Evening star., 1933-03-05
MEMS WEAR SALES
REPORTED ACTIVE
Retail Stores Are Stocking
Up for Next Seasons -.
Demands.
sne iaI IDispatch to The Star.

spe ial Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. March 4-Liberal pur-
chases of boys and mems heavyweight
ribbed cotton underwear by chain stores
and mail orders were reported by the
trade today, following the former OPEN
ing of the Fall lines.
Although prices average per cent
below levels quoted year ago for the
same quality Of goods, wholesalers. Job
bers and department stores have de-
layed inspecting the new wares until
next week.
Meanwhile the f1rming trends OF raw
materials. such as cotton. and pOssibili-
ties of some Sor. Of farm leglslat on
being passed affecting commodities,
have caused both Northern and South
ern underwear mills to make present
prices subject to withdrawal March 81.
Comfort. fit, quality and styles are
emphasized in the new lines, but the
bulk of purchases to date have been
IN the cheaper priced items. such as
the l0-pound suit for S3.75, which is
popular with the chain and mail order
buyers. The average quotations on the
three grades, sub-standard, unbranded,
and branded, are down about 25 cents
from 1892.
From many parts of the country
comes the word that heavy weight
underwear sales this Winter we're the
best In several seasons. The Pacific
Coast. which felt the effect Of cold
December and January, reports present
stocks low
Underwear makers generally are not
carrying excessive inventories. In
some quarters in the trade It is felt
that the recent report of Munsingwear,
Inc, is typical. 1t showed 1882 year.
end inventories at sl,306.109 against
&2005,862 at the 1881 year-end and
35,2l9 859. in 1928.
Persistent pressure on prices through
out 1882 made the period virtually
prof1tless for most mills. The trade
now believes that the action OF the
ribbed group" in curtailing produc-
tion and withdrawing offerings from
sale during certain periods made posi-
BILE any profits that may have been
realized by the industry last year.
Association Reorganized.
The leadership of this ribbed
group" was recently attested by the
reorganization of the Associated Knit
Underwear Manufacturers Of America.
The new organization was named the
American Knitwear Manufacturers and
headquarters we're moved from the 25-
year-old center at Utica, N. Y. to Bel
ton. g. c.
These changes were made to bring
the industry close to its primary mar
kets. which are in the South, and
underwear" was eliminated from the
Associations title because many ribbed
underwear producers catering to the
wholesale trade branched out into such
strictly outerwear garments as sweaters
and bathing suits
The mills. however. show a DISPOSE
ton to break away from hosiery asso-
Citations. Thus the National Association
OF Hosiery and Underwear Manufac-
facturers at its April meeting will vote
to change its name. omitting all refer
once to underwear" In the meantime
merous hosiery concerns taking on
underwear as side line, chiefly wom-
ems wear. however. and many hosiery
speciality shops in various parts of the
country adding line of underwear.
The production of all types of cut
and sewn underwear for December
latest available statistics, showed drop
OF IA per cent from the previous month,
but gain Of 80 per cent over the same
1881 month. New orders, however, were
down 20 per cent from November and
shipments declined, though untitled
orders gained. Twenty-Five identical
establishments reporting to the Depart
ment of Commerce showed 1882 produc-
ton of 2,060.08l dozen garments, against
2329115 dozen in 1881. Shipments
however. dropped from 1.364,428 dozen
garments In 1891 to 1,2936l0 dozen last
year.
The no-button suit for men. shorts
for boys and new type of garment for
women who insist on wearing trousered
suits and other mannish wear, are
among the features of present Fall lines
What the underwear mills will earn
this year is mere guesswork now, but
It may be significant that most manu-
facturers are reconditioning their ma
chimes in anticipation of increased de-
mand. Sales of all types Of needles to
the underwear industry are increasing
(Copyrght, 1889