Latest news with #BerryAmendment
Fibre2Fashion
3 days ago
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Europe needs its own Berry Amendment
Insights The US is moving to block a loophole on military textile supplies . Millions of dollars in new government contracts are anticipated by US producers. With EU nations boosting defence spending, there is growing momentum for a European equivalent of the US Berry Amendment. The European Commission is already considering mandatory procurement for certain textile categories. To read the full story, become a PRIME member today. All Corporate Members and TexPro Subscribers are eligible to access F2F PRIME CONTENT using the same login credentials. Latest News Insights Latest News Insights Exclusive Industry Articles & Features Exclusive Industry Articles & Features Detailed Article Analytics & Insights Digital Edition of Fibre2Fashion Magazine Digital Edition of Fibre2Fashion Magazine Get notified in your mailbox
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Defense Spending Bill Boosts US Producers of Military Shoes and Gear
American producers are celebrating a win for domestic industry within a government defense spending bill that advanced this week. Language from the Better Outfitting Our Troops (BOOTS) Act was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2026, which was voted through by the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) on Tuesday evening. It now faces a full vote in the House of Representatives. More from Sourcing Journal Designer Thom Solo Brings T1D Story to Lawmakers at Breakthrough Event Reintroduced Bill Would Shift CBP's Operational Costs Away from Ports Wrangler, Diesel Step Out With New Footwear Partnerships The inclusion will require the Secretary of Defense to issue regulations for the armed forces within the next two years that prevent servicemembers from purchasing optional combat boots as a part of their required uniforms that are made overseas. Instead, they'll be largely required to buy American-made boots with few exceptions. The NDAA's text also includes a provision would eliminate a loophole in the Berry Amendment that allows the American armed forces to purchase textile products from foreign makers under the threshold of $150,000. The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), which represents the country's textile and apparel supply chain, has long supported the BOOTS Act and other measures that would give U.S. manufacturers greater access to government contracts and patronage, especially outfitting the military. 'We applaud the HASC for passing the FY 2026 NDAA and including provisions that would help boost domestic manufacturing, strengthen American economic competitiveness, and meet the mission-critical needs of our Armed Forces,' the group's president and CEO, Kim Glas, said following the vote. Glas praised the leadership of Congressman Don Davis (D-N.C.) and Congressman Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.), who spearheaded bipartisan efforts to amend the NDAA with measures that favor of onshore industries. The lawmakers have also led efforts to close the small-purchase exemption within the Berry Amendment that has allowed the military to purchase textiles made overseas—a loophole that Glas said 'has led to U.S. military purchases of foreign-made textile articles largely at the expense of American textile manufacturers who have potentially lost several million dollars per year in U.S. government sales.' 'Eliminating this exemption will lead to the military procurement of more American-made military textile products as well as oversight of Berry Amendment compliance,' she said. Currently, American producers create more than 8,000 products a year, including over $1.8 billion in uniforms and equipment, for the armed forces. Also lobbying strongly on behalf of the BOOTS Act is the U.S. Footwear Manufacturing Association (USFMA), which took to Washington with a coalition of members from across the country to encourage lawmakers to include the bill within the defense spending legislation. According to the trade group, the Army and other branches of the military have been able to skirt the Berry Amendment—which was designed to ensure that soldiers were outfitted with American-made products—due to the longstanding loophole. Over the years, personnel have instead turned to cheaper combat boots, often made in China. American makers have been vying for a true shot at the defense industry, USFMA said—because bolstering their capabilities in that realm will also allow them to grow and scale their commercial capabilities, strengthening the overall U.S. footwear supply chain. There are also national security risks to the country's current inability to fully outfit its own troops. The trade organization pointed to a recent war game conducted for the Defense Logistics Agency, which revealed that in a wartime situation, the domestic supply chain would need at least a year and a half to ramp up to a point where it could meet the military's needs for footwear and other gear. The group said in a statement Wednesday that it was pleased with the inclusion of the BOOTS Act in the NDAA, characterizing it as a pivotal and encouraging step toward ensuring that combat boots worn by servicemembers are American-made. USFMA will continue its advocacy in the Senate, where the NDAA faces final passage. Also included in the NDAA were surprise provisions related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), otherwise known as 'forever chemicals.' Used across sectors and product categories, the substances are often found in cookware, firefighting foams, food packaging and apparel and footwear for waterproofing and oil repellency. They've also been linked to numerous health conditions, including cancers. While the NDAA doesn't take on the presence of PFAS in military garments or shoes, it does mandate that the Pentagon create a strategy to speed up the cleanup of PFAS contamination at military and National Guard installations to protect servicemembers from the potential dangers. Under the provisions included in the spending bill, the Department of Defense will be required to publish a public-facing dashboard that spells out cleanup efforts and timelines. Solve the daily Crossword
