Uniform News - October 2007

Police & Military News:

New Law Requires Uniform Stores to Check Law Enforcement ID

Sacramento, September 27, 2007 – (AP) - Retailers will be required to check the picture identification of customers buying law enforcement uniforms or face fines up to $1,000 under legislation signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The bill by Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks, makes it a misdemeanor for vendors not to verify ID. Previous law made it illegal to impersonate police but did not require an ID check at the point of purchase.

Niello said the new law was needed because many law enforcement agencies require officers to buy uniforms through retailers.

He introduced the bill following a string of sexual assaults committed by police impersonators in Sacramento County, including cases in which three women who reported being assaulted in February after being pulled over by impersonators who drove cars with flashing lights and showed badges. There have been no arrests.

"It's really an issue of public trust in public safety officials," Niello said. "There were a couple crimes where some bad actors used a police uniform to misrepresent themselves and took advantage of people."

The measure takes effect Jan. 1.

Wear Testing for New Navy Uniforms Announced

Washington, September 24, 2007 (NNS) -- Selected officers and Sailors will begin limited wear testing of new uniform proto types, service dress khaki for chiefs and officers and service dress blue and white for E-6 and below, late this fall or early winter.

“The service dress khaki uniform is in a traditional style, last worn during the Vietnam era,” said Robert Carroll, head, Uniform Matters Office.

The E6 and below service uniforms, which still look much like the “Crackerjack” of today, will feature hidden zippers for ease of dressing and new piping for service dress white. The service dress blue will be for men only, he explained.

Uniform testing is expected to run for 90 to 120 days. The selected officers and Sailors will evaluate the uniforms’ functionality, appearance and acceptability and provide their feedback to the Navy Uniform Matters Office, according to Carroll.

Testing of the dress khaki and service blues and whites will be in Norfolk, Va., Washington, D.C., Millington, Tenn., and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. An overseas testing site may be added later according to Carroll. The service dress whites will have limited wear tests in Key West, Fla., and Pearl Harbor. About 225 officers and Sailors are expected to take part in the wear tests.

Carroll also said delivery of a single Navy working uniform for wear by all Sailors E-1 to O-10, and a year round service uniform for all Sailors E-6 and below is on track to get to the Fleet in summer 2008. The new Navy PT uniform is on track for spring 2008.

Product Watch: TenCate Protective Fabrics Keeps Troops Safe and Comfortable

Sept/Oct., 2007 (Textile World) - US Army and Marine Corps troops soon will be outfitted with new combat uniforms that offer flame-resistant (FR) and thermal protection from sudden intense heat caused by improvised explosive devices and other exposure to flame.

Union City, Ga.-based TenCate Protective Fabrics is supplying the woven fabric, TenCate Defender M, in a blend comprising predominantly Lenzing FR cellulosic fiber from Austria-based Lenzing AG, reinforced with para-aramid and nylon. The fabric — which in testing has reduced second- and third-degree burns by nearly 30 percent compared with a modacrylic blend and by nearly 45 percent compared with a heavier FR cotton/nylon blend — will replace the nylon/cotton uniform fabric used currently.

“Nylon/cotton is like a candle fuse, exacerbating burn injuries to its wearer,” said Guido Vliegen, vice president, global marketing, strategy and integration, TenCate, as he discussed current combat environments. “Flame risk is much bigger now than it has been to the regular soldier. The injured, some with lethal burn injuries, are being taken off the battlefield much faster these days, so their survival chances are much higher than before.”

The uniform system includes a jacket, pants, T-shirt, underwear and balaclava. TenCate blends the yarn that it weaves into fabric for the outer garments, which retain the traditional uniform’s comfort levels while adding FR protection. The quality of the fabric’s camouflage pattern, printed using the company’s patented technology, is enhanced because of Lenzing FR’s ability to absorb dyestuffs.

