University of South Carolina Libraries
Page 6 W A Josh I .<?) wir/y t>v P I i n t r> n Millc hoc nloi/nrl 1 vi iikvii i v i i 11 j i i u j piu juvj a leading role in the promotion of fabrics and apparel "Made in USA." Earlier this month, The Clothmaker interviewed a number of employees and asked each of them to relate their feelings about imported goods. I * J '^r^k __*^M I M "My job and my future is at stake even time imports to up. I try to point them out t< my fellow workers and friends. The quality o1 American-made goods is usually better thar the imports, we help make an items, wt should have enough pride and interest b) buy it." ?Lorene Pyles, No. 2 Spinning I X* Hamilton w% %Md - ^ "Everyone should be aware of where products are made before they purchase them. I shop by labels, and if it's not Americanmade, I just leave it on the shelf or rack. The government may permit the goods into this country, but I don't have to buy them." ?Debbie Alexander, Shipping !i ^3 j f "The people in this country have got to 5 realize our jobs depend on people buying the f products we produce. Foreign manufacturi ers don't contribute anything to making a ; community a better place to live or work, f Unless the consumer "wakes up" our jobs will be lost to those in a foreign country." { ?Lonnie Osborne, No. 2 Spinning Hamilton Says: Imports Another "Imports of textile and apparel proi level in history with a surge of 23 f Planning Manager, Josh Hamilton. "October 1983 is the highest Octobi highest month in history with a total o1 (SYE)," he added. "Without a doubt, tl print cloth producers like Clinton Mill: Textile and apparel imports for the it over October 1982, with textile imports percent. "After seeing the record October imp disastrous year, what can one say bi chairman of ATMI's International Trad executive officer of Russell Corporatio "The present (Presidential) administ to relate the growth of imports to the | keep textile/apparel jobs here at home was made in October 1980 when there i the U.S. Today, three years later, the j 400,000." "In spite of signs of recovery in certa is no significant gain in the apparel fat At 23 percent annual growth, import apparel market by 1989," he said. Textile and apparel imports during . lion SYE in 1982 to 6.1 billion SYE ii same time period increased from 2.1b in 1983. Hamilton noted that printcloth imp 250 million square yards. China alone milli/Mt cnnarA uirHc fhrAiink IIIIIIIVMI JV^ UUI t JUIUJ UllUUgll U^IUUCI In the poplin and broadcloth categor square yards. These are popular style: "Government efforts to control the fl inadequate," Hamilton noted. "In spit China has already landed 18 million ya expected before year end." ' m B v M "I hpli?WP WXA chnnlH all h? hiiwino mnrc American-made goods, particularly textiles. Our economy in this area is dependent upon the textile industry. I admit I didn't pay much attention to where clothing was made until about two-and-a-half years ago when I came to work at Lydia. If every person would increase his purchases of American-made items, it would have a very positive impact on the industry." ?Paul Campbell, Lydia Reach Record ducts reached the highest 10-month >ercent over 1982," says Marketing er on record and ranked as the second f 696 million square yard equivalents hese figures have an adverse affect on s." lonth of October increased 45 percent up 60 percent and yarn imports up 99 ort statistics Diled on ton of our alrpadv i ?r- ? jt horrendous," said E.C. Gwaltney, e Committee and chairman and chief n in Alexander City, Ala. ration came to office on a commitment growth of the domestic market and to Gwaltney said. "That commitment were 2,300,000 textile/apparel jobs in job total is 1,900,000 ? a decline of iin sectors of the textile industry, there irics sectors and the reason is imports, s will completely take over the U.S. January-October increased from 5 bili 1983. Textile imports alone for that lillion SYE in 1982 to 2.85 billion SYE orts are at a record pace and may top has already shipped to this country 98 of 1983. ies, imports have exceeded 41 million s produced by Clinton Mills plants, ood of cheap textile imports are clearly e of a 1983 quota of 15 million yards, rds of poplin and broadcloth with more % < : "Several years ago, I began to realize that imported textile goods were affecting my future. The American people should read the papers and realize that thousands and thousands of jobs are being lost annually because of the imported goods. The best way for all of us to defeat the rapid influx of imports, is to not buy them. We should express our feelings to the retail merchant so he'll stock more Amerian goods." ?Floye Nelson, Lydia Cloth