AATCC Partners With Industry For LED Conversion

A technician evaluates crease specimens using the current AATCC TM88C viewing conditions.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — April 11, 2023 — For more than 50 years, labs around the world have used the same lighting conditions as well as standardized sample preparation, laundering procedures, and grading scales for consistent evaluation of textile appearance. Now, AATCC is combining that consistency with more energy efficient options.

Lighting conditions impact the appearance of textile products — and just about everything else. As the world transitions to new lighting technology, AATCC is working with specialists from the lighting industry as well as textile experts to identify alternative light sources for existing test methods.

A task group of AATCC committee RA61 Appearance Retention Test Methods is currently studying the influence of viewing environment on appearance evaluation. The group includes representatives from AATCC, Cotton Incorporated, Telelumen, Textile Color and Sourcing Solutions, VeriVide, and several other organizations. Adam Dakin, sales manager for VeriVide, spoke about why his company works with AATCC committees. “At VeriVide we understand the importance of accurate and repeatable viewing conditions for visual and digital assessment,” Dakin said. “For many years we have supported the AATCC with specialized visual assessment equipment to assist with their textile test methods. So, we were pleased to be asked to provide our technical support and to develop an up-to-date futureproof solution for the appearance retention test methods.”

A technician evaluates crease specimens under LED illumination. The viewing board and lamps were donated to the AATCC Technical Center by VeriVide Ltd as part of a collaborative research project.

The goal of the project is to approve light emitting diode (LED) lamps that give the same test results as traditional light sources. Pending ort existing regulations have made the currently specified lamps — and 8-foot fluorescent tube and a 500-watt incandescent flood lamp — increasingly difficult to source. AATCC sells the flood lamp but quantities are limited.

VeriVide donated a viewing board with LED illumination for the study. Four experienced evaluators from Cotton Incorporated and AATCC did a preliminary round of testing in March. They viewed creased specimens (AATCC TM88C) under three different lighting conditions. Statistical analysis of the data will be used to make recommendations for additional experiments and test method revisions. Labs with the standard fluorescent and incandescent lamps will be able to continue using them. Labs that need new or replacement lamps will soon have easier, less expensive, and more environmentally friendly options for evaluating fabric smoothness, seam smoothness, crease retention, product appearance, and stain release.

AATCC committee RA36 Color Evaluation Test Methods is also looking at LEDs. The committee is exploring ways to help retailers choose standard illuminants for viewing color that represent what consumers see in their stores.

To learn more about these and other committee projects, register to attend AATCC Research Committee meetings at www.aatcc.org/aatcc-events/research. Attendance is free and open to all. Join remotely from anywhere or attend in person to take full advantage of networking and learning opportunities.

Posted April 11, 2023

Source: AATCC

 

Australian Environmental Company EPOC Enviro, A PFAS Remediation Company, Selects Iredell County N.C., For Its First North American Operation

RALEIGH, N.C. — April 11, 2023 — EPOC Enviro, a PFAS remediation company, will create 226 new jobs in Iredell County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $4.1 million to locate its first North American production site to Statesville.

“It’s great to welcome EPOC Enviro to Iredell County in the nationally recognized top state for business with the best workers in the world,” Governor Cooper said. “Our fight against polluted water and climate change will be bolstered by this company’s innovative products and its commitment to sustainability.”

EPOC Enviro is a subsidiary of OPEC Systems, an Australian firm with three decades of global environmental engineering experience. With award-winning SAFF®, a Surface Active Foam Fractionation technology, EPOC provides a clean and sustainable remediation solution that removes harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water, soil, and industrial systems. The company patented SAFF in 2016 as a natural process using air to permanently, and rapidly, remediate PFAS with zero harm to the environment. The new location in Statesville will provide 260,000 square feet of manufacturing space to serve and expand its U.S. market.

“After looking at possible sites all over America we are delighted to have settled on North Carolina as the hub for our U.S. business activities,” said Peter Murphy, president of EPOC Enviro. “Statesville is perfectly situated in a beautiful corner of the country, and it is exactly the kind of community we were hoping to become an integral part of.”

