Latest Customer Testimonials -

I've been wearing Holofiber from top of my head to my toes for about 10 years, and could not live without it! I even wrap my head in a Holofiber T-shirt on cold nights.

Just have to tell you this:

I'm 77 years old. I had hernia surgery on November 30, 2011, (same day surgery) . I was determined I would have NO pain following surgery. I had ordered a new pair of tights, which I took with me to the hospital and also had a Holofiber T-shirt to wear home following surgery. As soon as they would let me dress, I put on my Holo T-shirt, and pulled it down over the incision. Then, over my underpants, I pulled on my new Holofiber tights. All discomfort vanished immediately!

I could tell I'd had surgery as I climbed into my daughter's car for the drive home, but experienced no discomfort, once I was settled in the car. We did stop to get my prescription for pain med filled, but I knew I would not need it. I have experienced absolutely NO pain or discomfort at all since surgery, and my healing has been phenomenol! I saw my surgeon yesterday for (2-week) post-surgery exam, and he was amazed at my healing! I hardly even have a scar from the incision! I've felt great every day. I'm a little draggy, but thoroughly enjoying my recovery period and following all the rules for taking it easy and not lifting anything heavy.

I wear holofiber tights, T-shirt and socks or sock liners 24 hours a day/night throughout the winter, and credit Holofiber as a major factor in my good health. I wear the glove liners at night and when I go outside. You can believe that I'm wearing it all 24 hours a day following surgery! Recent orders have been for gifts for my family.

Thank you for creating such miraculous products!

R.F.L.

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I just received my mid weight wickers and gave them the test drive! 45 degree mountain biking. The problem I usually run into is even with most of the sports fabrics i end up cold because the material ends up too wet from sweating. I was amazed that even after 3 hrs of pretty hard peddling I was totally dry and therefore totally comfortable! You exceeded my expectations! Well done and made in the USA. I will be recommending you to my friends!

W.H.

Sustainability and American Manufacturing

As we begin to see signs of economic recovery, America needs a transformation unlike any other in its history. We can’t miss the role that manufacturing should play in this transformation. To succeed at home as well as around the world, we need a comprehensive U.S. industrial strategy for competiveness that enables our future and takes advantage of the many emerging opportunities such as the transition to a green economy. One that focuses not just on commercializing new products, but also puts equal emphasis on industrial innovation in smart, safe and sustainable manufacturing.

Sustainability is important to making sure that we have and will continue to have the water, materials and resources to protect human health and our environment.

When large apparel brands and retailers moved from American shores to cheaper labor, they also escaped the cost of environmental regulations; there was a total disregard of the ideal of Sustainability. Is it no wonder that the hope of achieving the necessity of Sustainability is pronounced nonsense?

300,000,000 people in China are without potable drinking water. Textile manufacturing is the largest consumer of water. The devastation has already happened and GreenPeace International's appeal to the largest apparel brands to join them in their Detox program to reverse the damage has already garnered some support and a promise by some to be compliant by the year 2020.

Textiles made in America remain committed to production methods that do not contain toxic or harmful substances. They are still creating processes that reduce water uses in coloring fabrics. Sustainability is not forgotten. and we can still be hopeful that we can get further to achieving the ideal.

It’s time to re-industrialize America and reclaim world manufacturing and economic prosperity leadership with a U.S. industrial strategy for competiveness that deals head-on with the realities that we face as a nation today and will face in the future.

Wickers American Manufacturing

Wickers is proud to have as it major producer of moisture wicking knit fabrics Alamac USA.

They operate a 450.000 square foot plant which is located on 190 acres of land in North Carolina.

They take their environmental responsibilities very seriously. I asked Mark Cabral, CEO to outline some of the details of these responsibilities. His response:

“We operate and are governed under a variety of environmental permits:

-Waste Water Treatment……….Operator Permit

-Air Emissions Permit

-Storm Water Discharge Permit

-Land Management and Application Permit.

