PANGAIA Announces Investment In Materials Science Company Kintra Fibers

NEW YORK CITY — December 14, 2020 — PANGAIA announced today its investment in Kintra Fibers, a material science company that makes high-performance, 100-percent biobased, and compostable yarns for the fashion and apparel industry. PANGAIA will help Kintra scale its patent-pending resin and yarn process through its supply chain and will develop first-of-its-kind compostable fabric blends and apparel leveraging the Kintra technology, pioneering increased sustainability standards for synthetic materials. The material will be available to use by additional brand partners.

The new Kintra material is positioned as an alternative to the global overuse of petroleum-based synthetic fabrics, as well as a powerful solution to harmful microplastic ocean pollution perpetuated by traditional, non-biodegradable synthetics. The Kintra resin and yarns can be seamlessly integrated into existing man-made manufacturing and textile production supply chains at a competitive price point, providing a scalable and cost-effective sustainable alternative to synthetics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), recycled PET (rPET0 or nylon.

“We are excited to be value chain partners with Kintra and help them realize the commercialization of their resin and yarn technology, bringing real systemic change of material possibilities for the industry. We hope this material will become a model not just for PANGAIA, but for the industry at large,” said Amanda Parkes, chief innovation officer at PANGAIA. “The Kintra fiber is a true embodiment of PANGAIA’s commitment to ‘high tech naturalism,’ our material philosophy. Kintra’s breakthroughs in responsible, bio-based chemistry allow us to design for the performance and end-of-life of our garments from the molecule up.”

“PANGAIA’s science-based standards for sustainability are unparalleled, and their commitment to the planet is visible in each step of their supply chain. We look forward to collaborating with the PANGAIA team and integrating our technology into their fabrics and garments,” said Billy McCall, cofounder and CEO at Kintra Fibers. “As a lifelong surfer, protecting the oceans is near and dear to me. By designing for the material end-of-life at its start, we offer the industry a solution for microfiber pollution, as well as the ability to fit with chemical and physical recycling systems.”

Instead of petroleum, the inputs used to make the Kintra resin are sourced from sugar. This offers brands the opportunity to set a new standard of transparency in the synthetic material supply chain: A 2019 survey by Textile Exchange of 170 fashion brands found that only 8 percent knew their polyester supply chain to the chemical supplier level, and none have made this information public. Yet polyester represents 52 percent of the global fiber market.

“We are committed to bring visibility to an opaque part of the supply chain to help brands build a better, more sustainable future and share this with their consumers in a more meaningful manner. We’re thrilled to work with PANGAIA, a brand that has demonstrated their commitment to revolutionizing raw materials through their track record of working with eco-friendly innovations and processes,” said Alissa Baier-Lentz, cofounder and COO at Kintra Fibers.

PANGAIA invested alongside Tech Council Ventures, which focuses on science and technology companies, and FAB Ventures, which invests in the sustainable fashion and beauty sector and is founded by Odile Roujol, former CEO of Lancôme.

Kintra joins PANGAIA as a long-term innovation partner in the textile value chain, with the vision to bring new materials and science to the forefront of the fashion and textile industries.

Posted December 14, 2020

Source: PANGAIA

Propel LLC: Helping Protect The U.S. Military And Now General Public

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — December 14, 2020 — Propel, a woman-owned textile technology innovation company focused on the development of products for the U.S. military market, has experienced explosive growth in 2020 after pivoting quickly to producing cutting-edge cloth masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While the company primarily focuses on the U.S. military market, innovation and industry expertise have made it possible to continue to grow the business during this difficult time while achieving the goal of creating superior masks that are both affordable and accessible.

In early March 2020, when the pandemic had made its way to the United States, Propel’s leadership had the foresight to order a half-million yards of elastic, anticipating the oncoming need for protection for the military as well as the general public. From concept to production, the process of developing the mask took only five days. The company is now producing masks in multiple U.S. factories, sourcing U.S.-made textiles and components from its home state of Rhode Island and across the country. Together with its partners, including Darlington Fabrics of Westerly, R.I., the textile company has constructed a mask that meets CDC recommendations, is comfortable and features a nose-stay that reduces the need for the constant re-adjusting typical of many other masks and helps prevent glasses from fogging. Due to this innovation and fortitude, Propel was awarded a Defense Logistics Contract to make the same face cover design for the Department of Defense.

