New Breathe By Milliken® Fabric Offerings On Rowe Furniture

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — October 14, 2020 — Milliken’s Specialty Interiors business announces its partnership with Rowe Furniture to offer the Breathe by Milliken® collection across Rowe’s furniture and slipcover lines. The eco-elegant performance fabrics partnership launches at the High Point Fall Market, where Rowe debuts Breathe’s New Delhi, a 100-percent cotton slub fabric, on its Robin Bruce Boden sofa.

“This partnership highlights our Breathe by Milliken collection, an ideal choice for consumers who want fabric solutions that offer protection without sacrificing aesthetics or the environment,” said Chad McAllister, executive vice president of Milliken & Company and president of the Textile Division.

Rowe’s latest product launch, Boden, focuses on sustainability, wellness and modern yet practical design that includes easy cleaning options. The Breathe collection is a perfect fit, featuring cleanable cottons, cotton/linens and polyesters made from recycled plastic bottles.

“We chose Breathe for its sustainability story, aesthetic features and excellent product support from Milliken Specialty Interiors. As the first plant-based performance option in our pre-washed, pre-shrunk natural fiber line, Breathe enhances our product portfolio and will appeal to customers looking for a functional solution without sacrificing performance or appearance,” said Laura Mabe, upholstery merchandising manager and designer for Rowe. “As the natural fibers soften and bloom, they will maintain their beauty through multiple washes for a luxurious and environmentally healthy option.”

In addition to New Delhi, Rowe chose to feature Soho, a cotton-linen blend, and Loft, another 100 percent cotton option. Rowe selected neutral colorways that will blend effortlessly with any décor through variations of white, ivory, gray and blue.

“Milliken is among the most sustainably-focused and environmentally responsible companies in the industry, and the organization has a reputation for excellence, meeting deadlines and offering great support,” said David Shilesky, vice president of marketing for Rowe Furniture. “One of Rowe’s differentiators is our Express Program, which offers shorter lead times on many custom items. Therefore, we need to have inventory on shelves and a partner we can depend on to consistently deliver. We know Milliken is a trusted, reliable partner.”

Breathe upholstery fabrics offer a durable, plant-based water-repellent that resists everyday stains and cleans easily without PFCs, fire retardants or other chemicals of concern. These fabrics have earned GREENGUARD® GOLD certification to meet strict chemical emissions limits and enhance the indoor air quality of living spaces.

“While we are thrilled to meet Rowe’s product needs, we are equally as proud to serve top manufacturers by working cooperatively, keeping promises and delivering tools to position their sales teams and merchandisers for success,” said Rene’ Vaughn, director of sales for Milliken Specialty Interiors.

Posted October 20, 2020

Source: Milliken & Company

Teijin To Donate Oil Adsorbents To Support Recovery From Mauritius Oil Spill

TOKYO — October 20, 2020 — Teijin Ltd. announced today that it is supporting efforts to deal with the heavy oil spill caused by the running aground of the cargo ship WAKASHIO off the shore of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd., the group’s fibers and products converting company, will donate 500 kilograms of its high-performance oil adsorbent sheet to the Government of the Republic of Mauritius through Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., an amount which will allow approximately 10 tons of oil to be adsorbed.

Made of polypropylene fiber nonwoven fabric, Teijin Frontier’s high-performance oil adsorbent sheet can adsorb up to around 20 times its own weight in oil. It is hard to tear and can also be used for wiping off oil deposits.

By means of this donation the Teijin Group will contribute to the area’s recovery from marine pollution and will continue to tackle a range of environmental challenges.

Posted October 20, 2020

Source: Teijin Limited

Kohl’s Announces Launch Of New Private Label FLX, Specialty Athleisure Brand

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — October 20, 2020 — Kohl’s announced today a new private label, specialty athleisure brand, FLX, available in select stores and online at Kohls.com beginning March 2021. With offerings for both men and women, FLX, pronounced “flex,” is a modern athleisure brand featuring stylish active separates made with high-quality performance fabrics and functional details. In addition to a year-round collection of core apparel — including bottoms, shorts and tees — the brand assortment will be refreshed seasonally with key transitional items, including fleece, jackets and layering pieces.

“Kohl’s is excited to introduce FLX, a new specialty athleisure brand, to our brand portfolio as we work to continue strengthening our position as a destination for active and casual apparel,” said Doug Howe, Kohl’s chief merchandising officer. “As customers have been increasingly shopping for a more comfortable and casual lifestyle, Kohl’s identified a plan to more aggressively serve as the most trusted retailer of choice in these categories. With an emphasis on high-quality athleisure, FLX fills a white space in our current private brand portfolio and will be a great answer to these growing consumer trends.”