In particular, we manage all our water use and application on sight. Which includes pumping and pre-treating all incoming water requirements and treating all our own waste water by way of an Aerobic Waste water Treatment Facility, Alternatively, we could purchase our water and send our waste water to a local municipality, but we have found it to be more cost effective, reliable and efficient to manage this ourselves and less burdensome on the municipalities.”

Textile manufacturing is the largest user of water and as such there is much to do to be sure that what we do will not harm the waterways and lakes in America. In addition the EPA requires strict controls on air emissions and Alamac USA has its controls in place and the properly trained engineers to operate them as required.

Yes, it costs more to manufacture in the US, but it’s worth every penny to all of us to have clear, clean safe water and air and to keep it that way.

What makes Wickers’ FR Wool underwear superior?

“The only Top Dyed wool and Lenzing FR for underwear and base layer garments made in America.”

Both the fibers are completely sustainable, they do no harm to the environment. FR Lenzing fibers earn Prestigious USDA Certification for Sustainability. Both fibers Fine Micron Merino Wool and FR Lenzing are top dyed to insure color integrity and to establish its eco-friendly production processing (from fibers to garments.

After dyeing the tops of wool and separately the tops of FR Lenzing fiber, the yarn manufacturer then mixes the two fibers together, using its manufacturing skills to spin the fibers into very fine long staple yarns. The manufacturer is awarded the ISO Certificate for the field of Dyeing-Spinning-Twisting and awarded Certification by Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (no harmful substances) authorizing them to use the Oeko-Tex mark.

To further emphasize the importance of the environmental friendly character of Wickers fabric, Lenzing FR fiber has been certified as 100% Bio based by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Bio based products are made of ingredients from renewable sources such as wood from trees and fine Merino wool from sheep.

Lenzing FR is a high performance cellulose fiber that delivers unique and highly valuable benefits to make Wickers wool garments safer, cooler, drier and more comfortable for those who are expected to perform under strenuous and challenging conditions.

After receiving this highly valuable yarn, Wickers production of its fabric and garments does no harm to the final product. There are no harmful substances that are in Wickers fabric and garment manufacturing processes. When you are finished using our Wickers FR garment they will bio-degrade naturally.

Wickers FR underwear has been tested at 500 degrees Fahrenheit for five minutes in an over with no ignition, melting, dripping or separation. Because the garments are non-toxic, under direct flame or excessive heat, they produce no toxic pyrolysis gases.

For superior FR performance, protection and reduction of fatigue resulting from heat stress, turn to Wickers.Com.

Happy Veterans Day from All of Us at Wickers

The U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. In proclaiming the holiday, he said:

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."

The United States Congress passed a concurrent resolution seven years later on June 4, 1926, requesting that the President Calvin Coolidge issue another proclamation to observe November 11 with appropriate ceremonies. An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U.S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday; "a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'."

In 1953, an Emporia, Kansas man named Stephan Riod the owner of a shoe repair shop, had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who died in World War I. Riod had been actively involved with the American War Dads during World War II. He began a campaign to turn Armistice Day into "All" Veterans Day. The Emporia Chamber of Commerce took up the cause after determining that 90% of Emporia merchants as well as the Board of Education supported closing their doors on November 11 to honor all veterans. With the help of U.S. Representative John Salper, also from Emporia, a bill for the holiday was pushed through Congress. President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law on May 26, 1954. Congress amended this act on June 1, 1954, replacing "Armistice" with "Veterans," and it has been known as Veterans Day since.

Although originally scheduled for celebration on November 11 of every year, starting in 1971 in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October. In 1978, it was moved back to its original celebration on November 11.

The Family at Wickers Performancewear would like to wish a very happy Veterans Day to all who have served our great nation. Thank you for your courage and dedication and for giving so much to pay for the freedom we enjoy today.

Below is a list of resources for Veterans:

Restaurants Offering Veterans Discounts

Entertainment Discounts for Veterans

Veterans Career Fair

More About Wicking - Akwatek

Akwatek is Wickers unique process that actually alters the fabric to "wick" perspiration away from the body to cool or warm and keep you dry, not only in extreme outdoor conditions, but in everyday activities, anywhere.

