Freudenberg Launches 100-Percent rTPE Base Content Interlining Series

WEINHEIM, Germany — March 29, 2023 —Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel (Freudenberg)  is expanding its Super Elastic Interlinings Range with the introduction of the a 100-percent recycled thermoplastic elastomers (rTPE) base content interlining series. In recognition of the growing use of elastic interlinings in apparel and building on the principles of Freudenberg Performance Materials´ Apparel’s House of Sustainability, these new products speak for Freudenberg’s ongoing dedication to high-quality and sustainable solutions, with responsible products in every season.

The new, 100-percent rTPE base content interlinings are offered in 40-90 g/m2 weights, with wide applicability — from lightweight knit fabrics with applications in leggings and sports bras to elastic woven fabrics that require medium-to-heavy weights, such as denim, maternity clothes, or casual wear. Sustainable without compromising on quality, the new interlinings offer exceptional elasticity and retain excellent recovery capabilities.

In addition to the newly-launched 100-percent rTPE base content interlinings, Freudenberg also offers interlinings from the XB and UE Series. The XB Series are nonwoven interlinings, available in 40-72 g/m2 weights, offering a soft hand feel and light-to-medium weight options with high wash durability. These interlinings can be used across sportswear and fashion segments in areas such as cuffs and the waistbands of leggings.

The UE Series is available in 153-220 g/m2 weights, offering high elasticity, good recovery, and strong support. Furthermore, the mesh structure ensures excellent breathability, with application to garments like sports bras.

Freudenberg offers a complete range of super elastic interlinings to the market and delivers greater possibilities in active and casual styling — from the soft-to-the-touch, light-to-medium weight, and durable XB Series and the exceptional elasticity and recovery of the 100-percent rTPE base content additions, to the mesh structure of the UE Series that offers both strong support and breathability.

Responsible products in every season

Freudenberg Performance Materials´ Apparel’s House of Sustainability is a major initiative designed to assist customers in enhancing the sustainability of their garment products and building towards a more sustainable future. Offering the latest innovations and solutions from its House of Sustainability that combine functional and environmental benefits, Freudenberg supports sustainable garments for people and the planet through all manufacturing seasons.

Launched for the summer manufacturing season, the 100-percent rTPE base content interlinings reduce the need for virgin materials in apparel while also reducing the demand for the extractive practices necessary to produce such materials. Furthermore, the use of recycled components reduces materials in landfills and oceans, in consideration of full-garment lifecycle management.

Through ongoing technological and operational development, Freudenberg will continue to generate new solutions that are better for customers and the environment.

Posted April 4, 2023

Source: Freudenberg Performance Materials

 

 

 

 

INX International Makes Investment In Gooten

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. —March 29, 2023 — INX International Ink Co. announced today it has completed an investment agreement in Gooten, a technology and fulfillment company with U.S. headquarters in New York City. This deal will help Gooten expand its print-on-demand manufacturing network and capabilities globally while enabling INX to accelerate its strategy in digital printing.

This is the first investment announced since INX established its $50 million INX Venture Capital investment program in May 2022, with the intent of furthering collaboration with technology and materials science startups that are relevant to the printing inks and coatings value chain.

Gooten is a globally distributed company that operates a smart supply chain for brands wanting to utilize on-demand manufacturing. The company does so by combining proprietary technology and operational expertise with a worldwide network of 30+ best-in-class manufacturing partners. Gooten’s digital infrastructure enables automated order fulfillment for eCommerce businesses, retailers, and global merchandise companies to scale production in an on-demand, inventory-free environment.

“We are excited to welcome INX as an investor in Gooten,” said Brian Rainey, CEO at Gooten. “As a globally recognized leader in high performance printing inks and coatings, INX’s investment in Gooten recognizes our shared commitment to sustainability, quality, and excellence in everything we do. With the support of INX, we are excited to continue driving innovation, expanding our reach, and delivering exceptional value to our customers and partners through Gooten’s sustainable, on-demand fulfillment model.”

Shane Bertsch, INX vice president of Strategic Planning and Innovation, anticipates being able to develop products and invest more resources in the direct-to-object (DTO) segment through the Gooten relationship.

