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Eastman Expands Capacity To Produce Naia™ Cellulosic Yarn

May 25, 2021

BARCELONA, Spain — May 25, 2021 — To serve rapidly growing customer demand, global specialty materials provider Eastman is increasing its capacity to produce Naia™ filament yarn at its Barcelona, S.L., site by 30 percent by mid-2021 and more than 50 percent by the end of 2022.

“The growing importance of sustainability and circularity as key market drivers is accelerating adoption of sustainable fibers. As a result, Naia™ cellulosic filament yarn is gaining a lot of traction among our customers,” said Burt A. Capel, Eastman vice president and general manager of fibers.

“Our vision is to make sustainable fashion accessible to all, and we have a very committed team at our Barcelona site actively working to bring this expansion onstream as soon as possible to serve our customers across the globe,” Capel added.

The expansion will support new brand adoptions of Naia™ in womenswear fashion, where there is a growing demand for sustainable fibers.

Posted May 25, 2021

Source: Naia

ISKO Donates Premium Denim Fabric To Savannah College Of Art And Design Students

May 25, 2021

BURSA, Turkey — May 25, 2021 — As part of ISKO’s Responsible Innovation™ strategy, the company has a commitment to supporting the next generation of design students and up-and-coming designers and brands. This commitment was shown most recently when the leading denim innovator donated a selection of its premium denim fabrics to three students at the Savannah College of Art and Design, to support the design and development of their final year collections and help them shape their creative vision.

On May 7, the students’ collections were presented to a panel of fashion industry experts,
including ISKO’s Marketing and Business Development Manager, Sonny Puryear, who
offered invaluable feedback and support for their future endeavours.

“Fostering and nurturing young talent is extremely important at ISKO”, explained Puryear.
“Their visions will shape the future of the fashion industry, so it’s our responsibility to support their growth by sharing knowledge, expertise and even providing the denim for their projects.”

The university has taken part in several past editions of ISKO’s I-SKOOL™ denim design contest, so it was logical that three of this year’s graduates, Ifeade Adedokun, E’Naiyah Frazier, and Maryam Muhammad would turn to ISKO in light of its longstanding knowledge and expertise when it comes to denim. The company was proud to provide them with top quality ISKO fabrics, developed according to the most advanced and responsible processes available and in compliance with the strictest international standards.

About the designers and their projects

Ifeade Adedokun — Raised in Nigeria by her grandmother, who taught her how to sew, Ifeade Adedokun embraced the uncertainty of the times we are living in and called her collection Random. Winner of the NBAF Emerging Designers Awards, she gathered her mixed feelings about the future to develop her project, exploring denim through the use of texture.

E’Naiyah Frazier — E’Naiyah Frazier was taught by her grandmother and mother to express her creative freedom in every aspect of life. Now, as a young designer, she keeps fueling her passion through knowledge and experimentation, enhancing her designs by incorporating traditional denim elements. Through bleached, tie-dye effects and high contrasts, her collection embraces the Kintsugi and Wabi Sabi philosophies, which encourage one to find beauty within imperfection.

Maryam Muhammad — Maryam Muhammad is a multi-talented fashion designer and artist specializing in modest fashion, photography, painting, sculpting, and graphic design. She strives to make fashion that makes women feel and look good from the inside out. She has been dedicated to style since she was 8, but it wasn’t until she was in her twenties that she realized that she wanted to create fashion for women like herself who had often struggled with accepting the beauty of who they are. Once she discovered self-love and self-acceptance, she found her purpose in creating modest fashion. Focusing on the uniqueness of women and their own experiences, her goal was to create a collection meant to fit all women and to inspire and motivate everyone who feels an “imperfect Muslim” like she does.

