Then and Now Milliken Breakfast Show 1966

Milliken's Then & Now series highlights our enduring tradition of history and innovation since our inception in 1865, highlighting how we have consistently upheld our values while continuing to drive forward.

Imagine it is June 1st, 1966, in the Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. You are attending the Milliken Breakfast Show—an extraordinary blend of fashion show, Broadway musical, and live commercial for Milliken's textile business. The 13th annual show features stars like David Burns and Peggy Cass, running from June 1st to June 17th. You arrive at 8:00 AM, eagerly anticipating the start of this star-studded event.

Then, the Milliken Breakfast Show debuted in 1954 and ran for almost 30 years. It was an industrial musical that featured songs by some of Broadway’s biggest stars of the time, debuted the latest in new Milliken fabric technologies, and hosted an average audience of over 1,000 textile salespeople and managers from across the country. At the 1966 show, the textiles team debuted the latest in innovative fabric technology from Milliken, Visa fabrics. Visa boasted new polymer technology resulting in improved soil release, reduced soil redeposition, and enhanced wicking, all significantly advanced the performance capabilities of fabrics.

Now, we continue to push the boundaries of textile innovation, particularly in the 1966 debuted soil release technology. Our commitment to developing next-generation solutions remains strong. In 2023, we introduced a new non-PFAS soil release technology that has set new standards in performance and environmental safety.

Milliken’s new soil release technology is a game-changer for workwear and uniforms, particularly for 65/35 poly/cotton blends commonly used in industrial laundries. Our proprietary non-PFAS technology enhances soil release characteristics, outperforming previous chemistries and maintaining high effectiveness even after 25-30 washes, all while being environmentally friendly.

This historied innovation underscores Milliken's commitment to environmental sustainability and superior product performance. Through extensive research, scientific development, and in-house testing, we have created a textile finish that meets diverse customer needs with unparalleled performance. Our next-gen soil release technology not only benefits businesses and consumers but also contributes positively to the environment.

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