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Shirts that 'cannot stain'

Van Heusen › News & Press › Shirts that 'cannot stain'

Shirts that 'cannot stain'

Derby Telegraph, Andrew Hibberd

An Alfreton clothing company is hoping for 'huge growth' with shirts that 'cannot stain'.

Morrison McConnell, which makes and distributes leading brands such as British Van Heusen, Peter England, Rocola and Viyella, has produced a new fabric that 'tea, coffee and red wine will just brush off without leaving a mark'.

The garments, sold under the Van Heusen brand, have 'a unique molecular barrier around every thread'.

The company, with a turnover of £25, which was created from a management buyout of the shirt-making division of Coats Viyella in 2001, is expecting to triple production of the shirts.

'The initial run was tens of thousands of units but we're going to have to increase that to meet demand,' said managing director Barry Morrison, suggesting that production could top 100,00 units by the end of the year.

Once initial demand has been satisfied, the company plans to target the clothing hire industry which, it believes, will see the stain-resistant shirts as a potential huge boost to profitability.

The Van Heusen Stain resistant, pure cotton shirts are available from brigdens, of Derby, and Sanders Menswear shops in Alfreton, Eastwood and Ilkeston at a cost of about £50 each.

The cotton-rich Van Heusen Stainsheld versions, which are slightly cheaper at between £35 and £40 each, are available to Grays, of Ashbourne, JW Potter, of Buxton and Geoff Stevens Menswear, Matlock.

Morrison McConnell also has 23 Van Heusen-branded retail out-lets on stations, at airports and in other outlet centres across the country.

The company is also revamping its website so that customers can buy the shirts online.

Production of Morrison McConnell's branded ranges is carried out abroad.

But the company designs all its clothing in the UK and managers distribution from its 55,000-sq ft warehouse in Keys Road.

Half of the company's 200 employees are based at Alfreton and new jobs could be created because of the demand for the shirts.

The company is also considering setting up concessions in large department stores, which could lead to more job opportunities.

Mr Morrison, who was running the shirt division of Coats Viyella when the company decided to sell of its garments firms and concentrate on its core thread-making business, was able to hold on to the company's Royal Warrant in the management buyout.

Through the Van Heusen brand, the company's Royal Warrant in the management buyout.

Through the Van Heusen brand, the company supplies the Royal Household and holds the warrant from the Queen.
'I have a very good relationship with the Royal Warrant Holders Association and one of the first things I did when the opportunity to buy out the business arose was to check to see if I could retain the warrant'.

The company has also recently concluded talks with the Royal Bank of Scotland about launching an acquisitions campaign, although no specific targets have yet been identified.