California Apparel News

Two of Los Angeles’ major interlining and pocketing suppliers are joining forces. Security Textile is merging with QST Industries’ Los Angeles office, and the two will form a new company called STC-QST LLC.

The two companies have already combined offices in Security Textile’s 65,000-square-foot space on Washington Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles. On April 30, the day before the merger was to be completed, the signage out front was being replaced to reflect the new company’s name.

“We felt it was important to keep both names in the title,” said Brian Weitman, the third-generation owner of Security Textile. “Both had goodwill and quality associated with the name.”

Weitman will serve as chief executive officer of the company, and QST Vice President and board member Kenny Weinbaum will retain his title and will be based in STC-QST’s Washington Boulevard facility.

STC-QST will take over all the QST business west of the Mississippi River. Security Textile’s denim division, a partnership with premium-denim mill Swift Europe, will shift from Security Textile’s full-package division, Security Sourcing International, to the new company. Security Sourcing will remain a separate business from STC-QST.

The merger combines the experience of 36-year-old Security Textiles and 128-year-old QST Industries.

“There’s more than 170 years of knowledge and experience to pass on,” Weinbaum said.

There are benefits to both companies beyond realizing economies of scale. OST will be able to take advantage of Security Textile’s expertise with the Los Angeles design community. Security Textile will benefit from QST’s global reach, which stretches across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North and Central America.

“It makes me a global company overnight,” Weitman said.

Weinbaum described STC-QST as a one-stop shop with a worldwide reach.

“Now they can knock on the door and say, ’We’re involved in the global market,’” he said.

STC-QST’s warehouse is piled high with rolls of interlining, pocketing and denim.

“Our inventory went from $2 million to almost $5.5 million,” Weitman said. “We’re invested in this market and continue to be invested in this market.”

With about 65 employees in all, STC-QST has 10 sales people, three full-time technical support personnel and four customer-service employees.

By joining forces, STC-QST will be able to tap into each company’s customer base, Weitman said.

“QST is working with the who’s who of the large brands of the world, and we’re working with the who’s who of the contemporary market,” he said.

Although there is some overlap in Security Textile and QST’s product lines, both companies have proprietary and exclusive products, which will now be carried under the STC-QST banner.

QST’s branded products include Ban-Rol, a patented “non-roll” waistband interlining, Q-Loop, an interlining designed to prevent denim belt loops from fraying, and Quick Stretch, a clear elastic that can be laundered and dry-cleaned without losing its stretch recovery. The company also produces embroidery backing and pocket lining.

“QST’s pocket lining is the best in the world,” Weitman said. “In areas I was weak in, they’re strong. Now there’s nothing I can’t offer my customers.”

In addition to its partnership with Swift Europe, Security Textile has several exclusive representation agreements for high-end products, including Riri zippers from Switzerland, which manufactures hand-polished zippers for many of the luxury houses of Europe, and a texturized, woven fusible manufactured by Japanese company Thokai, used in the contemporary and high-end designer market. Thokai developed a special application of the product for the premium-denim market to retain stretch and recovery even after extreme washes.

Among QST’s international operations is a 300,000-square-foot finishing facility in Toluca, Mexico, which will be a boon to Security Textile’s premium-denim clientele.

“We can bring in greige goods from Pakistan, finish, dye, bleach and deliver them in Mexico,” Weitman said.

QST also has a line of home-furnishings products, which will also come under the STC-QST umbrella. STC-QST will represent the national market for QST’s home-furnishings line.

“That’s a new growth opportunity for me,” said Weitman, who said the division has a growth potential of 30 percent. Products include down-proof lining, blackout lining and ticking for draperies for the hotel-supply and interior-design businesses. “There’s a tremendous amount of growth potential in that market,” Weinbaum said.

Both executives praised each other’s experience.

“I’m happy and proud to be part of this,” Weinbaum said. “I’ve known the Weitman family for a number of years. I have tremendous respect for them. They’re true leaders in the garment industry.”

STC-QST is currently working on a new Web site, and e-mail addresses will be changed to reflect the new name. The new company will keep Security Textile’s phone number, (213) 746-0850, and fax number, (213) 746-0865.

Weitman noted a specific thing that will remain the same after the merger: a commitment to quality and customer service.

“Both companies have a lot of integrity, and that’s not going away,” Weitman said.