Designed for premium comfort and style, FLX offers versatile pieces for life at home or on-the-go — such as a comfy traveler pant, multi-use loungewear or packable jacket. The assortment is also size-inclusive, available in plus and big & tall sizes, and the entire FLX collection was made using sustainable methods and materials. With a focus on higher-end athleisure, FLX complements Kohl’s current private and national brand portfolio, which includes active brands Tek Gear, adidas, Champion, Under Armour, and Nike, and casual brands such as Sonoma Goods for Life, Croft & Barrow and Columbia.

A Destination for the Active and Casual Lifestyle

The introduction of FLX is just one of many ways Kohl’s continues to invest in the growing categories of active and casual apparel. Building on its commitment to inclusive sizing, Kohl’s has expanded its size offerings in active apparel with the launches of Under Armour and Adidas Plus earlier this year, and Under Armour Big & Tall last fall.

As Kohl’s active business continues to grow, it has also increased square footage of the area dedicated to active by 25 percent in approximately 160 of our stores and has launched adidas shop-in-shops in 175 stores across the country, allowing customers to shop a curated assortment of adidas products in its own branded section — including everything from apparel to shoes and accessories.

Kohl’s is also continuing to evolve its casual brand assortment through increased clarity and the introduction of new and relevant brands like Lands’ End and Toms shoes, both of which launched this fall.

Posted October 20, 2020

Source: Kohl’s

Ralph Lauren Announces Appointment Of Valerie Jarrett To Board Of Directors

NEW YORK CITY — October 20, 2020 — Ralph Lauren Corp., today announced the appointment of Valerie Jarrett, senior distinguished fellow at the University of Chicago Law School, to the company’s Board of Directors, effective October 20, 2020. With the appointment of Jarrett, the Ralph Lauren Board is now comprised of 13 directors.

“We are pleased to welcome Valerie to the Ralph Lauren Board of Directors. Valerie is a proven and highly respected leader with a clear passion for citizenship and making a positive impact on the world,” said Ralph Lauren, executive chairman and chief creative officer. “Valerie’s breadth of experience across the public and private sectors and unparalleled expertise in government, law and leadership will bring new perspective as we continue to build the future for our iconic company.”

Patrice Louvet, president and CEO, said: “Valerie’s unique perspective and insights as one of the country’s most distinguished leaders makes her an excellent addition to the Ralph Lauren Board. Her experience across the public and private sectors will be invaluable as we continue to write the Next Great Chapter for our Company.”

Jarrett is a senior distinguished fellow at the University of Chicago Law School, a senior advisor to the Obama Foundation and media company ATTN and the author of The New York Times bestselling memoir, Finding My Voice, on leadership and citizenship in the twenty-first century. She was the longest-serving senior advisor to the Obama Administration, where she oversaw the Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs and chaired the White House Council on Women and Girls. She also served as co-chair of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team and as senior advisor to Obama’s presidential campaign.

Jarrett said: “Ralph Lauren’s purpose-driven culture and focus on aspiration, timelessness and optimism has long inspired me. I am honored to join the company’s Board of Directors and look forward to contributing to the company’s continued growth and success and to building on the longevity of this admired organization.”

Previously, Jarrett was president and CEO of The Habitat Co., and, prior to that, she served for eight years in Chicago government as Deputy Corporation Counsel for Finance and Development, Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Richard M. Daley and Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development. Before her city government service, Jarrett practiced law with two private law firms. She serves on the board as chair of When We All Vote, co-chair of the United State of Women, Lyft Inc., 2U Inc., Ariel Investments, Sweetgreen, Time’s Up, the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and the Economic Club of Chicago.

Jarrett’s appointment follows the recent addition of Darren Walker, president and CEO of the Ford Foundation, to the board this year.

Posted October 20, 2020

Source: Ralph Lauren Corp.

Hemp Black Inc. Creates The ALL NC Line Of Face Masks And Gaiters

GREENSBORO, N.C. — October 20, 2020 — Hemp Black Inc., with technical performance fabric manufacturing facilities in North Carolina, has applied its engineering ingenuity to create the patent-pending ALL NC FACE MASK and ALL NC FLEX GAITER to give companies a superior quality domestic option for employee face coverings. The ALL NC line of masks and gaiters is manufactured in North Carolina from USA-made components and can be branded with company names and logos to complement uniforms and also reassure employees that they are valued and protected.

“Face coverings are now — and for the foreseeable future — an integral part of responsible corporatewear,” said Jeff Bruner, president of Hemp Black. “Our ALL NC masks and gaiters are engineered and designed to provide all-day protective comfort for employees and enhance the company’s appearance to its customers. The masks and gaiters are available in multiple colors and can be embellished with brand logos. Plus, being manufactured here in North Carolina of USA-made components significantly increases confidence in quality and supports our local economy.”

