Thailand’s COTTON USA Design Challenge Winners Attend U.S. Cotton Education Tour

                                                           


COTTON USA hosted the winner, first and second runner-ups on an educational tour of California and New York. Because this year's design challenge was "Hollywood Inspired," the winners visited Hollywood, as well as cotton farms and a gin in the San Joaquin Valley. For the second part of the tour, the winners attended the Supima Design Competition at New York Fashion Week and visited Cotton Incorporated's consumer marketing headquarters in New York. Two television programs, iTeen and Chic Channel, traveled with the winners and captured their experiences. The TV shows will feature U.S. cotton, the Supima Design Competition, and Cotton Incorporated's color trend forecast for Fall/Winter 2012-2013. The expected earned advertising value from the tour is $650,000.  

COTTON USA Holds Sales Training Seminar with Blue Pin in Thailand

                      


Blue Pin Intertrade and COTTON USA organized a one-day sales training seminar for 58 employees. COTTON USA sponsored a professional trainer to motivate them and increase teamwork. Advantages of cotton, U.S. cotton and COTTON USA were the highlighted topics during the seminar. Pre-tests and post-tests were administered to measure effectiveness. Since this was a new group, pre-test scores were 49 percent; however, post-test scores increased to 99 percent. One hundred percent of the participants agreed that they would join this type of seminar if held again in the future. 



     
 

COTTON USA Holds Sales Training Seminar in Thailand with Wrangler

                                 


Wrangler and COTTON USA organized a three-day sales training seminar for 274 salespeople from Wrangler nationwide stores in Thailand. The seminar encouraged Wrangler's salespeople in Thailand to exceed sales targets. For the first half of 2011, Wrangler achieved a 16 percent year-on-year sales increase, surpassing their targeted 10 percent sales growth. COTTON USA sponsored professional life coach Siriluck Tansiri to build confidence and explain how to integrate the advantages of cotton, U.S. cotton and COTTON USA into their sales. Pre-tests and post-tests were administered to measure effectiveness, and scores increase from 93 to 100 percent. One hundred percent of the participants agreed that they would join this type of seminar if held again in the future.
 

Third Annual Cotton Day in Thailand Receives Media Attention

The U.S. ambassador to Thailand was the guest of honor and arrived in a 100 percent U.S. cotton dress designed by the 2010 COTTON USA Design Challenge winners. The dress was inspired by Ambassador’s favorite movie, “Sleepless in Seattle,” and dyed in COTTON USA blue. The 100 percent cotton fabric was specially woven using 100 percent U.S. Pima cotton by Thai Textile Industry Public Company Limited. Cotton Day’s highlight was the 2011 COTTON USA Design Challenge “Hollywood Movie Inspired” final fashion show that featured 25 couture and ready-to-wear dresses made from 100 percent cotton. To date, the 2011 Cotton Day event has been publicized through 22 print and 17 TV media placements valued at $735,300. The 2011 COTTON USA Design Challenge has gained 30 print, 44 online and 22 TV media placements worth $2.3 million. Both events gained a total earned advertising value of $3.1 million.

COTTON USA Buyers Tour to Southeast Asia Successfully Concludes in Thailand

Twenty-seven global buyers and retailers from the U.S., and six countries in Europe and Asia joined CCI's COTTON USA Supply Chain Marketing Buyers Tour to Southeast Asia held in Bangkok, Thailand. The group met with U.S. cotton textile and apparel suppliers from across Southeast Asia.

To provide sourcing options for the brands and retailers, 39 COTTON USA licensed suppliers with production facilities in five countries across Southeast Asia traveled to CCI's private trade fair in Bangkok where they promoted their U.S. cotton-rich fabrics and garments.

The Buyers Tour incorporated a briefing session explaining the benefits of sourcing from Thailand and the ASEAN region, a two-day trade fair and tours to fabric and garment manufacturing facilities located on the outskirts of Bangkok. Cotton Incorporated also supported the event with recruitment of participants and a presentation of their recent knit and woven product developments.

