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BRAND PROFILE

Gildan in 2015, the company sold the T-shirts that it dyed to outside companies – including Gildan, which was one of its main suppliers of ready-for-dye garments. Gildan acquired the company as a means to further penetrate the fashion basics market with trendy, worn-in and weathered-looking garments with a soft and comfortable feel, explains Jeff. Since the purchase, Gildan has maintained the ringspun gar- ment dyeing process because, as Jeff notes, it is the distinc- tive dyes and processes that give each garment the one-of- a-kind hue that is the signature feature of Comfort Colors’ tees and sweatshirts. “It is the customised, in-house dyeing process that makes them the consumer’s go-to favourites.” The UK collection The acquisition has led to some changes at Comfort Colors. “Following the acquisition of Comfort Colors, Gildan expand- ed its Honduras operations to create increased manufactur- ing capacity and added a new distribution centre in Eden, North Carolina,” explains Jeff. “Gildan’s acquisition brought the scale and manufacturing expertise to take the Comfort Colors brand to new heights and expanded markets. The combination of Gildan’s vertically-integrated manufacturing operations and extensive distribution networks is enabling the brand to create the capacity to meet growing demand.” Jeff also mentioned that Gildan will “leverage its well-es- tablished manufacturing platform as well as its marketing infrastructure to introduce additional products, colours and fabrics for an even broader reach. Additionally, our ability to control environmental impacts and provide ethi- cal working conditions right from yarn spinning through to finished product, means that Gildan brings to the Comfort Colors brand the added dimension of sustainable production.”

Comfort Colors has eight styles and more than 45 colours for UK garment decorators to get their hands on in 2017. The range includes T-shirts and sweatshirts for women and men, and is available in a range of sizes and silhouettes. “The 1717 Adult Tee is an exciting addition to the 2017 Comfort Colors UK line,” comments Jeff. “It has been a strong seller in the US market and we expect it will be very well received in the UK. With 39 colours, from saturated brights to vintage earthy hues, this style offers a shade for every occasion.” According to Jeff, most decorative techniques, includ- ing screen printing, discharge printing and embroidery, are suitable for Comfort Colors garments. He says the key is to choose the right weight and colour of garment for the cho- sen technique. Decorators do need to remember to take the dyeing process into account, he adds: “With pigment dyed colours, loose pigments may remain on the surface of the garments and some colour migration can be expected. This is more likely to happen with darker colours, but we recommend using a white underbase to prevent this.” When asked why garment decorators should recommend Comfort Colors to their customers, Jeff comments: “We’ve spent over 40 years perfecting our unique dyeing process, which allows us to achieve vintage earthy hues that look bet- ter with time. And our relaxed apparel offers easy silhouettes with unmatched softness in a rich spectrum of colours. “Comfort Colors’ tanks, tees and sweats have become syn- onymous with ease and relaxation, and have built a loyal fol- lowing among American consumers. As the brand expands into new markets, including the UK, Japan and Canada among others, it is staking its place as a wardrobe staple with consumers of fashion basics.” w www.comfortcolors.com/eu

New for 2017, the 207 gsm Adult Tee from Comfort Colors

74 images FEBRUARY 2017

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