USA : Inventors to compete for $400,000 in NASA Astronaut Glove Challenge - Apparel News USA

Reporters and the public are invited to attend the 2009 AstronautGlove Challenge on Nov. 19 at the Astronaut Hall of Fame in Titusville, Fla., near NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The $400,000 prize challenge is a nationwide competition that focuses on developing improved pressure suit gloves for astronauts to use while working in the vacuum of space. The competition is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EST on Nov. 19 and conclude with an award ceremony at approximately 5 p.m. Part of NASA's Centennial Challenges Program, the competition will test gloves independent inventors designed and constructed. The tests will measure the gloves' dexterity and strength during operation in a glove box that simulates the vacuum of space. At least two competitors are expected, including Peter Homer, the winner of the competition held in 2007. This year's entrants must provide a glove that includes an outer thermal protection layer, as well as the inner pressure-containing layer.The result is a complete glove suitable for space operations. NASA's Centennial Challenges program will provide the prize.Volanz Aerospace Inc. of Owings, Md., manages the competition for NASA. Secor Strategies, LLC of Titusville, Fla., is a sponsor for the event. Centennial Challenges is NASA's program of technology prizes for the citizen-inventor. Recent Centennial Challenge events includedRegolith Excavation, Lunar Lander and Power Beaming Challenges, in which six different competitors won a total of $3.3 million in prizes.
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USA : Third quarter results reflect success of JCP Bridge Plan - Apparel News USA

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. reported fiscal third quarter results that were significantly better than initial expectations and showed further improvement in cash flow performance, reflecting the continued successful execution of its Bridge Plan strategy. The Company continues to be in a strong financial position, ending the quarter with a cash and cash equivalents balance of $2.1 billion. Based on the Company’s better than expected year to date operating performance, as well as current expectations for the fourth quarter, management is raising its full year guidance for both comparable store sales and earnings per share. Earnings per share for the third quarter ended Oct. 31, 2009, were $0.11, well above management’s initial guidance for earnings per share to be in the range of a loss of $0.05 to earnings of $0.05. Income from continuing operations for this year’s third quarter was $27 million. This year’s third quarter includes a non-cash qualified pension plan expense of $73 million, or $0.19 per share after-tax. Excluding the impact of qualified pension plan expense, adjusted income from continuing operations was $72 million, or $0.30 per share. A reconciliation to the comparable GAAP measurement is included in this release. Third quarter earnings per share also reflect a $0.03 charge related primarily to non-recurring real estate impairments included in real estate and other expenses. In last year’s third quarter, earnings per share were $0.55, and income from continuing operations was $123 million. Last year’s third quarter earnings included a qualified pension plan credit of $33 million, or $0.09 per share after-tax. Excluding the impact of the qualified pension plan credit from last year’s third quarter results, adjusted income from continuing operations was $103 million, or $0.46 per share. “JCPenney’s third quarter results reflect the success of our strategy to balance top line performance with bottom line profitability,” said Myron E. (Mike) Ullman, III, chairman and chief executive officer of JCPenney. “Our ability to deliver earnings above original expectations resulted from better than expected improvement in gross margin as we have maintained appropriate inventory levels and reduced both clearance selling and unprofitable discounting. With continued investment in our Associates and our customer relationships, we are executing the right short-term and long-term strategies to maintain our financial strength and place us in a strong position for the future. “We expect these strategies to be particularly effective in the fourth quarter. Our objective for this holiday season is to bring the ‘Joy of Giving’ to our customers. We will be stocking our stores with a merchandise assortment that includes great gifts offered at highly competitive prices. Combined with industry-leading customer service and a compelling promotional strategy, our customers will find the style, fashion, and quality that will once again make JCPenney the preferred destination during the holiday shopping season.” Click here for more details.
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UAE : INDEX comes at a good time, Lu Buchanan - Textile News UAE

New research commissioned by INDEX estimates that the value of interior design contracting(IDC) and fit-outs within the GCC willgrow by almost 90% between 2009 and 2010, with a total value in that period of US$22 billion. Two thirds of this spend will be within the UAE. The research was carried out by leading independent research company Ventures Middle East, on behalf of dmg World Media, the organizers of INDEX, the leading interior design show in the region. Ventures Middle East estimates that the total value of new construction projects for all sectors (hospitality, commercial, retail and residential) in the GCC with completion dates within 2009/2010 is some US$149 billion. Despite the economic recession,the UAE remains way ahead of the rest of the region, accounting for 66 percent of all new construction projects, followed some way behind by Saudi at 15 percent and Qatar at 10 percent.IDC is the works of hard finishes – flooring, ceilings, walls etc – and is an average of 15-20 percent of the total project value.Fit-out is the furniture and fixtures, electrical, kitchen,laundry etc, estimated at an additional 5-8 percent of the total project value. The research indicates that there will be higher spending on IDC and fit-out in 2009/2010 than in 2008 – and will be worth some US$22 billion in total over the two years.Residential construction projects are the drivers of the IDC and fit-out spend, accounting for 49 percent of the total estimated value, followed by hotels at 27 percent, offices at 19 percent and the retail sector just 6 percent.Speaking about the research, Lu Buchanan, INDEX Show Director, said, “The research by Ventures shows that there are good prospects for the interiors industry, as we start to move out of the economic downturn. The UAE continues to be a driver for the industry, and this supports our belief that Dubai is ideally placed to become the global hub for interior design.In view of these prospects, INDEX comes at a good time, bringing together the interiors industry from across the globe.”The report considers the four construction sectors as follows:• Hospitality – the total value of hospitality projects within the GCC between 2009 and 2010 is almost US$20 billion, with fit-out and IDC spend at US$6 billion.The UAE takes the lion’s share,accounting for 69 percent of the value, and is entering a phase of sharp growth, with spending on IDC and fit-out set to increaseby a 69% from US$1.5 billion in 2009 to US$2.6 billion in 2010. KSA hospitality projects are worth some US$2.3 billon, with estimated spending on IDC and fit-outs at US$690 million. In Bahrain, over 10 five star hotels are expected to come online between 2008 and 2010, with total IDC and fit-out value of over US$412 million.• Commercial Sector - according to leading interior design and consulting contractors, an average of 10-12 percent of the total commercial/offices projects value is allocated for interior design and contracting and major fit-outs for office space. The total value of new commercial projects within the GCC is US$34 billion, with IDC and fit-out estimated at US$4 billion.
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UK : Dr Cap adds 40 new styles for holiday season - Fashion News UK