Fibre2Fashion
06-07-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
American Combat Boot Alliance welcomes introduction of BOOTS Act
The American Combat Boot Alliance (ACBA) recently welcomed introduction of the Better Outfitting Our Troops (BOOTs) Act to ensure that all combat boots supplied to the US military are indigenously made in accordance with the Berry Amendment. The Berry Amendment requires the department of defense to purchase certain items, primarily clothing and food, from domestic sources. 'Over the past several years, there has been a concerning influx of poorly made, non-Berry Amendment-compliant, foreign-sourced footwear procured by United States Army and United States Air Force service members,' ACBA, a coalition comprising US manufacturers committed to the readiness and combat effectiveness of warfighters, said in a letter to Nikki Budzinski from the House of Representatives and Tammy Duckworth from the Senate. The American Combat Boot Alliance has welcomed introduction of the Better Outfitting Our Troops (BOOTs) Act to ensure that all combat boots supplied to the US military are indigenously made in accordance with the Berry Amendment. Over the past several years, there has been a concerning influx of poorly made, non-Berry Amendment-compliant, foreign-sourced footwear procured by US military staff. 'The growing reliance on foreign products has led to the further erosion within the domestic footwear industrial base that supports the warfighter, resulting in over 750,000 pair of non-US manufactured combat boots being sold to Army and Air Force personnel each year,' the letter noted. These inferior products are subject to import tariffs, leaving vendors no choice but to pass the additional costs onto service members. These increased costs may exceed retail prices of domestically manufactured combat footwear, the ACBA letter said. Military service members receive annual Congressionally-appropriated uniform allowances for non-issued uniform items. The BOOTs Act will ensure that they can effectively use their taxpayer-funded uniform allowance to purchase American-made combat footwear, the letter said. This legislation also helps secure the challenged combat footwear supply chain industrial base, diversify the selection of domestic combat boots and ensure that US companies can meet surge demands in times of crisis, it added. ACBA member entities include the American Apparel & Footwear Association, the National Council of Textile Organisations, the US Footwear Manufacturers Association and several other private manufacturers. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
UNIFI ®, Makers of REPREVE ®, Launches Fortisyn™, an Inherently Durable Yarn for Military and Tactical Gear
GREENSBORO, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), the makers of REPREVE ® and one of the world's leading innovators in recycled and synthetic yarns, today launched Fortisyn™, an abrasion-resistant yarn engineered for ultimate durability in tactical applications. This innovative yarn provides fabrics with enhanced tear and tensile strength, offering a robust solution for military and first responder uniforms and tactical gear. Fortisyn is available made-in-USA for Berry Amendment compliant applications. Fabrics containing Fortisyn can withstand exposure to harsh elements and rough handling while maintaining their form, function, and appearance over time. Fortisyn is available in nylon 6,6 and REPREVE ® Nylon, a recycled type 6, circular nylon made from post-industrial yarn waste. 'In collaboration with mills and strategic partners, Fortisyn has undergone rigorous fabric testing to validate its exceptional performance. The launch marks a step forward in the scaling of recycled, circular technology yarns into the most durable applications,' said Eddie Ingle, CEO of UNIFI. About Fortisyn: Engineered for inherent durability and abrasion resistance. Solution-dyed capability for enhanced colorfastness. Fortisyn, made with REPREVE Nylon, is fully traceable with FiberPrint ® technology and certified by U-TRUST ®, along with Oeko-Tex®, GRS, and SCS certifications for recycled content. Available globally and in combination with other UNIFI yarn technologies. UNIFI will showcase Fortisyn at Booth 4241 at Techtextil North America held on May 6-8, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit About UNIFI, Inc. UNIFI, Inc. (NYSE: UFI) is a global leader in fiber science and sustainable synthetic textiles. Using proprietary recycling technology, UNIFI is a pioneer in scaling the transformation of post-industrial and post-consumer waste into sustainable products. Through REPREVE®, the world's leading brand of traceable, recycled fiber and resin, UNIFI is changing the way industries think about the materials they use – and reuse. A vertically-integrated manufacturer, the company has direct operations in the United States, Colombia, El Salvador, and Brazil and sales offices all over the world. UNIFI envisions a future where circular and sustainable solutions are the only choice. For more information about UNIFI, visit About REPREVE® Made by UNIFI, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), REPREVE® is the global leader in recycled performance fibers and resins. Using proprietary recycling technology, REPREVE leverages multiple waste sources, including single-use plastic bottles, ocean -bound plastic, textile waste, and recycled yarn. REPREVE has transformed more than 40 billion plastic bottles into recycled fiber, powering globally scalable products for world-leading brands. Made traceable with FiberPrint® technology and certified by U-Trust®, REPREVE spans sports apparel, fashion, home, automotive, construction, transport, military, medical and packaged goods. For more information about REPREVE, visit
