MIDLAND, Mich. — Feb. 28, 2011 — Dow Corning today announced that DEFLEXION™ material, a
patent-pending protective textile, is featured by Scott Sports in its new line of winter sports
gear. Deflexion technology, a silicone-based material that shields the body from the force of
external impact, was showcased in new Scott Flex back protectors that were featured this month in
Munich at the International Trade Fair for Sporting Goods and Sport Fashion (ISPO).

The new back protectors are designed to provide professional skiers and winter sports
enthusiasts a comfortable protective solution that performs even in sub-zero temperatures.
Deflexion technology adds a breathable protective layer to Scott Flex back protectors without
sacrificing comfort or flexibility, both of which are essential to skiers. In addition to the
high-impact protection layer made from Deflexion material, the Scott Flex features adjustable chest
straps, removable and adjustable leg loops, and hip belts with Velcro closures. Scott Flex back
protectors will continue to feature protective plates made from d3o™, but the addition of Deflexion
technology is expected to optimize the protective qualities of the product and ensure breathability
and protection and flexibility at low temperatures.

“We’re thrilled to have Deflexion technology featured in Scott Flex,” said Liz Mallen,
business development manager for Dow Corning. “Winter sports are an ideal application for Deflexion
material. The skier will experience the breathable nature of Deflexion technology and the
performance and suppleness it brings at below freezing temperatures.”

Deflexion technology has become a protective textile of choice for leading active apparel
designers. Scott Flex is the fourth piece of active sporting apparel to feature Deflexion
technology. In November of 2010, Dow Corning announced that Deflexion technology is being featured
in sailing gear made by marine apparel brand Henri Lloyd for use by competitive sailors and
nautical enthusiasts. Deflexion technology is also featured in vests made by RodeoTech for use by
rodeo professionals who need freedom of movement, but powerful protection during rodeo
competitions. Deflexion technology has also been featured in jackets and other protective equipment
made by Rukka for use by Motorcycle riders.

Posted on March 1, 2011

Source: Dow Corning/PR Newswire

BOULDER, Colo. — March 1, 2011 — Outdoor Industry Association welcomes today’s announcement of the
formation of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and the Coalition’s adoption of the work of the
outdoor industry Eco Index. As a founding member of the Coalition, OIA is committed to the creation
of a single, common index for apparel that drives change within the outdoor industry supply chain
and broadens the Eco Index work to allow for adoption in the broader apparel and footwear sectors.

Following three years of work by the outdoor industry, the Eco Index was released in July of
2010 and has been piloted by more than 100 companies. The development of the Eco Index is due to
the hard work of outdoor industry companies whose thought leadership in the area of sustainable
manufacturing has produced robust, transparent and open-source content which is being adopted by
other sustainability efforts.

“OIA is proud of the outdoor industry’s foundational contribution of the Eco Index to the
work of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition. We are gratified to be a member of this larger coalition
that shares our values and desire to reduce the environmental and social impacts of apparel and
footwear products sold around the world. The outdoor industry is committed to the development of a
single, common index for apparel and footwear. This effort reinforces our belief that global,
industry-wide collaboration can lead to advances in sustainability that no one company, region or
sector can achieve on its own,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president of OIA.

During 2011, members of the OIA Eco Working Group will have the opportunity to pilot the
initial version of the Coalition’s apparel tool and to participate in the development of a tool
specific to footwear. OIA is also committed to its partnership with the European Outdoor Group,
World Federation of Sporting Goods Industries and other groups to improve the Eco Index content
based on feedback from the piloting process, to share these updates with the Sustainable Apparel
Coalition and to further enhance the Eco Index’s application for outdoor gear such as tents,
backpacks, climbing and paddling gear, bicycles, skis and camping gear.

“OIA looks forward to working as a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition to build
robust tools for apparel and footwear that are driven by content found in the outdoor industry Eco
Index. At the same time, we will continue to support the unique ability of the outdoor industry to
lead in the work of sustainability as we complete the Eco Index content and develop environmental
impact evaluation tools and education that assist our member companies as they make sourcing,
product life cycle and purchasing decisions,” said Amy Roberts, vice president of Government
Affairs for OIA.

