International Explorer and Outdoor Industry Icon Visits Southeast Region

Helen Thayer to Host Programs in North Carolina and Tennessee

Wichita, KS - May 10, 2010 - INVISTA’S CORDURA® brand team is bringing world-renowned adventurer and international athlete Helen Thayer to Hendersonville and Waynesville in N.C. and Knoxville, Tenn. from Wednesday, May 12 to Saturday, May 15.  She will be holding book signings at each city’s Mast General Store for her best sellers “Polar Dream,” “Three Among the Wolves” and “Walking the Gobi.”

In “Polar Dream” Thayer captures the beautiful bond with her loyal husky dog, Charlie, as she becomes the first woman to travel on foot to the magnetic North Pole.  In “Three Among the Wolves,” Helen chronicles her experience living in the Canadian Yukon Territory above the Arctic Circle, where she lived a mere 100 feet from a wolf den for six months and documented their daily lives.  Thayer is also the celebrated author of “Walking the Gobi,” a compelling true story depicting the courage and perseverance it took to become the first woman to trek the entire 1,600-mile Mongolian Gobi Desert.

“Her daring, adventurous lifestyle of trekking across rough terrains in unpredictable conditions constantly puts the durable quality of CORDURA® brand fabric to the test,” said Cindy McNaull, global CORDURA® brand and marketing director.  “Not only is she a role model to outdoor aficionados everywhere, she also inspires the CORDURA® brand team to maintain the brand’s ultimate focus on the needs of its durable fabric end-users.”

In addition to the book signing during her visit to Knoxville, Thayer will also captivate audiences with a presentation of exhilarating stories from her recent trip to Africa where she lived with several indigenous tribes and trekked across the Gobi desert.

Thayer will be hosting the following programs: 

 
• Wednesday, May 12 – Hendersonville, N.C.
• Mast General Store – 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• 527 N Main Street, Hendersonville, N.C. 28792
• Book Signing – “Polar Dream,” “Three Among the Wolves” and “Walking the Gobi”

• Friday, May 14 – Knoxville, Tenn.
• Mast General Store – 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• 402 South Gay Street, Knoxville, Tenn. 37902-11602
• Book Signing – “Polar Dream,” “Three Among the Wolves” and “Walking the Gobi”

• Friday, May 14 – Knoxville, Tenn.
• Ijams Nature Center – 6:30 p.m.
• 2915 Island Home Avenue, Knoxville, Tenn. 37920-2738
• Presentation – “Walking Africa … Exploration of Africa’s Cultures and Wildlife”

• Saturday, May 15 – Waynesville, N.C.
• Mast General Store – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• 63 N Main Street, Waynesville, N.C. 28786-3886
• Book Signing – “Polar Dream,” “Three Among the Wolves” and “Walking the Gobi”
 

 Thayer’s previous expeditions across the world (noted below) have made her a true outdoor industry icon: 

• Trekked across Africa’s Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains and the Serengeti plains while living with several indigenous tribes in 2009
• Trekked  the North Pole in 1988
• Walked across the Gobi Desert in 1996 – an astounding 2,400 miles
• Kayaked the 1,200 miles of the Irixana and Jaquere Rivers in a remote area of the Amazon

For more information on INVISTA’s CORDURA® brand, please visit www.CORDURA.com.

About CORDURA® Brand

INVISTA’s CORDURA® brand essence celebrates individual durability: As Long As The World Is Full Of Durable People, We’ll Keep Making Durable Fabrics™. Known for its resistance to abrasions, tears and scuffs, CORDURA® fabric is a primary ingredient in many of the world’s leading high-performance gear and apparel products ranging from luggage, upholstery and backpacks to footwear, military equipment, tactical wear, workwear and performance apparel. The CORDURA® brand is a registered trademark of INVISTA, one of the world’s largest integrated polymer, intermediates and fibers businesses. To distinguish the CORDURA® brand, the word “CORDURA®” must be spelled out in all caps in and used with an ®, and it must be followed by the word “brand” or “fabric.”

To learn more about INVISTA’s CORDURA® brand, end-use products, and marketing tools please visit www.CORDURA.com. and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

About INVISTA

INVISTA is one of the world’s largest integrated producers of polymers and fibers, primarily for nylon, spandex and polyester applications, a business presence in over 20 countries, INVISTA’s global businesses deliver exceptional value for their customers through technology innovations, market insights and a powerful portfolio of global trademarks including: ADI-PURE®, ANTRON®, AVORA®, C12™, COMFOREL®, COOLMAX®, CORDURA®, CORFREE®, DACRON®, DBE®, DYTEK®, FRESHFX™, LYCRA®, PERFORMA™, POLARGUARD®, POLYSHIELD®, POLYCLEAR®, SOLARMAX®, STAINMASTER®, SUPPLEX®, SUPRIVA®, TACTEL®, TACTESSE®, TERATE®, TERATHANE® and THERMOLITE®. More information on INVISTA can be found at www.INVISTA.com.