“We see Gooten as a catalyst for enabling sustainable, on-demand manufacturing across several categories of interest for INX,” Bertsch said. “We are eager to partner with the Gooten team to bring high quality digital printing solutions and services to our customers and partners.”

Posted April 4, 2023

Source: INX International Ink Co.

Seventy-Five Years Of VLIESELINE®: The Must-Have Interlining For All Professional Tailors And Sewing Enthusiasts Celebrates Its Jubilee

WEINHEIM, Germany — March 30, 2023 — No one sees it but almost everyone’s wearing it: VLIESELINE®, the multipurpose interlining fabric, adds stability, shape and warmth to almost every garment. Now, this groundbreaking material is celebrating its 75th jubilee, providing the perfect excuse for Weinheim-based Freudenberg to look back on an extraordinary success story.

Born out of necessity, now a brand leader in Europe

Freudenberg’s iso-elastic nonwoven interlining — developed by Dr Carl-Ludwig Nottebohm — not only revolutionized the textile industry but also transformed the work of sewing enthusiasts and fashion houses. The invention was given the brand name VLIESELINE and soon proved itself as a multipurpose and indispensable sewing accessory, which led to it being dubbed The wonder under in the company’s in-house magazine in 1954. And VLIESELINE lived up to its auspicious name. The material was initially developed as a substitute fabric and produced for the first time in 1948. It began its rise to fame in the fifties and sixties and, in its own way, contributed to the economic boom. From then on, this nonwoven fabric from Weinheim fascinated the trade press, theatrical costumers, fashion houses and designers, even featuring on numerous couture catwalks. After an economic dip in the seventies, VLIESELINE returned as strong as ever in the years that followed.

A finger on the pulse of social media and sustainability

Offering an optimal fit, stylish effects and a cosy warmth, VLIESELINE products lend a certain something to custom accessories, garments and creative handicrafts. The motto Be creative with VLIESELINE reflects the brand’s strong position in the creative and handmade sector. This is demonstrated by a wide-ranging assortment of brand communications. VLIESELINE can be found online at www.vlieseline.com and on social networks such as Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. The brand also has a presence at numerous trade fairs, such as Handarbeit und Hobby (h+h), to be held in Cologne, Germany, March 31-April 2, 2023. VLIESELINE® also has its finger on the pulse when it comes to sustainability — with products made from natural fibres such as soy, bamboo and cotton, nonwoven fabrics made from up to 100 percent recycled materials such as PET bottles and environmentally friendly production processes.

Posted April 4, 2023

Source: Freudenberg Performance Materials

Better Cotton Strengthens Ties With Tajikistan

LONDON — March 31, 2023 — Better Cotton has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tajikistan’s Ministry of Agriculture to reinforce the pair’s partnership and further support the production of more sustainable cotton across the Central Asian nation.

The MoU was signed by Better Cotton’s Director of Fundraising, Rebecca Owen, and Tajikistan’s Minister of Agriculture, His Excellency Qurbon Khakimzoda, at this week’s Tajikistan Investment and Development Forum, in London.

With increased collaboration, the pair will prioritize the expansion of more sustainable cotton production, with a focus on both environmental and social outcomes. Notably, improving the quality of cotton fiber, farmer well-being and overall agricultural sustainability are in scope.

To achieve this, the MoU establishes that Better Cotton and the ministry will develop a strategic roadmap for more sustainable cotton production in Tajikistan, according to the Better Cotton Standard System, considering the requirements of the global market.

The collaboration will see both parties conduct outreach and awareness activities across the country to promote the benefits of more sustainable growing practices, whilst the adoption of practical innovations will be explored to determine how domestic farmers can improve.

Fundamental to this shift will be the availability and allocation of financial resources. As such, Better Cotton will work with the ministry to identify new sources of funding and investment that can unlock new opportunities across the country’s cotton sector.

Better Cotton’s program in Tajikistan has already shown results. In the 2019-2020 cotton season, synthetic fertilizer use among Better Cotton Farmers was 62-percent lower than Comparison Farmers, whilst yields were 15-percent higher.

Rebecca Owen, director of Fundraising, Better Cotton, said: “This MoU is the start of a strategic roadmap to expand sustainable cotton production in Tajikistan – creating opportunities to improve the livelihoods, well-being and market access for cotton farming communities.”

