Men’s Clothier J.Hilburn Announces Andy Janowski As CEO

DALLAS — April 23, 2018 — J.Hilburn, a producer of custom-made menswear, announces the appointment of Andy Janowski to CEO effective today, as the company continues to evolve its brand and positions itself for continued growth.

Janowski most recently served as executive chairman of the J.Hilburn board of directors. He brings more than 30 years of experience in the apparel industry, including as former CEO of Smythson where he grew the brand by 50 percent during his tenure. Janowski previously also held executive roles at Burberry and Gap Inc.

“The extraordinary success of J.Hilburn over the past 11 years clearly established the brand as the leader in custom-made men’s clothing,” said Janowski. “As men’s tastes evolve, J.Hilburn is now well positioned to expand on its luxury customer experience and meet the changing style needs.”

The transition marks an important milestone as the industry moves from traditional business attire to address the increasing demand for casual sophistication in menswear.

“As an initial investor, Battery Ventures believed early on in the power of the J.Hilburn model,” said Michael Brown, Battery Ventures General Partner and J.Hilburn Board Director. “With Andy’s appointment and the current leadership team, we could not be more confident with that investment and the future of the company.”

J.Hilburn is led by an expansive network of nearly 2,000 expert Stylists across all 50 states and features a mix of online and retail sales.

“As we continue to innovate our high-touch men’s shopping experience, our Stylists will remain the core of our DNA,” said Janowski. “This is the right brand at the right time. We are going to do nothing but grow.”

The announcement follows the departure of J.Hilburn Co-founder and CEO, Veeral Rathod, who resigned to pursue other opportunities. The company and board of directors would like to take this opportunity to thank Veeral for his dedication to the brand over the last 11 years and wish him the best in the future.

Posted April 23, 2018

Source:  J.Hilburn

AmeriPride Healthcare Recertified In Texas And Canada

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — April 20, 2018 — AmeriPride Services’ Amarillo, Texas, location and its sibling Canadian Linen and Uniform Services outpost in Lethbridge, Alberta, again have earned Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification. The designation reflects their commitment to best management practices (BMPs) in laundering as verified by on-site inspection and their capability to produce hygienically clean textiles as quantified by ongoing microbial testing.

These laundries were first certified in 2014. Recertification confirms the organization’s continuing dedication to infection prevention, compliance with recognized industry standards and processing healthcare textiles using BMPs as described in its quality assurance documentation, a focal point for Hygienically Clean inspectors’ evaluation. The independent, third-party inspection must also confirm essential evidence that:

  • Employees are properly trained and protected;
  • Managers understand regulatory requirements;
  • OSHA-compliant; and
  • Physical plant operates effectively.

To achieve certification initially, laundries pass three rounds of outcome-based microbial testing, indicating that their processes are producing Hygienically Clean Healthcare textiles and diminished presence of yeast, mold and harmful bacteria. They also must pass a facility inspection. To maintain their certification, they must pass quarterly testing to ensure that as laundry conditions change, such as water quality, textile fabric composition and wash chemistry, laundered product quality is consistently maintained. Re-inspection occurs every two to three years.

This process eliminates subjectivity by focusing on outcomes and results that verify textiles cleaned in these facilities meet appropriate hygienically clean standards and BMPs for hospitals, surgery centers, medical offices, nursing homes and other medical facilities.

Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification acknowledges laundries’ effectiveness in protecting healthcare operations by verifying quality control procedures in linen, uniform and facility services operations related to the handling of textiles containing blood and other potentially infectious materials.

Certified laundries use processes, chemicals and BMPs acknowledged by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, American National Standards Institute and others. Introduced in 2012, Hygienically Clean Healthcare brought to North America the international cleanliness standards for healthcare linens and garments used worldwide by the Certification Association for Professional Textile Services and the European Committee for Standardization.

Objective experts in epidemiology, infection control, nursing and other healthcare professions work with Hygienically Clean launderers to ensure the certification continues to enforce the highest standards for producing clean healthcare textiles.

“Congratulations to the AmeriPride and Canadian Linen plants on their recertifications,” said Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “Their achievement proves their ongoing commitment to infection prevention and that their laundry takes every step possible to prevent human illness.”