Posted May 25, 2021

Source: ISKO

Reopening Tour 2021: TRSA Hitting The Road To Maximize Member Feedback

May 25, 2021

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — May 25, 2021 — TRSA recently finished the first leg of its Reopening Tour 2021 through the Southeastern United States to highlight the reopening of the economy and its impact on the linen, uniform and facility services industry. Traveling from the TRSA headquarters in Alexandria, VA, through Charlotte, NC; Birmingham, AL; and Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville, TN, over the course of 10 days, the Tour traveled nearly 2,600 miles, across seven states and 22 operator and supplier-partner facilities. TRSA representatives on the Tour included Joseph Ricci, president & CEO; Tom Newell, vice president of operations; Kevin Schwalb, vice president of government relations; and intern Ryan Kiernan.

“It was great to be back in plants and meeting with members again,” Ricci said. “Business is coming back and we highlighted the reopening throughout the Tour. Every member was excited about the economy bouncing back but concerned about worker shortages and supply-chain issues not only for themselves but also for their customers, and the negative impact it may have on the recovery.”

The Tour included stops at large, national members and regional independent operators, as well as supplier partners, all essential services supporting critical infrastructure from healthcare to food processing, manufacturing, logistics and other services. Highlights of the Tour were distributed on social media including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, resulting in more than 15,200 impressions, as well as numerous comments, likes and other recognition across each platform.

The Tour also provided opportunities to see members’ products and services impacting the safety, hygiene, sustainability and comfort of guests, visitors and employees at national landmarks such as Talladega Superspeedway, Country Music Hall of Fame, Graceland (Elvis Presley’s home) and the Lorraine Motel (location of Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination and Civil Rights Museum), as well as restaurants, hotels and other locations. Throughout the Tour, TRSA tried to capture products and services “in action,” from table linens and garments in restaurants to bed linens in hotels to hand-sanitizing dispensers. Member products and services, as well as delivery trucks and logos, were visible everywhere.

Over the course of the trip, it was evident that the industry is coming back stronger based on efforts to diversify markets and introduce new services, nearing pre-pandemic volumes. While healthcare remains steady at about 90% of pre-pandemic volumes including a surge in reusable personal protective equipment (PPE), other sectors such as restaurants, hotels and other hospitality were only starting to rebound, primarily with weekend tourism. As restrictions continue to ease and people increase elective surgeries, doctor visits, dining out and traveling, especially business travel, the linen, uniform and facility services industry will continue to recover.

While recovery was apparent, there was widespread concern about labor shortages, supply chain and logistics, particularly for products manufactured overseas, including steel. These labor shortages are impacting production requiring overtime and additional shifts to push products through the plant. They are also limiting reopening. For example, Nashville was sold out during TRSA’s visit to the city, with thousands of hotels rooms and restaurants packed but services were limited more by the inability to hire personnel than by COVID restrictions. A linen provider to properties mentioned that hotels could run at capacity only because they don’t change linens during guests’ stays. Rooms were empty by Monday so they couldn’t all be turned until then, delaying shipping of soiled linen to their laundries until Wednesday. Competition, access to daycare, fear and other factors are impacting labor shortages, but most Tour stop hosts pointed out that increased unemployment benefits are paying nearly $15 an hour for people to not work. They hope labor returns when the subsidies end in September.

Overall, the initial leg of the TRSA Reopening Tour 2021 was a huge success, full of positive interactions with members. “Every location visited was full of hard working and genuinely nice people that were happy to see us and proud to show us their facility,” Ricci said. TRSA is excited to continue the Reopening Tour 2021 with visits to the Midwest in June followed by the Northeast, West and Southwest later in the year.

These companies were visited (in order of tour stop) on the first leg of the Tour:

HandCraft Services Inc., Richmond, VA
Prudential Overall Supply, Colonial Heights, VA
Halifax Linen Service Inc., Roanoke Rapids, NC
Leonard Automatics Inc., Denver, NC
Crown Health Care Laundry Services LLC, Spartanburg, SC
Tingue, Peachtree City, GA
M+A Matting, LaGrange, GA
NuMat Systems LLC, Roanoke, AL
M&B Hangers, Leeds, AL
Landau Uniforms, Olive Branch, MS
UniFirst Corp., Memphis, TN
Alsco Inc., Memphis, TN
VF Imagewear Inc., Nashville, TN
Allegiant Linen Services, Madison, TN
NOVO Health Services, Chattanooga, TN
Linen King, Ooltewah, TN
UniFirst Corp., Knoxville, TN
Alsco Inc., Knoxville, TN
Alsco Inc., Roanoke, VAThe Pertex Fabric Lab will go live in May 2021.

