Daily News Record back issues from October 2002:
NEWS IN BRIEF.
Oct 07, 2002 ... Haggar will kick off a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign on Oct. 13 for its Comfort Fit pants. A television commercial, which will air primarily on NFL games on CBS and ESPN, stars a contortionist who shows off the benefits of Comfort Fit's expandable waistline in everyday settings ...
HARTMARX ON RIGHT TRACK; MANUFACTURER POSTS PROFIT FOR THIRD QUARTER, EXPECTS CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT.
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Promises, promises. Buoyed by a small third-quarter profit, Hartmarx Corp. reaffirmed its pledge to register a profitable year overall, said it would exceed plans for reductions in debt and working capital and said next year should be marked by earnings ...
ZEGNA STEALS MILAN SPOTLIGHT; NEW MEN'S ACCESSORIES LAUNCH DRAWS CROWDS DURING WOMEN'S FASHION WEEK.
Oct 07, 2002; ... MILAN -- It may have been women's fashion week here, but Ermenegildo Zegna showed that a men's brand could also draw out the fashionistas. Hundreds of people clamored to enter Zegna's flagship in Via Verri during a cocktail launch last week of the company's new Twin Reverse Tie, Twin ...
BETWEEN THE LINES.
Oct 07, 2002 ... SEX A-PEEL: Underwear brand RIPS stole the show at the recent Macy's and American Express Passport event at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica when a bevy of L.A.'s most fat-free male models stripped out of black Body Glove wetsuits down to little white RIPS drawstring skivvies. Gasps could ...
BEAR MARKETING.
Oct 07, 2002; ... So, the men of Bear, Stearns are back to wearing suits and ties to work. A shock for some, no big deal for others who've been through this kind of thing before. What are they wearing? How much are they spending? A random sampling on a sunny Wednesday afternoon. Enrique, 37 ...
DONNA'S NEW CEO FACES UPHILL BATTLE IN MEN'S; FRED WILSON IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE EFFORTS FIRST IMPLEMENTED BY BRUSONE TO REFOCUS THE BRAND.
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- As Fred Wilson begins his second week as the newly installed CEO of Donna Karan International, industry observers expect him to steer a course similar to that of predecessor Giuseppe "Pino" Brusone in the company's ongoing effort to spruce up the Donna Karan and DKNY brands ...
THE WEIGHT IS OVER AT IDEABIELLA; RICH, SOFT, SUPER-LIGHT MEN'S WEAR FABRICS (EVEN CORDUROY) DRAPE ITALIAN TEXTILE SHOW.
Oct 07, 2002; ... CERNOBBIO, Italy -- The Italian textile industry may be experiencing one of its worst periods in recent history, but at Ideabiella designers and producers still managed to offer an impressive array of men's wear fabrics for the fall/winter 2003/2004 season. A new direction ...
EDDIE BAUER LOOKS HOMEWARD; SEATTLE-BASED RETAILER RETURNING TO OUTDOOR ROOTS TO BUCK DECLINING SALES TREND.
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Psst, Eddie Bauer, your roots are showing. Under the watchful eye of its new high-powered management team, the venerable Seattle-based specialty retailer has launched a multimillion-dollar ad campaign designed to emphasize the outdoor heritage of the company. This ...
PEERLESS: WE WANT SOME SPECIALTY TOO TAILORED CLOTHING GIANT EXPECTS NEW HIGHER-END DIVISION TO DO $25 MILLION ITS FIRST YEAR.
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Peerless is ready for a little specialty store action. The $250 million-plus, Montreal-based tailored clothing company has created the Peerless Clothing Group to launch its new Peerless Signature Collection, an upgraded line of engineered clothing exclusively for ...
UNITED PIECE DYE REVIVED AS EDENTON DYEING.
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- United Piece Dye Works, considered America's largest commission dyehouse, closed its doors in early August after 125 years in business. But last week Jasco Acquisitions Corp., a partnership of textile executives, reopened the Edenton, N.C.-based company as Edenton Dyeing & ...
