The bargain-priced but very good quality now sold in Dominican clothing stores has an explanation. Listin Diario reports today that once several apparel factory operators were fired in the La Romana free zone in the early 90s these set up shop on their own. Today, the lingerie industry in La Romana is a RD$10 million a week business with more than 150 micro business operations. The newspaper says that the factories benefited when during the past administration of President Fernandez foreign material used to manufacture the lingerie was exonerated from taxes. The local shops manufacture underwear, robes and bathing suits. Several of these factories are located in the area known as “Duarte de los Panties,” or Avenida de los Interiores, in the Respaldo Benjamin sector of La Romana. Hugo Alquimedes Crispin, president of the La Romana Micro Apparel Business Association (Asomimetro) says that to expand, members need low cost financing for RD$30 million.