New Corporate Members - November 2011

The following became corporate members of AATCC in October and November 2011. The profiles appeared in the January/February 2012 issue of AATCC Review

Brooks Brothers
Headquartered in New York, N.Y., USA, Brooks Brothers is both a manufacturer and retailer of business and casual clothing for men and women, specifically dress shirts, ties, pants, and sweaters. The company’s product line expanded over the years to include children’s clothing, home décor, bed and bath collections, and kitchen “table-top” collections.

In 1818, Henry S. Brooks founded Brooks Brothers, the first ready-to-wear fashion store in America. His guiding principle was, "To make and deal only in merchandise of the finest quality, to sell it at a fair profit and to deal with people who seek and appreciate such merchandise." Brooks Brothers opened their flagship store in Aoyama, Japan, in 1979, and currently have more than 210 locations internationally.

Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT)
Located in Mumbai, India, the Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT) was established in 1924. CIRCOT is a unit under the Division of Agricultural Engineering of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, engaged in research and development activities in cotton technology. The institute specializes in testing, and the development and standardization of test methods for different types of textile materials.

GlobalChem Synergies
GlobalChem Synergies is a business development solutions provider working on behalf of specialty chemical and colorant manufacturers. The company specializes in textiles, paper, water treatment, and other industrial specialty chemicals. Located in Hong Kong, GlobalChem partners with North American, South American, European, and Asian companies to target customers, increase sales, develop distribution systems, and maintain new business relationships in Asia. The company has customers in China, Taiwan, South Korea, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, and Pakistan.

Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS)
GNBS is the national standards body established to develop and promote standards and standards- related activities to improve the quality of goods and services in Guyana. The bureau is governed by a National Standards Council, whose members are drawn from organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, University of Guyana, and Guyana Manufacturers’ Association.

Established in March 1984, the main objectives of GNBS are to: 1) promote standardization in industry and commerce; 2) encourage educational work; 3) establish and maintain information systems and laboratories; and 4) provide for testing of locally-manufactured and imported commodities.

Gymboree Corp.
The Gymboree Corp. is a specialty retailer operating stores selling quality apparel and accessories for children under the Gymboree, Gymboree Outlet, Janie and Jack, and Crazy 8 brands. Headquartered in San Francisco, Calif., USA, the company also offers play programs for children under the Gymboree Play and Music brand, and women’s clothing and accessories under the Shade brand.

Gymboree’s history began with the founding of Gymboree Play and Music in 1976. As the Gymboree brand became more appealing, the company entered the apparel business in 1986—designing, manufacturing, and retailing quality merchandise for children. The company has over 630 retail stores in the US and Canada, as well as stores in Australia, the Middle East, and South Korea.

J. America Inc.
J. America provides sportswear to the collegiate, resort, corporate, and high school markets. The company’s specialty is its “trendy” fashion product line decorated with custom or standard graphics. With locations in Webberville and Fowlerville, Mich., USA, J. America offers a variety of T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, and headwear to its customers.

M/S India Dyeing Mills (P) Ltd.
Located in Tamil Nadu, India, India Dyeing Mills (IDM) is the wet processing division of Eastman Exports, a garment export company based in South India. Eastman Exports specializes in cotton and cotton-blended knits, produces its own yarn, and offers additional services including printing, embroidery, and washing.

Established in 1975 as a hand-operated dyeing operation, IDM has grown into a company with a US$250 million sales turnover, catering to well known brands in the US, Europe, and Canada. IDM operates one of the best water recycling plants in India, consisting of MEE, MBR, and RO in addition to aerobic and anaerobic biological systems. N. Chandran, IDM’s chairman, continuously encourages more innovations in his company. Chandran has a great appreciation for water, which has motivated the entire company to work towards a more sustainable system of manufacturing.

Sage Automotive Interiors
Sage Automotive Interiors develops and manufactures innovative automotive bodycloth and headliners used by many automotive manufacturers. Sage offers its “YES Essentials” line and the FXC product. The YES Essentials automotive interior fabrics are high-performance textiles designed for comfort, durability, ease of care, reduced germs, and elimination of odors. The FXC product is a highly technical and durable interior automotive fabric designed to be fast-drying, waterproof, and able to take a beating. Sage continues to keep abreast of the latest development in yarn, chemical, and process improvements to provide material that preserves the environment.

Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., USA, the company has five North American manufacturing sites along with six international locations and 12 international partnerships. Built from the manufacturing base and executive expertise of the Milliken automotive division, Sage was established as a privately-held company in 2009.

Spiro Specialities
Spiro Specialities is a manufacturer and seller of textile chemicals such as auxiliaries, enzymes, silicones, and specialty chemicals. Other textile chemicals the company produces are anti-back stainers, thread lubricant, hydrophilic and anti-ozone softeners, and wrinkle resistant chemicals.

Headquartered in Bangalore, India, Spiro Specialities has an office and stock point location in Tirupur, India. The company sells textile chemicals in India, and is exploring the Sri Lanka and Bangladesh markets.