Technology Press Releases
New AATCC TM 195 Method Quantifies Moisture Management Properties For Performance Fabrics
Rock Hill, S.C. – A new test method for measuring the moisture handling properties of performance fabrics for active wear and other apparel has earned approval from the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) after a lengthy review. The SDL Atlas Moisture Management Tester (MMT) plays a key role in the new protocol.
Recent studies have revealed that for most active wear purchasers, the comfort of their apparel’s fabric is closely linked to its ability to handle moisture such as perspiration. Researchers have been seeking to develop a means for objectively measuring and documenting comfort levels and moisture handling. The newly adopted AATCC TM 195 test method and MMT from SDL Atlas promise a step forward.
“More than 40 of the desk-top MMT units are currently used by laboratories in Asia, Europe and the Americas,” said Robert Lattie, Director, Product Management at SDL Atlas. The unit dynamically measures liquid transfer behavior in knitted, woven and non-woven textile fabrics using upper and lower concentric moisture sensors. It generates six key indexes and a quantifiable one-way moisture movement index value.
This new dynamic unit can demonstrate the ability of a fabric to improve apparel comfort. The MMT is recognized and used for both R&D and quality control by a growing number of sportswear and performance fabric manufacturers serving this critically important segment.
6/23/09
WRAP Offers Pavilion Space at Sourcing at MAGIC
Arlington, VA - In a historic first, a separate pavilion is planned for WRAP-certified factories at the upcoming Sourcing at MAGIC show in Las Vegas from August 30 – September 2, 2009.
MAGIC staff will direct buyers to the pavilion as an increasing number of buyers are seeking to purchase apparel and accessories only from socially and environmentally compliant facilities. In addition, a full-page listing of the facilities is planned in the show directory. WRAP will have its own booth at the pavilion as well.
“This is the first time any show or exhibition in the world has singled out socially compliant businesses,” said Steve Jesseph, WRAP President. “Buyers have repeatedly asked to be referred to compliant factories in previous shows so MAGIC management decided to create a unique space for those businesses that have demonstrated a commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices by obtaining WRAP certification. Many factories have asked us: If I’m certified, will it help me get more business? At MAGIC, it does!”
For those factories not already committed to MAGIC, a special Studio Booth package has been developed. A limited number of booths are available in this special space and several are already committed. Contact Yin Yin at the WRAP office, yyin@wrapcompliance.org to receive the registration forms. The deadline to apply for the booths is June 24, 2009.
6/17/09
SPESA EXPO to Highlight “Supply Chain of the Americas” at 2010 Event
Raleigh, North Carolina (USA) – The Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA) announces plans to expand its May 18-20, 2010 SPESA EXPO event in Atlanta, Georgia (http://www.spesaexpo.com) through the addition of a special “Supply Chain of the Americas” exhibit that will highlight the unique business opportunities and wide-ranging resources available to sewn products manufacturers, brand marketers, and vertical retailers in the region. Comprising textiles and components, design and development services, production and logistics providers, country and industry association pavilions and more, the new exhibit will complement what is already the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of sewn products equipment, technology, and education in the Western Hemisphere. Supply Chain of the Americas will expand the event’s coverage to the entire concept-to-delivery fashion and sewn products lifecycle by highlighting innovation in design, development, engineering, sourcing, production, logistics, distribution, and other key business processes.
The new Supply Chain of the Americas exhibit is also expected to attract a significantly broader audience to the triennial event, which has historically focused primarily on equipment and machinery exhibits. “Interest in producing in close proximity to the U.S. market is growing,” noted SPESA managing director Dave Gardner. “By expanding the scope of SPESA EXPO, we are working to fill the need that sewn products manufacturers, brands, and retailers have to better understand the opportunities and identify the resources available to them in the Western Hemisphere. We believe that, as the largest fashion and sewn products technology and educational event in the region, SPESA EXPO is the perfect venue to bring together the complete range of products, services, and resources available to companies that consider the Americas as part of their supply chain strategy.”
