SUPPORT OF INDUSTRIAL LAUNDRIES

ROOTS continuously talks to and supports many laundry companies in order to make sure that ROOTS garments follow correct laundry procedures. We make laundry companies aware of the product’s potential purpose as a PPE item so that they too understand why ROOTS garments have to be respected during their laundry cycle. Following our rigorous interview process within the world of laundry, ROOTS is pleased to offer its end users a choice of laundry companies. Laundry companies that have proven that they can wash our garments in line with the garment laundry instructions. Flame retardant garments need to protect people at work and ROOTS fabrics are proven to be incomparable. At the same time, it is as extremely important to be certain all ROOTS garments are laundered to wash label instructions so it retains its protective properties.

Support to Customers

In a ‘normal’ shrinkage/damaged garment conflict, it is the customer that ends up in a tug of war between the garment maker and the industrial launderer. This does not happen with ROOTS. Due to our unique product traceability and stringent fabric tests prior to production, ROOTS provides evidence to the customer and the laundry that there can never be any doubt as far as the fabric quality is concerned. ROOTS will never release fabric for production if, for example, too much shrinkage is established with the SGS testing. The quality of the garment is as good as the quality of the laundry process. Below are two examples where ROOTS was accused of faulty fabric by the industrial laundry company. The laundry stated that the washing instructions were followed (washing at 60°C and tumble drying at a moderate 50°C). This garment was laundered 3 times, shrunk 3 sizes, the reflective tape lost its properties and turned green. As if that wasn’t enough, the ROOTS nylon stud button also melted.

Note that reflective tape loses its properties after 50 cycles of washing and drying at 60°C and that the ROOTS button starts to melt after exposed at a temperature of 240°C for 5 minutes in an oven. One could think that this is a one-off…, “hardly ever happening” example. Regrettably, this is not the fact.

Industrial laundries recognise that this is an unwanted situation for their customers, taking the appropriate steps to resolve these quality issues.