Specialized Technology Resources Inc. (STR), Enfield, Conn., a consumer product testing and quality
assurance services provider with laboratories and inspectors/auditors in more than 70 countries,
has opened a 16,500-square-foot testing laboratory in Manesar, India, near New Delhi. The new
laboratory, representing a $2 million investment, provides testing and quality assurance services —
including aging, chemical analysis, colorfastness, construction, dimensional stability, fiber
content, flammability, performance and strength — to determine product compliance with major US,
European and international standards. Sectors served include apparel, textile and leather product
manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers.

As STR’s regional headquarters for the Indian subcontinent, the new facility oversees staff
in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well as in India; offers a 48-hour turnaround on
laboratory sample testing; and provides free sample collection services throughout India.

“We are very excited to be opening a full-service laboratory in India,” said Varchala Abrol,
general manager of the company’s India operations. “Many companies are expanding their operations
in India, and we can now offer clients more services, more resources and more on-the-ground access
where and when they need it. Our clients expect us to be on the cutting edge of every technological
development in the industry, and our new facilities will help us to continue to meet their high
expectations.”

March 25, 2008

Polartec LLC, the Lawrence, Mass.-based manufacturer of Polartec® performance fabrics for consumer
and military apparel, has contracted with Switzerland-based bluesign technologies ag to conduct an
evaluation of Polartec’s manufacturing processes and products with the aim of earning certification
of compliance with bluesign’s environmental, health and safety standards developed for the textile
industry.

“We are very pleased to begin the bluesign® process,” said Andy Vecchione, president,
Polartec. “While we are confident that our state-of-the-industry facilities will meet or exceed
bluesign standards, we look forward to its feedback and the opportunity to continually raise the
bar.”

Under bluesign’s third-party screening process, Polartec’s manufacturing facilities will be
evaluated with regard to air and water emissions, resource productivity, occupational health and
safety, and consumer safety. As part of the evaluation, bluesign also will make resource and
cost-saving recommendations based on “Best Available Technology.”

“It is our vision to assist textile manufacturers to deliver high performance textiles to the
market at low environmental impact, all while minimizing resource consumption,” said Peter Waeber,
CEO, bluesign technologies. “Polartec already embodies this approach with safety and environmental
standards, making us natural partners.”

Polartec’s efforts to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner include an
Eco-Engineering program to reduce the environmental effects of its operation and an increasing use
of recycled raw materials in its products. In 2008, the company will offer a minimum of 50-percent
recycled content in more than 20 percent of its fabrics.

March 25, 2008

The American Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN) will participate in several events in conjunction
with the upcoming Material World Miami Beach, a global sourcing, fabric and trim trade event that
will take place Tuesday, April 8, through Thursday, April 10 at the Miami Beach Convention Center,
Miami Beach, Fla. The Atlanta-based organization has been one of Material World’s official
endorsers for several years.

On Monday afternoon, April 7, prior to the opening of the show, AAPN Managing Director Mike
Todaro will be among the panel of speakers participating in “America’s Textile and Apparel
Competitiveness Forum: Realizing the Benefits of Western Hemisphere Trade,” a special program
presented by the US Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) to address
textile and apparel competitiveness with the Western Hemisphere.
(See ”
OTEXA
To Offer Competitiveness Forum At Material World,”
Textile World News, March 25, 2008).

On Tuesday evening, AAPN will host its annual Sourcing Executive Reception from 6:30 until
8:30 p.m. at the Delano Hotel in Miami Beach. As of

Textile World
‘s press time, some 150 AAPN members and invited sourcing executives for various brands and
private label retailers have registered to attend the networking event.

On Wednesday, April 9, from 4:00 until 5:00 p.m., AAPN will present “Speed Without Margin Is
Meaningless … How Can an Apparel Retailer Achieve ‘Speed to Margin’?” as part of Material World’s
seminar series. In the AAPN seminar, Todaro will discuss the importance of the right design coupled
with speed of delivery, rather than with the cost of a garment, to a company’s profit margins when
bringing fashion apparel to market. Admission to the program is $5 in advance or $10 on-site.

AAPN members will be well-represented on the exhibition floor as well, with 31 companies
reserving booth space as of

TW
‘s press time. Ten of those companies will be grouped together within AAPN’s special
exhibition area on the 800 aisle of the show floor.

