Visitor Registration Opens For Summer 2023 Debut Of Texworld Los Angeles And Apparel Sourcing Los Angeles

ATLANTA — April 6, 2023 — Registration for the Summer 2023 debut of Texworld Los Angeles and Apparel Sourcing Los Angeles is now open for attendees.

The brand new event will take place July 25-26 at the California Market Center in Los Angeles.

Happening only days apart from the summer edition of Texworld and Apparel Sourcing New York City, Texworld and Apparel Sourcing Los Angeles will welcome buyers on the west coast access to a strong showing of international textile manufacturers and suppliers from China, Taiwan, Turkey, India and other countries. Like Texworld and Apparel Sourcing New York City, the Los Angeles events will offer a wide product range covering the entire fabric spectrum, from casual cotton to functional fabrics and sophisticated knits to intricate laces as well as ready-to-wear apparel for men, women, children, and accessories. Catering to a wide range of sourcing professionals from apparel fabric buyers, research and product development specialists to designers, merchandisers and others, Texworld and Apparel Sourcing Los Angeles encompass all sectors of the sourcing industry inviting them to gather, build new relationships and foster collaboration in a new location.

The new co-located event will feature additional offerings including educational seminars and the latest trends. Attendees will have the opportunity to source, network, and learn through numerous specially curated areas on the intimately designed show floor.

Highly-valued Texworld New York City partner, Lenzing, will join the west coast event as an exhibitor with represented mills and with the attendee-favorite Lenzing Seminar Series.

Registration for the event is now open.

Posted: April 6, 2023

Source: The Messe Frankfurt Group

ABB Invests $170 million In The United States

ZURICH — April 5, 2023 — ABB is accelerating its growth strategy in the United States by investing approximately $170 million and creating highly skilled jobs in manufacturing, innovation and distribution operations. ABB is committed to growing in the US by investing in its electrification and automation businesses that meet increased demand from industry-leading customers, while supporting the clean energy transition and the trend towards reshoring of production. This commitment is highlighted by today’s pouring of the concrete foundations for a greenfield drives and services facility in New Berlin, Wis. The US is ABB’s largest market, comprising 24 percent of the company’s annual revenue.1

“The United States is critical to ABB’s success as a market that will continue to grow and benefit from our product portfolio that enables the transition to a more energy-efficient future,” said Björn Rosengren, CEO of ABB. “Currently, 85 percent of ABB’s sales in the US are from products produced locally, which provides customers with a more secure supply chain and keeps good-paying manufacturing jobs in America.”

ABB technology touches every sector of the economy, from transportation to utilities to buildings. Recently passed legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS Act, and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, gives ABB confidence to invest in manufacturing capacity, distribution systems and technology innovation to bring products and services closer to customers.

Investment projects underway across the US include:

  • New Berlin, Wis.: Opening of Drives and Services manufacturing facility will increase US production capacity of industrial electric drives and provide additional customer services. The business manufactures a wide range of AC variable frequency drives and controls which reduce energy consumption in buildings and industrial applications in the US market. The nearly $100 million greenfield investment is expected to be completed in late 2024 and is replacing a neighboring existing facility, which employs approximately 720 workers. Some 100 new jobs will be added over the next three years.
  • Memphis, Tenn.: Investing $3 million in the opening of an Installation Products Research & Development Lab and Innovation Center to accelerate development of new products. ABB remains the seventh-largest private employer in Memphis.
  • Atlanta: Opening of packaging and logistics facility for end-to-end robotic automation solutions in warehouse and distribution, retail, and logistics industries. This $2 million investment will open in 2023 and create approximately 15 jobs.
  • Albuquerque, N.M.: Previously announced $40 million investment in a new facility to manufacture Elastimold, the leading brand for underground cable accessories, to support strengthening a more sustainable US electrical grid. It underpins ABB’s commitment to improve reliability and resilience of the US infrastructure and assure greater safety for the American consumers, businesses, and communities. The investment will create 55 new jobs and will be completed by 2024.
  • Auburn Hills, Mich.: Previously announced expansion of North American robotics headquarters and manufacturing facility as more customers turn to automation to build resilience while improving efficiency and flexibility as part of the near and reshoring of production. The $20 million investment will create 72 jobs and be completed by the end of 2023.
  • Lehigh Valley, Pa.: Previously announced opening of Installation Products Division Northeast Distribution Center in 2023. This more than $4 million investment will create more than 100 jobs and further regionalize ABB’s global supply chain to help reduce delivery times of high-demand electrification products to contractors by up to 50 percent.
  • Columbia, S.C.: Previously announced opening of electric vehicle charger manufacturing facility to build up to 10,000 chargers per year, ranging from 20kW to 180kW in power, to support operators building the national charging infrastructure. ABB E-mobility’s investment will create over 100 jobs.

