JAPAN: "Corn socks" set to hit Japanese stores

U.S. firms are hoping to reap profits from fashion and environment-conscious Japanese with the launch of garments made from corn. Biodegradable socks, made from corn-derived fibres, are due to hit Japanese store shelves sometime next year as well as line of hats and scarves made from kernels of maize. The launch is backed by the U.S. Grains Council, which aims to bolster demand for U.S. corn by creating new markets. Participating hosiery manufacturers are Fox River Mills Inc. of Iowa, W.Y. Shugart & Sons Inc. of Alabama, and Harriss & Covington Hosiery Mills and Twin City Knitting, both of North Carolina. "The product is basically a corn-based product. It comes from Mother Earth and it goes back to Mother Earth. It's 'compostable.' It eliminates the need for oil. So we are able to take the product from corn, develop it into a yarn, knit it into a sock, go through the life of the sock, compost it, and it goes back to gasses. That's what the product is," said Francis Davis, President and part owner of Twin City Knitting Company Inc. In Japan, a pair of socks made from cotton, wool or petroleum-based fibers such as nylon or polyester costs about 300 yen (2.50 in U.S. dollars) and the corn-based socks are expected to cost 20 percent more. Officials added they developed the value-added product in an attempt to compete with low-cost textile manufacturers in China and other Asian countries. The fibres made by fermenting corn kernels can be used to make almost any type of clothing -- even formal wear such as evening gowns. "It's a good economy. They respect hosiery. They are fashion conscious and they expect quality. That's what this is all about, and they are a very green environment, so that is why we started here," said Davis on the decision to debut corn socks in Japan. If the socks are successful in Japan, the companies will likely move to market them in other regions such as the United States or Europe.

ITN Source | November 11, 2005

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