To date, the company has sold approximately 1.6 million masks to the military and over 2 million masks overall and counting with the capacity to make over 100,000 masks per week. A line of adjustable children’s masks in the colors black, navy, purple and green just launched on www.propelmasks.com. Free ground shipping is available for orders of five or more. As mission-driven causes are important to the organization, Propel donated 1,000 masks to the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless earlier this year.

“It’s humbling to have Propel products on the front lines of this pandemic protecting those who protect us,” said Clare King, president of Propel LLC. “The team appreciates the opportunity to transform the world of textiles alongside other small businesses making a difference at home and globally.”

Posted December 14, 2020

Source: Propel

Delilah Home Launches World’s First GOTS Organic Hemp Sheets Collection

WEDDINGTON, N.C. — December 14, 2020 — Just in time for holiday gift giving and cuddling up for the winter, North Carolina-based home textiles company Delilah Home is launching the world’s first 100-percent organic hemp sheets certified from field to finished product to the stringent Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). GOTS requires the use of organic fiber and prohibits the use of hazardous processing inputs.

Delilah Home launched the nation’s first extensive collection of hemp sheets just a year ago, in November 2019, and has since found a source for certified organic hemp. Processing is undertaken in a family-run factory in Portugal, a country renowned for quality textile manufacturing. There, the hemp fibers are turned into cozy sheets with a non-toxic process used to soften them to a pleasing linen-line texture.

“With our organic hemp sheets, Delilah Home is helping create or expand an organic safe haven in the home,” says Michael Twer, Delilah Home CEO.

The sheets, available in white as well as calming mineral green and light grey tones, complement Delilah Home’s range of plush 100 percent organic cotton bed linens and towels. The 180 gram sheets and duvet covers are silky soft while the towels — available from hand towels to bath sheets — have a pile that is luxurious to the touch and absorbs water easily. All products are available at Delilah Home, as well as Bloomingdales, Macys.com, and The Grommet­.

Hemp fibers are known for being long, strong (read: long-lasting!), absorbent, mildew-resistant, and temperature regulating. This means that hemp will keep a person warm in winter and cool in summer than cotton.

In 2020, the Sleep Foundation named Delilah Home’s hemp sheets some of the “Best Cooling Sheets” that not only allow cool air to reach the sleeper’s body but can wick away excess moisture to keep the sleeper dry and comfortable. The hemp sheets also won over the Wall Street Journal: “they hit a delightful balance between textured and soft. Like a heavy linen’s, their heft was cozy and reassuring…with a tussled, rustic look… worth the splurge.”

All Delilah Home organic cotton and hemp products are now GOTS-certified, and the company also is one of the first textile businesses to have it products Certified Vegan by Vegan.org.

Posted December 14, 2020

Source: Delilah Home

The National Cotton Council Of America Welcomes Vilsack And Tai Nominations

MEMPHIS — December 14, 2020 — The National Cotton Council of America (NCC) looks forward to working again with U.S. Agriculture Secretary appointee Tom Vilsack on matters ranging from sustainable, climate smart agriculture to international trade opportunities and the farm safety net.

NCC Chairman Kent Fountain, a Georgia cotton producer and ginner, said: “The U.S. cotton industry believes that Tom Vilsack has the credentials necessary to help restore the economic health of our nation’s rural sector that has suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also are optimistic he will work to ensure that Sunbelt farmers’ needs are fairly considered in USDA policy decisions.”

“Many members of the cotton industry had the opportunity to work closely with Secretary Vilsack during his previous tenure and found he was open-minded and solution-oriented,” Fountain said. He noted that during his previous eight years as agriculture secretary, Vilsack also proved himself “to be a very capable leader and a champion of American agriculture and this nation’s farmers.”

