PRODUCT
HanesBrands Celebrates the International Day of the T-Shirt Unveiling the Process of its Manufacture
Friday, June 21, 2019
Santo Domingo, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (June 21, 2019) . Textile manufacturing is one of the oldest and fastest growing industries in the world, something that is also reflected in the country. According to the 2018 Free Zones Sector Statistical Report, published by the National Council of Export Free Zones (CNZFE), apparel and textiles continues to be the second segment with the highest volume in the export process, with 15.2% share.
Within this segment, the T-shirt is one of the star products, a garment of global significance that has led to the declaration of an international day, which is celebrated on June 21.
HanesBrands, a leading company in everyday clothing and owner of the Hanes brand, joins this celebration by sharing for the first time in detail the manufacturing process of this iconic piece as a tribute to the Dominican Republic, a country in which it produces 80 % of the 250 million T-shirts sold per year worldwide.
In turn, this initiative serves to recognize the effort that exists behind the adequate preparation of each of these T-shirts. ”In the case of Hanes, it is about the hard work of around 7,000 highly committed Dominicans who are very proud to be part of the development of an internationally recognized product,” says Ricardo Pérez, vice president of HanesBrands Caribe. “This talent is guided by efficient practices in processes and responsible management of resources. For Hanes it is essential not only to operate in a sustainable manner but also to add value to the communities where its factories are located, through social responsibility programs. “
Origin and manufacture
The shirt or T-shirt is a garment with so much history that it has passed through many classifications. It is believed to have emerged in the late 18th century, but it was in the 1950s that it was recognized as an individual piece of clothing. Until then it was considered part of underwear, used to maintain body temperature on cold days. The following years brought new models making this garment more comfortable with the elimination of buttons and increased use of cotton.
It can be said that the T-shirt had two great moments that marked its immortality: its massification in the context of the First and Second World Wars and its triumphant entry into American cinema, when Marlon Brando and James Dean turned them into a global trend.
As for its preparation, Hanes explains it in the following steps:
- From yarn to fabric
With weaving machines, yarn is converted into fabric. The operator ensures that the 80 thread cones that continuously pass through the 1,300 needles of each machine are working perfectly and that the humidity, temperature, cleanliness and tension conditions are correct. - Bleaching, dyeing and washing
Once the fabric rolls are ready, the process in which it is bleached or colored is started, depending on the type of T-shirt to be manufactured. Chemical and dye dosage, temperature deltas, water versus fabric ratio, and pH play a determining role in delivering the product to the next process in the required color. - Smoothing and pre-conditioning
Once the fabric acquires the desired color, it must go through a softening and pre-conditioning process in which the properties of softness, antimicrobial, width, and tension are ensured. In this process, as in the previous one, largeamounts of water are used that are then treated with high aerobic-biological technology to rid them of impurities and return them to the environment. - Drying
The water is extracted from the fabric by subjecting it to high temperatures generated by the steam that comes from the biomass plant. “We have a steam generation plant from agroforestry products. In this way, we reduce CO2 emissions by 80% and we need less fossil fuels ”, explains Guillermo Serna, Director of Operations. As a result of its global energy management and environmental sustainability programs, Hanes has been honored ten times with the “Energy Star” award for Sustained Excellence and Partner of the Year, awarded by the Agency for United States Environmental Protection (EPA). - Compacted
The micro meshes of the fabric are compressed to generate widths depending on the size of the T-shirt that will be produced with it. - Cut
T-shirts are produced by parts that are assembled: body, sleeves and neck. The fabric passes to automated machines that cut it according to the patterns for each style and size. The different parts that result from the cut are classified by type and packed to be sent to the sewing plants. - Sewing
The pieces that make up the T-shirt are assembled in various plants in the country. Aldrin Hernández is the manager of the plants located in the free zone of LasAméricas and San Isidro, and explains in Hanes Caribe 3,600 people sew 480,000 units of T-shirts daily. It is at this time that the label is also printed on the fabric to make tagless T-shirts , an innovation in which HanesBrands is pioneering within the underwear market. - Distribution
Once they are finished, the T-shirts are packed and sent to the distribution centers so that they can be transported to the commercialization spaces of the different countries of the world and so that, what began as a thread, you can use it each day.
About HanesBrands
HanesBrands is a socially responsible company, a leader in the underwear and everyday wear market throughout the Americas, Europe, Australia, Asia and the Pacific. The company markets t-shirts, bras, underwear, girdles and shapewear, socks, stockings and sportswear under some of the most recognized global brands including Hanes , Champion , Maidenform , DIM, Bali , Playtex, Bonds, JMS / Just My Size , Nur Die / Nur Der, L’eggs , Lovable , Wonderbra, Berlei, Alternative, Gear for Sports , and Bras N Things. For more information about the company and its award-winning corporate social responsibility initiatives, visit www.Hanes.com/corporate or the newsroom newsroom.hanesbrands.com/ . Connect with HanesBrands through our social networks, on Twitter ( @HanesBrands_ESP ) and on Facebook ( facebook.com/hanesbrandsenespanol ).