“The Inflation Reduction Act is triggering investment in clean energy and supporting businesses that can produce technology locally,” said Michael Gray, US Country Holding officer of ABB. “More than ever before, ABB is designing and producing products domestically to serve our US customers, as they move toward more sustainable electric power generation, clean energy manufacturing, electric transportation, and industrial efficiency including carbon capture and storage, as well as methane reduction.”

The US federal government projects real gross domestic product to increase 2.5 percent in 2023, average 2 percent annual growth between 2024-2028, and grow 2.3 percent per year during 2029-2032.2 This projected GDP growth, combined with an estimated global EV infrastructure investment of more than $1 trillion by 20403, gives ABB the confidence to continue investing. ABB projects 25 percent of global EV infrastructure investment will take place in the US.

Since 2010, ABB has invested $14 billion in US plant expansions, operational improvements, state-of-the-art equipment, products, and people, making it the company’s largest market. With approximately 20,000 employees in more than 40 manufacturing and distribution facilities, ABB is investing, growing and serving customers across America through industries that create jobs, encourage innovation and achieve a more productive, sustainable future.

ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered and operated. Building on more than 130 years of excellence, ABB’s ~105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation. www.abb.com

1 Based on 2022 ABB Group revenues

2 Biden Administration 2023 budget

3 BloombergNEF

Posted: April 5, 2023

Source: ABB Ltd.

Motion Ai Opens New Facility In Massachusetts

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — April 5, 2023 — Motion Industries Inc. — a distributor of maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts and provider of industrial technology solutions — is pleased to announce the newest Motion Ai facility, located at 71 Cherry Hill Drive, Beverly, Mass., 01915. The new facility officially opened on December 1, 2022.

Motion Automation Intelligence (Motion Ai) was in need of additional manufacturing and inventory space to better meet overall customer demand and to strategically grow the business. With 33,000 sq. ft., the new facility complements two existing Motion Ai facilities nearby in Danvers (19,000 sq. ft.) and Woburn (10,000 sq. ft.), providing the company a total of 62,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space in the Boston area. Most of the production and quality operations among the three locations are housed in the new facility in Beverly, with features including manufacturing lab benches and a quality control testing area. Systems engineering and production solutions focus on motion control, robotics and machine vision, with additional specialty areas of precision components, electro-mechanical assemblies and fully engineered automation systems.

“The expanded manufacturing space will allow us to meet growing customer needs while adding future opportunities across our entire automation and robotic platforms,” said Aurelio Banda, Motion’s senior vice president, Automation Intelligence. “This includes additional OEM business and the ability to accept larger orders in quantity and physical size. We expect this new facility to fuel economic growth for the region, contributing beneficial, long-term impact.”

Randy Breaux, president of Motion, said: “We are excited about this investment and anticipate that it will enhance the customer experience even more. We believe it will also increase the employee experience—there is a lot of talent within Motion Ai, and this expansion will offer excellent opportunities for our employees.”

Currently, Motion Ai has opportunities for experienced automation engineers, electro- mechanical assemblers and quality technicians to join the team, and the company will continue to hire as the business grows.

Posted: April 5, 2023

Source: Motion Industries Inc.

Maximus And IFB Solutions Partner On New Program To Hire Blind And Visually Impaired For Full-Time Contact Center Work

TYSONS, Va. — April 5, 2023 — Maximus, an employer and provider of government services worldwide, and IFB Solutions, a non-profit organization that provides employment, training, and services for people who are blind or visually impaired, today announced the successful launch of a new joint program that integrates employees who are blind or visually impaired into the workforce. Seventy percent of working-age adults who are blind or visually impaired face sustained periods of unemployment throughout their lifetimes. This program will help address that challenge through an inclusive workplace that supports the needs and experiences of our sight-impaired colleagues.

