TOKYO — December 5, 2018 — The Teijin Group announced today that on November 29 it acquired 25,000 shares, or 20 percent of the outstanding shares of Elitac B.V., a startup company that develops textiles and clothing integrated with wearable sensing devices, located in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The shares were purchased through Teijin Aramid B.V., the core company of the Teijin Group’s aramid business, located in Arnhem, The Netherlands.
Gerben de Bree, leader of Teijin’s Total Safety Solution Provider (TSSP) platform, was appointed as a member of Elitac’s board on November 29.
The Teijin Group and Elitac aim to co-develop solutions that will strengthen and evolve Teijin as a TSSP of initiatives for safety, security and disaster mitigation. The investment fits into Teijin’s TSSP platform and reflects Teijin’s strong belief in the value of integrating new technologies into apparel for firefighters, police, emergency personnel and other first responders who frequently work under high stress and in hazardous conditions.
“The ability of Elitac to quickly develop ideas from concept to first prototype by working closely with end users convinced us to deepen our relationship by taking an equity stake in the company,” said Ton de Weijer, Director of Solution 2.0 in Teijin Ltd.’s New Business Division.
“Teijin’s TSSP strategy perfectly fits with our aim to develop wearables for professionals by integrating electronics and textiles. The investment of Teijin enables us to professionalize and scale our wearable development. It is the starting point of the Elitac Wearable Innovation Lab for electronics in textile wearables,” said Merijn Klarenbeek, CEO and co-founder of Elitac.
Elitac is developing innovative smart textiles and clothing integrated with technologies for tactile information, navigation and wearable sensing devices.In 2017, the company developed the Sentaz tactile navigation system through Sentaz B.V., a 50:50 joint venture between Teijin Aramid and Elitac. Sentaz tactile navigation system, translates visual and audio instructions from standard navigation systems into gentle vibrations in the driving seats of first-responder vehicles including fire engines, ambulances and police cars. This reduces the response time and mental pressure of first responder drivers in high-stress environments, allowing them to focus better on the road. Multiple first responder vehicles in The Netherlands arealready equipped with Sentaz tactile navigation.
ANDOVER, Mass. — December 5, 2018 — Polartec announced the winners of its 2018 Polartec Apex Awards, an annual design award program celebrating the finest products made from Polartec fabrics. The winning products were selected based on skilled and creative uses of Polartec fabric technologies.
The winners are:
Bight Gear Swelter Jacket, an insulating parka for cold conditions made from 100g Polartec® Power Fill™ insulation (also available in men’s);
Bonne Gueule Blouson Épais Laine Cardée, a clean and versatile jacket made of Polartec® Alpha® insulation, with a Jules Tournier fabric lining, and a wool exterior;
Burton women’s [ak]® Turbine Quarter Zip Fleece and Pant, a cozy fleece outfit made of Polartec® High Loft™ fleece, originally designed for the U.S.A. Olympic Snowboarding uniforms;
Crazy Idea Skinny Woman Suit, a ski mountaineering racing suit made of Polartec® Power Stretch® fabric;
Crye Precision G4 Hot Weather Combat Shirt, a light, breathable combat shirt made of Polartec® Power Dry® fabric, available winter 2019;
Dainese Flexagon PL Waistcoat, a winter sports back protector vest made of Polartec® Power Wool™ fabric;
Filson NeoShell® Reliance Jacket, a practical jacket made from breathable waterproof Polartec® NeoShell® fabric;
LC23 Polartec Down Jacket, a reversible jacket with Polartec® Classic fleece on the intended exterior;
Rag & Bone Fleece Tactic Jacket, a cozy, protective hooded jacket made of Polartec® Windbloc® softshell with a plush High Loft™ lining;
Reusch Jérémie Heitz Promodel, freeride ski gloves designed with breathable Polartec® Alpha® insulation for outstanding grip and tactility;
Rhone Delta Pique Polo, a versatile polo shirt made of Polartec® Delta™ cooling fabric;
Santini Vega Xtreme, a high performance cold weather cycling jacket made of protective Polartec® Windbloc® fabric with breathable Alpha® insulation;
Sportful R&D Intensity Jacket, a cool weather cycling jacket designed for intense riding, made with breathable Polartec® Alpha® insulation; and
Todd Snyder + Champion Sherpa Tipped Sweatshirt, a sweatshirt inspired by Champion’s iconic design, made from a Polartec® Thermal Pro® fabric with a shearling aesthetic.