Oliver Spöcker, Lenzing Fibers Division’s international sales and marketing manager, Lenzing FR, said the fiber is a high-tenacity, inherently flame-resistant cellulosic based on Lenzing Modal. “That high tenacity, required for such demanding applications, is the major difference between Lenzing FR and other viscose FR products,” he said.

TenCate Defender M fabric offers combat soldiers enhanced FR protection owing to the Lenzing FR/para-aramid blend, as well as inherent moisture management and breathability.

The FR compound is an eco-friendly, phosphorus-based product from a Swiss pharmaceutical company. “Lenzing incorporates the compound into the fiber, making it inherently FR,” Spöcker said. “It cannot be removed by laundering or abrasion.”

The fiber also offers thermal insulation properties, as well as inherent moisture management and breathability that typically must be added to aramids by a finish that can wear off. These properties protect against heat stress and heat stroke. Further, when blended with aramids, Lenzing FR can increase a fabric’s thermal protection performance (TPP), and its TPP values increase after laundering, according to Darko Medved, president of Toronto-based Ivodex Enterprises Inc., Lenzing’s North American distributor.

While Defender M will protect the soldier first from the flames of an explosive situation, improved TPP just might buy the few seconds he needs to get out quickly before the heat affects his skin.

TenCate and Lenzing are cooperating exclusively on the Defender M program and plan to offer it globally for military combat uniform applications.

DeRossi & Son Sees Success by Serving U.S. Troops

Atlantic City, September 22, 2007 (Atlantic City Press) - The nation's march to war in 2003 sent military equipment and weapons manufacturers into a frenzy.

And while the troops needed their guns, they also needed to look sharp.

Production increased at Vineland clothing maker DeRossi & Son Co., which has been making dress uniforms for the U.S. military since World War II, when it was the largest manufacturer of its kind in the country.

Now, with the Army on course to meet its recruitment goal of 80,000 for the fiscal year ending this month, the 2-story plant on Sixth Street and its own army of seamstresses, cutters and pressers are heeding Washington's call.

"They told us to prepare ourselves to make new work," third-generation owner Donald DeRossi said this week.

Work is expected to increase enough on current contracts that DeRossi said he's looking to build on his 160 employees with 20 to 30 new hires.

Meanwhile, ongoing talk that the military will change the look of its dress uniforms also could translate into more business.

The current situation is a welcome change from two years ago, when the government said it had over-ordered dress uniforms, forcing DeRossi to lay off about 80 employees.

Currently, DeRossi said the company has two contracts totaling about $47.5 million with Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, which, under the U.S. Department of Defense, provides servicemen and women with clothing, food and supplies.

The company must complete 420,000 men's jackets by 2010 and 216,000 women's jackets by 2011, DeRossi said.

DeRossi & Son is one of only four companies nationwide with government contracts for dress uniforms.

Contracts are no longer won just by being the lowest bidder. The Defense Supply Center also takes into account past performance, including how many garments were rejected.

"The end product is going to our servicemen and women, and they deserve the absolute best," Defense Supply spokeswoman Diana Stewart said.

A 2005 Defense Supply Center assessment report gave DeRossi & Son high marks for its work.

"We've never been late on a delivery," said DeRossi, 70, of Ocean City.

The business has long been a major employer in Cumberland County, at one point retaining 400 people after World War II, at a time when more than 25 competitors flooded the local market.

But over the years, the county's business districts have suffered economically. The Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton unemployment rate was about 7.1 percent in July, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, compared to the state average of 4.6 percent.

As domestic apparel manufacturing jobs continue to move to Mexico and China, where labor costs are cheaper and workers get paid a fraction of their American counterparts, DeRossi said working solely with the government can bring security: Laws require U.S. military clothing to be made here.

As in other skilled trade industries, this new labor force comes out of growing immigrant populations ready to snatch up these minimum-wage jobs. Whereas some of the first garment workers to Vineland were Jewish and Italian, today DeRossi's employees hail from South America, Mexico and Turkey.

He said he remains in favor of seeing immigration laws eased. The company has had to fire workers who turned out to be undocumented.