Posted April 4, 2023

Source: Better Cotton

Patterson Flynn Announces Peter Touma As New President

Peter Touma

NEW YORK CITY — March 31, 2023 — Patterson Flynn is pleased to announce that Peter Touma joined the company as its new president, effective March 1, 2023. Touma comes to Patterson Flynn from Bain & Co., a management consultancy.

While at Bain & Co., Peter primarily worked with clients in the Consumer Product and Retail sectors based out of New York. He also spent time in Milan, where he worked with European clients in the Fashion and Luxury goods sectors. Originally from Sweden, Touma came to the United States for graduate school and has spent his whole professional career based out of New York.

Touma stated: “I’m very excited to join an organization that’s invested in forging deep relationships with its valued designers and partner with them to create the most beautiful projects for their clients. The combination of a best-in-class team and unique design sensibility is what sets Patterson Flynn apart and I’m thrilled to join the team and take the business to new heights.”

In his new role, Touma will be partnering with Patterson Flynn’s Creative Director, Pamela Marshall, to continue to grow the company. According to Timur Yumusaklar, F. Schumacher & Co.’s CEO, “Peter’s transition to President of Patterson Flynn is already seamless, and we are confident that he will serve as a wonderful leader. I am excited for the next era of Patterson Flynn under Peter’s leadership, and I anticipate continued growth and success.”

Posted April 4, 2023

Source: Patterson Flynn

Clinical Trial Is Critical Step in Testing Whether Celliant® Can Positively Impact Diabetic Patients With Vascular Impairment

LOS ANGELES — April 3, 2023 — The diabetic community has always been a priority for Hologenix, creators of CELLIANT® infrared technology, so the company embarked on an initial study to test the hypothesis that the technology can positively impact diabetic patients with vascular impairment, now published in Journal of Textile Science & Engineering. Another study is underway as well with more research on the horizon.

According to statistics cited in the International Diabetes Federation Diabetes Atlas, 9th edition, globally, close to a half billion people are living with diabetes and that number is expected to increase by more than 50 percent in the next 25 years.

The introduction of the study in the Journal of Textile Science & Engineering also reports that diabetic patients frequently suffer from a combination of peripheral neuropathy and peripheral artery disease, which particularly affects their feet. It further states that it has been estimated that the lifetime risk for the development of foot ulcers in diabetic patients can be as high as 25 percent and that the risk of amputation is 10 to 20 times higher than in non-diabetic subjects.

The study was performed by Lawrence A. Lavery, D.P.M., M.P.H., a Professor in the Department of Plastic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center. His clinic and research interests involve diabetic foot complications, infections and wound healing, and he participated in the conception, design, implementation and authorship of the Journal of Textile Science & Engineering study.

Celliant technology is a patented process for adding micron-sized thermo-responsive mineral particles to fibers, in this case polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers. The resulting Celliant yarns were woven into stockings and gloves containing either 82 percent Celliant polyester, 13 percent nylon and 5 percent spandex or for the placebo, 82 percent polyester with no Celliant, 13 percent nylon and 5 percent spandex. Celliant products absorb body heat and re-emit the energy back to the body as infrared energy, which is non-invasive and increases temporary blood flow and cell oxygenation levels in the body.

The objective of the study was to “evaluate changes in transcutaneous oxygen (TcPO2) and peripheral blood flow (laser Doppler, LD) in the hands and feet of diabetic patients with vascular impairment when Celliant gloves and stockings are worn.” While there was not a statistically significant result across all subjects, the study did show that some patients wearing Celliant stockings for 60 minutes had an increase of as much as 20 percent in tissue oxygenation and 30 percent in localized blood flow. According to the study’s conclusion, “the trends that were observed in favor of CELLICelliantANT stockings suggest that a larger well-designed clinical trial should be undertaken and may provide evidence of clinical efficacy in treatment of the diabetic foot.”

The study also notes that “There have been no documented or observed side effects of wearing CELLIANT stockings, and they are relatively inexpensive compared to conventional pharmaceutical interventions.”