“We value individual differences and strive to provide a work setting and experience where all employees can thrive,” said Michelle Link, chief human resources officer, Maximus. “For several years, Maximus has been focused on capacity-building opportunities, such as this partnership with IFB Solutions, to expand our potential pool of new employees and help us build an effective and inclusive workforce. Thanks to the perseverance of many, advances in technology, and an experienced partner in IFB Solutions, we’ve built an employment and training program aimed specifically at those who are blind and visually impaired. We’re excited to welcome these new employees to the Maximus team.”

Six people completed the initial pilot training in Texas and are now supporting Maximus as Customer Service Representatives on contracts that deliver government services and share information with the general public. As the largest employer of people who are blind in the United States, IFB Solutions leveraged its experience to create a targeted training program with Maximus for this cohort of employees. The training program lasted six weeks and was managed jointly by IFB Solutions and the Maximus Texas Project Team. The preparations focused on developing the skills needed for the employees to meet the job requirements, with an emphasis on learning the unique technologies developed to assist them.

“People are at the center of everything we do, as our mission is to empower people who are blind,” said Shannon Satterfield, director of Professional Services, IFB Solutions. “Maximus has shown itself as a leader in this area by working with us to create this new program that provides the empowerment of employment to people who deserve it. We are so proud of every person who completed the training, as they persevered through early challenges to accomplish something that would have been impossible only a few years ago.”

Building on the success of the first class of employees, Maximus and IFB Solutions are training a second cohort of individuals and plan to expand the pilot program across the country in 2023. Employees from the inaugural class joined the second session to share their experiences, provide tips and encouragement, and mentor their peers.

The employees who successfully completed the initial training and are now Customer Service Representatives include:

  • Maggie V.: “Before the opportunity to work for IFB Solutions in partnership with Maximus, I had no prior call center experience. But because of the accessible training, I’ve learned so much in so little time. This opportunity has been a life-changing experience for my kids and I, and it has allowed me to regain my confidence.”
  • Mary A.: “My passion is making sure that those who are visually impaired can live the best life possible. This program has given me a chance to do that, and it’s a welcome opportunity for this community.”
  • Elias T.: “It brings me joy and satisfaction to serve and provide clients with the information they need. I appreciate the work that Maximus and IFB Solutions put into the training to give me a new job and a new future.”
  • Ruben R.: “This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with Maximus means the world to me. It is both a joy and honor to be a part of a team as unique as mine.”

Posted: April 5, 2023

Source: Maximus

Panda Biotech Announces Landmark Equity Partnership With Southern Ute Growth Fund Aka-Ag, LLC

DALLAS — April 5, 2023 — Panda Biotech announces a landmark equity partnership deal between the Panda High Plains Hemp Gin™ (PHPHG) project and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe Growth Fund (Growth Fund). The Growth Fund is owned by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, a federally recognized tribe. The strategic alliance was inked with Aka-Ag, LLC, a Growth Fund subsidiary.

The investment marks a significant advancement toward PHPHG’s much-anticipated Q4 2023 launch. Located in Wichita Falls, Texas, PHPHG is on track to become the largest hemp decortication center in the United States and among the world’s largest industrial hemp processing facilities.

President Dixie Carter says of the deal: “Panda Biotech could not have selected a better equity partner for our first project, the Panda High Plains Hemp Gin. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe and its subsidiaries bring numerous strategic opportunities to what is anticipated to be a successful, long-term partnership.”

The Southern Ute Indian Tribe is the first Indian tribe in the nation to achieve a “AAA” credit rating, earned through years of steady governance and successful and prudent business transactions. The Growth Fund, the business division of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, aims to support eco-minded business investment opportunities through Aka. As hemp provides a proven, more sustainable ecological option than other textile fibers, the Growth Fund’s Aka-Ag division shares Panda Biotech’s vision for PHPHG and the revolutionary potential of natural hemp fiber.

Growth Fund Executive Director Shane Seibel added: “the Growth Fund is honored to partner with Panda Biotech on the PHPHG Project. The Tribe and Panda have had decades of success in various business endeavors. We view the PHPHG investment as a complementary and strategic partnership that will align with our company values and result in a business providing sustainable solutions for the future.”

Scientifically proven to sequester substantial amounts of carbon dioxide, industrial hemp requires significantly less water, herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides to grow than most crops used in textile manufacturing. The textile industry has taken notice of PHPHG’s charge with industry leaders, including numerous global brands and top spinning mills around the world, reaching out regarding potential partnerships with Panda.