BALANCE SHEET WINNERS AND LOSERS ON THE FISCAL BATTLEFIELD.
Oct 07, 2002; ... Current stockholders probably weren't consoled, or surprised, but WARNACO GROUP last Tuesday took a big step toward emerging from the bankrupt condition in which it's dwelled since June 2001 when it filed its plan of reorganization. The plan, which still needs court approval but has the ...
TOP OF THE HEAP ATRIUM HAS EMERGED AS NEW YORK'S NUMBER-ONE PREMIUM JEANS SPECIALIST.
Oct 07, 2002; ... The collective memory of the fashion industry is so short that it seems Atrium has always been the place to buy jeans in New York. In fact, when Uzi Ben-Avraham and his brother Sam opened their store at 644 Broadway eight years ago, jeans weren't what it was about. The big collection ...
SACKS AND THE CITY.
Oct 07, 2002 ... Whether canvas, snakeskin, leather or croc, great big oversized bags are one of the strongest trends to emerge from the European runways. Come spring '03, don't be surprised ...
SO, YOU WANT TO BREAK INTO MEN'S WEAR.
Oct 07, 2002; ... When a manufacturer tells me he's looking for a new designer name, I now have a standard reply: Haven't you been reading DNR? There's a bunch of young talent out there just dying to get into the business, and their names show up in our pages from time to time. I asked DNR's ...
SOMETHING'S AFOOT; DRESS HOSIERY (WITH A LITTLE COLOR) GAINS MOMENTUM, THANKS TO BUSINESS CASUAL'S SLOW DECLINE.
Oct 07, 2002; ... Vendors and specialty store retailers report a marked resurgence of classic dress hosiery as men revamp their wardrobes to coincide with a sober economy and a more serious business environment. After several seasons of casual styles dominating hosiery sales, patterns like ...
COVINGTON MEN'S SALES HAVE YET TO KICK IN; SEARS' NEW MEGABRAND HAS TOUGH START IN MEN'S BUT STRONG IN WOMEN'S, KIDS'.
Oct 07, 2002; ... COVINGTON, Ga. -- So far, not so good. That's the initial reading on the men's component of Sears' new Covington line -- at least in the Atlanta market. Although the line has been in stores for about a month, it has yet to take off in men's, according to local ...
DOW'S NEW FIBER TO COMPETE WITH LYCRA.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Dow Chemical Co. has reentered the fiber market with XLA polyethylene, which it touts as "a heat- and chemical-resistant elastic fiber" that can be used in combination with other fibers -- especially cotton -- to produce stretch fabrics "without a synthetic feel." ...
HATHAWAY TO CLOSE MAINE PLANT, MOVING OFFSHORE.
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Hathaway shirts, an American icon, will no longer be made in the U.S.A. Westport, Conn.-based Windsong/Allegiance Apparel Group, which bought the brand last September, confirmed last week that Hathaway's Waterville, Maine, manufacturing plant -- which has ...
CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT BALLY.
Oct 07, 2002; ... LONDON -- Scott Fellows will depart as creative director of Bally when his three-year contract expires at the end of this year. In an interview with DNR last week, Marco Franchini, the newly appointed chief executive and chairman of the board at Bally International AG, ...
OBITUARIES.(Obituary)
Oct 07, 2002 ... Sam Silverman, 82 Funeral services were held Sept. 24 for Sam Silverman, former president of Petrocelli Clothes, who died at his home in Tamarac, Fla., from complications following a heart attack. He retired from the industry at the end of 1975 when he sold the company to ...
CORRECTIONS.
Oct 07, 2002 ... NEW YORK -- Matteo Marzotto is general manager of the apparel division of the Marzotto Group. His affiliation was incorrect in a story in the Sept. 23 issue, page 22. Hee Jin Kang was the photographer who shot the cover of the most recent Vogue Hommes International. This was ...
TIE SCORE; THE NECKWEAR INDUSTRY IS FAR FROM ITS HEYDAY OF THE 1980S, BUT IT'S STILL A $1 BILLION-PLUS BUSINESS. HERE, THE TOP 10 NATIONAL BRANDS, BASED ON DOLLAR VOLUME ACROSS ALL CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTION, FOR TWELVE MONTHS ENDING JULY 2002.
