News for December 2005

[TC]² Expands Digital Printing Capabilities with Stork Sapphire II Printer
Cary, NC – Stork Digital Imaging has installed its Sapphire II digital printer at [TC]²’s Demonstration Center to provide expanded capabilities for digital printing of fabric. 
The Sapphire II digital printer is ideal for high-quality sampling and production runs
on textile and apparel. Compatible with a wide variety of natural and synthetic textiles including silk and polyamide, it is also especially suitable for printing on stretch fabrics and other ‘hard-to-handle’ materials. It can easily be incorporated into existing facilities, providing the flexibility, speed and convenience of digital printing without any compromise on quality.  [TC]² plans to incorporate the Sapphire II into its digital printing demonstration, and to use it in the production of InkDrop Boutique products.
“We welcome the addition of this technology, and Stork as an Associate Member of [TC]².  We look forward to working closely with the Stork team to broaden the understanding and adoption of digital printing technology for custom products,” comments Jud Early, [TC]²’s Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. 
Jos Notermans, Marketing and Sales Manager of Stork Digital Imaging, adds, “Stork recognizes [TC]² as a leading party in consulting textile companies on digital printing, and therefore we look forward in partnering with them in this demonstration.”
12/19/05

Gerber Technology Announces Worldwide Strategic Alliance with ecVision
Connecticut, USA– Gerber Technology today announced that it has entered into an exclusive worldwide strategic alliance with ecVision, a provider of global sourcing and collaboration applications for organizations that have international sourcing needs. This strategic alliance will enable the development and marketing of innovative integrated solutions designed specifically for the fashion industry.
 “We are pleased to announce this alliance with ecVision to bring their award-winning sourcing and collaboration framework together with our own feature-rich technology solutions to meet the specific needs of the fashion industry,” said John Hancock, president, Gerber Technology. “Partnering with ecVision further gives us the opportunity to diversify and extend our offering and continues our commitment to provide innovative, customer-centric solutions.”
 “Gerber Technology has long been the leader in providing product development solutions globally to apparel brands, retailers and manufacturers,” said Thomas Ng, CEO of ecVision. “It is a pleasure to partner with them to develop solutions that extend from product concept through all stages of the supply chain.”
12/15/05

Fashion Industry Consultants Form Strategic Alliance
Atlanta-based Productive Solutions LLC and New Jersey-based Optimyze LLC have formed a strategic alliance to align their expertise to provide comprehensive research, consulting, and technology guidance services to underserved mid-market fashion and related companies. The complimentary skills and quality of associates of the companies will provide retailers, brands, manufacturers, and technology providers with a unique combination of actionable advice and practical services tailored to their specific needs.
The new alliance provides a one-stop shop for fashion and related companies from a comprehensive menu of services that includes business strategy, performance benchmarking, business process analysis, technology guidance, technology selection and implementation, sourcing strategy, and more.
12/14/05

Lectra Honors Design Faculty at the ITAA Annual Meeting
Atlanta, GA -  For the ninth consecutive year, Lectra demonstrated its support for educational programs that promote technology in the apparel industry through its participation in the 2005 International Textile and Apparel Association’s (ITAA) Annual Meeting, held November 2-6 in Alexandria, Virginia. The ITAA is a professional educational association composed of leading university scholars, educators and students working in the textile, apparel and merchandising disciplines.
Lectra co-sponsored a faculty design competition at the meeting, granting three awards.  The “Lectra Outstanding Faculty Designer Award” went to Mee-Sun Choi from Dongshin University in South Korea for her garment made from hand-painted, non-woven paper. Ms. Choi’s innovative design earned her a trip to Paris including a visit to Lectra’s world headquarters and an invitation to attend the renowned seasonal fabric exhibition show, Première Vision, in 2006.
The “Lectra Innovation Award for Faculty Research” went to Jinhee Nam from Oklahoma State University for her research on the use of 3D body scanning technology for the creation of garments designed to resist exposure to hazardous materials. The “Lectra Innovation Award for Teaching” went to Wanda Brown and Rinn Cloud from Florida State University for their collaborative project on the use of digital technology to teach apparel construction. The university has adopted this course, which integrates traditional teaching methods and online technology, into its design curriculum.
“The fresh ideas and creativity emerging from the apparel schools continues to impress the jurists each year,” commented Ina Taub, Project Manager for Lectra USA. “Lectra is proud of its long-standing support for the ITAA, as well as of the accomplishments of the award recipients.”
12/13/05

2006 AATCC Technical Manual Now Available
Research Triangle Park, NC - The 2006 AATCC Technical Manual is now available in both print and CD-ROM formats. The Manual contains 115 test methods and eight evaluation procedures.  The CD-ROM is in searchable PDF format.
For more information on ordering the 2006 AATCC Technical Manual print version or CD-ROM, visit www.aatcc.org.
12/6/05