The ALL NC masks and gaiters offer significant product benefits that enhance comfort and help ensure wearing compliance and employee satisfaction:

  • Multilayer, seamless, 3D knit construction for protection and contour shape;
  • Powered by HEMP BLACK™ / element odor neutralizing technology;
  • Protected with Cupron™ copper-based antimicrobial technology;
  • Inherent moisture wicking functionality;
  • UPF 50+ sun protection rating;
  • Reusable and machine washable for easy care;
  • Masks available in three sizes with knit in comfort stretch straps for optimal fit;
  • Range of colors for coordination with uniforms; and
  • Can be branded with superbly rendered logos for added corporate brand communication.

In addition to being produced in North Carolina, the ALL NC masks and gaiters deliver on other sustainability factors such as the incorporation of post-consumer recycled fibers.

Posted October 20, 2020

Source: Hemp Black, Inc.

Freudenberg Performance Materials Launches New Website About New Friction Inserts

Freudenberg’s new friction inserts

WEINHEIM, Germany — October 19, 2020 — Freudenberg Performance Materials is launching its website for its innovative friction enhancement technology combining a special hard-particle coating with a unique nonwoven from Freudenberg: Friction Inserts. On the new online platform frictioninserts.freudenberg-pm.com users get comprehensive information on the technology and its particular benefits for automotive, transportation and wind turbine industries.

Professionals in the automobile industry can access detailed information about the specific advantages of Friction Inserts in powertrain, chassis and engine applications. The concept of static friction coefficient increase, as well as the direct benefits of friction inserts for bolted joints are described in detail, with many didactic graphics and technical information. In the race for performance and downsizing, automotive engineers can find new ideas and solutions to secure bolted and press-fitted joints, which are vital parts to mechanical systems especially in e-vehicles.

“Expert corner” for even more insights

In the “Expert corner”, visitors virtually meet friction inserts’ expert Tobias Speth in an educational virtual animation and interview which unveils unknown aspects and prospects. Case studies provide real customer needs and experiences. For example, the use of standard wheel bearings in high-performance cars. Frequently asked questions provide additional detailed information about the implementation, technical background, and achievable results with friction inserts.

The website is available in English and German. General information about the automotive applications of friction inserts in French, Italian, Chinese and Japanese are provided in the download section.

About Friction Inserts

The friction enhancement technology was acquired by Freudenberg in October 2019, and won two prestigious awards, namely: The German Innovation Award from the German Design Council in 2018 and the Materialica Design and Technology Award in 2017.

Since then, Freudenberg has set up an industrial scale production of friction inserts after transferring the production routine to a reliable production process complying with the group’s Health, Safety & Environment standards and the quality requirements of the automotive industry.

Friction inserts help to increase the static friction coefficient in bolted and press-fitted joints. This allows lightweight and more compact component designs as well as the transmission of higher torque and shear forces. These features are of critical relevance in applications within e-mobility and its increasing performance requirements.

Posted October 20, 2020

Source: Freudenberg Performance Materials

TOLSA Announces Viricidal Activity For ADINS® Protection Series Of Additives

MADRID, Spain — October 16, 2020 — TOLSA — a company involved in the extraction, treatment and commercialization of mineral solutions — has announced that its biocidal additives, ADINS® Protection range, demonstrate viricidal activity.

The COVID-19 crisis has posed health challenges to society and precautionary activities such as hygiene and disinfection have gained unprecedented importance, influencing markets and enhancing new advantages related to ADINS Protection Series additives.

TOLSA reports that ADINS Protection S10 has shown to be highly active against all enveloped viruses including coronavirus type, along with norovirus, rotavirus, and adenovirus, according to the EN 14476 standard.

These tests conducted by an independent international external laboratory have confirmed that ADINS Protection S10 reduces the viral load by up to 99.99 percent in both short and long periods. ADINS Protection not only shows viricidal activity, but also bactericide, fungicide, and algicide activity.

TOLSA’s biocidal silver-based products present, due to its stability, a high antimicrobial activity at lower dosages. In addition, these products allow an optimal dispersion into the matrix in which they are incorporated.

ADINS Protection is a powder solution that can be used in different formulations for applications such as construction, plastics and rubbers, textiles, and paints and coatings.

Posted October 20, 2020

Source: Tolsa

Proviz Partners With HLC To Expand North American Distribution

LONDON — October 20, 2020 — Proviz Sports, a specialist in premium reflective apparel, has expanded and strengthened its global distribution across North America through a partnership with HLC.

Proviz, which distributes its award winning products to more than 30 countries across the globe, has appointed the iconic North American cycling distributor to handle its products in Canada from this fall.