Oct 07, 2002 ... 1) Van Heusen Total dollar volume: $42 million Licensed by Phillips-Van Heusen to Randa Corp., Van Heusen neckwear is an updated, traditional brand sold at Federated department stores and national chains like Bosov's, Bon-Ton and J.C. Penney for an average MSRP of ...
FORUM GROUP'S CURE FOR MEN'S MALAISE: "THE POWER OF NEW".
Oct 07, 2002; ... GREENWICH, Conn. -- The Power of New. It may sound like a trendy buzz phrase, but to the elite men's specialty stores that make up the Men's Apparel Forum -- which held its semiannual brainstorming session here last week at Richards of Greenwich -- those words are no empty slogan. ...
A BRAND NEW BAG.
Oct 07, 2002 ... The must-carry ...
REMEMBERING JOHN WEITZ; THE QUINTESSENTIALLY AMERICAN DESIGNER COMBINED INNOVATION WITH A FLAIR FOR SHOWBIZ.(Biography)
Oct 14, 2002; ... The year was 1968. In an elegant private dining room in the Essex House overlooking Central Park, about 30 of the top men's wear retailers and fashion press were seated, waiting for one of the first-ever men's fashion shows to begin. John Weitz, then in his mid-thirties, entered ...
NAUTICA TO TAKE CHARGE FOR UNDERPERFORMING NY STORE.(Nautica Enterprises Inc.)(Brief Article)
Oct 14, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Nautica Enterprises Inc. posted second-quarter profits that beat last year's charge-depleted results, but it also warned it will take a charge related to its underperforming flagship store. For the three months ended Aug. 31, Nautica's earnings climbed 17.2 ...
FREE COUNTRY VENTURES INTO TV ADVERTISING.
Oct 14, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Free Country, a New York-based outerwear label, is cranking up its advertising with a new television commercial. The company is spending $1.5 million on the spot, which was created by Free Country and its advertising agency, David Siriex. The TV ad expands on Free ...
JOS. A. BANK ADDS TO MERCHANDISING TEAM.(Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc.)(Brief Article)
Oct 14, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. has bolstered its merchandising team with the promotion of one key merchant and the addition of two others. Frank Barbarino has been promoted to the new post of divisional vice-president of worldwide sourcing for the Hampstead, Md.-based ...
CORRECTION.(Correction Notice)
Oct 14, 2002 ... ATLANTA -- Sears continues to carry the John Henry collection of men's wear. The retailer ...
OXFORD IS POISED FOR TURNAROUND COMPANY BENEFITS FROM REDUCED INVENTORIES, IMPROVED MARGINS AND COMPETITIVE SOURCING.(Oxford Industries expects increase in net income)(Brief Article)
Oct 14, 2002; ... ATLANTA -- Fiscal 2002 was probably the toughest in Oxford Industries' 60-year history, but CEO J. Hicks Lanier expects "dramatic increases" in net income in the second and third quarters. At the company's annual stockholders meeting here last week, Lanier said he is also ...
DALE EPSTEIN, 52.(funeral service for Merrill Sharpe Ltd sales representative)
Oct 14, 2002 ... NEW YORK -- Services have been held for Dale Epstein, Midwest sales representative for Merrill Sharpe Ltd., owner of the Riscatto brand. Epstein died in a motorcycle accident near his home in Missouri on Sept 28. He was 52. Before joining Merrill Sharpe 18 years ago, Epstein was a sales ...
WHAT'S SELLING.(list of four top-selling apparel items)(Brief Article)
Oct 14, 2002 ... 1. Boss Hugo Boss's basic three-button black suit, $795. Umberto International Clothier, Long Beach, Calif. "The versatility is the draw," says Tony Autore, assistant manager. "A black suit can go just about anywhere. You can also separate the two units and wear the jacket with a pair of ...
