Product News: Milliken, Edwards Garment and Garment Corporation of America

This month’s product news comes from Milliken, Edwards Garment and Garment Corporation of America.

In April, Milliken and Edwards Garment introduced a new line of clothing geared toward food and service workers.

Service Mate, is a new line of blended twill casual-workwear ideal for corporate executives and other employees in industries such as hospitality where soil or wrinkles can be problematic.

Available nationwide from Edwards Garment dealers, distributors and specialty retailers, Service Mate apparel uses Milliken's StainSmart fabric technology to deliver dual-action stain repel-and-release capabilities for superior performance without compromising the look, feel or durability of the fabric.

This technology, according to a company release, keeps the wearer looking good all day. StainSmart's repellent feature means that most liquid and oil-based spills bead up and roll-off, preventing the majority of soils from initially staining the fabric. Thicker liquids can be removed by cleaning with a damp cloth. StainSmart's release feature allows tough oil-based and particulate stains that penetrate and are ground into the garment to be washed away during normal laundering. The patented chemical technology works in conjunction with detergents and water to more effectively release stains in the wash cycle and it is durable for the life of the garment.

"Service Mate combines fit, form and functionality in a great shirt. The improved functionality provided by Milliken's dual-action stain repel-and-release capabilities greatly enhances the value of our product for our customers," said Gary Schultz , president of Edwards Garment. "Our blended twill is durable, comfortable and stylish, and StainSmart provides superior stain protection for the life of the garment."

The soft touch, medium-weight blended twill shirts are available in short and long-sleeve styles for both men and women, and are made from 65/35polyester/ cotton. Available in nine colors, the Service Mate shirts are wrinkle-resistant, machine-washable and colorfast, making them easy to care for and looking great wash after wash. The Service Mate line coordinates well with Edwards' blended chino pants, skirts and shorts.

"Edwards has a history of providing superior garments to its customers and they've done it again with Service Mate," said Lyn Murajda, division brand manager for Milliken & Company, manufacturer of StainSmart fabric. "We are pleased to be a longtime partner with Edwards and to help further enhance their executive uniform product offering."

Edwards Garment has been manufacturing and supplying corporate and casual apparel for 139 years. The company is privately held and headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Founded in 1865, Milliken & Company is a privately held textile and chemical company that employs more than 10,000 associates worldwide. Milliken operates over 60 manufacturing facilities in 11 countries, and produces over 38,000 high performance products.

To learn more about Edwards Garment, please visit the Company's website at www.edwardsgarment.com . To learn more about Milliken, please visit the Company's web site www.milliken.com

Also last month, Garment Corporation of America announced that it will add flame resistant garments to its line of industrial uniforms by mid-summer, 2006.

Branching out into the FR market is a big step for the manufacturer, explains Lloyd Bennett, who stated that the company has consistently supplied core industrial garments and career apparel in cotton and poly-cotton blends for nearly 39 years.

"This transition," explains Bennett, "is an exciting new road for us, and the expansion will mean greater opportunities for many of our customers who are seeking new markets." Flame resistant garments are used by industries whose workers are specifically exposed to electric

arc, flash fire, molten ferrous metals and welding materials.

“The extra protection is a MUST in these industries and suppliers of these types of garments are few," adds Bennett, "so we've decided to be a competitive force in the marketplace."

GCA has begun production on five FR garments, using the flame resistant cotton fabric, Indura¨ by Westex, Inc. The garments to be offered include work shirts and pants, a work coat, and two styles of coveralls.

FR shirts will be available with regular sleeves only in navy and light blue. Made of 7-ounce cotton twill, the shirts feature a six-button hemmed front, a two-piece collar, one-piece lined single-button cuffs, and two mitered breast pockets with button-thru flaps, with left side pencil stall.

FR pants, made of 9-ounce cotton twill, will be available in navy and visual green. Features include NOMEX taped brass zipper, an innerlined waistband with button closure, two slack-style front pockets, two set-in hip pockets with left-side button closure, and flame resistant pocketing in all pockets.

Hip-length FR work coats will be available in visual green. Made of 9-ounce cotton twill they feature a gripper- front closure, two-piece topstitched collar, hemmed sleeves with gripper adjustment, and an inside breast pocket on the left.

Two styles of FR coveralls made of 9-ounce cotton twill will be available: a zipper-front style and a gripper-front style. The zipper-front style will be offered in navy, and will feature a two-way NOMEX brass zipper, grippers at waist, top and neck, a one-piece collar, hemmed sleeves with gripper adjustment, a bi-swing action back, side vent openings with a gripper closure, two set-in front pockets, two patch hip pockets, and two breast pockets with left-side pocket flap and pencil stall.

The FR gripper-front coverall will also be available in visual green. Features include five concealed front grippers and a gripper closure at the neck, a one-piece topstitched collar, hemmed sleeves with gripper adjustment, side vent openings, a plain back, two set-in front pockets, two patch hip pockets, two breast pockets and a side- rule pocket.

For information on availabilities contact GCA Customer Service by phone, 800-944-4500, or by email: info@gcauniforms.com.

Editor’s note: Would you like to see your new products featured in a future installment of Product Round-up? Send an email to Jackie@uniformmarket.com