NTA’s VP To Visit Three Textile Manufacturing Facilities

David Trumbull, Vice President, international trade, National Textile Association, has been invited by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce to speak on November 1, 2011 at the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) in Guangzhou, China. While in China Mr. Trumbull is scheduled to visit three textile manufacturing facilities.

The National Textile Association is the nation's oldest and largest association of fabric-forming companies. Our members knit and weave fabric in the U.S.; supply fibers, yarns to the fabric-forming industry; or supply other materials or services to the American textile industry.

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Iconix Partners with J.C. Penney on Royal Velvet

Iconix Brand Group, Inc. announced it has entered into a multi-year license agreement with J. C. Penney Company, Inc., one of America's leading retailers for its home brand, Royal Velvet. Royal Velvet is a premium home brand offering classic and sophisticated designs with an updated touch to consumers at every stage of their lives from first apartment and beyond.

The initial launch of Royal Velvet at JCPenney will consist of sheets, fashion bedding, blankets, pillows, towels, rugs, bath coordinates and windows to debut spring 2012 in all JCPenney stores and online at jcp's website. The launch will be supported with a multi-media marketing campaign including print, digital, outdoor and in-store collaterals.

"JCPenney is recognized by consumers as the go-to destination for home goods and this is an immense opportunity for Royal Velvet," commented Neil Cole, CEO, Iconix. "We are thrilled to be working with JCPenney on our Royal Velvet brand as we share the same vision and recognize the growth potential for this iconic brand," Cole added.

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Creation Of JJ38/11 The First Fabric With 80 Gauge

An exclusive collaboration among five of the biggest players in the textile market was created with the view of presenting a brand new fabric, definitely one of its kind, an extraordinary mix of technology, research, innovation, commitment, passion and excellent quality.

Jersey Lomellina, Santoni, Groz-Beckert, Fulgar and LYCRA are the pioneers who started off a revolution in terms of technologies and style. An innovative and daring approach to business and a strict collaboration have allowed us to study, design, test and manufacture a jersey fabric with unique and extraordinary features (temporarily trademarked as “JJ38/11”).

Several decades of experience, cutting-edge technologies and the prestige of the aforesaid five market leaders have originated a real change in the world of jersey fabrics.

Indeed, JJ38/11 is the first fabric with a 80 gauge, and it can therefore ensure unprecedented lightness, softness and pleasure. Its excellent cover and 200% bi-directional stretch add an extra value to JL latest creation.

Easy care, shape retention, pilling resistance, fast drying and excellent cover are the technical features that make this fabric so “ extraordinary” : it keeps your skin fresh and dry all day long and is absolutely amazing to the touch.

Read entire post Creation Of JJ38/11 The First Fabric With 80 Gauge @ Fibre2fashion

Good Week For The Fine Wools

The AWEX Regional Indicators finished 0.1% lower, on average, at sales in Newcastle, Melbourne and Fremantle this week when the US exchange rate fell by 0.2%.

The market continued in the steadier pattern of the previous two weeks. The closing EMI was down by 0.2% this week, following the 0.3% fall in Week 15 and the 2.4% fall in Week 14. The EMI, although down by 14.9% since the start of the season, is 24.8% above the same week last year.

43,416 bales were on offer, compared with 40,969 bales last week. 13.1% were passed in, comprised of 15.2% in Newcastle, 12.0% in Melbourne and 12.8% in Fremantle. Pass-in rates for Merino fleece and skirtings were 16.0% and 6.3%, respectively. 37,719 bales were cleared to the trade.

The New Zealand Merino Company also offered 2,045 bales in Melbourne on Wednesday of which 28.2% were passed in.

Differences between the size of the offerings this year and last year have begun to change. This year’s early season offerings were well above last year. They were up figure 13.3% after Week 12. The difference has now fallen to plus 9.9% on a progressive basis; and this week’s offering was down by 2.7% from last year.

The early season differences were due to the impact of rain delayed shearings in the first three months of last season. There were fewer wet weather interruptions to this year’s shearings. The subsequent “catch up” last year in the period from October up to Christmas means that the year-on-year progressive differences will gradually become smaller over the next few weeks.

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PTEA Seeks International Flight Operations From Faisalabad

Textile exporters in Pakistan have demanded operation of direct international flights to and from Faisalabad, the country’s biggest textile hub. They have also called for relocation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) offices from airport to the city.

Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) Chairman, Rana Arif Tauseef, while making these demands, said Faisalabad, apart from being Pakistan’s third largest city, is also an internationally recognized textile centre and export originating destination.

He said a great deal of overseas buyers visit Faisalabad, and also domestic exporters too pay frequent visits to Europe and USA and export textiles worth four billion USD, each year.

Due to unavailability of direct international flights from Faisalabad, the textile exporters either need to take the route of Karachi and board an international flight from there, or reach Lahore airport by road and take flight from there, he added.

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Tempur Pedic International's CEO Discusses Q3 2011 Results

Tempur-Pedic International Inc, the leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of premium mattresses and pillows worldwide, announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011. The Company also increased full year 2011 financial guidance and announced an increase to its existing share repurchase authorization.

Financial Summary
Earnings per diluted share (EPS) increased 45% to $0.90 in the third quarter of 2011 as compared to $0.62 in the third quarter of 2010. The Company reported net income of $61.9 million in the third quarter of 2011 as compared to $44.2 million in the third quarter of 2010.

Net sales increased 30% to $383.1 million in the third quarter of 2011 from $295.8 million in the third quarter of 2010. On a constant currency basis, net sales increased 26%. Net sales in the North American segment increased 30%, while International segment net sales increased 28%. On a constant currency basis, International segment net sales increased 15%.
Mattress sales increased 28% globally.

Mattress sales increased 28% in the North American segment and 31% in the International segment. On a constant currency basis, International mattress sales increased 18%. Pillow sales increased 12% globally. Pillow sales increased 5% in North America and 21% in the International segment. On a constant currency basis, International pillow sales increased 9%.

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Sutlej Textiles Q2 net dips 70.92%

Sutlej Textiles and Industries, one of India's leading textile producers with a value-chain extending from yarns to fabrics to garments to home textile, has posted a decline of 70.92 percent year-on-year in its net profit in the second quarter of current fiscal 2011-12.

The company made a net profit of Rs. 66 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2011, as against a net profit of Rs. 227 million during the corresponding period of previous fiscal.

The net sales of the company, however, increased to Rs. 4.177 billion during the July-September period, compared to net sales of Rs. 3.809 billion during the same period in fiscal 2010-11.

Sutlej Textiles operates two spinning units at Kathua (J&K) and Bhawanimandi (Rajasthan), with the combined capacity being 253,000 spindles. The company also annually produces 20 million metres of processed fabrics, 1.6 million trousers and 2 million metres of home textile furnishing at its Daheli unit in Gujarat.

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Armenian Prime Minister in support of local textile industry

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan has made an appeal to the Government officials to wear domestically produced suits, to help the domestic textile industry.

Inaugurating a two-day exhibition of domestic textile products at Yerevan, the Prime Minister said members of Government should don domestically produced suits, and thereby further the textile industry with an opportunity to produce more large-sized suits, while ensuring production of quality goods in domestic market.

He was briefed about the variety of items on display at the expo. However, he showed special interest in the exhibition area where domestic firms, involved in the production of suits for men, were showcasing their items.

The Prime Minister expressed keenness to learn about the consumer market for textile goods that are mainly shipped to Germany, Italy and the US. He also enquired about the issues that the textile industrialists are facing in promotion and development of their goods in the local market.

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Index for cotton plunges 4.5% in partial of October

Cotton prices in the Brazilian market have been decreasing since early October. Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA)/ESALQ Index for cotton type 41-4 (delivered in São Paulo city, payment in 8 days) dropped 4.54% in the partial of October (Sept. 30 to Oct. 14), closing at 1.7543 real or 1.0128 dollar per pound on Oct. 14. On balance, only a few trades have been closed, mainly when cotton growers were more flexible concerning prices. Purchasers were pressing quotes down, since some of them were still receiving the product from contracts and/or not able to transfer prices of the raw material to the final product. Many purchasers remained only observing the behavior of the market.

Overall, the cotton available in the spot market was also considered of low quality, which also limits trades. Buyers were mostly interested in the high quality cotton, which has low supply.

According to Secex (Foreign Trade Secretariat), 140.4 thousand tons of cotton were exported, an increase of 19.5% compared to August (117.5 thousand tons). Comparing to September 2010, the volume upped 55.8%. In 2011, shipments have amounted 335.7 thousand tons, 5.7% more than in the same period last year.

