WestPoint Stevens Teams Up with Thermocable to Heat Up Electrics Business WEST POINT, Ga., March 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WestPoint Stevens Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: WSPT) ( http://www.westpointstevens.com/ ) today announced it has combined forceswith Thermocable to power up the Fahrenheit(TM) blanket. The already successful Vellux(R) heated blanket now incorporates the next generation of wiring technology. According to Art Birkins, President of WestPoint Stevens Basic Bedding Division, "We are truly excited about the opportunity to partner with Thermocable on the new Triaxial wiring innovation and be first to offer this superior new product to the US marketplace." Michael Daniels, General Manager of Thermocable, adds, "Vellux has always been synonymous with softness, so it was important that the Thermocable heating wire complimented this with a soft, supple feel, helping to create a warm comforting experience in contrast to the stiff wires of other systems." The performance enhancing features include two independent temperature-sensing systems to provide a uniform temperature throughout the blanket and also a spot-sensing feature to prevent local overheating. The new and improved Vellux Fahrenheit heated blanket also has the lowest EMF (Electro Magnetic Field) emissions of any electric blanket product in the marketplace. A newly redesigned control simplifies the consumer experience with 15 different heat settings on a large backlighted liquid crystal display. The customer can select heat levels that will safely deliver twice the warmth of the previous Fahrenheit blanket. The control also features advanced diagnostics that constantly monitor performance. A unique Heat Boost feature automatically changes from a higher heat level to preheat the bed, to a lower heat level for all night comfort. "The new Fahrenheit Blanket combines the elegance of Vellux with Thermocable's state-of-the-art heating technology, and the new controller is both user-friendly and feature-rich," said Mark Castracane, Electrical Engineer for the Basic Bedding Division. "We have devoted considerable resources to getting this the best it can be." In addition, this new Thermocable wire can be found in the newest heated introduction for WestPoint Stevens,the Restwarmer(TM) blanket. Building on the already successful Restwarmer brand in heated mattress pads, WestPoint introduces the Restwarmer blanket - 100% acrylic with all the advanced performance features of the Thermocable wire at an opening price point. Already placed in pre-market selling, these items will be featured in the WestPoint Stevens showroom at spring market and will ship late Summer 2004. WestPoint Stevens Inc. is the nation's premier 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 GRAND PATRICIAN, PATRICIAN, MARTEX, ATELIER MARTEX, BABY MARTEX, UTICA, STEVENS, LADY PEPPERELL, SEDUCTION, VELLUX and CHATHAM - all registered trademarks owned by WestPoint Stevens Inc. and its subsidiaries - and under licensed brands including RALPH LAUREN HOME, DISNEY HOME, GLYNDA TURLEY and SIMMONS BEAUTYREST. WestPoint Stevens can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.westpointstevens.com/ . Contact: Lorraine D. Miller, CFA Senior Vice President - Finance and External Communications 404.378.0491 DATASOURCE: WestPoint Stevens Inc. CONTACT: Lorraine D. Miller, CFA, Senior Vice President - Finance and External Communications of WestPoint Stevens Inc., +1-404-378-0491 Web site: http://www.westpointstevens.com/

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