WILMINGTON, Del. — January 9, 2018 — INVISTA, owner of the LYCRA® brand and a leader in developing market-driven innovations for the legwear segment, presents its global legwear trends and fashion directions for Autumn/Winter 2018-19. Issued annually, this trend report is developed for the exclusive use of Lycra brand mill customers before being released to a wider audience.

The Lycra brand has once again worked with trend forecasting agency Stijlinstituut Amsterdam to predict the must-have legwear looks for the season. Each look in the fashion-forward capsule collection is made possible by the latest advances in Lycra brand fiber innovations. The legwear garments are designed with comfort, style and fit in mind, and take full advantage of the brand’s entire portfolio of fibers for socks and hosiery.

“As we develop each season’s capsule collection we pay particular attention to garment design and construction to create dynamic and versatile looks that will enhance any wardrobe,” said Sybille Bald, global segment leader, Hosiery. “Each look showcases the benefits of a fiber that has been carefully selected to meet forecasted trends and consumer needs. Whether its all-day comfort, compression, warming or cooling technology — our fibers deliver lasting performance consumers can depend on.”

The Lycra brand’s Fashion Directions have become a valuable source of inspiration that creates value for brands and retailers and presents knitters with insights that can lead to exciting new business opportunities. Here are the eight trends forecasted for Autumn/Winter 18-19:

Sheer Luck

This thigh-high plays with transparency and texture to celebrate the inherent beauty of skin. Depending on the skin tone, its slightly raised graded stripes in opaque yarn either merge subtly, or contrast sharply for a more expressive impact. Made with LYCRA® 3D technology, this hosiery offers greater comfort and enhanced freedom of movement, a uniform appearance and a softer, smoother hand. Offering an essential aesthetic, this look strips back all complications to find a sense of calm and quiet amongst all the noise.

Self Improvement

With the continued rise of athleisure, consumers are wearing activewear-inspired apparel all-day long, and opting for comfort and performance benefits over garments only offering fashion appeal. This daywear hosiery is inspired by color blocking used in activewear and is showy, organic and curvaceous in blues and blacks. This garment fits superbly and is ultra-comfortable thanks to its top made with Lycra FREEF!T® technology, which means less rollover and slip down.

Comfort Seekers

Performance features continue to be a key driver in garments that are worn close to the body like this pair of tights made with Lycra SOFT COMFORT technology. This innovation delivers exquisite comfort and superior fit, yet still stretches freely to accommodate movement for women who are constantly on the go. Drawing its inspiration from ‘70s high-heeled, over-the-knee-boots worn over opaque hosiery, this look combines these two fashion features into one stylish garment engineered to deliver lasting performance.

Perfect Hue

Known for its ability to slim and instantly make anything look more chic, black is arguably the most loved color in fashion. These vibrant tights feature Lycra BLACK technology for durable, true black color without unsightly grin-though or glitter. This intense black is the perfect base to allow other colors to pop — capitalizing on the trend of using bold patterns and colors for dramatic effect. Splashed by a shocking splat of yellow that is fully engineered into the garment, this fun hosiery also contains many functional benefits that will appeal to consumers. THERMOLITE® technology is engineered to help keep the wearer warm and dry, while Lycra LEG CARE technology provides graduated compression to help energize tired legs.

Make It Mine

This look celebrates body adornment from ethnic-inspired folk motifs and abstract patterns, to contemporary sports accents. The foundation is the skin, or in this case, the hosiery, which acts as a canvas for decorative embellishment as seen in body painting or tattoo art. The hosiery gives the illusion of perfectly even skin tones thanks to Lycra LIVING LIGHTS technology, which also delivers more saturated fashion colors. This rhythmic herringbone pattern is printed onto semi-sheer hosiery in a dynamic, linear pattern that confuses the eye and creates the effect of a fast-moving animated blur due to translucence and layered graphics. This hosiery also provides smoothing and shaping properties thanks to Lycra BEAUTY technology.

Considerate Consumer

This trend is aimed at a more mindful consumer who considers sustainability when deciding which garment to buy. They have turned their back on fast fashion to focus on slow fashion, which is better for the planet and features more timeless and longer lasting aesthetics. These ultra-soft socks have a laid-back appeal—relaxed in look as well as in wear. They also keep feet cool, dry and comfortable thanks to COOLMAX® EcoMade technology. This unique innovation is made from 97-percent recycled resources including plastic bottles. This means consumers can enjoy a clear conscience and lasting performance.

Flex Denim

Still tapping into the athleisure trend, a new wave of ‘comfort casuals’ is flooding the high street. Sportswear brands are marrying comfort, performance and fashion-forward looks that emphasize form-fitting, but non-constricting materials. These seamless denim leggings made with Lycra HYBRID technology feature multidirectional stretch and are as comfortable as track pants, as fashionable as traditional jeans, and as versatile as hosiery. The worn-and-torn look at the knees of these leggings is obtained by an openwork knit effect that is engineered to stand up to repeated washing and wearing. These breathable leggings also move moisture away from the body to the fabric’s surface where it dries quickly to enhance wearer comfort.

Serious Sports

Designed for serious athletes, these knee-highs are all about delivering hard-core performance and taking the game — any game — to the next level. For sportswear brands that want to attract a more dedicated demographic, create socks using Lycra ENERGIZE™ brand. Its graduated compression supports muscles and improves blood circulation. Supporting, compact knit effects are engineered onto a silver-sheen background. Graphic armour-like patterns map out the leg’s anatomy, showing strips and bands framing raised striped areas. The curved cuff is soft and cushioned for added comfort.

