AAFA praises release of Notorious Markets report: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2017 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets report on January 12. AAFA released a statement supporting the report, emphasizing the importance of this tool in the fight to protect intellectual property.

Comments on forced labor report: On January 12, AAFA submitted comments to the Department of Labor outlining perspectives for the preparation of the annual List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor report.

Condolences for the Leonard family: AAFA was sorry to learn of the passing of James (Jim) C. Leonard III on December 25 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. During the Administration of President George W. Bush, Jim was a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Textiles and Apparel and Chairman of the Committee for Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), where he was intimately involved in a number of negotiations, including the negotiations of the U.S./Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Prior to his government service, Jim worked with AAFA member Burlington Industries. AAFA sends its condolences to the Leonard family during this time.

Congrats to YMA Fashion Scholarship recipient Elizabeth Galanti! On January 10, AAFA was pleased to attend the 2018 YMA gala in NYC, supporting students pursuing careers in design, merchandising, retailing, and business, along with YMA’s mission to ensure the industry will continue to attract dedicated, capable, and creative individuals. We congratulate our summer 2017 intern Elizabeth Galanti (pictured right with AAFA’s SVP of Membership Maureen Storch) of North Carolina State University (earning her B.S. in Fashion and Textile Brand Management with a concentration in Brand Management and Marketing, minor in Journalism) for receiving a 2018 scholarship!