Hologenix has embarked on a more comprehensive trial, “Study to Evaluate CELLIANT Diabetic Medical Socks to Increase Tissue Oxygenation and Incidence of Complete Wound Closure in Diabetic Foot Wounds” – NCT04709419, which focuses on the impact of Celliant technology to potentially improve tissue oxygenation and wound healing outcomes.

“We are excited to explore whether future studies of infrared, with its most common biological effects of increased localized blood flow and cellular oxygenation, could result in a breakthrough in diabetic patients with vascular impairment,” said Seth Casden, Hologenix co-founder and CEO. “We see a huge potential opportunity with this research for helping to fulfill our core mission of improving people’s health and well-being by potentially reducing the impact of diabetes, and we are actively seeking partners to expand our research efforts.”

Posted April 4, 2023

Source: Hologenix

Serge Ferrari Group Debuts Seemee Loop™ Mesh and Seemee Loop Frontlit

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. — March 16, 2023 — Serge Ferrari Group, a leader in designing, developing, and manufacturing innovative composite fabrics, has launched Seemee Loop™ Mesh and Seemee Loop Frontlit in the North American market. The first of their kind that are made from 100-percent recycled materials from post-consumer wastes, Seemee Loop Mesh and Seemee Loop Frontlit provide sustainable printable solutions for a variety of indoor and outdoor print media applications such as banners and billboards. Both products are made of 100-percent recycled polyester yarn (recycled according to Global Recycled Standard 4.0) and coating composed of 100-percent recycled polymers from post-consumer wastes.

“With industry-leading complete recycled composition unseen before in the expanding digital textile printing market, the launch of Seemee Loop Mesh and Seemee Loop Frontlit will help pave the way for a more environmentally-friendly advertising landscape,” said Eric Tischer, director of Business Development, Industry & Modular, for Serge Ferrari Group. “With our aim to conserve natural resources and do more with less, these products represent the forerunners of Serge Ferrari Group’s ongoing sustainability efforts.”

Seemee Loop Mesh is ideal for interior and exterior applications where a fully-sustainable print media solution is desired. It can be used for various building coverage applications, scaffolding cladding, privacy walls, promotional banners and window curtains. Printable with UV and latex inks, the product’s lightweight characteristic makes it easy to transport and simple to install using high-frequency welding or welding tape. For indoor and medium-term outdoor applications, Seemee Loop Frontlit is perfect for printed marketing collateral in the form of billboards, banners and roll-ups to support points of sales stations, corporate offices, events, trade shows and more. Offering superior adhesion for bright colors, it can also be printed with UV and latex inks and is weldable with high-frequency systems.

Both Seemee Loop Mesh and Seemee Loop Frontlit are part of the Loop line, a new generation of innovative products made of 100-percent recyclable materials. This collection embodies Serge Ferrari Group’s sustainable approach to producing lighter, more durable, and high-performance membranes without any additional environmental impact. Seemee Loop Mesh and Seemee Loop Frontlit are GREENGUARD Gold certified as well as PVC and phthalate free. In addition, Seemee Loop Mesh is certified for HP Latex Inks.

Posted April 4, 2023

Source: Serge Ferrari

Fruit Of The Loom Announces Launch Of Fruitful Threads Men’s Underwear Collection Using LENZING™ ECOVERO™ Fibers

NEW YORK CITY — April 4, 2023 — Fruit of the Loom continues its ongoing commitment to its global sustainability plan, Fruitful Futures™, by partnering with sustainable global fiber producer, Lenzing Group, for the launch of its Fruitful Threads™ Men’s Underwear Collection.

This innovative collection combines 96-percent LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose fibers with Fruit of the Loom’s clothing expertise to create stylish and responsibly made underwear.

Tailored to support a sustainable lifestyle, LENZING ECOVERO fibers are made from certified renewable wood resources and produced through a sustainable process. Lenzing only uses wood from certified and controlled sources derived from sustainably managed forests. LENZING ECOVERO is certified with the EU Ecolabel and generates up to 50-percent lower CO2 emissions and water impact in its manufacturing process and has a substantially smaller environmental footprint compared to generic viscose. The label of environmental excellence is awarded to products and services that attend to high environmental standards throughout their lifecycle: from raw material extraction to production, distribution, and disposal. As a cellulosic fiber, LENZING ECOVERO fibers are biodegradable in soil, freshwater, and marine environments, as well as compostable in home applications and industrial facilities.