The event provided opportunities for overseas buyers to meet the entire supply chain in one location. Suppliers of cotton yarn, knit fabrics and apparel and woven fabrics and apparel suppliers from across the ASEAN region gathered at the CCI event to streamline the sourcing process and reinforce long-term business for retailers, manufacturers and the cotton industry alike. Mills and manufacturers in the ASEAN region are taking proactive steps to cooperate and form alliances to serve the needs of the apparel buyer who buys fabrics or finished garments. This cooperation gives ASEAN suppliers a stronger competitive position than they had previously.

Suppliers at the trade fair indicated that the COTTON USA Buyers Tour provided a platform for them to meet new buyers from overseas markets and helped to enhance their business relationships with existing customers. Most participants expressed their confidence that contacts made during the trip would lead to developing business ties and consequently increase sales of U.S. cotton.

COTTON USA Licensee Wrangler Launches “Water Repellent Denim” in Thailand

   
Wrangler produced 10,000 pairs of men's and women's jeans based on Cotton Incorporated's Storm Denim^TM technology. The U.S. cotton-rich jeans are sold at more than 90 department stores nationwide in Thailand. Thai consumers have responded positively to the “Water Repellent Denim” line. As of July 2011, the 10,000 pairs of jeans launched in March 2011 are nearly sold out, with only 10 percent remaining. Wrangler plans to keep its "Water Repellent Denim" as a mainstay item. Last year, Wrangler labeled about 730,000 100 percent cotton products with the COTTON USA Mark in Thailand.


                  

COTTON USA Supply Chain Marketing Program Yarn Buyers Tour to Thailand Connects Spinners with Asian Knitters and Weavers

COTTON USA and John Henry Debut 2010 John Henry Winter Collection in Thailand

                                                    

John Henry, a modern menswear brand, launched their new collection, focusing on "Modern Fit" shirts, to change the brand's perception from conservative to modern. COTTON USA and John Henry publicized the road trip and new collection launch with billboards, posters and radio spots featuring the COTTON USA Mark. John Henry's Brand Manager said the road trips with COTTON USA across the country allowed them to strategically launch their new collection, build brand awareness and help secure prime retail locations in department stores which would result in higher sales in the long term. John Henry expects to see a 20 percent sales growth as a result of the road trip, resulting in more pull of U.S. cotton through the supply chain, from spinner to end consumer. Last year John Henry labeled 284,799 product units with COTTON USA hangtags.

COTTON USA Sales Training Seminar in Thailand Helps Increase Retail Sales

CCI Thailand Educates 305 Salespeople About the Advantages of U.S. cotton

Results from the 2009 COTTON USA Mark Tracking that surveyed 500 Thai consumers showed that 40 percent of consumers agreed that the COTTON USA Mark influences their purchasing decisions, and 46 percent of consumers have bought products labeled with the COTTON USA Mark. To improve the salesperson's confidence, attitude and product knowledge, COTTON USA, Jockey and John Henry organized a sales training seminar for their salespeople from nationwide stores in Pattaya. COTTON USA hired a professional sales trainer to lead the full-day training. Cotton, the advantages of U.S. cotton and COTTON USA were covered, and pre- and post-tests were administered to measure effectiveness. Pre-test scores averaged at 55 percent and post-test scores increased significantly to 98 percent. More than 96 percent of the participants agreed that they would join this type of seminar if held again in the future. In 2009, Jockey labeled approximately 652,000 pieces and John Henry labeled about 285,000 pieces with COTTON USA Mark hangtags.


                                     

CCI Selects Winner of the 2010 COTTON USA Design Challenge in Thailand

                             


The winning team, from Chulalongkorn University, will join Praew magazine on a trip to a U.S. cotton field to shoot the winning dresses for the cover of Praew and a 20-page fashion spread. The COTTON USA Design Challenge has been promoted in Thailand for the past five years. The event creates awareness among young designers that 100 percent cotton fabrics can be used as a raw material for fashion apparel, as well as that high quality fabrics made from U.S. cotton can be sourced locally from reputable mills. Fifty-four students from 19 universities across the country participated. Teams of three submitted sketches of 100 percent cotton ready-to-wear couture, using colors from the Cotton Incorporated Fall-Winter 2010/11 color trend forecast. Five judges, included a COTTON USA licensee designer from Blue Corner, two professional designers and Praew magazine's fashion editor, selected five teams as finalists to turn their sketches into real dresses using COTTON USA-qualified 100 percent cotton fabrics from Thai mills sponsoring the challenge.

