BURLINGTON GLOBAL DENIM
3330 Friendly Avenue
Greensboro, N.C. 27420
Tel (910) 379-2083
Fax (910) 379-2834
URL http//www.burlington-ind.com/denim.html

Formerly known as Burlington Denim, one of the world's largest suppliers of denim is now known as Burlington Global Denim.  The new title is pivotal, simultaneously signaling the actual reach and future focus of one of America's most venerable denim companies. The company's mandate confirms that "global denim will be driven by new product development."  Producers of a very broad specialized product line, Burlington Global Denim emphasizes extensive R & D and product technology.

Burlington Global Denim is the second largest apparel group of Burlington Industries, which was founded in 1923 by J. Spencer Love.  At the time, it was a single plant named for the town where it was located, Burlington, N.C. By 1996, Burlington Industries, the parent company, had sales of over $2.1 billion.

Over the years, Burlington has been known for innovation such as stretch denim in the late '70s, and in the early '90s, it introduced re-used denim made from recycled denim scraps and Tencel products.  This vertically integrated company has four plants in the U.S. and recently announced plans for  a new plant in Morelos, Mexico expected to produce 33 million linear yards and a brand new Mafatlal Burlington plant in Bombay, India.  The company's global philosophy stresses partnerships and investing in new global facilities with a sense of the same social responsibility and fair employment for which it is known in the U.S.

Headed by Dutch Leonard,  Burlington Global Denim has offered a new service, called Fastrack, since 1995.This trend and forecasting service sends clients quarterly newsletters and bi-annual photo packs from Europe and around the world.  The company also offers extensive customized product development for its clients and professional bilingual management in its plants.

Its product mix relies on Core Basic products of mostly 14.75 ounce indigo denims, and for fall '98 will offer Lycra denim and "intelligent indigos" using new fiber technologies. Vintage products include 18-dip and 20-dip indigos. For fashion customers, ringspun twisted and woven products are important.  A growing fashion category for Burlington is "lightweight rustics," offering new dye shades in products like "Drifter" and "Crossroads." Tencel products form an exclusive product group for the U.S. market in weights ranging from 7.75 ounces to 14.25 ounces. Other specialty products include comfort stretch denims for the older consumer and a group of "Synthetic Gear" products boasting new finishes for protection against the elements.  Ultra sheen and urethane coatings are available in this category.

Because of the company's commitment to being a global denim leader, it is now producing denims with character, inventive finishes and a sportswear range of colors faster than ever before.