[TC]² Bi-Weekly Technology Communicator
Pattern Making with Telestia Workshop at [TC]²
October 16-18, 2007
The Telestia Trainer software and the Telestia Creator CAD software will be the main training tools for this 3-day program on creating basic pattern blocks for any size, and performing simple grading steps for additional sizes.
Ms. Anastasia Vouyouka, CEO of Telestia, will be conducting this introductory program. The cost is $195 for the course. For a detailed course description, click here. (PDF)
Grading for Fit – November 14-16 - Learn basic principles of fit and grading. Hands-on projects include deriving grade rules and manual grading of three basic garments.
For more information on these programs, contact Elizabeth Salisbury at 919.653.3507, or use this contact form.
Organic and Sustainability: Defined
By Kim Anderson, [TC]²
The buzz words in the textile and apparel industries are organic and sustainability—but what do these words mean?
Organic is one of the most overused words in the English language. Of course, there is a precise scientific definition of the word. In science, organic can be a biological or chemical term. In Biology, it means anything that is living or has lived. The opposite is non-organic. In Chemistry, an organic compound is one containing carbon atoms. The opposite term is inorganic.
The textile and apparel industries have taken the word ‘organic’ and made their own definition—which is a little more complex than the way it is defined in other scientific fields. The definition of what makes a particular product ‘organic’ evolved over time and involved several organizations.
In 2002, after years of confusion regarding organic products, fiber producers, textile professionals, consumers, representatives from various standard organizations and certifiers came together to discuss the need for a world-wide organic textile standard. The result of the meeting was the the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
The GOTS details the requirements for harvesting raw materials, processing fiber, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, exporting, importing and distributing of an organic product made from natural fibers. The final products may include, but are not limited to fiber, yarns, fabrics and clothes. The GOTS clearly outlines the chemicals and materials that can and cannot be used in the various processing stages from fiber to export of the finished product.
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is a membership-based business association for the organic industry in North America. The OTA’s mission is to promote and protect organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public, and the economy. The OTA participated in the GOTS process and recognizes the GOTS guidelines as a global standard for organic certification in North America.
Sustainability and organic textile products are both similar in that they both emphasize environmental awareness; however, the approach is different. One of the most apparent differences is that sustainable products such as yarns are manufactured from reusable or recycled materials, which are not always derived from organic materials.
Today, sustainability is not only used to describe a product made from a reusable or recycled material but companies are implementing “sustainable” business practices. Sustainable business practices include using environmentally-friendly packaging, reducing manufacturing and operational waste and pollution, improving the energy efficiency of manufacturing and storage facilities, reducing energy consumption, moving toward the use of renewable energy, improving shipping and transportation efficiencies and designing sustainability into the products and services that are sold to the public.
Upcoming issues of the [TC]² Bi-Weekly Technology Communicator will showcase a number of organic and sustainable products and sustainable business practices that are being utilized in the textile and apparel industries.
References
Global Organic Textile Standard, http://www.global-standard.org/
Organic Trade Association, http://www.ota.com/index.html
Organic Clothing Blog
http://organicclothing.blogs.com/my_weblog/2006/05/sustainable_clo.html
[TC]² Activity
A Variety of Activities in September
By Jim Lovejoy, [TC]²
September was a busy month with a variety of industry activities. Beginning with two Fast Fashion Workshops in Bogota and Medellin, Columbia, Ken Watson of Industry Forum Services and Jim Lovejoy presented two workshops to several hundred enthusiastic manufacturers and retailers. At the end of the workshops the attendees had answers to “What is Fast Fashion?”, “Why do I need to be fast?”, “How is Fast Fashion different from speed to market?” and “How does Zara, the Spanish retailer, continue to be very fast?”
