      */
     public function get styleManager():IStyleManager2
     {
-        return StyleManager.getStyleManager(moduleFactory);
+        if (!_styleManager)
+            _styleManager = StyleManager.getStyleManager(moduleFactory);
+
+        return _styleManager;
     }
     
     //----------------------------------

    //----------------------------------
    
    /**
     *  Returns the StyleManager instance used by this component.
     *  
     *  @langversion 3.0

    }

    /**
     *  @inheritDoc
     *  
     *  @langversion 3.0
     *  @playerversion Flash 10
     *  @playerversion AIR 2.5
     *  @productversion Flex 4.6
     */
    public function hasCSSState():Boolean
    {
        return currentCSSState != null;
    }

    /**
     *  @private
     *  Sets up the inheritingStyles and nonInheritingStyles objects
     *  and their proto chains so that getStyle() can work.
