Q What are some recent developments/updates that Eclat has made with its Body Care® fabrics for the Apparel/Casual Sportswear markets?  What are the advantages of these changes? 

A Eclat Textile's new developments have come from Eco-friendly materials.  We introduced Bamboo and Charcoal Bamboo at Premiere Vision in Paris, and at the Los Angeles Textile Show two years ago.  Now, the US garment industry is taking an active role in producing garments for the active, intimate apparel, yoga, and spa wear sectors, as well as the contemporary sportswear market.  Because bamboo has natural "pores" in the cellulose fiber, it allows the fabric to breathe and makes it wonderful to wear day or night.  Burning a small percentage of the bamboo, creates charcoal bamboo, which can be combined with the cellulose fiber in the yarn spinning process and makes the fabric act as a filter.  This prevents body odor in the garment, even after 50 washings.  And, the test results show over 70% death rate of the incubated bacteria on the fabric.  Combine this with the fact that bamboo is a biodegradable, renewable resource, makes it an ideal fabric for these end-use applications.  Bamboo is also a natural partner for organic cotton, and Eclat has blended the two fibers together, yarn dyed it, and developed a fantastic fabric that has become very popular.  Organic Cotton has become one of our most asked for fabrics over the past six months, and we have also blended it with soybean, sea kelp, SeaCell®, and recycled polyester to help the environment  

Q What are the current challenges facing the Apparel/Casual Sportswear market?

A I believe the garment buyers in major department and high-end specialty stores need to seek new and exciting vendors.  They keep buying from the same people, stopping innovative designers from showcasing their garments, which would create excitement and bring back customers who have stopped shopping in those stores.  This consumer has gone elsewhere, many to boutiques and catalogs where the buyers are always looking for new fashion possibilities, and are willing to take risks with new designers.  Until this happens, the department stores will continue to see a downturn in sales, which of course hurts the entire garment industry as a whole.

Q What is Eclat doing to address the needs/challenges of the Apparel/Casual Sportswear market?

A We will continue to develop innovative, functional, and high-tech fabrics, bringing excitement to the garment industry.  We are one of just a few major mills in Asia that never stops looking for ways to make our fabrics more durable, efficient in their functions, and fashion forward!   

Q What do you see as the opportunities for Eclat and Body Care® in the Apparel/Casual Sportswear market over the short term?  What does the future hold?

A At Eclat, we will continue doing what we have always done-----not looking back on what we have accomplished, but always looking to the future.   Going forward, we will be offering silver-based polyester, negative ion fabric, and PLA, a polymer made from lactic acid.  We will be blending these new developments with soybean and other natural fibers, as we continually strive to help the planet and the environment stay healthy for generations to come!

Learn about Body Care®, blended bamboo, charcoal bamboo and other New Body Care Innovations.