The NCC is also optimistic about working with Katherine Tai, an attorney with the House Ways and Means Committee who incoming President Biden has nominated to be U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for his administration. Tai is the former chief counsel on China trade enforcement at the Office of USTR during the Obama administration. The cotton and textile industries are acutely focused on the importance of fair and reciprocal trading relationships that offer opportunities for the cotton industry to expand exports of cotton fiber, yarn and fabrics.

As the central organization for the U.S. cotton industry, the Memphis-based NCC serves as the unifying force in working with policymakers to ensure cotton’s interests are heard. The NCC’s mission is ensuring the industry’s seven segments’ ability to compete effectively and profitably in the raw cotton, oilseed and U.S.-manufactured product markets at home and abroad.

Posted December 14, 2020

Source: The National Cotton Council Of America (NCC)

Freudenberg And Ratti Develop Process For Reusing Silk Textiles For Usage In Thermal Insulation

WEINHEIM, Germany — December 14, 2020 — Freudenberg Performance Materials (Freudenberg) and Ratti, the Italy-based fashion textile company, have been working together on sustainability projects since the start of this year. The first fruit of this collaboration is a process for reusing silk textiles and use it for the manufacturing of high-performance thermal insulation, which Ratti is currently launching onto the market. As a production partner in this project, Freudenberg is contributing to the sustainable development of the clothing and textile industry.

The practice of using recycled materials from other industries, such as post-consumer PET bottles, has been common practice in the textile industry for years. Freudenberg and Ratti are now re-using silk textiles from their own industry, the clothing industry, in a jointly developed process. Ratti re-uses silk textiles (outer fabrics/clothing) and Freudenberg uses this to produce thermal insulation made from 70-percent reused silk, which Ratti then markets.

In addition, Freudenberg´s solvent-free manufacturing process for the waddings significantly reduces the environmental impact of the new process. “Our partnership with Ratti proves once again what joint innovation work can achieve. Thus, we make a valuable contribution to extending the scope of sustainability within the textile industry”, explained Jonathan Oh, general manager, Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel.

Freudenberg possesses the nonwoven industry’s most extensive technology platform. For decades, this has enabled the leading supplier of technical textiles to offer sustainable solutions for a wide range of applications. Airlaid technology plays a key role in the re-use of silk textiles, enabling Freudenberg to produce waddings with a three-dimensional structure from this material. This leads to the formation of countless tiny air chambers, which give the padding excellent thermal insulation properties combined with exceptional breathability. Its high dimensional stability and wash resistance, as well as its impressive durability, make this wadding made from 70-percent reused silk textiles an excellent choice for environmentally conscious outdoor enthusiasts.

Posted December 14, 2020

Source: Freudenberg Performance Materials Holding SE & Co. KG

Kodak Launches With Pigment.inc B.V Europe KODACOLOR EDTG Series Direct-To-Garment Inks

ROCHESTER, N..Y — December 14, 2020 — Eastman Kodak Co. announces a partnership with Pigment.inc B.V Europe to distribute Kodak’s KODACOLOR EDTG Series Direct to Garment (DTG) inks.

The KODACOLOR EDTG Series inks from Kodak were explicitly designed for direct-to-fabric printing on cotton, cotton blends, and polyester fabrics. They are equally adept at printing direct to finished garments or to roll fabrics. This water-based ink is designed to work in digital printers that employ piezo-electric printheads and operates at a very high level of nozzle performance among printheads requiring low viscosity inks.

Although designed for use in production printing, these inks are also suitable for high quality sampling and strike offs. Kodak is proud to include Pigment.inc B.V Europe as its premier world-wide distributor of the KodaColor EDTG Series Inks. Pigment.inc B.V Europe’s market knowledge and expertise are recognized worldwide. This partnership will make the KodaColor ink set features available world-wide.