For the first time ever at SPESA EXPO, the Supply Chain of the Americas exhibit will welcome the full range of product and service resources that serve sewn products manufacturers, brands, and retailers; including fabrics and textiles, trims and components, textile and screen printing, trend and design, product development and engineering, CAD/CAM, spreading and cutting, contract and package providers, laundry and garment dying, logistics and distribution, product identification and labeling, testing and compliance, sourcing and supply chain, fit and sizing, consulting and education, and other related products and services.
6/16/09
OptiTex Avatar Receives Overall Upgrade
Petach Tikva, Israel – OptiTex’s essential female avatar, EVA, has progressed into a more realistic version of herself. The improvements in characteristics provide a significant advantage for designers in the fashion market by solving particular fit issues.
“EVA is a strong example of our dedication to OptiTex customers.” Says Ran Machtinger, CEO of OptiTex. “We strive on a daily basis to create more detailed avatars to reflect unique fits that exist outside of the virtual world.”
Designers at OptiTex, a leader in 3D CAD for fashion and all cut-fabric industries, have progressed their EVA avatar by creating additional poses; body measurements and shoulder pad fit options as well as improving the texture of her hair and facial characteristics. Additionally, a specific morph of the EVA avatar accommodates the lingerie industries by offering advanced morph settings allowing the most accurate and customized set of measurements available for 3D models.
These sophisticated advancements are yet another addition to OptiTex’s user friendly features ensuring that clients in the underwear and lingerie industries such as Tulips and Tefron can trust OptiTex to constantly provide 3D virtual models to help them solve fit issues.
6/9/09
Lectra Among 17 European Companies Chosen to Participate in
‘A New Look At Innovation’—a Report Prepared by the ESCP-Europe
Paris – Lectra, a world leader in integrated technology solutions dedicated to industries using soft materials—textiles, leather, industrial fabrics, and composite materials—, is one of 17 European companies chosen to participate in the report ‘A New Look at Innovation,’ presented on April 30 to Christine Lagarde, French Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry and Employment.
To coincide with the French presidency of the European Union, “Europe takes action to meet today’s challenges” (July 1 to December 31, 2008), the report was written by Pascal Morand, CEO of ESCP Europe (European School of Management) and Professor of Economics, and Delphine Manceau, Professor of Marketing at ESCP Europe and innovation marketing specialist. The result of a collaborative working process led by the report’s authors in conjunction with teachers at ESCP Europe as well as other academic experts, the document incorporates testimonials from 24 CEOs and senior executives of 17 French and European companies. These business leaders were consulted by the writers in order to glean their overall view and perception of innovation, to collect their ideas about factors for success and failure, and to document strategies for innovation implemented within their own companies. The firms selected were singled out for their great capacity for innovation and their success in international markets—among the 17 chosen were: Hermès, l’Occitane, l’Oréal, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Orange, Scania, Sony Europe, Total and Lectra.
The aim of the report is to propose “a wider definition of innovation which goes beyond research and development and integrates all other business factors,” and also to establish “indicators that enable, within the framework of an update of the Lisbon strategy, better measurement of the results of innovation policies implemented by member states and institutions of the European Union.”
The report ‘A New Look at Innovation’ is available on the website of the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Industry and Employment.
Avery Dennison’s New Online Packaging Guide Provides Packaging Options and Design Ideas for Apparel Merchandisers
Framingham, Mass.— Apparel and accessories merchandisers can now turn to an informative new online resource from Avery Dennison to evaluate packaging options, access creative design ideas and refresh their package-production knowledge.
The online guide, called “Custom Packaging with Avery Dennison,” can be accessed at http://www.ibmd.averydennison.com/pkgguide. The entire 44-page document is available to download or print.
The new guide was created for apparel and accessories merchandising executives who have expressed a need for an industry-specific source of packaging knowledge and assistance.
Primary sections in the guide include: an “Introduction to Custom Packaging,” “Packaging Solutions,” printing and finishing techniques on structural and flexible packaging, and an extensive glossary of packaging terms. Photos, drawings and diagrams illustrate the many finishing options available for each package type.