“Global manufacturers like EPOC are attracted to places with a diverse and skilled workforce,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “North Carolina not only has the largest manufacturing workforce in the southeastern United States, but it also has a strategic economic development plan that prioritizes our workforce and training systems to help prepare our talent for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”

The North Carolina Department of Commerce led the state’s efforts to support EPOC’s location to North Carolina. New positions include electricians, engineers, fitters, managers, technicians, and administrative personnel. Although salaries for the new positions will vary, the average annual salary for the new positions is $64,464, which exceeds the Iredell County average wage of $64,433. The project could create a potential annual payroll impact of more than $14.5 million per year for the region.

EPOC’s project will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Over the course of the 12-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $712 million. Using a formula that takes into account the new tax revenues generated by the new jobs, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $1,265,250 spread over 12 years. State payments only occur following performance verification by the departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation and investment targets. JDIG projects result in positive net tax revenue to the state treasury, even after taking into consideration the grant’s reimbursement payments to a given company.

Because EPOC chose a site in Iredell County, classified by the state’s economic tier system as Tier 3, the company’s JDIG agreement also calls for moving $421,750 into the state’s Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account. The Utility Account helps rural communities across the state finance necessary infrastructure upgrades to attract future business.

“EPOC could have selected any place in the world for this expansion and we’re delighted they chose Statesville,” said N.C. Senator Vickie Sawyer. “Manufacturers can reach more than 70% of the nation’s population in two days from Iredell County, and is near one of the world’s busiest airports, making it a great area for foreign direct investment.”

“This is an outstanding win for Iredell County and the entire state,” said N.C. Representative Jeffrey C. McNeely. “We sincerely appreciate the local and state officials and economic development professionals that helped bring these good-paying jobs and this new investment to our community.”

In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in the project include the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, the North Carolina Community College System, Mitchell Community College, Iredell County, Iredell County Economic Development Corporation, the City of Statesville and Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.

Posted: April 11, 2023

Source: North Carolina Office of the Governor

Lectra Brings Production Back In-House With The Inauguration Of Its Manufacturing Facility In Tolland, Connecticut

TOLLAND, Conn. — April 11, 2023 — Lectra recently celebrated the inauguration of its manufacturing facility in Tolland, Conn. The implementation of operations in this facility marks an important milestone in Lectra’s 2023-2025 strategic roadmap as the company expedites bringing manufacturing in-house for improved quality and customer satisfaction.

With this additional factory, Lectra’s complete line of single ply cutters, including the Z1, Taurus, and DCS series, will be manufactured in-house, enabling Lectra to meet customer demands quicker, while reducing lead times by 60 percent. A larger investment in inventory coupled with a move towards leaner and more modern production systems will also enable Lectra to provide a higher quality service for customers.

April 4, 2023, marked the inauguration ceremony of the manufacturing facility in Tolland. Daniel Harari, CEO of Lectra, honored the occasion with a ribbon cutting ceremony along with the company’s executive leadership team, who toured the facility to observe the extensive manufacturing workspace and industry leading equipment. Media across the fashion, furniture and textile markets attended the event, in addition to members of leading industry associations. Connecticut state representative and Tolland’s town manager were also in attendance.

“A big part of our strategy is focused on manufacturing in-house and across our main regions. The opening of our Tolland manufacturing facility will enable us to better control production,” Harari said. “It will also enable us to hire more employees and give back to the communities where we live and work. As we look to the future, our focus remains on providing best-in-class Industry 4.0 solutions for our customers and further developing our three strategic market sectors.”

At the ribbon-cutting event, Harari described Lectra’s 4.0 strategy and outlined the Corporate Social Responsibility pillar, aimed at integrating social, ethical and environmental responsibilities within Lectra’s strategy. The facility will enable Lectra to reduce the environmental footprint of its activities and contribute to the design of eco-responsible offers, as part of the company’s global commitment to sustainability.

Posted: April 11, 2023

Source: Lectra

IACMI Receives Funding Renewal From The U.S. Department Of Energy To Continue Composite Research And Development

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — April 11, 2023 — The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation® (IACMI), headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., announced today it is receiving a funding renewal from the Department of Energy (DOE). IACMI becomes the first clean energy institute to be renewed by DOE. IACMI will be receiving federal funding across five fiscal years, with a first-year investment of $6 million to further technological R&D and accelerate commercialization in the domestic composites manufacturing sector. This federal funding builds upon initial institute funding of $70 million from DOE and over $130 million from IACMI’s member partners.

