SOURCING At MAGIC Leads 'Made In Americas' Initiative

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With the fashion industry at the forefront of the Obama administration's initiative to support both U.S. manufacturing and trade agreements within the Western Hemisphere, SOURCING at MAGIC and the U.S. Department of Commerce will host the second annual Americas Pavilion and Summit.  "Sourcing in the Americas" will highlight the United States and Western Hemisphere supply chain network.

Returning to the show for a second year to discuss key issues ranging from trade to manufacturing, are Obama Administration official Francisco Sanchez, Commerce Under Secretary for  International Trade, Commerce Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel, Kim Glas, and Gail Strickler, Assistant United States Trade Representative for Textiles and Apparel.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will also be in attendance to launch a "Made in Los Angeles" Pavilion. The Pavilion will showcase Los Angeles' thriving apparel manufacturing sector--the largest manufacturing sector in the LA region.  LA apparel manufacturers support over 48,000 jobs in an industry that generates $13 billion in revenue for the region. The City of Los Angeles has made it a top priority to keep and attract them through local policy initiatives.

"Building on the huge success we had last year, we felt it critical to return with another Americas Pavilion and Summit to highlight Made in America products," said Under Secretary Sanchez. "As the largest textile and apparel event of its kind, this forum provides American businesses with a unique opportunity to highlight Made in America products to a global audience."

"The fashion supply chain has become as important to the consumer and industry as design. Where and how products are made effects jobs, impacts the environment and influences the perception of a brand," said Tom Florio, CEO of Advanstar Fashion Group.

"Made in the Americas" will be a central theme of several key sessions of SOURCING at MAGIC's educational seminar series, including:

• Made in the U.S.A. – Options and Strategies for Sourcing Apparel and Home Furnishings – With opening remarks by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa – panelists will discuss how apparel brands and retailers are re-thinking their sourcing strategies to include a broader range of products made in the USA.  Panelists from Nanette Lepore, New Balance, Brooks Brothers, Karen Kane and Francisco Sanchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade . Monday, August 20^th.
•  Closer to Home: Sourcing in the Americas – Insights for apparel and footwear sourcing executives, including the advantages of pairing U.S. production with Central and South American materials, world-class operational examples and accessing duty-free trade benefits via CAFTA, NAFTA and free trade agreements with Colombia, Peru and Chile. Panelists from JC Penny and Lanier/Oxford. Monday, August 20^th.

SOURCING at MAGIC also continues to provide resources and opportunities unparalleled in a domestic and international scope via its complete series of educational seminars. A full listing is available at http://www.magiconline.com/seminars: 

• Footwear Sourcing Options: Regional Manufacturing Updates – Information for managing the latest sourcing challenges affecting footwear brands and retailers, such as changes in government regulations, trade negotiations, raw material suppliers and global manufacturing options. Speakers from The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America, Brown Shoe Company and Wolverine Worldwide, Inc. Tuesday, August 21^st.
• Apparel Magazine's 6^TH Annual Sourcing Summit – An exclusive analysis recounts the findings from Apparel Magazine's annual survey of sourcing executives conducted in conjunction with Kurt Salmon -- outlining trends in global sourcing, criteria for factory/country selection and other new strategies and innovations impacting the global apparel supply chain. Speakers from Encompass Group LLC, Kurt Salmon, Superior Uniform Group, Lectra. Tuesday, August 21^st.

About SOURCING at MAGIC
SOURCING at MAGIC is North America's largest, most comprehensive sourcing event, reflecting the fashion supply chain at its most complete. SOURCING at MAGIC offers unmatched access to over 43 countries representing the world's most important markets. This year's show will feature more than 1,000 apparel, accessories, footwear and home textile resources, plus over 200 fabric, trim and component resources – our largest offering to date. SOURCING at MAGIC opens at noon on August 20 through August 23, 2012 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

About MAGIC
Every August and February, the fashion industry converges in Las Vegas for the most influential event in the business – MAGIC. As an incubator of fashion, MAGIC is where new trends surface and develop into what will be seen on the consumer. The show's goal is to connect and inspire the fashion community. The August 2012 MAGIC will run from August 20 – 23, 2012. For up-to-date exhibitor listings, seminar scheduling, travel support and registration information please visit www.magiconline.com. 

SOURCE MAGIC International