Every winner is an embodiment of Polartec fabric innovation and design inspiration, and the winning designers are being recognized with a Malden statue, an industry award unlike any other.
WINTERTHUR, Switzerland — December 5, 2018 — The Board of Directors of Rieter Holding AG has appointed Rico Randegger to the Group Management of the Rieter Group with effect from June 1, 2019. He will be responsible for the Business Group After Sales.
Rico Randegger began his career as a commissioning engineer at SIG Pack Systems AG. After holding various positions, including in the United States, he headed Bosch Packaging Services AG in Beringen, Switzerland, from 2010 to 2014. He is currently responsible for the product group Liquid Food of Bosch Packaging Technology in Königsbrunn, Germany.
He will take over the management of the Business Group After Sales from Carsten Liske, who will head the Business Group Machines & Systems from January 1, 2019. In the period from January 1, 2019 to May 31, 2019, CEO Norbert Klapper will be responsible for the Business Group After Sales on an interim basis.
Rico Randegger was born in 1973 and is a Swiss citizen. He is married and has three children.
SAINT-CLOUD, France — December 5, 2018 — Elis — an international multi-service provider offering textile, hygiene and facility services solutions across Europe and Latin America — continues its acquisition strategy in its key markets and announces the closing of the acquisition of 100 percent of Lavanderias Triton S.L in Spain.
The Lavanderias Triton plant, located in the Madrid area is specialized in Flat linen operations and the vast majority of its customers operate in the Hospitality business. The company also serves the cities of Barcelona, Malaga, Elche and Segovia through partners.
Lavanderias Triton is a family business that generated revenues of c. 8 million euros in 2017. The acquisition, which further expands the existing Elis network in Spain, will deliver synergies and allow Elis to to address a broader range of customers.
Commenting on this announcement, Xavier Martiré, CEO of Elis, declared:
“The acquisition of Lavanderias Triton enables Elis to continue the development of its network in Spain. The rapid integration of this family company will contribute to the continuation of Elis’ profitable growth.”
LEONBURG, Germany — December 5, 2018 — Indonesia is one of the most important clothing and textile exporting countries worldwide and Harapan Kurnia is a part of this industry for over 45 years. The company is not only oriented in producing and selling high quality fabrics, they also strive to produce them in a more environmentally friendly process. HARAPAN KURNIA is certified for ISO9001, Oekotex and USA Cotton and focus on local social engagement. The company’s goal is to be the leader in textile business by developing new and fashionable products with modern and eco-friendly technology as well as supported by Indonesia’s skilled human resources.
The company has in total 300 employees, a turnover of 50 million euros per year and their annual growth rate is 20 percent. Harapan Kurnia produces medium to high end fashion wear, swim & sportswear as well as ladies & menswear for the local market and for export. 95 percent of its products are knitwear and the rest is woven fabric. The articles are made of cotton, cellulose and blended material with up to 35 percent spandex content.
Harapan Kurnia has five Brückner machines in two separate locations and is very satisfied with the good machine quality, the accurate automatization, the accurate control system and the optimized heat recovery system. Another point is the good after sales support. They are convinced of the advantages of the Brückner tenters compared to machines with lower investment from other producers. Harapan Kurnia indicate the better machine setting, the better quality and the good support as decisive points for their decision to buy now their sixth Brückner machine. With Brückner as their partner Harapan Kurnia aims for continuous product developments for the high end export markets and wants to keep its position as one of market leader for high quality knitted fabric in Indonesia.
BEAVERTON, Ore. — December 4, 2018 — Nike Inc. today announced that Heidi O’Neill, president, Nike Direct, will expand her current role as leader of Nike physical retail stores and Nike.com, to now include all Nike digital products, services and member experiences, effective immediately. O’Neill will report to Elliott Hill, president, Consumer and Marketplace.