Posted May 25, 2021

Source: TRSA

Mehler Engineered Products Launches Sustainable Treatment Solution MehlerSustainAdhesive (MSA)

May 25, 2021

FULDA, Germany — April 16, 2021 — The Germany-based company Mehler Engineered Products GmbH, a leading producer of technical textiles for more than 180 years, releases an innovative treatment solution as an alternative to established resorcinol formaldehyde latex (RFL) treatments.

MehlerSustainAdhesive (MSA) is based on the organic biopolymer lignin and a latex component. Both ingredients are extracted from the renewable raw material wood, obtained carbon dioxide neutrally and fully sustainable. MSA can be applied for all mechanical rubber goods (MRG). It provides excellent adhesion to different kinds of rubber compounds like NR, SBR, NBR, CR or EPDM.

Elisabete Silva, head of Innovation located in Mehler’s Portuguese production plant, stated: “Over the last months, we intensively researched on a sustainable treatment as an alternative to traditional RFL treatments. Finally, we are proud to see our efforts were worth it. Our MSA treatment consists of natural components — and it is an ideal replacement of conventional treatments without affecting the production processes of our customers. Also, the properties of the final end products remain the same. On top of that, MSA is a perfect solution for all Mechanical Rubber Goods (MRG) — both automotive and industrial applications.

Christian Meunier, CEO, added: “MSA is our answer to the increased requirements and restrictions on the market to replace the chemicals Formaldehyde and Resorcinol which are included in RFL treatments that were established on the market over decades. We have found an excellent alternative with our MSA treatment. With this innovation, Mehler is making a great contribution to a more sustainable future. Thanks to the decreased consumption of sensitive chemicals, we reduce our environmental footprint significantly and we are further strengthening our social responsibility at the same time.”

Mehler still offers conventional RFL treatments but maintains an intense focus on green initiatives like the MSA solution. MSA is applicable for both engineered yarns and fabrics.

Posted May 25, 2021

Source: Mehler Engineered Products

Pertex® Launches New Digital Platform — The Pertex® Fabric Lab

May 25, 2021

CLITHEROE, England — May 25, 2021 — Developed in response to the ever-changing needs of today’s market, the Pertex Fabric Lab is a brand-new online platform designed to build even closer relationships and deeper collaboration with its trusted brand partners.

“The primary focus of the Pertex Fabric Lab is to provide our partners with instant access to the latest fabric innovations and developments,” said Steve Laycock, Pertex Brand director. “Our customized collections will allow us to provide fabric offerings tailored to the specific needs of individual partners, allowing faster and more efficient fabric selection.”

The Fabric Lab’s extensive functionality includes a fully searchable fabric library, high-definition photography, complete fabric data and material sustainability insights. Users are able to curate their own fabric selections, order swatches and samples at the click of a button; and to submit R&D requests. Further functionality including 3D visualization and fabric data will be added in forthcoming updates.

Complete Pertex branding and marketing tools, including hangtags and labeling, will be accessible through the Fabric Lab, and will serve as a hub for the latest news about the Pertex Brand. The Fabric Lab is the next evolution in the way designers and materials teams connect and interact with Pertex.

The Pertex Fabric Lab will go live in May 2021.

Posted May 25, 2021

Source: Pertex

Avery Dennison Launches Digital Care Label in partnership with Ambercycle

May 25, 2021

GLENDALE, Calif. — May 25, 2021 — Avery Dennison has announced its partnership with Ambercycle, a Los Angeles-based post-consumer garment recycler. The collaboration demonstrates Avery Dennison’s complete digital care label solution. This sees intelligent care labels being attached to Ambercycle’s garments. The labels feature a QR code that links to an app offering a digital experience that details how that specific garment was produced and how it should be looked after. The app is powered by Avery Dennison’s powerful data platform.