AmeriPride now has 13 Hygienically Clean Healthcare certified facilities throughout the United States. Other locations are Little Rock, Ark.; Phoenix; Watkinsville, Ga.; Topeka, Kan.; Twin Falls, Idaho; Bemidji and Minneapolis, Minn.; Springfield, Mo.; Omaha, Neb.; Roswell, N.M.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Lubbock, Texas. Seven AmeriPride laundries hold the Hygienically Clean Food Safety certification: Tuscumbia, Ala., Bakersfield, Calif.; Fresno, Calif.; Twin Falls, Idaho; St. Cloud and Minneapolis, Minn. and Amarillo, Texas.

In January, Philadelphia-based Aramark Corp. announced the completion of its acquisition of AmeriPride, making AmeriPride part of Aramark’s uniform rental and career apparel business, headquartered in Burbank, Calif.

Posted April 20, 2017

Source: TRSA

IFAI Names Steve Schiffman New President And CEO

ROSEVILLE, Minn. — April 20, 2018 — The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has named Steve Schiffman, the association’s vice president of media and sales, the new president and CEO of IFAI. He will replace Mary Hennessy, who is retiring June 1, 2018, after holding the position for the last six years.

Schiffman had a long and successful career in publishing before joining the staff of IFAI in January 2013. During his time at IFAI, Schiffman has led advertising and exhibit sales, membership recruitment and retention, web development, and the editorial and circulation departments. With his leadership, IFAI has maintained strong magazines, offered new digital media opportunities, nurtured a growing membership and launched new websites.

“Steve has done a great job for IFAI since joining our team 5 years ago,” said Hennessy. “He is earnest and determined, and I have complete confidence in his abilities. I know he will be a strong and thoughtful leader.”

Hennessy, having served IFAI in numerous roles for more than 30 years, announced her retirement in September 2017, providing ample time for a successful replacement search. The IFAI Board of Directors appointed a Search Committee headed by Steve Ellington, president of Trivantage and chair of the IFAI board, who worked with a search firm to seek candidates, ultimately narrowing the list to a few finalists. After interviewing the finalists, the committee made their recommendation to the full IFAI Board of Directors for approval. The board voted unanimously to approve Schiffman’s new role.

“I am pleased that we had a thorough process in place and excellent candidates for this important position,” said Ellington. “It was a tough decision but I am confident that Steve was the best choice. As president, Mary Hennessy put our organization in a strong position with high member satisfaction, no debt and a healthy reserve fund, for which we are truly thankful. And, I know that Steve is prepared to take over and keep us moving forward.”

Posted April 20, 2018

Source: IFAI

How Eliud Kipchoge Helped Perfect Nike’s 3-D Printing Process For Uppers

BEAVERTON, Ore.— April 18, 2018 — In September of 2017 in Berlin, Eliud Kipchoge, who ran the fastest marathon ever, battled heavy rain and 99-percent humidity over the course of 26.2 miles and managed to come out with a first-place finish. Though seriously inspiring, his performance wasn’t enough to earn the world record he was hoping for.

After Nike designers spoke with Kipchoge about the impact those wet conditions had on his performance, they learned his shoes — the Nike Zoom Vaporfly Elite he first made famous during Nike’s Breaking 2 attempt — absorbed water. And that water wasn’t able to evaporate, so it added weight. This was obviously something both the designers and Kipchoge didn’t want to happen in future races.

Considering Kipchoge felt the shoe was otherwise “perfect … really perfect,” and the fact that the Nike Vaporfly Elite and Nike Vaporfly 4% became the most dominant shoes on the 2017 marathon circuit, designers decided to maintain the tooling and focus on developing a solution in the form of an updated upper. The designers revisited a new application of a performance-printed 3-D upper they’d been experimenting with. They coined it Nike Flyprint and showed it to Kipchoge.

The process of solving expressly for Kipchoge’s needs began in earnest in early 2018. Designers kicked off a rapid-fire prototyping phase — where they went through thousands of upper possibilities before hitting “print” on several variations for each prototype and selected version “D” for trial. Kipchoge’s response to the first running in that shoe.

