 |
 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
|
| |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Wrinkle-free clothing technology builds up steam ( 02/12/2002 ) | |||||||||
TAL Apparel's patented Pucker Free seam technology is a major leap forward in the wrinkle-resistant shirt market, and one that has found a ready market overseas. US retailer Brooks Brothers was among the first to sell shirts with the TAL treatment, and recently other major American stores have followed suit. Nordstrom, Dillard's, Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank Clothiers all have lines of TAL wrinkle-free Oxford cloth shirts under their own labels. After four years of research the Hong Kong-based firm, a long-time supplier to US retail giants like JC Penney and L.L. Bean, designed a process which eliminates differential shrinkage between thread and fabric, the primary cause of seam puckering. "When most people talk about wrinkle-free, they only talk about the fabric," said Dr Harry Lee, TAL's managing director. "Actually, when you need to put an iron to a shirt, nine times out of 10 it is the seams and not so much the fabric that need ironing." Phillips Van Heusen became the first major US manufacturer to license the technology and signed an agreement that will allow it to use Pucker Free technology in its garments until the year 2016. According to Dr Lee, advances in technology and changes in the consumers' perception of wrinkle-free fabric have helped boost demand. "Fifteen years ago the shirt would feel like a piece of paper," he said. "It took a while for the consumer to like today's product but when they found they liked it they went back for more." Dr Lee pointed out that despite the development of wrinkle-free technology over the years, the fabric still left the wash with an 'orange-peel' effect. However, Dr Lee said that heat and moisture from a person's body meant the effect disappeared after 15 minutes of wear. "The reason people like the shirt is because it looks better in the afternoon," he said. Related links:
| |||||||||
| |||||||||
|
|
