Microban International announced a new partnership with Cosmo, a leader in eco-friendly and sustainable footwear textiles. Cosmo is now the exclusive Microban Approved Component Supplier (ACS) partner in the footwear category, providing materials treated with Microban antimicrobial technology to all global footwear brands.

Cosmo has adopted the new Microban Fresh Fabric System, combining Microban antimicrobial technology and quality control with its own fabric finishing capabilities to deliver footwear textiles that meet stringent odor control and antimicrobial performance standards. Footwear with Microban antimicrobial technology and branding will be rolling out throughout 2023, with the initial sales of antimicrobial Cosmo fabrics to footwear producers beginning in 2022. 

New Balance is opening a 350,000-sq.-ft. automated distribution center, at a cost of $68.5 million, at the Speedway Industrial Park in Lebanon, TN. The facility should be completed in late Summer 2023, according to the Tennessean newspaper, and employ approximately 150 full-time staffers.

The Philippines government is attempting to revive the country’s footwear, leather goods and tannery products industry. Last week, the country’s House of Representatives created a technical working group and introduced a bill to promote and strengthen the country’s footwear industry through incentives and new capital. Current barriers to the Philippines’ Marikina footwear business are said to be a lack of access to technology and capital for small- and medium-sized firms to operate and expand.