Designers made updates to the shoe in hours, and it took only nine days to get the next round of samples, version “E,” to Kenya — most of this time due to shipping. Shortly after that, Kipchoge tested and approved the next version, “F” That’s when he said he was ready to wear them in London.

Kipchoge will race his next marathon in London wearing his Nike Zoom Vaporfly Elite Flyprint. That weekend, a limited run of the shoes will be sold in London through the Nike App.

Posted April 19, 2017

Source: Nike

Investcorp Sells Veco Precision, A Division Of SPGPrints

NEW YORK CITY — April 19, 2018 — Investcorp, a global provider and manager of alternative investments, today announces that it has sold Veco Precision to Gilde Buy Out Partners and Management.

Veco is being carved out of and sold by its parent company SPGPrints Group B.V, the global provider of integrated solutions for rotary screen and digital printing for textiles and industrial applications, acquired by Investcorp in July 2014.  Veco, founded in 1934, manufactures high-precision metal components for a broad range of applications and is based in Eerbeek, the Netherlands, and employs approximately 350 full time employees. The company serves over 1,500 customers across approximately 85 countries worldwide from its sites in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany and India.

Working alongside the management team, Investcorp has supported Veco to identify and establish Joost Smits’ leadership as the company’s CEO and to grow organically as well as through add-on acquisitions, building scale and enabling the Company to establish itself as a standalone business. Throughout this period, Veco has maintained a track record of innovation and has built a strong pipeline that supports its leading market position and supports the future growth of the company.

Commenting on the sale, Andrea Davis, managing director, Corporate Investment Europe at Investcorp, said: “Veco is an enormously successful subsidiary of SPGPrints with a proven track record of innovation and is now well-positioned as a standalone company. By identifying the growth potential in key applications and new clients, through successful add-on acquisitions and significant investments into Veco’s technology, we have seen the business prosper. Joost Smits and his team have done an excellent job in preparing Veco for its next phase of growth as an independent business and we wish them every success in the future.”

Joost Smits, CEO, Veco, added: “We have greatly enjoyed our partnership with Investcorp and their valuable support in realizing significant growth. There is a solid foundation to continue our journey as a standalone business. We remain committed as a management team to our ambitious growth strategy and look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead with our new partner.”

William Blair acted as exclusive financial advisor on the transaction.

Posted April 19, 2017

Source: Investcorp

Traditional Values, Innovative Spirit: Inman Mills And USTER Share A Vision Of Progress

USTER, Switzerland — April 19, 2018 — Textile manufacturers and their technology suppliers face many challenges in common, in an increasingly competitive and quality-conscious business. That’s why it’s important that they share a vision of excellence, which fosters both individual success and technological progress. Well-known North American textile producer Inman Mills is a prime example, in its relationship with USTER. Both companies have a proud heritage, founded on ‘traditional’ values — and a strong commitment to innovation.

Inman Mills produces some of the world’s most advanced fabrics for a wide range of applications. Its spinning and weaving plants are well established throughout the Southeast portion of the United States. The mill, founded in 1901 near Spartanburg, S.C., is one of the oldest and most traditional in the world. “If there’s one thing that we as humans can always count on it’s change,” said  Bill Bowen, vice president, Inman Mills. “Inman Mills has a long history of change and adaptation in an attempt to stay ahead of the game.” The company’s tradition relies on the core values and principles that have maintained its position as a key player in an ever-changing industry, constantly adapting and improving to suit the demands of an expanding global market.

The road to quality

Uster’s “Think Quality” approach is an invitation to spinners to follow the Uster route to developing their yarn production towards higher customer satisfaction and business success. Aiming to help customers succeed in today’s harsh and competitive market conditions, Uster has evolved this support into a quality-focused mill management approach. This means that producing the required yarn quality is matched with the most efficient use of raw material. The target is to avoid waste and increase production speed as much as possible, without interfering with the other manufacturing goals. Uster’s mission is to utilize innovative technology to equip spinners for mill optimization at the highest level — without risking claims.

