Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Valley Forge Fabrics Inc., a supplier of decorative textiles for
hospitality applications, has received the Best Practice award in the Large Company Category from
Sustainable Florida, a consortium of business, civic and government leaders and organizations
dedicated to the furtherance of sustainable economic, environmental and social objectives. Award
winners in seven categories were chosen by a jury of nine individuals involved in the
sustainability movement.

Valley Forge Fabrics recently introduced its FRESH — Fabrics Redefining Environmental
Standards (for) Hospitality — line of fabrics made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate plastic
bottles, and claims it is the only textile company that has an established reclamation process to
expedite textile recycling.

June 24, 2008

TeXtreme® — a spread tow carbon reinforcement fabric manufactured by Sweden-based Oxeon AB, a
producer of tow carbon fiber fabrics — recently was named winner of the Fiberrik competition, a
Swedish contest for technical textiles innovations.

The jury stated its reasoning behind the decision as follows: “[TeXtreme] is a highly
innovative and all textile product within the field of technical textiles with great market
potential, now and in the future. The product has already come a long way in its development and
commercialization. This technical textile can be used to produce lighter, firmer and stronger
composites at a low cost.”

TeXtreme carbon fabrics are used in a variety of applications, including aerospace and
aviation, sports and consumer goods, racing boats and cars, and industrial applications.

Oxeon will invest the 200,000-Swedish-kronor (US$33,134) prize in further weaving technology
and product development.

June 24, 2008

Germany-based DyStar Textilfarben GmbH & Co. Deutschland KG is raising the prices of its
textile and leather dyes and auxiliaries. Customers will be alerted by their respective DyStar
sales organization. The company cited sharply rising energy costs and exceptional volatility in the
raw material market in announcing the price increases, which it described as “substantial.” 

June 24, 2008

The Northern Textile Association (NTA) has sharply criticized a proposed federal flammability
standard covering upholstered furniture, charging that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s
(CPSC’s) proposal is “arbitrary and capricious” and would severely penalize fabric manufacturers.

In formal comments filed in connection with the CPSC’s rule-making process, NTA President
Karl Spilhaus called for a number of changes in the proposed standard.

“We believe that the proposal is incomplete in that it did not address several key issues
that are critically important to reduce furniture flammability incidents,” Spilhaus said. “The
upholstery fabrics sector in the United States has changed drastically over the past five years,
and the proposal does not appear to acknowledge these changes as it included out-of-date and
inaccurate information in its analysis and overlooks several other promising options for addressing
the problems.”

Among the options, he cited the need to recognize the growth and popularity of Reduced
Ignition Propensity (RIP) cigarettes that reduce the probability of igniting upholstered furniture.
According to the Coalition of Fire Safe Cigarettes, 76 percent of the US population is now or soon
will be better protected by RIP cigarettes. In addition, Spilhaus called for “more meaningful”
methods for testing fabric flammability than those proposed by CPSC.

The CPSC has recommended three options for fabrics that do not pass flammability tests. The
agency says fabric can be re-engineered, it can be treated with flame retardants, or a barrier can
be used between the fabric and padding. Fabric manufacturers believe those options would have an
adverse impact on the quality, style and cost of upholstered furniture.

In a separate letter to the Office of Management and Budget, Spilhaus stressed what he says
is a “lack of test data to clearly substantiate a mandatory standard.” He charged that the CPSC has
produced little small-scale and large-scale testing to support assumptions made in the proposed
rule. He also claimed there would be considerable costs involved in the proposed testing and record
keeping.

June 17, 2008

Frankfurt-based DyStar Textilfarben GmbH & Co. Deutschland KG has added two new reactive dyes
to its Realan® EHF range for wool dyeing, bringing the total number of dyes in that range to 11.

Realan Brilliant Red EHF produces bright red shades, while Realan Brilliant Blue EHF is a
greenish-blue dye used for trichromatic combinations. According to DyStar, the addition of the two
dyes to the Realan EHF range enables improved color constancy under any light source. The company
also reports the dyes’ compatibility and fiber coverage result in good reproducibility and
fastness.

In addition, according to Brian Connolly, global business development management for wool
dyes, DyStar, effluent loading from dyehouses is reduced, and the dyes comply with Oeko-Tex 100
standards including articles for infants.

