From the Sector

• Die Herrengarderobe der Zukunft kommt nach Stuttgart

Ob Anzug, Hose, Hemd oder Sakko – durch den Einsatz patentierter 3D-Technologie verbinden die modernen Maßanfertigungen von Atelier NA kompromisslos Preis, Beratung, Passform und Qualität. Individuelle Stücke nach Maß zum Preis von Ready-to-wear - ein innovatives Konzept mit dem idealen Gleichgewicht zwischen traditionellem Handwerk und der Technologie der Zukunft.

Während sich das personalisierte Einkaufserlebnis und die passgenauen Kollektionsstücke von Atelier NA in Frankreich schon großer Beliebtheit erfreuen, beginnt das Unternehmen jetzt europaweit Fuß zu fassen. Mit insgesamt 30 Stores und mehr als 75.000 Kunden in Belgien, Deutschland, Luxemburg und der Schweiz ist das Unternehmen auf europäischem Expansionskurs. Ein besonderer Fokus liegt für den französischen Marktführer dabei auf dem Nachbarland Deutschland:

Für CEO und Co-Founder François Chambaud markiert die neue Boutique in Stuttgart so einen weiteren wichtigen Schritt auch den deutschen Markt von seinen Maßanfertigungen zu überzeugen.

2011 in Paris gegründet, hat sich das Unternehmen mit dem 31-jährigen CEO und Co-Founder François Chambaud innerhalb kürzester Zeit zum französischen Marktführer etabliert und damit das internationale Business rund um moderne Maßkonfektion nachhaltig geprägt. Die unverzichtbare Passion für Innovation, Stilbewusstsein sowie der Wunsch nach kompromisslos hochwertiger Qualität sind die Erfolgsfaktoren dieses einzigartigen Konzepts. Mit 30 Stores in sechs verschiedenen Ländern strebt Atelier NA eine führende Position in ganz Europa an. Dabei liegt der Fokus insbesondere auf dem deutschen Markt.

Die Atelier NA Formel; ein Konzept der Zukunft: Der weltweit patentierte 3D-Bodyscanner ist das Herzstück des internationalen Herrenausstatters und misst über 200 Körpermaße in weniger als einer Sekunde. Eine 360°-Rundum-Erfahrung für Jedermann. Die gemessenen Daten sowie fortlaufende Konfigurierungen werden für zukünftige Maßanfertigungen gespeichert und ermöglichen eine makellose Passform. Darüber hinaus definiert sich Atelier NA durch ein optimales Verhältnis von Preis, Beratung, Passform und Qualität.

Die hochwertigen Maßanzüge und Smokings beginnen dank der innovativen 3D-Technologie schon bei 395 Euro, während Maßhemden sogar ab 49 Euro und Denim-Hemden ab 89 Euro erhältlich sind. Mehr als 1.500 italienische und englische Stoffe von Loro Piana bis hin zu Holland & Sherry und Thomas Mason zählen zum exklusiven Portfolio von Atelier NA.
Eine exklusive und individuelle Shopping-Erfahrung: Während bei der Vermessung auf modernste Technologien gesetzt wird, ist das Handwerk dennoch unverzichtbar. Die Stilberater in den Stores werden in der Kunst und Tradition der Maßschneiderei fachlich ausgebildet und bieten einen persönlichen und hochkarätigen Service mit intensiver Beratung. Dabei ist die Personalisierung beinahe grenzenlos. Von verschiedenen Farb- und Stoffkombinationen bis hin zur Auswahl von Kragen, Manschetten, Knöpfen, Taschen, Polstern sowie Veredelungen der Einzelstücke durch Initialen, sind alle Optionen im Preis inbegriffen. Die finale Handwerkskunst im Atelier – hier trifft Tradition auf Technologie. Die hohen Standards sowie Qualitätsansprüche werden im eigenen Produktions-Atelier Schritt für Schritt bewahrt. Ein Team von 250 speziell ausgebildeten Maßschneidern und Schnittmachern entwirft mit viel Liebe zu Garn, Stoff und Detail die Kollektionsstücke mit Hilfe der berechneten 3D-Maße.

