MARIETTA, Ga. — July 10, 2019 — YKK Corp. announced its new YKK Group Environmental Vision 2050, “Towards a brighter future for nature and humanity,” in response to the great need for environmental actions on a global scale. The Environmental Vision defines the long-term direction for environmental initiatives that the entire YKK Group must take in order to realize a higher level of environmental management.

The issues identified in the Environmental Vision were gathered during multiple workshops conducted with employees as well as from the results of an employee survey conducted in YKK’s six global regions. In this way, the Environmental Vision reflects the ideas and opinions of the employees who will be the main driving force behind YKK Group’s future activities.

The Environmental Vision will go into effect in April 2021. YKK plans to implement the Environmental Vision at the individual company level by establishing environmental principles and numerical targets locally.

YKK Group Environmental Vision 2050: “Towards a brighter future for nature and humanity”

Responding to climate change

The climate change that is occurring on a global scale has become a serious problem for all organisms living on Earth. Considering it our responsibility as a member of society to take actions to mitigate this problem, the YKK Group is striving to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, including CO2, and adapt to climate change.

Sustainable use of water

While water is an essential resource for sustaining life and all types of industry, the amount and quality available vary widely depending on the country and region. For those of us who aim for prosperous coexistence with society, joining our communities in sustainably utilizing water resources is essential. Therefore, we are taking actions such as cutting back the volume of water intake and reducing the environmental load in waste water.

Utilization of resources

Since the YKK Group manufactures many products, including zippers and windows, various types of resources that constitute raw materials are essential for us. To ensure that we will be able to stably continue supplying our products well into the future, we are acting to maximize effective utilization of non-renewable resources, and also taking initiatives to recycle the waste materials generated throughout the entire life cycle of our products.

Symbiosis with nature

Nature provides resources essential to an affluent lifestyle, such as a stable atmosphere, clean water, and healthy food, and gives us places for recreation. To leave the possibility of an affluent lifestyle for the generations to come, we are engaged in activities to protect the natural environment and reduce our environmental impact.

Formulation Process and Future Expansion

• Opinion exchange with management (June 2018)
• Employee-led workshops and surveys (October and November 2018)
• YKK Environmental Policy Committee established (January 2019)
• Review by management and vision formulation (April 2019)
• Establishment of environmental principles/goals at each YKK company (through FY2020)
• Execution of environmental principles and achievement of goals (starting in FY2021).

Posted July 10, 2019

Source: YKK Corp. Of America

NEW YORK CITY — July 10, 2019 — Backbone announced today a new cloud-based platform offering complete with integrated workflows and functionality to drastically improve product development for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands in the consumer goods space. This innovative and much needed platform surfaces at a time where industry executives generally view consumer shifts enabled by technology as the most important trend for the year according to the 2019 State of Fashion Report from McKinsey.

The platform is already in use by an elite group of more than 150 of the hottest in-demand apparel, accessories, footwear, furniture, textile and consumer goods companies including industry innovators like Black Diamond, Blank NYC, Backcountry, Chubbies, Peter Millar, Plae, Roka, Todd Snyder, Uppababy, Faherty and many others.

Backbone provides single-source, end-to-end solutions to empower brands in highly competitive and evolving markets. Because Backbone is an open API system, users can seamlessly push and pull data from other work-related apps like Shopify, Netsuite, and Slack. Its cloud-based infrastructure enables users to access their data anywhere, any time. Backbone’s modern interface allows for company-wide collaboration to eliminate confusion, errors, and miscommunication throughout the production process. While competitors in the lifecycle space have largely iterated on applications originally developed many years ago, Backbone employs ultramodern technologies and with its latest release, has the most intuitive interface and workflow in the industry.

“Brands across the globe have been racking their brains for decades on how to improve processes with better speed, visibility and the collaboration expected of a modern product making tool,” said Matthew Klein, CEO of Backbone. “Today, Backbone’s industry-defining solution will bring new opportunities to companies that are desperately seeking to compete in a competitive and fast-paced market as they move to the direct-to-consumer business model.”

Also included in the 2019 State of Fashion Report from McKinsey, the word that comes to the minds of most executives (34 percent) when describing the industry is “changing.” The second and third most common words are “digital” and “fast.” The new offering from Backbone solves current issues that companies face concerning inadequate and outdated infrastructure unable to meet the demands of today’s market. With this launch, Backbone is affording product-making industries with a complete suite of tools that enable smarter data-backed decisions with an interface that is recognizable and easy to learn. These tools are incorporated into a SaaS platform that allows for flexibility, control, and customization that digitally-native brands need.

Backbone’s Chief Product Officer and co-founder Andrew Klein explains “We built Backbone for entrepreneurs – designers, developers, and product companies changing the industry – to help them streamline the complexities throughout the manufacturing process and make their supply chains able to adapt to the ever-changing retail landscape.” This lends to Backbone’s strategy of attracting DTC-focused brands who need every advantage to compete.

Tiffany Tam, a designer at Betabrand, appreciates Backbone’s accessibility. “Everyone on my team can use our central hub to look up information, and because Backbone is cloud-based, we can access that information from anywhere.” Meghan McGrady, product development manager from Parachute Home, has seen improvement in her team’s ROI through Backbone. “Time savings for my lean team is important, and Backbone has helped streamline our process and has kept us on track for our goals.” John Weld, president of Immersion Research, an outdoor product company, summarizes his experience simply. “Backbone works. The other way didn’t.”

Posted July 10, 2019

Source: Backbone

STATESVILLE, N.C. — July 10, 2019 — Inspired by the hottest trend in custom sublimated designs, Badger Sportswear announced today its new stock line of Badger sportswear products: Ombre™.