Read more about Index for cotton plunges 4.5% in partial of October @ Fibre2fashion

'Ahimsa' silk to be produced in Indore

Indore has been selected by the Forest and Sericulture Departments for undertaking production of Tussar silk from Antheraea Pernyi genes of worms.

Tussar is popularly known by its Sanskrit name ‘kosa’ and is cherished for its natural golden colour and texture. It is extracted from cocoon only after the silk worm larva leaves it, and hence, it is also known as ‘Ahimsa’ silk, or non-violent silk.

The proposal for setting up a Tussar silk production unit on an area of 950 hectare in Indore circle has been devised under the Vanya Scheme, PC Dubey, Chief conservator of forest (territorial) said. The project has been launched from Tincha village in Indore district.

Around 600 hectares of the proposed area would be in other districts of Indore circle, while efforts would be made to procure 350 hectares of land under the scheme in Indore district.

As per the estimates of Sericulture Assistant Director SS Thakur, if the proposed project goes on successfully, it would facilitate collection of around 20 to 25 million cocoons from Indore circle.

According to Sericulture Field Officer AK Verma, the Antheraea Pernyi worms are found on leaves of arjun, legestromia, saja and wild berry trees which are naturally found in clusters in the wilds of Indore forest circle.

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Made in Pakistan carpets back in demand

Pakistan made hand knotted carpets are again in demand due to the efforts of Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA).

While speaking at the Pakistan Hand Knotted Carpets Exhibition 2011, Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim congratulated PCMEA for being able to attract customers in the US and Europe towards hand-made carpets with ‘Made in Pakistan’ label.

Pakistan Hand Knotted Carpets Exhibition was jointly organized by the PCMEA and Trading Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).

The Minister said hand-knotted carpets play a major role in alleviation of rural poverty and generating employment opportunities for women in the country.

PCMEA Chairman Kahlid Saeed informed that 85 overseas buyers from different corners of the world visited the Expo.

Factors like global financial crunch and a drop in the purchasing power of the buyers in Western markets have adversely affected carpet exports and resultantly the earnings of the weavers in Pakistan, Mr. Saeed said and thus requested a special mark-up for the industry.

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TechnicalTextile.Net receives tremendous response at Techtextil India

TechnicalTextile.Net, the first ever Global Portal with detailed information for over 200 products in the technical textiles and nonwovens sector participated in the recently concluded Techtextil India held in Mumbai. The company received tremendous response from domestic and international visitors and attracted around 1,200 visitors during the three-day event.


Most of the visitors were from textile companies who were looking to diversify their business and enter into the nascent but lucrative segment of technical textiles. Project and Market Reports on Spunbond Nonwovens and Baby Diapers offered by the company were the key attraction for the visitors. Among visitors, upcoming entrepreneurs from Surat and Icchalkaranji textile hubs too visited the stall to gain knowledge about the technical textiles products.


The booth was visited by representatives of Major Indian and Global companies like, Siyarams, Arvind, Century Rayon, Indorama Ventures, SRF, Clariant, Huntsman, Garware, Dow Chemicals, Teijin, Staubli, and others.


Among senior Industry stalwarts, Mr Dilip Jiwrajka, MD of the Rs 64 billion plus Alok Industries took keen interest and discussed the future and prospects about the industry with Dr. PR Roy, our Director.

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Cape Wool market strengthens

The wool market changed direction at this week’s auction after falling sharply over the previous two weeks, and the Cape Wools’ Merino indicator gained 3.4% on last week to close at R89,58/kg (clean).

Although it is just under the key R90/kg level, it still is up 46% on the same sale last season. The Australian market has also steadied with a slight increase in prices.

Prices increased despite a stronger rand, which was up 3.3% against the US dollar compared with last week’s sale and was trading at R7,79. At R10,69, the rand was 0.4% stronger against the euro.

A fresh seasonal high of R137/kg (greasy) was obtained for a bale of 15,8 microns belonging to Mike Palmer of the farm Albany in the Grahamstown district. The previous high was R132/kg.

A total of 7 815 bales was offered of which 96% was sold. Major buyers were Standard Wool SA (2 633 bales), Modiano SA (1 873 bales), Stucken & Co (1 511 bales) and Lempriere SA (1 050 bales).

Read entire post Cape Wool market strengthens @ Fibre2fashion

Cotton researchers win CSIRO's top award

Based in Narrabri, NSW, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Plant Industry's Cotton Breeding and Biotechnology Team spent years developing the new more environmentally friendly, disease-resistant, high-yield variety – Sicot 71BRF.