Unlike the capillary action of other fabrics that need to be worn close to the skin to transport moisture, the revolutionary Akwatek process pulls moisture away from the body much faster. It actually duplicates and enhances the thermoregulatory actions of the body creating a vapor barrier to keep you cool when the weather is warm, and warm when the weather is cold.

The patented Wickers process does not use any add-on chemicals, but instead effects a molecular change in the polyester material, which remains for the life of the garment. Its anti-bacterial barrier helps to control odor, and, the process stays locked in for life, even after repeated washing.

Stay cool when it's warm
The more you perspire in warm temperatures, the more Wickers fabric moves moisture from the body. As activity decreases, the fabric will reduce the evaporation process, leaving a constant water barrier between the fabric and your skin.

Stay warm when it's cold
Akwatek creates a layer of 100% relative humidity between the fabric and your skin, creating an area of moist air that holds more heat during cooler temperatures. It pulls moisture away, increasing the heat capacity of the trapped air next to your skin.

Electrostatic vs. Capillary
Akwatek is unlike fabrics that need to be worn close to the skin to create humidity, relying on capillary action. If the capillary fabric gaps, the draw is broken and becomes ineffective. As a result, heat is lost for the wearer. With Akwatek, individual molecules are separated, thus favoring evaporation.

 

Wickers is Underwear for Anywear.

What Is Wicking?

People understandably find it odd to hear "wick" used as a verb. A "wicking" shirt? Sounds strange at first. Wicking will absorb or draw off (liquid) by capillary action. Here's an explanation of this phenomenon for nonscientific minds:

Candle Wicks -
Think of a candle wick—usually a braided, wax-coated cord of cotton. When lit, the wax coating melts away. Melted wax becomes the fuel source for the flame, and the wick draws ("wicks") melted wax to the flame, where it vaporizes. The flame continues to burn because the wick steadily draws more liquefied fuel to it. An oil lamp works on the same principle, drawing (wicking) fuel to the flame. This act of wicking a liquid along a fibrous path is known as capillary action.

Wicking: Synthetic Fabrics -
Capillary action also occurs with synthetic performance underwear. Here's how: An active person wearing a polyester T-shirt begins to sweat. A high-humidity "microclimate" is created between the person's sweating skin and the shirt covering the skin. Perspiration vapor and moisture condense on the garment's interior (its underside). Because everything in nature moves toward equilibrium, the high-humidity air mass between skin and garment will seek a path to a lower-humidity environment. The difference (gradient) between temperature and humidity on both sides of the garment becomes the driving force that moves the warmer, wetter air beneath the garment toward the cooler, dryer air on the outside. Wicking takes place when perspiration moisture travels along the surface of the fiber but is not absorbed into the fiber. (Synthetic fibers are, essentially, plastic—and virtually nonabsorbent). Moisture escapes to the outside through the interstitial spaces (the miniscule holes) between the knitted yarns. Moisture is dispersed across the fabric's exterior, where it evaporates after contacting the lower-humidity environment outside the shirt.

Getting “Spooky” across the USA – 10 of the Spookiest Cities in America

1. Washington, D.C. - One of the most haunted structures in all of Washington, D.C. is the Capitol Building. Specters of every type haunt the hallowed halls, including the ghosts of workers who died during the construction of the rotunda. One spirit died from a fall, the other was crushed to death when a wall collapsed. Prominent historical figures also wander from room to room, including former Presidents John Quincy Adams and James Garfield.

2. Gettysburg- Gettysburg National Park - This Civil War battlefield was on the list last year, and it’s no surprise: The battle claimed nearly 51,000 American lives, and it’s reported that nearly all 40 miles of the Gettysburg battlefields have paranormal activity.Ghosts of soldiers, Native Americans and civilians have been seen roaming the area, and visitors complain of disembodied screams and mysterious smells.

3. New Orleans - finds its way onto this list every year and has been called the most haunted city in the United States. Once a burial ground for Native Americans, the first Europeans to populate the area were French prisoners sent by their government to help build the city.

