Textile Mills Exhibit Performance Fabrics

by Kathlyn Swantko

Over the past four decades, significant solutions in technical sports textiles has originated in the outdoor industry.  Much of the innovative research & development was conducted at the mill level, either independently or in partnership with manufacturers.  Highlighted below are several companies that showcased their latest fabric advancements at Outdoor Retailer Summer ’22 held in Denver.

Serving the outdoor, active sports, sportswear, outerwear
and uniform markets, Concept III develops, sources,
and produces knit & woven textiles, and textile-based
finished products worldwide.

Concept III Textiles, a textile development and apparel production service company, is an inclusive resource for developing, sourcing, and producing both knit and woven textiles and textile-based finished products worldwide. The company offers textile and fiber development and maintains close mill and factory relationships.

Concept III serves brands in the outdoor, active sports, sportswear, outerwear and uniform markets.  The company used OR Summer 2022 to promote its top-tier mill partners’ and tech innovators’ design and production capabilities, as well as environmental standards.  Concept III’s current list of partner companies include:  ABMT Textiles, a market leader for sustainable, innovative, high-quality performance Merino knits; HeiQ, a leader in textile innovation and creator of durable, high-performance textile effects; DRY-TEX, specializing in a broad range of technical laminates, soft shell constructions, 4-way stretches, waterproof-breathables, innovatively engineered lightweight laminated and coated materials, and sustainable textile products; Monterey Mills, a manufacturer of high pile/sliver knit sherpas, berbers, velours, and faux furs, along with natural fiber and synthetic blends for performance apparel; Kingwhale, an eco-friendly producer of technical knits and fleeces for all apparel applications, controlling production from fiber spinning, to textile manufacturing, to garment construction; NICEGAIN, a leading producer of sliver knit pile fabrics for apparel; and Daejin, a leading producer of ultra-soft micro-fiber knitted plush fabrics.

Eclat Textile Co, Ltd, based in Taipei, Taiwan, this vertical producer promoted its All-in-One service to green innovation, and its role as a supplier of circular knit fabrics for high performance activewear, intimate apparel, swimwear, and casual sportswear markets.  The company produces all types of knitted fabrics, including single knit jersey, interlock, rib knit, jacquard, terry knit, fleece, etc.

Committed to yarn development, fabric design, and garment design,
Eclat introduced its cradle-to-cradle design approach for many of its environmentally-friendly products, along with its environmental lifecycle identification dimension within its environmental management system.  (Eclat only uses chemicals that meet the standards of the bluesign® system.)  Eclat’s promotion of green manufacturing processes is committed to protecting and cherishing the earth’s resources and the environment.

At OR Summer ’22, Eclat showcased the company's branded textile performance fabric BodyCare® products that utilize its air-management system for controlling the body’s micro-climate and enhancing athletic performance.  These fabrics include:  1) Anti-Bacterial - Eclat’s BodyCare® Anti-Bacterial Fabric collection and freshness-enhancing technologies to control the growth of odor-causing bacteria; 2) Odor Resistant Yarns that use new yarns and treatments to neutralize body odor; and 3) Cool Sensation Composite mineral powder that slows endothermic rate and accelerates thermal diffusion to give a cool feel, while also saving electricity and reducing CO2 emissions.  Eclat featured its air-textured nylon yarn and fabric for designing versatile, comfortable, and fashionable sporty and stylish workout wear in a variety of settings.

Fortune Textiles, a privately-owned vertically integrated knitting, dyeing, and printing facility, is a fabric supplier of innovative functional fabrics in Taiwan. The company guarantees its customers that all its products are all made from recycle raw material from the beginning of production through the finishing process.

Gehring Tricot Corporation, a USA based vertical textile manufacturer, is a third-generation family-owned vertically integrated textile manufacturer, specializing in warp knits, circular knits, stretch wovens, and dyeing/finishing out to 180 inches. The company’s unique build-to-order sales system, creates custom fabrics based upon individual client specifications and needs.

The Tweave, LLC division is a domestic manufacturer of stretch woven fabrics, sold under the brands Durastretch®, Duratech®, and Durasense®. Contract knitting, dyeing and finishing services are offered, with factories based in NY and MA. Gehring-Tricot also offers a wide variety of testing services on their fabrics, based on ASTM, AATTCC, and NFPA standards.

GT used OR Summer ’22 to highlight its diverse manufacturing, and its ability to source a range of fabrics under one roof.  Its mills specialize in a diversity of machines, making available the processing of over 400 different yarns in the same factory.  With an emphasis on R&D, GT produces fabrics for a broad range of markets including medical, orthopedic, industrial, team sports, activewear, shapewear, personal safety, military/tactical, aerospace, intimate apparel, automotive, home furnishings, and engineered composite products.

WidePlus International Co., Ltd., based in Taiwan, is an international vertical fabric manufacturer, specializing in synthetic woven performance fabrics.  The company’s mission is to provide a global fabric sourcing platform and build up a trust relationship between brands and global customers.  WidePlus has its own vertical manufacturing facility, and offers warping to weaving to dyeing processes, along with its own In-House Lab to provide a wide range of internal quality control tests, ensuring customer product/material obligations and its “Create Lasting Value” slogan.