(Philadelphia, PA; April 10, 2002; PRNewswire) The recent release of ``Apparel Merchandising: The Line Starts Here,'' by Jeremy A. Rosenau, assistant professor and The Kurt Salmon Chair of Fashion Apparel Management at Philadelphia University, and David L. Wilson, a former assistant professor and director of Fashion at Philadelphia University, is a comprehensive resource that approaches apparel merchandising from the perspective of the producer. Published by Fairchild Books in 2002, it is an indispensable and stimulating look at the apparel business - both domestically and internationally.

Rosenau and Wilson have extensive backgrounds in the apparel industry as senior and chief executives covering men's tailored clothing, men's and women's sportswear and active wear, and children's wear. Practical industry expertise and access to industry resources, combined with their experience in higher education, gave them a unique perspective in creating a focused textbook, unlike any currently available.

``This book was three years in the making and covers the evolution of merchandising in the apparel industry from its historic roots of two season manufacturer-driven offerings with minimal style changes, to today's seasonless, consumer-driven, fashion-oriented environment,'' said Rosenau. ``It is a demanding and quickly changing global business climate.''

This book is targeted to junior- or senior-year college students majoring in fashion design, fashion merchandising, apparel management, or any fashion- related curriculum.

It can also be used for graduate courses in fashion and apparel, as well as in continuing education programs and seminars for industry personnel.

The 12 chapters cover merchandising planning and control, line development, costing and pricing strategies, quality, supply chain management, sourcing strategies and process, and the future direction of the apparel industry. Interviews with executives from each segment of the industry are included to provide the real-world views about the concepts discussed in the text. The results of a survey of 675 companies in the men's, women's, and children's markets, covering all price points from budget through designer, provide another critical perspective of the function of apparel merchandising.

``Today's students will become the professionals who will influence the future of this dynamic billion-dollar industry. We are charged with educating them to develop and implement the strategies and technologies required to produce and deliver quality products. `Apparel Merchandising: The Line Starts Here' meets this challenge.

For more information, call a Fairchild Books representative at 212.286.2948.