2009-12-11 20:30:58 - Polarmax celebrates 25 years of success in 2010 with parties, X Games sponsorship and new PMX line of base layers

West End, NC – Polarmax is celebrating in 2010. After 25 years of success, Polarmax is picking up even more momentum, poised to take their rightful place at the top of the technical base layer market.

Founded in 1985 as part of the textile Russ Knits in Candor, NC Polarmax introduced Thermax® polyester & Lycra® spandex base layers for winter sports including skiing, golf and running. The winter base layer category started to take off, but their big breakthrough came in 1988 when they began making private label apparel for Cabela’s and introduced Polarmax branded product for specialty ski retailers.

In 2003, Polarmax had finally outgrown the building they’d been in for 11 years and leased a new, custom 24,400 sq ft

warehouse, distribution center and world HQ in West End, NC, just 15 miles down the road from the original warehouse and current manufacturing facility.

Being a vertical, 100% made in the USA company from the beginning, Polarmax has emphasized diversification, and in 2005 introduced XGO technical apparel, now a major supplier to the US Military and Homeland Security. The research and development done for the XGO line provides the basis for the technical performance aspects of all Polarmax products.

Today, Polarmax is still growing, despite tough economic times, a crowded base layer market and shrinking consumer base. In 2010, Polarmax will celebrate it’s anniversary with a base layer sponsorship of Winter X Games 14, parties at the SnowSports and Outdoor industry trade shows and the introduction of PMX tech base layers, a new line targeted at today’s young, influential consumers, and establishing the Polarmax brand for the next 25 years.

“When I was hired in December 1999, my directive was very simple,” said Randy Black, President of Longworth Industries, parent company of Polarmax, XGO and PMX. “We were to grow our branded business thru diversification into new sports, markets and opportunities that were consistent with our niche marketing and manufacturing for technical base layer underwear.” Black continued, “ten years later, I feel like we’ve come a long way towards accomplishing these goals, and I’m very excited about the future.”