MOUNT HOLLY, N.C.  — June 8, 2016 — American & Efird (A&E) celebrated its 125th anniversary last month. Founded in 1891 as Nims Manufacturing in Mount Holly, N.C., the company has grown to become the largest U.S. manufacturer and the world’s second-largest manufacturer and distributor of premium quality industrial and consumer sewing thread, embroidery thread and technical textiles. This special occasion allows the company to reflect on its rich heritage, and celebrate its future direction.

The values on which the company was founded including integrity, an uninterrupted quest for quality and innovation, a respect for its associates safety and wellbeing, and a commitment to the communities in which it operates, still define A&E today.

“125 years of continuous operation is a significant accomplishment for A&E, our customers, and the communities in which our associates live and work. This longevity has been possible due to our numerous past and present dedicated, hardworking, and charitable associates,” said Les Miller, CEO. “In addition, we have loyal and long term customers who have supported A&E by using our products and services. We are here today because of the success of those who worked here before us, and as we celebrate the past, we are very excited with a bright future for both our company and our associates.”

Through its global network, A&E’s products are manufactured in 23 countries, distributed in 50 countries and sold in over 100 countries.  In addition to A&E’s steadfast commitment to superior quality and customer service, A&E is a recognized industry leader in environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility, and operates its global facilities with the utmost regard for the safety and health of its associates employed worldwide.   A&E owns or operates 27 manufacturing facilities and employs over 10,000 associates around the world directly or in partnership with joint venture partners.

Posted June 8, 2016

Source: American & Efird (A&E)

DODGEVILLE, Wis. — June 8, 2016 — Lands’ End founder, Gary Comer, was passionate about staying active and passed this philosophy on to his employees. In 1989, he invested in developing the Comer Center, an 80,000 square-foot recreation facility to promote employee health and wellness at the Lands’ End corporate headquarters in Dodgeville, Wisconsin.

“I am grateful to Mr. Comer’s legacy and his dedication to the well-being of our employees,” said Federica Marchionni, CEO. “I share his passion and believe in mens sana in corpore sano, which means healthy mind, healthy body. These are the words I live by, and with the launch of Lands’ End Sport, I hope to continue this spirit of health and wellness for both our employees and customers.”

As a company, Lands’ End was built upon a nautical foundation, with a mission to search the world for the highest quality materials to create new, innovative products.  Today, Lands’ End is introducing Lands’ End Sport — a line of activewear that includes surf, performance and athleisure collections for both men and women, with technical, fully functional pieces to go from land to sea, high-performance to athleisure.

“Offering products for land or sea is deeply rooted in the DNA of Lands’ End,” said Marchionni.  “Our founder, Gary Comer, was passionate about sailing and the sporting life. I am building upon his vision, taking activewear and athleisure from land to sea by introducing the new Lands’ End Sport collection featuring new product innovations that will enable our customers to stay healthy and active.”

Surf Collection

Building upon the company’s heritage of designing products for the water with built-in sun protection, we created the first Lands’ End surf collection. Taking a few nods from the fashion runway in print and pattern, the line is, above all, highly functional. The surf collection rash guards are UPF 50 even when wet.  The neoprene jackets have a substantial, form-fitting silhouette with flatlock seams to prevent chafing and the spring suits and full suits are made with bonded neoprene that keeps the body safe from irritants and “board rash” and features back zips with long pulls for easy on/off. This is a new surf collection for men and women offering fabric strength, stretch and full body protection in wetsuits, rash guards and spring suits.

Performance Collection

Style meets technology in the performance collection. This line is made with technical features like wicking fabrics, 360-degree reflectivity and strategically placed mesh panels for better breathability and is designed to meet the three major lifestyle and fitness categories: speed (high impact), studio (low impact) and street (post workout wear). The speed collection features built-in mesh panels that ventilate in targeted heat zones, lightweight moisture-wicking fabric and 360-degree reflective details for safer outdoor workouts. The studio collection includes the perfect pieces for indoor workouts, such as yoga and Pilates, that allow for a full range of motion in supportive, moisture-wicking fabrics. The street collection features items that are perfect for pre-and post-workout.

Athleisure Collection

Lands’ End is a legacy brand with a rich story to tell, and this new collection offers athleisure products highlighting the brand’s personality in a new, relevant way. The athleisure collection is where classic styling and brand intersect. Items in this collection feature polos, t-shirts, sweatshirts, totes and accessories that showcase the famous Lands’ End lighthouse icon, as well as brand logos new and old.

Posted June 8, 2016

Source: Lands’ End 

SEOUL, South Korea — June 6, 2016 — Hyosung launched new creora® Fit2 4-way stretch technology for superior comfort last November and is now launching trends for 2018. The trends are arranged in four groups:

Sleek And Slick

From super skinny to subtle contouring and shaping, creora Fit2 spandex fabric is perfect for achieving the 360º stretch and recovery consumers are looking for. creora Fit2 is a new spandex fabric technology using proprietary yarns to eliminate typical warp shrinkage and instability to deliver four-way stretch.

The appeal of creora Fit2 in delivering next generation stretch can also generate new developments that possess the flexibility and super stretch with excellent recovery combined with new light weights in denim for added comfort. Expect to see bi-stretch denim fabrics reduced in weight, compact in surface from authentic indigo through to a brighter surface effect, but purposefully embracing to give the designated target market the true performance they are looking for.

In Play!

The authenticity of denim is given a powerful push, as performance comes into play. The hybrid mood continues, but this time it is on a higher level, as functional yarns team with ubiquitous cotton in creating jeans that execute added value. From cool touch denim through to antibacterial, lightweight thermal denim, high tenacity denim and 360° stretch and flexibility. Denim is moving out of its traditional casualwear comfort zone and moving into a new territory: performance.

Stretch is key from the inclusion of creora spandex/elastane, the concept of this direction is that optically authentic denim appeals, but through blending and construction there is a whole lot of innovation going on, with technical denim making waves. From yoga jeans to jog jeans, and urban sports, denim maintains it guise but will guarantee a surprising new functionality.

Dreamer

The robust appearance of denim is actually very deceptive as new soft handles and lightweight qualities come to the market. DREAMER takes on a very suave approach in traditional cotton/creora spandex blends. Cotton ranges from long stable fibers for luxurious touch to being dominated by Tencel® lyocell fibers for the ultimate in soft and supple appeal.

Structures range from spongey to compact with velvet brushed finish, while surfaces take on a dreamy aspect applied through tone-on-tone prints or through the inclusion of jacquards. Tones take on a soft and faded look to compliment the spirit of this direction. Indigo features but in new faded back qualities. There is an overall feel-good aspect combined with a sensational touch to denim in both woven and knit qualities.

Supernova

A blast of energy hits the denim scene, as an electrified reaction creates an innovative look. From star studded brilliance and luminosity to bright toned and light matte applications, a visual array of surface effects charges up the market. Denim takes on a compact and smooth appeal with contouring power stretch or comfort stretch from creora® spandex allowing for the interplay of luster and brilliance to compliment the density of matte tones. From deep black and indigo tones, with a shimmer effect to the artificial approach of bleached cotton, there is a techno appeal to this direction.

The brilliance is derived from the yarn content through to the finish. The frisson of this artificial look doesn’t just appeal to the brighter side of denim, but also to the intensity of natural fibers as a surreal luminosity appears. Phosphorescent fibers and finishes escalate the look, setting off the super brilliance with the matte intense tones.

Posted June 7, 2016

Source: Creora