There's a Game-Changer Looming for the Apparel Industry (LAKE, MMM, ORYN in Focus)

When investors think about manufacturers of safety and reflective apparel, they usually come up with something like Lakeland Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:LAKE), or even 3M Co. (NYSE:MMM), which makes the reflective Scotchlite material that so many vest and garment manufacturers utilize when piecing together safety vests or identifiable uniforms. But, if investors really want a safety apparel name that sparkles (pun totally intended), they'll want to put Oryon Technologies Inc. (PINK:ORYN) on their radar; it IS the next big thing in the category. Indeed, it could become the standard in the reflective clothing category. In fact, it may well bring the end of the term 'reflective' when used to describe safety clothing.

A bold prediction? Yes, it is, but not nearly as outlandish when one makes a side-by-side comparison of what Oryon Technologies can offer versus what Lakeland Industries or 3M have come up with.

It's called ELastoLite - a fully-flexible fabric that emits light. So how does that differ from 3M's Scotchlite or the vests and jackets one could buy through safety apparel distributor Lakeland Industries? What those two corporations sell is reflective, only shining when a light is directed at that material (and then only reflective at certain angles). Oryon Technologies' product IS the light source - it doesn't require another light source to become radiant. And, it visibly glows regardless of the angle at which it's viewed.

With just a quick thought it may seem inconsequential. Give it a little more thought though... think about all the places you see this kind of apparel. And, think about all the scenarios in which ordinary reflectors don't always do the best job at highlighting a person's presence. Road construction crews working at night, airport ground crews, and police officers in a poorly lit area are just some of those scenarios.

It's not just safety-oriented clothing that represents an opportunity for Oryon though. The very same ELastoLite can just as easily be incorporated into fashion-oriented apparel, giving designers a choice they've never had before.... glowing clothing.

Well, it's not just a hypothetical idea. ELastoLite exists. It's been field-tested a few different times with great success.

One of those times was in Hollywood. For those who saw the 2010 movie hit 'Tron:Legacy', they may have thought the glowing costumes worn in the digital world were some slick computerized effects. But, they weren't special effects at all. That clothing was truly glowing, emitting light.

A more practical application was utilized last month at a major product launch for a helicopter manufacturer. With thousands in attendance at the presentation as potential buyers, the manufacturer's representatives were easily identifiable because they were 'glowing'.

The material has even been applied to shoes, bags, shirts, hats, and more, and not only have these items glowed as expected, they were also durable - ElastoLite stayed on, surviving machine washings fully intact.  

All told, the apparel industry (clothing, uniforms, fashion, safety, footwear, headwear, etc.) generates about $200 billion in sales per year. Even a tiny fraction of that would be a virtual windfall for Oryon Technologies. But, given that there's nothing else quite like it on the market - not to mention that it's patent protected - the company's in a strong position to steal quite a bit of market share away from 3m, Lakeland Industries, and many of the other top names in the business. Investors looking for a game-changing idea need to consider ORYN, especially in light of recent news that it recently sent a team to China to set up a manufacturing process. It's one of the final steps before real revenue generation begins, meaning the company is on the verge of taking flight.