INTIMATE NOTES
PUGH TO BE HONORED: The Intimate Apparel Square Club will honor Lawrence R. Pugh, chairman and chief executive officer of VF Corp., at a dinner dance Saturday, May 13, at The New York Hilton.
Pugh, who also oversees the Vanity Fair Mills innerwear division, was chosen to be the Square Club’s 1995 honoree for his longtime commitment to the innerwear industry.
The primary goal of the 40-year-old industry organization is to raise funds for Howard A. Rusk Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of The New York University Medical Center. “Vanity Fair has been a part of this organization for a number of years,” said Pugh. “I have been to the Rusk institute and seen the children. Once you’ve been there, you immediately recognize the need to help. Last year, $250,000 was raised, and we hope to exceed that this year.”
Pugh further noted that a goal of VF management around the country is to get its employees, 57,000 in the U.S., active in community service.
“It’s not just a financial commitment from VF,” said Pugh. “Our management understands.”
NATORI DOES MEXICO: The first Natori boutique will open in Mexico City May 4.
The boutique, which will exclusively house Natori merchandise from sleepwear, bras and panties to accessories and footwear, will be located on Masaryk Street, an upscale shopping area in Mexico City. The 2,000-square-foot shop will be a retail/wholesale operation, which will feature Natori goods for consumers on the first floor and a vendor showroom on the second level.
The boutique is a licensing venture with Distribuidora Commercial M.D.
First-year sales projection is $1 million for wholesale and retail sales, respectively, said Josie Natori, president of Natori Co.
Natori said she believes the faltering Mexican economy will not affect sales at the boutique.
“At first, we were concerned,” said Natori, “but after more research, we concluded it would not pose a problem. There are many extremely wealthy people in Mexico.”
Natori said she feels so bullish about her retail venture in Mexico that she plans to open several more boutiques throughout Mexico by the end of 1996, although no locations have been selected. She further noted there are plans to open Natori boutiques in Japan later this year.
In February, the first Natori boutique opened in Manila in the Philippines. There also is a Natori boutique in Paris. The Manila and Paris units are Natori-owned.
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MOVING UP AT KOMAR: Jay Harris has been appointed executive vice president and chief operation officer of Charles Komar & Sons, New York. The post at the sleepwear firm has been vacant for nine months.
Harris was vice president and national sales manager for seven years.
Greg Holland succeeds Harris in his former post. Holland had been a key account salesman for Komar for the past 10 years.
Harris and Holland report to Charles E. Komar, president.
PROMOTIONS AT GELMART: Brad Gelbart has been promoted to the new post of executive vice president of sales and marketing for the Lady Marlene division of Gelmart Industries. He also will be responsible for design and merchandising. Gelbart will continue in his role as head of the licensed Adrianna Papell Intimates line of foundations.
Jeff Loomis has been named executive vice president of sales of the Gelmart bra division, another new post. Bras under the Gelmart label are distributed to discount chains. Loomis had been national sales manager for five years.
Gelbart and Loomis report to David Clingo, general manager of Gelmart Industries.