Sewn products industry members need only travel as far as New York City this fall to get a first-hand look at the products, services and manufacturing capabilities of the African continent.  Urban Expositions and the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) announce that more than 30 textile and apparel companies from Africa will come together to form one of many global pavilions at Material World New York, September 26-28, 2006 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. 

The Africa Pavilion, organized by Trade Links, LLC, will showcase fabric, AGOA duty-free apparel, and a range of services, including computer-aided design, grading, plotting, cutting, CMT, embroidery, washing and more from a range of countries, including Botswana, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Madagascar, and others. In addition, the Africa Pavilion will also host a free seminar presentation on Tuesday, September 26 from 2:45 – 3:45 p.m.

The panel discussion, titled “Brand Africa Presents: What’s New – Sourcing Apparel in Africa,” will be moderated by Dr. Bill Releford, Jr., US President and CEO of Made in Africa, and the driving force behind the continent’s popular “Butta” brand. During the program, Releford and the panelists will touch on what’s changed in Africa’s apparel supply chain, and the many benefits available to companies that source garments in sub-Saharan Africa today. Admission to the hour-long program is free and requires no pre-registration, but seating will be first-come, first-served. 

Material World is the premier global sourcing, fabric, trim and trend trade event for the sewn products industries and provides an ideal setting for fabric and trimming suppliers, as well as garment manufacturers and representatives from around the world to present their lines and services to leading private label retailers and branded apparel companies.  In addition to the Africa Pavilion, other countries participating in the upcoming New York edition will include China, Korea, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Japan, Bangladesh, Morocco and many more. Material World New York will also host a number of additional pavilions including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.  Show attendees will also find the most comprehensive presentation of US domestic and regional providers from throughout the Americas and the Caribbean.

In addition to a comprehensive exhibitor base, Material World New York also features a cutting edge trend pavilion showcasing the latest colors, textures and fabrics for Autumn/Winter 2007/2008, a full-scale educational program, as well as a special presentation of home furnishings’ fabric providers. Show hours for Material World New York at the Jacob K. Javits Center are 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on September 26-27 and 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 28. 

About Trade Links, LLC

Trade Links, LLC is a company dedicated for promoting African products and services in the US market.  For more information, visit www.africa-pavilion.com, call 202.462.1339 or email info@tl-global.com