March 25, 2008

The powerful chairman of the Senate Finance Committee has made a strong appeal for Congress to pass
an expanded trade adjustment assistance (TAA) bill to help workers who lose their jobs as a result
of imports, and he has warned the Bush administration that the Senate will not act on pending Bush
administration free trade agreements (FTAs) until that has been accomplished.

In an opening statement at a Finance Committee hearing on the Bush administration’s 2008
trade agenda, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., said: “I have made it clear where we must begin. We must
begin with reform, expansion and implementation of trade adjustment assistance. After listening to
my constituents, my colleagues and my conscience, I am certain that we must put a better TAA
program in place before Congress can move on to other trade priorities, especially the pending free
trade agreements.”

A number of textile state members in both the House and Senate have been backing expanded TAA
programs to help textile and apparel workers who have lost their jobs to continuing import
competition.

Following the hearing, US Trade Representative Susan Schwab appeared to be heading for a
confrontation with Baucus when she said the administration would be sending the Colombian FTA to
Congress shortly after the Easter recess. “Given the calendar, and given the President’s desire and
commitment to see a vote on the Colombian FTA this year, we will be forced to send it up absent
that kind of a commitment from the leadership in Congress,” she said. Under the “fast track”
procedure that permits an up or down vote from Congress without any amendments, Congress has 90
days after the date it receives the bill to vote on it.

The administration’s position could result in a major showdown between the Democratic
leadership in Congress and the administration.

While there is considerable support for the Colombian FTA, including support from US
importers of textiles and apparel and manufacturers, action has been delayed by congressional
concerns over some labor rights issues in Colombia.

With respect to other trade issues, Senator Baucus has called for stronger border enforcement
to block illegal and unsafe imports. He said he will pursue his Border Protection Act that will
give government officials more resources to “identify, destroy and keep pirated and counterfeit
goods off of our store shelves.” He said fair enforcement of trade regulations includes a World
Trade Organization-consistent approach to addressing misaligned currencies such as China’s yuan and
better protection of intellectual property rights.

Trade Officials Promote Colombian Agreement

As a potential showdown on the Colombian FTA was developing, the White House staged a press
briefing by some of its leading trade officials in an effort to highlight what President George W.
Bush sees as economic, national-security and hemispheric-relations benefits of the pact.

Noting that a number of labor and environmental issues have been raised in connection with
the Colombian FTA, Deputy US Trade Representative John Verineau cited a series of meetings that
have been held between US government officials — including members of Congress — and Colombian
government officials. He said a number of issues have been addressed and that changes have been
made in the original agreement “knowing that making changes would greatly enhance the ability to
move the agreement through Congress.” As a result, he said, the administration is prepared to find
a path toward approval, and “we will continue to leave no stone unturned in terms of trying to find
a way forward that is bipartisan.” He said President Bush has made it clear that there will be a
vote this year.

Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Chris Padilla pointed out that the United
States already has an agreement with Colombia that permits 92 percent of its exports to enter the
United States duty-free under the Andean Trade Preference Act, which Congress recently extended
until the end of this year. The purpose of the Colombian FTA is to gain greater access to the
Columbian market for US goods. The Colombian FTA would make the duty-free treatment permanent, and
there would be no need for periodic renewals.

Padilla said the economic case for the agreement is clear. “It is very strong,” he said. “It’s
an agreement about fairness; it is an agreement that opens an important and growing market in
South America to our products when our market is already wide open to imports.”

Addressing the subject of security and stability in the hemisphere, Dan Fisk, director of
Western Hemisphere Affairs for the National Security Council, said that while some problems still
exist, progress is being made in addressing illegal drug trafficking and human rights abuses. He
said that through determined Colombian leadership and strong bipartisan support from the United
States, Colombia has experienced “impressive progress” with significant reductions in violent
crimes and a reduction of poverty. He believes the FTA will help keep Colombia’s future and US
national security “on the right track.”

March 18, 2008

Every day, news channels worldwide report on the new financial crisis occurring from the mortgage
disaster in the United States. Not only the banking system, but the whole economic structure is
jeopardized. A gigantic amount of wealth is destroyed every day. What is the impact on the United
States’ biggest trade partner, China? China also is facing some problems — a renminbi stronger than
ever, and increasing salary, raw material and energy costs.

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet Yang Zhao Hua, vice chairman of the Sub-Council for
Textile Industry (CCPIT) and the Textile Chamber of Commerce (CCOIC) in Beijing, and asked him if
the actual US crisis is affecting the Chinese textile market.

