Malden Mills Announces 2006 North American Polartec® APEX Design Award Winners

(Lawrence, Mass.) – Malden Mills announces the North American Polartec® APEX Design Award winners for 2006. This prestigious award goes to the best-of-the-best Polartec® based garments that will be available to consumers Fall 2006. Winners are selected based on the style, function, and fit of the garment as well as the most innovative and appropriate uses of Polartec® fabrics in the designs.

This year’s winners range from sleepwear to an IPOD friendly ski jacket. And the winners are:

•Kadi Nightgowns –Polartec® Power Dry®
•Burton AK Midweight 1st Layer Top and Bottom –Polartec® Power Dry®
•Timberland Mountain Sweater Zip – Polartec® Power Dry® with Wool
•Cloudveil Women’s Run Don’t Walk Pant – Polartec® Power Stretch®
•Burton AK Fleece Pant – Polartec® Power Stretch®
•Arc’teryx Covert Beanie and Scarf – Polartec® Thermal Pro®
•Arc’teryx Stiletto – Polartec® Thermal Pro®
•Patagonia Women’s Doppler Top – Polartec® Thermal Pro®
•Westcomb iRebel Hoody – Polartec® Wind Pro® with Hardface® technology
â���¢LL Bean Hunters’ Ultimate Multi-fleece Jacket – Polartec® Wind Pro® with Hardface® technology and Polartec® Power Stretch®
•The North Face Ladyhawk and Blackhawk Jackets – Polartec® Wind Pro® with Hardface® technology
•The North Face Kiri Hoody – Polartec® Thermal Pro® high loft
•Isis Coco Jacket – Polartec® Wind Pro®
•Burton AK Expedition Fleece – Polartec® Power Shield®
•Natick Labs Protective Combat Uniform – Polartec® Power Dry® and Polartec® Thermal Pro® high loft

In addition to a Tiffany crystal award and bragging rights for a year, winners can participate in a custom hangtag program promoting these products at the consumer level. Malden Mills also provides additional marketing support through product placement with media and events. Past winners can testify that the Polartec® APEX Design Award drives sell-through.

More detailed descriptions of the garments are included below. For more information, product samples or images please contact Greg Williams, Backbone Media, 970-963-4873 or greg@backbonemedia.net

Polartec® APEX Design Awards 2006

Kadi Nightgowns

Kadi’s two new nightgowns are not only cute and feel great, they were designed with a true purpose in mind. One common side-effect of chemotherapy for women is “night sweats”, causing hot flashes and perspiration. Made of silkweight Polartec® Power Dry®, the Kadi Nightgown will wick moisture away from the skin and dry quickly, keeping you comfortable throughout the night. Proceeds from Kadi’s sales will go toward the Breast Cancer Foundation.

Burton AK Midweight 1st Layer Top and Bottom

The AK Midweight Top and Bottom are base layer long underwear made of Polartec® Power Dry® with an eye catching “psycho stripe” print. The new print pattern ensures these garments will see the light of day while worn on their own. Like all Polartec® Power Dry® garments, the new AK Midweight Top and Bottom will wick and dry quickly and keep you feeling dry even in stop and start activities.

Timberland Mountain Sweater Zip

With 100% polyester on the inside surface and a wool / poly blend on the outside, these garments feature the best of both worlds – the natural warmth of wool, fast wicking, quick to dry, soft next-to-skin and machine washable. The Mountain Sweater Zip is a functional, technical baselayer and at the same time, it looks great in everyday, casual settings.

Cloudveil Women’s Run Don’t Walk Pant

Flattering, straight-leg yoga-styling and contrast stitching make Cloudveil’s Women’s Run Don’t Walk Pants both flattering and comfortable (an all too rare combination these days). Stretch, active wicking and breathability make these pants ideal for everything from Nordic skiing to lounging fireside.
Burton AK Fleece Pant

The Burton AK Fleece pant are perhaps the most versatile men’s performance pant ever made. Useful pockets and straight-leg styling ensure these pants can be worn on their own while the active wicking performance of Polartec® Power Stretch® makes them an ideal base or midlayer in colder conditions. Long after your shell gear is in the closet, these pants will continue to be a favorite.

