'Fifty is the NEW Thirty-Five'

Marketing Conference Explores Cashing in on Changing Attitudes of

Boomers & Zoomers

January 11, 2006 - Arlington, VA - With annual spending power
exceeding $2 trillion and average household incomes over $45,000,
today's Baby Boomers-and upper income "Zoomers"-are a powerful market
of consumers who increasingly care about style-how they look and how
they dress

A marketing conference, "Fifty is the NEW Thirty-Five," will be held
at the Union League Club in New York City January 24, 2006, sponsored
by the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), to address that
subject and the potential that it provides.

"There is no doubt that America's boomers-and zoomers-are far
different from their parents at the same stage of their lives," said
AAFA President & CEO Kevin M. Burke. "Increasing numbers are active,
healthy and they have the time and the resources to pursue activities
put off until this truly 'golden' time of their lives. Our industry
has an opportunity to help them in the process-to look great, feel
great, and to have the clothing and footwear they need for all of
those activities."

"Don't be fooled into thinking that just because consumers have
reached their golden years, they will act the way their parents did at
the same age," said Marshal Cohen, Chief Industry Analyst, The NPD
Group. "Older consumers today are more likely than previous
generations to care about looking, acting and feeling younger-and that
translates to how they shop for apparel at retail. Both manufacturers
and retailers need to learn how to speak this new- found language and
understand that one message isn't good enough to sell a product across
a wider and more complex consumer base."

Cohen, who will be the conference's keynote speaker, will discuss what
makes the 50+ consumer tick, and differences between lifestyle,
lifestage and age segmentation-and why they are different and
important.

According to NPD, Boomers, and the more upscale Zoomers subgroup,
represent nearly 30% of the U.S. population and comprise a much
sought-after, economically powerful group of spenders.

As the conference explores opportunities and challenges for apparel
and footwear companies seeking to serve older consumers and capitalize
on this important market segment, other speakers will include:

-- "Turning 50 with a 'Tude" - Paul Robb, Chief Executive Officer, The

Lifestyle Design Group, a division of Kellwood Company

-- "The Perfect Pair: Stepping Out in Style and Comfort" - Kimberley

Grayson, Senior Vice President Marketing, Aerosoles

-- "Special Report: Rethink 50+" - Michael Gratz, Research Director, AARP

Publications

-- "Looking Past the Looking Glass" - Howard Kreitzman, Vice President,

Cosmetics & Fragrances, Bloomingdale's

-- "The Retail Story: What Color is Your Door?" - Talbots

-- "The Age of Mastery: Rediscovering, Redefining, Reinventing" - Peggy

Northrop, Editor, More

The conference will be opened by Donna Weaver, Vice President,
Corporate Communications, Kellwood Company, a member of the AAFA
Marketing Committee who along with committee member Kathy DeChirico,
Chief Strategist, Visionary Strategies, helped to develop the program.

Note: Members of the media are welcome to attend and cover this
conference. For more information, please contact Susan Lapetina at
703-797-9055 or slapetina@apparelandfootwear.org.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is the national
trade association representing apparel, footwear and other sewn
products companies, and their suppliers, including several dozen U.S.
textile companies, which compete in the global market. AAFA's mission
is to promote and enhance its members' competitiveness, productivity
and profitability in the global market by minimizing regulatory,
commercial, political, and trade restraints.

Contact: Susan Lapetina of American Apparel & Footwear Association,
+1-703-797-9055, or slapetina@apparelandfootwear.org SOURCE American
Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA)