News for June and July 2005

Cole Haan Japan Ltd. to use the Jesta I.S. Vision Merchandising Solution and Streamline data with North American Counterparts
New York, NY – Jesta I.S. , a supplier of business solutions for the apparel, footwear and consumer goods industries, announced today that Cole Haan Japan , a wholly owned subsidiary of Cole Haan, will be implementing the Jesta I.S. Vision Merchandising Solution. The application will be rolled-out at all of Cole Haan Japan 's 40 plus retail stores in the coming months. The application will allow Cole Haan Japan to implement many of the North American better business practices and streamline the data flow between their North American counterparts.
Vision Merchandising allows international operations to receive plans globally and execute locally. Cole Haan Japan expects to maintain its retail operations by taking advantage of dynamic stock modeling, the ability to better meet demand through availability and achieve operational efficiency through centralized purchasing. Cole Haan Japan will now be able to automate its business processes through seamless integration of its core systems including financials and warehouse management.
“With strategic retail expansion, we recognized the need to partner with a company who could provide us with the right inventory management system to help us grow successfully while keeping the right products in front of our customers. I am confident that Jesta I.S. with their many years of expertise is the partner that we are looking for.” stated John Barron, Chief Financial Officer for Cole Haan.
7/22/05

AATCC Acquires Assets of the Computer-Integrated Textile Design Association (CITDA)
Research Triangle Park, NC - AATCC, the international association for the textile design, processing, and testing industry has purchased selected assets from the Computer-Integrated Textile Design Association (CITDA). These assets include the CITDA name, logos, members list, website, and CITDA Student Scholarship Competition. 
CITDA operated for several years on a completely voluntary basis without a paid professional staff. The CITDA Board of Directors has realized that more management attention is now required to support their diverse activities. Through this transition of assets, AATCC aims to continue the important activities of CITDA and provide the necessary management support needed to keep these activities vibrant.
John A. Darsey Jr. of Color Solutions International and current chair of C2C stated, “I welcome the many professionals in CITDA to join the C2C Interest Group and to help reinvigorate the activities that CITDA will bring to AATCC and to the design community. With this acquisition, we will be able to provide our industry with additional learning opportunities and conduct projects for the benefit of our industry.”
Dee Dee Davis, of Springs Industries and one of CITDA's Board members stated, “The CITDA Board looks forward to transitioning key CITDA programs and working to help AATCC and C2C provide educational support to design professionals.”
7/21/05

Expanded SDL Atlas to Highlight Variety of New Instruments and Product Enhancements at ITMA Asia Singapore
Stockport , UK – The joint venture that created the new and larger SDL Atlas will show the full strength of its product development capability, as well as the breadth of its comprehensive product line during the upcoming ITMA Asia Exhibition in Singapore, October 17 to 21.
Among the numerous innovative testing products:
• MMT Moisture Management Tester for quick, quantitative measurement of moisture management properties in performance fabrics
• Rapid Conditioner, which enables textile specimens to achieve standard temperature and humidity in only 1 to 3 minutes
• PillGrade, the automated Pilling Grading System that is fast, accurate and performs to ISO and ASTM standards
Other products that will be introduced for the first time at ITMA include the redesigned Flammability Tester, the enhanced Martindale and ICI Pilling Box. Additional items on display, representative of the broad range of SDL Atlas products, will include the complete Quickspin System with applications in color blending for the fibre industry; the DigiEye colourfastness grading and match prediction system; and the industry leading Ci3000+ Lightfastness tester.
SDL Atlas President, Charles S. Lane, remarked “This should be a very exciting show for SDL Atlas and ITMA attendees. With the large and growing resources at SDL Atlas, this is just the beginning of the many advancements we expect to bring to the marketplace. The SDL Atlas stand will demonstrate for customers ways they can easily elevate their quality standards as well as their profit potential.”
7/12/05

TUKAcad Rental Program Takes Off New Delhi to New York –the Renters are delighted
Los Angeles, CA – For the first time an Apparel CAD company in the fashion industry is offering its pattern making, grading and marker making software on rental basis. TUKAcad.NET 2005 can now be rented on a monthly basis at minimal cost with no obligation to buy it. With Master Blocks already digitized and ready to use, it eliminates the need of Digitizers and with 32 TUKAcenters and 1,248 FedEx-Kinko's, renters can get the output of Patterns and Markers without any need to purchase expensive plotters.
TUKAcad.NET 2005 is now running in 21 countries and is being offered around the world through Internet. Windows based software is developed by experienced TUKAteam members with years of experience in developing, training and implementing systems.
“I have been using CAD systems for decades and comparing to my first system that cost my employer $250,000 for one station system and took six months of training and implementation, I never thought I will see the day when CAD systems can be sold over the counter with self learning tools. We are the first company to offer a solution to 85% of the industry which cannot afford to purchase these systems”, says Ram Sareen, the Head Coach / founder of TUKAgroup. “With TUKAcenters, Video Training, Kinko's and 24/7 support, even an independent pattern maker can benefit,” he added.
7/12/05

Lectra Steps Up Investment in Turkey
Paris - Lectra Turkey has now officially opened its new national headquarters in Istanbul.
At the opening ceremony on 15 June, Daniel Harari welcomed a large number of journalists and customers to celebrate Lectra's new commitment to the country. They were delighted with the new premises: “ The transparency of the new headquarters creates a warm, positive atmosphere,” said Fethi Unal, Investment Coordinator of the Istikbal Group. The grand finale was the unveiling of the 1,400 m² Advanced Technology Center (ATC). In addition to the ATC, there is a software and equipment customer support line designed to further improve Lectra's response to the needs of its customers.
“When I take into account Lectra's vision, products and customer service, it makes me realize what a good decision it was to choose Lectra as a partner,” said Ahmet Tayan, CEO of Mintay Tekstil. “ When we chose to work with Lectra as a partner, our objective was to work with a group which was both the most reliable and the best. It was an excellent decision, which is borne out by the benefits we have achieved through the automation of our production processes,” enthused Önder Türkmen, the CEO of ACT Tekstil.
7/8/05

[TC]² Sponsors ASAP Global Sourcing Show
Cary, NC - Held August 28-30, at The Sands Expo/Venetian in Las Vegas, The ASAP Global Sourcing Show will feature full-package overseas apparel manufacturers showcasing their production (sourcing, contract manufacturing, outsourcing) capabilities to global buyers all under one roof.
ASAP is a one-stop marketplace for sourcing apparel overseas. Featuring hundreds of manufacturers of men's, women's and children's apparel, textiles, and leather from over 35 countries, ASAP also features its unique Match Making Sessions and Educational Seminars on the latest international trade laws, innovative financing, labeling and quality assurance. 
Mike Fralix, [TC]² 's President, will moderate a panel discussion during the show, entitled “The Fight to Protect the U.S. Textile & Garment Industry.” Panel participants include Jim Leonard, Chairman, of CITA (Committee for Implementation of Textile Agreement); Bobby Hines, International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service; and Lawrence Brill, Director, Market Expansion, OTEXA (Office of Textiles & Apparel). Dr. Fralix says, “It is a very interesting and challenging time for the industry relative to global trade and I was honored to be invited to dialogue with such a knowledgeable and influential group.”
To register to attend, or for more information, visit www.asapshow.com .
7/7/05

New Portuguese Distributor for OptiTex Software
New York , Tel-Aviv and Maia - OptiTex Ltd. and Invescorte Group are pleased to announce the signing of an exclusive distribution agreement for the Portuguese market.
OptiTex and Invescorte's newly announced partnership further strengthens OptiTex's strategic market coverage in Portugal and Europe. Invescorte will work closely with OptiTex to market Progressive Solutions to help Portugal sewn goods manufacturers meet the challenges of today's rapidly evolving industry. Through their combined expertise, Invescorte and OptiTex will work in promoting and supporting their solutions for CAD/CAM software, 3D Draping and manufacturing applications.
“By adding Invescorte to OptiTex European network we actually cover most of the important territories of OptiTex target markets. We could not find a better and more professional partner than Invescorte and I'm sure that together both companies will bring the most advanced technology to the Portuguese textile companies, ” Says Natan Mossak – VP Sales & Marketing OptiTex LTD.
7/5/05

Indra Technology Announces Release of Escape Version 4.3b; Custom Catalog is an Exciting New Enhancement
San Diego, CA- Indra Technology Inc. , a provider of order entry and order management business solutions for the apparel, footwear, sporting goods, and action sports industries, announced that it has released Version 4.3 of Escape.
"The Custom Catalog feature offers greater flexibility for both manufacturers and sales reps," states Jim Beavers, Chief Operating Officer, Indra Technology. "The Custom Catalog allows you to select desired items and place them together in a customized product assortment, complete with color pictures of the items. This new feature enables a company to place a more effective and personalized product line in front of each of their customers."
A leading apparel manufacturer noted the value and usefulness of the new feature. "For a manufacturer, the Custom Catalog is very valuable in several situations. We can create a tailored product assortment for regions not needing to view the entire product line. We could also make a 'suggested items' product assortment and distribute it to all of our sales reps. The feature could be used in a showroom or tradeshow situation to distribute the catalog for handout."
7/1/05

SDL Atlas Air Permeability Tester Helps Texas Tech Study More Breathable Fabrics For Military
Lubbock , TX – Texas Tech University 's breakthrough research on developing nonwoven decontamination wipe and protective clothing inner liners with improved comfort and breathability for the U.S. armed forces is getting a boost from its newly acquired Air Permeability Test instrument supplied by SDL Atlas.
The SDL Atlas tabletop Air Permeability Tester, designed to accurately measure the levels of air passing through a fabric, gives researchers at TTU's Institute of Environmental and Human Health new insights on the breathability and permeability characteristics of protective clothing made from nonwoven fabric, according to Dr. Seshadri S. Ramkumar, an Assistant Professor at the Institute. With its vacuum pump, the testing unit produces air flows from 0.05ML to 415ML per second, with pressure drops to 2Kpa.
Current protective clothing research is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Defense, Texas Food and Fibers Commission and The Cotton Foundation. Cotton Incorporated contributed to the preliminary work on cotton-based nonwoven protective clothing early on. Texas Tech research aims to provide a more realistic prediction of how protective clothing for the military will actually perform under real conditions. Before acquiring the SDL Atlas Air Permeability Tester, the institute could not perform accurate research on fabric breathability.
Dr. Ramkumar said, “With the new test instrument, we can do it accurately and according to ASTM standards that meet universal acceptance. While the unit itself is very simple and easy to use, the function it performs is very critical to determining the impact permeability has on comfort.” According to Dr. Ramkumar, the new test unit is easy to operate and requires no special training for users.
7/1/05

AATCC Announces C2C ® /CITDA 2006 Design Competition for Students
RTP , NC - AATCC announces its second annual C2C ® /CITDA design competition developed by its Concept 2 Consumer ® (C2C) Interest Group and the Computer Integrated Textile Design Association. AATCC is expanding the competition by inviting submissions from institutions with textile design programs and those with art, interior design, and fashion merchandising programs. The aim of the competition continues to be the promotion of innovative product development.
The theme of this year's competition is “Shades of Comfort,” and the contest has been divided into two main categories, with each category broken down into two sub-categories:

Entries will be evaluated on colors, textures, appearance, reproducibility, and overall presentation. For more details, visit www.aatcc.org .
7/1/05

AATCC Launches Engineering Design Competition for Students
RTP, NC - AATCC announces its inaugural engineering design competition, developed by its Materials Interest Group. Submissions are invited from both graduate and undergraduate students. The aim of the competition is the promotion of innovative product development from an engineering design perspective.
The theme of this year's competition is “Design of Engineered Fibrous Structures,” and the contest has been divided into three areas:

• Medical/Biomedical Fibrous Structures
• Smart/Electronic Fibrous Structures
• Protective Fibrous Structures

Entries will be evaluated on concept originality, use of engineering design elements, technical feasibility of the concept using best available technologies, quality and clarity of supporting documentation, technical rationale for the assembly materials list, efficacy of proposed commercial process sequence, and viability of economic cost analysis.
Entries must be submitted in the form of a proposal on CD and must be received by December 1, 2005. For more details, visit www.aatcc.org .
7/1/05 

SDC Introduces E-Learning
Bradford, UK - The Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) is now offering a set of electronic distance learning modules called SDC e-Learning which represent a unique resource for anyone working in the field of colour wanting to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Comprising 92 individual lessons arranged in six modules, they cover the core topics of colour physics; dyes; fibres and polymers; management; dyeing and printing.
CD-ROM based so that you can study at work, at home or even on the train, they allow you to learn at your own pace at times that suit you best.
Modules 1-4 are applicable to any colour-related industry, whilst modules 5 and 6 relate specifically to textiles.
Comments professional services manager Paul Dinsdale: “Whether you are embarking upon a new career or developing your skills and expertise, the SDC e-Learning package offers the opportunity to add value to your knowledge.”
6/30/05

Datacolor Introduces Convenient, Cost-Effective Cabinet for Accurate Sample Conditioning
Lawrenceville , NJ , USA – Controlling the surroundings in which color samples are measured – particularly ambient temperature and relative humidity – is critical to achieving accurate results. Yet not every facility has had the necessary means to provide a stable color measurement environment. The problem has been quite costly, often further compounded when samples have been measured at (or against) different physical locations around the world.
Datacolor , a world leader in color technology, introduces a convenient, cost-effective solution to this problem. Datacolor Conditioner, a sample conditioning cabinet, is an inexpensive, compact and easy-to-use unit that fits into any factory, laboratory or office.
“It has been technically proven that the physical color of a sample can alter substantially if the ambient temperature and relative humidity are not stable. Now, for a quite small investment, Datacolor has delivered a solution that quickly eliminates this historically costly problem. The new Datacolor CONDITIONER offers benefits to specifiers, suppliers, producers and customers alike and sets a standard that may be easily adopted throughout the whole supply chain,” notes Michael Thornton, Datacolor Product Manager.
6/30/05

IS0 6330: 2001 Standard Tumble Dryers for Textile Testing Available Through SDL Atlas
Stockport, UK -- SDL Atlas has bought up remaining stocks of Creda-manufactured ISO compliant tumble dryers. The dryers are available in standard form, as manufactured by Creda, or upfitted with precision controls. Production at Creda was halted 6 months ago and SDL Atlas' tumble dryer inventory is available to textile testing labs and other customers first come, first serve.
The two models comply with the ISO 6330: 2001 Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing. They have been a popular dryer choice among testing labs around the world for years. As with other standardized equipment, the dryers help the textile industry and customers make meaningful comparisons between products manufactured at different locations across the globe.
“As the leading provider of testing equipment, SDL Atlas is in a unique position to continue supplying both models of tumble dryers meeting the standard,” said Stephen R. Combes, Managing Director for SDL Atlas, Ltd. “These tumble dryers have attracted a large following among testers and play an important role in testing procedures. We believe the market worldwide is best served by continuing the dryers' availability for the near future.”
In addition to buying a large number of the discontinued tumble dryers for future sales, SDL Atlas officials will participate in an international working group that is to be formed for the purpose of researching and writing a revised standard for textile drying procedures.
6/24/05

Datacolor Opens Color Office To Support Wal-Mart and its Supply Chain With the Latest Color Technology Solutions
Lawrenceville , NJ – Datacolor, a leader in color technology for the textile and apparel industry, announces the opening of an office in Bentonville, Arkansas today. Strategically located, the new office is dedicated to serving as a “ Color Resource Center ” for Wal-Mart and its suppliers and vendors to provide the tools, training and support that eliminate a notorious barrier to retail success: inefficient color production.
“Ensuring consistent, accurate color from design to production is complex – and critical in today's global economy. We are committed to supporting top retailers such as Wal-Mart with color technology solutions that help them deliver the quality and cost-effective goods today's value-conscious consumers expect. The Bentonville office is a reflection of our commitment,” states Datacolor President Terry Downes.
6/23/05

Haggar Clothing Co. will eliminate wrinkles in their merchandise flow with the Jesta I.S. Vision Merchandising Solution
New York , NY – Jesta I.S . , a supplier of business solutions for the apparel, footwear and consumer goods industries, announced today that Haggar Clothing Co., a marketer of men's and women's casual and dress apparel, will implement the Jesta I.S. Vision Merchandising Solution. The application will be deployed within Haggar's retail subsidiary and is expected to maximize inventory sell-through for its more than 80 retail stores with the application's robust allocation/replenishment and planning capabilities.
Vision Merchandising is widely known for its ability to manage the diverse needs of style-managed retailers. Mass replenishment and allocation is done at the style/color/size level with minimal user involvement. With sales history data and accurate inventory, intelligent store transfers become automated resulting in retailers having more time to focus on more pressing and strategic issues.
“The Jesta I.S. organization has been immersed in the apparel and footwear world for more than 30 years. With solutions that cater to sourcing companies and retailers, our efforts focus on both sides of the supply chain making us a team who truly understands this industry,” stated Leslie Belcher, President for Jesta I.S.
“Key to the continued success of our direct-to-consumer initiatives are systems that will allow Haggar to effectively manage product flow into our stores. We recognize that the need to boost visibility and response time to trends and product availability is essential for survival. We are confident that, with the Vision Merchandising solution, Haggar will be better positioned for the road ahead,” commented David Specht Sr. Vice President and CIO for Haggar Clothing Co.
Vision Merchandising will be integrated into the Haggar wholesale and retail business model, becoming a key component of its enterprise system. The solution will manage and share data and processes with various business applications including WMS, POS, Planning and Financials.
6/16/05

DigiFab Systems Purchases 30,000 Square Foot Facility
Los Angeles, CA - DigiFab Systems , a manufacturer of pre- and post-press digital-printing equipment, CAD - RIP software, and pre-treated textiles, today announced it has purchased a 30,000 square foot building to better service its customers and keep pace with its expanding business. The move allows the company to combine manufacturing and corporate headquarters all under one roof.
The new address as of June 2005 is 5015 Pacific Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90058.
6/14/05

TUKAweb Offers Fashion Design Help in Reducing Product Development Time
Los Angeles, CA –TUKAweb now offers fashion trends with sewing specifications and patterns to design houses or exporters who are limited with market intelligence on upcoming fashions and/or pattern development. TUKAweb has teamed up with SnapFashun® and Bill Glazer & Associates (BGA) to provide European fashion trends complete with sketch, patterns and specification package and sewing instructions. Patterns will be based on size and fittings of California 's junior fit models. The patterns can be purchased in any CAD format. For those without any CAD systems, the patterns can be printed at FedEx Kinko's locations via TUKAweb plotting services.
“Designers will have one place to ‘travel' to find the latest styles already completed with patterns and specs,” says Ram Sareen, Head Coach and founder of TUKAgroup, “all you need is the fabric and a little design sense to produce a fantastic line of products…even variations almost instantly,” he added.
“We look forward to a seamless method of design generation that will facilitate moving trends to market in more timely manner,” commented Bill Glazer, Fashion Director BGA/SnapFashun®.
6/2/05