The sun., 1919-06-30
CHILE GOOD FIELD
FOR HOSIERY SALES
Guaranty Trust Company
Points Way to Overcome
Old Difficulties.

Excellent prospects for the continued
sale of American hosiery in Chile are
seen by the foreign trade bureau OF the
Guaranty Trust Company Of New York,
which has recently made a study Of this
market for certain exporting interests.
The report sums up It's findings in these
words:
ct may be that we cannot hold all
this new found trade when normal COM
petition Is resumed. There is absolutely
no reason, however. why we should not
show a very substantial increase over
our pre-war participation. II Is I'M
doubtedly true that numerous errors or
Judgment have been made in the past by
plac!nE American hosiery in this market.
but no obstacle has arisen which care
end patience will not serve to overcome.
The prejudice Of the Chilean for full
fashioned over seamless hose Is not In
surTnountable, and the unfortunate I'M
preston created by the inferior dyes
which our manufacturers were forced to
use for a time after our entry into the
war has already been largely elimi-
mated"
After summing up the geographical and
climatic conditions OF Chile. which OF
course affect the weight Of the clothing
" orn and the materials chosen. the re-
port continues:
Very considerable attention Is paid TO
dress In the larger Chilean towns and
cities. Fancy socks are much worn.
with very considerable market for
colors. checks, stripes, plalds and clocks.
as well as for those of twisted or printed
yarn. The better grades have reinforced
heel and toe. Comparatively few fur
nishings" stores exist, the majority be-
ing operated by the domestic manufac-
turers of shirts. collars. cuffs. neckwear
&C, in connection with the merchandise
ing Of their output. Such stores, how
ever, carry lines OF hosiery whether or
not they produce it themselves. Owing
to freight and port charges. duty. &C.
imported hosiery retails at exceedingly
high prices being often several times
more expensive than in the country OF
origin.
Nearly all hosiery for the iaboring
classes has heretofore been produced in
Chile. japanese imports of the cheap
est grades however, have been reported
to be coming rapidly to the fore.
''woollen hosiery is u greater demand
in Chile than is the case here under
similar climatic conditions. due to the
lack Of artificial heat In the houses In
1913 some $4,000 worth Of imported
goods OF this nature were consumed in
addition to domestic output Men
women and children are apt to wear
woollen hosiery during the cooler month.
whenever they oan afford II, The ma
jority are said to be of relatively fine
gauxe or cashmere for regular wear
and In this trade Great Britain and
Germany enjoyed a virtual monopoly
prior to the war. The elimination OF
the latter merely strengthened Britain's
hold.
Short socks are in almost universa,
use for children. boys as well as girls
| up to ten or twelve years OF age, ever
during the colder months. Perhaps II
per cent. OF such socks are white. Pink:
and blues are also favored for the girls
Up to the age of three or four many
socks have stripes of color near tn,
tops. while for the older children solit
oolors arc used entirely. France anC
Germany have normally supplied thes,
items almost exclusively.
| Few silk Stockings are required 10
misses, the majority being black II
ordinary grades of cotton or Isle. Al
qualities find market. but most Of th'
cheaper grades are locally made. Yer,
light weights are sought for summer
wear. largely OF ordinary yarns though
! some mercerized goods are consumed.
AS might be expected. the importa
ton OF socks and stockings OF cotton 4
OF first importance by a wide margin
| woollen goods second. and silk last
was only In the latter, however, tina
the United States had any appreciabl
share until the war completely upse
normal supply and demand"
The figures here given show that he
fore the war the United States supple,
moro than one-third OF total impor
tation OF silk hosiery OF about $4,000
Importation OF woollen socks from thi
country were negligible. the bulk OF thi
trade going to Great Britain. Germany
however, held the whip hand In the cot
ton trade, supplying $5SS,000 out OF tn
| total Importation OF $S25, 900, Tn
United States figured to the extent OF
mere $4,000. CO.,
by 1915" says tho report, "our ex
risen to 2,7s2 dozen pairs, valued a
] $lS,466. Figures are not at hand show
l ing the extent of our exports of woolie-
hosiery in that year but inasmuch a
our shipments to Chile under the gen
eral heading Wool wearing apparel 10
men, women and children for that yea
were more than double those OF any pre-
vious year II Is safe to assume that W
Increased our participation materially
How enormously We have profited b.
the elimination of Germany from III
feld Of cotton hosiery Ia indicated by tn
statement that in 1918 We shipped u
Chile 1911 dozen pairs of cotton hos
iery. valued at more than $4,000"