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BOUTIQUEN IN DEUTSCHLAND:
Kurfürstendamm 173, 10707 Berlin
Kaiserstraße 23, 60311 Frankfurt am Main
Benrather Str. 12, 40213 Düsseldorf
Calwer Str. 26, 70173 Stuttgart

• Mit Prague The Style Outlets öffnet das größte Outlet-Center in der Tschechischen Republik auf einer Bruttomietfläche von knapp 20.000 qm
• Die Investitionssumme des Joint Ventures aus NEINVER und The Prague Outlet beträgt mehr als 70 Millionen Euro
• NEINVER untermauert mit der Eröffnung seine Expansionsstrategie und festigt seine Position als einer der führenden Betreiber von Outlet-Centern in Europa

Prag – NEINVER, eines der führenden Immobilienunternehmen und zweitgrößter Betreiber von Outlet-Centern in Europa, eröffnet morgen Prague The Style Outlets. Es handelt sich dabei um den ersten Outlet-Standort, den das Unternehmen in der Tschechischen Republik betreibt. NEINVER untermauert damit seine Expansionsstrategie und festigt seine Position als einer der führenden Betreiber von Outlet-Centern in Europa.

Das neue Outlet-Center in Prag ist Teil eines Joint Ventures zwischen NEINVER und The Prague Outlet. Die Investitionssumme beträgt mehr als 70 Millionen Euro. Daniel Losantos, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) von NEINVER, ist von dem neuen Standort überzeugt: „Prague The Style Outlets stellt einen wichtigen Meilenstein unseres Expansionsplans für Europa dar. Wir arbeiten nun seit über zwei Jahren eng mit unserem Partner The Prague Outlet zusammen. Das große Know-how unseres Partners im tschechischen Markt, kombiniert mit unserer 20-jährigen Erfahrung im operativen Betrieb von Outlet-Centern, verschafft unseren Kunden einen spürbaren Mehrwert."

Romana Benesová, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) der KAPRAIN-Gruppe, Projektpartner von NEINVER, betont den Wert der Partnerschaft sowie die Attraktivität des Centers: "Wir freuen uns, dass wir mit NEINVER einen zuverlässigen Partner gefunden haben, um das Projekt erfolgreich zu realisieren. Das Outlet-Center besticht durch seine moderne Architektur und die einzigartige Lage.“

Prague The Style Outlets umfasst mehr als 100 Geschäfte auf einer Bruttomietfläche von knapp 20.000 qm. Neben internationalen Handelsmarken wie Adidas, Benetton, Bogner, Frankie Morello, Gattinoni, Geox, Hispanitas, IXOX, Karl Lagerfeld, Lacoste, Marina Militare, Massimo Rebecchi, Nike, Palmers, Pepe Jeans, Trussardi und Versace Jeans beziehen auch tschechische Marken Outlet-Stores im Center. Der Anteil lokaler Marken macht etwa 20 Prozent des Shoppingangebots im Prague The Style Outlets aus.

Das Outlet-Center liegt strategisch günstig nahe der Prager Innenstadt sowie fünf Minuten vom internationalen Václav-Havel-Flughafen entfernt. Das Outlet-Center ist in hohem Maße auf Bedürfnisse von Reisenden eingestellt. Dank zahlreicher Bildschirme mit den Start- und Landezeiten der Flüge auf dem benachbarten Airport, Möglichkeiten zum Geldwechsel und zur Mehrwertsteuerrückerstattung, Gepäckschließfächer, Taxiservice und Busverbindungen mit Sondertarifen zum und vom Flughafen sowie Hilfe beim Online-Check-in können die Besucher des Outlet-Centers ihre Flugreise entspannt mit einem Aufenthalt im Prague The Style Outlets verbinden.

NEINVER ist der zweitgrößte Betreiber von Outlet-Centern in Europa. Das Unternehmen betreibt 16 Center in sieben Ländern mit einer gesamten Bruttomietfläche (GLA) von 300,000 qm. In den Niederlanden und den französischen Alpen nahe der Schweizer Grenze sind weitere Projekte geplant.

RONSE, Belgium - Textile finishing expert, Devan Chemicals, launched its brand-new, patent-pending Moov&Cool technology at Performance Days (18-19 April) in Munich. Detailed as a 'cool comfort technology', the innovation has the potential to improve the athletic performances of both amateurs and professionals alike by regulating core body temperature.