"If they're not criminals, they got families and they want to work, they ought to be able to work," DeRossi said. "People can say they're taking American jobs, but they're not because we have very little Americans looking for these kind of jobs."

The journey of a uniform begins in the pattern room, where machines cut out pieces from a roll of cloth - a polyester/wool blend in standard military colors - that will later be sewn into a garment.

In another room, rows of seamstresses slide the cut fabric back and forth under the needles of their sewing machines. Other employees stitch loose ends together and trim excess material. Clumps of thread gather on the floor like hair at a barbershop.

After the addition of buttons and tags, final pressings and quality-control inspections, the clothing is boxed up and shipped out. With the current contract, the factory is crafting about 3,000 jackets per week, foreman Larry Dabney said.

Company Press Releases

DuPont Plans to Invest $500 Million to Increase Capacity for Kevlar

Wilmington, DE, September 19, 2007 - DuPont today announced production expansion plans for its high performance Kevlar para-aramid brand fiber.

DuPont plans to invest over $500 million in a multi-phase production expansion starting with a Kevlar polymer expansion in Richmond, Va., later this year. For DuPont, a world leader in para-aramid sales, this expansion would increase Kevlar capacity by more than 25 percent when complete in 2010 and represents the largest Kevlar expansion since the product was introduced in 1965. Details about additional expansion phases will be announced at a later date.

"Global demand for DuPont Kevlar has soared with the growing need for safety and security worldwide," Thomas G. Powell, vice president and general manager - DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems, said. "In addition, high energy prices have increased demand for the lightweight strength of Kevlar in the aerospace, oil and gas and automotive industries. Our capacity expansion plan is a critical step in growing the Kevlar business, maintaining DuPont leadership in high performance fibers, and delivering the innovation customers expect from DuPont."

"This is a significant investment for DuPont and underscores our commitment to sustainability and providing products that improve the safety and protection of people and critical processes around the world," Mark P. Vergnano, group vice president - DuPont Safety & Protection, said. "We are focusing our investment on products like Kevlar that meet the needs of these multi-billion-dollar growth industries for high-performance, innovative materials."

DuPont is committed to investment in both Kevlar and Nomex brand aramid fibers, including several recent investments in both products. Between 2000 and 2006, DuPont successfully completed four Kevlar fiber expansion projects at its Richmond, Va., and Maydown, Northern Ireland, facilities.

The latest expansions incorporated a proprietary New Fiber Technology (NFT) developed and patented by DuPont. This new technology enables innovative fiber and production capabilities for DuPont and is essential to help meet future market needs. In August 2006, DuPont announced it expected to invest more than $100 million in a three-phase capacity expansion that would raise Nomex fiber and paper capability by approximately 10 percent. The first phase of the Nomex expansion is scheduled to go online later this year.

As the first man-made fiber to deliver high strength combined with light weight, Kevlar is recognized as a category creator and leading brand in many high performance and life saving applications. This balance of properties makes Kevlar the material of choice for a broad range of uses. Best known for its proven performance in ballistic and stab-resistant body armor, Kevlar has helped to save the lives of thousands of law enforcement and military personnel around the world. The increasing need for protection against new and emerging threats continues to spur demand for Kevlar in vehicle armoring, firefighter turnout gear, and blast and storm-resistant construction applications.

Demand for Kevlar also is increasing in the oil and gas and aerospace industries. The lightweight strength, dimensional stability and chemical resistance of Kevlar improve the reliability of umbilicals and risers used in offshore energy production platforms. These same properties also allow aerospace engineers and designers to build lighter aircraft with improved fuel efficiency.

Fashion Week Delivers Inspiration for Cintas’ Spring Apparel Lines

Chicago, September 21, 2007 -- Just beyond the flashing cameras at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, the Cintas’ executive design team looked to the runway to identify the newest fashion trends for next year’s apparel lines. The eight day event, which is held from September 5-12 at Bryant Park, showcases the spring and summer collections from the fashion industry’s top designers such as Michael Kors, Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren. Joined by a select group of fashion savvy company clients, leading representatives from the design, merchandising and marketing departments at Cintas joined an audience packed with luxury retail buyers, editors, merchandisers, models and other fashion industry emissaries for the event.

