Fruit of the Loom - apparel and textile industry company news 
CANADA/US: Gildan Activewear, Russell Brands settle lawsuit
5 March 2013
Canadian apparel maker Gildan Activewear has reached a US$1m settlement with Russell Brands, a Fruit of the Loom company, to resolve a trademark infringement lawsuit.
US: Russell Brands to cut 190 jobs in restructuring
7 January 2013
US sporting goods manufacturer Russell Brands today (7 January) said it plans to lay off 190 workers as it looks to restructure its apparel decoration operations in Alexander City, Alabama.
2012: A year in review - Sourcing winners and losers
14 December 2012
Textile-making countries came up against a range of labour, economic and environmental issues in 2012, including the worsening Eurozone crisis which dampened demand in key export markets. While some struggled to cope, others became increasingly competitive as exports rose.
Global: Brands accused of "fuelling modern-day slavery"
20 November 2012
A number of major clothing brands have been accused of "fuelling modern-day slavery" through their failure to address child and forced labour in their supply chains, according to a report released by the Not For Sale campaign.
UZBEKISTAN: Cotton ban gains momentum with apparel firms
9 November 2012
More than 120 international apparel brands and retailers have now pledged to ban the use of cotton from Uzbekistan as part of efforts to stop the country using forced and child labor to harvest its cotton crop.
US: Gildan Activewear sued by Russell Brands
17 October 2012
Gildan Activewear has launched an internal inquiry into the events surrounding a lawsuit filed against it by Russell Brands, part of Fruit of the Loom.
US: Fruit of the Loom to use Yunique PLM system
17 January 2012
Apparel company Fruit of the Loom is to implement Gerber Technology’s YuniquePLM product life cycle management system.
Top stories on just-style this week...
29 October 2010
Here is a roundup of the top five stories on just-style this week. Click on each headline for the full story.
UK: Fruit of the Loom ramping up Moroccan operations
27 October 2010
The European unit of underwear and casual clothing maker Fruit of the Loom is ramping up its operations in Morocco on the back of higher demand from its customers as the global economic recovery continues.
UK: VFB Lingerie strengthens PLM strategy
22 September 2010
VFB Lingerie, a European unit of Fruit of the Loom that specialises in the design, creation and distribution of underwear, is taking steps to strengthen its PLM strategy.
HONDURAS: Russell Athletic to open factory after boycotts
23 November 2009
T-shirt and casualwear maker Russell Athletic has agreed to open a new apparel factory in the Choloma area of Honduras following university boycotts in the US and UK.
US: Sales slump at Berkshire Hathaway’s apparel unit
10 November 2009
The slowdown in consumer spending has hit sales at Fruit of the Loom, the apparel business controlled by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc, the company said last week.
SOURCING: Marginal suppliers need a radical re-think
21 August 2009
In the current recession, factory owners are transferring business away from their marginal suppliers to their core operations, creating a major problem in countries where the garment sector is a lifeline. To survive and prosper in difficult times, these industries must radically change the way they work, who they work for, and what they produce, believes David Birnbaum.
US: Fruit of the Loom to cut jobs - reports
10 August 2009
Nearly 280 Fruit of the Loom apparel workers in Alabama are to lose their jobs after the company decided to relocate to its corporate headquarters in Bowling Green Kentucky.
UK: Russell Europe to close distribution plant – reports
18 June 2009
Clothing company Russell Europe is to close a distribution centre in the UK as part of a global review of its operations, according to local reports.
US: Broder Bros widens Q1 loss on costs, lower sales
29 May 2009
Activewear distributor Broder Bros Co has widened its first quarter loss thanks to restructuring charges, lower sales across all its divisions and a shrinking of the imprintable activewear market due to the economic downturn.
US: Broder Bros manages to stave off bankruptcy
21 May 2009
Activewear distributor Broder Bros Co has managed to stave off bankruptcy by refinancing 91.75% of its outstanding debt – but warned it is still an option if the deal does not go through.
US: Broder Bros explores financing and strategic options
5 March 2009
Activewear distributor Broder Bros has hired an investment bank to help explore financing and strategic options for its long-term capital structure.
Emerging markets buoy global lingerie sector
12 January 2009
Faced with slowing sales in Western markets, lingerie firms are increasingly focusing on emerging markets like Russia and Asia for growth. According to new research, both China and India are likely to see a double digit hike in lingerie sales over the next three years.
US: Russell Corp to lay off 450 workers
6 June 2008
T-shirt and sweatshirt maker Russell Corporation is lay off more than half of the 800 workers at its Coosa River Plant in Wetumpka, according to local news reports this week.
US: Fruit of the Loom unit shifting distribution?
14 December 2007
Vanity Fair Brands, a subsidiary of Fuit of the Loom, is planning to bring 200 jobs to its Monroeville plant, say local reports.
US: Fruit of the Loom to close Honduras plant
20 September 2007
Fruit of the Loom is to close its Jerzees de Choloma facility in Central America, which employs 800 people.
INTERVIEW: Harry Debes, president, CEO and director, Lawson Software
23 August 2007
Harry Debes’ first year as CEO of Lawson Software was dominated by the company’s merger with Intentia International, in early 2006. Now, 15 months after the deal’s completion, he tells just-style how the firm is leveraging its strength in the fashion sector with some exciting new ERP software developments, to help companies reduce lead times and improve delivery performance.
US: Marvel signs children’s wear deal with Fruit of the Loom
18 June 2007
Marvel’s comic book characters are to appear on a wider range of apparel and footwear products as a result of new licensing agreements signed with Fruit of the Loom and Crocs, and an expanded deal with Kids Headquarters.
US: VF Corp logs strong Q1 and raises guidance
25 April 2007
Shrugging off weakness in its sportswear coalition, VF Corp Tuesday (24 April) closed the books on a strong first quarter and raised its guidance for the current second quarter.
US: VF buys North Face in China, closes $350m intimates sale
3 April 2007
VF Corp’s stock hit a 52-week high on Monday (2 April) after the company took the license for The North Face brand in China in-house and closed the divestiture of its intimate apparel unit to Fruit of the Loom.
US: Intimates sale lowers VF Q4 net by 14.8%
7 February 2007
A nearly US$37m loss on the sale of its intimate apparel business to Fruit of the Loom lowered VF Corporation’s fourth-quarter net income below last year’s.
US: VF Corp buys travel gear supplier Eagle Creek
30 January 2007
VF Corp has added another trophy to its outdoor mantel. The Greensboro, North Carolina-based jeans and sportswear maker said Monday (29 January) that it had completed its acquisition of adventure travel gear supplier Eagle Creek. Terms weren’t disclosed.
US: VF to sell Intimates to Fruit of the Loom
23 January 2007
Apparel maker VF Corp is to sell its intimate apparel business for US$350m to Berkshire Hathaway unit Fruit of the Loom as part of its strategy to streamline its operations.
Egyptian QIZs boost apparel exports to the US
13 December 2006
Apparel exports to the US from Egyptian qualified industrial zones are soaring, manufacturing investments are on the up, and retailers and importers are putting more business into the country. Jozef De Coster reports on one of the industry’s recent success stories.