Featuring 8 different vibrant colors, Ombre™ elevates the game by being the first to bring together this top-trending look with Badger quality and speed. It’s apparel that delivers the total package for teams at every level, nationwide.

“Badger has a proud history of making the latest designs and fabrics accessible to all,” said Ginny Gasswint, vice president, Product Development for Badger Sport. “You’re seeing this look on everything from hair styles to ready-to-wear…even wall décor. With Ombre, now teams don’t have to go to a high-end, customized design to sport this on-trend design on their chosen field of play.”

Badger is offering the distinctive Ombre design in tees, hoodies, and shorts, in an athletic cut for men, women, and youth. The garment also features best-in-class moisture management/antimicrobial performance fabric, keeping athletes feeling as good as they look.

“That’s where the story of Ombre runs even deeper,” added Jeff Fulp, Badger quality assurance manager. “We relentlessly test every fabric we offer in our proprietary Badger Performance Lab, ensuring that all Badger styles are backed by substance. It’s why every garment we make comes with our exclusive Badger Lifetime Performance Guarantee, with Ombre being the latest example.”

Badger Sportswear is a proud part of Founder Sport Group, featuring best-in-class brands that include Alleson Athletic, Garb Athletic, and Teamwork Athletic. From the field to the stands, and at every practice along the way, Founder Sport Group makes quality apparel accessible to all at the speed of sport.

Posted July 10, 2019

Source: Founder Sport Group

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — July 10, 2019 — JERZEES® is proud to introduce the all-new Snow Heather collection in French Terry and Jersey, an entirely new kind of apparel for the brand. The Snow Heather collection provides apparel options with a distinct, lived-in look due to the unique slub, textured fabrication. This stylish, lightweight and functional collection complements the vintage trend in apparel and the on-the-go style that decorators want for their customers.

“This collection is unlike any other product we’ve launched,” said Jeff Traen, director of marketing at Fruit of the Loom Activewear and Jerzees. “The slubbed, vintage-inspired fabric adds visual interest to the garment that elevates Jerzees apparel offerings. Decorators are looking for apparel that matches their customers’ personalities and experiences, and we want to provide products that allow decorated apparel customers to be ready for any and every experience that life has to offer.”

The Snow Heather French Terry is available in three styles including a French Terry raglan crew, raglan hood and a ladies’ raglan full-zip hood. The polyester-cotton blended fabrics provide a super soft hand and stylish versatility.  This collection is available in 11 Snow Heather colors in sizes S–3XL, with color and sizing options varying per style.

The Snow Heather Jersey features distinctive, vintage tees with a super soft hand and classic fit. Available in companion Jersey tees along with a ladies’ racerback tank, the Snow Heather Jersey is something decorators can offer customers for all-day comfort and style. The polyester-cotton blended jersey fabric is available in 14 Snow Heather colors, sizes S–3XL, with color and sizing options varying per style.

“This product was born from the understanding that decorators and customers are looking for premium fabrics that are different from traditional fabric color palettes and styles,” said Titi Lin, senior product designer at Fruit of the Loom, Inc. “The collection is meant to give decorators products that are truly unique staple items with seasonal longevity.”

Much like the new Snow Heather collection, the Jerzees brand has a new look that embodies the originality and versatility of the end-user. Jerzees products are designed for a variety of experiences, personalities and adventures. Apparel should give customers the confidence to ask, “Wear To?” without hesitation — and this collection does just that.

“This collection is a gateway for the Jerzees brand to explore and compete in new spaces that we haven’t explored before,” said Lin. “Snow Heather is a combination of a classic fit, premium fabrics and the style-centered textured look of the slubbed fabric to create this one-of-a-kind collection.”

Posted July 10, 2019

Source: Fruit of the Loom, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company

LOS ANGELES — July 10, 2019 — Today BUHO announced its official launch as the premier sustainable, conscious, and circular e-commerce hub.

Founded in 2019, the platform features a diverse variety of ethical, locally made and curated vintage brands for women, men, kids, and home all under one banner for the first time. Additionally, it includes handmade garments stitched and assembled in the state of California.

The company speaks to the vast community of those who base purchases upon social and environmental impact — which makes up 1/3 of all consumers. In doing so, BUHO emerges as a trusted and safe shopping environment, upholding majority partnerships with Certified B corporations, sourcing ethically from vintage outfitters, and showcasing top brands who share its values, including Toms, Boyish Denim, LACAUSA, Corridor, Taylor Stitch, MATE the label, Nisolo, and many more.

Additionally, BUHO actively engages consumers with an easy and revolutionary “Upcycling Program.” Each purchase includes a prepaid return label for the shipment of old and unwanted personal clothing items. By participating in this program, approved returns grant a $10 store credit on the next $50 purchase. Meanwhile, returned clothes will be divided and donated to select charities. Unqualified items become stored for recycling in a forthcoming factory to engineer a new yarn from the materials beginning in 2020. This circular purchase drastically minimizes the amount of textiles disposed of in landfills and gives new life to fabrics.

BUHO’s consolidated marketplace also includes benefits such as carbon neutral shipping partners, and fully compostable packaging and plantable seed tags. All products made from artisans receive fair prices for their work and creations in a value highlighted fair trade.

Following over 15 years in Business Development and Marketing, CEO and Founder Maria Casey endeavored to provide an alternative to traditional e-commerce. “BUHO was born out of the desire to make it easy to shop good,” Casey shared. “We’ve already done the hard work for our customers, uniting the world’s best ethical brands in one place. The team has been working non-stop to get only the best brands that do good for our people and our planet.” Igniting a new era, BUHO democratizes sustainability and delivers e-commerce with a conscience.

Posted July 10, 2019

Source: BUHO