Uster is proud that its customers participate in this philosophy, by continuously raising their awareness of quality — constant quality — in yarn production, embracing both technology and structures for mill quality management. Inman Mills is an ideal example of a mill driving its quality development in parallel with Uster. The US company makes yarns from expensive raw materials. Therefore Inman uses the Uster® AFIS to carry out checks machine-to-machine, as well as process-by-process, to get the best value out of the raw materials. More Uster technology is installed to test at different stages throughout the mill. “Uster laboratory equipment allows us to optimize our raw materials but it also allow us to optimize our processing machinery and run it at the highest speed possible — but still produce the right quality,” says Bowen.

Shaping the future together

Uster is appreciative of the role its customers play in bringing innovative technology to fruition in their mills. The Inman Mills approach shows how this works in practice: “We’re really having to push the envelope to meet the high quality standards our customers expect,” says Bowen. “In order to do that, we invest in the best machinery we can — as well as the best testing equipment that’s available — to allow us to make products meeting customers’ requirements.”

Past, present and future developments by Uster are supporting mill management. The focus is on meeting the needs of management through instruments and systems which provide answers to enable informed decisions. This is a cumulative process, starting with individual instruments and expanding in line with a mill’s commitment to manage yarn production with quality in mind. “We recognize Uster as a leader in defining the future of the textile industry. We trust Uster and follow its development. The past proved that we are right in doing so,” says Bowen.

Watch a video of Bowen’s testimonial here.

Posted April 19, 2017

Source: Uster Technologies Ltd.

Kelheim Fibres With A New Viscose Fiber For Disinfectant Wipes And A Range Of Specialty Fibers At ANEX

KELHEIM, Germany — April 19, 2018 — At this year’s ANEX Kelheim Fibres will present one of its latest developments for the first time to a broad range of expert visitors: The speciality fibre Danufil® QR is tailor-made for use in disinfectant wipes, an area where up until now viscose fibers — in spite of their excellent fluid handling properties — have not been able to establish a foothold. The reason: due to their negative charge, standard viscose fibers bind the so-called quats — quaternary ammonium compounds — widely used disinfectant substances that are positively charged, so that they are no longer available for their actual disinfectant purpose. Up to 80 percent of the effect can be lost this way. Now, the specialty fiber Danufil QR resolves the issue by reducing this undesired effect to less than 10 percent.

With Danufil QR Kelheim broadens its already multi-faceted range of products, particularly in wipes and hygiene applications. Another member of Kelheim’s hygiene product family is the flat specialty fiber VILOFT®, which, with the current release of the newest flushability guideline (GD 4) by INDA/EDANA becomes more important than ever. VILOFT short cut fibers enable the production of flushable wet wipes that disintegrate so rapidly in the sewage system that even the significantly stricter requirements of GD 4 can be safely met.

Of course, VILOFT — as well as all the other fibers from Kelheim — is made completely of cellulose and is therefore fully biodegradable in a short time, which meets another requirement of the guideline and makes an important contribution to environmental protection: only if we substitute synthetic substances by bio based materials, can we reduce the amount of plastic waste in our environment, and in our oceans in particular.
 Kelheim will also showcase its long-established specialty fiber Galaxy®, the world-leading viscose fiber for tampons and all end uses where high absorbency is required, as well as many other viscose specialties.
The team of Kelheim Fibres is looking forward to welcoming visitors at their booth #737, East Hall 1, Tokyo Big Sight.

Posted April 19, 2017

Source: Kelheim Fibres

Gore Showcasing Proven-Over-Time Cables, Materials, And Fabrics For Military And Defense Applications

ELKTON, Md. — April 19, 2018 — W. L. Gore & Associates Inc. will be exhibiting products from GORE® Cables and Materials and GORE Military Fabrics at the 2018 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit in Nashville, Tenn., April 25-27, Booth 2119. For more than 30 years, Gore has provided advanced technical solutions proven to meet the U.S. Military’s complex global challenges, ensuring operational readiness and success every time.

High-Performance Cables & Materials

Gore will be highlighting its full collection of GORE Cables and Materials for military land systems and aircraft applications. Thoroughly tested and qualified to the most stringent military specifications, they are proven to perform without failure in the harshest conditions for lifetime performance. All of Gore’s rugged solutions are available in a variety of compact, highly flexible and routable designs. Products that will be on display include high data rate cables, high power/signal delivery cables, high-frequency microwave/RF assemblies, and excellent EMI shielding materials.