5/21/09
Avery Dennison and Scanbuy, Inc. Introduce Mobile-Merchandising Solution That Enhances Shopping Experience and Boosts Profitability
Framingham, Mass.— Avery Dennison Corporation and Scanbuy, Inc. have joined forces to produce a new mobile-merchandising solution that uses camera phone technology to enhance consumers’ in-store shopping experience and boost retailer profitability.
The solution, which will be marketed by Avery Dennison through its worldwide network of service bureaus, ticketing centers and sales offices, connects the company’s line of retail labels with Scanbuy’s ScanLife™ Client application and ScanLife Code Management Platform to allow retailers to communicate with consumers while they shop.
Avery Dennison's mobile-merchandising solution utilizes Scanbuy’s existing ScanLife application to facilitate the capture of 2D barcodes. ScanLife, which can be used on over 250 million mobile phones and is compatible with hundreds of different phone models worldwide, supports all major operating systems.
The solution can be used in a number of ways, like giving sales suggestions for accessories or compatible items. If an item was available on sale, a retailer could then deliver an electronic coupon for redemption at the point-of-sale.
The solution will use EZcode™ (2D barcode) technology which can be produced on existing labels in smaller physical sizes, making them a discreet component on nearly any size item.
Commercial pilots of the mobile merchandising solution will be launched later this year with major retailers and apparel manufacturers.
5/13/09
Textile & Sewn Products Industry Week 2010 Selected by U.S. Dept of Commerce for Prestigious International Buyer Program
Atlanta, GA (USA) –Textile and Sewn Products Industry Week 2010; which features three independent exhibitions, ATME-I/MEGATEX 2010, SPESA EXPO 2010, and TECHTEXTIL NORTH AMERICA 2010; has been selected as one of only thirty-five 2010 trade events for the coveted U.S. Commercial Service’s International Buyer Program (IBP). Each year, the IBP brings thousands of international buyers to meet with U.S. companies at major trade shows representing leading industrial sectors in the United States. Exhibitors and attendees of the three co-located shows on May 18-20, 2010 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia will benefit from the expanded opportunities that the IBP creates to meet, network, and develop relationships with international buyers, sales representatives, and strategic partners.
As the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA), the U.S. Commercial Service operates the IBP to help U.S. companies find new international business partners by recruiting more than 125,000 foreign buyers, representatives and distributors from all over the world to 35 U.S. trade shows per year.
In addition to the expanded international attendance that the IBP will bring, exhibitors in the three Textile and Sewn Products Industry Week 2010 events will also benefit from promotion of their products and services through an Export Interest Directory; access to hundreds of current international industry-specific trade leads; and export counseling, marketing analysis, and matchmaking services. An onsite International Business Center staffed by country and export specialists from the U.S. Commercial Service will arrange meetings for U.S. exporters and international delegates. IBP will also provide valuable assistance to international buyer delegations with the visa application process as well as hotel and travel packages.
“We are honored to be selected for the International Buyers Program,” noted SPESA Managing Director Dave Gardner. “The program will exponentially increase business opportunities for everyone at SPESA EXPO through both increased international attendance and the valuable services offered by the U.S. Commercial Service.”
4/29/09
Kornit Digital Showcases Dark Polyester Printing
Rosh-Ha'Ayin, Israel – Kornit Digital, a leading-edge company that develops, manufactures and markets high-speed industrial digital inkjet printers, superior pigmented ink and unique chemistry solutions for the garment and apparel decorating industry, is pleased to announce the upcoming release of its new comprehensive solution for dark polyester printing, featuring a new innovative software application for enhanced workflow and production.
With this new feature integrated into the machine's software, 100% dark polyester including 100% dark polyester performance fabrics can now be printed digitally with Kornit industrial digital inkjet printers, while using Kornit's existing ink technology along with the automatic wetting solution process.
Dark polyester has been known for its limited capacity to absorb heat, due to dye-migration side-effects, a chemical process where the dye in the fabric sublimates under high temperatures and migrates into the ink layer. With Kornit's superior textile digital water-based ink formulated for low-temperature curing while maintaining extremely high durability and wash fastness, and with its proprietary pre-treatment wetting solution creating a sealed printing surface that prevents the garment's dye from binding with the ink film, Kornit is able to produce extraordinary full 4 color process prints on dark polyester applications, without altering its chemistry in any way. These unique advantages, together with extensive performance and implementation research, allowed integrating a new software feature to the Kornit machine, designed to enable customers to manage a smooth and productive workflow of dark polyester applications including variable data prints.