CSIRO Chairman, Simon McKeon, said the team's success in producing a variety which now – just two years after its commercial release – dominates the industry landscape, highlights CSIRO's continuing ability to deliver the advancements required to maintain the Australian industry's competitiveness.

"In providing a highly desirable package of advantages over other cotton varieties, the team has delivered significant economic, social and environmental benefits to growers throughout Australia," Mr McKeon said.

"In 2010–11 the industry’s high adoption rate of Sicot 71BRF benefited the industry and the regional communities dependent on cotton production (gross value $1.7b; marginal value $61m), and the flow-on is helping many rural communities recover from a period of decline brought on by prolonged drought.

"The team's research also shows more yield is being obtained with the same water inputs – so, Sicot 71BRF is contributing to a better environmental profile for cotton."

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Evonik to build hydrogen peroxide plant in China

Evonik Industries will build a new production plant for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in Jilin Province in northeastern China. An investment of more than one hundred million Euro in the project sees Evonik moving another step forward in its endeavor to access new sales markets for this environmentally friendly oxidant.

Scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013, the plant will boast an annual production capacity of 230,000 metric tons, thus increasing Evonik’s current overall annual capacity of around 600,000 tons for H2O2 production by nearly 40 percent. The Group believes it is the world’s second largest manufacturer of hydrogen peroxide.

Evonik will supply its H2O2 from Jilin directly to the adjacent propylene oxide plant run by Jishen Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. via a pipeline that will link the two facilities. A long-term supply agreement has already been concluded between the companies. Jishen will use innovative technology—the so-called HPPO process— to make propylene oxide from the hydrogen peroxide.

Evonik and ThyssenKrupp Uhde GmbH, a Dortmund/Germany based engineering firm, this summer entered a licensing agreement with Jishen Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. for its use of the HPPO process. Propylene oxide is mainly used in manufacturing polyurethane intermediates. The polyurethanes then go into making things like upholstery for car seats or furniture. The HPPO process was developed by Evonik in collaboration with Uhde.

“Our investment in Jilin”, explains Dr. Dahai Yu, member of the Evonik Executive Board, “is an excellent example of how we’re developing innovative technology in order to enable us to access new sales markets for hydrogen peroxide. This move is also part of our growth strategy that sees us making targeted investments in Asia and that will help us to achieve growth in that region.”

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Kashmiri handicrafts important for J&K economy

Kashmiri handicrafts are important for the economy of the Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Secretary Madhav Lal has said.

During a visit to the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT) at Nowshera, Mr. Madhav Lal stressed on the need to expand the market for Kashmiri handicrafts. He said the design and development of handicrafts can be further improved through the use of modern technology. He added that the old heritage needs to be promoted along with new trends.

The Chief Secretary was shown new designing techniques developed by IICT for various Kashmiri handicrafts. He showed keen interest in the new loom designed by the IICT, which weavers are finding suitable to work with.

Mr. Lal said the handicrafts sector offers plenty of opportunities to the educated youth to earn their livelihood. He asked the State handicrafts department to increase its efforts to attract the educated youth towards employment opportunities and to conduct skill-based training programmes and workshops to support new generation of artisans.

Zubair Ahmad Mir, Director IICT, said the institute is developing computerized designed script and carpet design with the help of software and as per market requirements, the services are provided on nominal charges.

Read entire post Kashmiri handicrafts important for J&K economy @ Fibre2fashion

Teijin Fibers Takes Energy saving initiative

A Japanese government-sponsored initiative known as Cool Biz has encouraged companies to allow employees to dress more casually, including shedding the traditional suit coat and tie, in an effort to save energy for the past several summers.

This year, however, in the aftermath of the March 11 disaster and resulting decline in electrical power production, an updated version of the energy initiative, called Setsuden (power-conserving) Biz, encouraged office people to replace their business attire with genuine loose-fitting, built-for-comfort casual clothing. The program is said to have helped stimulate the Japanese apparel and retail markets.

A wide variety of special materials were used to produce extra-comfortable clothing, including sweat-absorption, quick-drying and heat-shielding materials for innerwear, sportswear, uniforms and fashion wear this summer. Teijin Fibers Limited, the Teijin group’s polyester fiber company, was proud to do its part by offering functional materials with special properties.

