International
News
- October 2006
August 25, 2006 (Emerging Textiles) - The US Wednesday
announced an agreement with the Philippines to cooperate
on eradicating the practice of illegal re-shipments of
textile and clothing goods. The move comes as part of a
US clampdown on imports from countries suspected of rerouting
goods made in China, subject to quotas in the US. A joint
strategy is also being pursued by Congress, customs and
US textile manufacturers.
As part of its strategy to stamp out illegal re-shipping
of clothing and textiles, the US unveiled a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with the Philippines aimed at improving
cooperation between both countries.
With China restricted by quotas, the US fears that the
coinciding rise in imports from other Asian exporters could
be in part due to the rerouting of apparel and textile
goods manufactured on the Chinese mainland.
In the first half of 2006, shipments of apparel from
the Philippines had increased 27.9 per cent compared to
the same period one year earlier.
The United States is the key market with 80 percent of
exports from the Philippines destined for US ports worth
around US$2 billion.
US Trade Representative, Susan Schwab, who signed the
MoU with Philippines Secretary of Trade and Industry, Peter
Flavila, announced the partnership would boost customs
cooperation.
US Congress, customs and textile manufacturers are already
pursuing a joint strategy to combat the illegal transshipments.
The House of Representatives and Senate in the US passed
legislation providing US$4 million towards the textile
and apparel trade enforcement efforts.
Investigations by US Customs and Border Protection and
verification teams have to date unearthed numerous violations
and suspicious operations.
Around 100 factories have so far been visited in countries
such as Swaziland, Vietnam, Egypt and South Africa with
11 being shut down as a consequence of the team's findings
while another 30 have been placed under high risk surveillance.
Washington is also currently working on MoU's with both
Taiwan and Indonesia, highly suspected of exporting goods
originating from China.
Imports from Indonesia in the first half have increased
year-on-year by 20 per cent in volume terms.
While the volume of imports from China has fallen 14.64
percent in the first half of 2006, shipments have been
more severely affected in categories operating under quotas.
For example, imports of cotton woven trousers have fallen
around 80 percent in 2006.
At the same time, these categories arriving from Hong
Kong and Indonesia have been on the increase.
While such gains may be down to taking competitive edge,
reports of transshipments have been suggested in these
countries from various sources
The US, as with the Philippines, has already concluded
agreements with Hong Kong and Macao to ensure fair trade
practices.
But the European Union is reportedly keeping a close
eye on goods arriving from both Hong Kong and Macao, suspicious
of illegal rerouting.
China has since announced a new policy which it hopes
will undermine the growing illegal trade.
Many exporters will now be able to pay lower prices when
bidding for quotas, and Beijing thinks this will deter
many from seeking other passages to the US market.
The US government defines transshipment as: Involving
the falsification of a product's country of origin in order
to escape quotas or avoid paying import duties.
Textiles made in countries such as the Philippines that
are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are not
subject to quota restrictions.
Duties on textile imports represent an important source
of revenue for the US amounting to 43 percent of all customs
revenue.
Ankara, August 30, 2006 (Turkish Daily News) - Women
police offers are most impressed by the police uniform
when making career decisions, revealed the results of a
recent survey conducted by Associate Sociology Professor
Gülsen Demir of Adnan Menderes University.
The survey, conducted among women officers aged 25-35
of the Aydın Provincial Security Directorate aimed
to evaluate how policewomen related to their profession.
Respondents answered questions about their personal and
family life, work environment and values. Most of the policewomen
surveyed had a university degree, said Demir. The fathers
of a majority of the female officers were public servants,
with about a half of them being police officers.
The survey found that almost all officers' husbands were
also with the police force.
“All the female officers we talked to said they
were happy about being working women. This happiness is
based on, in their words, having financial freedom,” Demir
said.
Demir indicated that a very low number of female officers
said they chose to become policewomen in order to have
a profession, “the quick and easy way.”
“A majority of them were motivated by ‘becoming
a police officer.' The ‘appeal of the uniform' and
consequently the ‘desire for power' appear to be
the dominant expressions reflecting that tendency. Most
of the respondents said they were influenced by officers
in their families. From most of the respondents we received
such answers as “I've always been impressed by the
uniform, even as a kid,” “I really liked the
outfit since primary school” and “I was influenced
by my father in his police uniform.” The desire to
have a say in society is another factor in these women's
career choice.”
Demir said the desire of female officers to join the
force was a way for them to handle their relations with
men. Policewomen who love their jobs said almost without
exception they would have liked to have become a teacher
had they not made it into the police force.
Demir said female police officers believed that the average
citizen would be more willing to cooperate with the police
if more female officers were recruited. “Male officers
often think taking orders from a female superintendent
hurts their pride. Women officers are not welcome on the
police force, and policemen whose wives do not work are
jealous of their colleagues earning two paychecks.”
Women officers who are mothers also encounter difficulties
for being called to duty at different times. Most women
believed they couldn't continue their careers as police
officers if their spouses were not policemen.
Female officers believe that all women should work, the
study found.
Guangzhou, China, August 28, 2006 - China Southern Airlines,
with the largest and most technically advanced aircraft
fleet in The People's Republic of China, is pleased to
unveil a chic new collection of flight attendant uniforms
that would turn heads from the catwalk of any Paris or
New York fashion show.