Dr Cap is Britain’s largest independent stockist of New Era 59Fifty caps. The site has recently released one of its largest ever expansions on the New Era brand caps for the upcoming holidays. Over 40 new styles have been added to the company’s extensive offerings in a wide variety of colours and sizes.The site’s general manager reports, “With the holidays quickly approaching, we wanted to make sure that we pretty much stock something for everyone. Here at Dr Cap, we try to keep our ears to the ground and our finger on the pulse of fashion trends. The newest additions to our New Era cap range were carefully selectedto match what’s on the holiday wish lists of our client base.”“The 59FIFTYs that we sell are immediately available on the site,and with over a month to go until the ‘big day,’ there’s plenty of time for buyers to take delivery of any cap they want to sharewith a loved one or for themselves.”
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USA : Macy’s delivers excellent performance in Q3 - Apparel News USA

Macy's, Inc. reported improved third quarter results that exceeded the company's expectations for same-store sales, gross margin, earnings and cash flow. "Given the difficult economic climate, we had an excellent quarter. Our business improved progressively each month during the period and we are entering the holiday selling season confident in our locally-focused organizational structure and the high caliber of our talent," said Terry J. Lundgren, Macy's, Inc. chairman, president and chief executive officer. Macy's, Inc. lost 8 cents per diluted share for the third quarter of 2009, ended Oct. 31, 2009. This compares with a loss of 10 cents per share in the same period last year. Excluding restructuring costs, the company lost 3 cents per diluted share in the third quarter of 2009 compared with a loss of 8 cents per share in the same period in 2008. In the third quarter of 2009, restructuring charges were $33 million ($23 million after tax; 5 cents per share) related to division consolidations and localization initiatives announced in February 2009 that were designed to reduce costs and make the company more locally responsive to customers. In the third quarter of 2008, restructuring charges related to division consolidations and localization initiatives announced in 2008 were $16 million ($10 million after tax; 2 cents per diluted share). "We continue to see encouraging results from our My Macy's approach to local markets. Of our Top 10 districts in same-store sales in the third quarter, seven were among the original My Macy's pilot districts," Lundgren said. "Other bright spots in the third quarter included a strong sales performance at Bloomingdale's and outstanding growth in our Internet businesses, which are being fueled by the ongoing multi-channel integration at both Macy's and Bloomingdale's." For the first three quarters of 2009, Macy's, Inc. reported a loss of 27 cents per diluted share, compared with a loss of 7 cents per diluted share in the same period in 2008. Excluding restructuring-related costs of $205 million ($120 million after tax; 28 cents per diluted share), earnings were 1 cent per diluted share in 2009 to date. In the first three quarters of 2008, diluted earnings per share were 20 cents, excluding restructuring-related costs of $129 million ($81 million after tax; 19 cents per diluted share) and asset impairment charges of $50 million ($31 million after tax; 8 cents per diluted share). Click here for more details.

USA : The meeting of two great Boxers! - Apparel News USA

In one corner you have Manny Pacquiao, former WBC lightweight World Champion and in the other corner, you have Big Headed Boxers, the briefs of champions. A deal has been struck with the pound-for-pound king and crowd pleaser, Pacquiao, and California's hottest new underwear company, Big Headed, for Pacquiao to wear Big Headed boxers as he weighs in for his next big fight in Las Vegas, Nevada.A revolutionary construct has now emerged to triumph over the tighty whitey world. A man exists through the strength of the body and the soul. But like Manny Pacquiao, heart and physicality is only in full effect if the mind has the same amount of power, giving him the "Big Head" he needs to hold the weight of his country. Sizes vary from small to those that need more room for their "swag," also known as X-Large. Besides the Breakaway style, there is also a Safety Series, with slogans like "Notice-Authorized Personnel Only." Not to mention the Classic Boxers with a convenient condom holder pocket. Made from high quality cotton, these under garments feel links of london charms good to the man and his mate. Like Manny's strength, it complements consideration making Big Headed Boxers extremely durable for the everyday man, the hard-working man, the compassionate man, the sexy man, and of course the prime athlete. But you have to see and feel them to believe them. CEO of Big Headed, Keith Davis says, "Manny is perfect for our brand because he is big-headed. There's no room for small-minded people in our organization. Manny gives back to his community, which I love."Look out for the new big Manny Pacquiao underwear brand, also made by Big Headed. This new brand will be manufactured in the Philippines, where Pacquiao is seen as a demigod among men. In the tradition of local hero Manny Pacquiao's humanitarian efforts, Big Headed will launch their charitable campaign in honor of Manny to coincide with the new line.