4. Savannah - Bonaventure Cemetery is considered the most haunted place in all of Savannah. Before it was a cemetery, Bonaventure was the site of a large plantation owned by Josiah Tattnall, Jr. He was known for his lavish parties that drew socialites from all over the city. One night, while Tattnall was hosting one of these galas, the enormous mansion caught fire. It is rumored visitors to the cemetery can still hear the sounds of laughter and clanking silverware, as if the party never stopped.

5. Hollywood -You might not expect to find Los Angeles on this list, but a closer look reveals another side to the city. Perhaps the most famous part of haunted L.A. is the Hollywood sign. Originally a sign for a residential development called “Hollywoodland,” the sign is now an iconic fixture in American cinematic history. It’s also the site of one of the entertainment industry’s many tragedies. Peg Entwistle, an aspiring actress in the 1930’s, jumped to her death from the letter “H” after multiple failed attempts at Hollywood fame. It is said her ghost still haunts the hills surrounding the sign.

6. San Antonio - One of the most famous haunted sites in San Antonio is Mission San Jose. The Mission was erected in the early 1700’s and used to both Christianize the natives and protect the missionaries from those who refused to convert. According to legend, the grounds are haunted by the spirit of a Native American buried there. The spirit comes in the form of a large black dog, wandering the grounds along with a headless priest and the ghost of a woman.

7. Philadelphia- Fort Mifflin, located in Philadelphia, is the only intact Revolutionary War battlefield and is rumored to be haunted by the soldiers who died there. But there are other spirits as well; a woman’s screams have often been heard coming from the Officer’s Quarters. These screams are thought to be those of Elizabeth Pratt, an officer’s wife who hung herself when her estranged daughter died of typhoid. And a faceless man has been seen knitting in Casemate 5, an area used as prison cells for Confederate POWs, while the ghost of a Revolutionary War soldier has been said to give tours of the Fort.

8. Boston - One of Boston’s most famous haunted places is the Boston Athenaeum. It’s one of the oldest independent libraries in America and the site of a famous haunting as reported by The Scarlet Letter author Nathaniel Hawthorne. According to Hawthorne, the ghost of one of his reading partners, the Reverend Doctor Harris, haunted him for weeks at the Athenaeum before disappearing forever. It is not known if Harris’s ghost ever really left.

9. Santa Fe- One of the most famous ghosts that roams the streets of Santa Fe is that of the headless horseman who reportedly rides down Alto Street to the Santa Fe River, brandishing a sword on his way. Legend has it the headless horseman lost his head after complaining to two Santa Fe witches about a love potion they gave him. His spirit won’t leave the area - many visitors report seeing the ghost on horseback at the banks of the river.

10. Salem - We all know Salem was the site of the infamous Witch Trials, and the city is supposedly haunted by the spirits of the women who fell victim to the hysteria of the 1690’s. But there’s more to haunted Salem than ghosts of accused witches. One of the spookiest places in Salem is the House of the Seven Gables. Built in 1668, the home is rumored to be haunted by the wife of the captain who built it. Employees and visitors alike have reported seeing the ghost of a woman peering out the windows, and some have heard the ghost of a young boy playing with his toys in the attic. It’s said the spirits are former residents of the home who cannot bear to leave.

Tips For Staying Warm This Winter

1    1.  Avoid wearing cotton! - Cotton traps moisture against your skin. Through convection, cold air and moisture work together to replace the heat that your body generates with cold energy. Use moisture wicking polyesters or another synthetic material that will wick the moisture away from your skin.2

.        2.  Remember to layer up! -This refers to the way you dress. Start with soft layers against the skin and finish with a nylon material that will challenge wind, rain and snow. The idea is that as the temperature changes, you can add or remove clothing that will keep you warm enough.

3.      3.  Make sure you eat -Your body will generate heat as it burns the fuel you have fed it. Eat foods that are high in fat content and calories. Remember that a calorie is actually a unit of measure that measures heat! Warm foods and hot drinks will really warm you on a cold day.