Exports Total 28 Percent

“Not that much,” Yang said. Only if this crisis had a global scale would China probably face
some difficulties. According to Yang, China’s overall textile production in 2007 reached a value of
some US$627 billion. And only 28 percent, with a value of US$175.6 billion, was exported. Domestic
demand is steadily increasing, which moderates some occurring export troubles.

Generally, Yang sees a positive development for the Chinese textile industry in 2008. It
might be that exports will decrease a little; however, the rising domestic demand will balance this
decrease.

Better Quality

To be more competitive, China is putting forth much effort to increase the quality of its
products. This is not the problem, Yang says, but rather the demand for good raw materials. That’s
why China has to be very careful in further increasing its capacity. With a further expansion, the
raw material system could collapse.

But how is the situation in terms of energy and environmental issues? The energy situation at
the moment is quite stable, he says. China is building more nuclear power stations to provide the
requested power supply for its industry.

The environment also is a big issue in the 11th Five-Year Plan of the Chinese government,
Yang mentioned. China is very concerned that industry produce in an environmentally friendly way —
especially the finishing industry, which is requested and obliged to reduce its wastewater by some
70 percent.

ITMA Asia

As Yang is very much involved in the organization of the upcoming ITMA Asia in Shanghai, the
question was obvious: How is the situation with ITMA Asia? “Very good,” he said, “Two strong
partners go together.” ITMA Asia will be a solid exhibition. The overall exhibition space will
total 130,000 square meters — all sold out. All the big Western textile machinery builders are
participating, and the fair will have a big impact on the domestic textile machinery industry.
There is a large waiting list of domestic manufacturers.

A New Start

In the lunar year, 2008 is the year of the rat. The rat is the first sign of the Chinese
zodiac and opens the new 12-year cycle. After the result of the US financial turmoil, which might
change global trade dramatically, 2008 could be the start of a new era. Not bad at all for China:
Rats are known as people with great leadership skills and are the most highly organized and
systematic of the 12 signs. Intelligent and cunning at the same time, rats are highly ambitious and
strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas, which often
include money and power. So, all in all, those are enough reasons for the Chinese textile industry
to think positivly of the future. See you soon in Shanghai.



March 18, 2008

NuMetrex, a
heart-monitoring apparel line offered by Wilmington, Del.-based Textronics Inc., and lululemon
athletica, a Canada-based yoga-inspired athletic apparel company, have partnered to develop the
Heartbeat Tank, a technically advanced heart-monitoring running tank top.

The inner shelf bra of the quick-drying nylon/Lycra® tank top features fabric sensors that
monitor exercise duration, heart rate and number of calories burned; and a pocket to hold a snap-in
transmitter that sends the data to a compatible watch or cardio machine.


“This seamless garment is constructed for the athlete who is looking to monitor their theart
rate without the traditional strap,” said Deanne Schweitzer, product manager, lululemon athletica. “
The tank top offers moderate bust support, wicking knit construction for moisture management and a
smooth next-to-skin fit that helps to prevent chafing, making a more comfortable exercise
experience.”

March 18, 2008

Spartanburg-based textile and chemical manufacturer Milliken & Company and Minneapolis-based
supplier of branded identity apparel and facility services G&K Services Inc. have extended
their contract to provide BioSmart™ apparel and towels to the food services industry.

Milliken’s patent-pending antibacterial and antiviral BioSmart technology binds chlorine
molecules to textile surfaces, reducing microbial cross-contamination in such industries as food
services, healthcare and public safety; as well as for activewear, sports apparel and military
applications. When washed according to care instructions using Environmental Protection
Agency-approved chlorine bleach, textiles treated with the technology have been shown to kill 99.9
percent of E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella choleraesuis, Hepatitis A, and other common
bacteria and viruses. The technology can be applied to fabrics made with cotton, man-made-fiber and
polyester/cotton blends.

G&K provides towels and apparel treated with BioSmart as part of its patent-pending
ProSura™ food safety solutions program for processing plants, restaurants and retail food service
departments. The program also is used in conjunction with Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
programs to ensure proper documentation of procedures and controls.

“BioSmart has allowed us to bridge the gap between customers’ written standard operating
procedures and the realities of operating in a food environment by helping mitigate the risk of
human error,” said Carter Bray, marketing director, G&K. “The reaction of the market has led us
to develop additional BioSmart products, which we expect to introduce before the end of this fiscal
year.”