Legally, all garments sold must have a physical care and content label to communicate product information, such as washing instructions and material composition. This information is not just helpful for consumers, it is also vital for recyclers and resellers as it allows them to easily identify what the garment is made of after the original owner has disposed of it.

Avery Dennison’s new digital care label solution is a significant innovation as it allows for traceability and transparency across the supply chain. In addition, new digital revenue streams become possible for the brand as additional products can be marketed to the consumer via this new direct-to-consumer touchpoint.

Currently many consumers remove the physical care label, while brands underutilize it. This increases the risk of the garment ending up in landfill rather than being resold or recycled. In contrast, the new digital label helps advance the circular economy as recyclers can be confident of composition and resellers will be able to check authenticity.

Ambercycle, Avery Dennison’s first partner for its digital care label, converts end-of-life textile ‘waste’ into new yarns for apparel brands and manufacturers. Its garments are created from polyester textiles that were destined for landfill, but are instead broken down to a molecular level, turned into pellets, and then spun into Cycora™ yarns which can be processed by garment manufacturers in the same way as virgin yarns.

Sarah Swenson, global senior sustainability manager, Avery Dennison RBIS, shared: “These labels are an exciting development, as consumers can discover their garment’s story, see how it was made, and understand the environmental benefits from their choice. When the consumer no longer needs the item, they can scan the QR code to see what needs to happen to properly dispose of the garment. In this case, if they send the garment back to Ambercycle it will be recycled back into a new textile. Brands can benefit from access to a deeper level of data both in terms of shopper engagement and also understanding just how many items remain in the circular economy.”

Michael Hu, director of digitalization, Avery Dennison RBIS added: “Brands are looking to deepen their customer engagement and lighten their environmental impact. This allows the apparel industry to use the garment itself as a stepping-stone for a new form of storytelling. Avery Dennison is providing a total solution — a physical trigger to a digital experience, a data platform, and applications for brands, consumers, and the wider apparel industry to utilize.”

Shay Sethi, CEO, Ambercycle stated: “Our raw materials are end-of-life textile clothing that we regenerate into new cycora yarns and fabrics. A key concern in this process is the upfront identification and sorting the different types of fabrics to inform the best end-of-life solutions. A digital care label is essential to embracing the broader vision for circularity, as it enables a more streamlined and scalable way for us to regenerate material. As we built the physical infrastructure to take in and reprocess material, we knew we had to think about the digital infrastructure to enable full circularity. The digital care labels in collection one will help us track cycora garments so that their path to be ambercycled again at their end of life is seamless. Together with Avery Dennison, we believe this will be a transformative step forward into the inevitable circular future.”

This partnership is the first in a series of innovation-based collaborations that underscore Avery Dennison’s commitment to a circular apparel supply chain and support its 2030 sustainability goals.

Posted May 25, 2021

Source: Avery Dennison

JCPenney Introduces Affordable, Luxurious Style With Launch Of Ryegrass™

May 24, 2021

PLANO, Texas — May 24, 2021 — JCPenney continues to sharpen and expand its women’s private brand portfolio by launching the new Ryegrass™ collection designed to complement her natural beauty and femininity. Combining intentional design and luxe fabrics, the assortment of blouses, dresses, skirts, denim, shorts, vests, and jackets layer for an effortlessly sophisticated look. The Ryegrass line is available exclusively at JCPenney in 400 stores and on jcp.com, beginning May 24.

“The Ryegrass collection represents how we are raising the bar in our women’s private brand portfolio to offer our customers more elevated, on-trend styles,” said Michelle Wlazlo, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. “It sets the tone for JCPenney’s view on approachable, luxurious apparel and commitment to high-quality style at a tremendous value.”

With beautiful silhouettes and thoughtfully crafted details, the collection features tie-neck halter dresses, tiered and asymmetrical skirts, high-waist denim, and faux-suede and leather jackets. From neckline to hemline, each Ryegrass piece is designed with feminine touches like delicate pleats, ruching, and self-covered buttons to create a vintage look and feel. The collection’s soft color palette allows for endless mix, match, and layering potential. With sizes ranging from XS-3X, 2-24W in stores, and 2-30W on jcp.com, the Ryegrass assortment offers polished looks for every woman.