Ranked number six in Apparel magazine’s “Apparel Top 50” list, Cintas establishes themselves apart from the competition by delivering fashionable alternatives to their clients that mirror current retail trends. By carefully considering the workplace environment and function of each employee, Cintas’ skilled designers transcend designs showcased on the runway to create garments that enhance their clients’ brands while making associates feel their best.

“Attending New York’s Fashion Week gave me the opportunity to see that Cintas’ designs are truly fashionable,” said Jorge Trevino, vice president of Openings and Transitions for Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants. “As the first and leading collection of boutique hotels throughout the United States and Canada, we want to know that the wardrobe designs developed for our employees have a distinctive style that doesn’t emulate traditional uniform styles. Our hotel designs are unique and relevant, so we want our employees’ appearance to reflect that.”

After reviewing the latest fashion trends at Fashion Week, Cintas’ award-winning design team will use the styles, colors and textures showcased for inspiration in designing their upcoming collection.

“Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is the jumping off point for the industry in terms of setting trends and establishing the benchmark styles for the season,” added IMG Fashion Senior Vice President Fern Mallis. “Cintas, by looking for design direction from where everyone else in the industry is looking, will ensure that their clients receive current, sophisticated designs that match the industry retail trends.”

The new line will add to the already extensive line of apparel fashions featured in The Big Book presented by Cintas. With a variety of options in suiting and accessories that compliment any brand, garments recently added to the line offer cutting edge fabric technology that help keep garments more comfortable.

About Retail

Study: Self-Checkout Curtails Impulse Buys

September 20, 2007 (RetailWire) - According to a study from IHL Consulting Group, impulse purchases among women drop 32.1 percent and men 16.7 percent when self-checkout is used instead of a staffed checkout.

The primary reason for the drop, according to the study, is that self-checkout devices are not as merchandised as staffed lanes in most retailers. Additionally, there is usually a shorter line at each unit, removing the captive audience with the tempting impulse items in front of them.

The findings were part of IHL's North American Retail Self-Checkout Systems Market Study, which found that consumers spent more than $137 billion in retail self-checkout in 2006, a 24 percent increase over the prior year.

Not surprisingly, the study, which included surveys of 1,000 consumers conducted in the spring and summer of this year, found that acceptance of the devices increases sharply as consumers use the machines more.

"The more retailers can provide an incentive for people to use self-checkout to get past this hump, the more their checkouts can be converted to self-checkout," the report said.

Other findings in the study:

A positive view of self-checkout technology is formed over a rather short period of time. Of those who have used self-checkout at least six times, 86 percent have a positive view of the technology;

Consumers earning more than $100,000 a year are slightly more inclined to self-checkout. The report theorizes that higher-income consumers travel more and are therefore exposed to self-ticketing kiosks at train stations and airports;

Consumers in the South are the most positive about self-checkout, with 75 percent having a positive view about the technology;

Sixteen percent of the sample said they would be more likely to use self-checkout if they could pick the voice of a person to guide them through it. Most popular voices: Tom Brokaw or Walter Cronkite, (picked by 21 percent); Don LaFontaine, the movie trailer guy, (13 percent); and Darth Vader, (12 percent).

Loyalty Programs on Fast Evolutionary Track

September 17, 2007, (RetailWire) - Loyalty programs can do more than just give shoppers rewards for spending a lot of money in a retailer's stores.

Indeed, as loyalty programs roll on, they are being more carefully crafted and targeted, are providing a broader array of consumer perks, and are becoming much more sensitive to market demographics and customer needs than ever before.

The next trend in frequent shopping programs appears to be to better target the "best of breed" shoppers. Although at first blush loyalty programs might seem best aimed at getting new customers or under spending shoppers to spend more, experts actually advise a different tack.

