ADVISORY/Stitches Technology Teaching Factory Open House & Reception.

Business/News Editors

ADVISORY...for Thursday (April 13)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHAT:  Stitches Technology Teaching Factory Open House & Reception

WHO:   Maurice Marciano, Guess?
       Peter Tredwin, Gerber Technology
       Rita Walters, Councilmember, 9th Dist.
       Mark Ridley-Thomas, Councilman, 8th Dist.
       Marty Pearson, Aestechnologies
       CORT Furniture Reps.
       M.C. Sedlik, SoCal Edison

WHEN:  Thursday, April 13
       Open House/Tours 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

WHERE: Stitches Technology Sewn Products
       Job Creation Center Inc.
       5609 McKinley Ave.
       Los Angeles, Calif. 90011

BACKGROUND: The Los Angeles apparel industry, the third-largest industry in Los Angeles, has thrown its support behind a new and innovative nonprofit technical training program to aid the area's under- and unemployed residents.

Training will be conducted at "Stitches Technology," a state-of-the-art facility in South Central Los Angeles, and will prepare participants for entry-level jobs and career opportunities in the apparel industry. This first-of-its-kind facility (the only one in the United States) will benefit the local community and improve the public image of the industry.

Training classes began in March this year and are made possible by a $500,000 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services. Additional support has come from Guess? Inc. ($55,000), CORT Furniture (furnishing for the facility)($25,000), Gerber Technology (state-of-the-art cutting equipment)(over $150,000), Aestechnologies (state-of-the-art pressing equipment)($45,000), Juki International (latest technology in sewing machines)($70,000), and Southern California Edison, which has provided over $60,000 in various in-kind services.

While the project is off to a good start, according to Stitches CEO Clotee McAfee, "additional corporate sponsors are necessary to make this project a continuing success."