“IACMI is living, breathing proof that when we connect our nation’s leading experts across the manufacturing value chain to listen, learn, and share ideas and best practices, we can have a big impact,” said DOE’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alejandro Moreno. “The Department is committed to seeing how IACMI will continue to leverage that collaborative spirit into actionable and innovative progress as our partnership continues.”

Since its establishment in 2015, IACMI has emerged as a leader in advanced composite design, manufacturing, technical innovation, and workforce development. During this eight-year period, IACMI has:

  • Managed more than 60 collaborative and industry-led technical projects, representing more than $200 million in R&D investment
  • Catalyzed over 25 new composite-based products to commercialization
  • Supported the creation of 3,000 jobs at composite materials and parts manufacturers
  • Spurred investment of $75 million in five states for R&D and Scale Up Facilities

“Composites have the power to improve everyday lives,” said Chad Duty, Chief Executive Officer for IACMI. “Composite technology will continue to play a crucial role as we develop more sustainable solutions to our country’s energy, transportation and infrastructure challenges. DOE’s continued investment in IACMI will accelerate our progress toward achieving these goals.”

The funding will be applied to the continued research and development of advanced composites technologies that support U.S. decarbonization and strengthen IACMI’s three strategic pillars: technology, economy, and workforce development.

Since 2015, IACMI, state economic development organizations, and DOE have invested in a shared infrastructure that collectively delivers a breadth and scale of open-access composites manufacturing R&D capabilities that stand unmatched in the U.S. These facility and infrastructure investments have been led by IACMI’s core innovation partners in Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. Today, these capabilities uniquely position IACMI, along with DOE and its industrial collaborators, to leverage their achievements thus far to advance composites manufacturing innovations that will de-risk and accelerate decarbonization efforts in the United States.

Examples of state-of-the-art scale-up facilities include:

  • Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
  • Carbon Fiber Technology Facility at ORNL
  • Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility at University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  • Laboratory for Systems Integrity and Reliability at Vanderbilt University
  • The Composites Laboratory at the University of Dayton Research Institute
  • The Composites Manufacturing & Simulation Center at Purdue University
  • The IACMI Scale-Up Research Facility (SuRF), managed by Michigan State University
  • The Composites Manufacturing Education and Technology Facility (CoMET) at National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

IACMI has leveraged these facilities to undertake transformational R&D, such as helping Volkswagen of America redesign and validate a liftgate for the VW Atlas with composites, reducing its weight by 35 percent and lowering its cost by 9 percent compared with steel. Another example is the scaling, manufacture and testing of novel thermoplastic wind turbine blades that are recyclable and lower in cost.

Today, IACMI Working Groups provide a robust model to engage in R&D for high rate aerostructures fabrication, digital twins, future mobility, wind energy, infrastructure and construction, and the circular economy through recycling and novel materials.

IACMI is one of 16 national Manufacturing USA® institutes established to catalyze advanced manufacturing and materials applications and the first to receive a second round of funding from the DOE. Advanced composites have already shown tremendous promise in automotive, aerospace, infrastructure and renewable energy sectors and have been identified as one of the top three strategic manufacturing materials by President Biden’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Composite materials are durable, stronger than concrete, lightweight, corrosion resistant, temperature tolerant, and have a relatively low life-cycle carbon footprint. In this next chapter for the institute, IACMI will further its mission to convene, connect, and catalyze the composites community by attracting startups and small enterprises and opening doors of opportunity with large enterprises, national labs, and universities.

Posted: April 11, 2023

Source: The Composites Institute

ITMA 2023 Exhibitor Preview: AB Card Clothing Pvt. Ltd.

NEW DELHI — April 10, 2023 — AB Card Clothing Pvt. Ltd., a member of Ashton group and  manufacturer of precision components, will show its products at ITMA, Milan, Stand No. E113, Hall No. H1 from June 8th to 14th, 2023.

ABCC aims to reduce costs and improve productivity by quality & cost effective products.