Starting from its humble beginning in 2008 in London, Proviz has become an international award-winning sports brand, that enables cyclists of all abilities to feel safe and seen while riding on the roads. Proviz has also expanded its collection to include premium reflective running, outdoor and athleisure products. With all Proviz garments rooted in performance, functionality and visibility; the British brand has become the benchmark and market authority on high visibility apparel and reflectively technology.

Anthony Langly-Smith, cofounder of Proviz, said: “We’re delighted to have the support and expertise of HLC to help us strengthen and expand our offering into Canada. This, combined with our strong U.S. presence has us well-positioned to help new and existing cyclists across North America.”

“Proviz hits the mark when it comes to apparel consumers and dealers are looking for in Canada. We are very excited with this new offering. By combining Proviz’s product strength & HLC’s distribution strength, the brand will quickly see success in Canada” said Stephanie Monaco, senior product manager at HLC.

Posted October 20, 2020

Source: Proviz

X-Rite And Pantone Announce Virtual Color And Appearance Seminar

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., October 20, 2020 – X-Rite Inc. and its subsidiary Pantone LLC announced that its in-person Fundamentals of Color and Appearance Training (FOCA) Seminar is now available in an interactive, online learning format. Similar to the classroom format, the new virtual training features self-paced modules, a detailed course guide, printed Munsell activity kit for hands-on learning, and an online discussion board that allows students to interact directly with X-Rite instructors. Attendees will learn color theory, appearance science, and best practices in order to improve color control across their workflows and supply chains.

“COVID-19 has accelerated the transformation towards online education,” said Mike Soriano, director of Global Services, X-Rite and Pantone. “At X-Rite, we are excited to be one of the first companies to offer an eLearning format that delivers the same in-depth learning experience and content as traditional on-site seminars. Brands, manufacturers and individuals can sign-up and complete the class at their convenience and from the safety of their office or home.”

Presented by X-Rite Color Experts, the Online FOCA format is ideal for anyone who works with or specifies color. It allows quality control professionals, lab technicians, part suppliers, product developers and designers, and manufacturers to gain a solid understanding of color theory, the physics of color and lighting, color data, and spectrophotometers. Attendees learn how to measure, view, and communicate color to keep production workflows moving forward during these challenging times.

The online FOCA course includes:

  • Access to the online training platform and seven self-paced modules and more than 20 educational videos.
  • Comprehensive, in-depth color and appearance education that includes color communication, visual color, history of color science, color tolerances, color measurement, and instrumentation.
  • A Printed Course Guide designed to complement the online modules and serve as a future resource guide.
  • An Interactive Munsell Kit, which is sent to participants to use during the hands-on portion to reinforce color theory and demonstrate knowledge.
  • An Online Discussion Board moderated by X-Rite Color Experts, which allows students to post questions and interact with each other.
  • A Course Certificate upon completion.

“The online FOCA format is now available in English with plans to expand to multiple languages early next year. By offering a variety of training options, including seminars, e-learning, and on-site training customized to a company’s needs, we are making it easier than ever for customers across the globe to access color theory and color management trainings,” added Soriano.

To register for the Online Fundamentals of Color and Appearance Seminar visit: https://www.xrite.com/learning-color-education/training

Posted October 20, 2020

Source: X-Rite

PrimaLoft Announces ISO 17025 Certification in its Latham, N.Y., Laboratory

LATHAM, N.Y. — PrimaLoft Inc. is pleased to announce today that it has earned ISO 17025 certification. The certification process includes comprehensive system audits that cover every aspect of testing. Meeting ISO 17025 certification standards demonstrates that a lab operates competently and generates valid results, promoting confidence in its test work, globally.

“The certification process to achieve ISO 17025 certification is demanding,” said Mike Joyce, president and CEO of PrimaLoft. “Each individual in our testing laboratory must be wholly dedicated to the pursuit of quality testing. By scrutinizing our procedures at every level, we assure that our customers are receiving superior client service and the highest quality testing services.”

ISO 17025 is a quality management system standard that was developed by the International Organization for Standardization, which is an association of governmental and nongovernmental organizations from many countries. The ISO 17025 standard is utilized to certify quality management systems that focus on continuous improvement, customer satisfaction and the active involvement of both management and employees in a process-based approach to delivery.

“This certification allows our lab to provide certain in-house testing capabilities that would have previously called for working with third-party facilities,” Joyce said. “These capabilities will first be focused on military programs, with plans to expand our accreditations further, to better serve our variety of industry segments. This process really shows the dedication of our lab team to quality management and ensures we are able to deliver quality results to our partners.”

PrimaLoft has full, world-class laboratories in Latham and Xiamen, China, committed to delivering the highest level of quality service to its partners while making continuous improvements to processes.

Posted October 20, 2020

Source: PrimaLoft

Sponsors