Ken Kunberger, President of Burlington WorldWide, a business unit of International Textile Group, Inc., announced today the creation of Burlington Labs, the company’s newest business unit.

“Burlington Labs will be our testing ground providing sustainable innovations and truly unique solutions to our clients and partners,” Kunberger said.  “This announcement is part of our strategic platform reinforcing our commitment to current reinvention and contribution to the upcoming industry revolution.”

This ground-breaking launch positions Burlington Labs as both the catalyst and the repository for new textile technologies developed globally.

“Burlington Labs will in essence be an incubator for new technologies and associated textile applications,” said Gary Kernaghan, Executive Vice President – Global Business Development.
The technologies will be distributed through all divisions of Burlington WorldWide and will also be made available for other strategic applications.

“We are currently negotiating with several global partners for manufacturing, licensing, branding and distribution,” Kernaghan added.

Burlington WorldWide remains on the leading edge of new and innovative branded technologies including Bio-guard®, M.C.S.® Blocker, Ultrex®, Xalt® and Versatech®The creation of the Burlington Labs business unit will now assemble all technologies under one roof and assures that Burlington WorldWide will continue to be the vanguard of textile innovation.

Traptektm technology - Voted one of the most amazing inventions of 2005 – by Time Magazine, is the latest addition to Burlington WorldWide’s tech arsenal for woven fabrics. Traptek permanently embeds activated carbon, derived from coconut shells, into the fiber and yarns to provide both a cool natural comfort as well as the suppression of odor.   Burlington WorldWide will have exclusive worldwide rights to license and market the technology on woven products.

“We were looking for the right global partner to validate and help us launch our unique technology,” said Brad Poorman, President of Traptek.  “Burlington Worldwide and its parent company ITG offered a creative, solid and credible platform to support our efforts.”

Burlington WorldWide (BWW), an International Textile Group Company, is a leading provider and marketer of technology and fashion driven products for the Menswear, Womenswear, Activewear, Uniform and Barrier markets.  With offices Worldwide, BWW provides textile innovations to its clients and partners globally.

International Textile Group, Inc. (www.itg-global.com) was organized in March 2004 by Wilbur L. Ross to combine the assets of Burlington Industries and Cone Mills. ITG is a diverse, innovative provider of global textile solutions and distinguished market brands to apparel and interior furnishing customers worldwide. ITG operates four business units: Cone Denim, Burlington Worldwide, Burlington House and Carlisle Finishing.