Superior Uniform receives Top Innovator Status

Superior Uniform Group Inc, designer and manufacturer of uniforms, image apparel and accessories, announced it has been recognized by Apparel Publications Magazine as a 2011 Top Innovator for the launch of the interactive apparel division, everyBODY media.

Apparel’s fourth annual Top Innovators Award honors companies in the apparel industry for demonstrating innovation and exceptionality through technology, new products or other outstanding executed business strategy. This year, Superior Uniform Group was recognized for its recent launch of everyBODY media. everyBODY media was created to address the changing path to purchase model and incorporates a mobile component, taking uniforms into the future.
Unlike anything previously seen in the retail, food service or entertainment marketplaces, everyBODY media, powered by Eyelevel Interactive, offers image apparel and uniforms containing a patented Switch-It fabric panel printed with a promotional message and a smart phone EI Tag based on Microsoft's Mobile Action Code technology. These unique garments provide opportunities for consumer engagement directly at the point of purchase with exclusive, mobile activated, in-store deals, contests, online videos or other engaging touch points.

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New dye to lower textile production costs

Kenyan textile manufacturers, who had been relying on imported dyes so far, can look forward to substantially lower their operational costs by using a newly invented natural dye.

The textile industry in Kenya, which is striving to survive in the face of increased imports of second-hand clothes, can now expect a revamp, according to Prof. Richard Mibey, the principal researcher and Vice Chancellor of Moi University.

The research was carried out by Prof. Mibey, along with Dr. David Tuigon, Managing Director of Rivatex East Africa Textile Mills, and Billy Makumba of Moi University.

In 2007, Moi University acquired Rivatex East Africa after studying it for nine years as a basket case. The University launched many projects to boost the cotton industry as well as to provide better raw material for the Rivatex manufacturing unit.

Moi University also collaborated with Alexandria University of Egypt to help Kenyan farmers boost their cotton output.

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Nike partners with Dutch firm on waterless fabric dyeing

NIKE Inc announced it has entered into a strategic partnership with DyeCoo Textile Systems B.V., a Netherlands-based company that has developed and built the first commercially available waterless textile dyeing machines. By using recycled carbon dioxide, DyeCoo’s technology eliminates the use of water in the textile dyeing process. The name “DyeCoo” was inspired by the process of “dyeing” with “CO2.”

The partnership is illustrative of NIKE Inc’s long-term commitment to designing and developing the most superior athletic performance products for athletes and its overall sustainable business and innovation strategy.

"Waterless dyeing is a significant step in our journey to serve both the athlete and the planet, and this partnership reinforces Nike’s long-term strategy and deep commitment to innovation and sustainability," says Eric Sprunk, Nike’s Vice President of Merchandising and Product.

"We believe this technology has the potential to revolutionize textile manufacturing, and we want to collaborate with progressive dye houses, textile manufacturers and consumer apparel brands to scale this technology and push it throughout the industry."

Nike has been exploring this technology for the past eight years and expects to showcase cutting edge apparel using textiles dyed without water at events later this year, with an eye towards scaling the technology for larger production volumes. '

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DyStar joins Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC)

DyStar is pleased to announce that it has joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), the collaborative venture established in 2011 by leading apparel retailers, suppliers and manufacturers with participation from academics and NGOs. The main objective of the SAC is to develop an Apparel Index which takes a full life-cycle view of an apparel product and identifies all major social and environmental impacts along the production chain from cradle to grave.

Dyes and chemicals are a key area of interest for the SAC as not only do they add significant value to the apparel in terms of color and performance but they can also have a major environmental impact at the wet processing stage of fabric production.

DyStar is the leading global supplier of dyes and chemicals to the textile industry and not only has a long history of action to reduce the environmental impact of the supply chain but also recently issued its first corporate Sustainability Report prepared according to GRI principles.

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Highly qualified presentations at ETAD-IOC seminar

The Ecological and Toxicological Association of Dyes and Organic Pigments Manufacturers (ETAD) based in Basel, Switzerland along with Indian Operating Committee (IOC) with its office in Vadodara, Gujarat recently organized a seminar titled “Ecological and Toxicological Aspects of Colorants – Current Implications, India and Global” on 24th January 2012 at The Mayfair Banquets, Mumbai India.

This is the second such seminar ETAD organized in India, encouraged by the response from the first one in 2009. ETAD consists of the leading pigment and dye manufacturing companies from all across the world.

This seminar was preceded by the 97th ETAD Board meeting which was held in India for the first time under the new President of the Board Mr Ravi Kapoor who is also the Managing Director of Heubach India. Board members from DNS Japan, BASF, Dystar from Germany, Huntsman from Switzerland were present at the seminar. The seminar was attended by more than eighty delegates from the leading Paint, Textile, Ink, Plastics, Pigment and Dyes industry of India.

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Burlington Worldwide Chooses Agion Active to Deliver Next Generation Odor Control to High Performance Fabrics

Sciessent, makers of the Agion Active brand of odor elimination technology announces its partnership with Burlington Worldwide, global textile leader to offer the Agion Active branded finish on new high performance fabric. The odor control performance feature will be incorporated into many of Burlington’s fabric lines for activewear and specialty sports brands.

The Burlington fabrics featuring Agion Active deliver a level of social confidence that can only come with unparalleled, long lasting freshness. Agion Active is a dual-action technology that not only provides antimicrobial product protection and industrial-strength odor elimination but also eliminates odors on and around the fabric. An antimicrobial technology based on elemental ions controls odor-causing bacteria on the fabric while a natural, proprietary odor-trapping solution captures molecules from ambient odors. Agion Active is designed to perform for the life of the garment, regenerating in each wash cycle.

“At Burlington Labs, we discover and promote new technologies in order to provide our customers with a continuous stream of differentiated, performance products,” said Bill DiIanni, director of research and development. “When we saw the quantifiable performance of Agion Active, we knew it would do just that.”

“We are proud to be working with Burlington, one of the most respected textile manufacturers in the world,” said Paul Ford, chief executive officer of Sciessent. “We are looking forward to a successful partnership that will continue to pioneer the latest in apparel options for leading brands.”
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2012 Texprocess Americas to address most pressing issues

2012 Texprocess Americas Symposium developed by leading industry experts to address the most pressing issues. The latest in product development, technology, and international trade updates for the sewn products industry will be presented by industry experts and leaders.

from around the world during the 2012 Texprocess Americas Symposium being held April 24 - 26, 2012 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Held concurrently with the exhibition, the symposium will contain nine sessions with more than 42 presentations in a variety of formats that will cover a wide range of topics including sourcing to the European market, sourcing in the Americas, global market outlook, manufacturing technology and international trade updates.

Sourcing to the European Market
Recent European free trade agreements offer new opportunities for both regional sourcing and by extension, apparel brand marketing on a duty-free basis. Learn how sourcing in Central America, Mexico, Colombia and Peru can position U.S. Brands in the European market more competitively.
Sourcing in the Americas
Spiraling Asian labor costs, global raw material and energy costs, faster fashion and leaner retail inventory demands are driving reemergence of regional sourcing throughout the Americas. Don’t miss this dynamic panel of experts sharing their thoughts and strategies on the new sourcing landscape.

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