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Industry experts find a Patagonia acquisition of Polartec hard to imagine

10/06/2016
Calls have continued from trade union organisations for outdoor brand Patagonia to make a move to acquire specialist fabrics manufacturer Polartec. Polartec’s owners, a venture capital firm from Pennsylvania, has announced plans to move production of the fabric brand’s products, including its technical fleece and softshell fabrics, to a factory in Tennessee run by another of the companies in its portfolio.

As well as protesting against the likely loss of jobs, trade unions, including Unite Here, have said they want the textile industry’s long-established presence in New England, where Polartec produces its fabrics at the moment, to continue. They have identified Patagonia as a possible buyer of Polartec, and as one that would respect Polartec’s and the industry’s heritage. Patagonia began buying technical fleece fabrics from the company (then known as Malden Mills) in the early 1980s. So far, Patagonia had given no official reaction.

Leading figures in the outdoor apparel industry have told sportstextiles that they believe Patagonia will continue to support Polartec until and after the move of its production to Tennessee, but that they cannot imagine the California-based brand acquiring the fabric company.


Related stories:

Polartec to sell US textile plant 28/04/2017
Polartec film calls for inclusive apparel design 08/03/2017
Patagonia reinforces marketing team 13/10/2016
Patagonia unveils new wool standard 02/08/2016
Polartec reveals Apex 2016 winners 12/07/2016
Performancewear brands to use Polartec cooling fabric 22/06/2016

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