The addition of the Ryegrass brand represents the fifth new private brand to join JCPenney’s women’s apparel portfolio in the past six months, following the successful introduction of Stylus™ styleisure™ apparel last fall and three new swim brands — Mynah™, Decree™, and Sonnet Shores™ — earlier this spring. The women’s assortment has also recently seen successful refreshes to its a.n.a a new approach® casual denim brand, Xersion® activewear brand, and the Liz Claiborne® collection. Customers can expect more newness to the women’s private and national brand offerings throughout 2021.

Posted May 24, 2021

Source: JCPenney

Wilson Sporting Goods Unveils Premium Sportswear Line

May 24, 2021

CHICAGO — May 24, 2021 — Making a play from court to everyday life, Wilson Sporting Goods Co. introduces, Wilson Sportswear, a new apparel line that aims to empower every human to live like an athlete. The apparel line, now available in the U.S. and China, signals the evolution of Wilson into its next phase as a household athletic lifestyle brand.

As part of the strategy driving this evolution, Wilson will merge the intersection of sport, fashion and culture. Tapping its roster of athletes and sport heritage for inspiration, Wilson will also collaborate with notable partners that drive and shape culture as we know it today.

“For more than a century, Wilson has been designing equipment to the specifications required by the world’s greatest athletes,” said Gordon Devin, president of Wilson Sportswear. “We are excited to extend our craftsmanship, history and heritage to apparel. As athletes continue to redefine themselves, Wilson is redefining the athletes’ uniform, coupling the premium performance expected from Wilson with fresh styles inspired by athletes.”

New Wilson Sportswear items are expected to drop bi-weekly, with special collaborations planned around key moments in sport culture. The line includes an array of premium crafted sets for men and women including French Terry Hookups and Woven Warmups.

The Starting Lineup from Wilson Sportswear is sold exclusively at Wilson.com in the United States, and via WeChat and other leading brand sites in China. Later this year, Wilson will continue its lifestyle expansion with the opening of its first-ever retail locations in the key markets of Chicago, New York, Beijing, Shanghai and more — in which consumers will be able to immerse themselves in the world of sport and interact with the Wilson collection of Sportswear and Sporting Equipment first-hand.

With the launch of Wilson Sportswear, Wilson is also extending its Advisory Staff network — comprised of more than 10,000 professional athletes, coaches and teaching pros — to include a select group of esteemed luminaries who intersect sport culture in unique ways.

“The Wilson Advisory Staff is a dynamic group of athletes, creatives and entrepreneurs who are greatly influencing sports and culture today. It’s such an honor to be included,” said Wilson Advisory Staff member Phillip Leyesa. “It’s incredible to see Wilson not only respect my craft as an artist but value my opinion as a creative, to add a refreshing spin on athleisure with the new Wilson Sportswear collection. The styles are modern, versatile and can easily take anyone from the field to everyday life.”

Other Wilson Sportswear Advisory Staff members include Beija Velez, designer, stylist and model; Kelley James, musician; Jahmal Cole, founder and CEO of My Block, My Hood, My City; and more.

Posted May 24, 2021

Source: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

Techtextil India: First Hybrid Edition Moves To November 2021

May 24, 2021

MUMBAI — May 24, 2021 — India’s Techtextil India trade fair in technical textiles, nonwovens and composites, originally scheduled in September 2021, has now been postponed to November 25-27, 2021. On account of the developments around the current Covid-19 situation and its relative impact on the safety, well-being and continuance of business, Messe Frankfurt India has taken this decision in consultation with industry stakeholders.

Even as companies look forward to economic revival, the continued difficulties posed by the pandemic makes it necessary for industries to recover, plan and prepare before they can get down to business. The organizers feel that moving the show ahead will allow this additional time and is a necessary step that will in-turn create a healthy business environment when the industry can finally come together.