Moov&Cool, Devan’s latest textile finish, consists of a multi-functional polymer technology that absorbs heat during performance and improves the moisture management properties of the fabric. Applied by either padding or spray, the treatment targets and regulates core body temperature and simultaneously reacts to sweat build up and heat emission.

Devan’s technology has been brought to life in an effort to boost the performances of athletes. The company collaborated with the University of Leuven (Belgium) and the Bakala Academy to evaluate and prove the finishing technology. According to Devan, the first results look promising as they have seen an effect on heart rate and lactate levels. Furthermore, the first test results also highlighted a decrease in core temperature of around 0.4°C.

Devan will continue testing in order to evaluate the impact of Moov&Cool when applied to different fibre types and fabric structures. The company aims to provide different application levels to optimise the benefits of the technology for individual sporting activities where performance intensity may play a major role in the protection required.

•    Revenue down 6.1 percent to EUR 550.3 mn primarily due to currency effects
•    EBITDA decline of 24.8 percent to EUR 101.6 mn mainly due to softening prices for commodity viscose and increasing costs for key raw materials
•    Company is intensively pushing ahead with expansion of production capacities for specialty fibers
•    Strong message to consumers – new master brand and new product brands presented

Lenzing – The Lenzing Group started the 2018 financial year with solid business results. Revenue and earnings decreased compared to the first quarter of the previous year against the backdrop of a challenging market environment for standard viscose combined with changes in currency exchange rates. The corporate strategy sCore TEN is being implemented with great discipline in order to expand the company’s offering of specialty fibers and even more extensively support customers and business partners.

For more information see Attachment.

• Additives, pigments and masterbatches for transportation, packaging, textiles & fibers
• Support to “future-proof” medical applications
• Contributing towards more sustainable engineering plastics

Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, turns the spotlight on its increasing on-the-ground support and innovation focus for North America’s four key plastics application segments at NPE 2018 Booth S18155.

Clariant is pushing forward with plans for growth in the region by advancing R&D competencies, and increasing its manufacturing footprint and technical capabilities across its 50+ sites, 3 R&D and 6 technical innovation centers. Clariant’s innovations for the plastics industry include advanced additives, masterbatches and pigments which support the packaging sector in engaging consumers via differentiated, convenient solutions. At NPE, it will also highlight solutions for enhancing and protecting healthcare products, as well as its contribution to stronger and colorful textiles and fibers for everything from e-mobility to industrial applications.

Deepak Parikh, president of region North America, Clariant comments: “Clariant’s product innovation for the US and wider North American plastics industry embraces the region’s fastest growing end-use areas of automotive and construction. It also addresses the impact of trends driven by changing consumer lifestyle preferences and market regulations on other important segments such as packaging and healthcare.”

Transportation
Clariant brings color and protection to support the increasing use of engineering plastics and high temperture resins in automotive interiors, exteriors and under-the-hood. Halogen-free Exolit® OP 1400 provides outstanding flame retardancy to polyamide parts, enhances safety with UL 94 V0 performance down to 0.4 mm and enables the molding of complex parts with no mold deposits and blooming. Exolit OP 1400 has been awarded the Clariant EcoTain®label for outstanding sustainability and performance. At the same time, Clariant offers low-halogen controlled high-performance PV Fast® pigmentswith excellent migration and weather fastness properties to meet the high requirements of today’s transportation and automotive industry. Easy processing Renol® compounds and masterbatches for engineering and high temperature resins provide heat and light stability, and flame retardancy, while maintaining critical flow properties in parts like SMT connectors. Importantly, they are available as small lots which enables customers to purchase only what they require and contribute to a reduction in their carbon footprint.

Packaging
As US packaging manufacturers explore more consumer-friendly, lighterweight and appealing solutions, Clariant is on hand to support their functionality, sustainability-related and color desires. Clariant Pigments has an innovative cooperation with Konica Minolta and matchmycolor to enable fast, precise and efficient color matching of HDPE products, using select organic PV Fast and Graphtol® pigments that comply with FDA regulations. The ColorWorks®center in Chicago is dedicated to US brand managers and designers with teams of color design experts to create color formulations faster than ever before for bottles, caps, closures and films.

