Hanesbrands Inc. (NYSE: HBI) announced in March 2008 that the company has joined the Fair Labor Association and will undergo the FLA’s two-year implementation process for accreditation of the company’s global social compliance program.

Starting a successful, profitable business is not just for the young or baby boomers. More senior citizens realize that they too can enjoy the comforts of sole proprietorship and a more flexible lifestyle, earning additional income even while working from home.

Emoke Forman, sixty-four, successfully runs her own business, Atlantic Coast Embroidery and Screenprinting, in Southampton, N.Y. Ms. Forman started her business in her forties after working in the financial industry. Making the transition from working in corporate America to running an apparel business involved learning everything about embroidery, especially how to operate equipment as efficiently as possible.

“I used computers while working in finance, but it wasn’t nearly the same thing. There were times when I felt like I was never going to learn how to use the embroidery software,” says Ms. Forman. “Luckily, I had access to free resources from the company I purchased my equipment from. They walked me through the technology, step-by-step, and were on hand at any time to answer even the most basic questions.”

According to the Census Bureau’s ongoing Current Population Survey, self-employed business owners like Ms. Forman have higher household incomes and wealth than do standard wage earners.

“It’s always a challenge for seniors, or anyone for that matter, to find a trustworthy business that will provide them the support they need while mitigating risk,” says Paul Gallagher, CEO of Hirsch International, the leading provider of advanced embroidery, screen-printing, and textile laser systems and services to the North American decorated apparel marketplace. The Suffolk, New York-based-company has helped many people like Ms. Forman successfully start their own businesses with their unique training and support programs.

Gallagher explains that training is the key to any new business start-up. Hirsch prides itself on being a veritable business consultant, hosting over three hundred educational seminar events each year, educating new customers on how to start their own businesses, and advising existing users how to grow their current businesses. In addition, Hirsch boasts twenty-five sales and support offices and thirteen state-of-the-art training centers around the country, including onsite product training with each equipment purchase.

“The speed of technology may seem a bit intimidating for seniors,” says Ms. Forman. “However, I believe that with the right support, age proves no barrier when it comes to starting a new business.”

For more information, please visit www.hirschinternational.com.

At any age, starting a small business involves a certain amount of risk. For young entrepreneurs, a lack of experience and resources may hinder a business’s success. Meanwhile, older entrepreneurs face the risk of losing money saved over a long period of time. Even still, many prefer starting small businesses over other types of investing.

There are many resources dedicated to helping entrepreneurs of all ages succeed. However, a new trend in business is to employ the resources of suppliers – usually much larger companies – to create long-standing and mutually beneficial relationships with small business owners.

“We have seen many people, from very different demographics, that have the passion and the drive to grow their business. They crave more information and want to keep up with the latest trends, yet this task can be overwhelming,” says Mike McEvoy, VP of Marketing and Sales for Hirsch International Corp., a New York-based company that is the leading provider of commercial embroidery, screen printing, digital direct-to-garment, and textile laser systems in North America.

INVISTA is investing in a multi-million-dollar advanced development pilot facility to be located at its Kingston, Ontario, nylon manufacturing facility. The innovative research and development asset will support INVISTA’s growth initiatives in North America, Europe and Asia.

“This investment is a demonstration of INVISTA's commitment to bring innovation into existing markets and to seek value-adding offerings for new markets,” said Jeff Brown, vice president of INVISTA Performance Materials Nylon.

INVISTA believes that advances in technology and engineering of nylon 6,6 and modified nylon products will lead to the development of differentiated new products, offering valuable solutions in existing and new markets. Already a world leader in high-performance nylon fiber production, INVISTA’s Performance Surfaces and Materials business will use the new facility to continue in the direction of next-generation nylon technology.

“Waste reduction and efficiency improvements in our operations are important elements in our continued goal to conserve resources and enhance environmental stewardship,” said Brown. “This investment will not only be capable of generating step change innovation in new products, it will also be used to improve the output and yields of existing processes.”

INVISTA’s Performance Surfaces and Materials business provides innovative solutions for INVISTA’s global surface-focused segments including residential, commercial, area rugs, bedding, sheets, pillows and comforters; its automotive-focused segments such as airbags and automotive flooring; and its industrial nylon offerings. Consumer brands brought to market include STAINMASTER^® carpet, ANTRON^® carpet fiber and CORDURA^® fabric.

China Wind Systems, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CWSI), which through its affiliates manufactures and supplies industrial equipment for use in the textile and energy related industries in the People's Republic of China, announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2007.

Avery Dennison Office Products Company is introducing new Stretchable Fabric Transfers featuring a softer feel than iron-ons.

    The transfers, which include Avery's Softstretch(TM) formula, allow images to stretch with the fabric and provide a softer feel than iron-on transfers currently available in the market. The product is designed to work with white stretchable synthetic or synthetic blend fabrics including cotton/poly blends and 100% polyester fabrics. They are being unveiled at the Craft and Hobby Association's Winter Show in Anaheim, CA, February 10-13, 2008.

    "With our new Softstretch(TM) formula, consumers will be able to create their own fashion forward designs and then easily apply the iron-on transfers to synthetic fabrics," said Terese White, Senior Product Manager with Avery Dennison. "It's an ideal choice for creating customized sports apparel and fashion wear including tailored tees, tank tops, sweatshirts, bags and other accessories."

