11.   Most are self-financed and have opened shops or sell their clothing from private studios.

12.   Merchants who enjoyed smart sales last month were those who sold clothing, particularly those dealing in off-price goods.

13.   Ms. Shaw sold vintage clothing before making clothes with the romance of old ones but with new fabrics and a more fitted shape.

14.   Retailers that sell clothing, particularly department stores, reported the worst results.

15.   Sales growth has also been hurt from the growing number of stores that sell casual clothing, Hashagen said.

16.   She advertised in area newspapers for models to wear lingerie samples at parties she organized to sell the clothing.

17.   Some irregular and off-season clothing is sold at huge markdowns.

18.   The beguiling entrepreneurs convinced Wall Street to back their vision of an international site selling designer clothing to Internet fashionistas.

19.   The company sells casual clothing for teen-age boys, a fast-growing group, Ms. Behar said.

20.   The manufacturers in turn sell the clothing to large retailers.