Spotlight on Business & MarketPlace:
Purista Poised to Freshen Up Uniform Industry

By Jackie Rosselli

A fabric treatment new to the uniform industry may soon join the growing list of products designed to extend the wear and improve the comfort of garments worn in the work environment.

With the rise in consumer demand for comfort enhancing and easy care textiles, textile manufacturers as well as retailers and brands are looking for new ways to add value. Today’s garments must not only look good, but they must also wick away moisture, repel stains, provide stretch, and be wrinkle free after laundering.

Arch Chemicals would like to add the term “freshness” to the list of consumer demands. The chemical giant has formed an alliance with BASF’s Performance Chemicals for Textiles business unit to market Arch’s Reputex™ 20 freshness-enhancing finish and its associated Purista brand label, which is used on treated consumer products in the U.K., Southeast Asia and Canada. The companies are working together to enter new application sectors in everyday clothing and home textiles, such as shirts, fashion tops and bed linens.

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In Business, as in Life, Change is Good

By Joseph Greco, M.S.O.D.

Often it seems when everything is set just right something changes. While we’ve heard many times that change is inevitable, inertia is a powerful force and we’d be naturally more inclined to avoid dealing with change. But since change is going to happen, and probably when we least expect or plan for it, we may as well select a philosophy that will enable us to continue leading and managing.

I adopted an attitude that I have become “comfortable with the uncomfortable.” We need to recognize, if we are being realistic, that things don’t always go the way we plan. You have choices in response to managing change. You can deny it and I am sure we can think of examples of associates that exhibit this behavior. You can become emotionally upset or you can find a way to deal with change that will enable continued successful progress for your personal and professional agenda. You may not like the change but you must acknowledge it if you are going to move forward. Be prepared by being equipped with a model for understanding how you and others react to change. Competent leadership will create a compelling vision accompanied by a clear mission statement so associates have a handy reference framework.

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Product News

New products and additions have been added to the lines of Burlington , Unfi, Edwards Garment and Strategic Partners.

BURLINGTON WORLDWIDE
In early February, Burlington WorldWide announced that Burlington Labs, Burlington WorldWide’s technology incubator, had developed another activated carbon based product to its Cocona line, this time in wool.

UNIFI INC.
News of an additional advancement in fabric technology comes from Unifi Inc. The company has developed a new performance yarn under its aio, product offering - aio Repreve – 100 percent recycled yarn with permanent performance benefits. Furthermore, Unifi guarantees that Repreve is 100 percent recycled-all the time.

EDWARDS GARMENT
Edwards Garment new security line promises to blend traditional style with a bit of flare. The traditional style selection includes a security shirt, clip-on tie, belt and polyester pant. The shirts come in either 100 percent polyester (in white, blue or midnight navy) or the new poly/cotton blend (in white) and sports “X” stitch epaulets, permanent collar stays, badge tab with reinforced sling, traditional sewn-in creases front and back, and pleated patch pockets with scalloped flaps and Velcro closures.

STRETEGIC PARTNERS
Finally this month, there’s product news from Strategic Partners Inc., makers of Classroom School Uniforms, a leading provider of school uniforms for public and private schools. The company recently unveiled its 2007 School Uniform Line, along with its Cherokee Authentic Workwear® line geared toward working men and women.

UniformMarket Store System Welcomes New Users

The following companies have launched new web sites using the UniformMarket Store System:

	Imagewear International : www.imagewearintl.com
	The Monogram House www.tmhuniforms.com

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