November 4: With increased competition in the US jeanswear market snapping at its heels, Levi Strauss Co said it will shut down 11 of its domestic plants in 1998. The closures will affect 6,395 employees, slightly more than one-third of Levi's manufacturing workforce in the US and Canada. The privately held company said it's closing the plants to bring its manufacturing capacity in line with its US production needs. Those needs are likely to have been reduced by the growing number of retailers and designers with their own jeanswear lines who have captured more consumers, said retail consultant Kurt Barnard.

Japan honours Indian industrialist: Rama Prasad Goenka, a leading Indian industrialist, was among some 30 eminent Japanese and foreigners who received imperial honour in Tokyo on Japan's culture day. Another Indian, Sripati Rao of the Japanese consulate general in Chennai, also received the high honour in recognition of his services. Goenka was given the order of sacred treasure with gold and silver stars, while Rao got order of sacred treasure-vi.

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