The Newly Formed Children's Apparel Group Working Together on Industry Issues
Under the merger agreement, the members of the Childrenswear Marketing Association (CMA) joined the American Apparel Manufacturers Association (AAMA) to form the AAMA Childrenswear Marketing Division.
Andrew Kahn, the newly elected Chairman of the CMD, said the new group was established to help childrenswear companies work together on matters of common concern. "The CMD has a goal to perform a high level of communication on serious industry issues to all its members," said Kahn of Kahn Lucas Lancaster Inc. in New York. "Additionally, we intend to be consistent with AAMA practices in integrating our members with ladies' and menswear manufacturers. The byproduct will be a higher level of awareness and focus to resolve industry problems."
Kahn's call for a united industry approach is reflected in the CMD's new Mission Statement, which was formally adopted during the group's Feb. 29 organizational meeting.
Kahn added that the resources of the AAMA, including its 21 committees focusing on everything from technology to government relations and marketing, will help the CMD achieve the goals outlined in its mission statement. A number of specific objectives endorsed by CMD members at their recent meeting include:
- Improving the Manufacturer/Retailer Network – Enhance retailer/manufacturer cooperation on issues ranging from codes of conduct for the treatment of workers to expanding participation in the VICS program, which facilitates communication between retailers and manufacturers.
- Standardizing Product Sourcing – Strive to create a standard method of communication to facilitate efforts to source the manufacture of products.
- Maximizing the Power of the Internet – Promote education and the development of standard business applications for communicating directly with consumers.
- Enhancing Trade Show Benefits – Explore the idea of CMD members exhibiting their products collectively at trade shows, i.e., creating a CMD/AAMA pavilion program.
CMD Vice Chairman Leonard Schwab, said "The Schwab Company has been a member of the AAMA for many years. Had we not had AAMA to turn to, we could not have grown and kept in compliance with the government regulations that are required of us. Most of the changes in the children's sleepwear laws have been resolved in a manner acceptable to us thanks to the AAMA's efforts. As AAMA members, we have available to us the entire staff of AAMA, each of whom are specialists in whatever problems you may have."
Childrenswear Marketing Division Members
Thomas H. Ackerman Jr.
New ICM LLC
Patricia D. Aiken
Patricia Aiken Designs, Inc.
Jay Andrews
Kleinert's, Inc.
David Barber
Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company
Steven Begleiter
Kobe Kids
Laura Bernstein
Candlesticks, Inc.
Lucille Bertorello
Wundies, Inc.
Stan Birken
G & W Industries
James Ciccone
Wellman Inc. - Fibers Division
William L. Cohen
The Andover Apparel Group, Inc.
Jill Coleman
Avery Dennison Worldwide Ticketing Services
Jerry Cook
Sara Lee Branded Apparel
Henry C. Cowen
Evy of California
James H. Crossingham
Spencer's Inc.
Mel David
Crown-Tex Corp.
John Deakins
London Fog Kids
Morris Esquenazi
Josmo Shoes
Michael Fallas
Sugar Plum, Inc.
Robert Flug
S.L. Danielle, Inc.
Chuck Flynt
Flynt Fabrics, Inc.
Michael Friedland
Breaking Waves
Donald Gaffney
Samara Brothers, Inc.
Michael Gale
Warnaco Inc.
Larry Gall
Gerber Childrenswear, Inc.
Hugh Gaunt
S. Rothchild & Co., Inc.
Robert Gershin
Prestige Toy Corporation
Matthew Gerson
Gerson & Gerson, Inc.
Katherine Gold
Gold Bug
Stanley Goldberg
High Point Knitting
Julie Goldscheider
Impact Imports International, Inc.
Bilha Goodman
Children's Business
Mark Ham
Flapdoodles
H. H. Hewitt
Specialized Technologies Resources
Thomas W. Hudson
Earnshaw's Publications, Inc.
Douglas W. Hyde
Oshkosh B'Gosh, Inc.
Choyce Johnson
Wellman Inc. - Fibers Division
Andrew Kahn
Kahn Lucas Lancaster
Alvin Kaplan
Triboro Quilt Manufacturing Corporation
Bruce Katz
E. S. Sutton
Eleanor Keene
VF Playwear
Martin B. Kramer
Trimfit, Inc.
Geoffrey Krasnov
Gee Kay Knit Products, Inc.
Christine Lanigan
Gerber Childrenswear, Inc.
Karen Leopold
P. J. and Me/Dream Apparel Group
Bonnie Levy
Aetna Division of Jaclyn, Inc.
Michael Liff
Springs Baby Products
Steven E. Loftin
The William Carter Company
Paul Lun
C. K. Enterprises
Charles Mamiye
Mamiye Brothers, Inc.
Herb Missry
Baby Togs, Inc.
Mark Nitzberg
Topsville, Inc.
William Nomberg
Wex-Tex Industries
Nina Pastor
Cassie Cotillion, Inc.
Jennifer Pritchard
The William Carter Company
Jack Rahmey
Rahmey International
Christopher Robins
Paxar Corporation
Jerry Rosenau
Philadelphia University
James Rosenfeld
Fishman & Tobin, Inc.
Sandy Rowe
Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc.
Marvin J. Sandberg
PCA Apparel Industries, Inc.
Murray A. Sarway
Dover Kidz
Peter Scheintoch
Good Lad
Leonard C. Schwab
S. Schwab Company, Inc.
Stephen Sears
Robin International –
USA Casual Time Division
Alan Seelenfreund
The Quiltex Company, Inc.
Fred B. Senseman
Robinson Manufacturing Company Inc.
Jack Siegel
Helmsley-Spear, Inc.
Leland Smith
Baby Lulu
Jeff Steber
Sara's Prints, Inc.
Burton Stern
Imp Originals
Steve Stroup
Trimfoot Company
Lee Troop
Terry Products
Hilda B. Warner
Guilford Mills, Inc.
For more information about the American Apparel Manufacturers Association, contact Carrie Brooker, 2500 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 301, Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: 703/797-9031, 800/520-AAMA, Fax: 703/522-6741
Email: cbooker@americanapparel.org
Contributed by the American Apparel Manufacturers Association
Edited by Anndrea Vorobej