BETWEEN THE LINES.(brief news notes of events in fashion and publishing)
Oct 14, 2002 ... FROM CATCALLS TO CATWALK: They've treated women like sex objects since the invention of the hammer (we're talkin' construction workers, by the way). So, Timberland did a little table-turning last week, convincing a bunch of Chi-town laborers to model in its first "Working Man's Fashion ...
BALANCE SHEET WINNERS AND LOSERS ON THE FISCAL BATTLEFIELD.
Oct 14, 2002; ... Alan Lacy marked two years as chief executive of SEARS, ROEBUCK & CO. last month, and it's probably fair to say that last week may have been his least favorite of the more than 100 weeks he's now held the post. On Monday Lacy, in a moment notable both for the candor behind it and the ...
STRIPE SHOW; VERTICALS ADD A LITTLE PIZAZZ TO THE SLACKS MARKET. BUT WILL THEY PERFORM AT RETAIL?
Oct 14, 2002; ... The slacks market has long been mired in a sea of solid khakis and performance fabrics, and so signs suggest that stripes -- everything from seersuckers to bold pajama looks -- are poised to become sportswear's new best friend. Sunny Diego, director of men's fashion ...
JOHN MALKOVICH'S NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.(ultra-limited apparel line from actor John Malkovich; report from Fil Event)
Oct 14, 2002; ... Could we interest you in a linen Nervous Breakdown jacket? Or how about a cotton/linen Luggage Coat? Or a Taliban coat? All three have been designed by the actor John Malkovich and produced by a company called Mrs. Mudd, but you can't buy them -- at least, not yet. For the ...
LADIES' CHOICE.(a look at the 10 leading men's wear items purchased by women)
Oct 14, 2002 ... She can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan and never forget to buy new underwear for her man. Here are the top 10 men's apparel items most often bought by women, ranked by the percentage of adult women (18 or over) who have purchased each item within the past year. 1) ...
MEN'S STORES POST INCREASES IN SEPTEMBER.(men's wear retailers see boost in September 2002)
Oct 14, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Did the return of the suit offset the negative impact of unseasonably warm weather and an uncertain economy? Maybe, maybe not, but men's wear retailers bucked the general retail trend to post strong comparable-store sales gains in September. Favorable comparisons ...
STRIPE TEASE; STRIPE TEASE.(Slacks.)(Brief Article)
Oct 14, 2002 ... Spring ...
AFTER PROBE, C&B RESTATES FINANCIALS.(Cutter & Buck Inc)
Oct 14, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Cutter & Buck Inc. has restated its financial statements with "virtually" no change in cumulative net income or net worth for the three years ended April 30, 2002. However, the company said in a regulatory filing that it isn't in compliance with certain financial ...
NEWS IN BRIEF.(three short news items)(Brief Article)
Oct 14, 2002 ... Tiger Woods has signed an endorsement deal with luxury watch maker TAG Heuer, a division of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. The uber-golfer has signed a long-term agreement to be TAG Heuer's spokes-person starting Jan. 1. Details of the agreement were not made public but sources estimate ...
BURLINGTON REINVENTS ITSELF; TEXTILE PRODUCER TO BECOME A GLOBAL "VIRTUAL" FABRIC MAKER.(Burlington WorldWide Ltd)
Oct 14, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- "We are a completely different company now," said Peter Liu, president of Burlington WorldWide Ltd. He wasn't kidding. During an interview conducted last week in Burlington's high-security New York offices, Liu, who was visiting from BWW's Hong Kong ...
DONNA RESTRUCTURES, PENS NEW JEANS LICENSE.(new CEO at Donna Karan International makes changes)
Oct 14, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Newly installed Donna Karan International CEO Fred Wilson wasted little time shaking things up at the Seventh Avenue giant. Last week the company made three key executive appointments, realigned the company's operating structure into two separate divisions demarcated by brand ...
TENCEL BRANDING EFFORT PUSHES "MORE".(Brief Article)
Oct 14, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Tencel, the first lyocell fiber, celebrated its 10th anniversary last week with a launch of its new global branding program -- and a party. The fact that a fiber company would actually throw a party these days was enough to generate excitement among the customers and ...