  • Felting Needles for non woven needle punching machines.
  • Metallic Card Clothing for non woven, woolen, worsted, semi-worsted, waste 
opening, recycling, garneting, etc.
  • Flexible Card Clothing for carding wools, synthetics, cotton and blends.
  • Raising/Brushing Fillets for fabric finishing. 
Other products from group companies:
  • Synthetic Condenser Rubbing Aprons for wool, recycled, synthetic cotton waste etc.
  • Condenser Tapes – Web diving tapes having synthetic & natural leather for wool, synthetic, cotton & blends etc.
  • Plain / Spiked Lattice Conveyors – Fibre, web & cross lapping conveyors in various Combination & Permutations in wood, plastic, aluminium, PVC & PU.
  • Leather / Rubber Nylon Sandwich Belts & Spindle Tapes
  • Wooden / Aluminium Lags With Pins for rag tearing & waste opening
  • Doffer Comb Blades
  • PU Round Belts
  • Combing Aprons & Leather Aprons

Contact persons will be available Ashwani Bindal & Rohan Bindal at the booth.

Posted: April 10, 2023

Source: AB Card Clothing Pvt. Ltd.

Teijin Frontier Facilitates Recycling Of Discarded Polyester Apparel With Novel Technology For Removing Polyurethane Elastomer Fiber

TOKYO — April 10, 2023 — Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd., the Teijin Group’s fibers and products converting company, announced today it has developed a new foreign material removal technology to eliminate polyurethane (PU) elastomer fiber from discarded polyester apparel.

The technology features a new processing agent used during the pretreatment phase of the chemical recycling process, which helps improve the quality of the recycled polyester fiber that is derived from clothing containing PU elastomer fiber. In addition to removing the PU elastomer fiber, the new technology eliminates foreign materials such as dyes, and helps to omit the decolorization process of polyester fiber. Teijin Frontier has been conducting tests of this new technology since October 2022 for practical use.

Guided by THINK ECO® environmental strategy, Teijin Frontier is striving to achieve ambitious sustainability goals by developing advanced technologies that support recycling and enhance the value of environmentally responsible materials. As part of its initiative focused on polyester fiber, the company is working with the supply chain to establish a comprehensive ecosystem spanning apparel collection, sorting and recycling. Teijin Frontier is confident that its new foreign material removal method can help expand the scope of fiber-to-fiber recycling and contribute to a zero-waste society.

The new foreign material removal technology swells the PU elastomer fiber, breaks the chemical bonds and dissolves them with the new processing agent. Simultaneously, the agent eliminates foreign substances including dyes to optimize decolorization of the polyester fiber. For system cost control and environmental load reduction, the processing agent can be collected and reused. Recycled polyester materials generated by this method can be used in the existing chemical recycling process.

Stretchable polyester clothing that contains PU elastomer fiber is becoming popular as the demand in the industry for quick-drying, wrinkle-resistant, and comfortable-to-wear is increasing along with the trend to casual wear. However, as conventional chemical recycling technology for polyester assumes 100-percent polyester products, the quality of the recycled product deteriorates when PU elastomer fibers are included. Therefore, it is important to remove PU elastomer fiber from discarded polyester clothing.

Posted: April 10, 2023

Source: The Teijin Group

Smartwool Launches Second Cut™ Hike Sock, A Sock Made From Your Old Socks

DENVER, Colo. — April 10, 2023 — Smartwool, a manufacturer of merino wool apparel for active living, announces the release of its first circular sock — the Second Cut™ Hike Sock. This sock delivers the same iconic comfort and performance the brand’s Original Classic Hike Sock, but is made with repurposed yarn from Smartwool’s Second Cut sock takeback program that launched in 2021. The Second Cut sock highlights Smartwool’s shift toward a circular business model, which involves collecting and repurposing materials for deconstruction and reuse.

Smartwool, best known for being a pioneer in making performance merino wool socks, is one of the first brands to commit to a focus on sock circularity. After several years of experimentation and thousands of consumer donations, Smartwool is respinning old socks into new yarn. The repurposed yarn is blended with responsibly sourced merino wool and designed with an elasticized arch and seamless toe for comfort. Smartwool teamed up with North Carolina-based circularity manufacturing facility, Material Return to develop and refine this process.

“Smartwool’s partnership with Material Return has ultimately led to a closed-loop model that goes beyond recycling,” says John Ramsey, director of Product Development at Smartwool. “We were able to accomplish this through new and innovative technology, team collaboration, and consumer participation. Investing in this process has enabled Smartwool to take leaps forward toward our goal of shifting towards a more circular business model.”