Arc’teryx Covert Beanie and Scarf

Creative welded pockets and the plush sweater-knit Polartec® Thermal Pro® fabric may entice some to wear nothing but Covert Beanie and Scarf. While we do not endorse this response, it certainly won’t surprise us. Arc’teryx’ new take on these classic products is definitely worth a look.

Arc’teryx Stiletto

Arc’teryx has combined a beautiful new whip cord knit pattern from Polartec® with the perfect garment design. The women’s Stilleto has a side-zip mock collar, essentials pocket on the hip, gusseted sleeve design for no-lift reach and tailored, clean lines. This pullover can be worn as a technical midlayer or fashionable sweater.

Patagonia Women’s Doppler Top

This pullover is a wonderfully soft and playful take on a women’s performance fleece. Polartec® Power Stretch® panels through the shoulders, sleeves and sides provide stretch for range of motion while thumb-loops keep the sleeves in place for tricky reaches while climbing. Uniquely patterned Polartec® Thermal Pro® adds warmth for the core. The rounded hem improves harness compatibility.

Westcomb iRebel Hoody

One day electronic textiles will probably do everything from changing colors to charging your cell phone. But in the meantime, the Westcomb iRebel Hoody is “rocking” the boat with integrated soft switch technology that seamlessly allows you to control your iPod through soft buttons built into the sleeve. Made of Polartec® Wind Pro® with Hardface® technology, this jacket is made for action on the slopes or around campus.



LL Bean Hunters’ Ultimate Multi-fleece Jacket

Polartec® Wind Pro® with Hardface® Technology and Polartec® Power Stretch® – The name says it all. This jacket may be as good as it gets for active hunters. Polartec® Wind Pro® with Hardface® technology, printed with the Mossy Oak Break-Up pattern, provides a quiet but very durable, weather resistant, yet breathable layer that will stand up to years of abuse and harsh conditions. Meanwhile, uniquely designed side and back panels made of Polartec® Power Stretch® add breathability, stretch for range of motion (like drawing a bow), and active wicking to keep you dry.

The North Face Ladyhawk and Blackhawk Jackets

This year the North Face takes Polartec® Hardface® technology one step further with the addition of unique new patterns. This finishing technique not only looks great, it adds durability and water repellency to the jackets without sacrificing breathability. Made of Polartec® Wind Pro® both the men’s and women’s jackets also offer wind resistance and excellent stretch. The Ladyhawk has a floral pattern finish and hood while the men’s Blackhawk features a fashion forward “unplaid” pattern.

The North Face Kiri Hoody

The first thing you notice about the Kiri Hoody is that it’s SOFT – really soft. Once you overcome the urge to snuggle with this jacket, you will also notice a unique offset zipper, sweatshirt style hand warming pocket, and a hood that fits great. Made of ultra warm and lightweight Polartec® Thermal Pro® high loft the Kiri Hoody layers easily and is highly compressible, but we think it’s unlikely you’ll ever take it off to test this feature.
Isis Coco Jacket

One of the most glamorous fleece jackets to hit the market, the Isis Coco Jacket for women, made of Polartec® Wind Pro® high loft, has a tailored fit and comes in true women’s sizes from 4-14. A shawl collar and rolled cuffs highlight the cozy, fluffy inner surface while the smooth exterior sheds light precipitation and rebuffs wind.

Burton AK Expedition Fleece

Snowboarders rejoice! Burton’s new AK Expedition Fleece is a snappy parka-style soft shell jacket that does it all – defends against bad weather, keeps you from overheating while hiking the pipe, and looks great. Ample pockets with features for mobile entertainment. Taped seams. Made of Polartec® Power Shield® featuring a durable nylon surface, four way stretch and a Polartec® Power Dry® inner surface for active wicking.
Natick Labs Protective Combat Uniform

The Special Operations Forces’ Protective Combat Uniform (PCU) is a multi-level garment layering system that is designed for the unique requirements of Special Operations Operators deployed around the globe. The Protective Combat Uniform has far less weight and bulk when compared to previous military clothing options yet this synchronized