Posted on March 1, 2011

Source: Outdoor Industry Association

ZURICH, Switzerland — February 2011 — The strong global recovery in yarn and fabric production
since their lows in the 1st quarter of 2009 continued also into the 3rd quarter of 2010. Both
global yarn and fabric production rose compared to the 2nd quarter of 2010 as well as to last
year’s 3rd quarter. Output increases of yarns could be observed in Asia and North America while
Europe and South America recorded reductions. Fabric production grew in Asia and South America but
shrank in Europe and North America. Global yarn stocks rose in the 3rd quarter of 2010 as compared
to the previous quarter even though Asia’s yarn inventories fell slightly. In comparison to the 3rd
quarter of 2009 yarn stocks worldwide increased as a result of much higher stocks in South America
and despite lower stocks in Asia and Europe. Global fabric inventories came down in the 3rd quarter
as compared to the previous one mainly due to lower stocks in Asia and Europe and despite higher
stocks in North and South America. Yarn orders fell both in Europe and Brazil in comparison to the
2nd quarter of 2010. When comparing to the 3rd quarter of 2009 Europe’s yarn orders were higher
while those in Brazil dropped significantly. Fabric orders in Brazil grew compared to the previous
quarter, while Europe’s were slightly lower. In comparison to previous year’s 3rd quarter Brazil
and Europe recorded higher yarn orders.

World yarn production rose by +1.9% in the 3rd quarter of 2010 in comparison to the previous
one. This increase was the result of increases in North America and Asia (+4.5% and+2.4%,
respectively) while yarn production dropped in Europe (-10.5%) and to a much smaller extent in
South America (-1.2%). In comparison to last year’s quarter all regions recorded higher output
levels. With a jump of +14.7%, South America’s yarn production surged impressively followed by Asia
(+12.0%), North America (+11.9%) and Europe (+0.9%).

Also worldwide fabric production continued to increase by +1.9% in the 3rd quarter of 2010.
Lower output levels in Europe (-7.2%) and North America (-6.5%) were offset by increases in South
America (+6.2%) and Asia (+2.4%). Year-on-year global fabric production increased by +11.2%. All
regions recorded higher output levels. In Europe fabric production was up by +13.1%, in Asia by
+11.9% and in South America by +3.0%.

World yarn inventories rose in the 3rd quarter of 2010 by +3.5%. In South America they
soared by +60.5% and remained almost unchanged in Europe (+0.1%) but fell slightly in Asia (-0.8%).
On an annual basis world yarn stocks were up by +5.0% due to soaring inventories in South America
(+114.8%) while they fell slightly in Asia and Europe (-1.2% and -0.4%, respectively).

Fabric stocks were down by -2.5% globally in the 3rd quarter of 2010 with Asia and Europe
recording decreases of -4.9% and -0.6%, respectively. In North and South America fabric stocks rose
by +4.5% and +1.2%, respectively. In comparison to previous year’s 3rd quarter, global fabric
inventories increased by +8.4% due to increased stocks in all regions. Especially South America
recorded a surge (+42.3%) while fabric stocks in Asia, North America and Europe were up by +3.1%,
+2.0% and +1.0%, respectively.

In the 3rd quarter of 2010 yarn orders in Brazil and Europe fell by -7.6% and -0.8%,
respectively. Year-on-year Europe’s yarn orders were still up +2.6% while Brazil’s dropped by
-24.8%. Fabric orders in Europe remained almost unchanged (-0.3%) in the 3rd quarter but rose in
Brazil by +4.5%. On an annual basis fabric orders in Europe were up by +7.3% and with +0.2%
unchanged in Brazil.

Posted on March 1, 2011

Source: International Textile Manufacturers Federation

Singapore-based DyStar Colours Distribution GmbH — a global provider of dyes, auxiliaries and
services for the textile and leather processing industries — has opened a Global Auxiliary
Compliance Centre at its DyStar India facilities in Navi Mumbai, India. The center houses the
latest state-of-the-art wet and dry processing machinery for fabric application, as well as
testing, laundry, and training facilities. The DyStar India site also houses a technical service
facility and the CSI Colour Studio and now offers complete service to the entire textile supply
chain.

“This is another important step in the growth of DyStar within South Asia and globally as we
add to our range of services available to the textile industry,” said Steve Barron, CEO, DyStar
Group. “The Centre will further build on the auxiliary expertise in DyStar which started with the
acquisition of Rotta and Dr. Boehme. It will focus on the development of new auxiliaries and
effects through finishing and coating application for its customers in South Asia and rest of the
world.”

DyStar also has established competence centers in the United States, Turkey and Indonesia.

February 22, 2011

Lawrenceville, N.J.-based Datacolor, a developer of digital color management technology, has
introduced MatchCOM, a comprehensive suite of scientifically engineered color-matching algorithms
that can be integrated into the software platforms of textile, ink, coatings, plastics and paint
companies. MatchCOM has more than 160 color-matching features including multiple calibration
techniques, matching and correction methods, load calculations, produce line management, sorting
and ingredient maintenance.

The library is organized for major operations such as opaque, transparent and translucent
applications, and has stain and auto refinish models to offer the best available match.

