HANOI, Vietnam —September 10, 2014 — Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) chief negotiators completed 10 days of intensive meetings today, making important progress across a range of issues as they continue their drive toward a comprehensive, high-standard agreement.

“We have committed to a focused work plan, which will allow us to boost momentum and make continued progress,” said Barbara Weisel, U.S. Chief Negotiator for TPP. “All countries involved want to reach a conclusion to unlock the enormous opportunity TPP represents.”

Through the TPP, the United States is working to establish a trade and investment framework in the dynamic Asia-Pacific region that supports U.S. job creation by expanding trade, which accounted for about a third of U.S. economic growth in the past five years.

The United States is also taking steps to establish innovative rules that promote core U.S. values in the agreement, such as transparency and good governance and strong and enforceable labor and environmental standards.

During the session in Hanoi, Vietnam, the United States and its TPP partners – Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam – successfully resolved many issues and narrowed gaps in other areas.  The teams made important progress on State-owned enterprises, intellectual property, investment, rules of origin, transparency and anti-corruption, and labor.  They also continued to move forward with their work to construct ambitious packages for preferential access to each other’s markets for goods, services/investment, financial services, and government procurement.

Having reduced the number of outstanding issues, the United States and the other 11 TPP countries share a commitment to resolve the remaining issues as quickly as possible, including both on the text and market access packages.

To advance this work, Ambassador Michael Froman will work bilaterally with many of his TPP counterparts in the coming weeks.  Next week, he will meet with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Ninh in Washington, D.C. and other meetings with TPP ministers are expected to follow.

Posted September 17, 2014

Source: USTR
 

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – September 15, 2014 — FilSpec Inc., North America’s leading manufacturer of high-performance yarns, today announced that Iain Maclean has been named Vice President of Sales & Marketing effective November 1, 2014. As the result of a long-range succession strategy, Maclean succeeds Fred Tabah who is stepping down from day-to-day responsibilities and transitioning into a senior advisory position with the FilSpec management group and President Jean Parenteau.

“Over his many years of loyal and dedicated service with FilSpec and Richmond Specialty Yarns, Fred has been an integral part of the Group’s growth and expansion throughout Canada, USA and International,” said Parenteau. “Fred will remain with FilSpec and RSY in a Senior Advisory role.”

In his new role, Maclean will report directly to Parenteau, and will be responsible for sales & marketing management of FilSpec. He will manage the FilSpec sales team: Matrix Yarns in the United States; and Wayne Marcoux in Canada.

With more than 30 years experience in the North American textile supply chain, Maclean is currently Director of Business Development with FilSpec focusing on business strategy and client development.

Prior to FilSpec, Maclean worked for 10 years at Difco Performance Fabrics as Director of Sales & Marketing managing their portfolio of Protective and Industrial woven and knitted fabrics in the North, Central and South American markets.

Posted September 12, 2014

Source: FilSpec
 

DUQUESNE, Pa. — September 4, 2014 – American Textile Company, a leading provider of innovative sleep solutions since 1925, has doubled the size and expected employment of its Manufacturing and Distribution Center in Tifton, Ga.

The Tifton facility today employs 200, and American Textile expects to hire 100 more in the next three years. Today, hundreds of government officials, community leaders and partners attended a grand opening at the expanded 418,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility.

Elected officials praised the company for bucking industry trends and growing employment and sales with a strategy to manufacture and ship most items from four strategically located sites in the U.S., and for its focus on innovative sleep products, some of which were previously manufactured and shipped from Asia.

“The expansion of American Textile Company in Tifton solidifies the fact that South Georgia continues to be a great place for business,” said U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga. “I applaud the company’s efforts to not only expand within the United States, but to continue its investment in the Eighth District and to create jobs in the state of Georgia.”

“It is clear by American Textile’s success here that they are well aware of the benefits of the location and broad community support, including a workforce and demand to meet their needs. It is great to see American Textile reinvesting in our state and in our people,” said U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.

“Since opening, the facility’s presence has fueled growth and created good jobs, and the expansion will further build upon its positive impact on the local economy. This new addition is another testament to our state’s pro-growth climate that helps businesses succeed,” said U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.

Brian Marlowe, President and CEO of the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce and the Tift County Development Authority, estimates that the American Textile plant’s economic impact since 2011 is $75-80 million.

“It’s exciting to see American Textile Company increase capacity and investment in our community while also creating new jobs,” Marlowe said. “The company has an enduring history of providing quality jobs and a solid civic presence in their respective communities. Their decision to expand operations in Tift County is a strong indicator that our competitive resources and business-friendly environment continue to create significant opportunities for growth in the manufacturing sector. We will continue to work with and on American Textile Company’s behalf to ensure their success.”