Material World and Technology Solutions in New York hosted exhibitors of fabrics from all over the world as well as apparel, home furnishings, fibers, trim and, of course, technology. [TC]² had a booth in Technology Solutions showcasing the new SizeUSA data offerings and the Assessment offerings for plant and product development. In addition, Dan St. Louis from the Hosiery Technology Center and Jim Lovejoy presented a seminar on “Enhancing Retail Profits through Balanced Sourcing.”
SEAMS, The National Association for the Sewn Products Industry, held its fall meeting at [TC]² on September 21-22. The attendees, which are domestic manufacturers, contractors and suppliers, heard presentations on Speed to Market, Fixing Quality Problems, Lean Manufacturing, Government Contracts, Costing, Belk’s Vendor Quality Expectations and a panel on Success stories. New Board of Directors were elected and Gerald Schwartz was elected President for 2008-2009. The election results can be seen at www.seams.org. The social activities after the meeting included golf, exploring Cameron Village, visiting the NC Museum of Art and a reception and dinner at Mike and Patti Fralix’s home.
Board of Directors Meeting
By Karen Davis, [TC]²
[TC]² welcomed 24 Board members and guests at its semi-annual meeting on October 2nd. Peter Butenhoff, [TC]²’s Chairman, opened the meeting, introduced first-time attendees, announced new companies added to [TC]²’s membership rolls for 2007, and requested approval of the minutes from the Spring Annual Meeting. Dr. Mike Fralix, President and CEO, provided a review of the company’s financial position and the 2008 budget, which was previously approved by the Executive Committee.
Kerry King, Manager of Digital Printing, discussed current research projects focusing on the use of nano-colorants in printing. The research centers on the investigation of performance characteristics, the ability to create engineered prints, and the applications for apparel and home décor. Nano-colorant printing is appealing based on the dry curing aspect of the inks, resulting in a reduced impact on the environment. The digital print team is also researching virtual communities on the web, with the ability to create a realistic avatar, or body model, based on 3D body scans, and to design fabrics and garments for the personal avatar.
Dr. David Bruner, Vice President of Technology Development, followed the discussion with virtual fashion using 3D technologies. The technology development group is working on 3D product development and the creation of software to generate automatic slopers, an ultra low cost/portable 3D body scanner, and processes to automate the scanner system calibration. Using 1,000 landmark points on the body, research is underway to create high quality avatars from actual 3D scans. Of the scanners sold in 2007, 75% are being used for apparel applications, and others involve medical and health/fitness uses. [TC]² scanner distributors are now located in Australia, Korea, and the Middle East, in addition to the UK distributor already established.
Tim Curran, Manager of Industry Services, discussed services available through the engineering group, which include lean training and organizational culture; factory assessments; industrial engineering; product development; and business process analysis. In business process analysis, all processes are mapped, including timing and task responsibility, to identify areas for improvement. In product development, the focus is on facilitating communication between the designer, manufacturer, and brand to reduce product development cycle time, material utilization and to improve quality.
Jim Lovejoy, Director of Industry Programs, discussed Fast Fashion seminars that have been held in several locations. In fast fashion, the focus is on small quantities, quick turnaround, continuous flow of styles, feedback from the retailer, and a synchronized supply chain. Continual new designs are created to take into account the customer’s reaction, and to correct mistakes.
Special guest speakers included Auggie Tantillo, of SRG Associates, who highlighted issues with the House and Senate with regard to the 2008 budget. The major concerns are, of course, the war in Iraq and the 2008 Presidential election. Georgia Institute of Technology’s Sundaresan Jayaraman and Steve Dickerson introduced SoftWear Automation – a business plan they are developing for micro-manipulation of fabric using robotics for automated sewing. Todd Rice, a strength/conditioning coach for North Carolina State University’s football program, explained how his group is using the [TC]² 3D body scanner to analyze each player’s body composition. The program focuses on the athlete’s flexibility, hip mobility, and shoulder stability to help decrease injuries and lost playing time.
Following adjournment of the meeting, attendees were invited to tour the demonstration facility or to continue discussions with [TC]² staff.