Speaking on the partnership, Vice President of Fruit of the Loom, Angela Dennison, said: “We are always looking for creative ways to bring fresh, forever favorites to the Men’s Underwear category. With Lenzing’s partnership, we designed a new product that offers a more sustainable and accessible option. This collection encapsulates what is important to the brand — delivering affordable quality.”

In addition to its sustainable product design, each product in the Fruitful Threads collection features a topside fly that provides ease of user access, along with a contour-darted pouch with support taping that allows optimal comfort and support. The garments also feature gussets for an increased range of motion, and comfortable, flat seams in the back panel.

Fruit of the Loom’s commitment to consumers extends beyond delivering great quality and well-fitting, comfortable products. Fruit of the Loom is also invested in minimizing the impact its products have on the environmental footprint by sourcing more sustainable materials, which is one of the initiatives the brand has outlined in the “Product Authenticity” pillar of its global sustainability plan, Fruitful Futures.

With LENZING’s partnership, Fruit of the Loom transformed LENZING ECOVERO fibers into a collection that gives consumers an affordable option when striving to reduce their footprint, while wearing a trusted, quality product.

Speaking to the partnership and product development, Erica Redd, Business Development manager at Lenzing Group, stated: “It’s exciting that LENZING ECOVERO viscose was used as the preferred fiber for the first Fruitful Threads™ sustainable product line. I am proud to have worked with an American heritage brand as they enter into the next generation of their sustainable product assortment. Fruit of the Loom’s drive to provide sustainable products at an affordable price is very impressive and I am looking forward to our continued partnership.”

This collection is available in three-packs featuring two styles, boxer briefs and trunk, in six (6) different colors. Each pack’s suggested retail price is $19.99. The packaging for this product is produced with sustainable materials that are certified renewable wood resources and are recyclable. The collection will be available for purchase starting April 4th on Fruit.com, Walmart, and Amazon, while supplies last.

Posted: April 4, 2023

Source: The Lenzing Group

John Hrdlick And Jim Kochanny Honored With NAPIM Awards

INX International Ink Co. President and CEO John Hrdlick (left) and Jim Kochanny, senior vice president/COO

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — April 3, 2023 — INX International Ink Co. President and CEO John Hrdlick, and Jim Kochanny, senior vice president/COO, were recognized by the industry with NAPIM Printing Ink Awards on March 26 at the Silverado Resort & Spa in Napa, Calif. Hrdlick was honored with the Ault Award for outstanding leadership and Kochanny received an Ink Pioneer Award.

For Hrdlick, it is a fitting tribute after lifetime involvement in the ink industry. He is retiring on April 30 after 49 years, the last five as INX’s leader. His 46-year run with the company began in 1977 as a third shift worker with Acme Printing, which was later acquired by INX’s parent company SAKATA INX.

Throughout the years, Hrdlick was promoted many times and took on responsibilities that impacted every INX business segment — Offset, Metal Decorating, Energy Cure, Liquid Inks and Digital technologies. He also dedicated his time to various associations, including serving on the IMDPA Board of Directors and the NAPIM board. He previously was the recipient of a NAPIM Ink Pioneer Award in 2013.

On April 20, Hrdlick is being feted by the Metro New York Printing Ink Association (MNYPIA) where he will be presented with the esteemed Anthony Mauriello Award.

“My retirement is bittersweet to some extent as five years seems like a short time in my role as President and CEO,” he said. “The past five years have been challenging considering the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its ongoing impacts on the work force and extended supply chain disruptions. I am proud of how our employees have worked through these challenges, and after 46 years at INX and 49 years in the industry, I’m looking forward to the future. It’s time for my wife, Dawn, and I to reconnect with our family in North Carolina, especially since our seventh and eighth grandchildren are on the way.”

Kochanny has worked tirelessly throughout a career that began in 1979 as a packaging and warehouse specialist. He joined INX 14 years later, starting as the plant manager at the Mason Ave. facility in Chicago and became general manager of that location and the Morse Ave. liquid facility in 1999.

