Specialty chemicals manufacturer Clariant International Ltd., Switzerland, has joined the
Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) — established by a group of apparel and footwear brands,
retailers, manufacturers, nongovernmental organizations, academic experts and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency with the aim to promote sustainable and socially responsible
practices among apparel and footwear producers and reduce the global environmental and social
impacts of their products.

Clariant also is a System Partner of sustainable textile standard developer bluesign AG,
Switzerland; and a member of Textile Exchange, O’Donnell, Texas, which promotes the responsible
expansion of textile sustainability.

July/August 2012

Stretch-woven functional fabrics and smart textile technologies provider Schoeller Textil AG,
Switzerland, has acquired Switzerland-based functional knitted fabrics manufacturer Christian
Eschler AG.

The merger is expected to broaden the offerings available to joint customers. Eschler’s
knitting expertise is expected to provide important synergies for innovations developed within
Schoeller’s recently established venture, Schoeller Medical AG.

The Eschler brand will continue to be offered as an independent brand. Schoeller will base
its sports apparel sales group in Eschler’s Bühler, Switzerland, headquarters. Former Managing
Director Matthias Eschler will continue to lead activities at the Eschler Textil GmbH plant in
Balingen, Germany, overseeing an expansion of Eschler’s Technical Textiles division as well as the
manufacture of high-tech knit fabrics to be offered under the Schoeller brand for commercial and
professional sports apparel.

Eschler’s technology and innovation development team has moved to Schoeller’s Sevelen,
Switzerland, facility, which also will house a state-of-the-art automated washing system for
stretch wovens and knits. Other developments will be carried out in Schoeller’s Gams, Switzerland,
laboratory for chemical analysis and microbiological studies.

July/August 2012

Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH, Germany, now offers a third generation of its HKS 3-M
three-bar tricot knitting machine, reporting that the new design enables 15-percent higher speeds
than the previous model, and is more compact in its construction.

The company has completely redesigned the machine’s knitting motion, machine frame and beam
let-off frame. The redesign includes improved access to the warp beam rollers on the right-hand
side of the machine.

Karl Mayer’s revamped HKS 3-M three-bar tricot knitting machine

The new version offers a 210-inch working width and E 28 and E 32 gauges. Other widths and
gauges will be added in the future.

Karl Mayer notes that the design and movement of the HKS 3-M’s knitting elements allow it to
work a wide array of stitch densities and lappings and to process all yarn types that are used in
warp-knit applications. Fabrics that can be produced include tulle and net curtain, lingerie,
sportswear and dense upholstery fabrics; as well as semi-technical mosquito netting and shoe
fabrics.



July/August 2012

Commack, N.Y.-based Wickers Performance Wear’s Wickers flame retardant (FR) T-shirts have earned
the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Certified Biobased Product Label certifying that the
shirts contain 97-percent renewable biobased ingredients.

The shirts are made using Wickers’ 50-percent Merino wool/50-percent Lenzing FR® fabric that
is moisture-wicking and provides an arc flash protection rating of 4.8 small calories of heat
energy per square centimeter.

July/August 2012

Hanesbrands Inc., Winston-Salem, N.C., is restructuring its global imagewear business, which sells
basic apparel to wholesalers in the screen-print market and accounts for 8 percent of the company’s
sales.

The company will sell the European imagewear division to an affiliate of Smartwares BV, the
Netherlands, for some $20 million. Within its U.S. imagewear division, Hanesbrands will discontinue
private-label production and exit its Outer Banks brand business, which produces golf, corporate
and sportswear apparel. The U.S. imagewear operations will be renamed branded printwear and will
focus on Hanes® and Champion® branded products in the United States. 

July/August 2012