Also on display will be durable GORE™ SKYFLEX™ Aerospace Materials that have been proven to solve many aircraft sealing and surface protection challenges. These lightweight, non-curing tapes and gaskets simplify aircraft assembly, increase throughput, and reduce life-cycle costs.

Next-Gen Fabrics for Ultimate Comfort & Protection

Gore will be featuring best-in-class protective clothing for all branches of the U.S. Military. Fire-resistant innovations include GORE® PYRAD® Fabric Technology which offers enhanced protection by balancing flame resistance, thermal insulation, and thermal stability with comfort. This unique technology self-extinguishes flames so that the fabric does not continue to burn.

Also on display will be Gore’s lightweight Fire-Resistant Environmental Ensemble (FREE) engineered with specialized flame-retardant and antistatic properties that withstand heat and flame threats encountered during combat. FREE EWOL (Extreme Weather Outer Layer) is designed with a Nomex® outer layer; a durably waterproof, windproof and breathable GORE-TEX® membrane; and a Nomex liner.

For more information about GORE Cables and Materials and GORE Military Fabrics, visit Gore at the 2018 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit in Nashville, Tenn., April, 25-27, in Booth 2119.

Posted April 19, 2017

Source: W. L. Gore & Associates

Unifi’s REPREVE® Named An Official Recycling Partner Of The Wyndham Championship

GREENSBORO, N.C.  — April 19, 2018 — The 79th annual Wyndham Championship just got a lot greener, thanks to a new partnership with Greensboro, N.C.-based Unifi Inc. The global textile manufacturer, which makes its REPREVE® performance fiber from recycled materials, including plastic bottles, is excited to announce it has signed a multi-year agreement to become an official recycling partner of the PGA TOUR event contested annually at Greensboro’s Sedgefield Country Club. It is estimated that tens of thousands of plastic bottles will be recycled through this partnership.

“We are proud to partner with the Wyndham Championship to help continue keeping plastic bottles out of the landfill and help to further conserve natural resources in the making of Repreve recycled fibers,” said Unifi CEO Kevin Hall. “What if every one of the 80,000-100,000 people who typically attend the Wyndham Championship recycled their water bottle instead of throwing it away?  The positive impact that would have on our local environment would be terrific.”

“This new partnership with Unifi is fantastic news for the Wyndham Championship and our environment,” Wyndham Championship tournament director Mark Brazil said. “Environmental sustainability is a key part of our ‘Wyndham Championship Fore! Good’ initiative, a platform that also focuses on charitable giving and community development.  We are eager to adopt innovative sustainable practices and recycling the plastic bottles used during our PGA TOUR event to turn them into Repreve performance fiber, and that is about as innovative as it gets.  Partnering with Unifi in this manner is a significant enhancement of our existing recycling efforts.”

This year’s tournament will be held Aug. 13-19, 2018, where tournament patrons will be encouraged to look for and use the Repreve recycling receptacles that will be conveniently positioned around the course and in the Repreve Recycle Zone. Repreve’s Mobile Tour will be on-site the entire week of the tournament. Through this interactive experience, Wyndham Championship patrons will learn how the bottles they choose to recycle are transformed into sustainable performance fibers. They will also have the opportunity to see and touch products made with Repreve from global brands they know and love.

“The recycling rate for plastic bottles in the U.S. is low — about 28 percent,” Hall said. “Through this partnership, we’re able to divert thousands of bottles from the landfill and show tournament patrons some of the innovative things we can do with them. Our goal is to inspire people to recycle more, buy recycled and join in our efforts to help protect our natural resources. We are excited to partner with the Wyndham Championship to help educate golf fans and to work together to create a better tomorrow.”

Hall noted that the amount of Repreve fiber that could be made from 100,000 recycled water bottles could produce 25,000 hats, 33,000 pairs of jeans or 20,000 pairs of casual pants.

Posted April 19, 2017

Source: Unifi Inc.

