Vans Skateboarding And Anthony Van Engelen Skate To The Future With The All-New AVE 2.0

AVE 2.0

COSTA MESA, Calif. — March 25, 2024 — Put Vans Skateboarding’s most advanced technology ever with Anthony Van Engelen’s speed and power, and what do you have? The AVE 2.0, a cutting-edge skate shoe that both talks the talk and walks the walk. “20 years ago, skate shoes just gave the appearance of tech,” says Anthony Van Engelen of his new signature model. “Now, we’re in the future, where that technical design extends to the shoe’s performance.”

With an illustrious quarter-century career, Van Engelen has remained at the forefront of Skate Culture due to the fearless nature of his skating and his willingness to always push boundaries. That mindset extends to his footwear too, and, as a result, the AVE 2.0 is designed to handle anything a skater can throw at it. The hero piece of the design is its unparalleled knit upper, made of technical textile with a zonal construction: extra stretch at the top of the foot and the collar makes for an adaptable fit, while open knit on the midfoot increase’s breathability and a more dense knit towards the heel aid with structure and durability. Combine this knit material with RapidWeld™ (A stitchless construction for improved fit and feel with a no-sew welded upper for seamless durability) suede vamps, bottom eye stays and toe boxes for enhanced flick plus an external TPU heel cage for increased lockdown, and you’ve got a shoe that can stack up to even the most grueling sessions.

“I’ve found knit material to be super comfortable, lightweight and breathable,” says AVE. “Combined with suede in the more high-use parts of the shoe, it makes for a great mixture of design and performance.”

The AVE 2.0 also has a torrent of tech below its top half thanks to an UltimateWaffle™ midsole and outsole — a combination of UltraCush™ cushioning, a TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) midfoot support and SickStick™ rubber outsoles for cushioning and board feel — packed up in a neutral yet energizing color scheme that combines cream, white and black with a hit of neon green. “Vans and I have stayed on track with innovations over three signature shoes and ten years now,” says Van Engelen. “True innovation creates both a high-performance skate shoe and excitement for what’s possible in the future.”

Accompanying the shoe’s release is a concise collection of apparel, including the Drill Chore AVE Loose Carp Denim Pant in “Pirate Black,” the AVE LS Woven in “Demitasse,” the AVE SS Tee in “Flame” and an AVE Beanie in “White.”

The AVE 2.0 and its accompanying apparel collection will be released on March 28via vans.com/skateboarding and select skate shops. To celebrate the footwear release, a Global Gallery tour titled “Commitment to Progression,” will kick off in downtown Los Angeles the same day and touch down in Shanghai and Seoul shortly thereafter—with AVE himself present at every stop. Stay tuned for more info.

Posted: March 25, 2024

Source: Vans Skateboarding

Tractor Supply Company And Martha Stewart Welcome Spring With Launch Of Garden Apparel Line

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — March 25, 2024 — Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, announced today it is expanding its apparel offerings for women with the launch of the Martha Stewart Garden Apparel Line in collaboration with Martha Stewart, Marquee Brands and French Dressing Jeans Inc. The line, which includes eight clothing items, will initially launch exclusively at Tractor Supply beginning the week of March 25th in 50 select stores and online.

Martha Stewart in the garden chore jacket, convertible overalls and peony long sleeve T-shirt now available at Tractor Supply. Photo — Business Wire

“This new line of apparel reflects my passion for gardening and outdoor work, so I am thrilled to share it with consumers,” Martha Stewart said. “With creativity and hard work at the core of gardening, this collection embraces artistry and functionality, bringing ease to those who strive to keep a healthy, beautiful garden.”

Debut pieces include a Garden Chore Jacket, Garden Work Shirt, Short Sleeve Puffer Vest, Cargo Convertible Pants, Convertible Overalls and more. Each item creatively merges function and comfort with personal style, designed to meet the unique needs of the modern gardener living Life Out Here.

The addition of the Martha Stewart Garden Apparel Line is the latest in Tractor Supply’s ongoing efforts to bring top brands and unmatched quality to its rural neighbors.