According to market reports, plastic pouches are gaining share from traditional pack types in packaged food and are mainstream in home care. To support smoother and more environmentally-compatible processing especially for film applications, Clariant offers an FDA-compliant, vegetable-based powder amide wax, Licolub® FA 1, which acts as a slip and anti-block agent. It is suitable for polyolefins and PVC.

Textiles & Fiber
At NPE 2018, Clariant puts the focus on strong and colorful textiles, carpets and industrial fibers. New AddWorks® TFB 117 offers a number of benefits to help stabilize and smoothen fiber production processes, protect color, and improve heat stability and mechanical properties of fibers. AddWorks TFB 117 ensures smooth spinnability with less filaments breakage, even at low processing temperatures and at high speed spinning up to 5,500 m/min. Clariant also offers a broad range of colorants for polypropylene, polyester, polyamide and acrylic fibers, featuring migration fastness, chemical stability, light- and weather-fastness.

Healthcare
Clariant supports risk control and regulatory compliance for medical polymer and pharmaceutical packaging solutions. Its Mevopur® color and performance masterbatches and compounds include a USP Class 6 line of compliant products and multiple global ISO, 87, 88, and 661.1 certifications ahead of the market deadline. Clariant also offers selected FDA-compliant organic pigments and polymer soluble dyes that meet purity migration fastness as well as toxicological properties for medical devices and pharmaceutical packaging.

• “Fashion Goes Digital” takes the Lead in Fashion Technology
• Customers get Industry 4.0-ready as Lectra unveiled latest product offerings and shared insights at annual fashion VIP event

Lectra, the technological partner for companies using fabrics and leather, put theory into practice at its recent fashion event by unveiling their latest 4.0 Cutting Room to more than 100 privileged industry professionals.

“Fashion Goes Digital” drew industry stakeholders and market experts from 20 countries, who gathered at Lectra’s International Advanced Technology Center (IATC) in Bordeaux-Cestas, France, to examine the real-life application of digitalization in fashion.

While the topic of digitalization served as a backdrop for the event, there was a recurring theme at the forefront: fashion companies need Industry 4.0 technology and support in order to be more precise in meeting the evolving needs of their digitally savvy consumers.
Nick Chiarelli, Client Partner of Foresight Factory, shed light on new business opportunities for fashion, Nora Kühner, founder of Nora Kühner Fashion Design Consulting, used her designer perspective to decode the digital future of product development, and Fabrizio Fantini, founder of Evo Pricing, showed participants how machine learning could help fashion companies predict consumer demand and avoid waste.

“While speaking about the future challenges and trends in fashion and luxury, the trend now is to use analytics to drive the entire production process,” highlighted Stephen Taylor, Principal Director of Kurt Salmon.

Waruna Tennakoon, General Manager of Group Cutting, Brandix, and Ajith Perera General Manager of Mathliya Plant, MAS Kreeda, also shared their Lectra customer experience. Based in Sri Lanka, both companies have established themselves as the country’s largest apparel exporters, with Brandix specializing in producing intimate and activewear, and MAS Kreeda in sportswear.

“Thanks to the digital revolution, consumers are now more specific in their demands. This will cause a shift in mass manufacturing where there will be smaller-volume orders coming in at a faster rate. As a result, manufacturing models have to be more agile in the immediate future,” explained Ajith Perera, “I am happy to see that Lectra is already spearheading this change by providing us with the necessary technology to help us meet market demand.”

There was no better time to put digitalization into context than during “Fashion Goes Digital”.
VIP guests got a sneak preview of the brand new, fully automated cutting room solution for fashion and apparel. Lectra’s Cutting Room 4.0 is an embodiment of Lectra’s commitment to empowering its customers with the best solutions to thrive in this new digital era. This avant-garde technology leverages industry 4.0 principles to provide greater agility, throughput, cost efficiency and in particular scalability in order to respond seamlessly to small batches orders and shorter lead times.

Jean-Yves Collet, CEO of Treize Roches Couture, a high-end French womenswear manufacturer, provided a testimonial on why his company chose to be one of the first to adopt this new solution. He explained how Lectra’s latest technology would help Treize Roches speed up their artisanal production process to bring products faster to market.

