Apparel

The trends to know for September through December 2012: textures, stripes and not a murse in sight.

American Apparel Inc. today announced that Jordan Schiff joined the company as general merchandise manager effective February 13, 2012. In that role, Schiff will be responsible for the merchandising strategy and execution for the brand globally.

HanesBrands reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2011. Citing competitive pricing and record cotton costs, the company said it would reduce its presence in the promotional market in 2012.

New research from the 2012 Ryan Partnership Chicago/Mambo Sprouts Marketing Styling Sustainability consumer apparel survey indicates consumers would increase eco-apparel purchasing if only they could find such products.

Survey data shows that consumers intend to double their eco-apparel purchases this year. In 2011, leading shopper interest were eco-apparel gateway categories such as footwear (23 percent), active/workout wear (21 percent) and women's casual wear (21 percent), with green options purchased by about one in five respondents. While seven in ten (69 percent) considered eco/sustainability at least sometimes when purchasing clothing in 2011, eco-fashion purchase intent doubles in nearly every category in 2012.

As part of its 2011 summation and 2012 preview, apparel news website just-style.com spoke to the presidents, buyers and designers of some of the world's most prominent clothing companies to find out what they think are the biggest concerns of the new year. Included in the article are interviews with Anthony Corsano, president and CEO of supplier Anvil Knitwear, and Mike Flanagan, CEO of apparel sourcing website Clothesource.

Some of the most common concerns are the cost of raw materials, especially cotton, and the labor and economic changes happening in China. Click the link below to read the full story.

After years of skimping on clothing American men are hitting the shopping malls in droves, a sure sign the economy is finally strengthening.

Sales of men's apparel are forecast to increase 8.26 percent in the first quarter, according to IBM Global Business Services. Men spent an estimated $8.4 billion on clothing last year.

That would be up 8.21 percent from 2010 and the largest increase in 20 years.

The estimates are based on data from the Census Bureau, which will publish detailed December apparel sales numbers later this month, and these figures do not include internet sales.

Fashion gurus are in Las Vegas, Nevada, for SOURCING at MAGIC, the world's largest fashion trade show. While sophisticated models were walking the catwalks of New York Fashion Week, SOURCING at MAGIC held the attention of fashion buyers, brands, media and decision-makers in the Mandalay Bay and Las Vegas convention centers to celebrate the business of fashion.

Every February and August, the fashion industry converges in Las Vegas for the most influential event in the business—MAGIC. As a fashion incubator, MAGIC is where buyers go to see new trends appear and eventually will be worn on the street.

This week Editor's Picks gets ready for summer, or at least lives in severe denial that it's February, by looking at some of the most popular promotional T-shirts.

Try these floral products to spruce up your springtime promotions.

Apparel manufacturer HanesBrands will host a live Internet audio webcast of its 2011 fourth-quarter investor conference call today at 4:30 p.m. EST.