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Index AATCC Connect 2 Customer Symposium [TC]² Activity - BOD and Open House Member Profile - American & Efird, Inc Important Dates A Look Ahead

AATCC Connect 2 Customer Symposium

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) held a symposium on April 7-8 at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. The theme was “Creativity 2 Communication” and it contained a wide range of subjects from apparel trend forecasting to profiling for CAD. Included here are excerpts from some of the many interesting presentations. More information on AATCC can be found at www.aatcc.org.

Trend drivers have influence on textile color and design. When co-existing conditions evolve, and a catalyst generates a new collective perception, a trend develops. An example of this from the speaker, Dina Puglisi, from Archroma Global Services, is the widespread adoption of high speed internet connectivity. The catalyst was lower prices and more availability. The result was more internet shopping and entertainment. A trend we have observed at [TC]² is retailers and manufacturers are mass producing clothing assortments far in advance of the selling period and many consumers are increasingly unhappy with the way the clothes fit. The result is the made to measure or custom fit businesses are growing faster than in the past.

The color trend forecast for 2006 by Rachael Crumbley at Cotton Incorporated was presented that less vibrant, more balanced colors are coming. She identified trends with names such as secretive, tranquil, introspective and fresh. The color forecasts are somewhat self-fulfilling because the designers pay close attention to them.

Several speakers talked about the importance of color in that it is the first thing a consumer notices and the final thing before purchasing. In Jim Lovejoy 's presentation on SizeUSA, [TC]²'s National Sizing Survey, he pointed out that if the consumer did not like the way the garment fits, the color did not matter. The analysis of SizeUSA data has demonstrated that it is important to determine what your target customer's shape and measurements are and how they differ from the “average”. It was also pointed out that with the industry's standard size grading, it is easy to miss on a several measurements which are important to the consumer.

Rod McGeachy, at Russell Corporation, talked about the importance of brands when the apparel industry is seeing the number of apparel units bought by consumers increasing while prices have been deflating during the last few years. This is due to consumers shifting to lower priced goods, a shift to mass market channels and lower price levels. Russell has focused on strengthening their brands and has transformed Russell from an athletic apparel company to an athletic company with acquisitions of sporting goods brands like Spaulding.

In one of the Product Development Cycle breakout sessions, several attendees pointed out that for a U.S. company, going full package is more work, not less, for the developers. When you are dealing with plants around the world, the communications of product specs have to be more detailed than when dealing with your own local plant. There was consensus that technology improvements in the areas of digital color, 3D visualization and PDM systems were helping this process.

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[TC]² Activity

[TC]²'s Annual Meeting of Members and Board of Directors and 25th Anniversary Celebration

March 29th events began with a meeting of [TC]²'s Executive Committee, made up of representatives from supporting member companies. This 15-person committee reviewed [TC]²'s financial performance, investment strategies, forecasts for 2005, and held a general discussion of business operations.

At noon, with over 40 member companies represented, the Annual Meeting of Members and the Board began with the election of new board members, which include David Baron of Liz Claiborne; Alice Butler of Wachovia Bank; Mike Hannaford of JCPenney Company; Becky Lewis of Invista; Chuck Nesbit of Chico's FAS; Juan Ruiz of Russell Corporation; and Susan Sisk of Sears, Roebuck & Co. (A complete listing of [TC]² Board Members can be found at http://www.tc2.com/who/bod.html).

Mike Fralix followed with an overview of the 2004 financials, and the strategic direction for 2005. Other presenters included David Bruner, who highlighted technology development's milestones; Jim Lovejoy on SizeUSA findings and the plans for a User's Group meeting; and Will Duncan discussed projects that the consulting group has undertaken in the U.S. and Latin America.

As a lead-in to the 25th Anniversary Celebration, Dr. Fred Abernathy discussed The Early Years of [TC]², when robotics research for a man's tailored suit was conducted at the Draper Labs at Harvard University. Dr. Roger Gilbertson, retired from the U. S. Dept. of Commerce, discussed the establishment of the federal grant to support research projects, and Jud Early of [TC]² followed with The Other Early Years – his perception of the company and how he came to be a staff member through his relationship with Joe Off, [TC]²'s Managing Director from 1987-1997, and visionary leader who established the demonstration and educational facility. These presentations were repeated during the evening for those who came later for the Open House.