4.     4.  Drink liquids - When it is below freezing the air will draw moisture out of you. If you are dehydrated it is harder for your body to keep you warm.5

5.      5.  Wear a Hat and Gloves - If your feet are cold put a hat on. Your body will close off circulation to your fingers and feet if you head gets cold. Your head will not feel cold but your feet will. By putting on a hat you will warm up your head and the circulation will return to your cold feet warming them up.

6.       6.  Keep moving! As your body works, it generates heat as a byproduct. Use those layers to keep the heat. Much of your body heat is circulated via the blood stream. Wiggle those toes and fingers to get heat there, too.

7.       7.  Create a Personal Heater -  If you are spending the night in the cold, try boiling water and putting it into a secure water bottle wrapped in a sock. Go ahead and throw the water bottle(s) in your sleeping bag while you sleep in the tent.

Why Buying American Made is So Important

There was a time when America produced what its citizens needed and wanted. We were proud to have abundant natural resources and dedicated people to do this. Today we have squandered our ability to use these resources and put ourselves in the position of having to depend on others.

We have lost our Pride! We are losing our self confidence to believe that we can regain what we have squandered.

Near 10% unemployment, about 30,000,000 people not working; is this a lasting legacy of the movement of manufacturing and farm products to low wage countries? What is the new norm, but a euphemism for “not to expect that we will return to our previous grandeur; to settle for less”. Is the American Dream gone forever? It doesn’t have to be.

There is a real “Food Movement” starting in America. To set the path away from the multi-international corporations and the food preparation industries and the fast food companies that have created unhealthy diet, which have multiplied the number of illnesses such as Diabetes 2, heart diseases, and some forms of cancers in the American populations, toward a more sustainable and healthy food chain closer to the localities from local farms and Farmer Market distributors.

The idea of the Movement is that we can do better than what is being done now and is a prima facie case for all manufacturing and distribution. We can get our pride back and build a better America by getting back to our roots.

Small businesses do not move away to distant lands to produce its products they stay and compete. Large corporations have built well known brands in America, then move away to produce what they sell in America. What they don’t know is that they take our pride from all of us. Not only have the skills of factory workers, but also the knowledge of our research scientists and information technology, and increasingly the creative aspirations of our young people.

Loss of our pride can easily be seen when an unshackled financial industry can reap billions and cause a debacle that affects all of us more than it does them. The Food Movement needs to morph into a total reversing movement to regain our pride by doing what made us great to begin with.

Grow our own food, build our own products in our own factories, and allow our young people to have the opportunity to the creative genius that still exists in America.

To understand fully the impact of the transferring our industrial legacy, one must view the total devastation of the fiber, textile and apparel manufacturing in the US.

America was the world leader in the production of synthetic fibers. The premier researchers and developers of innovative uses of these fibers since the 1930’s. Billions of pounds of fibers were manufactured in the US providing employment for not only the factory workers and managers, but also, for the many thousands employed to creatively seek new markets and build consumer demands in the textile markets for home furnishings, apparel, automotive interiors, tires, ecosystems and many other end use products.

All the science, technology and manufacturing know how is now gone from our shores. They are now closer to their direct customers in the textiles production.

The textile industries production of yarn spinning, fabric formations, dyeing and finishing skills with its attendant technology to create fabrics to meet the needs of the American consumer who employed thousands of skilled workers in their factories have moved; forced to do so by the market forces and a system created by the political fantasy that it would be best for US citizens.

This political fantasy that apparel manufacturing would be best if it also moved to low wage producing lands pulling not only manufacturing but also the largest retailers in world to set up their procurement departments in these same low wage producing countries. There were literally hundreds of thousands garment workers that are now not needed by these factories in America.

Many of the total number of US citizens employed by these industries are now among the 30,000,000 unemployed or underemployed Americans. We have been told that this give away of America’s manufacturing prowess, believed to have been the finest in the world and to have delivered the goods to help our Armed Forces defeat the totalitarian regimes 60 years ago and then to help build the greatest middle class known to mankind is now but shell of its former self. To be replaced by what? Do you know or can you see what our political establishment vision is?

We want our collective pride back!