Benefits to KodaColor ink users include increased production rates due to the inclusion of features such as short curing time, larger color gamut, more prints before head cleaning, and improved wash.  “With Kodak’s focus on quality, all KodaColor inks are manufactured at our USA-based ISO 9000-compliant factory,” said Grant French, director, External Ink Sales, Eastman Kodak.

Kodak has been producing and selling digital inks for thermal piezo and continuous inkjet systems since the 1990’s, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to the inkjet business. Kodak has a strong history of innovation and excellence in the key technologies needed to produce superior fabric inks.

Customization of fabrics for garments, accessories, upholstery, soft signage is growing, which represents a significant business opportunity for Kodak in the direct to garment and wide format printer industries.

KODACOLOR inks are manufactured in Rochester, N.Y.

Posted December 14, 2020

Source: Eastman Kodak Co.

First Ten U.S. Mills Sign Up To The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — December 14, 2020 — Today the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol welcomes its first ten U.S. cotton textile manufacturers – Buhler Quality Yarns, Cap Yarns, CCW, Contempora Fabrics, Cotswold Industries Inc., Frontier Yarns, Hamrick Mills, Inman Mills, Parkdale Inc., Swisstex Direct as members. U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol membership enables these mills and manufacturers to prove that they are an approved supply chain partner for brands and retailers who are sourcing more sustainably grown cotton.

“One of our goals with the Trust Protocol is to give brands and retailers greater confidence when including U.S. cotton in their sourcing mix. Our emphasis on measurement and independent verification can provide confidence and trust that a brand is using quality, responsibly grown cotton and producing a product that consumers can believe in,” said Dr. Gary Adams, president of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “We are delighted that these U.S. mills have joined the Trust Protocol as that supports the much sought-after supply chain transparency and by using U.S. manufactured cotton products, brands and retailers are choosing a reliable and transparent partner right here in the USA.”

Mills and manufacturers who become members of the Trust Protocol have access to the Trust Protocol credit system to validate consumption of cotton and associated credits.  The combination of a unique credit accounting system and the Permanent Bale Identification (PBI) system enables brands to have transparency throughout the supply chain to finished product.

The Trust Protocol has been invited to join Cotton 2040 and its CottonUp guide and also is on the Textile Exchange’s list of 36 preferred fibers and materials that more than 170 participating brands and retailers can select from as part of Textile Exchange’s Material Change Index program.  In December the Trust Protocol also announced Gap Inc. joined as part of its integrated sustainability strategy and to help achieve its commitment to use only 100% sustainably-sourced cotton by 2025.

Posted December 14, 2020

Source: U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol

Hexcel And Safran Expand Scope Of Existing Contract For Advanced Composite Materials On Commercial Aerospace Programs

STAMFORD, Conn. — December 14, 2020 — Hexcel Corp. announced today that the scope of its long-term supplier contract with Safran S.A. has been expanded to include advanced composite materials for a broader range of commercial aerospace applications.

For more than three decades, Hexcel has been a trusted, leading supplier of high-performance, advanced composites such as carbon fiber, adhesives, prepregs, dry fabrics, and honeycomb core to Safran programs. Since 2013, Hexcel HexTow® IM7 carbon fiber has been supplied for the LEAP*-1A, -1B and -1C engine programs. That contract now has been amended to include HexTow IM7 for the GE9X engine that powers the Boeing 777X.The contract also includes Hexcel core, adhesives, prepregs, and fabrics for additional applications on engine nacelles and aircraft interiors.

“It was time to include Safran Cabin, Safran Seats and Safran Aerosystems within our global long-term agreement,” said Thierry Viguier, vice president, Safran Materials Purchasing. “Hexcel has shown again, during this difficult period of time, that they are a strong and reliable long-term partner.”

“This contract expansion is the result of a successful, collaborative relationship between Safran and Hexcel that started more than 35 years ago to serve the aerospace industry,” said Thierry Merlot, president Aerospace Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa & Industrial. “This agreement will further strengthen the long-term partnership between our companies and reinforces our strategic position within Safran’s First Circle suppliers.”

Posted December 14, 2020

Source: Hexcel Corp.