For example, Larry Aronson, a former executive with Revlon who co-founded a loyalty marketing program called Cartwheel LLC actually thinks zeroing in on best shoppers is the best bet. It is easier to convert your existing shoppers to those who'll come to your stores more often than to change other consumer habits, he believes.

His reasoning is that it can be more lucrative to go after 10 percent of shoppers who do 51 percent of your business and spend $750 a month versus a 60 percent base that only produces 12 percent of sales and spends $30 a month.

The best initial programs are instant coupons that are issued when a customer hits a certain spending level. But the next step is to offer coupons that are more specialized to life cycles or even disease states, such as diabetes.

However, stores do have to dig deeply into the data to make sure future frequent shopper deals are aimed at the perfect audience, and more and more suppliers are playing a role.

In fact, manufacturers now see a benefit in using retail programs to also help target more of their "best" customers, too. That was the evolutionary point in loyalty programs brought out by Tim LaBeau, chief executive officer of regional drug chain Drug Fair, based in Somerset, NJ, who said his firm's new loyalty program, called We Care, would give the chain the "opportunity to work closely with our suppliers in the development of new ways to communicate with our shared customers."

More evolution is likely on the way. Aronson pointed to the success of Tesco in building its frequent shopper program in the U.K, and their entry into the U.S. will probably reinforce the growth of loyalty programs. In the U.S., food chains have been way ahead of other channels, but drugstores are quickly catching up. Down the road, Aronson thinks loyalty programs can be one of the most important factors separating one store from another.

End Users in the News

Houston's Boys in Blue May go Dark

Houston, TX, September 7, 2007 (KHOU) - The men and women of the Houston Police Department have been wearing light blue uniforms for nearly half a century.

It's become a tradition for some.

Others, like Police Sgt. Kenneth Bounds believe it's time for a change..

In a memo written to Chief Harold Hurtt, Bounds said it would help morale to, "change our uniform from the current security guard special to a uniform that instills a sense of pride in the men and women of the Houston police department."

Bounds and another Sergeant's campaign for a new look is being taken seriously.

“They made note of that just about every major police department in the country uses a dark blue uniform,” said police union president Hans Marticiuc. “That seems to be the national standard.”

In addition to the dark blue, the proposal includes a more durable work pant with pockets and a bullet proof vest that would be worn on the outside of the shirt.

An outerwear vest would be a big plus dealing with the heat officers told 11 News.

“It allows us to open it up and let the heat out,” said Marticiuc. “Where currently, the vest we are wearing is under the shirt and basically you have to strip down and take your gun belt off to cool down and that doesn't make any sense.”

Some opponents of the new proposal are upset about breaking tradition. And some say the new outside vests may be too intimidating for civilians

“You know what? I would rather look intimidating than look like a wuss,” said Marticiuc. “When I come up to a scene, I want them to know I am a police officer and I want to look like I can take care of myself.”

A committee, which will include a police union member, will most likely make a recommendation to the chief, who will ultimately make the final decision.

Local Police Officers see Tactical Uniform Changes

Longview, TX, September 10, 2007 (News-Journal.com) - There's more to a police officer's uniform than first meets the eye.

Like any other aspect of law enforcement, uniforms are continually evolving to keep up with changing needs. Longview police officers soon will experience the benefits of such change.

The Longview Police Department recently decided to change the material and style of daytime uniforms to match uniforms that nighttime officers have been wearing for a few years.

The switch puts Longview police officers on board with a couple of uniform changes that a growing number of departments across the country are adopting.

Strangely enough, many of the clothing changes were probably on display in a store before ever reaching an officer.

"A lot of the technologies come from the consumer market, like L.L.Bean or some of the high-end sporting goods companies," said Tom Ames, marketing director for Blauer, the company that supplies Longview's police uniforms.

"Probably the biggest trend that we're seeing is the move from traditional Class A uniforms to tactical, or Class B, uniforms," Ames said.

