MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. — March 30, 2017 — American & Efird (A&E) continues its 125-year tradition as a global leader in textile manufacturing, announcing today the official product launch of an industry first, REPREVE® recycled core spun industrial sewing thread, Perma Core® using Repreve. Nothing can be more important than the future of our planet, and it’s with that in mind, that A&E has engineered a new sewing thread providing a highly sought-after, eco-friendly, performance sewing thread option for environmentally-conscious customers.

Unifi Inc., the maker of Repreve, turns plastic bottles into 100-percent recycled polyester fiber, which is then made into products sold by leading consumer brands and retailers. Perma Core® using Repreve combines a recycled continuous filament polyester core and A&E’s signature quality polyester staple wrap to produce a high quality, eco-friendly industrial sewing thread.

“Perma Core using Repreve provides an eco-friendly core spun sewing thread solution without sacrificing quality or sewing performance as seen in some existing recycled threads in the industry,” said Chris Alt, A&E’s senior vice president of global sales. “Perma Core using Repreve is extremely versatile and can be dyed, finished and delivered from any of A&E’s global manufacturing locations and is available across A&E’s global color range. The portability of this product is important to our global customers and prospects that are already incorporating Repreve fabrics into their products, allowing them to complete their sustainability efforts in a cost-efficient way, no matter where in the world they place their sewing production.”

“Consumers are looking for products and brands that are environmentally responsible from start to finish. With Perma Core using Repreve, brands can be confident that their products are sewn with eco-friendly thread,” said Jay Hertwig, vice president of global brand sales, marketing and product development for Unifi. “At Unifi, we’re dedicated to providing a transparent recycled product through our U Trust™ program with Fiberprint™ technology, which verifies products contain Repreve in the right amounts. We are proud to be associated with A&E and to support their environmental initiatives.”

Alt added, “We are very excited to partner with Unifi and offer this innovative and environmentally-conscious product. Our customers requested a quality solution for producing complete products using Repreve … from fabric and yarn to sewing thread, and our innovative teams collaborated to deliver an economic, high quality, sustainable, premium sewing thread to fill this space by creating Perma Core using REPREVE.”

Commitment to sustainability is an important and ongoing goal of A&E. A&E’s “10 Threads of Sustainability” platform balances social responsibility and environmental impact with business growth objectives. This initiative compliments Unifi’s goal to empower brands in fulfillment of their own sustainable programs through its Repreve brand. Brands and retailers continue to commit themselves to reducing their environmental impact and demonstrate that their choices matter. A&E is proud to assist these retailers and brands by providing premium products to reach their individualized goals.

Posted March 30, 2017

Source: American & Efird (A&E)

WAKAYAMA, Japan — March 28, 2017 — Computerized knitting machine manufacturer Shima Seiki Mfg. Ltd., Wakayama, Japan, will participate in the 30th Vietnam Saigon Textile & Garment Industry Expo (SaigonTex 2017) show to be held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, next month.

Shima Seiki will exhibit its P-CAM182 multi-ply computerized cutting machine (NC cutting machine). Fast and efficient with high productivity, P-CAM’s multi-ply cutting capability allows up to 2 inches (55mm) of fabric or material to be cut, while the turbo fan option suppresses fluctuation in air pressure for stable multi-ply cutting. A knife sharpening system produces a sharp, strong blade every time. Strong, robust components permit quicker response times for knife movement and more accurate cutting for thick fabrics such as denim. P-CAM machines are ideally suited to global production in a wide range of industrial applications in addition to apparel and textiles.

Also demonstrated at SaigonTex will be Shima Seiki’s SDS-ONE APEX3 computer design system. With full-featured PGM software, APEX3 provides smooth and efficient workflow from patternmaking, grading and marking to cutting. Highly efficient “AutoMarking Premium” nesting software, as well as barcode generation are available for efficient marker generation and pick-up. APEX3 is also capable of photo-realistic product simulation for creating 3D virtual samples that can be used for accurate checking of toile fabrics. Virtual Sampling minimizes the need for actual sample-making, reducing time, material and cost while increasing presentation quality in the sampling process. APEX3 supports design and simulation in a variety of textile industries including flat knitting, circular knitting, weaving, pile weaving and printing, as well as industrial design.

Posted March 29, 2017

Source: Shima Seiki

NEW YORK CITY — March 29th, 2017 — BodiData Inc. — a Silicon Valley-based technology company that specializes in generating big data on three-dimensional body measurements — and Alvanon have signed a strategic partnership agreement that will deliver both big data and analysis on the shape and size of the diverse and complex U.S. consumer population.

Under the terms of the agreement Alvanon will integrate BodiData’s body dimension data into its own demographic database. It will give Alvanon’s apparel sector analysts immediate access to the world’s largest database of body measurement data of over one million North American men, women and adolescents.

Using BodiData’s big data, Alvanon’s apparel industry analysts, will help brands and retailers define exact body specifications for specific consumer demographics and target markets. With Alvanon’s contextual insight, apparel brands will be able to update their product fit and sizing, including measurement tables, size charts, grade rules, block libraries and identify new growth opportunities for product and market development.

BodiData, has patented the only multi-sensor handheld body scanning technology for measuring fully clothed individuals. Its database was created through the largest ever North American scan program, using millimetre wave kiosk scanner booths in over 55 U.S. malls and resulting in the largest database of U.S. body measurements in the world with hundreds of thousands of data points for each individual.

“Where Google, Facebook and Amazon may have user interest, behaviour and transaction data, they do not have detailed data on a user’s physical body,” explained Tuoc Long, CEO and director of BodiData. He added that BodiData has the potential to deliver a large category of consumer data that no other company can offer. “Alvanon is the only Apparel consulting expert we will be working with in the retail apparel sector. Its deep industry domain knowledge enables it to extract and utilize the data we collect to provide strategic consumer and market insight.”

“Every brand should have a unique DNA ‘fit’ that is understood and can be replicated through every product and across the supply chain,” said Alvanon CEO Janice Wang. “However, demographic data is just data unless it is analysed in the right context. BodiData is generating big data on U.S. consumers and growing throughout the world. Our domain expertise will enable us to analyse and help apparel brands and retailers define their DNA fit for their target consumer population. Better fit will help apparel brands maximize sell-throughs, reduce inventory, reduce returns and ultimately improve customer loyalty.”

She concluded: “The U.S. consumer population is one of the most ethnically and size diverse on the planet, so this partnership will deliver clarity to a confused market and enable the industry to make better fitting clothing. Being able to use the database to create custom solutions for the apparel industry is hugely exciting.”

Posted March 29, 2017

Source: Alvanon