Afghan Women Visit Lion Brand Yarn in Manhattan

Manhattan, New York — June 4, 2005 — On Wednesday June 1st, the Lion Brand Yarn Company working in association with the Business Council For Peace (Bpeace) and New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), hosted a delegation of 12 business women from Kabul Afghanistan at their offices in Manhattan. The coming together of the two cultures was an eye opening experience for everyone.

The visiting women in the Bpeace program work in the apparel, accessories and home décor manufacturing related businesses in Afghanistan. They are attending specially-tailored classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology and on-site work sessions with designers and retailers. Lion Brand Yarn Company was selected as a top business in the fashion and textile industry for the group to visit.

Speaking through an interpreter, Jack Blumenthal, a member of the family who owns the 127-year-old-business, explained how the yarns were designed and marketed through the use of pattern support, advertising and a web site. The women asked sophisticated and thoughtful questions about sourcing and marketing issues and several of the women wanted to know how they could get Lion Brand yarn shipped to Afghanistan so that they could create products with it.

The stereotypical media image of Afghan women in black burkas shunning interaction with western culture is a far cry from the group of business savvy entrepreneurs that visited the Lion Brand offices on Wednesday. Lion Brand's Design team had prepared gift bags of basic yarns in subdued colors, thinking that these would be in keeping with their guests' cultural tastes but were surprised to find that the Afghan women were excited by the novelty ribbon and fur yarns in bright colors and especially the whimsical garments and stuffed animals for children that they saw on display.

"It was a day of learning on both sides, said Ilana Rabinowitz Director of Consumer Marketing, "We learned that the Afghan women are current in their knowledge of business and the Internet and they learned about the innovative and exciting ways that yarn can be designed, manufactured and marketed,"

After the women complete the three week program in New York, they will return home to improve their products, grow their businesses, and train others. Each Afghan woman in the program is matched to a Bpeace mentor for three years.

A selection of photos from the meeting at Lion Brand's offices in Manhattan can be viewed online at http://www.lionbrand.com/Newsletters/afghanVisit.html

About The Lion Brand Yarn Company
Lion Brand Yarn Company, a 127-year-old entity, is America's oldest hand knitting yarn company. Founded in 1878, the company began operation in New York and has been a leading supplier of quality hand knitting and crochet yarns ever since. Throughout its history, Lion Brand Yarn has been at the forefront of yarn trends while consistently providing its customers with the highest quality product, service and inspiration. Its Web site, www.lionbrand.com, offers over 500 free patterns, as well as instructions to teach people to knit and crochet.

About Bpeace in Afghanistan
The strategy of the Business Council for Peace (Bpeace) in Afghanistan is to focus on fast runners: high potential women, literate, already in business, and who demonstrate an intuitive business sense. We believe they are in the best position to create new jobs for other Afghans. For more information visit http://www.bpeace.org/