PROFESSIONAL CLEANING One of the real advantages of leather is that it seldom needs to be professionally cleaned. When it does need a professional cleaning, it can be a complicated business. Remember that professionally cleaned leather includes refinishing its color tint. All leather garments lose part of their dye when they are professionally cleaned. Restoring the garment's color is part of the cleaning process. However, some leather tints are hard to match. For this reason, light shades of leather should be avoided. Therefore, it's important to make sure your cleaner knows what he or she is doing. If they are honest with you and say that some of the color will fade, then the cleaner is probably a good cleaner. If they beat around the bush -- select another cleaner. SELF CLEANING Most of the time you can clean the leather yourself. Smooth leather that has a finish can be cleaned with a damp cloth or sponge to get rid of dust and surface soil. Mild liquid detergent or saddle soap and water may be used to remove more serious dirt or stains. It is a good practice before you dampen leather is to test an inside seam to see if the leather has a finish. Water will bead on finished leather but will cause unfinished leather to spot. It a suede leather garment gets a spot, try using a suede brush or fine sandpaper. SEAL AND RUBDOWN After you clean your leather garment with a damp cloth or a mild soap, pat the surface with a clean soft cloth. Then give the leather a fine dusting with baby powder to seal the pores. Finish with a rubdown using a clean dry cloth to bring back the sheen. A wrinkled garment can be hung in the bathroom while you shower. If the wrinkles don't steam out by themselves, gently iron the garment at a warm setting after layering clean brown paper between the iron and the leather. Store your leather garment in a well-ventilated area and cover with a cloth to keep it dust free. Avoid storing your leather garment in plastic. Leather is porous and it needs to ``breathe". WATERPROOFING You can waterproof and protect your leather garment by feeding it with mink oil or silicone spray. However, the process will most likely darken your leather. So its a good idea to test it first on a tiny area on the inside seam. The best advice is to stay out of the rain if at all possible. If you are caught in a shower with an untreated leather garment, allow your leather garment to dry on a flat surface away from heat. Leather should dry at room temperature overnight. Remember, the radiator is no place to dry leather -- excess heat saps up the leather's essential oils and can leave it hard and cracked. If your leather garment gets wet, hang it on a wooden or padded hanger away from heat to dry. STORAGE When you first purchase you leather garment, put it on a shaped or padded hanger and store it in a cool dry place. Give it plenty of room -- it will wrinkle if crowded. And, of course, don't let it come into prolonged contact with plastic or moth balls.

Hand

Hand is the quality or characteristics of fabrics perceived by the sense of touch: e.g. softness, firmness, drape, fineness.

A washing process in which the fabric or garment is heavily washed with lava rocks or rubber/silicon balls. The result is a softer fabric with a distressed or weathered look and reduced shrinkage.

In the printing world, the term <b>sublimation</b> is used to describe heat-activated inks that change into a gas when heated and have the ability to bond with polyester or acrylic surfaces.<p>
Sublimated images are extremely washable, scratch resistant and dishwasher safe because the image is protected within the surface.

