NEW CONTRACT MARKET FABRICS COMBINE COTTON-LIKE FEEL WITH INHERENT HIGH PERFORMANCE FEATURES

Press Contact:
Tracey Campbell (800-925-0668) (twcampbell@afyarns.com)
John Avant (919-676-4115) (john.avant@avant.com)

Chapel Hill, NC (December 8, 2005) – Absecon Mills has developed a collection of fabrics for the contract market that combines the look and feel of cotton with remarkable performance characteristics.  The combination of hand and performance is made possible by Marquesa® Cottonesque, the highly-engineered synthetic yarn from American Fibers and Yarns Company (AF&Y). 

Named Cantara, the fabric collection includes a grouping of versatile patterns that are color fast, stain resistant, bleach cleanable and highly durable.  Because of the Marquesa technology, the performance features are inherent to the yarn, meaning they will last the life of the fabric.

“The Cantara collection is another important accomplishment in our commitment to remain competitive in the global textile market,” said Randolph S. Taylor, Absecon’s President and CEO.  “We have revamped our manufacturing processes to eliminate waste and we are introducing product lines that simply cannot be matched by overseas competitors.  Developed by American technology, the Marquesa Cottonesque yarns have allowed us to achieve the look and feel of high-end cotton fabrics while still meeting the stringent requirements for high-use areas.These fabrics have unbeatable easy care performance and are extremely durable.  We are achieving 100K double rubs and greater--- with fabrics that look and feel like cotton.”

The Cantara collection will be available early in the first quarter of 2006.

About Absecon Mills
Since its founding in the early 1980s, Absecon Mills has designed and manufactured standard-setting contract upholstery fabrics for the commercial seating market.  A recognized and respected market leader, Absecon continues to remain on the cutting edge of textile technology and development.  Offering the latest developments in yarns, finishes, trend-setting design and renowned durability, Absecon’s brand recognition is notable here in the U.S.A., as well as in Europe, South America, Asia, and the Pacific regions.  For more information, please visit www.absecon.com., email info@absecon.com or call 609.965.5373

About American Fibers and Yarns Company
American Fibers and Yarns Company (AF&Y) is the world’s leading supplier of solution dyed filament yarns.  With thousands of yarns in its product portfolio and the ability to engineer yarns to customer specifications, AF&Y is a dominant supplier to the residential and contract furnishings marketplace, and has a growing presence in the hospitality, apparel, automotive and industrial markets.  Headquartered in Chapel Hill, NC, AF&Y maintains a Technology Center that specializes in engineering filament yarn with innovative combinations not available from other suppliers.  The company also operates two U.S. production facilities totaling six hundred thousand square feet of manufacturing space.  For more information on AF&Y and its products, please visit www.afyarns.com or call 800-925-0668.