Some company milestones include:

1980	Tailored Clothing Technology Corporation is formed with 4 directors: Murray Finley and Jacob Sheinkman, ACTWU; Jerome Gore, Hartmarx; and Lawrence Ward, Palm Beach
January 1985	Company name is changed to Textile/Clothing Technology Corporation
April 1988	Grand Opening of Hillsborough Street Demonstration Center
1989	[TC]² exhibits at its first Bobbin trade show
1990	First seminar on modular manufacturing is presented
1993	Demonstration of made-to-measure apparel using 3D body scanning technology shown at Apparel Research Conference
October 1993	Grand Opening of Gregson Drive facility
1994	Value-Added Coaching™ is introduced
1997	Digital Textile Printing is included in the Demonstration Center
1998	First 3D body scanner becomes commercially available
July 2002	SizeUSA, a national sizing study of the U.S. population, is launched
September 2003	SizeUSA is completed, with over 10,000 individuals scanned
2004	The NX 12 scanner is launched, and 23 systems are sold. Memberships include over 200 companies.

Over 150 people came to network and celebrate [TC]²'s first 25 years, including current staff, faculty fellows, student interns, members and associate members, business colleagues, and more than 20 former staff members. Special guests included Joe Off's wife, Maxine, and Dean Vought, [TC]²'s President from 1990-1992.

Sponsoring companies provided exhibits and helped facilitate the event. [TC]² gratefully acknowledges American & Efird, Asheboro Elastics, Cognis Corporation, Cotton Incorporated, Eton Systems, Gerber Technology, Lectra Systems, Methods Workshop, New Generation Computing, Paxar, and SPESA for their contribution in making the event a success.

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Member Profile

Quality is the Thread of Continuity: American & Efird, Inc.

American & Efird, Inc., the world's foremost manufacturer of sewing threads, located in Mt. Holly, NC, produces quality, economically priced threads for both the industrial and consumer markets. The company also distributes a variety of notions and trim items for all sewing needs. Celebrating “over a century of quality” since 1891, A&E has become the world leader in manufacturing thread.

American & Efird has been owned by the Ruddick Corporation since 1968, along with other subsidiaries including Harris Teeter, Inc. and the Ruddick Investment Company. A&E was the first thread company in North Carolina to match colors by digital computer, automate the doffing system on spinning frames, computerize their dye machines, and build a mercerizing plant. Recent years have seen continued achievements including the introduction of new products that have gained industry-wide acceptance. Manufacturers of apparel, automotive materials, home furnishings, medical supplies, and footwear rely on A&E industrial sewing thread to manufacture their products.

A&E's century-old commitment to its customers is still asserted. Producing flawless goods, the company feels strongly that their associates are the most important assets they have in reaching their ever-expanding goals and initiatives. They say, “our people are our history” and they continue to strive for the best in that history – their valued products. Workers are encouraged to “own” the processes they control, and to provide input with ideas for improvement.

In June of 2003, the American Apparel & Footwear Association announced the winners of their first annual AAFA Excellence in Social Responsibility Award in which A&E received the highest honors in the Preservation of the Environment category.

A&E has continually supported [TC]²'s teaching center by providing thread for garment demonstration, partnering on industry presentations, and was a contributing sponsor for [TC]²'s recent 25th Anniversary Gala Celebration.

For more company information, visit www.amefird.com .

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Important Dates

April

May

June

For detailed information about industry events, visit www.techexchange.com

Thanks to the techexchange site sponsors Blinco Systems Inc., Gerber Technology and Methods Workshop.

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A Look Ahead

May 24-25, 2005

AATCC/[TC]² Symposium

Printing 2005: A Digital Reality

A report from Arturo Rodriguez, [TC]²'s Latin America Manager, on a lean manufacturing project in Peru.

View previous editions of this newsletter

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