Christian Straubhaar – New Head Of Sales At Rieter Machines & Systems

Christian Straubhaar

WINTERTHUR, Switzerland— December 14, 2020 — In course of the succession planning, Christian Straubhaar will take on the position as senior vice president sales at Rieter Machines & Systems in Winterthur on January 1, 2021. Straubhaar will succeed Reto Thom who will retire.

Straubhaar holds an Engineering Master’s Degree in Industrial Management from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) and
is a sales executive with 20 years of extensive experience in the textile industry. Recently, Straubhaar was responsible as Group sales and marketing director at Itema for the world-wide sales of machines and spare parts. Prior, he held various positions in operations and as Business Unit Head in Itema and other global textile companies.

His professional career shows a solid track record in identifying new market potentials and growing the business for the company. Straubhaar has a longstanding experience in selling to both large and small customers and developing key accounts within our industry.

Thom has very successfully lead the Sales department at Rieter Machines & Systems for many years and made an enormous contribution to the success of the company.

Posted December 14, 2020

Source: Rieter

Allegiant Linen Services Achieves Hygienically Clean Certification For Healthcare

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — December 11, 2020 — Allegiant Linen Services LLC, a locally-owned and -operated Madison, Tenn., laundry that serves the central part of that state has recently earned the Hygienically Clean certification for Healthcare laundering. Hygienically Clean is the quantified, validated standard and measure for hygienically clean textiles in North America since 2011, and achieving this certification reflects its commitment to best management practices (BMPs) in laundering as verified by on-site inspection and its capability to produce hygienically clean textiles as quantified by ongoing microbial testing based on established hygienically clean healthcare textile methods and standards.

The Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification confirms this organization’s continuing dedication to infection prevention, compliance with recognized industry standards and processing healthcare textiles using BMPs as described in its quality assurance documentation, a focal point for Hygienically Clean inspectors’ evaluation. The independent, third-party inspection must also confirm essential evidence that:

  • Employees are properly trained and protected;
  • Managers understand regulatory requirements;
  • OSHA-compliant; and
  • Physical plant operates effectively.

To achieve certification initially, laundries pass three rounds of outcome-based microbial testing, indicating that their processes are producing Hygienically Clean Healthcare textiles and diminished presence of yeast, mold and harmful bacteria. They also must pass a facility inspection. To maintain their certification, they must pass quarterly RODAC and semi-annual USP 62 testing (RODAC results less than or equal to 20 cfu per square diameter and USP 62 results must show an absence of specified microorganisms) to ensure that as laundry conditions change, such as water quality, textile fabric composition and wash chemistry, laundered product quality is consistently maintained. Re-inspection occurs every two to three years.

This process eliminates subjectivity by focusing on outcomes and results that verify textiles cleaned in these facilities meet appropriate hygienically clean standards and BMPs for hospitals, surgery centers, medical offices, nursing homes and other medical facilities.

Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification acknowledges laundries’ effectiveness in protecting healthcare operations by verifying quality control procedures in linen, uniform and facility services operations related to the handling of textiles containing blood and other potentially infectious materials.

Certified laundries use processes, chemicals and BMPs acknowledged by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, American National Standards Institute and others. Introduced by TRSA in 2012, Hygienically Clean Healthcare brought to North America the international cleanliness standards for Hygienically Clean healthcare linens and garments used worldwide by the Certification Association for Professional Textile Services and the European Committee for Standardization

Objective experts in epidemiology, infection control, nursing and other healthcare professions work with Hygienically Clean launderers to ensure the certification continues to enforce the highest standards for producing clean healthcare textiles.

“Congratulations to Allegiant Linen Services on their most recent certification,” said Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “This achievement proves their commitment to infection prevention and that their laundries take every step possible to prevent human illness.”

Hygienically Clean reflects the evolution of healthcare laundry certification in light of growing global concerns about infection control, documenting practices that ensure elimination of potentially harmful microbial content while adding quantifiable verification of continuous improvement in overall cleanliness.

Posted December 11, 2020

Source: TRSA

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