To date, approximately 95 percent of the necessary hemp processing equipment has been manufactured, most of which has been delivered to the 500,000-square-foot facility in Wichita Falls. PHPHG is expected to be operational in the 4th quarter of this year.

The PHPHG facility will process only U.S.-grown hemp straw. Panda is contracting with producers for the 2023 growing season and has seed available for farmers. The available seed genetic is proven to grow successfully in the region around Wichita Falls.

Posted: April 5, 2023

Source: Panda Biotech LLC

Swedish Textile Machinery Transforming Dyeing And Finishing At ITMA 2023

TW Special Report

Two members of TMAS — the Swedish textile machinery association — are at the forefront of a brand-backed revolution in replacing water and energy-intensive technologies for the dyeing and finishing processes that will take centre stage at this year’s ITMA exhibition in Milan from June 8-14.

“There are currently an estimated 90,000 jet dyeing machines in operation worldwide and between 60 and 70 percent of them are outdated to a factor of two-to-three in terms of the savings in energy, water and dyes and finishes that can be made — even with the latest conventional systems,” said TMAS secretary general Therese Premler-Andersson. “That productivity gap is considerably higher when considering the latest highly-digitised and precise non-contact spray systems for these processes that have been introduced to the market by TMAS companies Baldwin and imogo in the past few years.”

Baldwin’s TexCoat G4

Outstanding, production “tested and approved” spray technology

Baldwin’s TexCoat G4, a non-contact spray technology for textile finishing and remoistening engineered and manufactured in Sweden, not only reduces water, chemicals and energy consumption, but also provides the flexibility to adapt to a customer’s requirements in terms of single and double-sided finishing applications.

It is designed to allow a controlled and optimal coverage of the exact amount of finish chemistry for reaching specific characteristics of the fabric through a combination of precision valve technology coupled with optimized software algorithms to ensure accurate and even finishing coverage with virtually no waste.

TexCoat G4 can reduce water consumption by as much as 50 percent compared to traditional padding application processes. In today’s world of volatile energy prices, imagine cutting gas and electricity costs by 35 to 50 percent. Productivity is also increased by 50 percent because of the lower wet pick up which allows for higher line speeds. Putting it simply, for replacing every 2-3 pads with a TexCoat G4 is equal to adding the productivity of an additional finishing line at a fraction of the cost, with no additional floor space and no added labor.

“Traditional textile finishing by padding is a wasteful, antiquated process,” said Rick Stanford, Baldwin’s vice president of global business development. “High pick-ups drive high energy consumption and frequent bath changes generate a lot of avoidable chemical waste. Brands and mills are thankfully now starting to see environmental and economic benefits with the help of our non-contact precision spray systems. These systems increase product quality, improve mill profitability and deliver quantifiable sustainability benefits.”

imogo’s Dye-Max spray dyeing technolog

True sustainability potential

Similar impressive savings can also now be made in textile dyeing with imogo’s Dye-Max spray dyeing technology.

It can slash the use of fresh water, wastewater, energy and chemicals by as much as 90 percent compared to conventional jet dyeing systems as a result of an extremely low liquor ratio of 0.6-0.8 liters per kilo of fabric. At the same time, considerably fewer auxiliary chemicals are required to start with.

The application unit of the Dye-Max consists of a closed chamber containing a series of high speed digitally controlled valves with precision nozzles for accurate and consistent coverage.

Fast changeovers with virtually no waste together with a high production speed enable a high productivity and unmatched production flexibility.

At ITMA 2023 the proven Mini-Max laboratory unit — used alongside Dye-Max installations for pre-determining application volumes and color matching for Right First Time dyeing — will demonstrate the principles of imogo’s technology.

The huge potential of Dye-Max has been quickly recognized by brands seeking solutions to their sustainability targets and an industrial-scale installation is currently being commissioned. Further details will be announced prior to ITMA 2023.

“It’s fantastic that all of this innovation is taking place in Europe based on established know-how and forward thinking,” Premler-Andersson noted. “Spray application technologies are a perfect illustration of how new digital technologies can lead to more sustainable production, in this case by replacing water-intensive processes with the highly precise and controlled application of dyes and chemistries as vapour.

“TMAS members — backed by Swedish brands and advanced research institutes — are playing an active part in pushing forward new concepts that work. Digitalization now goes hand in hand with sustainability for the textile industry’s future.”