Starting August 28th, China Southern will “send an unmistakable message
to the airline world that we have arrived on the global stage … and
we are here to stay,” said Mr. He Zong Kai, vice president, China Southern
Airlines.
He added that, “gone are the old days of Militaristic-style uniforms
of one solid color. China Southern has arrived on the International jet set
and our new look is a bold statement to say this is who we are in our China
Southern Airlines and we are proud of our airline and our people. And we have
every right to be. The more than 40,000 staff of China Southern has worked
diligently to build our airline company into one of the world’s best … now
is the time to strut our stuff!”
More than 18 designs were submitted by fashion designers around the globe with
the final models taken from a collection by Mr. Soh.
As part of the fashion statements of his design, the
6,000 China Southern flight attendants will be featured
in Mr. Soh’s concept to create a unique “Oriental
Culture”, one which is harmoniously blended with
China Southern’s unique individuality as the largest
airline of China”. The designer took the Orient as
his canvas and molded in the aesthetic essence from the
East while using functionality from Western elements to
craft this charming new identity for China Southern Airlines.
Mr. Soh’s collection includes the company’s traditional colors
of red and blue … but significantly advanced it with winter coats and
aprons as well as varieties of suits, shirts, vests, pants and even a windbreaker.
Mr. Soh also used pink silks to accent his designs to create comfortable contours.
His fluid designs accent the natural beauty of each of the flight attendants
with angled lines and delicate use of gold accents.
Suites of red and blue striped fabric are bold and empower each uniform with
its own lively appeal. The overall effect is warm, clean and elegant … and
clearly places China Southern on the same International platform as any of
the world’s best airlines.
China Southern’s new flight attendant uniforms
have applications of China's best woolen cloth, with shirts
from famous Japanese manufacturers and imported clothing
including Italian cashmere. All seven variations of Mr.
Soh’s work are electrostatic and wrinkle-free … yet
are waterproof and breathable.
To view photos from the collection, visit http://www.admail.net/view/48fb66/689aad/
Toronto, August 25, 2006 (Toronto Star) - No wonder some
flight attendants can be mean as snakes.
Cost-cutting has resulted in shoddy uniforms that one
pilot feels are as hard to stomach as airline food.
“In a cheaply made uniform, you feel more like
a bus driver than airline crew,” commented pilot
Pino Ruggiero last night at Lobby lounge. That certainly
won’t be the case with the uniforms unveiled at Lobby
for Porter Airlines, the plucky start-up scheduled to begin
flying out of Toronto City Centre Airport next month.
Porter’s sleek navy dresses, three button suits,
pencil skirts and white cotton shirts have been designed
by Kimberley Newport-Mimran, whose Pink Tartan brand is
a favorite Canadian label known for high quality, contemporary
classics.
Tyler Brule, the Canadian-born head of London-based Winkreative
advertising agency, drafted the initial concept for the
uniforms and Newport-Mimran added her signatures.
“I wanted a look that related back to the days
when airline travel was glamorous,” Newport-Mimran
explained, amid blown-up images of Coco Chanel and Jackie
Kennedy emerging from airplanes in suits, pearls and high
heels.
The women’s fine wool jackets have a stylish peplum
and bright blue felt collar backing, crisp white cotton
shirts have “Porter blue” buttonholes, and
navy cardigans and pullovers are knit from Merino wool
yarn.
Fashion editors were cooing over the outerwear: a shimmery
navy trench and a lean black down coat.
“The down coat is 100 per cent silk so the women
won’t overheat,” Newport-Mimran describes. “And
it’s a skinny cut which was very hard to achieve
in down. But this coat is very slimming.”
The pillbox hats that models were sporting last night
have not been finalized. But Newport-Mimran has recommended
Cole-Haan oxfords for the men, and for the women, black
flats with grosgrain trim from Joe Fresh Style, designed
by her husband Joseph Mimran for Loblaw‘s Real Canadian
Superstores.
Porter Airlines purser Stacey McDonald says that she,
and some colleagues who work for the competition, are very
impressed. “I’ve had friends say they want
to come over (to Porter) just because of the uniforms.”
And Ruggiero, sporting his made-in-Italy pilot suit last
night, is equally pleased. “The look, feel and quality
is far superior to any uniform I’ve ever worn. We
were all fitted more than once, so it doesn’t feel
off the rack. It feels more like a high end suit that you
would buy for yourself.”
Porter Airlines CEO Bob Deluce believes the posh outfits
will result in staff that acts the part.
“Kim has created uniforms that are more suited
to a fashion runway than an airport runway,” Deluce
says. “If you look good, you feel good and that will
translate to great customer service.”
Calgary, September 13, 2006 (Calgary.ctv) - Terrorism
has changed the way military responds to conflicts.
It has also prompted scientists to come up with a uniform
that will better protect our soldiers.
Front-line combaters have to deal with all kinds of threats
including chemical and biological agents.
They have to put a suit over their uniforms for protection
against these elements.
The military wants to combine the two into one uniform.
Scientists came up with 40 different types of materials
and have now narrowed it down to four.
The next step is to find the fabric that will move well
on a soldier.
A moving, life-like mannequin, wired with sensors that
can detect any amount of agent, is being used to test the
remaining samples.
The cost of the project is pegged at just under 11 million
dollars.
Scientists say the fabric used to make the new uniform
could also be used for civilian emergency services agencies.
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