“Women’s apparel continues to be an important product category for us at Tractor Supply, especially when it comes to gardening,” said Seth Estep, chief merchandising officer at Tractor Supply Company. “This launch with Martha Stewart is the perfect way for us to bring fashion and function to our gardening customers, with great new styles and products our customers can’t get anywhere else.”

“From seasoned cultivators to those new to the hobby, gardeners will love Martha’s Garden Apparel Collection. As a one-stop destination for everything gardening, Tractor Supply is the perfect retail partner for this launch, and we’re delighted to bring this collection to their customers,” said Helaine Peters, president of French Dressing Jeans Inc.

Posted: March 25, 2024

Source: Tractor Supply Company

Pottery Barn Launches New Home Furnishings Collaboration With Deepika Padukone

Pottery Barn x Deepika Padukone Collection Photo — Pottery Barn

SAN FRANCISCO — March 22, 2024 — Pottery Barn, a portfolio brand of Williams-Sonoma Inc. announced today the launch of a new product collaboration with globally acclaimed actor and style icon, Deepika Padukone.

Named as one of the 100 Most Influential People by TIME Magazine, and an internationally acclaimed actor and fashion icon, Deepika Padukone brings her worldly and sophisticated eye for design to her debut home furnishings collection with Pottery Barn. Richly influenced by Indian motifs, Padukone and Pottery Barn came together to create a collection of entertaining and serveware pieces, textiles and decorative accessories inspired by Padukone’s love of vintage designs that she has collected for her own home.

The U.S. assortment includes bedding, embroidered pillows, decorative accessories, and hand knotted rugs. The textile designs feature an elevated take on traditional Indian patterns and the color palette consists of soothing neutrals and luxe natural tones. A collection for entertaining including dinnerware and serveware, with textured, floral sculpted details and an earthy aesthetic, will be available exclusively in India, the Middle East, and the Philippines.

“I am so proud of my collection with Pottery Barn designed for decorating and entertaining at home,” said design enthusiast and acclaimed actor, Deepika Padukone. “My home has always been a calm refuge and is a space to express myself, create, and entertain. We created a collection that encapsulates this through soft textures, a neutral palette, and intricate details.”

Pottery Barn President Monica Bhargava, shared: “We’re thrilled to launch the Deepika Padukone for Pottery Barn collection internationally. The new collection artfully blends Pottery Barn’s world-renowned quality with Deepika’s iconic style, bringing unique designs to the home for creating a beautiful and inviting space.”

“Pottery Barn’s design aesthetic and Deepika’s flair for conceptualizing home spaces makes this collaboration a natural fit. No surprise that the outcome, the Pottery Barn x Deepika Padukone collection is so refreshingly different and effortlessly blends the innate styles of these two iconic brands,” shared Darshan Mehta, president & CEO Reliance Brands Ltd. Reliance Brands Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, is a Williams-Sonoma Inc. franchisee in India.

The Deepika Padukone for Pottery Barn collection is available starting March 22nd, online at potterybarn.com, potterybarn.in, and in 18 global stores.

Posted: March 25, 2024

Source: Pottery Barn, a member of the Williams-Sonoma Inc.

YKK Corp. Earns Top Honors In CDP Supplier Engagement Rating For Second Consecutive Year

TOKYO, Japan — March 25, 2024 — YKK Corp. is pleased to announce that it has received the highest Leaderboard status for the second year running in the FY2023 Supplier Engagement Rating (SER) conducted by the international non-profit organization CDP*.

This selection indicates that YKK’s governance, targets, and initiatives to collaborate with suppliers to reduce GHG emissions, all aimed at reducing GHG emissions throughout the YKK supply chain, constitute efforts befitting a global leader. In FY2023, over 450 companies around the world were selected for the SER Leaderboard.

In February 2024, YKK also received the highest “A List” rating in the CDP Climate Change 2023 Questionnaire undertaken by CDP. This was YKK’s first ever A List selection. This recognition underscores YKK’s dedication to combatting climate change and its pledge to uphold transparent information disclosure in alignment with the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Takayuki Aoki, vice president of the Procurement and Logistics Department at YKK, commented: “Since the establishment of our YKK Sustainability Vision 2050 in October 2020, we have been steadfast in our pursuit of sustainability goals. By fostering strong partnerships with customers and suppliers, grounded in the ethos of the YKK philosophy – the Cycle of Goodness®, we have achieved remarkable progress in reducing GHG emissions. Receiving the highest Supplier Engagement Rating for the second consecutive year is a testament to our collective efforts. Looking ahead, we remain committed to collaborating closely with our suppliers to comprehensively address GHG emissions across our entire supply chain. Together, we strive to pave the way towards a decarbonized society.”