Fire Resistant Clothing Flame resistant fabrics guaranteed for the life of the garment comply with ASTM F1506, NFPA 70E, and OSHA 1910.269. These unbelieveably comfortable fabrics address electrical safety requirements for maintenance electricians and contractors along with those individuals subject to electrical arc exposures. NFPA 70E REQUIREMENTS: PROTECTION FROM ELECTRICAL ARC EXPOSURES Everyday work clothing made from regular cotton or poly/cotton fabrics, regardless of weight, can be readily ignited at some exposure level and will continue to burn. A major portion of severa and fatal burn injuries from electrical arc incidents do not come from the exposure, but from non-flame resistant clothing igniting and continuing to burn, becoming the hazard itself. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) published the latest edition of the 70E standard (Standard for Electrical Safetly Requirements for Employee Workplaces). The revised version now requires employees to wear flame resistant (FR) protective clothing when working on or near energized parts. This includes everyday job tasts such as voltage testing on 240V and 480V system. INDURA Ultra Soft 7oz, 9oz, and 11oz fabrics used in shirts, pants, coveralls, and outerwear can simplify compliance to NPFA 70E Hazard Risk Categories 0, 1, and 2 as a single layer. Additionally, Indura Ultra Soft fabrics meet the requirements to ASTM F1506 (Standard Performance Specification for Textile Materials for Wearing Apparel for use by Electrical Workers Exposed to Momentary Arc and Related Thermal Hazards). OSHA has confirmed that garments that meet the requirements of ASTM F1506 are compliant to NFPA 70E and also to OSHA 29 CRF 1910.269 (Electrical Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution) for Electric Utility Companies Compliance. Indura® Ultra Soft® with Epic® is a breakthrough "soft shell" flame, water, and wind resistant garment for use in all but the most severe weather conditions. This fabric can be used for rain, snow, sleet, and windy conditions but remains functional and breathable compared to laminated or coated "hard shell" fabrics. As with all Indura® Ultra Soft® products it is also completely washable. [Close Window] http://www.outdoorapparel.biz/index.php?cPath=300"> src="images/FRlogo.jpg" height="55" width="132" border="0">Go to Fire Resistant Garments

WICKid's Moisture Management Active System offers active people wicking performance & comfort which keeps them cool, fresh, energized, light and dry.

As the body temperature rises and sweat forms, WICKid's moisture management active system pulls moisture off the skin to the outside of the fabric which allows it to evaporate quickly.
Moisture is pulled away from the skin to the outside of the fabric by the combination of WICKid's micro-fiber fabric weave and finishing solution called Tempra-Dry
Wicking tests have proven products featuring MMAS to release more moisture then cotton
WICKid's MMAS allows active people to stay cool, fresh, energized, light and dry during those activities that require the best active people have to offer.
WICKid's MMAS allows body temperature to stay regulated in all climates and conditions.
Once your customers have experienced the coolness of WICKid they will never want to sweat in cotton again!

See the Pine Island Collection of Made in The USA Knits

<b>Supima® Cotton</b>
Luster and silkiness are the best ways to describe Supima® Cotton.

American Pima cotton with the Supima® trademark is a recognized symbol of superior quality. The Supima® name is a licensed trademark owned by the Supima® Association of America, which strictly controls all products made of 100% American Pima cotton. In other words, the mark isn’t just handed out here and there–it is earned only by the finest quality products, sold only in the best retail markets and by the finest retailers.

While quality fiber is important to all cotton, it is critical in the Pima cotton used by the world’s finest textile manufacturers. The highest possible quality is required to produce the ultra-fine yarns and garments made of Supima®. Spindle twist, trash, poor preparations, neps, contamination – anything which detracts from high quality – must be avoided. Extra care in harvesting is required. In the end, Supima’s® hands-on quality control produces the finest cotton, just as Pine Island’s hands-on quality control produces the finest garments.

The Pima name alone does not guarantee a product’s cotton content. That is why we are proud to carry the Supima® name. The Supima® Association guarantees high quality American Pima cotton, and Pine Island guarantees the highest quality garments.

A section of material in a V shape that is sewn onto a garment
directly under the collarette. Can provide support against stretching the neck opening and is also a style component.

A semi-oval panel sewn into the inside back portion of a garment, just under the collar seam, to reinforce the garment and minimize stretching when hung on a hook. The patch also allows for the garment tag or label to be sewn below the neckline to help prevent irritation.

Teflon is incorporated into fabrics to make the material stain and soil resistant. It also produces a smooth feel (hand) to the fabric. Teflon® fabric protector is applied at the textile mills where fabrics are manufactured. While many stain resistant products are merely a surface coating for fabrics, Teflon® works on the nano scale—that is, on the molecular level—to protect each fiber. It forms an invisible shield that guards fabrics against spills and soiling.