Lili Shi Wins. After months of preparation, mentorship

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1 THE LUXURY COTTON FOR PREMIUM FASHION APPAREL AND HOME AMERICAN GROWN SUPERIOR RARE AUTHENTIC SEPTEMBER 2018 In This Edition Lili Shi Wins 11 th Annual Supima Design Competition PAGE 1 11th Annual Supima Design Competition Winner PAGE 2 On The Record With SDC Competition Winner Lili Shi PAGE 3 The Supima Harvest: Marc Lewkowitz PAGE 4 Sloane & Tate: The Rebel Yell PAGE 5 Supima Introduces Design Lab All Roads Lead To Supima: Tuft & Needle PAGE 6 All In The Family August Licensing Update STAY CONNECTED After months of preparation, mentorship and countless sleepless nights, seven extremely talented, newly minted designers had the opportunity to shine on fashion s biggest stage during New York Fashion Week. Entrepreneur and stylist extraordinaire, June Ambrose, hosted this year s event which featured some of the industry s most prominent figures throughout fashion and media as judges. As one of the hottest tickets in town, the 11th Annual Supima Design Competition did not disappoint. Each finalist brought their A game and delivered beautifully crafted and intricate collections, all made using Supima cotton. But it was Lili Shi and her interconnection collection inspired by Daoism that captured the attention of the judges and executives of the Supima organization. continued on page S. Priest Drive, Suite 101 Tempe, AZ info@supima.com FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS, COMMENTS & REQUESTS: newsletter@supima.com

2 ON THE RECORD WITH SDC WINNER Lili Shi Fresh off winning the 11th installment of the Supima Design Competition, Lili Shi opens up about participating in the annual design competition. Still in disbelief since hearing her name called as the winner of the SDC, the euphoric Shi worked hard at keeping her nerves in check and staying grounded during the day of the competition. We sat down with Lili to get a first hand account of the experience and what the future holds for this newly minted designer. What went through your mind when you heard your name called as the winner of the 2018 Supima Design Competition? LS: I couldn t believe it, it was surreal! All the finalists are very talented and we all worked so hard on our collections. What have the last few days been like? LS: For the past few days I got some much needed rest and have been planning my Paris trip. What was the day of the show like for you? LS: The day of the show was fun and exciting. I also needed to make sure my models looked perfect when I sent them down the runway. Tell us about your design process and what the inspiration was behind your winning collection? LS: Once I had my inspiration I researched colors, feeling, textures relating to my inspiration. Then I started draping to get the shapes or silhouettes I wanted, then created my own textiles (prints and fabric manipulation). My collection is called Inter-connection. It s inspired by Daoism s philosophy: Dao begets one, one begets two, Two begets three, Three begets all things... Did you have a favorite piece from your collection? LS: I love all the pieces because each piece shows a different side of my personal style. Selected the winner by a panel of industry judges the talented Lili Shi from The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City walks the runway with one of her geometric women s eveningwear collection full of shape. What was it like working with Bibhu Mohapatra as mentor and what is one piece of advice he gave that still resonates with you? LS: Bibbu was very helpful; he gave me very detailed and honest advice about each piece. The one piece of advice he gave me is to know when to stop, don t put too many ideas on one design. Is there one thing that really stood out and surprised you about the process of the competition? LS: The competition has been very positive. All of the finalists became friends. We created a group chat after the first fitting and we ve been supporting each other though out the process. What are your career goals now that the competition is over? LS: My goal is keep creating and stay true to myself. 11th Annual Supima Design Competition continued from page 1 Buxton Midyette, Supima s Vice President of Marketing and Promotions, has worked on the SDC since its inception and has seen the competition evolve over its 11-year history. It s so exciting and inspiring to see these young, new designers show the fashion industry what they can do and that Supima can give them this platform, says Midyette. Although all the finalists have been given the opportunity to further their careers, it s Shi that walks away with the grand prize of $10,000. This year s competition also featured a new PAGE TWO partnership with talent agency, 24Seven giving each finalist the chance to work on crafting their portfolios, interviewing techniques and networking with 24Seven s international client base of fashion houses. And the fun doesn t stop now! Next up for Supima and the seven finalists is a trip to Paris for Paris Fashion Week where Supima will introduce the designers to the international fashion community and showcase their collections at an exclusive and intimate event during the international fashion industry s biggest week.