Kornit's dark polyester printing application will be presented for the first time at Fespa Digital Europe 2009 on May 12th-14th in Amsterdam, Holland.
4/29/09
Lectra Announces its Latest Innovations for the Textile Industries at the 2009 IMB Trade Show, April 21 to 24, in Cologne, Germany
Paris – Lectra, a world leader in integrated technology solutions dedicated to industries using soft materials—textiles, leather, industrial fabrics, and composite materials—, is pleased to participate in the 2009 IMB Trade Show from April 21 to 24, in Cologne, Germany. During the event, Lectra will be announcing this summer’s launch of the new version of Kaledo®, its leading-edge professional design software platform and presenting its latest innovations, including the new Vector FX Extended range.
“At Lectra, we believe it is our role to support our customers and take advantage of every opportunity to reinforce our relationships with them,” said Daniel Harari, Lectra CEO. “Our presence at IMB, one of the main textile shows in Europe, is a proof of our commitment to the industry. The new value-added solutions that will be announced show that we are continuing to strive to fulfill our customers’ requirements and to help them overcome the challenges of their industry such as the need to increase profitability and make significant savings.”
Lectra announces the release of Kaledo (V2R1), the latest breakthrough in textile and style development and collection management.
Lectra’s Kaledo suite provides designers with the most advanced textile and fashion development and management capabilities on the market. Kaledo Collection, the foundation of the suite, is a forum that unites business, creative, marketing and management teams in order to collaborate in the development of trends and collections. In addition, the suite comprises the Kaledo Textile modules which are used to simulate realistic prints, knits, and woven fabrics.
Lectra will also showcase the latest version of Modaris, its pattern-making solution for the apparel industry, launched in March 2009. Modaris (V6R1) offers even greater productivity, quality, and innovation for apparel industry professionals
At the IMB, Lectra will also announce a range of innovative new products to enhance its Vector cutting offer
Lectra is also able to announce a new version of Mosaïc, Lectra's pattern motif recognition and processing solution, available as an option on Vector FX cutting systems and the new Vector FX Extended range.
3/26/09
Lectra Launches Modaris® V6R1 and Optimizes Model and Collection Development
Paris – Lectra, a world leader in integrated technology solutions dedicated to industries using soft materials—textiles, leather, industrial fabrics, and composite materials—launches the latest version of Modaris, its pattern-making solution for the apparel industry. Modaris has been the industry standard for more than 15 years and is used by the biggest names in fashion worldwide. Modaris V6R1 offers even greater productivity, quality, and innovation for apparel industry professionals.
With this new version of its pattern-making solution, Lectra allows apparel professionals to fully optimize their product ranges and associated patterns. The solution supports brands, retailers, sub- and co-contractors, service bureaus, and fashion schools, alike in their quest to meet the most stringent quality standards for finished products. This tool responds to the industry’s constant search for innovative technological solutions and, by facilitating the creation of different models more quickly, Lectra enables users to stay ahead of the competition and build customer loyalty.
Modaris V6R1’s powerful construction tools allow apparel professionals to develop more patterns in less time. With this solution the number of physical prototypes necessary for the finalization and validation of models is reduced, and initial production runs can be made sooner and at reduced costs. Its high-performance capacities for all-size grading guarantee the quality and fit of garments and permit companies to optimize the development of new models and collections by drawing on existing elements. By making pattern information exchange simpler and clearer, Modaris V6R1 enables users to capitalize on resources and best practices in pattern-making and manage product development in a collaborative and international context.
In addition to its new dependencies concept, Modaris ExpertPro V6R1 features a concept which is unique on today’s market: advanced functions enable users to create certain pattern elements such as waistbands, pockets, and facings in a way that can almost be called automatic. This approach, the first of its kind, reduces the time necessary to produce certain garment parts by up to 50%.
3/16/09