“When we discussed the possibility of a made-to-order production project, we could really foresee the benefits both in terms of quality and productivity. Industry 4.0 solutions do not yet exist in garment manufacturing. This is why we have decided to develop an Industry 4.0 cutting room. This will allow us, in the preparatory stages to automate the processes as much as possible and improve quality, productivity and training time.”

“We have unveiled our strategy last year where we have identified Industry 4.0 and digitalization as our key drivers. Our goal for this event is to show that we are, indeed, living and breathing Industry 4.0 and we do have what it takes to help our customers succeed in this era. Our latest cutting room 4.0 shows that we are not just talking about the future of fashion anymore, we are living in it right now as we speak,” concluded Céline Choussy Bedouet, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Lectra.

TRSA, the global association for the linen, uniform and facility services industry, and the creator and administrator of the Hygienically Clean Certification announced today its 2018 Hygienically Clean Healthcare Advisory Board slate of members.

“The board is responsible for administering, enforcing, and revising TRSA’s Hygienically Clean Healthcare (HCH) Standards. Additional duties include establishing and maintaining criteria and procedures for the certification of healthcare textile processing in commercial, cooperatives, and in-house healthcare laundries and facilities. These subject matter experts will provide guidance regarding best management practices (BMPs), inspections and testing to ensure that the Hygienically Clean Healthcare Certification Program benefits consumers, laundry-processing facilities and textile services customers,” said Joseph Ricci, President and CEO of TRSA.

Members of the newly formed board of directors, who represent the entire industry -- linen, uniform and facility service companies, large central laundries, healthcare linen, uniform and facility services customers of TRSA members, suppliers, and experts from related healthcare and other professional organizations -- will serve a three-year term:

Randy Bartsch
CEO, Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service Inc.
Chairman

Rick Kislia
Chief Operating Officer
Crescent Laundry
Vice Chairman

David J. Stern
President & CEO, Paris Companies
Secretary

Greg Anderson
CEO, Campus Laundry

Angela Becker
Senior Program Leader, Textile Care RD&E, Ecolab

Murray L. Cohen, PhD, MPH, CIH
Owner, Consultants in Disease and Injury Control (CDIC)

Dr. Alexis M. Elward, MD
Pediatric Infectious Disease
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Eoin Flavin
Director, European Operations, WSI

David F. Goldsmith, MSPH, PhD, LLC
George Washington & Georgetown Universities

James Hall
CEO, Northwest Health Care Linen

Tony Long
VP, Risk Management, Angelica
Lynn A. Moreau, RN, BSN
Clinical Liaison Manager
HandCraft Linen Services

Michael Potack
Chairman, Unitex

Robert Raphael
Co-President
Service Linen Supply Inc.

Liz Remillong
Vice President, Strategic Alliance
Crothall Healthcare

Douglas Waldman
President, Superior Linen Service

Charles Rossmiller
Director Laundry Programs
Textile Sales
Medline Industries, Inc.

Thomas Smith
Director, Safety & Training
Foussard Montague Associates, Inc.

As a global leader in the chemical industry, SABIC will present its full Fluids product portfolio at IESD, the leading surfactants and detergents show for China and Asia, in Shanghai, April 24 -26.

SABIC Specialties provides high value, technologically advanced chemical derivatives for use in a wide range of applications. Employed as surfactants, detergents, emulsifiers, emollients and thickeners for consumer products ranging from cosmetic and personal care, home care and pharmaceuticals, to industrial products like textiles, paints and coatings. Additionally, these products find their way into industrial uses such as specialty lubricants, crop protection, and oil & gas applications.

A key aspect of SABIC Specialties Fluids business - not only within China, but for the broader Asia region - is its ability to deliver the added value only a dedicated, local team with stocked inventory and flexible packaging options, can supply. In addition to local team know-how and readiness, SABIC’s Chinese operations are supported by a global team with significant expertise and production facilities around the globe. Focused on creating the right balance of properties and performance to meet the ever-increasing needs of consumers and industry, SABIC works closely with specifiers and formulators to develop vital constituents for game changing products.

At IESD SABIC will be introducing SAPEG 400 PH, its new pharma grade PEG400, conforming to USP-NF monograph and manufactured to EXCiPACT Good Manufacturing Practices of pharmaceutical excipients. It is used in liquid preparations as a viscosity modifier, in ointment and suppository bases as a melting point regulator, moisturizer and lubricant and in the preservation of pathological specimens. It can be used in the manufacturing of creams, lotions, toothpastes and in soaps as a humectant.