O’Neill, a 20-year Nike veteran, has held senior management roles across Nike including, most recently, president, Direct to Consumer. She’s held positions of increasing responsibility, including vice president of U.S. Apparel; vice president, general manager of Global Nike Women’s Category; and vice president, general manager of Nike Stores globally. She began her career at Nike as a marketing director in Apparel.
“Heidi is a proven and accomplished leader with strong retail, ecommerce, general management and brand management experience,” said Hill. “In this expanded role, we’re confident in her ability to lead Nike Direct through the next transformative and digitally-led era for Nike.”
Prior to joining Nike, O’Neill held roles at Levi Strauss & Co. and Foote Cone & Belding in San Francisco. O’Neill is a founding Board Member of the Nike School Innovation Fund, a current member of the Board of Directors for Spotify and is a former director of the Skullcandy Board of Directors.
Adam Sussman, previously Nike’s chief digital officer, also will assume an expanded role to become vice president, general manager Nike Direct Digital and Geographies. Sussman will continue to oversee Nike Digital and the consumer vision for digital products, experiences, services and capabilities across the marketplace, while taking on management responsibility of the four key Nike Direct Geographies. Sussman will report to O’Neill.
ZWOLLE, The Netherlands — December 4, 2018 — Royal Auping and DSM-Niaga developed a completely redesigned mattress. Every component of the new modular design can be separated easily and is fully recyclable for re-use in a new mattress. Mattresses are one of the main contributors to global landfill waste due to the complex combination of materials glued together. Royal Auping and DSM-Niaga have developed an alternative for mattress manufacturing, including local recycling, that also enables frequent maintenance for quality and hygiene purposes. The first mattresses will be placed at Landal GreenParks resorts before the end of the year.
An estimated 1,5 million mattresses are disposed every year in the Netherlands alone, 35 million in Europe and 20 million in the US. An increased focus on recycling by mattress manufacturers has grown the demand for reduced materials complexity and new ways to connect layers in a reversible manner.
It all started at Royal Auping more than a century ago with the quest for good sleep. With DSM-Niaga’s support, today’s innovative solution is found in modularity, healthy materials and the closed loop approach of the (re)production. The fully recyclable mattress excels in airflow and has a modular design that consists of six components: the ticking, comfort layer, pocket spring, felt floor, zippers and tape rush which are brought together by yarn and a reversible adhesive. All components can be easily replaced when comfort or hygiene demands, securing a good night’s sleep again and again. The unique collaboration of local production and partners, all within 100 kilometers (60 miles) of the Auping factory, facilitates local recycling without compromising on quality.
In the collaboration with DSM-Niaga, Royal Auping used its experience in manufacturing of high quality mattresses and now added circularity as a leading factor. Said Jan-Joost Bosman, CEO of Royal Auping: “Comfort and body support have been crucial for as long as Auping has existed. Over the years our focus shifted from the product to the actual service we provide to people every day: a good night sleep. This new focus introduced new design challenges as airflow through the mattress, replacement of end of life parts, and the impact of all elements on our sleep and long-term health.”
According to Kelly Hall, managing director of DSM-Niaga: “Conscious of the fact that most mattresses end up landfill or incinerated, we used all of DSM-Niaga’s materials science to meet Auping’s demands for quality and comfort, by using only materials that are known for no negative impact on our health, fully recyclable into new mattress components, and connected in a reversible way. We have been impressed by the dedication of the Auping team to find new ways of manufacturing, and we are truly impressed by Auping’s knowhow of the nightly hours we all recharge.”
VIDALIA, La. — December 4, 2018 — New North American textile maker Vidalia Denim, a division of Vidalia Mills Co., announced it has entered into a strategic relationship with The Lubrizol Corp. as a preferred supplier of stretch fibers in its denim fabrics. Both companies will work closely to maximize the performance and eco-friendly attributes of Lubrizol’s X4zol™-J elastomeric fiber in Vidalia’s production of denim fabrics.
In making the announcement, Dan Feibus, CEO of Vidalia Mills Co., explained: “The production of stretch fabrics holds such an important place in the denim industry today. Vidalia’s decision to work with Lubrizol as a preferred supplier of stretch fibers furthers our mission to build the most efficient and environmentally friendly denim mill in North America.”
