May 7: There's a saying that if you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes and it will change. ... Now, more than two years into the Trump administration, it seems we can appropriate and update Mark Twain's aphorism in this way: If you don't like trade policy, just wait five minutes and it will change.
(Source: Sourcing Journal, op-ed from AAFA's Steve Lamar - article unlocked)

May 7: China’s top trade negotiator is heading to Washington for two days of trade talks, despite President Trump's threat to impose new tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of Chinese goods.
(Source: New York Times)

May 7: ... New tariffs would hit the core of clothing and footwear imports, said Rick Helfenbein, president and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association. ... "This confirms our worst fears. There are those of us who are optimists and thought it would go away and those who say it could come back at any time - and this points to the latter." (Source: CNN)

May 6: ... From marathoners to weekend activewear fans, sneaker buyers across America will have to pay more for running, tennis or soccer shoes, some of the $11.4 billion of footwear the U.S. imported from China last year. The American Apparel & Footwear Association said consumers are already facing higher prices after almost a year of trade tensions. "Now the crisis will only get worse," it said in a statement. The association estimates that a family of four will pay at least $500 more a year on apparel and footwear if the threatened tariffs are levied. (Source: Bloomberg)

May 7: All the recycled water-bottle sneakers, organic cotton tote bags, and mushroom-leather belts on retailers’ shelves last season weren’t enough to turn back the dial on the fashion industry’s environmental footprint. (Source: Bloomberg)

May 5: The United States Army wanted a spiffy new service uniform, one that would stand out in a tough recruiting environment and polish the Army’s image after a generation of grinding and divisive wars. So it turned the clock back. Way back. (Source: New York Times)

May 3: ... Writing in a May 2 letter addressed to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the companies—including among others Nike, Gap Inc., and Levi Strauss—urged government action to address international criticisms of its rights record. (Source: Radio Free Asia)

May 7: While U.S. President Donald Trump is busy imposing additional tariffs on Chinese goods in the nations’ ongoing trade war centering on Chinese treatment of U.S. intellectual property, Louis Vuitton is taking steps of its own to address some of the widespread issues it faces in connection with its Chinese entities’ infringement of its rights. The Paris-based brand filed suit against two subsidiaries of China’s shoe giant, Belle International, late last week, asserting infringement in connection with its Arclight sneakers.
(Source: The Fashion Law)

May 3: ... "Do you consider yourself a connoisseur of Rolex watches and Louis Vuitton purses? If you aren't don't worry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have a keen eye for these fakes," a statement on the seizures said. So how do they do it? (Source: Cincinnati Enquirer)

April 30: Palika Bazaar, as one of the country’s first air-conditioned underground markets, has evolved in the past two-three decades to become one of the biggest counterfeit markets in the capital, attracting a diverse group of young and old consumers who prefer to buy different forms of counterfeits—from clothes, bags, and footwear, to electronics to home décor. (Source: Fortune India)

 

 

AAFA President and CEO Rick Helfenbein joins CNBC Asia on May 6 where he explains the impact of tariffs on consumers and members, describing a retail "quandary” despite positive economic factors. Watch now.

Labor and human rights letter to Cambodia: On May 2, a coalition of 20 international brands signed on to a letter organized by AAFA and the Fair Labor Association (FLA) to Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen on labor and human rights. Access the letter.

Through the lens at the American Image Awards: View photos on Flickr and click below to watch the video.

A look back at the 41st AAFA American Image Awards on April 15 — celebrating the accomplishments of the fashion and retail industry at the iconic Plaza Hotel in New York City. Watch now.

See all of AAFA’s latest letters, comments, and testimony here.