“American manufacturers have traditionally faced difficult decisions when balancing cost considerations with the desire to produce in America,” said Lance Ruttenburg, President and CEO of American Textile. “Now, consumer demand for American-made products, coupled with rising freight costs and overseas wages, has made it financially viable for companies to expand in the United States. We’re thrilled to be a part of this resurgence of the textile industry in the Southeast and have found Tifton to be the perfect fit for us.”

American Textile opened its Tifton operation in 2011, benefitting from close proximity to rail, airports and seaports. State assistance, local incentives, dependable utilities and access to a trained workforce contributed to the company’s quick expansion — doubling its workforce and adding 200,000 square feet two years ahead of schedule. Forty seamstresses previously employed with textile companies that closed, now work at the Tifton center.

American Textile is recognized by customers for innovation and attention to service, and has delivered growth of more than 14 percent annually for more than a decade. The company has opened more than 900,000 square feet of facility space over the past 10 years, including 418,000 in Tifton. Its products, including AllerEase® and EvenTemp™, are sold in more than 40,000 retail outlets throughout North America, with consumer demand for tens of millions of units annually fueling the need for the additional capacity.

“I believe we’ve built something very special here in Tifton, as it signifies everything we stand for — service, growth, community and quality. As we approach 90 years in business, American Textile’s future is as bright and the work we’re doing in the Southeast is proof there is a real desire for American-made textile products,” Ruttenberg said.

Supporting the Tifton Community
As part of the grand opening celebration, officials from American Textile presented a check for $70,000 to the Tiftarea YMCA to build a new lighted and fenced in quarter-mile track made of asphalt and recycled materials. A sheltered picnic area and a walking track and field inside the track will be available for children’s activities and adult aerobics. Construction on the American Textile Family Walking Track is expected to begin this month and will be completed by the end of 2014.

Posted September 11, 2014

Source: American Textile Co.
 

GREENSBORO, N.C. — September 11, 2014 — VF Corp. has announced that Dan Cherian has joined the company as Vice President, Global Innovation, Performance Apparel and Footwear. In this newly created role, Cherian will oversee VF’s Global Performance Apparel and Footwear Innovation Centers, where the company focuses on developing game-changing advancements in apparel, footwear and accessories for its 30-plus brands.
 
“Our goal is to shape the future of apparel and footwear,” said Steve Rendle, VF Senior Vice President, Americas. “VF has emphasized the importance of product innovation as a key growth driver for our company. Adding Dan to our team to lead our performance apparel and footwear initiatives further demonstrates our commitment to creating breakthrough, must-have products for consumers.”
 
Cherian joins VF from Nike where he was general manager of Nike’s Sustainable Business Lab, a business development and strategic partnership function. He has also worked for Pfizer Inc. and the Boston Consulting Group.
 
At VF, Cherian will set global innovation strategies, shape and manage the global product innovation portfolio, and lead all supporting activities taking place at VF’s Performance Apparel Innovation Center in Alameda, Calif., and Footwear Innovation Center in Stratham, N.H.
 
VF introduced its Innovation Center strategy in 2013 and began to elevate innovation initiatives with existing teams to support key projects. Now, under Cherian’s leadership, the company will assemble teams of chemists, scientists, engineers and designers for the Performance Apparel and Footwear Innovation Centers who will combine their expertise in technology and new materials with VF’s proprietary insights and deep understanding of consumer needs.

The knowledge acquired throughout VF’s three Centers, and the innovations that result, intend to enable VF to drive greater brand equity and value, and achieve long-term growth for its portfolio of consumer-centered lifestyle brands.

VF’s third Innovation Center is dedicated to jeanswear and is near the company’s world headquarters in Greensboro, N.C.
 
Posted September 11, 2014

Source: VF Corp.
 

FRANKFURT — September 2014 — Texprocess, the international trade fair for the processing of textile and flexible materials to be held May 4-7, 2015, is also offering support to young talents in the participating sectors. International universities, institutes and fashion academies can present their courses and programs of study at the Texprocess Campus free of charge. The closing date for applications is December 5, 2014.

“More than ever before, the materials processing industry needs experts from both inside and outside of Germany,” said Michael Jänecke, director, brand management technical textiles and textile processing, Messe Frankfurt. “That is why it is so important to us to foster the initial and further training of young people. At the same time, students who are about to graduate need a platform on which to introduce themselves to potential employers. Participants in ‘Campus’ can, therefore, get floor space free of charge, and, if they would like one, a free ready-made stand into the bargain.”

As well as the campus area, there is the Job Exchange at Texprocess, which provides information for school and university students about internships, thesis topics and vacancies for jobs available amongst the exhibitors. Additionally, to facilitate discussions, there is a meeting area as weel as an online job exchange. At the same time, all participants can visit, at no extra charge, the concurrently held Techtextil, the international trade fair for technical textiles and nowovens. Ticket vouchers available on request.

Posted September 11, 2014

Source: Messe Frankfurt