Subsequent promotions over the years led him to become the director of Liquid Operations in 2006; a senior vice president and member of the INX board of directors in 2013; and Offset and Metal Operations were added to his responsibilities in 2018. He was elevated to senior vice president/COO in 2019.

Kochanny has developed a reputation for embracing new technology and his support of the NIPIRI Technical Conference and training seminars. He is also known for being able to operate all of the manufacturing equipment at INX’s production facilities. More recently, he has been involved with INX’s growth planning and worked directly with the engineering division on planning for all expansion and new facility development projects.

Posted April 4, 2023

Source INX International Ink Co.

Better Cotton Launches New 2030 Impact Targets

LONDON — April 3, 2023 — Better Cotton, a cotton sustainability initiative, today announced four new Impact Targets covering Soil Health, Women’s Empowerment, Pesticides, and Sustainable Livelihoods. These ambitious new metrics form part of its ongoing 2030 Strategy and detail plans to galvanize change at the field level in key areas. The new targets sit alongside the first commitment outlined in the organization’s strategy — related to Climate Change Mitigation — which sets out to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent per metric ton of Better Cotton lint produced by the end of the decade.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) recent Synthesis Report warned that every increment of global warming results in rapidly escalating climate hazards, with more intense heatwaves, heavier rainfall and other weather extremes expected to further increase risks to human health and ecosystems.

“Mainstreaming effective and equitable climate action will not only reduce losses and damages for nature and people, it will also provide wider benefits,” insisted IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee.

With more than 22 million tonnes produced annually, cotton is one of the world’s most important renewable resources and exists in very diverse landscapes. The sector’s development has the potential to reduce poverty whilst promoting sustainability and equality which is why four Impact Targets were developed in conjunction with leading civil society organizations and industry experts:

  • Sustainable Livelihoods — Sustainably increase the net income and resilience of two million cotton farmers and workers.
  • Soil Health — Ensure 100 percent of Better Cotton farmers have improved the health of their soil.
  • Women’s Empowerment — Reach one million women in cotton with programs and resources that promote equal farm decision-making, build climate resilience, or support improved livelihoods. And ensure 25 percent of field staff are women with the power to influence sustainable cotton production.
  • Pesticides — Reduce the use and risk of synthetic pesticides applied by Better Cotton farmers and workers by at least 50 percent.

In the 2020-21 cotton season, Better Cotton and its network of field-level partners trained 2.9 million farmers in 26 countries on more sustainable farming practices.

Better Cotton continues to drive continuous improvement at the field level to help cotton farming communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment. These new Impact Targets will help ensure more significant and lasting economic, environmental and social benefits in cotton-growing communities by establishing focus and helping to leverage funding, knowledge partners and other resources to build momentum for change at scale.

Alan McClay, CEO of Better Cotton, said: “Driving impact at the field-level is imperative for Better Cotton’s ambitions in what is a defining decade for our planet. Our new Impact Targets will allow us to continue taking measurable steps to support more sustainable cotton production. Pushing further towards regenerative and climate-smart agriculture, we can ensure cotton farmers and farm workers are equipped to address their environmental impact, futureproof their operations and adapt to the often unpredictable effects of global warming.

“Better Cotton continues to train an ever-growing global community on more sustainable farming practices. The Impact Targets will improve conditions across more than just cotton production, reaching beyond farming communities to benefit their landscapes, supply chains and ultimately consumers”.

Tamar Hoek, Senior Policy advisor, Sustainable Fashion, Solidaridad “We welcome the four additional Impact Targets that form part of Better Cotton’s 2030 Strategy. Together, we can help increase yields and market access for smallholder farmers, promote decent work, reduce inequality, and drive women’s empowerment in cotton production.”

Climate change impacts everybody, but the most affected are often women, children, low-income households and small-scale producers. Better Cotton’s 2030 Strategy continues to set the direction of its ten-year plan to drive impact at the field level over and above compliance with the Better Cotton Standard (Principles & Criteria). These new commitments also align with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and build on the agreements reached at COP27 to reach action-based climate mitigation outcomes for cotton farming communities.

Posted April 4, 2023

Source: Better Cotton

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