“SABIC Specialties has long been a pioneer in developing innovative chemicals and polymers to support the production of the latest and most advanced domestic and industrial applications”, said Eric Jaarda, Senior Manager, Fluids Marketing Global at SABIC Specialties. “We are proud to present some of our most advanced and versatile offerings at this year’s IESD in Shanghai and to demonstrate our commitment to the Chinese and broader Asian market.”

In addition to SAPEG 400 PH, SABIC will also be showcasing the following:

• Natural Fatty Alcohol (C12-14) Ethoxylates (SABIC® SABICOL L2/L3/L7/L9) - both colorless and odourless, this is a range of versatile non-ionic surfactants. Supplied as liquids or as a paste, they are efficient water in oil emulsifiers and readily biodegradable.
• Synthetic Alcohol (Isodecyl and Isotridecyl Alcohol) Ethoxylates (SABIC® SABICOL DA5/DA7/TA5/TA6/TA7/TA8/TA9) - a series of fast wetting, low odor and biodegradable non-ionic surfactants.
• Castor Oil Ethoxylates (SABIC® SABICOL EL30/40/55) - supplied in liquid form or as a paste, they are completely miscible in water and many organic solvents. Non-toxic and non-irritant, they are employed as emulsifiers in both domestic and industrial applications.
• Polyethyleneglycols (SAPEG200/300/400/600) - consisting of a distribution of polymers of varying molecular weights, these are colorless and odorless liquids. Non-toxic and non-irritant, they are used as humectants, lubricants, solvents and viscosity modifiers in a range of applications.

Aktuell redet die ganze Welt erneut über die Verschmutzung der Weltmeere mit Plastikmüll. Genau diese Erfahrung machte auch Philipp Puttkammer, Begründer des noch jungen Sneaker- und Mode-Kultlabels PHINOMEN, als er 2016 Urlaub auf Bali machte. Auf Spaziergängen zeigten sich die Traumstrände voller Plastikflaschen, -tüten und -kleinteile. Jeden Tag werden auf Bali mehr als 100 Tonnen Plastikmüll an die Strände gespült – 700 Reinigungskräfte und 35 Lastwagen sind inselweit jeden Morgen zur Säuberung der Strände im Einsatz. Für ihn stand fest: So darf die Welt nicht sein und jeder kann etwas dagegen tun, wenn er es nur will. Die Idee war geboren, für sein Label einen Trend-Sneaker zu entwickeln, der Umweltschutz samt Plastikvermeidung von der Herstellung bis hin zum Kunden umsetzt, dabei in der Passform absolut begeistert und ultrabequem ist.

Nach langer Recherche und Gesprächen mit Produzenten, Umweltschutz-Organisationen und Experten für Materialforschung reifte der Plan, einen Sneaker aus rein pflanzlichen Materialien entwickeln zu können. Als Hauptmaterial zeigte sich Kork als perfekter Werkstoff, ein Material das schon seit über 1.000 Jahren für seine besonderen Eigenschaften bekannt ist: leicht, wasserdicht, atmungsaktiv und antibakteriell. Gleichzeitig schützt die Nachfrage die teils sehr alten Korkwälder. Nur die industrielle Nutzung sichert den wertvollen Baumbestand noch vor dem drohenden Schicksal der Abholzung. Für die Sohle fiel die Wahl auf Naturkautschuk und Natur-Farbpigmente. Die in Handarbeit ausgeführte Produktion der PHINOMEN Kork-Sneaker erfolgt in kleinen Familienbetrieben in Portugal. Damit schließt sich der Kreis einer ökologischen und ökonomisch verantwortungsvollen Herstellung – Vermeidung von Plastikmüll, ohne Schadstoffe und Schwermetalle, mit Stärkung des traditionellen Schuhhandwerks und dem Schutz von Korkwäldern, die allein im Mittelmeerraum schätzungsweise rund 14 Mio. Tonnen CO² pro Jahr binden.