March 18, 2008

Pendergrass, Ga.-based TenCate™ Geosynthetics’ Miragrid® XT geosynthetic reinforcement product line
has completed evaluation by the National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP).

The evaluation process was developed by the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials in conjunction with NTPEP to assess production and performance data for
geosynthetic reinforcements. Conducted according to Washington State Department of Transportation
Standard Practice T925, the evaluation determines the long-term strength of the geogrid, including
factors affecting long-term strength reduction. The data are used by state departments of
transportation and other regulatory agencies to create Qualified Products Listings.

“The Project Work Plan developed by NTPEP is among the most stringent review processes
available for geosynthetic reinforcement materials,” said John Henderson, vice president of
marketing, TenCate Geosynthetics. “This final evaluation is a compilation of years of research and
testing to truly characterize the Miragrid XT product line.”

March 18, 2008

For centuries, wool was probably the most precious fiber used to produce fabrics and eventually
apparel. Fine wool was associated with wealth. According to surveys, the wool label was one of the
most prominent labels around the world. This changed drastically in the last 25 years, as wool lost
ground. The wool industry from Australia and New Zealand tried everything to remain competitive. In
spite of all their actions, the market share of wool dropped. Because of marketing actions around
the globe from down under, wool lost its exclusive flavor and became just “wash-and-wear.” It went
the same way as silk — it became a commodity.

Dirty Business

To make sheep farming more economical, John W. H. Mules developed the practice of mulesing.
Everybody in the wool trade knows how much effort it takes to clean wool. And this begins when
farming the sheep in the field. Mulesing is the physical removal of strips of wool-bearing wrinkled
skin around the tail of the sheep. While shearing a ewe that had suffered several fly-strikes,
Mules’ hand slipped and his blade shears removed some skin from her rear end. After performing this
procedure on his other sheep, Mules noticed that it prevented the occurrence of fly strike.
Mulesing is common practice in Australia as a way to reduce the incidence of fly strike,
particularly on Merino sheep in regions where fly strike is common. Originally, mulesing was
carried out on sheep after they were weaned because it was considered too rough for lambs. The New
South Wales Department of Primary Industries states in the Standard Operating Procedures that, “
while the operation causes some pain, no pre or post operative pain relief measures are used.”

Alternative Ways

Mulesing is different from crutching. Crutching is the mechanical removal of wool around the
tail, anus — and vulva in ewes — and also down the inside of the hock where needed in breeds of
sheep with woolly points. Mulesing is the removal of skin to provide permanent resistance to breech
strike in Merino sheep. Other breeds tend to have less loose skin and wool so close to the tail and
may have less dense wool. Crutching has to be repeated at regular intervals as the wool grows
continuously. Frequent crutching of Merinos reduces the incidence of fly strike, but not as much as
mulesing does.



Strong Opposition

Animal welfare advocates strongly oppose mulesing; and say mulesing without anesthesia is
cruel and painful, and that more humane alternatives exist. Current veterinary opinion considers it
a necessary compromise in providing for the general welfare of sheep in areas of Australia. It is
expected to be phased out in Australia by 2010, and has already been phased out in New Zealand.

But the problems for the wool industry increased due to massive pressure. In October 2004,
US-based fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co. responded to pressure from People for the
Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to boycott Australian merino wool due in part to the practice
of mulesing in Australia. The boycott also seeks to draw attention to Australia’s live sheep export
trade. PETA’s campaign has hurt the Australian wool industry, with some US and British clothing
retailers agreeing to the boycott. One month later, representatives of the Australian wool industry
voted to phase out the practice of mulesing in Australia by 2010.



New Problems

Proponents of mulesing are largely from Australia, where conditions are conducive for severe
fly strikes. While alternatives are available, Australian farmers say alternatives are not yet
economically viable. But is it more viable for a fighting industry to influence or even blackmail
people in the days of global communication possibilities?

This actually happened in Sweden, when a lobbyist from the Australian wool industry tried to
prevent a report on television about the method of mulesing. He offered a free trip to Australia,
if the person would not express herself in a negative way about mulesing. Unfortunately for the
lobbyist, everything was filmed with a hidden camera. Cut.

The outcome of this strange story is that mulesing is now on the agenda of the European Union
to take action, and even boycott Australian wool in Europe. The next page of this story is yet to
be written.



March 11, 2008