The FabricLink Network Announces The Top 10 Innovations for 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The FabricLink Network Announces The Top 10 Innovations for 2011

Tarzana, CA. February 21, 2012, The FabricLink Network is pleased to announce its 2012 picks for the Top 10 Textile Innovations of the year.This year’s winners represent the best the industry has to offer, incorporating innovations from across the industry spectrum. The new technologies are commercially available in the specialty fabrics market, and many are also available in finished consumer products from major brands.

The awards each year are an eagerly awaited feature of the FabricLink Network, the leading website for textile networking, education, information and resources. “Our industry depends on the technical innovations of talented product developers and designers,” Kathy Swantko, president of the FabricLink Network. “We have established this award to recognize the contributions of today’s best products, and to encourage the future development of new textile products.”

In creating an ultra-light-weight fabric with the same properties as heavier fabrics, Schoeller Textil AG exemplified the innovative spirit that the FabricLink judges look for. “Our designers and technicians were able to develop a fabric that is wind and water resistant and also down-proof, all with a minimal increase in weight,” says Tom Weinbender, President of Schoeller Textile USA. “It’s a win for our customers and a win for technology.”

CORDURA® by INVISTA garnered an award by innovating a way to make their famous durable fabrics softer, which allowed them to create a full line of apparel fabrics. “We’re excited to showcase ‘the softer side of durability’ and prove that you don’t have to sacrifice comfort to have long-lasting performance,” said Cindy McNaull, global CORDURA® brand and marketing director.

A FabricLink Network (FLN) industry panel chose this year’s winners. Judges looked for the novelty of the technology and the importance of the innovation on the future of the specialty fabric and textile market. Winners include:

·AeroFlate™, by BondCote, is an inflatable boat fabric providing strength, durability, and UV resistance even in the roughest waters.

·A*Star Research has developed a simpler, more eco-friendly way to introduce color into silk fibers, by adding fluorescent dyes to silkworm feed to produce luminescent silk fibers.



·CORDURA® Naturalle™ fabric from INVISTA is a durable fabric technology that looks and feels like natural fabrics, and are suited for active wear, outerwear, shell fabrics, and apparel.

·Fasten-Air™, by Darlington Fabrics, is a group of unbroken loop warp knit stretch fabrics that offer different levels of stretch, weight, and compression qualities.

·Glenoit Fabrics Corporation, based in Tarboro, NC, received an award for the innovative ways it is using its traditional sliver knitting machines.

·Keramatrix™, by Keraplast Technologies is a medical dressing material, designed for hard-to-heal wet wounds.

·Kermel® Denim is a new jeanswear twill fabric made of a 100% proprietary Kermel blend of meta-aramid fibers. It combines non-flammability, comfort, and durability.

·OFFRAY FR-FLEX™, by Offray Specialty Narrow Fabrics and Fulflex Inc. is a line of flame-resistant, no melt/no drip elastics.

·Schoeller Textil AG™’s USP (Ultra Soft Protection) is a new level of breathable, ultra-light technical protection.USP fabrics are lightweight and offer protection from rain and wind.

·Tencate Mirafi® H2i, by Tencate Geosynthetics Americas, is a patented multi-layer, multi-channel wicking fiber that produces a high tensile woven fabric for road repairs.

Criteria for Selecting the Products Included in the Top 10 Innovations: Qualifying products/innovations must fall into one or more of the following categories of specialty fabrics:Fashion Apparel; Technical Sports Textiles; Home Furnishings; Safety & Protective; Industrial; and Medical. Qualifying products/innovations must be commercially available within the textile industry in the year they are nominated. FLN accepts nominations all thru 2012.For consideration, submission should include a 200-word description of the product or innovation, along with a list of benefits/performance technologies.An image of the finished fabric/product, a trademark/company logo, and a press release can also be included.

Nominations for the 2012 Awards must be received before November 30, 2012.

Learn about these and other FabricLink Network’s Top 10 Textile Innovations at Fabriclink.com.

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About the FabricLink Network:
Kathlyn Swantko, a textile advocate and educator, is president and founder of FabricLink.com (www.fabriclink.com), and TheTechnicalCenter.com (www.TheTechnicalCenter.com) on-line textile resources, which make up the FabricLink Network. FabricLink.com (trade to consumer) and TheTechnicalCenter.com (trade-to-trade) provide information about new products and marketing opportunities for specialty textiles, textile-based products and services. The two sites offer valuable content and technical information; new releases on innovations; fabric descriptions; usage and care; supplier history and contacts.Seven Searchable indexes makes the FabricLink Network websites the “go to” resources for developers of textiles, fashion designers, and researchers. In addition, the Network offers effective platforms for all businesses, from small niche-based companies to large broad-based textile manufacturers, to reach other businesses within the supply chain and the consumer. Visit the FabricLink Network (www.fabiclink.com and thetechnicalcenter.com) on twitter at fabricLinkNet, and on facebook at FabricLink.com.


Kathy Swantko can be reached at (818) 345-7501, or at kgswantko@fabriclink.com.
Communications Contact: Beth Cochran cochran@whatsuppr.com 406.579.7909