Feibus elaborated: “Lubrizol provides us with an innovative state-of-the-art solution for sustainably produced, high-performance stretch fiber, and represents a key element in the evolution of great denim products and we are extremely excited to be working with Lubrizol on this project. Lubrizol is a global leader whose commitment to constant innovation and best practice sustainable manufacturing are a perfect fit for Vidalia.”
Rob Richardson, global business director for Performance Apparel at Lubrizol, underscored the benefits of the relationship with Vidalia, stating: “We at Lubrizol are truly excited about teaming up with Vidalia to incorporate our X4zol-J technology into their denim fabrics. While X4zol-J has already been adopted by many strategic global denim brands, we see this as an essential next step in helping advance the apparel industry’s sustainability agenda.”
Richardson continues, “Our collaboration with Vidalia will enable brands to work locally in North America to deliver high performance fabrics that consumers love, with even greater sustainability benefits. This alone takes miles and months out of the supply chain. Plus, the powerful combination of X4zol-J’s favorable material and recyclability profile, along with Vidalia’s sustainable manufacturing processes will help brands achieve lower scores using Higg Index tools available through the Sustainable Apparel Coalition.”
Vidalia Denim will also use e3 sustainable cotton exclusively in its operations, the first such operation in the world. Its cotton will be sourced from across the US farm belt from farmers enrolled in the e3 sustainable cotton program. Vidalia will offer its customers complete transparency of leading grower sustainability practices.
The iconic denim brand, Wrangler, is currently in discussion with Vidalia Denim about the development of fabrics for their 2019 product collection. Roian Atwood, Director of Sustainability for Wrangler, notes, “This mill is pushing the standards for sustainability denim fabric in North America. At Wrangler, we are excited about the opportunity to work with Dan and his team and the e3 cotton growers committed to sustainable agriculture practices to produce good-looking denim that utilizes innovative manufacturing methods.”
ATLANTA — December 3, 2018 — The Apparel Summit of the Americas was held November 27-29, 2018, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The conference was created and hosted by the Americas Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN).
The event’s attendance was 250 executives from 125 organizations. This number does not include more than 40 volunteers from AAPN member and local organizations plus other officials who visited.
The complex event required travel from and to the airport to three hotels, to one reception, to the convention center, to two factory tours and to an evening dinner and fashion show. This meeting involved more planning, logistics and people than any event in the AAPN’s 37-year history in the apparel industry.
Most importantly, 18 brands and retailers sent high level executives to see the investments made in Honduras’ textile industry first hand. One major integrated producer committed to supplying several global brands sent 9 of their most senior executives.
A welcoming reception was hosted November 27 at the Intercontinental Hotel. This kickoff was not only a great opportunity for friends and colleagues to catch up, but also an inviting venue to make new friends and business partners.
Jesus Canahauti, president, Elcatex
At 8 a.m. on November 28, attendees convened at the Copantl Convention Center. The event was opened by Jesus “Chuy” Canahuati, president of Elcatex. Canahuati promoted Honduras as the number one destination for U.S. yarn exports globally totaling more than $1 billion annually and as the number one country of origin for U.S. imports of cotton T-Shirts and sweatshirts.
The new strategic textile investments in Honduras are focused on man-made knits, adding to the region’s importance in the growing activewear category. The anchor in this strategy is UTEXA, a brand-new filament polyester yarn mill, representing an $80 million investment in plant, equipment and training.
The conference agenda also included a highly supportive video talk by the Honorable Juan Orlando Hernández, president of Honduras.
Mike Todaro, AAPN managing director, and Tony Anzovino, AAPN president and chief sourcing and merchandising officer, Haggar Clothing Co., followed Canahuati with presentations on the background of AAPN and detailed charts highlighting trade data.
Keynote Speaker Simon Mainwaring
The keynote speaker was Simon Mainwaring, founder of We First, a brand and leadership consultancy that provides purpose-driven strategy, content, and training. Simon spoke about “purpose-based branding” which is exactly what the Honduras2020 plan accomplished. This vision of investment, innovation and jobs, was presented by Jesus Canahuati at the 2016 AAPN Annual Conference, and the presentation led directly to this summit. It brands the region as one committed to the apparel industry.
