Esquel cleared in infringement case

15/03/2007
 
Hong Kong-based manufacturer of cotton shirts Esquel Apparel, Inc. has been cleared of infringement accusations filed in the USA.

The US District Court in the Western District of Washington, Seattle, found that Esquel had not wilfully infringed patents of Taltech Limited relating to the manufacture of pucker-free seams for wrinkle-free shirts, in a case that began in 2004.

The Esquel Group produces around 60 million shirts a year and employs over 45,000 people around the world. A privately-owned company headquartered in Hong Kong with production facilities in China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Mauritius and Sri Lanka, the company manufactures goods for brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Brooks Brothers, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike, Lands' End and Muji, and retailers such as Marks & Spencer, Nordstrom and Jusco.