Our anti-microbial uniforms more like tools than a commodity
LifeThreads LLC is a life sciences company focused on infection control and management in clinical healthcare settings by targeting soft surface contact points. The company manufactures and distributes professional medical apparel, patient garments, linens and related items treated with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered anti-microbial active ingredient that protects the fabric surface from harmful pathogens. Advanced fabrications in healthcare are being developed every day to improve lives of end-users, says company president Tyler Mutz in an interview with Fibre2Fashion.
How many washes do the anti-microbial effects lasts on scrubs?
All of our fabric combinations include four properties of advancement. Our anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties have been tested to last over 100 washes. Being an American company, our anti-microbial efficacy has to be tested since we use an EPA-registered ingredient. Two specific tests we have done are the AATCC 100 and AATCC 147 tests. In both tests, our success rate was 99 per cent in reducing certain bacteria. Our anti-microbial chemistry also does not leach out of the textile.
What is the global market for healthcare textiles? What is the growth rate of the industry?
We see that the healthcare scrub uniform market in the United States is around $8-10 billion. When it comes to healthcare textiles in general, the scrub uniform number can be closer to $50 billion. I believe the growth rate is mainly due to global awareness of advanced textiles in all areas. More importantly, there hasn't been a real focus on brand identity until recently, which we are capitalising on.
Which are your major markets for healthcare apparel?
We see our product lines being the future of textiles in the healthcare apparel industry and so we have focused on two major markets: retail (e-commerce/brick & mortar) and institutional. We believe we can make an impact in the market more beneficially by bridging the gap between retail and healthcare intuitions. We have some amazing retail partners that handle the day-to-day end-user experience much better than we can, which gives us the edge in developing and delivering a superior anti-microbial, fluid barrier uniform.
What are the challenges that this industry faces?
I think this industry is challenged by brand identity. More end users are smarter than ever, can voice their opinions and can shop from the comfort of their couch now. Slowly we are seeing a revolution in fabrics and styles that have not been seen in past years in this industry. This is due to end user education and sophistication that is driving all of us to keep up with demand. Even though it is a major challenge, it is what I love the most about this industry and my job. Disruption and forward thinking is key to elevating any industry.
What are the sustainable practices adopted at Life Threads?
LifeThreads is committed to manufacturing products that surpass the most stringent safety and environmental protection standards. All of our products are Oeko-Tex certified, which means that they support human ecology through bio-compatibility and the absence of harmful substances in their processes.
What kind of fabrics and technology do you use?
Our current collections are polyester/cotton, cotton/polyester/spandex and polyester/rayon/spandex. All of our fabrics have been used in the past or are currently being used by other big manufacturers. Where we differ in the market is our advanced use of these traditional textiles by taking the manufacturing process two steps further by impregnating the fabric with our anti-microbial agent zinc pyrithione, and adding a fluid barrier protector to the garment. In the fourth quarter of 2018, we will introduce a new collection that we are very excited for, which will also bear the same attributes.
What is the annual production capacity at your units?
The annual production of our units is 26 million yards of fabric.
How are you improving effectiveness, comfort and efficiency in your product offerings?
At LifeThreads, our continued effort to improve comes through the voices of our end users - from our brand ambassadors, which we sign up on a quarterly basis, to our retail partners in the eight countries we are in, or our domestic retail partnerships. We feel this is the best way to improve. The feedback we get on our technology, fabrications, and even to our packaging, is always in a constant review to make sure we are delivering the best.
Which innovative technologies have been incorporated in LifeThreads' scrubs?
There are four areas of technology incorporated in every unit of LifeThreads. All of our items are anti-microbial, anti-fungal, include odour control with a very breathable and effective fluid barrier.
What are the main growth drivers in the healthcare textile industry?
An aging population will demand more attention and care than before. Secondly, advanced fabrications are being developed every day that are improving the lives of end-users around the world. Our anti-microbial uniforms are now becoming tools more than a commodity in our opinion.
What is the latest trend in the surgical apparel industry?
We believe our anti-microbial and fluid barrier scrub uniforms are at the forefront of the latest trend in surgical apparel. In clinical healthcare settings, we see now anti-microbial use in curtains, handrails, tabletops, IV poles and door knobs. We believe that anti-microbial uniforms are not just a trend, these will soon be the standard, and we are positioning ourselves as the leader in this field.
Please share details of the last two fiscal years and your expectations for the next two years.
As a private company, we do not share this data. However, our year-over-year growth was just over 190 per cent, and we are tracking this and hope to exceed this growth again for 2018. My expectations over the next two years are to continue this growth as we expand into different markets and geographic regions.
What is the annual budget allocated towards R&D? How big is the team?
One of the great things we have done at LifeThreads is keeping our team tight and lean to control costs. Where we have looked for R&D, we have vetted and outsourced to some of the most respected companies and people in our industry when it comes to fabric and technology innovation all around the world. This has given us the opportunity as a young company to collaborate from many independent sides to come to one team effort result. Our technology has been the same since day one, which helps on the chemistry side, while we are constantly trying new fabrics out for fit, feel and fashion. The annual budget has increased every year as we continue to gain sales year over year with about 10 per cent of our budget going to that.
What is the USP of your products?
Our unique selling point is quite simple. We believe we have the most advanced healthcare scrub uniform in the world. With the combination of our fabrics and technology, I don't think anyone compares in terms of value.
What are your future plans?
My biggest hurdle every day is 'why should they care?'. The top future plan for LifeThreads is to gain worldwide acceptance of anti-microbial technology and making potential customers aware of what they are wearing professionally. Our customers care about themselves with beauty and health products, certain foods and quality of life. We need to educate them more on the benefits of our technology. That is why we plan to invest heavily in marketing and end-user retention. I am very proud of the grass root marketing we have done in the past three years, but with the recent successes we have had in 2017 and in early 2018, it is time to really blast off and grow this brand to an acceptable level for our team and investors. (HO)
