Hosiery & Seamless

Earlier this year when 4,662 innovative products from 1,865 inventive companies competed for one of the world’s most treasured design prizes, the red dot - X-BIONIC, the high-tech sportswear brand won double honours in Essen. The innovative Swiss company was able to convince judges with its latest technological invention and won an award for its Precuperation/Recovery Shirt & Trousers and a second award for its Precuperation/Recovery Socks. Both products aid sports performance and muscle recovery through the application of compression.

This video was made by Robert Newton a TV documentary producer whose family were in textiles in North Carolina for generations. Newton got the idea for the documentary after he found himself constantly correcting people who said that the textiles industry in NC state was dead. It’s a full blown TV documentary which lasts 30 minutes but its well worth watching.

Darn Tough Vermont, an American manufacturer of premium, performance socks with an unconditional lifetime guarantee has reported that Q1 2013 sales and profitability were the best ever for the first quarter in its, and parent Cabot Hosiery’s, 35-year history. Year to date Q1 topline growth was up 66% versus the corresponding period in 2012, while January marked the company’s best month ever with revenue up 93% compared to January 2012.

Interfilière Hong Kong closed its doors for the 7th time on a positive note at the end of March, with a 5% increase in overseas visitors. For the 2013 show, the organiser, Eurovet, focused on bringing innovation and creativity to the show to inspire Asian and international designers and buyers. Eurovet says the show had a very high international attendance on day one which reaffirmed the importance of Hong Kong as a centre for intimates and swimwear.

Cesare Citterio, textiles entrepreneur and owner of Cifra SpA, a world leader in the field of seamlessly knitted garments, is a man on a mission – a warp knitting seamless mission - or as Citterio likes to call it a ‘WKS’ mission.

Innovative German technical textiles producer Riedel Textil has introduced a new range of seamlessly knitted tights called KinesioTight, which have been scientifically developed to both improve sports performance and protect against injuries. Developed in cooperation with sports and medical experts, KinesioTight is said to integrate the effects of the well known Kinesio Tape Method of treatment into functional sportswear.

An increase in demand for current and new product lines has motivated Renfro Corporation a Tennessee based sock manufacturer, to modernise its Cleveland plant and lease additional distribution space at an adjacent facility - local media reports say the company is making an investment of $17.5 million in equipment and construction and creating 168 jobs over five years to meet demand.

Innovative Italian sock knitting machine manufacturer Busi Giovanni is ramping up the promotion and production of its IDEA Medical line of compression stockings knitting machines, following strong sales in Italy and elsewhere. According to Busi the IDEA Medical offers the compression hosiery manufacturer a range of features and benefits which its competitors do not offer and this is driving current sales.

Italian sock knitting machine manufacturer Busi Giovanni has launched a brand new low price version of its IDEA MP sock knitting machine, called the LIGHT MP.

Janet Prescott reports from Paris Gathering optimism evident since the first fabric and yarn shows was also present at Premiere Vision where there was an increase in exhibitors and where a colourful approach to design reinforced the mood of buyers looking for the new and attractive for SS 2014.