Israeli-made panty hose popular

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32563, 24 March 1971, Page 6

Israeli-made panty hose popular

(By

SUSAN POYAS,

A.A.P.-Reuter correspondent)

TEL AVIV, March 22. Female legs sheathed in fine hosiery mean hard currency for Israel. Millions of the world’s fashionconscious women are wearing Israeli-made pantyhose, which has brought the country more than sl7m last year alone. One jump ahead of the fashion trends, Israeli producers realised the possibilities of the pantyhose revolution when sheer nylons were still the favourites. The new stretch fashion is a flatterer. It shows off not only a trim ankle or a rounded calf but also the feminine thigh in mini skirts and the “hot pants” style. One reason for its success is the way it caters to local tastes. Not only are the lengths and shades adjusted, but even the brand names are coined to suit the customers’ fancy. In Japan and Canada the pantyhose are sold under the "Cancan” label. In South Africa they are known as “Sabras.” They sell under the American “Hans” brand name in the United States where, in fact, four out of every hundred women wear the Israelimade hosiery. Israeli hosiery sales abroad this year will reach, 130 million pairs, according to the director-general of the Israeli Gibor Company, the power behind the pantyhose production line.

Mr David Lautman expects sales to top the 220 million pairs mark in two years'

time, yet three years ago not a single pair of Israeli-made hosiery was sold overseas. Israel went into the hosiery business in a big way just before the 1967 six-day Arab-Israeli war when the economy was undergoing a serious recession. Mr Bernard Giberstein, owner of Societe Begy, the largest hosiery firm in France, then on a visit to Israel, decided to build the first plant in the world devoted to pantyhose production. The $l3 million Gibor company today employs 3500 workers in 13 different plants throughout Israel. It is the only manufacturer in the world to produce the finished pantyhose from flat nylon yam. Other manufacturers buy the stretch nylon already processed. To launch the new industry, Gibor owners had to bring out 25 French and West German experts, but within a year all but three had left for home. Only Israelis are now on the company’s payroll in Israel.