June 17, 2008

Spartanburg, S.C.-based Milliken & Company was recently named to The Ethisphere Institute’s
2008 World’s Most Ethical Companies List. Ethisphere, a New York City-based think-tank dedicated to
driving and reinforcing profitable ethical business practices, presented the award at the “Driving
Profit Through Ethical Leadership” conference, sponsored by Ethisphere and Forbes.

“This recognition highlights one of the core philosophies of Milliken, a belief that doing
the right things for the right reasons ultimately achieves the best results for our customers,
communities, associates and shareholders,” said Milliken CEO Joe Salley. “We are honored to have
the ethical actions of all of our associates recognized.”

The extensive evaluation process to determine the finalists involved researchers and analysts
reviewing more than10,000 leading companies worldwide, considering aspects such as codes of ethics;
litigation and regulatory infraction histories; investment in innovation and sustainable business
practices; companies’ activities to improve corporate citizenship; and more.

“We applaud Milliken & Company as one of the companies honored this year because they
have developed impressive and meaningful ethical business practices, making them true standouts
within their industries,” said Ethisphere Institute Executive Director Alexander Brigham. “By their
actions, they are forcing their competitors to follow suit, or fall behind and truly embodying the
notion that ethical business practices are more profitable in the long run.”

The 2008 list of the World’s Most Ethical Companies is featured in the Q2 issue of
Ethisphere™ Magazine.

June 17, 2008

The Cary, N.C.-based Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) has announced it will
present the INDA Lifetime Achievement Award to the late Cos Camelio. Camelio, who retired last year
from his position as INDA technical director, recently passed away at age 67.

Camelio began his career in nonwovens in 1964 as a shift supervisor and management trainee
with Chicopee, at the Chicopee Falls, Mass. location. After holding various positions there, he
joined Freudenberg Nonwovens in 1983 as vice president of manufacturing, and subsequently served as
COO and President. 

During his six-year tenure as technical director of INDA, Camelio worked with INDA’s sister
organization, Brussels-based EDANA, the International Association Serving the Nonwovens and Related
Industries, to bring standard test methods into conformance.

He also worked with EDANA to develop the Flushability Guidelines, which are premiering at the
World of Wipes 2008 conference this week. (See ”
Industry Groups Develop Flushability Guidelines,”) In addition, Camelio
participated on ISO and ASTM standards committees, was partially responsible for the programs at
INDA technical conferences, and served as chairman of a number of INDA committees.

“Cos Camelio was truly one of the pioneers in the development of the global nonwovens
industry,” said Rory Holmes, president, INDA. “This is a well-earned honor for a wonderful and
talented man who devoted his entire professional life to the advancement of the industry
worldwide.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to Camelio’s wife, Phyllis, in a special
ceremony this summer. Camelio also will be recognized formally at IDEA10 in April 2010 in Miami
Beach, Fla., and will be inducted into the Nonwovens Industry Hall of Fame.

June 17, 2008

Dallas-based Market Center Management Company (MCMC), an international market center and tradeshow
management company, has announced plans to launch GlobalTex, a new international textile show to be
held in Los Angeles. Endorsed by the Textile Association of Los Angeles, GlobalTex will be held
twice a year at the Los Angeles Convention Center, with the first two shows scheduled for April
21-23, 2009, and October 13-15, 2009.

MCMC plans for GlobalTex to be the largest apparel fabrics and materials show in the United
States. “We are extremely pleased to offer a premier international textile show,” said MCMC
President and CEO Bill Winsor. “Our goal is to launch a show larger than any textile event in the
United States and expand the show to 1 million square feet over the next five years.”

GlobalTex will present sourcing needs, including fabric, trimmings, supplies and technology
for the apparel trade. Specially organized seminars and events will be offered in addition to the
exhibition. Technology to be presented will include computer systems, software and equipment.

June 17, 2008

Thermostatic Industries Inc., Huntington Park, Calif. — a distributor of high-temperature-resistant
textiles representing a number of major brands — has received a contract from St. Paul, Minn.-based
3M Co. to produce and distribute the complete range of 3M Nextel™ high-temperature woven ceramic
textiles.

Thermostatic also uses Nextel fabrics in fabricating customized products — such as fabric
seals, ropes and textile gaskets — for specific applications. Depending on the application and
composition, the products are designed to function at continuous temperatures of 2,000°F or higher,
making them suitable for applications in industries such as aerospace and automotive.

June 17, 2008