With the tactical uniforms, "you might have the formal appearance of the Class A uniform, but with extra pockets (and) stretch waistbands to make them more functional," Ames explained. Extra pocket space is one of the benefits of Longview's new uniforms.

This trend from a dressier uniform to a more practical one has been going on for about 15 years, Ames said.

"Officers wanted something they could wear in the court, in the office and also out in the field without having to do uniform changes," he said.

Fabric choice is the more recent industrywide uniform trend that Longview is embracing.

The focus is on material that will repel water on the outside while moving away sweat on the inside, Ames said.

Night officers at the Longview Police Department have had the type of uniform that day officers are now getting for about four years.

"Probably the biggest advantage to the uniforms we're using now is the comfort and the ability to deal with the environment," said Sgt. James Johnson, who works the midnight shift. "This uniform is cooler and more durable, and that's immediately apparent."

For Officer Alex Castillo, extra storage is one of the most useful differences between old daytime uniforms and the one that he wears when working nights. "One thing most of us like on shift is these cargo pockets," said Castillo, one of about 30 night-shift officers at the Longview Police Department.

Recently, Castillo was working an off-duty job and was wearing his day uniform, which doesn't have side pockets for the pants.

"I just couldn't find a place to put the rest of my gear," he said.

Though the basic uniform for day and night officers will soon be the same, there are a few qualities that will remain special to night duds: Instead of metal badges and name tags, night officers have cloth ones that are sewn onto the uniform. Instead of the typical bright, yellow police department insignia, they have ones embroidered in a duller, gray color.

The reason for this is tactical. When officers are working in the dark, they don't want to have anything that makes them stand out, especially when it comes to situations where stealth is necessary.

The total cost of the new uniforms will go from about $75 to about $100. (The police department buys its officers' uniforms.) A few years ago, it might have been more expensive for Longview to buy such a uniform, Ames said.

"In a lot of ways, uniforms have gone down in price because agencies are not looking for customized solutions to their departments," he said. "A lot of agencies have adopted stock styles," allowing Blauer to sell closer to wholesale value.

Charleston Uniform under Scrutiny

Charleston, SC, September 7, 2007 (The Post and Courier) - Charleston firefighters pride themselves on being among the best-dressed in the country, their vivid blue uniforms wrinkle-free and creased to precision.

But these same uniforms, made of 100 percent polyester, offer inadequate protection to firefighters and fail to meet national safety standards, a leading protective clothing expert said.

"They can liquefy and melt into the skin," said Jeffrey Stull, president of International Personnel Protection in Austin, Texas, which advises the National Fire Protection Association on standards for protective equipment.

That's why most fire departments across the region now outfit their front-line firefighters in cotton-based uniforms. The Columbia Fire Department hasn't used polyester uniforms in at least 15 years. North Charleston dumped theirs a decade ago; Isle of Palms and Myrtle Beach did the same back in the 1980s.

The debate about uniforms has simmered for years in Charleston and even became campaign fodder during the 2003 mayoral race. Charleston fire officials have long maintained the uniform material is a non-issue because city firefighters responding to fires are required to wear full protective gear over their polyester shirts and slacks.

But that's not enough, according to national safety standards. "The very fact that persons are fire fighters indicates that all clothing that they wear should be flame resistant," according to the association's standards. "This would include clothing worn under their structural fire fighting protective ensemble."

The uniform issue is the latest in a string of conflicts between the department's practices and federal firefighter safety guidelines that have come to light since nine firefighters died in the Sofa Super Store fire on June 18. State workplace safety officials say they look to the national standards to assess whether departments are following the law.

The main risk with polyester uniforms is that they provide little or no protection if a firefighter is not in full protective gear or if that gear is compromised, Stull said.

Photos and video footage from the Super Store fire show firefighters with open coats and no helmets standing mere feet from the flaming, crumbling facade, their polyester uniforms exposed.

Some fire departments favor polyester uniforms because the material maintains its color and holds creases well. But many have moved away from polyester because of safety concerns or because cotton is more comfortable for firefighters.