MIMMO'S PRIMOS.(Domenico Spano greets esteemed customers at Saks Fifth Avenue)(Brief Article)
Oct 14, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- It was Domenico "Mimmo" Spano's night at Saks Fifth Avenue when the custom tailor greeted about 100 of his best customers during a recent party co-hosted by Esquire magazine at the store's 5th Avenue Men's Club. Mimmo's message was all about power dressing and he outfitted 20 ...
NO TAGS REQUIRED.(Hanes offers T-shirts without tags)(Brief Article)
Oct 21, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- No, it wasn't New Years Eve, but Dick Clark was in Times Square last week anyway -- this time to help launch Hanes' new tagless T-shirt. He was joined by a patriotic Mr. T, who wore one with his Old Glory-inspired pants, shoes and bandana. "I pity the fool who wears a ...
JOCKEY, IT AIN'T JUST BOXERS.(ad campaign to focus on products other than underwear)(Brief Article)
Oct 21, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Jockey doesn't want to be thought of as an underwear brand -- or at least not just an underwear brand. The Kenosha, Wis.-based company is launching its first ever underwear-free consumer advertising campaign, instead focusing on its full breadth of product from babywear to ...
INDIA'S LEATHER MAKERS PLAYING CATCH-UP.(US leather market)
Oct 21, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- India is out to grab a bigger slice of the American leather market. Last week's "Think Leather, Think India" show, sponsored by the country's Council for Leather Exports, showcased 16 top leatherwear manufacturers and their growing capability to sell the American ...
POLO COUGHS UP $70M TO BUY ITS JAPANESE LICENSE.(Polo Ralph Lauren)
Oct 21, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Polo turned its attention to the Far East last week, announcing that it would invest $70 million to increase direct management of its growing business in Japan. Two years ago the company made a similar move in Europe, acquiring its European license and taking ...
CORDUROY IS KING AT MATERIAL WORLD.
Oct 21, 2002; ... MIAMI BEACH -- Corduroy is still hot. Texture and design are making their marks on activewear fabrics. And global sourcing is reaching into all corners of the world, creating the need for new partnerships and sourcing patterns. That was the word from Material World, the ...
CUSTOM CONNECTION.(Forbes magazine's CEO Summit)(Brief Article)
Oct 21, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- What better way to preview a three-day bespoke selling event than taking the show on the road? That's just what Saks Fifth Avenue did, traveling to Forbes magazine's recent CEO Summit at the new Ritz Carlton hotel. The store topped it off with an invitation-only cocktail ...
BALANCE SHEET: WINNERS AND LOSERS ON THE FISCAL BATTLEFIELD.
Oct 21, 2002; ... Other companies should have LVMH MOT HENNESSY LOUIS VUITTON's problems. Hit by weak tourism, luxury mega-player LVMH said growth stalled in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, with sales advancing only $50 million, or 1.7 percent, to $3 billion from $2.95 billion a year ago. Still, the ...
DUPONT, OUTLAST PARTNERING ON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS.(Outlast Technologies, high performance clothing market)(Brief Article)
Oct 21, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- DuPont is turning its attention to the high-performance apparel market. As part of its previously announced strategy to pursue strategic alliances, DuPont Textiles & Interiors has formed an equity partnership with Outlast Technologies, a pioneer in phase-change ...
THE NEW DUKE OF EARL TAKHAR NAMED PRESIDENT OF EARL JEAN; NAUTICA DIVISION AIMS FOR DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH IN EUROPE AND U.S.(Bonnie Takhar)
Oct 21, 2002; ... Bonnie Takhar has been promoted to president of Earl Jean, replacing Joe Krafka. Takhar, who was managing director of Earl Jean Europe, is now responsible for managing the Earl Jean men's and women's business worldwide. She reports to Harvey Sanders, chairman, president and ...