*CDP: An international non-profit organization with a worldwide system to enable corporate and public environmental disclosure. Established in 2000, the organization makes use of capital markets and the power of corporate purchasing to take the lead in encouraging companies to disclose their environmental impacts, reduce GHG emissions, and protect water resources and forests.

Posted: March 25, 2024

Source: YKK Corp.

ACG Kinna Automatic And ACG Nyström, In Cooperation With JUKI Central Europe, Have Delivered The First Microfactory For Fully Finished Filter Bags

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — March 25, 2024 — After an intensive few years of development, ACG Kinna Automatic and ACG Nyström — members of TMAS, the Swedish textile machinery association — have delivered the first microfactory for the production of fully finished filter bags to a major international filtration industry customer, in cooperation with JUKI Central Europe.

As a fully automated system, it promises to revolutionize the production of woven or nonwoven needlefelt filter bags which until now have rather surprisingly been assembled and finished in laborious and time-consuming cut and sew operations by third party suppliers.

The Filtermaster 2.0 in action.

The microfactory’s configuration is based on two separate interconnecting modules — the Smart Filter Line (SFL) and the Filtermaster 2.0.

The SFL handles the fabric feeding from rolls and its folding prior to seam construction, which can either be by automatic sewing, welding or with sewing and taping, depending on specifications. Very rapid changeover of the modular seaming methods can be achieved during product changes. The specific size of the now fully-tubular fabric is then precisely cut to size for each individual unit and further folded ready to be fed into the Filtermaster 2.0.

The Filtermaster 2.0 then automatically attaches the reinforcement, bottom and snap rings onto the filter tube with a second Juki sewing head on a robotic arm, to form the fully finished filter bag ready for packaging.

Reinforcing the bottom of a filter bag.

“The automation of these essential steps is the real innovation we’ve achieved with this microfactory, eliminating the need for the many hours of labour-intensive manual work that has previously been necessary,” said ACG Kinna Automatic CEO Christian Moore. “The output is 120 finished filter bags per hour and the entire configuration is guided by precise automatic steering and alignment, with quality control handled by the latest high-definition vision cameras.

“This type of automation is the way forward, not just for filter bags, but for many industries who heavily rely on such consumables in their operations,” he added. “It makes sound economic and operational sense for the major filtration players to have such lines close to their individual operations — wherever they may be in the world — and to be self-sufficient and in control of their production, for just-in-time, guaranteed delivery.”

Under the radar

Filter bags are employed in a wide range of industrial processes and while they may be largely under the radar as products, they represent a pretty significant percentage of overall technical textiles production.

They are used extensively, for example, in foundries, smelters, incinerators, asphalt plants and energy production plants. Other key manufacturing fields — often where dust is generated — include the production of timber, textiles, composites, waste handling and minerals, in addition to chemicals, food production, pharmaceuticals, electronics and agriculture.

As a further example of the scale of the industry and the high volumes of fabrics involved, one supplier has delivered a single order of 30,000 filter bags to be used for flue gas cleaning at a European power plant. The bags can also be anywhere up to 12 meters in length and frequently have to be replaced.

Many fields

“I continue to be surprised by the many fields of industry our TMAS members serve, and where automation can make the difference,” said TMAS Secretary General Therese Premler-Andersson. “The innovations coming from our companies are far-ranging and characterised by an advanced grasp of automation techniques and the need for more sustainable processing methods that is being demanded by their customers. There will be much more of this in the coming years.”

Posted: March 25, 2024

Source: The Swedish Textile Machinery Association (TMAS)

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai Visits Glen Raven As USTR Seeks Input From Textile Sector On Domestic Supply Chain Resilience Policy

WASHINGTON — March 22, 2024 — Glen Raven hosted United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Katherine Tai in an important visit to the company’s state-of-the-art yarn spinning manufacturing facility and headquarters for its Sunbrella® flagship brand in Burlington, N.C. followed by an industry supply chain roundtable today.