The Charleston Firefighters Association, the labor union that represents about half of the city's firefighters, raised concerns about the department's polyester uniforms in a 2002 proposal that it provided to Chief Rusty Thomas, Mayor Joe Riley and City Council. Union President Roger Yow chided city leaders last week for failing to address the proposal's major recommendations on uniforms and other safety-related concerns.

The city and the fire department have had ample warnings and opportunities to upgrade to safer uniforms, Yow said. In 2002, portions of a Charleston firefighter's uniform stuck to his skin when he was burned by splattering grease from a turkey fire, he said.

In 2003, state Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors visited the Charleston Fire Department in response to complaints about the uniforms and other safety issues. Investigators determined that no hazard existed because the department required firefighters to wear their outer protective gear over the polyester uniforms.

Riley said this week that he considered the uniform issue settled after Thomas spoke with OSHA representatives and was assured that the polyester uniforms posed no threat.

State OSHA spokesman Jim Knight said Tuesday that investigators took no action in 2003 because the national standards on heat resistance were not in place at the time of the inspection. Today, the state would consider the uniforms in violation of workplace safety regulations, he said.

The department's uniforms are made by Elbeco, which manufactures all types of clothing for public safety workers.

Michael Vasilik, director of marketing for the Redding, Pa.-based company, said that particular style of polyester uniform does not meet national standards for heat resistance. "It is not positioned as meeting that standard," he said. "It is a style that fire departments may choose based on their own regulations."

The lack of heat resistance in some synthetic materials, such as those used in athletic clothing, is enough of a concern that Marine Corps commanders in Iraq have banned the clothing on combat missions.

Many soldiers and Marines wear " breathable" athletic clothing under their uniforms because they help wick moisture away from the body and keep them cool. But in Iraq, where troops are vulnerable to roadside bomb attacks, synthetic clothing can significantly complicate burn injuries, according to military reports.

In one attack, a Marine was burned over 70 percent of his body after the vehicle he was riding in struck an improvised explosive device. The Marine's melted polyester shirt exacerbated the burns and had to be peeled away from his body.

Panel Looking at Uniforms for Pages

Sioux Falls, SD - September 12, 2007 - They've been part of two legislative scandals; now, South Dakota lawmakers are considering making pages wear uniforms.

A committee reported to the legislature's executive board on changes they think should be made in the wake of allegations former representative Ted Klaudt and Senator Dan Sutton behaved inappropriately with pages in Pierre.

The committee recommended additional forms be filed out to verify where pages are staying during the session. Host families to call the page advisor if a page violates house rules or does not come home, and they are recommending a hot-line be set up for pages to call to report any problems. The committee did not suggest pages wear uniforms, but the legislature's executive board is going to look into that change.

They get coffee, make copies and run errands for legislators throughout South Dakota's 40 day session, but now pages could also be required to wear the same thing.

Democratic Representative Rich Engels of Hartford says, "I think part of the reason for that was because the pages themselves have presented that idea to us."

In June, the legislature's executive board shot down the idea of pages wearing uniforms, but recently appointed a sub-committee to look into the idea and report back in November.

Former legislative page Dan Gustafson says, "They could easily identify us while the pages are working on the floor of the House of the Senate."

Dan Gustafson is a student at Georgetown, but last year, he worked as a page. During that time, he and another page wrote a resolution asking lawmakers if they could wear uniforms because they didn't feel the dress code was clear.

Uniforms would eliminate questions about whether a shirt or a skirt is appropriate. And Representative Rich Engels thinks it would make the page experience more professional.

Engels says, "There's not a whole lot of big changes but I think there's a lot of positive changes and I think continuing to look at the uniform issue is a good thing to do."

Here and Abroad

Fashion Designer Produces Uniform Collection for Jeddah’s Luxury Hotel

Saudi Arabia, September 16, 2007 (Al Bawaba) - Renowned haute couture fashion designer, Yehya Al Bishri, has designed a unique collection of uniforms for staff at the newly opened Rosewood Corniche in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

In a world first for a luxury hotel, Al Bishri agreed to the challenge when he visited the Rosewood Corniche and appreciated the unique fusion of modern interior design and Islamic sense of place which is a feature throughout the hotel.

