Luen Thai USA President Rick Helfenbein was recently appointed member of the board of directors of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA).

AAFA Chairman Wesley Card and President & CEO Kevin Burke welcomed Mr. Helfenbein to the organization. In a letter confirming the appointment, the two AAFA officials said, the association “looks forward to working closer with” Mr. Helfenbein and his “company over the next years to provide valuable services in the association and its membership”. Luen Thai is a member of AAFA.

Aside from Mr. Helfenbein, the other new board members are Emanuel Chirico, chief executive officer, Phillips-Van Heusen; David Edelman, chief financial officer, Kenneth Cole, and James McMurray, senior vice president and general manager, SAP Retail, Inc.

With a strong membership base, AAFA serves as the highly prestigious national trade association in the US of apparel, footwear, and other sewn products companies, and their suppliers. The organization promotes and seeks to enhance competitiveness, productivity and profitability of member companies in the global market.

AAFA was formed in August 2000 through the merger of two highly regarded trade associations: the American Apparel and Manufacturers Association and the Footwear Industries of America.