Kork und Schuhe – passt und langweilig war gestern
Denkt man bei Korkschuhen automatisch bisher an klobige Clogs oder „Gesundheitslatschen“, so beweist PHINOMEN, dass Kork dieses Image zu Unrecht trägt – vielmehr handelt es sich bei dem verwendeten, extrem leichten Rollgewebekork um echtes High-Tech Material. Es ist atmungsaktiv und gleichzeitig wasserundurchlässig: eine Kombination von Eigenschaften, die sonst nur absolute High-End Synthetik-Textilien bieten. Darüber hinaus wirkt Kork antibakteriell. Doch auch ein weiterer Punkt sorgt für Überraschung: „Viele verbinden Kork mit einem harten, unnachgiebigen Material. Das stimmt jedoch längst nicht mehr“, erklärt Philipp Puttkammer. „Das moderne Korkrollengewebe ist vergleichbar flexibel und strapazierfähig wie hochwertiges Leder.“

„Die erste, in 2017 gelaunchte Kork-Sneaker-Kollektion war ein voller wie auch überraschender Erfolg für uns. Das unheimlich tolle Feedback unserer Kunden, Freunde und der vielen prominenten Träger hat uns als Team angespornt, Passform und Komfort nochmals auf ein neues Level zu heben. Das haben wir mit unseren vier neuen Modellen definitiv geschafft“, so Philipp Puttkammer.

At Kingpins Amsterdam, RUDOLF GROUP launches a selection of chemical auxiliaries for fashion and function as well their new HUB 1922.
The RUDOLF GROUP, not completely new to garment and denim finishing, decides to take the first steps of what will be a long and exciting journey in the field. In order to shorten the distance with both manufacturers and apparel brands and retailers it deploys two synergic initiatives:

• A refined selection of chemicals auxiliaries targeting garment finishing and delivering, in addition to current aesthetics, sophisticated functionalities that take denim to the next level in terms of both performance and enhanced quality.
• The launch of a new project that, combining German engineering and Italian style, provides solutions at the crossroad of fashion and utilitarian functionality. The project, called HUB 1922, introduces elements of unorthodox diversity and fosters collaborative environments that can be truly disruptive.

The word HUB is evocative of the main part of something where there is most activity, whereas the number, 1922, is the year of foundation of the RUDOLF GROUP and therefore symbol of heritage, tradition and significant experience. Ultimately, HUB 1922 wants to be the unmatched one-stop shopping for fashion and function, innovation and creativity in garment processing. A hub that enables continuous, synergetic, and powerful collaboration with brands and retailers to deliver disruptive innovations in the global markets.

It introduces functional chemistry in an universe that is almost entirely driven by aesthetics and the extension to other materials and product categories (such as outdoor apparel and performance wear), of knowledge and techniques developed for denim over the past 50 years. Very aware of its status of rookie and yet very determined, the project HUB 1922 begins exploring through concepts and values rooted in deep scientific knowledge, true responsibility, technical innovation and fresh creativity.
At Kingpins Amsterdam, HUB 1922 will present 3 concepts rooted in RUDOLF’s sophisticated and conscious chemistry:

• ODYSSEY: a voyage through textures and innovation, softness, comfort and signature handfeels.
• SHELTER: performance inspired by natural models for urban protection and for much reduced domestic washing.
• MEMOFLEX: A modern-day miracle preventing denim from sagging and bagging. A truly denim Botox that shows improved quality on many stretch fabrics.

Since when it was founded, almost 100 years ago, RUDOLF GROUP’s secret of success is being big enough to matter, small enough to care. Captured in this definition are an obvious desire to play a meaningful role in the textile industry and an equally palpable vocation to customer service.

Alberto de Conti, Head of Rudolf Fashion Division: “Every generation has their time to make a mark on the world. Considering the environmental emergencies in garment production and the lack of real innovation on the retail shelves, for the current generation of companies active in garment finishing that time is now.”

RUDOLF GROUP acknowledges therefore that there is an additional opportunity to responsibly further redefine the future and turns their sizeable R&D power towards refining their approach to what is fashion quintessential staple: garment and denim finishing. Through a renewed, highly responsible involvement in garment finishing and with the introduction of HUB 1922, the RUDOLF GROUP wants to send out a message of true optimism. It is about showing the entire industry that there is a blank canvas ahead and tangible difference can be made.