearing below, the summary turns to competitive factors driving the industry, and draws conclusions likely to spark debate among those who manufacture and distribute uniforms and career wear.

Those discussions will be the focus of part three, appearing here in September. To have your voice included, contact Jackie Rosselli at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Part Two: Competitive Factors

Second quarter revenues were $1,485.6 million, a decline of 11% compared with $1,677.5 million in the second quarter of 2008, with foreign currency translation accounting for 3 percentage points of the decline. Net income in the current quarter was $75.5 million compared with $104.0 million in the prior year's quarter. Earnings per share declined to $.68 from $.94, with over half or $.14 per share of the decline due to higher pension expense and foreign currency translation impacts of $.11 and $.03 per share, respectively.

For the first half of 2009, revenues were $3,211.1 million, down 9% from the $3,523.8 million in the first half of 2008. Foreign currency translation accounted for 4 percentage points of the decline. Net income and earnings per share each declined 30%, to $176.5 million and $1.59 respectively. Over half or $.36 per share of the earnings per share decline was due to higher pension expense and foreign currency translation impacts of $.23 and $.13 per share, respectively.

"Business remains undeniably tough across most categories, channels and geographies, but I am pleased that our largest brands - Wrangler^(R), Lee^(R), The North Face^(R) and Vans^(R) - continue to gain share in most markets. I am also pleased by how our brands and businesses have risen to these challenging times by controlling costs, reducing inventories and remaining focused on the long-term drivers of growth," said Eric C. Wiseman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "While we see some signs of stabilization occurring, we remain very cautious about the outlook for consumer spending for the balance of the year. We will continue to plan our business conservatively while investing in our brands and maximizing every effort to gain market share."

Link: Read the article

The Penn Emblem Company in Philadelphia, PA announces an expansion of its Nomex thread and fabric colors for FR (flame resistant) patches.  Penn now offers 16 FR threads and 8 FR fabric colors.  Penn manufactures approved flame retardant emblems utilizing 100% Dupont Nomex® fabric, with a special fire retardant backing Kermel and Indura fabrics.  Nomex® is a patented flame resistant fiber used to make patches primarily for protective clothing worn by firefighters, racecar drivers and aircraft personnel.

The Penn Emblem Company has specialized in identification and image solutions for over 65 years.  Penn Emblem offers the highest quality identification products in almost any style you can imagine, from patches and emblems to mending material, thermal ID tapes and printers and sublimation systems. 

For more information about our FR patches or any of our other products,  please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or call 1-800-793-7366.

Source: Company release, Philadelphia, PA, July 27, 2009

The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, go to www.dcbs.oregon.gov .

Source; Company release, Salem, OR, July 23, 2009

A former Movie Gallery executive has transitioned from popcorn to scrubs, with a uniform boutique that offers an explosion of color.

Gary Hay, former senior vice president of concessions at the national movie rental chain, purchased Source One Apparel in May and relocated the shop to the Video Warehouse Plaza, just across from Southeast Alabama Medical Center.

Hay and his wife, Bridget, call the shop Scrubs 101, because they offer more than 101 designs, from basic to bold.

“Our whole idea was to offer trendy, colorful and fashionable merchandise,” said Hay, as he stands in the middle of the floor surrounded by designs ranging from daisies to dogs in colors ranging from lime green to chocolate brown.

“We also wanted people to have a great shopping experience with good customer service.”

For Hay, it is a return to his roots. In his early 20s, he owned and operated two men’s clothing stores in Selma and Alexander City. The same businessman who gave Hay his start back in 1974 is the one who led him into the uniform business.

“After I left Movie Gallery, I was trying to find something to do,” he said. “A friend was in the uniform business in Sylacauga. He said I should take a look at it. Because of our past business relationship, when he said ‘uniforms,’ I listened.”

Link: Read the article

Introduction to the North American Workwear and Uniforms Market

In an interesting experiment, Asda, which is what Wal-Mart is called in the U.K., is turning over some of the buying decisions to its customers. Asda will start to e-mail to a group of 18,000 customers, which it has termed its "Pulse of the Nation" group.

The e-mails will contain images and descriptions of new products sourced from the Far East, and the Pulse group will have the option of providing a positive or negative response as to whether or not they think it is a product that should be carried in the stores.

According to a microsite for the Pulse of the Nation panel, those responding to the e-mails each month will be entered into a drawing to win free prizes in addition to "having the opportunity to make your voice heard." Currently, the two top winners each month receive a gift worth £250. The program also on a monthly basis hands out four vouchers of £40, eight vouchers of £20, and 16 vouchers of £10. Although sponsored by Asda, Pulse of the Nation is owned and operated by the market research firm TNS.

Asda sees it as a way to engage more effectively with its customers through the use of the digital channel.

Not only does this take more power away from the manufacturers and brand owners, it also takes the power away from the buyer, and turns it over to the customer. This can make for a very interesting dynamic, if it works, and it will be interesting to see how the product mix might change that exists on the store shelves.

Link: Read the article