Techtextil North America And Texprocess Americas Boast Expanded Agenda Packed With Special Features

ATLANTA — April 18, 2018 — In just over one month, the 15th edition of Techtextil North America and the fourth edition of Texprocess Americas will return to Atlanta. The co-located events will be held in Hall B at the Georgia World Congress Center and feature 500+ exhibitors from across the globe representing all aspects of the technical textiles, nonwovens, sewn products, textile technology and equipment sectors.

In addition to industry-leading companies from around the world showcasing their latest products and technological advancements, the joint schedule includes a wealth of special feature and interest areas that are not to be missed.

Premier Symposium Sessions

Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas are each hosting eight symposium sessions with additional bonus opportunities, which will include two lunch n’ learn style sessions as well as talks held on the show floor. These sessions are presented by industry experts throughout the technical textile, nonwovens and sewn product equipment industries. Session topics include:

Techtextil North America:

  • Emerging and New Developments in Nonwovens;
  • New Fiber Technologies;
  • Smart Textiles; and
  • Technical Textiles: Enabling Future Mobility in Electric & Smart Cars.

Texprocess Americas:

  • Automation, Smart Machines and Robotics in Sewn Products Manufacturing;
  • Wearable Tech and Textiles: Communication through Clothing?; and
  • Tariffs, Duties and Barriers – Oh My!

Tech Talks

The success of Tech Talks at Techtextil North America 2017 warrants its return in 2018. For three days, the Nonwoven’s Institute will host complimentary daily mini sessions covering innovations in technical textiles and nonwovens. And for the first time, Texprocess Americas will also feature its own Tech Talks, powered by The Fashion Institute of Technology in collaboration with Voice of Insiders.

All show attendees will have the opportunity to attend these daily mini sessions covering a variety of topics pertaining to sewn products and their development. Tech Talks both Texprocess Americas and Techtextil North America are first come first serve and will be held on the show floor.

Networking Reception

For the first time ever, Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas are hosting a joint networking reception, open to all show attendees. With the purchase of a $65 ticket (price will increase onsite), party-goers will enjoy food, drinks and live entertainment – all in a fun and relaxed environment to network with colleagues and exhibitors from both events.

The Graduate Student Poster Program

The poster program highlights research done by graduate students from the top textile engineering, manufacturing and design programs in the country. This year‘s participants come from North Carolina State University’s College of Textiles, The University of Georgia, and The University of Oklahoma. The program provides a forum for students to present and discuss their latest research, meet with peers who have related interests, and introduce themselves to more senior members in the field. For potential employers, the program presents a unique glimpse into the industry’s top academic programs and up-and-coming talent.

High-Tex from Germany

66 companies from the German textile, textile-machinery and garment-technology industries will show their products and services at the ‘High-Tex from Germany’ exhibition, located on the Techtextil North America show floor. The pavilion will feature German manufacturers of high-performance textiles and fibres, machines for processing technical textiles spanning the entire textile manufacturing and processing chain, and will include its own set of lectures, demonstrations and multi-media presentations.

20th Century Fox’s The Greatest Showman Costumes Brought To You By Gerber Technology

Texprocess Americas 2018 will feature replicas of the costumes from the new film The Greatest Showman brought to you by Gerber Technology. Gerber combined forces with Global Garment Engineering and 20th Century Fox to replicate costumes worn by Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya in the film The Greatest Showman. By leveraging Gerber’s integrated digital solutions, the replicas can now be done in a fraction of the time and at a much lower cost.

Micro-Factory Collaboration Project featuring the Omron Autonomous Mobile Robot

Attendees will have the chance to see how a modern micro-factory can address the need for mass customization in an efficient, cost effective, and socially-conscious manner, right on the show floor. The multi-exhibitor collaboration will show how to quickly and efficiently go from design to production, and concept to consumer through demonstrations in product design, digital printing, automated vision-aided cutting, material transport and robotic sewing.

Data will be passed seamlessly from system-to-system, automating the workflow, minimizing the need for human interaction helping to improve quality, reduce costs, and improve time to market. Participating companies include Gerber Technology, Henderson Sewing Machine Co., Kornit Digital, Nextwave, and Zund America, Inc.

See all of this and more at Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas 2018. Pre-sale pricing is currently available, prices will increase on site.

Posted April 18, 2017

Source: Messe Frankfurt North America

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