Ambassador Tai’s visit coincides with USTR’s Federal Register notice for public input to inform the administration’s development of trade and investment policy initiatives related to a domestic supply chain resilience plan.

USTR has highlighted domestic textiles as a critical part of the supply chain. The textile sector, which includes yarns, fabrics, apparel and other finished goods, will be part of its fact-finding investigation into shaping policy tools that could be deployed to enhance supply chain resilience. The office is requesting input on policies that are currently working well for these sectors, and those that are not working well, in advancing domestic supply chains.

“We are deeply honored to host Ambassador Tai at our Sunbrella headquarters and yarn-spinning facility in Burlington, North Carolina to demonstrate how the right trade policies can help bolster domestic manufacturing facilities such as ours, facilitate employment, and lead to the expansion and growth of this vital manufacturing sector,” said Glen Raven CEO Leib Oehmig. “We are appreciative of USTR’s review of the strategic textile sector as it diligently examines and shapes policies that will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the entire U.S. textile industry.

During our tour, we highlighted the importance of Glen Raven’s contribution to our local communities and to the overall U.S. economy, while also underscoring the need for strong trade policies to maintain a vibrant domestic supply chain. Our industry has been navigating severe economic and global trade headwinds over the past several months and we sincerely appreciate Ambassador Tai’s commitment to gaining first-hand insight into the challenges confronting our industry in the global trade arena and continuing the dialogue we had here today.”

NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas said, “We want to sincerely thank Ambassador Tai for visiting Glen Raven today. We believe USTR’s development of supply chain resilience policies is a strong step in the right direction for helping secure the U.S. textile supply chain into the future.”

The Ambassador’s visit to Glen Raven included a tour of the Sunbrella facilities, a design and innovation center, and a roundtable discussion with several other textile executives based in North Carolina who highlighted the significant impact of the sector to the U.S. economy.

Glen Raven, a family-owned company founded in 1880, operates five manufacturing facilities in North and South Carolina employing 2,500 people, including their joint venture with Shawmut Corporation. The company is currently in the process of scaling a $250 million multi-phase U.S. capacity expansion plan of its facilities and infrastructure to meet customer demand.

Posted: March 21, 2024

Source: The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

UNTUCKit To Open 14 New Brick-And-Mortar Stores Globally In 2024, More To Come In 2025

NEW YORK CITY — March 21, 2024 — UNTUCKit, creator of Shirts Designed to be Worn Untucked, is excited to announce the opening of at least 14 new retail stores by the end of 2024. The first seven locations will open by this May across California, Georgia, Florida, New Jersey, and New York. Another seven locations are in advanced lease negotiations. Each new location will offer the UNTUCKit men’s collection and show the brand’s continued commitment to expanding its retail portfolio. When completed, these additions will put UNTUCKit’s store count just shy of 100 globally.

“UNTUCKit stores continue to be the backbone of our company,” says Chris Riccobono, UNTUCKit founder. “They perform exceedingly well and customers love them, which is why expanding our retail footprint is such a huge growth initiative for us as a brand.”

The first three stores in the Los Angeles area: Brea Mall, The Shops at Mission Viejo, and the Del Amo Fashion Center opened in March of 2024. Following that, the next store will open within the Mall of Georgia, followed by Coconut Point Mall in Florida and Menlo Park in New Jersey. The last new opening will be the location at Walt Whitman Shops in South Huntington, Long Island.

UNTUCKit uses AI technology to locate all its new stores, which will range from 1,400 to 2,500 square feet. This stays true to UNTUCKit’s greater strategy of using technology inside and outside stores to maximize the customer experience, which includes complimentary fittings and steamings, a gift concierge — plus styling recommendations and checkout via text.

“We believe in our retail stores more than ever. I’m incredibly excited to expand our store presence because we know customers fall in love with our product when they can touch, feel, and try on,” says Riccobono. “We’re happy to strengthen existing markets and try out new ones as well. The way people shop is still evolving post-pandemic, but we’re confident that these new stores will succeed and quickly become profitable, like all our other locations. Ultimately, we’re committed to bringing the UNTUCKit retail experience to everyone in America.”

