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Garment Corporation of America announced that it will add flame resistant garments to its line of industrial uniforms.
Branching out into the FR market is a big step for the manufacturer, explains Lloyd Bennett, who stated that the company has consistently supplied core industrial garments and career apparel in cotton and poly-cotton blends for nearly 39 years.
“This transition,” explains Bennett, “is an exciting new road for us, and the expansion will mean greater opportunities for many of our customers who are seeking new markets.” Flame resistant garments are used by industries whose workers are specifically exposed to electric arc, flash fire, molten ferrous metals and welding materials.
“The extra protection is a MUST in these industries and suppliers of these types of garments are few,” adds Bennett, “so we’ve decided to be a competitive force in the marketplace.”
GCA has begun production on five FR garments, using the flame resistant cotton fabric, Indura¨ by Westex, Inc. The garments to be offered include work shirts and pants, a work coat, and two styles of coveralls.
FR shirts will be available with regular sleeves only in navy and light blue. Made of 7-ounce cotton twill, the shirts feature a six-button hemmed front, a two-piece collar, one-piece lined single-button cuffs, and two mitered breast pockets with button-thru flaps, with left side pencil stall.
FR pants, made of 9-ounce cotton twill, will be available in navy and visual green. Features include NOMEX taped brass zipper, an innerlined waistband with button closure, two slack-style front pockets, two set-in hip pockets with left-side button closure, and flame resistant pocketing in all pockets.
Hip-length FR work coats will be available in visual green. Made of 9-ounce cotton twill they feature a gripper- front closure, two-piece topstitched collar, hemmed sleeves with gripper adjustment, and an inside breast pocket on the left.
Two styles of FR coveralls made of 9-ounce cotton twill will be available: a zipper-front style and a gripper-front style. The zipper-front style will be offered in navy, and will feature a two-way NOMEX brass zipper, grippers at waist, top and neck, a one-piece collar, hemmed sleeves with gripper adjustment, a bi-swing action back, side vent openings with a gripper closure, two set-in front pockets, two patch hip pockets, and two breast pockets with left-side pocket flap and pencil stall.
The FR gripper-front coverall will also be available in visual green. Features include five concealed front grippers and a gripper closure at the neck, a one-piece topstitched collar, hemmed sleeves with gripper adjustment, side vent openings, a plain back, two set-in front pockets, two patch hip pockets, two breast pockets and a side- rule pocket.
For information contact GCA Customer Service by phone, 800-944-4500,
or by email: info@gcauniforms.com.
A new line of clothing for food and service workers
Service Mate, is a new line of blended twill casual-workwear ideal for corporate executives and other employees in industries such as hospitality where soil or wrinkles can be problematic.
Available nationwide from Edwards Garment dealers, distributors and specialty retailers, Service Mate apparel uses Milliken’s StainSmart fabric technology to deliver dual-action stain repel-and-release capabilities for superior performance without compromising the look, feel or durability of the fabric.
This technology, according to a company release, keeps the wearer looking good all day. StainSmart’s repellent feature means that most liquid and oil-based spills bead up and roll-off, preventing the majority of soils from initially staining the fabric. Thicker liquids can be removed by cleaning with a damp cloth. StainSmart’s release feature allows tough oil-based and particulate stains that penetrate and are ground into the garment to be washed away during normal laundering. The patented chemical technology works in conjunction with detergents and water to more effectively release stains in the wash cycle and it is durable for the life of the garment.
“Service Mate combines fit, form and functionality in a great shirt. The improved functionality provided by Milliken’s dual-action stain repel-and-release capabilities greatly enhances the value of our product for our customers,” said Gary Schultz , president of Edwards Garment. “Our blended twill is durable, comfortable and stylish, and StainSmart provides superior stain protection for the life of the garment.”
The soft touch, medium-weight blended twill shirts are available in short and long-sleeve styles for both men and women, and are made from 65/35 polyester/cotton. Available in nine colors, the Service Mate shirts are wrinkle-resistant, machine-washable and colorfast, making them easy to care for and looking great wash after wash. The Service Mate line coordinates well with Edwards’ blended chino pants, skirts and shorts.
“Edwards has a history of providing superior garments to its customers and they’ve done it again with Service Mate,” said Lyn Murajda, division brand manager for Milliken & Company, manufacturer of StainSmart fabric. “We are pleased to be a longtime partner with Edwards and to help further enhance their executive uniform product offering.”
To learn more about Edwards Garment,
please visit the company’s website at www.edwardsgarment.com
To learn more about Milliken,
please visit the company’s web site www.milliken.com
New Style BDU for Tactical Team Members
Tru-Spec by Atlanco, a supplier of BDUs and other apparel to the law enforcement and military sectors, has introduced a brand new style BDU focused specifically on the requirements of tactical team members.