3 The Supima Harvest During the 2012/13 crop year, American Pima production set the current yield record with an average yield of 1,581 lb./acre. This was a significant increase over the previous record of 1,443 lb./acre set in the 2004/05 crop year. More over, the new record dramatically exceeded the previous 5-year average of 1,315 lb./acre by over half a bale per acre. By comparison, the 5-year average prior to the previous record acreage was only 1,200 lb./acre. For the 2018/19 crop year optimism is running high with the USDA yield forecasts. For the August 10 production estimate the USDA indicated that the forecasted average yield was 1,555 lb./acre. While not a record itself, the California yield estimate was estimated at 1,654 lb./acre, exceeding the previous record from the 2012/13 crop year of 1,614 lb./acre. However, the September 12 production report revised the California yield downwards to 1,610 lb./acre resulting in the current estimate of 1,508 lb./acre. While yields still look to be strong this crop year, they may not materialize in the form of any new records. However, yield performance for American Pima continues a long-term uptrend. The 5-year average yield numbers for American Pima for the previous 5 years is 1,419 lb./acre. The overall outlook of the crop has been positive all season and with a current production estimate of 771,000 bales, the U.S. will be seeing the third annual increase in a row. This production figure will also be the largest crop since the 779,300 bale 2012/13 crop that followed the near record crop of 851,200 the previous year. Arizona faced some more challenging and severe weather this growing season and with some abandonments will look to only produce 25,000 bales. California s production is estimated at 701,000 bales, an almost 10% increase over last year. New Mexico s production is estimated to be relatively unchanged at about 13,000 bales, while the Texas production figure jumped this month with the addition of 5,000 additional acres. Texas is now expected to produce a crop of about 32,000 bales. The price of American Pima continues at the 159 us /lb. level according to Cotton Outlook s reporting of international price quotations. This has continued to be a consistent and stable aspect for American Pima that has had a positive impact on demand. The CNF Far East price has traded in a relatively narrow range over the last couple of years from a low of 144 us /lb. in early 2016 to a high of 172 use/lb. in mid With the forecast of a larger production for American Pima in the 2018/19 crop year, some buyers may be looking for some supply driven weakness in the market. However, sales and shipments of American Pima have continued to build a larger base and once again are ahead of the previous export sales commitments already early in the new season. The overall ELS and LS cotton position for global supply also continues to look contained to a similar size from the previous year adding to global supply tightness. MARC LEWKOWITZ President & CEO Supima PAGE THREE

4 With limited options for women in the underwear market, Sloane & Tate founder, Eliza Ladensohn set out to create a woman centric brand that focuses on style, comfort and celebrating individuality. Since launching eight years ago at Barneys New York, Sloane & Tate has been changing the way women shop for underwear. Owned by women, designed by women and manufactured in Los Angeles factories ran by women, Sloane & Tate is disrupting the status quo of the innerwear market and crafting premium, made in the USA underwear that not only feels good on your body, but also empowers the mind and rebellious spirit. What led you to create the Sloane & Tate brand? I created the brand because I couldn t find an underwear brand that spoke to me personally. So I decided to go out and make it myself. Underwear is something we wear everyday, so it felt pretty important to me. I wanted a brand that was androgynous, cool, elevated and empowering. I wanted pieces that were fashion forward, comfortable, and high quality. And, I didn t see all those aspects coming together under one label anywhere in the marketplace. Does the Sloane & Tate name have any significance? We ve taken our name from the Sloane Rangers - a group of rebellious British trendsetters who mixed high and low fashion to create their own unique style. Tate comes from the Tate Modern in London since I love modern minimalist art. REBEL YELL How do you differentiate Sloane & Tate from the market? Sloane & Tate differentiates itself from the other players by questioning everything. If underwear has always been designed a certain way I ask why we have to do it that way? Why is a seam in a certain place? That doesn t seem comfortable to me. Let s move it. Why is underwear always photographed a certain way? Wouldn t it be cool to do it this way instead? Standing out and being different is part of the brand DNA and I think our customers feel that authenticity. How long have you been working with Supima cotton? Supima has been a part of the line from the beginning. One of my favorite parts of my job is choosing the fabrics. When I was developing the line I went to the mill, closed my eyes, held out my hand and did a blind test handling all of the fabrics. If you close your eyes and touch a bunch of different fabric swatches you re always going to pick Supima. And that s how it happened for me. What are some of the benefits to using Supima? People are always telling us that our fabric is next level. I ll be wearing one of our T-shirts and when someone gives me a hug they re like what is that?!! It s so soft. Nothing breathes the way Supima does. Our customers always say our pieces are so soft and comfortable. The breathability and comfort are such important factors for us, which is why we use Supima across all our product categories from underwear and bras, to tanks and T s. Did you have any prior fashion industry experience? None at all. My grandmother was a fashion illustrator and my mom an art historian, so I had absorbed an appreciation for aesthetics by osmosis and inherited a passion for fine art that really served me later in my design process. I studied finance and management at The Wharton School. I always wanted to be an inventor and to start my own business, but I had no idea I would end up in fashion. What is your approach to designing a new collection or item? I look everywhere for ideas. What s inspiring me at the moment? Is it a song, is it a minimalist painting, is it that favorite piece of clothing that I wore when I was 13? Inspiration is everywhere. The last special edition collection I designed was inspired by a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder in my mind that translated perfectly into a bra and underwear collection. It has this really unique black paint job with an aggressive red stripe down the center. The color palette for the collection is taken directly from the car and the racing stripe is reflected in the elastic. I like looking where you d least expect. If it s something that resonates with me that s where I go. What are some of the key styles for fall that feature Supima? Every single one of our styles features Supima so basically the entire line! How does Sloane & Tate convey its brand message to consumers? We are a woman founded, run and produced line. We re proud of that and our messaging and imagery of strong powerful women reflect that. Are there any new initiatives under way or planned for the future growth of the brand? Right now I m focused on creating visibility for the brand and continuing to reach the type of customers we serve and want to serve. I really want to help create change in the market when it comes to how we portray women and creating the high quality elevated products they deserve. That s been my mission from day one and it continues to be how I run the brand today. It s never led me astray. Sloane & Tate is always evolving, always growing and always thinking beyond where we are now. I m never content with the status quo. I have about ten future seasons in my head and am excited to bring them to life. Shop the full collection of Sloane & Tate at PAGE FOUR

