EMERYVILLE, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--May 10, 2005 -- Runways, showrooms, magazine spreads and fashion forecasters all point to polos and trench coats as two of the biggest trends in spring apparel. Nano-Tex is giving the classic polo and trench a modern makeover with its liquid repellency and moisture wicking enhancements.

Nano-Tex, a leading fabric innovation company providing textile enhancements to the apparel and interior furnishings markets, announced today that popular apparel brands are upgrading their knit polos and outerwear lines with the company's Resists Spills and Coolest Comfort enhancements.

Big Brand Knits & Outerwear

Land's End launched a cotton/Lycra women's trench coat and hat in six colors and patterns featuring the Nano-Tex Resists Spills repellency enhancement. For men, Eddie Bauer introduced a nylon and polyester Mac jacket that takes advantage of Nano-Tex's Coolest Comfort treatment, which wicks moisture away to keep the wearer dry and comfortable.

Also new for spring are a number of name-brand knit polos enhanced with Nano-Tex's superior repellency treatment. Nordstrom men's Smartcare Pique Polos with Resists Spills repel oil and water and are available in the hottest hues for spring, including sage, orange and blueberry.

Gap is selling Nano-Tex enhanced knit polos in multiple colors and stripe combinations as part of its Stressfree collection and will introduce a kids and youth line of performance knit polos later this year. Old Navy also is rolling out Nano-Tex knit polos in a range of colors this spring.

"Not only are polos and outerwear new categories for Nano-Tex enhancements, they're also two of the hottest segments in the apparel industry for spring," said Renee Hultin, president of the Americas for Nano-Tex.

The National Association of Menswear Buyers recently reported that 2005 is the year of preppy rediscovery, and specifically called out classic polo shirts as a cornerstone in the new look in men's fashion. And since last year, women's trench coats have been making a significant comeback. The women's wear trend forecaster for Cotton, Inc. says that the trench coat is a "must have," given its prominence on fashion runways in the past 12 months.

New Trend in Knits

In addition to repellency treatments, Nano-Tex offers a moisture wicking enhancement to make resin-treated cotton knits more comfortable. Apparel brands are embracing resin treatments designed to help knits hold their shape longer. Resin systems can mask the water-absorbing properties of cotton, making consumers feel wet and uncomfortable.

A new extension of the Nano-Tex Coolest Comfort family of patented moisture wicking enhancements is now available for resin-treated knits and other cotton garments. The enhancement keeps consumers dry and comfortable by pulling moisture away from the body as fast as non-treated cotton and at least ten times faster than most resin-treated cotton fabrics available today.

About Nano-Tex

Nano-Tex is headquartered in Emeryville, Calif., with operations in Greensboro, NC; Milan; Istanbul; London; New Delhi; Hong Kong; Osaka; Seoul and Maaseik, Belgium. Nano-Tex develops and markets a family of nanotechnology-based textile treatments that dramatically improves the performance of everyday fabrics. To date, more than 80 textile mills worldwide are utilizing Nano-Tex treatments in products sold by more than 100 leading apparel and interior furnishings brands, including Gap, Old Navy, Lee, Nike, Champion, Levi and Simmons. Products with Nano-Tex enhancements are sold throughout North America, Asia and Europe. www.nano-tex.com

Contact: Melanie Vuynovich Double Forte 415-863-4900 x 208 mvuynovich@double-forte.com