The Georgia-based company’s new TRU Tactical Response Uniform is founded on the ACU recently adopted by the U.S. Army, which is currently available from Tru-Spec. With input from several tactical officers around the country, including members of the Department of Homeland Security’s ICE SRT team in San Diego, Tru-Spec has added several proprietary design improvements to its TRU aimed at improving functionality, durability and comfort in the field.
Unlike the standard ACU, which is available only in a military digital pattern, Tru-Spec is offering the new TRU in six popular color choices (black, khaki, olive, navy, woodland camo and three-color desert camo) and with several coordinated accessory items including combat caps, matching t-shirts, shoulder conversion kits and name tape kits. All fabrics were developed and manufactured in U.S. government-approved factories and built to withstand battlefield conditions.
Some of the exclusive design improvements available only in the new TRU include: zigzag stitching on the hook and loop of both the sleeve cuffs and the mandarin collar; extra deep front trouser pockets; and double reinforced front trouser pocket openings to protect the pocket from wear and tear caused by the clip on pocket knives.
TRU Tactical Response Uniforms are available only from Tru-Spec dealers and distributors.
For more informations, visit the Tru-Spec website at www.truspec.com,
or call Tru-Spec at 1-800-241-9414.
First uniform catalog
While not exactly a product, it is a first of its kind for SanMar, a wholesale supplier of apparel and accessories.
The Seattle-based company debuted its first catalog that focuses completely on uniforms. The new 36-page catalog features 12 never-before-seen styles, including pants, outerwear and safety wear from CornerStone™, SanMar’s workwear collection which premiered last year.
Designed to cater to a variety of uniform needs, the Uniform Collection 2006/2007 Catalog features apparel and accessories for restaurant wear, corporate wear, hospitality, retail uniforming, construction, manufacturing and more. Along with CornerStone™, the catalog showcases apparel from Port & Company® and Port Authority®, which debuts pleated khaki pants.
The easy to use Uniform Collection 2006/2007 Catalog features a quick-read guide that lists which industries each product is best for, so readers can go straight to apparel and accessories that are appropriate to their needs.
To order the Uniform Collection 2006/2007 Catalog, call SanMar’s customer care center at 800-426-6399 or visit www.sanmar.com.
Smart Shield embedded radio frequency identification (RFID) chip
V.H. Blackinton & Co. Inc. has developed a badge for law enforcement and government agencies with an embedded radio frequency identification (RFID) chip it plans to launch in August, according to a company press statement.
Counterfeit badges have been a concern in law enforcement for quite some time, but the issue was brought to a boil after 9/11. On May 9, 2005, Sergio Khorosh, a Russian and permanent U.S. resident, was arrested in New York by federal agents. The charge? Possession and sale of more than 1,300 high quality, counterfeit law enforcement badges that included shields from 35 different federal, state and local agencies.
In another incident just two years ago, federal undercover investigators used the Internet to purchase more than 900 black-market law enforcement badges, some real, some counterfeit, including FBI and Secret Service shields. “For someone to have that in their possession and utilize it to identify themselves as law enforcement could be devastating to security, particularly homeland security,” commented U.S. Immigrations and Customs Special Agent in Charge Martin Ficke.
The SmartShield system, as the Blackinton product is known, addresses security issues by validating badges and verifying the wearer. The package comprises Blackinton metal badges equipped with RFID chips, and Enforcement Identification (Eid) software that tracks information on each badge in a department’s inventory.
Eid Software drives the SmartShield badge and system, enabling a wide range of security applications—from very simple to highly sophisticated. It also allows quick, simple badge-control programming. The users’ database may contain information such as a badge ID or location (i.e., issued or in inventory), or specifics about the badge wearer—name, photo, badge number, or issuance history. The information is only available to authorized system users; Eid Software also supports existing access-control security infrastructures.
Blackinton has worked on the application since 2003. Research began in 2004, and development and manufacturing commenced last year.
South Carolina Highway Patrol, Brookline Massachusetts Police Department, and the Louisiana State Capitol Police are testing SmartShield, said John Domurad, director of research and development at Blackinton. Furthest along on deployment, the South Carolina Highway Patrol began testing badges in the field last September. The agency deployed the software earlier this year.
Blackinton’s application uses 125 kilohertz or a 13.56 megahertz RFID chip, each encoded with an identification number and law enforcement agency number specific to the division and embedded into the badge made from ferrous metals. “The chip is embedded into the badge, not attached,” Domurad said. “The chip becomes inoperable if someone tries to remove it.”
Getting the chip to transmit through metal hasn’t been easy. Metal reflects radio frequency signals. Consumer goods companies adhering to supply-chain mandates from Best Buy to Wal-Mart to Target Corp. have struggled to get radio frequency signals to transmit through aluminum and metal, such as cans filled with vegetables.
Domurad declined to provide details on how the embedded chip transmits the signal. “Telling you the specifics would be a bit like giving you the formula for Coca Cola,” he said. “All I can tell you is it works. But the same configuration doesn’t necessarily work in all badge styles.”
