MAGIC show spotlights U.S. textile promotion

The August 2011 MAGIC international trade show for apparel, accessory and footwear manufacturers attracted 60,000 fashion and textile industry visitors to Las Vegas, and U.S. textile companies hosted an Americas Pavilion and summit to promote exporting. In 2010, the U.S. exported $19.7 billion in textiles and apparel, up 18.9 percent from 2009, and Francisco Sanchez, undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Commerce, sees opportunity for export growth, especially in advanced textiles for military, construction, medical and transportation end uses, and yarns from U.S. mills. “Orders are coming back to the region,” says Sanchez. “Quality, reliability, speed-to-market, preferential tariff treatment and cost structure play an important role.” Although it is number one in cotton exports, the U.S. is only the fourth largest exporter of textiles and apparel and the third largest global producer of manmade fibers. Get more information from the U.S. National Export Initiative.