Suit firm eyes Clinton 'charisma'

[emad]

BEIJING, China (AP) -- A small clothing manufacturer in eastern China says it hopes to sign the former U.S. president to represent its brand, citing his "worldwide charisma." "Our suits match Clinton's character and personality," said Wang Zhen, an official at Fapai Xifu Co., in a telephone interview Thursday. The company, whose name translates as "French-style suit company," bills itself as China's 17th-largest clothing maker and is located in the low-cost manufacturing hub of Wenzhou, south of Shanghai.

It has offered Clinton US$2 million to be its spokesmodel and sent repeated e-mails to the White House -- where Clinton no longer lives -- to make its case. The company hopes to enlist Clinton as soon as next year. "Whether Clinton has enough attractiveness is difficult to say right now, so we are still negotiating," said company president Peng Xing, quoted by the Beijing Morning Post.

Clinton was in Beijing this week to promote the fight against AIDS. He didn't travel to Wenzhou, but the company said it sent him a suit, tie, shirt and shoes in hopes he will one day visit its factory dressed in its attire. A Clinton press aide, reached by telephone hours before the former president left Beijing, said he had no knowledge of any deal with the firm.

Most of Fapai Xifu Co.'s suits are sold in China, Wang said. "In 2000 we were trying to export clothes and wanted to choose a figure with worldwide charisma," to represent the firm, he added. The company sells 1.3 billion yuan (U.S.$157 million) in suits a year, each priced between 3,000 yuan and 8,000 yuan (U.S. $360 to U.S. $960), he said.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/11/13/offbeat.clinton.spokesmodel.ap/index.html

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NB last time I was in Hong Kong, the menswear outfitters shop next to the hotel was having a seasonal sale with huge signs everywhere saying: MASSIVE REDUCTIONS! ALL SUITS SLASHED!!.....

[WeirdSceneGoldmine]

1. WJC outfitters

Not just another Empty Suit. We may want to alter the designer name "Wang" however. :-)

[caledesi]

2. ROTFLMAO! nt

[lancdem]

6. LOL!

[jamesinca]

3. Notice how Clinton has world wide appeal and charisma

Bush was never in the running for this. I bet he was never asked or considered for this. Most repugs would argue this is liberal media bias or some shit.

[emad]

4. It's in the shoulders! Whereas Shrub's sartorial aplomb only

attracts the kind of suit makers that specialise in bodybags....

[The Zanti Regent]

5. You forget the sock in the Jockstrap

Made Andy Sullivan swooooooooooooooooon!