Textile Insight - November, 2008
IFAI Expo 2008 Featured Innovative Fabrics
The current global economic crisis hasn’t tempered interest in the specialty fabrics industry. Enthusiastic buyers filled the Charlotte, NC Convention Center October 21-23 to see the largest concentration of suppliers under one roof, covering the ent...
Function in a Flash
In the past protection was all about combating foul weather conditions and out-smarting Mother Nature. New fabrics were designed to either protect from the cold, wind and rain, or materials were engineered to keep athletes cool on hot, sunny summer d...
Design and Deliver
Beyond Stretch: Compression Garments Offer a Multitude of Benefits
It’s easy to forget, but compression used to be seen by many as “those tight shorts” that only the geeky cyclist down the street wore. With brands such as Under Armour and Nike leading the way with product and marketing, tight fitting spandex garment...
Achieving Unifi
“Five years ago, we were not sure where the bottom was going to be. How much contraction would the U.S. market experience and how much would move entirely to Asia? But now our strategy is clear.” ~ Roger Berrier, EVP Unifi
On a sunny day last September well over 1000 people turned out for a party at Unifi’s Yadkinville, NC manufacturing facility. Employees jammed the parking lots while helping themselves to barbeque and enjoying a festive afternoon in honor of the comp...
Bold Moves
Allen Gant Dares to Transform Textiles for Today’s World
Although deeply rooted in domestic textile country, with a heritage that dates back to the Civil War, Glen Raven has in recent years taken intrepid international steps to establish a global footprint that now extends far beyond the United States. ...
Global Impact
Shaking up sourcing strategies for footwear and apparel brands.
During a chat about fashion trends with a senior VP for a leading surf and activewear manufacturer way back in July, the key fashion trend he pinpointed for ’09 was that “things are going to cost more.” As we head towards the new year, that predic...
East/West Collaborations
Effective supply chains change according to how and where the market moves.
The textile industry has been bemoaning the fact that for the last several years the production of garments -- followed by textiles -- has shifted off-shore to lower-cost countries. The move to Asia became so common that some companies developed a “i...
A New Spin On Recycled Yarn
Finding the right partner for success in a market niche
In today’s challenging textile business one of the best paths to success is to produce fibers and fabrics that can’t be easily knocked off by Pacific Rim competitors. Hickory Throwing Company, a North Carolina yarn-twisting company that dates back to...
Sure-Fire Fabric Strategies
It’s not easy to engage a teenage boy on the topic of textiles, especially on a Saturday afternoon with college football on TV. But I knew I had my son’s attention last weekend when I asked if he’d like to light some T-shirts on fire. In the house. R...
Fiber Focus
New Brand Name for Well-Established Spandex RadiciSpandex Corp., of Gastonia, NC, the second oldest U.S. spandex producer, has a new name for its stretch fiber -- RadElast. The company is now the U.S. arm of the Italian global fiber and fabric p...
Eco Update
Organic Cotton Production Grows 152 Percent In 2007/2008 Global Conference Explores Organic Fiber Value Chain
The amount of organic cotton farmers grew worldwide in 2007/08 increased 152 percent, according to a new report by Lubbock, TX-based Organic Exchange (OE). According to its Organic Cotton Farm and Fiber Report 2008, organic cotton production increase...
Company News
Thermore HD-Pro for Sleeping Bags Expands Thermore HD-Pro thermal insulation, made of100 polyester is now available in additional weights to best fit the end use and reduce weight. HD-Pro is being offered in 65 and 90-gram weights to further meet ...
ask the fabrikologist
Katherine DiMatteo partner of Wolf, DiMatteo + Associates, representing Organic Exchange, clarified the difference between mandatory requirements and voluntary requirements for organic certification. What are the legal requirements for selling te...
ACTIVEWEAR ACID TRIP
New Balance Innovative Printing Process
The new NBX Burnout Singlet and Tee from New Balance’s upcoming Spring 2009 apparel line caught our attention at a recent preview of the collection. It wasn't just the style and feel of the garments (though we liked that too); rather, it was the ...
BRAND PROFILE: RESTORE
Green Garments from New York City’s Garment Center
When Celeste Lilore saw what United Knitting was doing with Cocona, she was hooked. “We did a tank for Exhale (spa), and RESTORE was born,” says Lilore, who with designer husband Anthony Lilore launched the apparel brand in May. RESTORE stands f...
Hose with Holes
Nike Design Drops Weight, Ups Venting
In the race to make the lightest performance running sock on the market, Nike has taken a drastic step with its latest incarnation of Nike Elite Running socks — they’ve put holes in the socks. The Nike Elite Running Lightweight sock uses a macro-v...
Unifi Announces Q1 Results
Economic slowdown, rising raw material costs impact business
Unifi recently released operating results for its first fiscal quarter. Despite a strong start, executives explained how the global economic slowdown combined with higher raw materials had resulted in challenging conditions for the latter half of the...
Wellman Exits Polyester Market
Re-org plan looks to Pearl River plant for future PET business
“I was not surprised by some things, but closing the Fort Mills office was a shocker,” states Wellman veteran Jim Ciccone. “It is an end of an era for Wellman. When the company emerges (from bankruptcy) the Wellman name will continue to exist, but i...
University Education
Cornell University Offers New Ph.D. in Apparel Design
Apparel design has always been particularly attractive to students because of the individual creativity it requires, and the potential for glamour and fame that a fashion career offers. The popularity of televised apparel design competitions over the...
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