COTTON USA Holds Training Seminar for Salespeople in Thailand

COTTON USA TV Commercial Increases COTTON USA Mark Awareness in Thailand

CCI Thailand created a TV commercial (TVC), which ran between June and July 2009, to help consumers better understand the COTTON USA Mark. For general consumers, COTTON USA Mark awareness has increased 13 percent in two years, from 26 percent in 2007 to 39 percent in 2009. The most significant increase occurred with target consumers, women between 25 - 34 years of age.  Awareness in this group increased 22 percent, from 32 percent in 2007 to 54 percent in 2009. The COTTON USA TVC, titled “The Origin,” showed that cotton products start with the cotton boll in the field and transform into comfortable cotton products consumers can feel and appreciate in everyday life.

Click the image of the COTTON USA logo to view the TV commercial (TVC) created by CCI Thailand.

COTTON USA Celebrates First Cotton Day in Thailand

The Cotton Day celebration in Thailand awarded the winner of the 2009 COTTON USA T-Shirt Design Contest, Mr. Suraporn Lertwongpaitoon. The cotton boll inspired Mr. Suraporn’s winning design, which features an oversized, opened cotton boll that blends into the T-shirt itself. Mr. Gary Meyer, U.S. Agricultural Counselor to Thailand, was the guest of honor, delivering the opening remarks and presenting awards on behalf of the U.S. cotton industry. In celebration of 2009 as the International Year of Natural Fibers, Cotton Day also featured 100 percent cotton designs from winners of the COTTON USA Design Challenges in 2006, 2007 and 2008. These designs expressed the versatility and natural aspects of U.S. cotton. More than 200 guests from the Thai textile and garment industries, as well as 82 reporters, attended Cotton Day. To date, Cotton Day has been featured in 18 TV programs with a total airtime of 33 minutes, 21 newspapers with a combined circulation of 19.5 million and 17 websites.

COTTON USA and Arrow Launch New Collection of Men’s Shirts

As COTTON USA’s newest licensee in Thailand, Arrow marked the new partnership via a mall event and the launch of their new “American Academy” collection. More than 500 consumers attended the fashion show and mini-concert. A road show to eight universities and 35 shopping malls around the country will follow.

COTTON USA “Passion of Love” Design Challenge in Thailand Garners Publicity

2009 (Winter)
Three hundred up-and-coming Thai designers showcased their knowledge of 100 percent cotton fabric and versatile design skills during the COTTON USA Design Challenge 2008. This third annual design competition for fashion students advocated young designers to support the Thai textile and garment industries and U.S. cotton. As part of a major PR campaign, the competition also heightened consumer awareness of the fashionable side of cotton and COTTON USA. The winning designer traveled to New York Fashion Week and the trip was broadcast on Thai television. The COTTON USA Design Challenge was awarded “Campaign Publicity” finalist for the Thailand’s Adman Award in 2006 and has accumulated over $1.7 million in earned advertising value (EAV) for the competitions in 2006 and 2007. The 2008 competition has brought in $1.8 million in EAV.

U.S. Cotton Industry Hosts Special Trade Missions from Vietnam and China

2009 (Winter) Delegations of textile representatives from both China and Vietnam met with key U.S. industry officials across the U.S. Cotton Belt during 2008 COTTON USA Special Trade Missions. Participants represented companies that annually consume around 3.5 million bales of cotton, with U.S. cotton component equaling approximately 1.5 million bales. The CCI-sponsored tours included stops at major cotton growing, research and trading centers across the U.S. The Chinese STM participants spoke highly of the positive interactions with the U.S. industry and stated their intentions to increase imports of U.S. cotton in the near future. Members of the Vietnam STM noted increased investment in the Vietnamese textile industry, and the U.S. cotton industry foresees expanding opportunity to supply Vietnam’s fiber needs as trade relations grow between the two countries.