Member Profile - Kessler-America
By Karen Davis, [TC]²
Wilhelm Kessler founded the eponymous company in 1897 as a small plumbing business in Nusplingen, Germany. The company survived World War II, and with the addition of Mr. Kessler’s three sons into the business, other business growth opportunities were explored. Following the war, a revived textile industry in the region identified the need for sewing machine stands, and a new business venture was launched. Ergonomically-designed, height-adjustable stands were first manufactured in 1958, and in ensuing years, heavier, more complex machinery required a variety of resilient solutions for stands.
Other company innovations included pedestal stands, sit/stands, and hydraulically adjustable stands, which are used as industrial sewing tables as well as assembly, packaging, and inspection workstations. Ergonomics has remained at the forefront in product development at Kessler. Ergonomic products aid in increased productivity, reduced lost-time incidents, and improved product quality. Some of its patented products include foot pedals, and height-adjustable stands with hand-cranks, as well as electrically height-adjustable models. In addition to sewing machine stands, Kessler offers a complete line of flexible sit-down/stand-up workstations, table tops, and accessories which can be customized depending upon the application. Its anti-fatigue mats are designed for functionality and improved worker comfort.
A production and sales facility was established in Poland in 1996, and the Atlanta, Georgia office is a sales and distribution center, with a considerable inventory for quick shipments.
For more company details and a complete listing of products, visit www.kessler-ergo.com.
23rd IAF World Apparel Convention to be Held in Taipei: October 24 – 26, 2007
Zeist, The Netherlands - The Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF) takes pleasure in hosting the 23rd IAF World Apparel Convention in Taipei (October 24~26, 2007). This year, the convention will focus on the theme of “Asia: An Emerging Consumer Market from Global Production Base.” There are four sessions to be presented under the theme, including Trade Liberalization vs. Barriers, Asia Market: Risks & Opportunities, Capacity Growth vs. Profitability, and Technological Development and it’s Application to Production and Marketing.
The intent of this forum is to provide the apparel chain with an inside look at what is happening in Asia, and particularly how the rapid growth of Asian markets are affecting current global trade policy of the apparel industry. These areas are becoming more and more critical in sourcing decisions.
TTF will also be hosting an exclusive and unprecedented IAF Designer Award 2007 on October 25th. For the first time in history, this event will take place in the form of a Fashion Runway Show in front of the National Palace Museum in Taipei.
For further details concerning the IAF World Apparel Convention, including the agenda, visit the special convention website: www.iaf2007.com.tw or the IAF website: www.iafnet.com.
For more information please contact Nadia van Staden, vanstaden@iafnet.com International Apparel Federation, P.O.Box 428, 3700 AK Zeist, The Netherlands Tel +31 30 232 0908, Fax +31 30 232 0919
Important Dates
October
16 |
Sewability: Sewing Quality Improvement. Seminar at [TC]². For more details, click here. |
16-18 |
Pattern Making with Telestia Workshop, for more information click here.(PDF) |
18-19 |
Ergonomics: Create a Program. Seminar at [TC]². For more details, click here. |
24-26 |
23rd IAF World Apparel Convention, Taipei, Taiwan. For information, go to www.iaf2007.com.tw. |
November
6-7 |
AAFA’s “Knock It Off! Brands and the Counterfeiting Quandary” Conference. Long Beach, California. More information at www.apparelandfootwear.org. |
7-8 |
Apparel Tech Conference, FIT, New York City. For details, visit www.apparelmag.com |
14-16 |
Grading for Fit. Seminar at [TC]². For information or to register, click here. |
For detailed information about industry events, visit www.techexchange.com
Thanks to the techexchange site sponsors
Apparel Magazine, Gerber Technology, Lawson, Lectra, Methods Workshop and Reach Technologies.
A Look Ahead in the Newsletter
AAFA Supply Chain Leadership Committee Review
View previous editions of this newsletter
[TC]²
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