FACE THE MUSIC; FAME CAN BE EPHEMERAL -- SO HOW CAN A STAR'S BRAND AVOID BECOMING THE NEXT BIG FLOP?(music stars introduce clothing lines)
Oct 21, 2002; ... In this summer's theme song, "Hot in Herre," rap phenomenon Nelly advised his young and overheated listeners to take off all their clothes. Now that he has gotten the youth market naked, Nelly surely hopes to clothe its members with looks from his own fashion line, Vokal. ...
STORES THAT ROCK.(clothing that rock stars wear and where they shop)
Oct 21, 2002 ... The invitation to a recent New York benefit dinner instructed attendees to "dress like a rock star." But in an era when Christina Aguilera's outfits are measured in micrometers and Insane Clown Posse makes Kiss seem conservative, where can a wannabe turn to get some respectable clothes? ...
ROCK STEADY.(musicians market clothing lines)(Brief Article)
Oct 21, 2002 ... No doubt about it -- the marriage between music and fashion has never been stronger, as artists like Nelly, Master P, Snoop Dogg and Carlos Santana create fresh new ...
STRIKE UP THE BRAND; ACTION SPORTS COMPANIES FINE-TUNE THEIR IMAGE BY LAUNCHING RECORD LABELS AND SPONSORING ALBUMS.
Oct 21, 2002; ... Southern California, home of almost every major action sports company, is also the birthplace of many a garage-band-turned-big-shot: No Doubt, Blink 182, Sugar Ray and The Offspring among them. In fact, in this little corner of the world, the music and action sports industries ...
LEVI'S HAAS RIVETS CROWD AT AIDS FUNDRAISER.(Bob Haas)
Oct 21, 2002; ... Levi's and MTV celebrated their partnership to increase AIDS awareness among the world's youth at a sold-out fundraising dinner at the scenic Tribeca Rooftop in Manhattan on Oct. 7. Together with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Levi's and MTV were ...
DAVOUCCI AND BIG DADDY GO HOLLYWOOD.(to provide clothing for actors in films)(Brief Article)
Oct 21, 2002; ... The love affair between fashion and Hollywood is a lucrative business, and young men's brands are wasting no time cashing in on movie partnerships. At least two young men's labels, Davoucci and Big Daddy, have teamed with film studios to wardrobe stars of upcoming movies and thereby gain ...
ROCK & ROLL RETAILING.(Threads That Rock the World trade show program plans)(Brief Article)
Oct 21, 2002; ... The Threads That Rock The World trade show and conference, which will take place Feb. 17-19 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, has announced a lineup of industry leaders that will be part of the show's several panels. Symposium topics will include: music and fashion ...
JORDAN'S TWO3: IT'S BETTER IN THE BAHAMAS.(Michael Jordan, men's sportswear collection)(Brief Article)
Oct 21, 2002; ... While the fashion world converged upon New York for Fashion Week, Michael Jordan escaped to the Bahamas -- to unveil his spring-summer '03 Two3 collection of men's sportswear. The show, which was combined with the 2002 Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational golf tournament, was ...
IFFE BUYERS BRAVE NEW YORK'S NOR'EASTER.(International Fashion Fabric Exhibition)
Oct 21, 2002; ... Last week's International Fashion Fabric Exhibition, held at New York City's Javits Center, might easily have turned out to be a real disaster. The IFFE event, produced by Advanstar Communications, immediately followed a fabric show in Miami and immediately preceded another one in Los ...
WHAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT.(retail and clothing industry)
Oct 21, 2002; ... A veteran sportswear executive said at lunch last week, "Each season I find myself saying "It was never like this before." And I said, "Welcome to the club." I've heard this kind of thing for years, but it's happening a lot more often this fall. It's not about the obvious ...
IT'S A MALL WORLD, AFTER ALL.(top 10 US shopping centers)(Directory)(Illustration)
Oct 21, 2002 ... The top 10 most productive shopping centers in the U.S., based on average sales per square foot. 1) Bal Harbour Shops, Bal Harbour, Fla. Sales per square foot: $1,350 Owned and developed 37 years ago by shopping center visionary Stanley Whitman, this mall, ...