Textile Insight

Stormy Kromer Hemp Black Kentwool textileinsight.com March/April 2021 ~ Textile Insight • 7 CONTROL Ninety percent of the items sold by wool cap and apparel company Stormy Kromer are made in the USA, with the majority produced in Ironwood, MI. Partners in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Carolina manufacture the balance of which the firm does not have the capacity or machinery to produce. Core hats are handmade in Ironwood, with "real people putting real effort and care into making sure these hats are produced with the highest quality possible," explained Stormy Kromer designer Jamie LaBo. The firm recently struck up a partnership with a company in North Carolina to also create baseball caps (founder George "Stormy" Kromer, was a semi- pro baseball player). Versatile enough to go from "backwoods to downtown," Stormy Kromer's Adventurer Poncho features a large loop terry cotton fabric with a great drape. "What is the most special about this product is the versatility; it can be worn throughout the year, from late night summer bonfires on the beach to over your favorite flannel in winter," LaBo said. l "At Hemp Black, we like to control our own destiny," with all manufacturing performed in Greensboro, NC, everything is extruded in the U.S. and using predominantly American made ingredients, commented the firm's vice president, Mac Cheek. The brand's Highline Pant (great for hiking or everyday activities) contains hemp that is genetically chosen and engineered in Australia, and grown in Kentucky. The pockets employ fusion tech- nology (infused into the nylon), meaning that they are embedded with antimicrobial copper and odor eliminating hemp infused fibers, which also has the ability to clean your cell phone in 20 minutes by reducing a broad spectrum of viruses, bacteria, and fungi on surfaces. The firm also markets biker shorts, yoga tights and performance face masks. For Spring, seamless pieces with Hemp Black technology and solution- dyed yarns (using less water and energy) are on tap. l Since the sock firm started making wool yard in 1843, Kentwool has produced its products in the United States. Today, all of the yarn used in its socks is Kentwool yarn, made in South Carolina. The socks are knit predominantly in Alabama and North Carolina. Warehousing and distribution are in South Carolina. The firm is best known for its athletic socks crafted of Merino yarns with moisture management and thermoregulation properties. As Kentwool Performance Apparel CEO Lauren Luneckas explained, "cushioning in its proprietary foot- bed construction reduces foot discomfort and muscle fatigue delivering a blister-free wear experience second to none." During Covid, the firm witnessed an increase in sales in athletic products (relative to lifestyle prod- ucts), especially in its core athletic line for golf, walking and tennis, called the Classic Series. "With people spending more time outdoors, the desire for comfortable footwear has increased," Luneckas said. l HB/F BLACK HB/F BLUE Adventurer Parka by Stormy Kromer Bacteria on a cell phone after 20 minutes in the pocket of a Hemp Black garment. Men's Classic Ankle Sock by Kentwool

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