Textile specialist Powers forward

The future of Melbourne apparel textile specialist Norman Ritchie Fabrics has been assured following its acquisition by textile veteran David Powers.
Powers - who has been in the textile business for 40 years and most recently headed up corporate and schoolwear for weaving company Defab - will rejuvenate Norman Ritchie's education and corporate offering.
"We'll be developing new products including schoolwear checks. There are new schools starting every few months and the sector represents a huge untapped market," he said.
He will also focus on building the company's reputation for high-specification fabrics and anti-soiling nano-technology finishes.
Powers' acquisition of the company ends three years of uncertainty, following the death of its founder and namesake Norman Ritchie.
"I was originally appointed by Ritchie's widow Jenny Ritchie to put the company back on its feet. Then she decided to sell it to me," he said.
His experience was a key factor in the appointment.
"I'm probably one of the last people in the industry that understands how to analyse a textile. Most people nowadays do it by computer."
Norman Ritchie - which employs four people and works closely with Geelong textile company Concept Weaving and Ballarat dyeing and finishing company Hiltons - represented the future of Australian manufacturing he said.
"You're never going to get rich trying to sell mass-produced product because China and India will kill you every time, but there are still opportunities in specialised product," he said, adding that the high specification end of the market was "constantly renewing itself".
"There were a lot of rumours going around the industry that the company had closed its doors but it's too good a business for that to happen," he said.