These included textiles made of fibers that expand when moist and contract when dry, helping to increase ventilation and disperse steam, and curtain materials with heat-shielding properties.

The need to conserve energy will remain high in Japan during cooler times of the year. Teijin Fibers is already working to help save energy further, this time with heat-retentive, thermal-insulating and wind-blocking materials for clothing.

The following is a list of innovative energy-saving products that Teijin Fibers is supplying for this year’s autumn and winter season lineups: Heat-retentive material incorporating Teijin’s unique polymer technology to absorb infrared radiation from the sun and convert it into thermal energy.

Read entire post Teijin Fibers Takes Energy saving initiative @ Fibre2fashion

Officially Launched ICA-Bremen Centre of Excellence

On Tuesday 4 October 2011, at a special meeting in Bremen, Germany, the International Cotton Association (ICA) and the Bremer Baumwollboerse (BBB) signed the final contract to officially launch the ‘ICA Bremen International Quality Testing and Research Centre'.

The centre, known as ‘ICA Bremen' for short, is now fully operational and able to offer its expert services to the global cotton community in areas of quality testing, training and research.

Operating from existing, state of the art laboratory facilities in Bremen, ICA Bremen combines the global reach of the ICA with the quality expertise of Bremer Baumwollboerse and the Bremen Fibre Institute (FIBRE) to position itself as a ‘centre of excellence'.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, ICA President, Mr Ray Butler said: "The signing of the ICA Bremen contract marks a significant day in the cotton world, establishing the joint venture between the ICA and BBB as a global centre for cotton quality related matters. Through the combined expertise of both organisations and the support of Bremen Faserinstitut, which has a worldwide reputation in fibre and textile research, ICA Bremen can now begin to offer its leading services to the cotton industry."

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Sanogiene - Kills 99.99% of bacteria on textiles

In the United States, Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAIs) account for countless lives lost and billions of dollars expended each year. In response, BioMedProtect, LLC co-founders Ronald Pass, Chairman/CEO, and Dr. Howard Rosing, President/CMO, have announced the introduction of effective, affordable and EPA-approved Sanogiene Antimicrobial Process for textiles to the international healthcare community. Patented Sanogiene is proven safe with an ongoing effective kill rate of over 99.99% on new and existing garments and soft goods against the most dangerous bacteria of our time.

The antimicrobial effectiveness of Sanogiene begins immediately to eliminate MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) staph bacteria – perhaps the best-known HAI – as well as Escherichia Coli, Klebsiella, Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) and Clostridium Difficile. Sanogiene protects and preserves garments and textiles from contamination by the bacteria that cause HAIs.

As reported in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, bacteria can survive for extended periods of time on untreated medical garments such as hospital gowns, scrubs, lab coats, privacy curtains, bed linens and all types of soft goods regularly used in hospitals, clinics and medical office environments. In studies reported in the American Journal of Infection Control, up to 60% of hospital staff uniforms are colonized with potentially pathogenic bacteria, including drug-resistant organisms. In fact, healthcare providers’ garments have been found to regularly harbor dangerous pathogens. And, cross contamination contributes to HAIs. This is especially prevalent between caregiver, textile and patient

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States one in 20 hospital-acquired infections are fatal. Researchers from the University of Iowa disclosed that disease-causing bugs, including drug-resistant varieties such as MRSA and VRE, were found on 95% of hospital room privacy curtains tested.

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Campaign on sustainability in textiles from Fibre2fashion

“Move towards greener pastures”.

After all green is the only colour which will drive the textile industry in the near future.

In an effort to contribute to the cause of making the entire textile value-chain greener, Fibre2fashion - the world’s largest global textile, apparel and fashion industry B2B portal is launching an Impact Feature on 'Latest Issues and Innovations in Textile Sustainability'.

The challenge to make textile processes sustainable is becoming a pressing reality. An enlightened few have already adopted sustainable means of production, but the rest too need to pick up the challenge of making their processes environmentally friendly.

Globally acclaimed apparel retailers, pushed by various non-governmental agencies like Greenpeace and environmentally-conscious customers have already started the process of walking the talk and are re-looking in to their supply chain processes to make it greener.

A study conducted by University of Missouri researchers reveals that, consumers are willing to pay 15-20 percent more for products produced by sustainable measures. This could prove to one good very reason for companies across the textile-value chain to adopt sustainable initiatives.

Read Entire Post Campaign on sustainability in textiles from Fibre2fashion