    The new Stretchable Fabric Transfers are the latest transfer release from Avery, which follows last years successful launch of improved transfers for cotton fabrics with a new patent protected Color Shield(TM) formula that allows creations to last over many washings.

    Avery will unveil its new Stretchable Fabric Transfers at Booth #5053 at the CHA Winter Show, at the Anaheim Convention Center, February 10-13, 2008. The new Stretchable Fabric Transfers are designed to work with ink jet printers and will be available in stores nationwide in April 2008 in packs of five 8.5"x11" sheets.

Xerium Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: XRM), a leading global manufacturer of clothing and roll covers used primarily in the paper production process, announced today that the official groundbreaking ceremony for its state-of-the-art paper machine clothing factory had taken place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

At the event, which was attended by more than 100 dignitaries from throughout the region, Cheryl Diuguid, President of Xerium Asia, said, "With this new facility, Xerium is building on a long, successful history of conducting business in the Asia region. Our investment in this facility, and specifically in Vietnam, is an important step in our efforts to build on this history and increase our participation in this important and growing paper market. Xerium has been a leading participant and valued paper machine clothing supplier to Asian paper producers for decades. In addition to this Huyck. Wangner facility we are building, we have also expanded our roll covers business to pursue additional growth opportunities in this segment of the Asia market. In November 2007, Xerium acquired a local roll covers business with two manufacturing operations in China, and we expect that the acquired operation will serve as the base for our Stowe Woodward China business.”

The Esquel Group today announced the appointment of Dr. John Cheh as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2008.

In announcing the appointment, Ms. Marjorie Yang, Chairman and CEO, thanked John for his valuable contributions to the growth of Esquel. "Esquel is embarking on its next phase of accelerated growth. With John in his new leadership position and a strong Esquel team, we shall march with confidence towards our strategic objectives," said Ms. Yang

China Shoe Holdings, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CHSH) ("the Company"), an independent footwear manufacturer in China, today announced financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2007.

As a revived interest in sewing
hits America, the new My Label 3D Fashion Pattern Software by Bernina makes it possible for just about anyone to design their own clothes with an accurate fit.

My Label allows sewers to use a home computer to create customized patterns after entering personal body measurements, and then view a 3D mannequin that models a garment during every step of the garment design process, before printing an accurate pattern with complete sewing instructions.

South Carolina saw another year of manufacturing losses, according to the 2008 South Carolina Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports South Carolina lost 12,781 manufacturing jobs or 4% of its manufacturing jobs since August 2006, continuing the downward trend the state has seen since 2001.

Brother International Corporation’s Industrial Products Division, a global leader in the industrial sewing market, launches a remarkable new ink jet garment printer in the Latino market to reveal its latest technology to Latino business owners in the textile industry and raise awareness of this new technology, the GT-541 delivers better performance and productivity in the screen printing industry.

The Brother GT-541 uses ink jet technology that prints on many garments in high quality color directly from a computer. The GT-541 marks the progression from screen printing technologies to a cleaner, faster, and more productive way to imprint images on garments. This ink jet garment printer is as simple to operate as a desktop printer, can network with multiple units, and delivers great print quality. The investment for printing can be as low as .50 cents for the ink and $1 to $2 for the t-shirt, which can be sold at market rate from $15-$30.

In a move to further consolidate its position as a world-leading swimwear manufacturer, Montreal-based Christina America today announced it has purchased the assets of Baltex Swimwear. The deal maintains the Baltex name and secures a significant number of Baltex jobs. The transaction price was not disclosed.

Jesta I.S., a leading supplier of business solutions for the consumer product goods, soft goods and specialty industries announced today that Liberty Apparel Inc., a New York-based manufacturer of women’s apparel and jeans wear has completed its implementation of the Jesta I.S. Vision Sourcing and Demand Management solution.

DigiFab Systems, a manufacturer of pre- and post-press digital-printing equipment, CAD - RIP software, and pre-treated textiles, today announced its grand-format DigiHeat 136132-X3 electrical heat press for transferring dye sublimation prints to polyester and poly-blend fabrics. This latest addition to the DigiHeat family of electrical heat presses reaches up to 132 inches in width and features a Teflon-coated carbon drum that delivers uniform heat dispersion for superior color consistency from edge to edge and down the length — while allowing for quick heat up as well as cool down. This new grand-format DigiHeat heat press is perfect for such applications as promotional and gala events, flexible banners, outdoor signage, flags, tents, tradeshow booths and more. The DigiHeat heat press is an ideal way for printing and sign-making shops to offer new service and print-media options.

Ever-Glory International Group, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: EGLY) ("Ever-Glory," "the Company"), a leading apparel manufacturer in the People's Republic of China ("PRC"), today announced it completed the private placement of secured convertible notes on August 6, 2007, generating gross proceeds of $2.0 million. Ever-Glory intends to use the majority of the proceeds to satisfy its working capital needs and for other administrative expenses. Etech Securities served as the placement agent for the transaction.

Gerber Technology today introduced the GERBERspreader XLs125, the latest addition to its new series of performance spreading products, called the XLs Series. XLs Series spreaders are developed and manufactured to yield an exceptional price to performance ratio. The XLs125 is the second product in the new series and offers a higher weight and roll capacity as well as additional features to fit virtually every spreading application. The XLs125 is Gerber’s most flexible spreader.