Posted: March 21, 2024

Source: UNTUCKit

B&O’s PFAS-Free DWR’s Offer Brands A Reliable Transition From Repellents Made With Fluorochemicals

FALL RIVER, Mass.— March 21, 2024 — With new regulations taking place January 1, 2025, restricting the sale of consumer goods containing PFAS chemistries, the R&D team at Bolger & O’Hearn has continued to develop and refine its line of PFAS-Free, durable water repellents.

In development for more than 12 years, B&O’s PFAS-free DWR’s have many of the same repellent characteristics as a C6. But its products have been continually evaluated and refined to bring safer, greener repellent chemistries to the global textile supply chain that do not sacrifice performance.

B&O is a bluesign partner, and many of its chemistries are on the ZDHC list of approved chemistries for the environment for the textiles, apparel, and outdoor upholstery markets.

In addition to being PFAS-free, Shell-Tech Free M325 SC1 contains no VOC’s (volatile organic compounds), does not contain wax and has been formulated to prevent build up on pad rolls, which makes this DWR easy to apply at the mill.

B&O’s carefully engineered fluorine-free repellent has a high spray rating for synthetics, nylon blends and cotton rich fabrics as well as polyester/Lycra blends and cotton polyester blends. Regarding durability, Shell-Tech Free M325 SC1 is unique in that it can hold a high spray rating through 50 wash cycles and is highly recommended for heavy cotton denim fabrics.

Shell-Tech Free M325 SC1 can also be foam finished on fabrics and is highly effective even at low pad-bath concentrations and  exhibits low-temperature cure benefits.

To stay ahead of the evolving regulations Kelly Murphy, the company co-president, will be attending the upcoming annual National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)  Committee Meetings in Washington.

Posted: March 21, 2024

Source: Bolger & O’Hearn

Dow Launches Biocircular And Circular Propylene Glycol Solutions In North America

MIDLAND, Mich.— March 21, 2024 — Dow is proud to announce the launch of two new sustainable varieties of propylene glycol (PG) solutions in North America featuring biocircular and circular feedstocks. Suitable for a broad range of applications, customers can now offer their high-performance products with externally verified sustainability benefits thanks to a mass balance approach.

The mass balance approach traces the flow of biocircular and circular materials used to manufacture PG through complex value chains and attributes it based on verifiable bookkeeping; an approach that recently received ISCC PLUS certification in Freeport, Texas.

This achievement marked the first time that a Dow PG manufacturing plant in North America received an ISCC PLUS certification. “We are proud to set a precedent for more sustainable material production in North America, demonstrating our commitment to advancing sustainable production and products for our customers,” said Thales de Oliviera, business sustainability leader for the Americas for Dow Polyurethanes. “The demand for circular and bio-circular material for polyurethane end-markets is increasing, and by using our advanced recycling technologies, we can now offer our customers the same high-quality products with increased sustainability benefits.”

Supporting more sustainable offerings in the PG portfolio

Applying innovative technologies, two new sustainable PG products will now be available in North America, and certified by ISCC PLUS:

Propylene Glycol CIR featuring Renuva™ recycled content helps customers close the loop and process hard-to-recycle post-consumer and post-industrial waste into sustainable feedstocks.

Propylene Glycol REN featuring Ecolibrium™ biocircular technology enables a reduction in the use of fossil fuel-based feedstocks.

The new PG solutions, CIR and REN, are designed to help customers reach their circular and sustainability goals and are suitable for a broad range of applications across industries including personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, food ingredients, flavorings, fragrances, agricultural and industrial.

As Dow accelerates its sustainability journey, it continues to seek out new and innovative ways to incorporate alternative feedstocks, specifically those with bio-circular origins or derived from post-industrial consumer waste, to create more sustainable solutions. The mass balance approach makes use of verifiable bookkeeping to trace and attribute the flow of sustainable materials through complex value chains without changing the production process.

