Trade Fair Aims to Spur Business for U.S. Textile Makers

Representatives from 17 U.S. textile operations will be in Guatemala in hopes of increasing their export of U.S.-manufactured cotton yarns and fabrics to Caribbean Basin countries as part of a CCI-sponsored Trade Fair.

September 10, 2003
Contact: Marjory Walker
(901) 274-9030

MEMPHIS, TN – Representatives from 17 U.S. textile operations will be in Guatemala next week in hopes of increasing their export of U.S.-manufactured cotton yarns and fabrics to Caribbean Basin countries.

That’s the aim of the Cotton Council International-sponsored COTTON USA Sourcing CBI Trade Fair, Sept. 17-18 in Antigua. CCI expects 70 Caribbean Basin region (CBI) executives, including 12 decision-makers from Asia with large operations in the CBI, to attend.

"This Sourcing Fair is a cornerstone of programs CCI organizes to support U.S. cotton textile mill exports," CCI President Bobby Carson said. "Exports to the CBI are important for maintaining U.S. mill cotton consumption and employment."

The Fair’s seminars will focus on producing better knit fabrics and knit apparel and feature presentations by: 1) Jim Grow, Cotton Incorporated’s associate director, fabric development, on technical developments in knit fabrics/apparel to increase the CBI garments’ quality; 2) Lou Protonentis, Cotton Incorporated’s director, Technical Services, Dyeing and Finishing, on functional fabric finishes, improving color fastness and reducing shrinkage. William Gray, vice president, sales and marketing, Murata Machinery USA Inc., will talk about the advantages and applications of air jet yarns and Mark Neuman, counselor for International Trade and Global Strategies for The Limited, Inc., will discuss U.S. apparel retailer sourcing requirements.

"The event’s highlight will be afternoon trade fairs both days that will facilitate one-on-one meetings between U.S. and CBI customers," said Vaughn Jordan, CCI’s director, Mexico & CBI. "These company meetings are pre-arranged for efficiency and to guarantee U.S. mills meet with appropriate companies regarding their particular products. We anticipate many business relationships will be established and others strengthened through this effort."

U.S. textile mills represented at the Fair include: American & Efird, Inc., Mount Holly, NC; Alice Mills, Inc., New York, NY; Ameritex Yarn, LLC, Burlington, NC; Arca Knitting, Inc., Hialeah, FL; Buhler Quality Yarns Corp., Jefferson, GA; Carolina Cotton Works, Inc., Gaffney, SC; Cheraw Yarn Mills, Inc., Four Leaf Textiles, LLC, Shelby, NC; Frontier Spinning Mills, Sanford, NC; National Textiles, LLC, Winston-Salem, NC; Parkdale Mills, Inc., Gastonia, NC; R.L. Stowe Mills, Inc., Belmont, NC; Ramtex, Inc., Ramseur, NC; Spectrum Dyed Yarns, Inc., Kings Mountain, NC; Swift Spinning Mills, Inc., Columbus, GA; Tuscarora Yarns, Inc., Gastonia, NC; and Wellstone Mills, Greenville, SC.