“It was so refreshing to see a new building which is sympathetic to the historical context of Saudi Arabia,” he said. “The hotel is modern and contemporary but there are examples of Islamic art in the reception, in the rooms and the restaurants. I love that they have created something beautiful from the Saudi culture.”

The concept of designing the uniforms for all the hotel staff, from housekeepers, to butlers, to management, was a challenge for Al Bishri, who has designed uniforms for foreign immigration and the military college, but is far more used to receiving individual briefs from the Saudi Royal family, HRH The Prince of Wales and creating haute couture designs for the catwalk.

“The biggest challenge for me was keeping a consistency, but also being considerate to the needs of the staff. I wanted to create a theme and harmony, but give each uniform its individuality. I knew that the uniforms needed to be comfortable yet stylish and suitable to wear every day.

“My favorite uniform is the butler. I wanted to achieve something different, which requires taking certain risks. The hotel loved it when they saw it and I have received the most compliments about it,” said Al Bishri.

The collaboration between the hotel and fashion designer is a first in the Gulf region. “We wanted to create a sense of style and pride in appearance at the Rosewood Corniche,” said Hans-Peter Leitzke, managing director at the hotel.

“Yehya has conveyed the essence of the hotel – style, modernity and elegance with a twist of culture. You can see the difference in the way staff interacts when they wear their uniform, that they feel unique and special. We are honored to have Yehya as part of the Rosewood Corniche family and thrilled to be able to use such a talented and home-grown designer,” he added.

The Rosewood Corniche opened earlier this month, providing business and leisure travelers in Saudi Arabia a stunning new luxury hotel choice. The hotel offers guests new levels of personalized service and features the country’s first dedicated Ladies’ Floor, which is reserved exclusively for female travelers.

Will Safety Scares Hurt ‘Made in China’ label?

September 11, 2007 (just-style.com) - A combination of factors including safety issues with imported products, environmental concerns and even economic nationalism are leading more consumers to look for the "Made in the U.S.A." label on products they buy, according to a report by The New York Times.

Bill Allayaud, a director for the Sierra Club, told The Times that he was among those who has begun to look for American made goods where once he dismissed concerns about buying foreign made products.

"Every time you see 'Made in China,'" he said, "you think, 'wait a minute, something's not right here.'"

Alex Steffen, executive director of www.worldchanging.com, said consumers are looking to buy American goods because it provides them with the opportunity to enjoy "guilt-free affluence."

This desire, said Mr. Steffen, has meant "you have not only the local food craze but things like American apparel, or Canadian diamonds instead of African 'blood diamonds,' or local-crafted toys."

Interestingly, the low price of imported goods has in many cases given American-made products a luxury cache. The Times article pointed to New Balance, which produces its top-of-the-line sneaker in the U.S. while sourcing lower-end models overseas.

In the past, the fashion industry led a manufacturing exodus to points overseas. While the vast majority of goods continue to be made somewhere other than here, New Balance and others such as Nicole Miller and Oscar de la Renta are manufacturing in the U.S.

While these designers are producing goods domestically, they are not currently incorporating "Made in the U.S.A." into marketing messages.

Despite problems with some low-cost goods produced in China and elsewhere, there is still a view held by many consumers that "Made Over There" equates to higher quality and buying U.S. products does not merit serious consideration.

Ernie Boch, president of Boch Automotive, which operates Honda, Subaru and Toyota dealerships, said that is the case when it comes to affluent consumers buying cars. "It's kind of like people who stay at the Four Seasons," he said. "They've heard of Motel 6, but they don't stay there. It's not part of their vernacular."

Editor’s Note: Are American uniform end users ready to buy "Made in the U.S.A." goods? How would a retailer market such a program? Send your comments to jackie@uniformmarket.com