International Textile Group
Encyclopedia
International Textile Group (ITG) is a diversified U.S. fabric maker based in Greensboro, North Carolina. It acquired the assets of the former Burlington Industries
out of bankruptcy
in late 2003, and the assets of the former Cone Mills Corporation
in 2004. The company has recently ventured into the world of automotive fabrics with acquisition of Safety Components International of Greenville, SC and BST Safety Textiles of Maulburg, Germany. The company is majority-owned by private equity funds controlled by W.L. Ross & Co. LLC of New York, NY.
The chairman of the company is New York
-based investor Wilbur L. Ross. The company's president and CEO is Joseph L. Gorga.
ITG's operating companies include:
ITG continues to manufacture fabrics in North America
, but it has also developed fabric mills in China
, Vietnam
and Central America
. Its best-known fabrics are denim
and specialty nylon fabrics used in automotive airbag systems.
Denim fabrics are made in the United States, in Greensboro, NC, in Mexico
and are also now being made in China and Nicaragua in new company plants. (in the summer of 2009 ITG reported that it had closed the Nicaragua mill- which it had just opened- because its main customer moved its cut and sew operation out of Nicaragua. This makes the venture to build the plant almost a total loss to ITG). Almost all famous brands of denim fabrics purchase fabrics from Cone Denim, including Levi's, Wrangler and American Eagle. The company is also known for its worsted wool fabrics, which are made in North Carolina
and in Mexico. The company has developed a source for wool fabrics in India by working with OCM India Limited, a mill in Amritsar, India, which is also owned by funds controlled by W.L. Ross & Co. Customer of the wool fabrics include many well-known makers of wool garments (such as Joseph Banks and others). The company also produces some technical fabrics, such as fabrics made of polyester and nylon. These fabrics have a variety of uses, such as in uniforms, in performance apparel items and for safety services.
The ITG Automotive Group is a new development. This group manufactures fabrics and cushion for airbags, which are sold to automotive safety groups, such as Autoliv, TRW and Delphi. Many automobiles throughout the world contain ITG's safety fabrics. The fabrics and cushion are manufactured in various locations (U.S., Germany, Poland, China, Mexico).
The company owns the brand BURLINGTON, which is licensed to a company in Germany for a European menswear brand. Recently, the company sold certain trademark rights to the BURLINGTON brand in Europe to FALKE, a European high-fashion brand.
In September 2006, ITG announced plans to merge with Safety Components International, Inc., a Greenville, SC company that manufactures nylon
fabrics that are used in automotive airbags. The merger, completed in October 2006, created a $1 billion a year revenue company. At a time when most North American textile companies are struggling for survival, with many in chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, ITG is expanding into new markets. The merger with Safety Components was completed on October 20, 2006. The headquarters is based in Greenboro, NC.
In January 2007, ITG announced that it was selling it mattress fabric product line to Culp, Inc., another U.S. textile company that is based in High Point, NC. Also during 2007, the Company has opened a mill in China that will develop apparel and interior fabrics and the Company is developing a Vietnam venture that will supply apparel fabrics and garments.
On April 1, 2007, BST Safety Textiles came into the ITG family of business. By adding BST Safety Textiles ITG's business in automotive components has now grown significantly. However, in the summer of 2009, ITG's air bag unit filed bankruptcy and was taken over by secured creditors.
Burlington Industries
Burlington Industries is a diversified U. S. fabric maker based in Greensboro, North Carolina. Founded in 1923, the company has operations in the United States, Mexico, and India and a global manufacturing and product development network based in Hong Kong. The company entered Chapter 11...
out of bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
in late 2003, and the assets of the former Cone Mills Corporation
Cone Mills Corporation
Cone Mills Corporation was a world leader in textile manufacturing of corduroy, flannel, denim and other cotton fabrics for most of the 20th century. The company was based in Greensboro, North Carolina and its mills were mostly in North and South Carolina...
in 2004. The company has recently ventured into the world of automotive fabrics with acquisition of Safety Components International of Greenville, SC and BST Safety Textiles of Maulburg, Germany. The company is majority-owned by private equity funds controlled by W.L. Ross & Co. LLC of New York, NY.
The chairman of the company is New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based investor Wilbur L. Ross. The company's president and CEO is Joseph L. Gorga.
ITG's operating companies include:
- Cone Denim
- Burlington WorldWide Apparel
- Burlington House Interior Fabrics
- Carlisle Finishing
- Automotive Safety Textiles
ITG continues to manufacture fabrics in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, but it has also developed fabric mills in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
. Its best-known fabrics are denim
Denim
Denim is a rugged cotton twill textile, in which the weft passes under two or more warp threads. This produces the familiar diagonal ribbing identifiable on the reverse of the fabric, which distinguishes denim from cotton duck. Denim has been in American usage since the late 18th century...
and specialty nylon fabrics used in automotive airbag systems.
Denim fabrics are made in the United States, in Greensboro, NC, in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and are also now being made in China and Nicaragua in new company plants. (in the summer of 2009 ITG reported that it had closed the Nicaragua mill- which it had just opened- because its main customer moved its cut and sew operation out of Nicaragua. This makes the venture to build the plant almost a total loss to ITG). Almost all famous brands of denim fabrics purchase fabrics from Cone Denim, including Levi's, Wrangler and American Eagle. The company is also known for its worsted wool fabrics, which are made in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and in Mexico. The company has developed a source for wool fabrics in India by working with OCM India Limited, a mill in Amritsar, India, which is also owned by funds controlled by W.L. Ross & Co. Customer of the wool fabrics include many well-known makers of wool garments (such as Joseph Banks and others). The company also produces some technical fabrics, such as fabrics made of polyester and nylon. These fabrics have a variety of uses, such as in uniforms, in performance apparel items and for safety services.
The ITG Automotive Group is a new development. This group manufactures fabrics and cushion for airbags, which are sold to automotive safety groups, such as Autoliv, TRW and Delphi. Many automobiles throughout the world contain ITG's safety fabrics. The fabrics and cushion are manufactured in various locations (U.S., Germany, Poland, China, Mexico).
The company owns the brand BURLINGTON, which is licensed to a company in Germany for a European menswear brand. Recently, the company sold certain trademark rights to the BURLINGTON brand in Europe to FALKE, a European high-fashion brand.
In September 2006, ITG announced plans to merge with Safety Components International, Inc., a Greenville, SC company that manufactures nylon
Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
fabrics that are used in automotive airbags. The merger, completed in October 2006, created a $1 billion a year revenue company. At a time when most North American textile companies are struggling for survival, with many in chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, ITG is expanding into new markets. The merger with Safety Components was completed on October 20, 2006. The headquarters is based in Greenboro, NC.
In January 2007, ITG announced that it was selling it mattress fabric product line to Culp, Inc., another U.S. textile company that is based in High Point, NC. Also during 2007, the Company has opened a mill in China that will develop apparel and interior fabrics and the Company is developing a Vietnam venture that will supply apparel fabrics and garments.
On April 1, 2007, BST Safety Textiles came into the ITG family of business. By adding BST Safety Textiles ITG's business in automotive components has now grown significantly. However, in the summer of 2009, ITG's air bag unit filed bankruptcy and was taken over by secured creditors.