Finishing the first day’s agenda was a panel moderated by Walter Wilhelm, CEO of WWA Advisors. The panelists — Steve Cochran, CEO, Tegra Global; Ricardo Pettenati, CEO, Pettenati Industrias Textil; and David Ha, CEO, TexOps — shared their own stories of investment and innovation in the Americas.
That afternoon attendees left on buses for two tours of facilities. The first tour included UTEXA’s filament yarn production facility, Honduras Green Energy, and the Villas San Juan Housing Project. The second tour highlighted Finotex Honduras and Coats (Finishing & Dyeing).
(left to right): Walter Wilhelm, CEO, WWA Advisors; Steve Cochran, CEO, Tegra Global; Ricardo Pettenati, CEO, Pettenati Industrias Textil; and David Ha, CEO, TexOps.
That evening, UTEXA sponsored a cocktail reception and fashion show featuring activewear produced by regional AAPN factory members. Following the show, regional banking company FICOHSA hosted a multi-cultural gourmet dinner. Both of these social events were held at the Club Hondureño Arabe.
Club Hondureño Arabe
Thursday morning, November 29, began with two more tours. The first tour was of Genesis Apparel, the Elcatex Textile Mill and Stretchline. The second tour focused on Karim’s Group’s spinning mill.
The afternoon conference program was opened by Todaro who presented the AAPN Apparel Industry Leadership Award to Chuy Canahuati and also to Joe Cuervo who, prior to being recruited by Kohl’s, worked in the Honduras2020 project office in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
The afternoon’s agenda included two core AAPN speakers. Ed Gribbin, CEO, Gribbin Strategic LLC and senior advisor to Alvanon, spoke on how to leverage all the new innovations within the region. He was followed by a complementary talk by Kurt Cavano, founder and president, GT Nexus (an Infor Company) on a topic Cavano calls Disruptopia: An Overview of the Speed of Technology.
Mario Canahuati, president of the Honduran Association of Maquiladoras, said: “These investments will radically change the economic activity of the North Coast. Having 250 representatives of the most important companies in the world drives more investment, creates jobs and improves the living conditions of our workers.”
(left to right): Jacobo Kattan, PROTEXSA; Jesus Canahauti, Elcatex; Mike Todaro and Sue Strickland, AAPN; Mario Canahauti, AHM; Joe Cuervo, Kohl’s; and Juan Zighelboim, TexOps.
Juan Zighelboim, El Savlador-based TexOps, and an investor in Utexa, said: “This is not only important for the local Honduran industry, but for the Central American region. It is a movement that shows we are ready to fight with Asia.”
As is customary at AAPN events, the conference was closed by attendees who were allowed to voice their impressions of the value of the content. Many of those attendees, including long time veterans of our events, called this the best in AAPN’s history. Rumor has it, business was closed, joint ventures were initiated and mergers were being negotiated during the event. In other words, it was a typical AAPN meeting.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — December 3, 2018 — Warson Brands, official licensee of Reebok for duty and uniform footwear, announced two new additions to its popular Reebok Sublite Cushion Tactical series of footwear for law enforcement and military professionals.
The new RB8809 builds upon the success of the Reebok Sublite Cushion Tactical series by offering a coyote brown version with composite safety toe and side zipper for wear with the new Air Force uniform. Also new for 2019 is the addition of the RB8606, a 6-inch version of the Sublite Cushion Tactical featuring a composite safety toe and side zipper.
The Sublite Cushion Tactical incorporates Sublite foam midsole technology to maximize cushioning while minimizing weight. The Sublite dual density foam midsole provides unparalleled lightweight cushioning for comfort and responsiveness. Deep flex grooves in the midsole allow for natural movement, letting feet bend and balance naturally. The boot also features a MemoryTech Massage Footbed that adapts to the unique contours of the foot and a slip-resistant outsole that grips in slippery conditions.
The RB8809 and RB8606 will be available for purchase at an MSRP of $150.00 and $160.00, respectively. Reebok Duty will display the full line of Sublite Cushion Tactical boots at SHOT Show booth #10179.
