October 23, 2001 Thermosoft International Corporation Licenses FiberThermics™ to WestPoint Stevens for Vellux Electric Blankets

America's best selling blanket will soon be available in electric form using the world's latest technology for warming. Thermosoft International Corporation is licensing its FiberThermics™ heaters to WestPoint Stevens Inc. for Vellux® electric blankets. FiberThermics™ is the trade name for Thermosoft's new generation of gentle wireless heaters. The patented and patent-pending heaters conduct electricity through textile fiber threads specifically designed for heating. The heaters offer all the benefits of radiant heating with the added benefits of using soft and supple fiber threads instead of metal wires.

Vellux, which has been manufactured by WestPoint Stevens for 32 years, is the high-tech/high-touch fiber that is the basis for the top selling blanket in the U.S. Velvety soft, wonderfully lightweight and perfect for homes where allergies are a concern, the new electric Vellux blankets are remarkably warm, cuddly and 30-40% lighter-weight than typical electric blankets with wires. What's more, Vellux blankets are better insulators keeping the body warm and saving energy compared to conventional electric blankets that lose more heat to the room. Both companies expect that Vellux blankets with FiberThermics inside are sure to heat up the American electric blanket market because of the unique advantages offered by the combined technologies compared to conventional electric blankets containing metal wires.

The advantages of FiberThermics heaters are referred to as the "nine S's": (soft, soothing, smart, safe, strong, supple, slim, speed, saves). Since FiberThermics eliminates metal wires, the end product feels softer and the heating threads are virtually unnoticed by the consumer. Wireless FiberThermics uniquely provides a soothing, gentle, radiant heat that is uniformly distributed without hot spots.

ThermoSoft's FiberThermics heaters are exclusively designed to incorporate a feature known as TCO (thermal cut-off), that provides automatic shut-off if necessary. With FiberThermics, TCO is built-in across 100% of the heater making it the ultimate choice in safety. FiberThermics also includes a feature called TSL (temperature-self-limiting). TSL responds when shut-off may not be necessary, but conditions call for automatic limiting in temperature. These smart features make FiberThermics safer than any available heating technology.

ThermoSoft's FiberThermics heaters are woven to produce an extremely strong yet supple heating element. This provides unique advantages for heated products subjected to rigorous use, wear, folding, bending and laundering. Strength and flexibility make FiberThermics heaters safer than metal wires that can break and cause arcing. Since FiberThermics heaters are so slim, they can be placed closer to the heated surface without bulky insulation thereby increasing speed of warm-up and saving energy.

ThermoSoft International Corporation was founded in 1996 to commercialize FiberThermics Technology™ for heating. The private company, headquartered in Buffalo Grove, IL, is seeking strategic and license partners in various industries to commercialize applications of the technology. Thermosoft International Corporation can be found on the World Wide Web at www.thermosoftinternational.com.

WestPoint Stevens Inc. is the nation's leading home fashions consumer products marketing company, with a wide range of bed linens, towels, blankets, comforters and accessories marketed under the well-known brand names of GRAND PATRICIAN, PATRICIAN, MARTEX, UTICA, STEVENS, LADY PEPPERELL, VELLUX and CHATHAM, and under licensed brands including RALPH LAUREN HOME, DISNEY HOME, SANDERSON, DESIGNERS GUILD, JOE BOXER, GLYNDA TURLEY and THERMOSOFT. WestPoint Stevens is also a manufacturer of the MARTHA STEWART bed and bath lines. WestPoint Stevens can be found on the World Wide Web at www.westpointstevens.com.