Posted: April 5, 2023

Source: TMAS – The Swedish Textile Machinery Association

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Preparing Response To U.S. Department Of Defense Request For Information On Domestic Biomanufacturing Of Spider Silk

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — April 5, 2023 — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc., the biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of spider silk, announces today that it is preparing a response to the United States Air Force under the Defense Production Act Investments (DPAI) program. In its efforts to strengthen the U.S. bio-industrial manufacturing capabilities, the U.S. Government is seeking input from industry to identify target areas for governmental investment.

Under the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act and through executive order, the Secretary of Defense has been authorized to “incentives the expansion of domestic, flexible industrial biomanufacturing capacity for a wide range of materials.” Biosynthetic fibers such as spider silk were specifically identified as a material/technology of interest under this directive.

Kraig Labs is preparing a detailed response for submission to the U.S. Air Force by its April 19 deadline. While this request for information does not guarantee a subsequent request for proposal or that funding will be available, it does signify the importance that materials, such as spider silk, can play both economically and defensively.

“We are very pleased to see the renewed support and interest from the Department of Defense (DoD) to strength the U.S. industry supply base for bio-engineering and bio-manufactured materials,” said company COO Jon Rice. “I believe that Kraig Labs is and will remain a key player in our domestic biomanufacturing capabilities, and we welcome the opportunity to bring the DoD up to date with our progress and the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Posted: April 5, 2023

Source: Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.

The 2023 Southeast Designers And Architect Of The Year (SEDY) Awards Finalists

ATLANTA — April 5, 2023 — The Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) is thrilled to announce this year’s finalists for the 2023 Southeast Designers and Architect of the Year Awards (SEDY). The 26 finalists represent the most creative and innovative minds in the business across the fields of residential design, contract design and architecture. Entries were received from across the Southeast, spanning nine states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The featured finalists were selected by an esteemed panel of top industry professionals including VERANDA Editor-in-Chief Steele Marcoux, Ike Baker Velten founder John Ike and award-winning designer, Jean Liu, principal at Jean Liu Design, LLC.

The 2023 Southeast Designers and Architect of the Year Awards return to ADAC’s spring market, DESIGN ADAC, co-sponsored by VERANDA, taking place April 18-20, where winners will be announced at a private awards gala on Thursday, April 20. All are welcome to join ADAC and VERANDA to meet and celebrate the 2023 finalists at R HUGHES in Suite 320 at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19. Media interested in attending the finalists meet-and-greet can RSVP to rsvp@360media.net.

“This year, we are thrilled to have a record-breaking number of first-time finalists,” said Katie Miner, general manager of ADAC. “As the Southeast Designers and Architect of the Year Awards continue to grow, I’m both proud and thrilled at the amazing talent we have and continue to discover throughout the Southeast. It truly is a wonderful celebration for design in the region.”

The 2023 Finalists for Residential, Contract and Architecture include:

Residential Design Finalists

  • Alecia Stevens Interiors | Charleston, S.C.
  • Atelier Davis | Atlanta
  • Brad Ramsey Interiors | Nashville, Tenn.
  • Christy Dillard Kratzer of CDK Interior Design | Atlanta
  • David Frazier | West Point, Ga.
  • Lathem Gordon & Cate Dunning of GordonDunning | Atlanta
  • Jason Arnold Interiors | Nashville, TN
  • Kristin Kong of K Kong Designs | Atlanta
  • Laura W. Jenkins Interiors | Atlanta
  • Lauren DeLoach Interiors | Atlanta
  • Melanie Turner Interiors | Atlanta
  • William Peace of Peace Design | Atlanta
  • Bronwyn Ford of Pursley Dixon Ford Interior Design | Charlotte, N.C.
  • Rachel Halvorson Designs | Nashville
  • Shirlene Brooks of Re:View Design | Franklin, N.C.
  • Robin Rains Interior Design | Nashville
  • Aliesha Porto of Stevie Interiors | Milton, Ga.

Contract Design Finalists

  • Harris Interiors | Atlanta
  • William Peace of Peace Design | Atlanta
  • Smith Hanes Studio | Atlanta
  • Square Feet Studio | Atlanta

Architecture Finalists

  • Chris Reebals of Christopher Architecture & Interiors | Birmingham, Ala.
  • Herlong Architects | Sullivan’s Island, S.C.
  • Historical Concepts | Atlanta
  • Richard & Lynielle Long of Long & Long Design, Inc. | Homewood, Ala.
  • Pursley Dixon Architecture | Charlotte
  • Summerour Architects | Atlanta

“We’re extremely grateful to this year‘s incredible panel of judges. Their job selecting the 2023 finalists amongst all the wonderfully creative and qualified submissions was a daunting exercise,” added Miner. “We can’t thank them enough for their expertise, participation, leadership and guidance.”

