PHIFER INCORPORATED INTRODUCES MARQUESA^® GREEN

Press Contact:
Tracey Campbell (919-969-4248) (twcampbell@afyarns.com)
Kristen Orr (919-969-4243) (korr@afyarns.com)

Chapel Hill, NC (September 10, 2007)  – Phifer Incorporated has partnered with American Fibers and Yarns Company (AF&Y) to develop an earth friendly outdoor fabric collection for deep seating. The fabrics combine a soft unique texture with superior performance characteristics that exceed the casual furniture industry cushion standards (TCFFA) for strength, durability and colorfastness.

“Phifer has been bringing comfort to the outdoors with a variety of products for years,” said Hugo Benitez, national sales manager, designed fabrics for Phifer, Inc.  “Designing and creating fabrics for today's leisure lifestyle also means taking into account the impact they have on the environment. With great success in our Marquesa^Ò Blends collection, introducing a 100% Marquesa fabric was the next logical step for us.”

Marquesa^® yarns begin as a by-product of post-industrial waste. Compared to other synthetics, they:

• Require less energy to produce

• Produce least waste generation of synthetic fibers; none of it harmful industrial waste

• Do not require potentially harmful topical treatments for performance

• Are recyclable and have an existing recycling stream

"Partnering with companies who are interested in designing products that make environmental improvements is part of our overall earth friendly business strategy,” said Jim Morelli, AF&Y executive vice president of sales and marketing. “Combining our fiber technology with Phifer’s innovative fabric designs will deliver a fresh environmentally friendly recyclable fabric to the casual furniture industry.”

This collection of Phifertex Marquesa^® fabrics brings a new level in design and performance to deep seating. The inherent performance properties are engineered within the yarn and will last for the life of the fabric: 

• Bacteria, mold, and mildew resistant

• Stain resistant and bleach cleanable

• Color fast. Will not fade over time or from bleach

• Earth friendly

The Phifertex Marquesa^® Green fabrics can be seen at the upcoming International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago, September 17-21, 2007.

Following their useful life, fabrics made with 100% Marquesa^® yarns can be sent back to American Fibers and Yarns Company to be recycled and will be re-generated to produce a variety of durable goods.

About American Fibers and Yarns Company
American Fibers and Yarns Company (AF&Y) is the world’s leading supplier of solution dyed filament yarns.  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, 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.