Denim Innovations

March 21, 2023

At this event, White Oak Legacy Foundation presented a discussion on denim innovations among Denim 101 students and community members. Launch Greensboro, an entrepreneurial incubator, co-sponsored the event with WOLF.

The moderator of the event was Jack Hicks. Mr. Hicks is a patent lawyer with Womble Bond Dickinson, an international law firm with offices in Greensboro. Mr. Hicks has represented denim companies and other manufacturers over the years and assisted with intellectual property matters.

Victor Lytvinenko, founder of Raleigh Denim, shared with the group about founding a blue jean brand. Raleigh Denim is known for its custom fits and use of high-end selvage denim fabrics. Raleigh Denim used denim fabrics from the White Oak Cotton Mill before the mill shut down in 2018. Now, Mr. Lytvineko sources fabrics for Raleigh Denim from various mills. It was great to have Mr. Lytvinenko share at the event. He is one of the founders of White Oak Legacy Foundation and is a current board member. A true advocate of quality denim products.

Another featured presenter was Avery Dennison, the worldwide labeling company. Avery Dennison, has provided services to denim, blue, and apparel companies for years relating to shipping and labeling. Rod Smitherman of Avery Dennison discussed a new program the company is offering where “smart labels” can be used to describe in detail the contents of a product and how to trace the product as well as sustainable characteristics.

Karl Mayer Holding GmbH & Co, KG, a German-based company, is a producer of warp machinery for denim operations. Matt Carter of Karl Mayer shared insights into the company’s indigo dye technologies. Mr. Carter described a partner program Karl Mayer has recently launched with Levi Strauss & Company for a new dye techonology.

Served at the event was a custom brewed craft beer. The beer was brewed by Uptown Brewing Company of Greenville, North Carolina, and it featured a label that said “White Oak Legacy Foundation.”