Raj Manek, executive director and board member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd., said: “We are glad to have the support from the industry and our exhibitors whose interests are at the centre of this decision. Exhibitors, just like organisers, are working around undefined parameters which require adequate planning flexibility. We are all committed to putting up a great show!”

Elaborating on working together with venue and service providers to align safety measures, he further added: “Right now, our focus is on the well-being of our exhibitors, visitors, employees and all stakeholders and we pray for everyone to be safe and in good health. In the coming months, our efforts will be strongly focused on meeting the safety imperatives and working in co-operation with venue authorities and service providers to implement a comprehensive safety concept, aligned with government guidelines.”

Technical Textile sector remains future focused

Proving its growing importance in these critical times, technical textiles emerged as a power sector with advanced solutions in protective textiles, antiviral and air-purifying furnishing fabrics and home textile products, anti-microbial coating among others.

During the critical stages of lockdown when global trade came to a grinding halt, the medical textile industry proved its resilience in meeting demand for protective textiles while also providing a much-needed boost to the economy. From being a primary importer of PPE kits to becoming its “second largest producer” in just two months, India had exported over 20 million PPE kits and more than 40 million N-95 respirators around the globe including countries such as the US, the UK, the UAE, Slovenia and Senegal, by the end of 2020. Even in these challenging times, the industry remains future-focused and prepared to meet vital demand for med-tech, agri-tech, geo-tech, sports-tech, and infra-tech, home tech among others.

A key exhibition in the business calendar, Techtextil India will continue its critical role in highlighting solutions and innovations that are need of the hour across twelve key application areas. With a comprehensive safety concept under the ‘MFISafeConnect’ standards, Techtextil India will open its doors from November 25-27, 2021, at the Bombay Exhibition Centre Mumbai. This will be the first-ever hybrid edition as the trade fair will be held as a physical expo in conjunction with its online event on the same dates.

Posted May 24, 2021

Source: Messe Frankfurt India

NCTO: Industry And Union Coalition Releases Statement In Support For Domestic Procurement Policies For PPE In The U.S. Innovation And Competition Act (USICA)

May 24, 2021

WASHINGTON — May 24, 2021 — A broad coalition of industry organizations and labor unions, representing a broad spectrum of manufacturers and workers who stepped up to make essential personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, sent a letter today to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) expressing strong support for the inclusion of robust domestic procurement policies for PPE in the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) currently being considered by the Senate.

“Specifically, we urge you to ensure broad government coverage for domestic PPE procurement by extending rules for PPE procurement substantially similar to the Berry Amendment to the federal government’s largest buyers of these products, including the Departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, and Defense,” the coalition states in the letter.

“We thank you for including such a provision in Section 4153 of the USICA, which is substantially similar to the bipartisan Make PPE in America Act (S.1306) introduced earlier this year by Senators [Gary] Peters and [Rob] Portman,” the coalition writes. “As you consider legislation to respond to the legacy of manufacturing and technology offshoring to China, provisions like Section 4153 are vital to reduce U.S. dependency on China for vital medical supplies.”

“Last spring when our national PPE crisis was on the nightly news showing workers wearing garbage bags as gowns and reusing N95 masks, our severe overreliance on China for PPE revealed the undeniable fact that the lack of U.S. production of PPE is a threat to our national security and the public health of the American people,” the letter states.

However, “despite PPE shortages and supply chain disruptions, American workers stepped in to fill an enormous void. As a result of its sweat and ingenuity, U.S. manufacturing produced over a billion critical PPE items such as face masks, isolation gowns, and testing kit swabs for health care and frontline workers, as well as the American people. … For the first time in years, America makes PPE again,” the coalition added.

“For this trend to continue, however, the coalition stresses that “the emergent U.S. PPE industry needs the purchasing certainty that long-term government contracts can provide.”

“We need a strong, vibrant, redundant wholly U.S. PPE supply chain to help protect us from the next public health crisis. We urge you to ensure that the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act extends domestic purchasing requirements for PPE to the four critical departments with the largest federal purchasing power for these products—DHS, HHS, VA, and DoD.”

See the coalition’s full letter here.

The statement was signed by the following organizations: