Product News - February 2007

There’s never a dearth of product information or a lack of interest here at UniformMarket. This month, Dickies, Pro Feet and San Mar have new product announcements to share with readers.

Just in time for winter, Dickies has launched an exclusive workwear apparel line bringing the latest technology in cold-weather apparel to work outerwear.

The company recently launched its line of Arctic Shield® workwear featuring the patented RE-tain™ technology. Dickies® partnered with Arctic Shield manufacturer ARC to bring the very latest technology and performance in cold-weather apparel to workers in colder climates.

The Dickies product line offers work outerwear combining the multi-layer, heat-reflective technology used by NASA that captures and returns up to 97 percent of the body‘s heat, with the durable fabrics, rugged styling and on-the-go job performance outerwear customers expect from the world’s number one workwear brand.

Arctic Shield is designed for use in any cold work conditions such as those found in farm, ranch, agricultural, utility, construction and municipal work settings. Utilizing Dickies workwear exclusive RE-tain technology, Arctic Shield is designed to keep the human body warm regardless of temperature and wind chill, even during strong wind gusts and the unpredictable climate changes workers face every day. The unmatched garment thinness and superior warmth of Dickies Arctic Shield workwear allows the wearer the freedom to accomplish their work without the hindrance of layers of bulky, ineffective clothing. The technology is also perfect for transition to weekend and recreational wear, such as in hunting and outdoor sports.

“Dickies is committed to bringing workers in all climates garments appropriate for their work conditions,” said Jon Ragsdale, vice president of marketing and business development for Dickies. “For workers in colder climates and environments, thermal insulation is a priority. With the introduction of Dickies Arctic Shield outerwear, workers will now have the warmest and most innovative insulation available. Dickies has partnered with ARC to bring the latest technology in cold-weather apparel to those workers and give them garments that offer superior comfort and warmth without the bulk.”

The heat control is made possible by taking advantage of the high heat-preserving properties of the RE-tain material and the low heat conductivity of air. Layers of the RE-tain material and air can practically eliminate heat loss, an attribute used frequently by NASA for the space program.

Dickies Arctic Shield workwear line includes the Arctic Shield nylon jacket with and without a hood, Arctic Shield vest and Arctic Shield coat. The Arctic Shield coverall and bib overall are made with High Performance Duck material.

The Dickies Arctic Shield workwear apparel will be sold through multiple retail distribution channels such as farm and ranch supply stores and sporting goods retailers.

Visit www.dickies.com to learn more

Pro Feet, a leader in the uniform, military, custom and team athletic sock business for 27 years has partnered with American Fibers and Yarns for its latest venture. Pro Feet has developed a new line of high performance athletic socks made with Innova yarns from American Fibers and Yarns Company (AF&Y).

Manufactured in the U.S., the socks combine superior softness and comfort with unrivaled inherent performance properties.

Pro Feet is introducing the socks in white, black, navy, royal, scarlet, hunter, kelly, gold and maroon. Priced at $6.99 per pair, the socks were available at Chick’s Sports in California in January. They will be available online at most major sporting good retailers and at specialty sport stores across the country in this month.

The socks feature a welted top for better fit, superior arch support and cushioning for longer wear, and increased ankle support for enhanced stability. “Pro Feet’s longstanding commitment to comfort and quality, coupled with AF&Y’s dedication to supplying high performance yarns, has led us to create this new line of athletic socks,” said Taylor Wilson, vice president of sales for Pro Feet. “Innova yarns are giving us the ability to offer customers athletic socks with unbeatable performance and cleanability, and that is a smart addition to our current product portfolio.”

The Multi Sport Team Socks made with Innova yarns are engineered with inherent performance features including superior moisture management and quick drying; stain/fade resistance and bleach cleanable; bacteria, mold, mildew, and odor resistance

With distribution channels throughout the world, and a continuing push for market penetration, Pro Feet Inc., is poised for growth, and by teaming with companies such as American Fibers and Yarns with its solid library of products, Pro Feet Inc.’s, vision of success will continue on for the next generation.

With thousands of yarns in its product portfolio and the ability to engineer yarns to customer specifications, AF&Y is a dominant supplier to the residential and contract furnishings marketplace, and has a growing presence in the apparel, hospitality, automotive and industrial markets. AF&Y maintains a Technology Center that specializes in engineering filament yarn with innovative combinations not available from other suppliers. The company also operates two U.S. production facilities totaling six hundred thousand square feet of manufacturing space.

For more information about Pro Feet, visit www.profeet.com ; for information on AF&Y and its products, please visit www.afyarns.com or call 800-925-0668.

Finally, this month brings news of a new collection inspired by the wine country. SanMar Corporation, a leading supplier of wholesale imprinted apparel and accessories, is the sole supplier of a luxury brand called Red House for those looking to pair their logo with the very best. The Red House collection takes its inspiration from the wine country lifestyle. The line reflects the same care, passion and artisanship that go into the pursuit of the perfect wine. It was introduced to customers by SanMar in mid-January.

“To our knowledge there is no lifestyle brand in our industry with this level of elegant fabrics and craftsmanship. Red House is the only comprehensive line featuring everything from totes to shirts to jackets in luxurious materials like cashmere, silk, linen, mercerized cotton and leather,” said Jeremy Lott, Vice President of Marketing and Sales. “For end users looking for the finest imprintable apparel, Red House is a must-have.”

The Red House debut has 31 pieces, including woven shirts, polos, sweaters, outerwear and accessories.

Highlights of the Red House collection are the pure cashmere crewneck sweater and the ladies cardigan reinforced at the shoulders and armholes by hand-stitching. Red House also offers a cashmere pashmina for women and a calf suede jacket for men. Silk, too, makes a strong presence in the collection with fine gauge sweaters, woven shirts, ladies tops and polos.

The entire line is showcased in the 32-page Red House catalog shot on location in the Napa Valley, California. It captures the richness of the Red House brand and the wine country lifestyle.

SanMar® Corporation is the leading supplier of wholesale apparel. A family owned business since 1971, SanMar is based in Seattle, WA with six national distribution centers.

For more information or to order Red House, visit www.sanmar.com or call SanMar customer service at 1-800-426-6399.

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