 

“Our larger customers have been asking for a simple way to integrate our algorithms into
their corporate and retail applications,” said Brian Levey, vice president, Industrial Business
Unit, Datacolor. “They understand the needs of their customers better than anyone while one of
Datacolor’s core competencies is color matching algorithms. Several of our customers have already
implemented successful applications employing this technology and we are really excited about the
high interest in the market. We see our business model evolving to a supplier of both matching
software products and licensable matching algorithms.”

February 22, 2011

Some two decades ago, the European textile machinery suppliers started to sell machines to the Far
East. First, these machines were quite old-fashioned models, and the quality of the products was
somewhat mediocre. Eventually the customers — the producers in the Far East — wanted the same top
models as the rest of the world. Then, the machinery suppliers sold them the top models, and the
Europeans said, off the record, they now have the machines in the Far East, but they will never
succeed in producing the same quality. It’s all about experience and people, they said with
amusement. But, over the years, the people in these countries have learned how to handle top models
to produce competitive qualities. And the rest of the story is well-known today, and the rest of
the world isn’t amused anymore. It was all about people.

Cheaper

Remember the Foxconn experience a few months ago? Foxconn is a major supplier of all
competitive — or cheap — communication systems, such as cell phones and other systems, for any
brand around the world. They were trapped in a vicious cycle to supply the cheapest products. And
who was suffering? The workers at Foxconn. But, all of a sudden, something changed in the
consciousness of the people. And the management didn’t take the power of the people — that is, the
customers — into account: They were forced to increase the salary of the employees.

It’s The People

In the last few weeks, people in certain parts of the world have ignited a fire, demanding
more respect and dignity for themselves. Viewers sitting breathlessly in front of the TV screen saw
it was obvious that for some people, enough was enough. People have resisted the power and force of
the rulers, and, in some regions, the the people have won — so far. It has been amazing to see that
more and more people are getting up and fighting for their rights.It has also been strange in some
ways to see that some leaders in so-called democratic countries didn’t know how to handle the new
situation. You are right, dear reader, it is definitely not the job of the Rupp Report to become a
political column or to judge whether this is right or wrong. However, it was amazing to see that
more and more people got up and fought for their rights. You may say: wait a minute, where is the
link to the business world in general and our textile industry in particular? As you may have
realized above, there is a very strong link to people everywhere, not just machinery. And the human
brain is definitely not a machine.

Société Anonyme

There is one particular term that explains today’s world very well: S.A., or Société Anonyme.
S.A. is the French abbreviation for Incorporated — it means “anonymous society.” And there is the
feeling also that not only certain political leaders, but also many business leaders in the past
few years have given the impression that they treat their people like a S.A. But the average
citizens don’t want to be part of a Société Anonyme. They want to be people.

February 22, 2011

Iselin, N.J.-based global intimate apparel marketer Maidenform Brands Inc. has entered into a
distribution agreement with Oakland, Calif.-based Nano-Tex — a provider of nanotechnology-based
textile finishes—- under which Maidenform will be the exclusive distributor of intimate apparel
products containing Nano-Tex’s Neutralizer, a patent-pending technology that neutralizes odors and
is moisture-wicking and quick-drying.

“As a company that is acutely focused on innovation and our consumers, we are pleased to
provide women with heightened comfort and confidence by incorporating Nano-Tex’s technology into
our products,” said Maurice Reznik, CEO, Maidenform Brands Inc. 

February 22, 2011

The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA), Cary, N.C., is accepting nominations
through July 15 for the inaugural RISE Durable Products Award, which recognizes durable
commercially available consumer or industrial products made using nonwoven fabric and/or
technology. The award will be presented at the Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered
Fabrics (RISE) conference, to be held Oct. 3-6, 2011, in Raleigh, N.C.

Categories suitable for nominations include raw material, roll goods, converting, packaging,
active ingredients, binders, additives and end products. Nominations should be submitted at
http://www.inda.org/events.rise11/RISE2011NominationForm.pdf.
Award finalists will make presentations during RISE 2011, and the winner will be chosen by
conference attendees and announced on October 6.

“Since the early days of the nonwovens industry, our products have played a significant role
in the growth of a host of durable products categories and it is appropriate that the best of the
best be recognized for their contribution to this business,” said Rory Holmes, president, INDA.

February 22, 2011

Wilmington, Del.-based DuPont has licensed India-based textile manufacturer Arvind Ltd. to
manufacture and market flame-resistant fabrics and industrial apparel made with DuPont™ Nomex®
branded fiber. Arvind will offer the products in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

“This partnership with Arvind is fully aligned with our growth strategy and will help us
support our local customers better,” said Balvinder Kalsi, President, DuPont South Asia. “With our
focus on market-driven local innovations, we have identified security and safety as one of the
global megatrends that we will address.”

February 22, 2011