About the 2023 SEDY Judges Panel

John Ike, Ike Baker Velten, Founder
John Ike has been practicing architecture and design for more than four decades. Ike’s design aesthetic is influenced by his traveling such as the legacy and regional inflections he sees on these trips, particularly the Italian and Scandinavian precedents. Ike’s first job was working for Robert A.M. Stern, under whom he had studied for his Master of Architecture degree at the Graduate School of Architecture at Columbia University. He received his Bachelor of Arts in biochemistry from Colorado College. He later co-founded Ike Kligerman Barkley in 1989 and remained with the firm until its closure in 2022. During his time with Ike Kligerman Barkley, he published two books with Monacelli Press, ‘Houses” and “The New Shingled House.” The firm received numerous awards ranging from the AIA New York Chapter Award, the DDB Stars of Design Award, the ICAA Julia Morgan Award, and the ICAA Stanford White Award, as well as being in the AD100 and Elle Decor A-List. Ike will release his third book in May 2023 titled “9 Houses / 9 Stories” (Vendome) which explores and celebrates the inextricable bond between the architect and those who implement his vision, a give-and-take that results in singularly designed residences. Ike is interested in interior design and collaborated on the glass furniture line Chroma D with photographer Irene Mamiye. In his spare time, he works on his mid-century modern residences in New Jersey and San Diego and his loft in Oddfellows Hall, a historic 19th-century ceremonial lodge in Brooklin, Maine.

Jean Liu, Jean Liu Design LLC
Jean Liu Design, LLC was established in 2007 as a full-service interior design firm, specializing in high-end residential and commercial projects. Since then, the firm has grown to become a party of five, all of whom would do almost anything for a pretty picture – of interiors, that is. They are a group of design aficionados whose talent, experience, and training make us uniquely qualified to work alongside clients, builders, and architects on all aspects of interior design, whether it is new construction, historical renovation, space planning, furniture sourcing, or staging. Known for creating modern, edited, comfortable, and inspired spaces that help their clients translate their vision and lifestyle into a place they can call home. Their work has been featured in House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Town & Country, Architectural Digest, and The Wall Street Journal.

Steele Marcoux, Veranda Editor-in Chief
Steele Marcoux’s design education started during her childhood in Atlanta, where she spent many afternoons with her artist mother browsing through galleries, antiques stores, and fabric showrooms. After graduating from Williams College, where Marcoux studied art history and played on the varsity tennis team, she worked in Washington, DC as a reporter before returning to the South to pursue a Master of Arts in American history at the University of Alabama. She is a veteran of the shelter publishing industry, having served as editor of Coastal Living, Executive Editor and Style Director of Country Living, and Design Editor at Southern Living and Coastal Living. Marcoux serves on the board of directors for the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, where she lives with her husband, two sons, and dog Sawyer.

Posted: April 5, 2023

Source: The Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC)

Hyosung Showcases Eco-Friendly Denim Solutions At Kingpins Amsterdam

SEOUL — April 5, 2023 — As consumers demand more eco-friendly products, denim is being held to higher environmental standards. To meet this challenge, Hyosung has developed many customized sustainable textile solutions that it will present to the denim community during Kingpins Amsterdam, April 12-13, at Sugar City, stand 42.

According to Hyosung, it’s important to provide the value chain with a complete offering of textile solutions when it comes to sustainability as the apparel industry has not quite decided which sustainable path it wants to follow — whether it’s recycled, bio-based, recyclable — or something else coming along on the horizon.

“While the industry is deciding which sustainable route to go, we are in a very strong position in that we can offer solutions across many of these categories, said Simon Whitmarsh-Knight, Hyosung Global Marketing director – Textiles. “We are looking forward to joining the wonderful community at Kingpins Amsterdam and sharing all we can do to help them with their sustainable denim needs.”

