NEW FIBRES USED IN CLOTHING

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27415, 30 July 1954, Page 3

NEW FIBRES USED IN CLOTHING

SETBACK REPORTED IN U.S.

New Zealand Wool Board’s annual report says that for the first time

since the war, the use of synthetic fibres in the United States has suffered a setback.

“Comments from retailers have indicated an increasing degree of dissatisfaction with the performance of outerwear made 100 per cent, from some of the new non-cellulose fibres

and this has led to a much more sceptical attitude towards the claims made by all of them,” the report says. “Output of one of the newest synthetics, acrilan, was curtailed during the year to a small quanitity. Orlon production had also been reduced recently, partly to make changes in equipment for modification of the fibre but also because of an unfavourable reception on the textile market. Market reports have suggested that 100 per cent, dacron (terylene) suits are not very satisfactory and will not now be offered to the trade for autumn, 1954,” the report continues. “It may be too much to hope that this is more than a temporary setback, but it gives an especial timeliness to the joint consumer advertising project into which the Wool Bureau is entering with the Boston Wool Trade. A forceful advertising campaign for wool n\ay be expected to produce very much more effective results than it might have produced at any time up till now. In other fields of promotion also the bureau will exploit to the fullest extent the current uncertainity of demand for the synthetics,” the Wool Board says. “It should be noted that rayon manufacturers in the United States have initiated an industry public relations campaign to maintain their competitive position. This campaign is expected to parallel the efforts of the Natonal Cotton Council and the Wool Bureau. “In Great Britain and Europe the new synthetic fibres are being advertised more and more aggressively, and a United Kingdom firm has recently the production of its casein fibre “fibrolane” for which the usual extravagant claims are being made, says the report.