Posted January 19, 2018

Source: Invista

SEATTLE — January 18, 2018 — Alaska Airlines and fashion designer Luly Yang debuted a modern, West Coast-inspired, custom-designed uniform collection today. At a fashion show this afternoon inside Alaska’s Sea-Tac hangar, employee models walked the runway, showcasing over 90 garments and accessories to thousands of employees. The design, which has been more than two years in the making, will clad 19,000 Alaska, Virgin America and Horizon Air uniformed employees starting in late 2019.

“Luly’s designs perfectly capture our fresh, West Coast vibe and we’re absolutely thrilled with the collection,” said Sangita Woerner, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of marketing. “Like our refreshed brand, launched in early 2016, our new uniform collection includes bright pops of color, clean lines and stunning finishes, creating a stylish yet approachable look.”

Echoing Woerner’s remarks was Justin Fitzgerald, a flight attendant who worked for Virgin America and now Alaska Airlines. “The Virgin America uniform has been such a sleek and modern look that I thought it would be so hard to top,” he said. “Seeing Luly’s designs brought to life has been super exciting! Ms. Yang has taken a lot of our input and has created a very cool, classic yet modern, West Coast vibe!”

The uniforms make their official debut next week, with 130 employee wear testers — flight attendants, pilots, customer service agents and lounge employees — putting the uniforms through their paces for the next 60 days.

West Coast Modern Design

Yang opened her first studio boutique in downtown Seattle in 2000. Today, she is an internationally known designer headquartered in Seattle, whose portfolio has expanded to include red carpet couture gowns, bridal collections, cocktail attire, bespoke menswear and hotel uniforms. Yang’s Luly Label ready to wear, cashmere knits and leather accessories are available online and in her showroom for the general public. She is known for her timeless design solutions and signature fit, cultivated over years of experience. Her past career as an architectural graphic designer inspired her mantra of the perfect marriage between “Form and Function.”

More Than Two Years In The Making

Alaska began the project by surveying thousands of uniformed employees; following up with focus groups and work site visits to understand the features different workgroups wanted to see in their new uniforms. Overwhelmingly, the top requests from employees were more pockets and designs that look great on all body shapes and sizes, as well as performance over a range of climates. The collection is designed to be layered so that employees can self-regulate comfort while working in the freezing temperatures of Barrow, Alaska, to the balmier weather of Mexico.

Using this research and information she gathered from face-to-face interactions with employees across the system, Yang spent two years designing and creating a signature silhouette for the Alaska program. Her focus on fit and function enabled additional touches including water resistant materials, active wear fabrics, longer shirt tails that don’t untuck from skirts and trousers, and flexible textiles that move with the body.

“Working on the Alaska Airlines custom uniform program has been one of the most complex and rewarding challenges of my career,” said Yang. “With 45 sizes per style and 13 very distinct work groups, this was the ultimate puzzle to solve. My hope is that employees feel that they were heard throughout this process, love the collection and wear their uniforms with pride.”

Seeking high quality and transparency in the manufacturing of their uniforms, Alaska selected  uniform supplier Unisync Group Limited of Toronto. An industry leader, Unisync is one of the largest  uniform suppliers in North America.

Working in close partnership with Yang, Unisync produced custom fabrics, buttons and signature accessories for the new program working to ensure the garments provide optimal on-the-job performance, while also reflecting Alaska’s refreshed brand.

“Unisync is thrilled to be the selected partner of Alaska. We’re looking forward to contributing our experience and expertise and providing the best program possible for Alaska’s 19,000 employees,” said Michael Smith, Unisync’s senior vice president of service and supply chain.

Alaska adopts industry-leading safety standards

Before the designs, before the first stitch, and before the first button sewn, Alaska took steps to ensure that employee uniforms were safe and high in quality.

Alaska Airlines, in partnership with Unisync and OEKO-TEX, will ensure that every custom uniform garment receives STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certification. This standard was developed in 1992 by the International Oeko-Tex Association, a consortium of 15 textile research and testing institutions in Europe and Japan with offices in more than 60 countries. Oeko-Tex STANDARD 100 is one of the most progressive textile standards in the world and is known for ensuring that textiles are free of potentially harmful substances and allergens. This standard is used by retailers, including Pottery Barn, Calvin Klein, Under Armour and children’s-wear company Hanna Andersson.

“We have the trifecta of excellence in our uniform partners,” said Ann Ardizzone, vice president strategic sourcing and supply chain for Alaska Airlines. “We knew that the unique combination of Luly’s vision, in partnership with the discipline and depth of Unisync and Oeko-Tex, would yield great things. By building safety into the sourcing of materials and applying that standard throughout the process, we’re able to deliver a uniform that not only looks beautiful, but is safe for our employees.”

STANDARD 100 by Oeko-Tex ensures that substances used in textile production of a garment meet or exceed global safety standards; it also requires suppliers gain certification to produce each garment component, down to the color, material, thread and dyes.

“Achieving STANDARD 100 by Oeko-Tex certification requires a rigorous commitment to safety and supply chain excellence; it’s a long-term investment in the future of this program,” said Ben Mead, representative of Oeko-Tex. “In order to become certified, every single component from the buttons to the thread in every single garment has to be tested at the supplier source — it’s truly a foundational program. We’ve conducted 1,200 safety tests to date and will continue through the entirety of the program.”

Throughout this process, Alaska’s leadership team has demonstrated a firm commitment to producing a high quality uniform that adheres to an industry leading safety program, the STANDARD 100 by Oeko-Tex,” said Michael Smith, Unisync’s senior vice president of service and supply chain. “Unisync is proud to be a part of helping Alaska achieve such a rigorous standard.”

In total, Alaska’s new custom uniforms will incorporate more than 100,000 zippers, over 1 million buttons, over 500,000 yards of fabric and will use well over 30 million yards of thread in the final program.

Posted January 18, 2018

Source: Alaska Airlines