IN THEORY: Anticipating a huge exodus from Manhattan later this week, Theory plans to host an end-of-summer cocktail party and photo exhibition at its East Hampton store on Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m., celebrating photographer Michael Dweck’s photo book, “The End. Montauk, N.Y.”
NEW PARTNERS: Seeking to boost its Asian resources, the Material World textile and sourcing event is partnering with the ASAP Global Sourcing Show for its next installment running March 16-18. ASAP’s presence at the show will bring in 25 countries, including China, India and Pakistan. It will occupy 50,000 square feet at the show in Atlanta, featuring more than 200 booths representing 300 companies. Show organizers plan to announce the new relationship today at a press conference in Las Vegas. “Our alliance with ASAP will create a more balanced representation from around the world,” said Tim von Gal, executive vice president of Material World’s show owner and producer, Urban Expositions. Von Gal said the deal ties in with the expected growing shift of apparel manufacturing to Asia — particularly China — when quotas are lifted on Jan. 1. At the same time, those Asian exhibitors are seeking to broaden their penetration in South America, and the Material World show provides that gateway, said Frank Yuan, chairman and chief executive officer of ASAP, a division of Cyber Merchants Exchange, an online trading and logistics firm.
SPANISH FLY: El Corte Ingles, the Spanish retailer, on Monday reported profits last year rose 8.2 percent to 576.1 million euros, or $691.3 million converted at current exchange rates. Sales climbed 8.1 percent to 14.05 billion euros, or $16.86 billion. The El Corte Ingles department store chain saw sales increase 11.7 percent to 9.9 billion euros, or $11.88 billion. El Corte Ingles is Spain’s largest department store operator.
LACOSTE BAGS A DEAL: Preppy apparel brand Lacoste is bringing its two-year-old accessories line to the U.S. Samsonite, which has distributed the Lacoste brand in Europe and Asia since 2002, is launching women’s and men’s leather goods for spring 2005 retailing in the U.S. Handbags, weekenders, backpacks and, of course, golf bags will wholesale from $68 to $195 and will come in bright color combinations such as orange, turquoise and green or white with chocolate brown. The selection, complete with crocodile logo, will be sold in select department stores, specialty shops and Lacoste boutiques nationwide.
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TRACKING SOCKS: New Generation Computing Inc. last week said that Gold Toe Brands Inc., the nearly century-old sock maker, is using New Generation software to manage its production around the world. The company’s e-Quality software lets Gold Toe and its factories exchange information over the Internet to ensure that quality standards are adhered to and shipments are packed correctly. The software also sends automatic alerts to Gold Toe’s Burlington, N.C., headquarters when factories fail their inspections.