About the show CHIC - a mature fair with 12 years' history, a symbol of innovation, a fashion party and a partner to grow with. After division into 2 sessions in 2004, CHIC is consolidating its status as the largest professional fashion fair in Asia. It declares to the world that a new era is coming! The year of 2005 is unusual for the garment industry. In this second session it includes Women? wear, Childrenwear and Accessories. CHIC2005 welcomes the participation of more, better, fresher

US apparel imports were not very strong in December 2004, only rising 6% in volume terms as the weakness in the US dollar continued depressing the market. For the last time, a series of Asian countries again benefited from the low level in China's quotas added to less adjustment in US limits in 2004, as indicated by our statistical tables. US apparel imports nearly rose 6% in volume terms in December 2004, finally up 4% in 2004. US apparel imports had increased by 9.32% in 2003, by comparison.

China is expected grabing a strong part of US apparel import market in man-made fiber categories, thanks to its polyester integrated industry. Also taking advantage of large polyester capacities, Indonesia could resist in a few categories while Vietnam could benefit from its very low labor costs after US quotas on its apparel will have been fully eliminated. Along with China's competitors, Indonesian and Vietnamese exporters of man-made fiber apparel had a glorious year on US market in 2004.

Japan's imports of cotton yarns further declined in 2004 in line with lower textile and apparel production. Market shares of China, Pakistan and India improved, however, to the detriment of exports from Indonesia and Thailand. Japan's imports of cotton yarns and threads were down more than 9% in volume terms in 2004 to 24,854 tons. Thanks to a nearly 8% rise in average unit prices, imports were only down 2% in yen terms. The rise in the yen against the US dollar probably limited the decline

Textile Expo Dubai, the International Machinery andaccessories Trade fair for the textile and fabric industry will take place at the Airport Expo Dubai ?DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE from 20 to 23 March 2005. The event that is well on track to become the largest textile machinery and accessories show of the Middle East, will showcase the latest and most innovative textile machines, equipments and allied products and services for the industry. The exhibitors to the show include manufacturers from al

Pantone, Inc., the leading provider of professional color standards for the graphic communications industry worldwide, today announced the most substantial redesign of its flagship product, the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM formula guide, in more than 30 years. The reproduction of color to exact standards is vitally important to designers, printers and their clients. The 2005 formula guide sets a new benchmark for color and includes color swatches that are nearly 25 percent larger for increased accura

The wait is only till the budget, for manufacturers of polyester staple fibre (PSF) and polyester filament yarn (PFY) in India.They hope the Finance Minister P Chidambaram announces reduction in his forthcoming budget in March 2005. It is then that they plan to raise their operating rates by 100% with the government announces reduction in the excise duty on polyester.Lower sales volumes and increasing competition from lower-priced cotton forced number of producers to lower their operating rates

Taiwan's exports of polyester filament fabrics began falling in the second part of 2004, reflecting a slowdown in global consumption. Higher polyester prices may also be behind the decline in sales of filament fabrics while apparel production could be down in a series of low-cost countries. Taiwan's exports of dyed polyester fabrics made from textured yarns (HS 540752) were down nearly 5% over the January-November period of 2004, reflecting a rise in shipments until May, followed by a double-d

Changing competitive conditions, above all at the lower end of the market is increasingly hurting the Italian fashion industry, which, in contrast to other west European countries such as the UK, France and Germany, has so far been able to defend its capacities with considerable success. A survey released by Italian union Filtea CGIL Milano revealed that at the end of 2004 around 91,000 employees in the textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods sectors, faced redundancy, premature retiremen

German textile industry association Gesamttextil will open a branch in Shanghai on 4 April 2005, in cooperation with the industry bodies of Austria and Switzerland. Gesamttextil general manager Wolf-Ruediger Baumann will head the new company, which will focus on making contacts and providing information to customers.