To learn more, visit www.blackinton.com.
Workwear specially designed for women
The stereotypical working woman with a briefcase, hose and heels may be a thing of the past. According to the latest data, more than 50 percent of working women are in non-office jobs in fields like transportation, construction, farming, emergency response, food service, shipping and manufacturing.
That’s why global workwear manufacturer Dickies is introducing a new line of professional quality workwear specially designed for women who need tough, durable workpants, shirts, shorts and carpenter jeans to wear on the job. Features include industrial-laundry strength fabric and trim (including an RFID pocket for convenience of chip placement), racheting zipper sliders and reinforced pockets, waistbands and seams.
“This is not sportswear with a Dickies label slapped on – our women’s line is as durable, functional and easy-care as what we make for men, ” said Jon Ragsdale, vice president, marketing, at Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co. “We’ve combined the qualities women want in their apparel, such as style, fit and comfort, along with the practical features they need to do their jobs.”
• Flat-front and pleated work pants and shorts in a Scotchgard stain release-treated 7-oz. mechanical stretch twill that is wrinkle- and fade-resistant in black, navy and khaki with a more modern relaxed fit and lower rise.
• Women’s cell phone pants, cargo pocket cell phone pants and cell phone shorts have specially placed pockets designed to be more comfortable for women—for example, with the cell phone pocket in the front rather in the back (where it is in the men’s line). All three are in a Scotchgard stain release-treated stretch twill with a stretch interlining in the waistband for greater comfort while bending, lifting or stooping.
• A basic five-pocket denim jean in 13-oz. mechanical stretch fabric that also features the stretch waist interlining.
• A stretch carpenter jean has a relaxed fit with a slightly flared leg, plus double belt loops, a cargo pocket with hidden snap plus patch pockets, and cell phone, watch and rule pockets. Women’s jeans and workpants are offered in a variety of inseam lengths and in sizes 4 – 24.
• Three stretch tops in wrinkle- and stain-resistant poplin and oxford feature moisture management for all day comfort. The tops have princess seams for a neater, more tailored fit, plus longer tails so they stay tucked in throughout an active day.
Since its beginnings in Fort Worth, Texas in 1922, the Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co. has grown from a manufacturer of bib overalls into a global brand powerhouse, with Dickies work pants, shirts, denim, outerwear, school uniforms, outdoor gear, medical and chefs apparel and an extensive licensing program offering sturdy head-to-toe clothing options. Williamson-Dickie operates through subsidiaries in North America, Canada and Europe as well as exclusive distributorship around the world.
Learn more by visiting www.dickies.com
Performance sport socks and crew socks
The company has developed a line of high performance sport socks and crew socks made with Innova® yarns from American Fibers and Yarns Company (AF&Y).
Manufactured by Crystal Hosiery of Colombia, South America , the socks combine the comfort of cotton with the high performance characteristics of synthetic yarn.
Innova yarns from AF&Y are engineered to have the look and feel of virtually any natural or man-made fiber, with inherent performance characteristics including stain and fade resistance, durability, moisture control, and bacteria and odor resistance.
“Our marketing strategy has been to use technology to give our customers a competitive advantage,” said Jim Morelli, AF&Y executive vice president, “and we are delighted to be working with Crystal Hosiery to provide School Apparel with a unique and differentiated product. The company has long been known for providing extra value to its customers and our Innova yarn technology is a perfect fit for that philosophy.”
Consumer benefits of A+ socks featuring Innova include moisture control and quick drying for comfort; bacteria, mold, mildew and odor resistant for healthier feet; stain and fade resistant for longer wear; and superior engineering for foot support.
School Apparel, Inc is based in San Bruno, California, and manufactures a full line of school and dress code apparel for children as well as a compete line of men’s and women’s career and corporate casual apparel. American Fibers and Yarns Company (AF&Y) is the world’s leading supplier of solution dyed filament yarns.
For more information on School Apparel, visit www.aplusfabrics.com or call
1-800-227-3215. Visit www.afyarns.com or call 919-969-4300 to learn about AF&Y.
Microfiber pants with hidden stretch waistband
These pants are made from 100% microfiber and are now a part of the Edwards Signature Collection. The hidden stretch waistband provides 2-inches of adjustment which provides waistband freedom. Available for men and women in a flat front and pleated front style in tan, navy and black.
Available in men’s even sizes 28 – 54, misses’ sizes 0 – 18 and women’s sizes 20W – 28W in a regular or tall pant length. These pants are not only stylish, but functional as well as they provide stain release, moisture transport and are fast drying and they work great with Edwards Pinpoint Oxfords and the new color pallet including Maize.
For more information contact Edwards Garment at 800.253.9885
or visit www.edwardsgarment.com.
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Garment Corporation of America
Milliken and Edwards Garment
Atlanco
SanMar
V.H. Blackinton & Co. Inc.
Dickies
Edwards Garment