California Apparel News

Wichita, Kan.–based fiber maker Invista, producer of Lycra, purchased the specialty polyester business from its licensee, European polyester fiber producer Advansa.

The acquisition includes assets related to specialty polyester products for apparel, including Advansa’s Thermocool brand. The deal also includes the reversion of Advansa’s licensed rights in greater Europe for Coolmax and Thermolite. Both brands are owned by Invista. Advansa had held the license rights to Coolmax and Theromolite in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The deal allows Invista to market its Coolmax and Thermolite brands and technologies globally, the company said in a statement.

“The new unified global business in specialty polyester gives Invista’s clients an outstanding spectrum of branded technologies to choose from, encompassing both the warm and cool fabric spaces with the Thermolite and Coolmax brands, respectively, and the Thermocool brand will enhance our specialties technology portfolio,” said Dave Trerotola, Invista’s president of apparel.

Advansa will retain its branded home textiles fiberfill business, its specialty fiber businesses for nonwovens and paper industries, and its manufacturing facility in Germany.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but Invista said, “Key staff and consultants involved in the Advansa business have been hired and engaged by Invista, and sales and critical business support processes are already operational.”