U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for July 5

WASHINGTON, July 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile
America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

SUNDAY, JULY 5: DEBUT OF THE BIKINI

Profile America -- Sunday, July 5th. One of the most daring fashion
innovations ever was unveiled 63 years ago today in Paris. Designer Louis
Reard had his models display a skimpy, two-piece bathing suit named for a
Pacific atoll where the hydrogen bomb was first detonated -- the bikini. Many
considered the design scandalous and most viewed it as a short-lived fad.
However, bikini swimsuits -- now considerably older than most of the people
who wear them -- are still very much in evidence on U.S. beaches. Bikinis and
other swim wear are among the items being featured this summer at the nation's
nearly 47,000 women's clothing stores, which have sales of more than $31
billion a year. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S.
Census Bureau online at www.census.gov.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p.348
2002 Economic Census, NAICS 448120

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S.
Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready
to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look
under the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

Rick Reed of the U.S. Census Bureau, +1-301-763-2812, fax: +1-301-763-3762,
Richard.Thomas.Reed-at-census.gov