Only 14 percent of textiles are recycled according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and socks are one of the most discarded pieces of apparel. In April 2021, Smartwool launched its Second Cut sock take-back program to drive change in eliminating waste from the apparel industry and make it easy for consumers to be part of the solution.

Through the Second Cut program, consumers can recycle any sock brand, color, size, and material, but only material from donated Smartwool socks was used to create the Second Cut sock. The first product featuring consumer donations was Smartwool’s Second Cut K9 Camp Cushion dog beds, where donated socks were repurposed into bed filling.

Since the Second Cut program launch, Smartwool has collected more than 725,000 socks and diverted more than 54,200 pounds of socks from landfills. To participate in the take-back program, consumers can add a pre-paid, mail-in bag to their cart at checkout to send in used socks for recycling.

Posted: April 10, 2023

Source: Smartwool®

C&S Becomes Co-Owner Of The Brand Siviglia, Consolidating Its Leadership In The Manufacturing Of Refined Made In Italy Garments

PERUGIA, Italy — April 4, 2023 — After the recent acquisition of Texo S.R.L. which has strengthened the company’s presence in the luxury segment, C&S takes a further step forward in the creation of a widespread garment manufacturing hub in the heart of Italy. C&S takes ownership of the Seville brand together with the Bianchetti family, who remain co-owners covering mainly style research and development functions. The Italian style, which amounts to an aesthetic identity and a guarantee of artisan quality, a cultural orientation toward manufacturing excellence and product design, finally to an approach to the market characterized by availability, openness and interaction with the customer.

High quality and Made in Italy trousers, but there is more, the brand Siviglia from the Marche region brings to C&S a wealth of tailoring skills and product construction. Born in Marotta in 2006 from the Bianchetti family, Siviglia is a reality that has experienced rapid commercial success since its entry into the market thanks to the intuition of the iconic trousers with fabric inserts at mid-thigh inspired by the Spanish horsemen, hence the name that recalls the Andalusian capital. The exceptional success of this iconic garment has made it possible to launch a product diversification strategy aimed at satisfying all the needs and requirements of the reference target, making Siviglia a point of reference for Made in Italy men’s fashion.

Federico Corneli of C&S, outlines the path to follow: “The partnership with the Bianchetti family has the objective of relaunching the brand through a strategy of values and repositioning in both domestic and international markets, leveraging on the values that, in the past, have made the Siviglia brand one of the most important in the Italian market”.

The success of Siviglia is built on coats, trousers and jeans characterized by fit and linear style, thanks to the continuous research on the product, on the fabrics and on the emerging trends, in a personal reinterpretation of the codes of elegance. The corporate style permeates not only the choice of materials and accessories, but is distinguished by the packaging components and the use of visual and communicative languages in line with the brand identity. By interpreting the contemporary and foreseeing the future needs of a constantly evolving market, Siviglia aims to provide its customers with the best in the broadest sense, including among its qualitative goals the reduction of the environmental impact of productions and materials used.

This acquisition strengthens C&S direct contact with retail, going alongside HAIKURE, PDF and other brands still being finalized, and will be able to generate a profitable exchange with the Style Services Luxe and Style Services Denim divisions, through which C&S stands out as an exceptional partner for all the brands that choose to rely on its experience in the world of jeans, luxury and formalwear.

Posted: April 7, 2023

Source: C&S

National Retail Federation: Imports Climbing But Below Pandemic Peaks

WASHINGTON — April 7, 2023 — Import cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports should climb steadily through this summer but will remain below record-setting levels seen during most of the pandemic, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“Last spring and summer were the busiest ever as consumers spent freely and retailers brought in merchandise to meet demand,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “This year won’t repeat that, but the numbers we’re expecting would have been considered normal before the pandemic. The priority at the moment is resolving labor negotiations at the West Coast ports and avoiding any self-inflicted supply chain challenges on top of those we’ve faced the past three years.”

NRF last month sent a letter signed by 238 national, state and local trade associations to President Biden encouraging further engagement by the administration in the West Coast talks. In addition, NRF President and CEO Matt Shay met with Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka at NRF headquarters in Washington to hear the latest developments regarding the status of negotiations. The contract between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association expired July 1. Workers remain on the job, but many shippers have shifted cargo elsewhere to avoid any potential disruption.