5 Supima Introduces Design Lab Hot on the heels of the successful showing of the 11th annual Supima Design Competition in New York, Supima is ramping up its efforts of supporting designers and brands on the international stage. For the fourth straight year, Supima is hosting an exclusive event in Paris, France to introduce the international market to the seven finalists from this year s showing of the SDC. In what s become an annual pilgrimage for Supima and the finalists, Paris Fashion week gives these newly minted designers a unique opportunity to showcase their designs to the international media. Taking the event one step further, Supima has introduced a new initiative to engage and collaborate with the international fashion community. The Supima Design Lab is a platform for young designers, brands and established designers looking to research and elevate their designs with premium, American-grown Supima cotton. For its inaugural edition scheduled for September 30th, the Supima Design Lab will showcase the winner and finalists from the Supima Design Competition in New York, the winners of the Hyères International Festival of Fashion and Photography alongside leading international designers, during a night of fashion, music and libations. Held at the historic Hotel de Talleyrand, the evening will showcase exclusive designs from each designer that features Supima cotton. All Roads Lead to Supima Founded in 2012 by two software engineers, Tuft & Needle set out to change the bedding industry with craftsmanship, transparency and a made in the USA collection of mattresses. Six years and 1 million customers later, Tuft & Needle has set the standard in the bedding industry and looks for growth with its new line of Supima cotton made sheets. Staying true to the company s core values of transparency and craftsmanship, Tuft & Needle s Sarah Grindle, product developer for Tuft & Needle, recently told Home Textiles Today magazine, As a company, Tuft & Needle has always valued transparency with our customers. The Supima license has given us peace of mind that all the cotton we purchase for our percale sheets is high quality, extra-long staple length, and allows us to pass this peace of mind to our customers. After tremendous research and visits to the Supima farm in California, Tuft & Needle found that the premium properties of American-grown Supima cotton complemented the characteristics of the company s mattresses. Offered in all sizes and three-color options, Tuft & Needle bedding is the quintessential percale sheet set that offers consumers a crisp, cool night s sleep that will only get softer with each wash. Shop the full collection of Tuft & Needle sheets made with Supima cotton at PAGE FIVE

6 Supima is excited to introduce our new licensees for the month of August. Supima continues to focus on expanding its network of manufacturers, brands and retailers, in an effort to ensure that each and every product that carries the SUPIMA label is sourced from a recognized supplier: Arvind Lifestyle Brands (India) - Men s Underwear Brand (U.S. Polo Assn.) Asher Fabric Concepts (U.S.A.) - Knitter Compania Industrial Romosa S.A.C. (Peru) - Spinner Crown Wears (Pvt.) Ltd. (Bangladesh) - Manufacturer - Apparel Delta Galil Industries Ltd. (Israel) - Men s Underwear Brand Jstylekorea Co., Ltd. (S. Korea) - Children s Apparel Brand Ningbo Beyond Home Textile Group Co., Ltd. (China) - Manufacturer - Home Textile, Brand/Retailer - Sheets Pendolo Holdings Ltd. (United Kingdom) - Men s T-Shirt Brand Quality Knit Wears Pvt. Ltd. (India) - Manufacturer - Apparel PT. Indah Jaya Textile Industry (Indonesia) - Spinner The Cotton Story (United Kingdom) - Men s & Women s T-shirt Brand Wing Siang Long Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) - Linen Brand/Distributor Be sure to visit our supplier directory for a full list of licensed companies, All In the Family Licensee Update To learn more about Supima s consumer initiatives, industry news and updates, please visit SUPIMA.COM 9885 S Priest Dr, Suite 101 Tempe, AZ PRESORT FIRST CLASS U.S. POSTAGE PAID PHOENIX, AZ PERMIT No Return Service Requested IMPORTANT WEB LINKS FOR AMERICAN PIMA CROP INFORMATION Supima offers a variety of reports for growers, manufacturers and retailers of American Pima cotton in the areas of specific product information, overall market data, and background research. The reports are updated frequently with the release of new data and are available for use by anyone interested. USDA - AMS Pima Spot Price (Daily): USDA - AMS Cotton Reports: USDA - NASS U.S. Production Estimates (Monthly): USDA - FAS Export Sales Report (Weekly): Classing Reports: By Office: By State: U.S. ELS Competitiveness Payment Report (Weekly): PAGE SIX