Posted: March 21, 2024

Source: Dow

Lenzing Presents Concept Combining Sustainable Glacier Protection And Circularity For Textiles

LENZING, Austria — March 21, 2024 — The Lenzing Group, a supplier of regenerated cellulose for the textile and nonwovens industries, has created a unique, innovative concept that contributes to the sustainable protection of our glaciers while inspiring collective action for sustainable practices and a circular economy in the nonwovens and textile value chain. The presentation titled “Glacial Threads: From Forests to Future Textiles” took place as part of the International Day of Forests celebrations at the Palais des Nations, United Nations Office, Geneva.

Geo-textiles for covering glacier surfaces

The melting of glaciers is being severely impacted by global warming. Geotextiles are used to protect ice and snow. However, the nonwovens used for this are made of fossil-based fibers, which allow microplastics1 to enter the valley via streams and may enter the food chain through small organisms and animals. Nonwovens made from cellulosic LENZING™ fibers, which are biodegradable at the end of their life cycle and can be completely recycled, are the sustainable solution to this problem.2

The covering of a small area with the new material made from LENZING™ fibers was tested for the first time during a field test on the Stubai Glacier. Four meters of ice were saved from melting. This was confirmed in a study conducted by the University of Innsbruck and the Austrian glacier lift operators on the Stubai Glacier in Tyrol (Austria). In 2023, the pilot project was successfully extended to all Austrian glaciers used by tourists. “We are delighted with the positive results and see the project as a sustainable solution for glacier protection – not only in Austria, but also beyond the country’s borders,” says Berndt Köll, Emerging Business Development at Lenzing.

Last year, the project was also awarded first place in the prestigious Swiss BIO TOP Awards for wood and material innovations.

Commitment to circularity

Lenzing takes this pioneering innovation project as an opportunity to inspire collaborative action towards sustainable practices and circularity in the textile value chain. Together with a network of committed and innovative partners, Lenzing is working on processing geotextiles into new textile fibers giving them a second life as a garment. The use of geotextiles is usually limited to two years, after which the nonwovens would be disposed of. In the first phase of the pilot project, the recycling of nonwovens made for geotextiles use has been successfully tested and a fashionable “Glacier Jacket” has been produced, showcasing that the recycling of geotextiles is viable. Next to Lenzing, the network includes Marchi & Fildi Spa, a specialist in the field of mechanical recycling, the denim fabric manufacturer Candiani Denim and the avant-garde fashion studio Blue of a Kind.

Florian Heubrandner, Executive Vice President Commercial Textiles at Lenzing: “This pioneering innovation project brings together trusted like-minded companies and partners across the supply chain, demonstrating the companies’ shared vision and commitment to the circular economy. The collaboration is a testament to the power of partnership; driving innovation and sustainability, reducing environmental impact and encouraging collaborative action against climate change for global impact across in the textile industry.”

Krishna Manda, Vice President Corporate Sustainability at Lenzing: “As the climate emergency accelerates glacier melting, we are at a critical point requiring transformative change for global impact. Nature stimulates our creativity and inspires us to truly innovative ideas. As part of Lenzing’s ongoing commitment to intertwine innovation and sustainability, this pioneering project represents the balanced connection between technology and nature, showcasing collaborative circular sustainable practices whilst acting as a rallying call for collective action. Together with our network of passionate industry experts, we can lead towards a substantial positive impact on our planet, safeguarding future generations. This project is an example to show the power of possibility when we collaborate together.”

The innovative concept, which was artistically staged by one of the most influential contemporary artists, the Italian Maestro Michelangelo Pistoletto, was presented on March 21, 2024, as part of the International Day of Forests celebrations at the Palais des Nations, the headquarters of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG).

1 Senathirajah et al., 2021, J.Hazard Mater

2 LENZING™ fibers which are TÜV certified biodegradable (soil, fresh water & marine) and compostable (home & industrial) include the following products: LENZING™ Viscose Standard textile/ nonwovens, LENZING™ Lyocell Standard textile/nonwovens, LENZING™ Modal Standard textile, LENZING™ Lyocell Filament, LENZING™ Lyocell Dry and LENZING™ Web Technology. An exception in certification applies for the fibers LENZING™ Lyocell Filament and LENZING™ Lyocell Dry, for which the necessary tests for confirming biodegradability in marine environment were not yet done or finalized.

Posted: March 21, 2024

Source: Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft

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