At Kingpins, Hyosung will focus on the following sustainable denim solutions:

creora® bio-based spandex – for jeans made with renewable resources

In 2022, Hyosung was the first global developer to commercial bio-based spandex into the apparel market. Both USDA and SGS certified, creora® bio-based spandex, is made with 30 percent renewable resources — and according to a recent third-party life cycle assessment (LCA), the manufacture of creora bio-based spandex reduces water use by 50 precent compared to the production of regular elastane. Hyosung will offer creora bio-based spandex made with 70 percent renewable resources the second half of this year.

creora® regen spandex – for jeans made with 100% recycled materials

Hyosung’s 3rd party-certified creora regen spandex made of 100-percent reclaimed waste, is the missing puzzle piece that allows denim brands to claim their jeans are fully made from recycled materials.

creora® 3D Max spandex – for recyclable jeans

As circularity is top of mind, denim brands and retailers are closely monitoring separation technologies and recyclable materials. For example, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Jeans Redesign project is helping denim brands and mills with guidelines to make products that are durable, traceable, recyclable, and made with safe materials and processes. According to the Jeans Redesign’s guidelines, only under 2 percent of synthetic fibers is a denim fabric is allowed for a garment to be recycled. Hyosung’s creora 3D Max elastane uniquely enables denim brands to design and develop jeans that align with these guidelines as the fiber delivers high-performance stretch and recovery with a very small portion of spandex content allowing the garment to be recycled.

“Overtime, we hope the industry will decide one sustainable path, but until then, we believe offering our customers a range of solutions is the way to go,” said Whitmarsh-Knight.

Posted: April 5, 2023

Source: Hyosung

Asahi Kasei’s Production Facility For Dinamica® Acquires Certification Regarding Use Of Power 100-Percent Derived From Renewable Energy

DÜSSELDORF, Germany/NEW YORK CITY/TOKYO — April 4, 2023 —  Asahi Kasei’s production facility for Dinamica® microfiber resembling suede at its Nonwovens Plant in Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan, has acquired the first Certificate of Renewable Energy Use, utilizing Hitachi’s Powered by RE system, which visualizes the usage of renewable energy. The certification, acquired on March 8, 2023, ensures that the production facility for Dinamica is powered by 100-percent renewable energy.

Today, companies are making efforts to become carbon neutral throughout the value chain to realize a sustainable society, resulting in demand for high-value-added products and services that are made using 100-percent renewable energy. Dinamica is a microfiber resembling suede with a 3-layer structure* produced with Asahi Kasei’s proprietary manufacturing process. Having excellent texture and versatile design, it is widely used in various applications around the world such as automotive interiors, furniture, IT accessories, clothing, and industrial materials. Asahi Kasei has proactively reduced the CO2 emissions from the manufacture of Dinamica® as part of its effort to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Hitachi developed Powered by RE in 2021 as a system to visualize how much renewable energy is used at individual facilities and services, with the aim of realizing a decarbonized society. In 2022, Hitachi launched the Powered by RE Certification Committee, a general incorporated association jointly with Art & Ecology, Inc. that certifies 100% renewable energy use at each production line, equipment and services to contribute to further expansion of renewable energy use. The Certificate of Renewable Energy Use issued by the Powered by RE Certification Committee ensures that electricity used by individual production lines, facilities, and services is 100-percent derived from renewable energy. The certification acquired for Dinamica has been based on data from the energy management system of its production facility at the Nonwovens Plant, verifying that 100 percent of the power used is derived from renewable energy. This certification allows Asahi Kasei to claim  to its customers that it is contributing to measures against global warming through the provision of products from the certified production lines.

Asahi Kasei aims to realize carbon neutral and sustainable society from the perspective of “Care for Earth” and is focusing on initiatives such as the use of biomass raw materials, recycled raw materials, renewable energy, etc. The Asahi Kasei Group continues to meet the expectations of society and its customers by proactively cooperating with its stakeholders while further promoting the provision of products and services with such characteristics based on its medium-term management plan for fiscal 2024 focused on the theme “Be a Trailblazer.” Hitachi drives its Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society with data and technology, and continues to provide digital solutions, such as Powered by RE, to help realize a decarbonized society. In addition, by widely promoting certification of renewable energy use through the Powered by RE Certification Committee, Hitachi will contribute to businesses’ adoption of renewable energy.

 * Dinamica® consists of three layers of face, inner scrim, and backing, with the microfiber layers intertwined with each other in three dimensions. The inner scrim layer improves dimensional stability and strength. Being immersed in a water-based polyurethane gives the material a rich elastic texture.

Posted April 4, 2023

Source: Asahi Kasei

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