“Compared with last year, the flow of import containers on the West Coast continues to decline along with demand as carriers increasingly drop service to Los Angeles-area ports but stretch voyages to include other ports of call to help absorb excess capacity,” Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said. “Meanwhile, freight rates have been impacted by the fall in demand, but new ships are starting to show up and more have been ordered – a sign that carriers expect demand will improve by the time the new vessels are delivered.”

U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.55 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units – one 20-foot container or its equivalent – in February, the latest month for which final numbers are available. That was down 14.4% from January and down 26.8% year over year. February is historically the slowest month of the year, but the number was the lowest since 1.53 million TEU in May 2020, when many factories in Asia and most U.S. stores were closed due to the pandemic.

Ports have not yet reported March numbers, but Global Port Tracker projected the month at 1.68 million TEU, down 28.2% year over year. April is forecast at 1.86 million TEU, down 18% from last year; May at 1.91 million TEU, down 20.1%; June at 1.99 million TEU, down 11.8%; July at 2.1 million TEU, down 3.9%, and August at 2.13 million TEU, down 5.9%.

The large year-over-year declines are skewed by unusually high volumes last year. A 20-month streak of totals above 2 million TEU that began in 2021 – including an all-time monthly record of 2.4 million TEU in May 2022 – didn’t end until last November. By comparison, imports averaged 1.8 million TEU per month during pre-pandemic 2019.

The first half of 2023 is forecast at 10.8 million TEU, down 20.2% from the first half of 2022. Imports for all of 2022 totaled 25.5 million TEU, down 1.2% from the annual record of 25.8 million TEU set in 2021.

Global Port Tracker, which is produced for NRF by Hackett Associates, provides historical data and forecasts for the U.S. ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Port of Virginia, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades, Miami and Jacksonville on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast. The report is free to NRF retail members, and subscription information is available at NRF.com/PortTracker

Posted: April 7, 2023

Source: National Retail Federation (NRF)

Apparel Impact Institute Welcomes Claire Bergkamp To Board Of Directors

SAN FRANCISCO — April 6, 2023 — Apparel Impact Institute (Aii) today announced that Claire Bergkamp, Textile Exchange CEO and long-time Aii partner, has joined the nonprofit’s board of directors. Bergkamp brings over a decade of extensive experience in climate leadership, driving sustainability and innovation strategy for Textile Exchange, and prior, for Stella McCartney.

Bergkamp’s appointment to Aii’s board of directors marks the continuation of years-long partnership and collaboration. Dedicated to mobilizing climate action in fashion, Aii manages a range of growing factory improvement programs, including Clean By Design, which reduce the environmental impacts of textile manufacturing. While at Stella McCartney, Bergkamp served as a strategic partner to bring Clean By Design to the luxury industry.

Building on its programmatic work, in June 2022, Aii announced the launch of a $250 million Fashion Climate Fund to accelerate collective action to tackle fashion’s supply chain emissions. To apply use of funds and support management and scaling of solutions, Aii is currently building out a Climate Solutions Portfolio — a public registry of proven greenhouse gas reduction solutions. Helmed by Bergkamp, Textile Exchange has been an integral collaborator on both of these efforts.

As part of Aii’s Board of Directors, Bergkamp will continue to bring her exceptional leadership in holistic systems thinking to advance Aii’s strategies, programs, and initiatives to ameliorate greenhouse gas emissions in fashion.

“I am so excited to be joining the board at Apparel Impact Institute. Having a long history with Aii’s flagship program, Clean By Design, it has always been a pleasure to work with Lewis Perkins,” Bergkamp said. “I am deeply impressed by the breadth of the work that Aii is now covering, including the creation of the Fashion Climate Fund, which has so much potential to catalyze action and unlock the funding needed to get the industry moving.”

“Claire’s depth of expertise — especially in fiber, materials, and building supply chain projects — will be instrumental as Aii grows the Fashion Climate Fund and identifies and scales raw material decarbonization solutions for the Climate Solutions Portfolio,” said Lewis Perkins, Aii President. “Industry-wide collaboration with partners such as Textile Exchange and leaders like Claire continue to be of the utmost importance as the industry aligns data, insights, efficiencies, and priorities.”

Posted: April 6, 2023

Source: Apparel Impact Institute

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