Bemz, the Swedish company that allows customers to personalize their IKEA sofas and chairs announced the addition of "Loose Fit – Urban" 100% washed linen slipcovers to the successful Loose Fit range. The "Loose Fit – Urban" style will be available as slipcovers on the Bemz website for the Karlanda, Karlstad, Klippan, Henriksdal, Nils, Klappsta and Kivik furniture ranges beginning early 2012.
The Urban look is characterized by an edgier, more metropolitan influence in contrast to its kinder rural counterpart, the "Loose Fit – Country Style". Bemz's new slipcovers take their cues from the latest in interior design trends: subdued and elegant with a sophisticated, slightly looser fit. The seams are purposely apparent, with every aspect of the cover cut and sewn by hand using extreme precision and care.
"The Loose Fit collection allows our customers to transform an IKEA sofa using both color and form in an exciting way," says Lesley Pennington, CEO and founder of Bemz. "It will be great to see how the Bemz fans adopt this new urban look and make it their own."
The Loose fit collection, now consisting of the Urban and the popular Country styles, are manufactured using exclusive Rosendal Pure Washed linen from Belgium, a country with a centuries-old tradition of flax cultivation and processing.
The fabric is pre-washed to give it that soft, vintage-like, wrinkled look. The slipcovers are available in a variety of colors: Absolute White, Soft White, Unbleached, Medium Grey, Brown, Sage and Lavender. With the latest additions, there are over 180 fabrics to choose from on the Bemz website.
Read entire post Bemz launches "Loose Fit - Urban', a new style of unique, contemporary slipcovers for IKEA furniture @ Fibre2fashion
The Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) has claimed that working capital of the country’s textile exporters’ worth about PKR 25 billion is blocked under several duty drawback schemes, which is affecting the country’s exports and is also causing a negative effect on the nation’s economy.
After the end of quota system in textile trade, exporters were provided with research and development facilities in order to help them enhance their exports. However, the facility was suspended after a couple of years in 2008, following which some refund claims are still lying unpaid, which is causing the exporters to suffer financial crisis and is also hampering their business flow as their working capital remains blocked.
Meanwhile, with a view to help the textile exporters, the present Government introduced another drawback of local taxes and levies (DLTL) scheme under its Textile Policy in 2009. The scheme met with positive response from the side of exporters and the country’s overall exports surged above US$ 24 billion, while textile exports jumped above US$ 13 billion.
However, the drawback facility as promised under the scheme was not honoured fully and just 14.67 percent of the claims submitted by the exporters have been paid till now, due to which considerable amount of working capital of the exporters is still blocked with the Government.
Read entire post Unpaid drawback claims affects Pakistani textile exporters @ Fibre2fashion
Australian Wool Industries Secretariat Inc (AWIS) releases wool sale report for the week ending 25th November 11.
The Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) Regional Indicators finished 0.7% lower, on average, at sales in Newcastle, Melbourne and Fremantle this week when the US exchange rate fell by 3.7%.
It was another market that finished in a different manner to the way it started. All Regional Indicators were down in both currencies on their first days of selling, with the fall in A¢ partly buffered by the fall in the US exchange rate. The situation reversed on Thursday, when demand was strong from the start, and the Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) rose by 2¢ in US¢ and by 18¢ in A¢.
The fall on Tuesday was not unexpected, given the general global financial concerns and the soft finish the previous week. However, the upturn on Thursday surprised most people, as the global economic outlook was unchanged on Wednesday night. There were trade reports of inquiry from China and Italy on Wednesday night.
Read entire post Soft trading in Aussie wool market @ Fibre2fashion
A handloom and handicrafts expo showcasing exquisite silk and cotton handloom items manually prepared by artisans of various States is going on in Gangtok, the capital of Indian State of Sikkim.
The Special Handloom Expo 2011, organized by Sikkim Handloom and Handicrafts Corporation Ltd., under the aegis of Development Commissioner (Handloom), Ministry of Textiles Government of India, would run till December 10.
Handloom artisans from seven States including Bihar, Nagaland, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Sikkim and West Bengal are showcasing their products at 40 stalls set up at the expo.
Besides, there is also a theme pavilion exhibiting traditional wears of various ethnic communities of the State like Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha. The pavilion also showcases the handloom, Lukuni and Angora weaves.
Read entire post Silk & cotton items on display at Sikkim Handloom Expo @ Fibre2fashion
Japan-based, JX Nippon Oil & Energy which operates a naphtha cracker plant, has planned a maintenance turnaround at the cracker in the third quarter of 2012.
This was informed to fibre2fashion by a company offical who added that, currently the plant located in Kawasaki is operating at normal capacity rates.
The cracker will be taken off-stream on August 12, 2012 and will remain shutdown till October 1, 2012.
The naphtha cracker has a production capacity of 460,000 mt / year
Read more about JX Nippon Kawasaki cracker to go offstream in Aug ‘12 @ Fibre2fashion
With a view to stimulate expansion of the country’s textile sector, Sri Lankan Government has decided to withdraw customs duty on yarn from January 2012.
The Government has also resolved to end Value Added Tax (VAT) on import of machinery required in textile manufacturing to enhance the country’s production capacity and boost export potential.
Releasing the Government’s new Budget Plan for 2012 in Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte, President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced a series of new fiscal policies and taxation measures with the objective of boosting exports and strengthening the country’s economy.
The measures include devaluation of Sri Lanka’s national currency by three percent in order to increase the nation’s global competitiveness and boost export volumes.
Read entire post Sri Lankan govt to remove customs duty on yarn @ Fibre2fashion
Beaulieu of America, the nation’s 3rd largest carpet mill and largest sole carpet producer, has announced additional changes as it prepares for 2012. Ralph Boe, president and CEO announced that Jeff Meadows, Chief Marketing Officer and James Lesslie, Chief Operations Officer have left the company effective immediately.
Both executives have left to pursue other interests, according to Boe. “Change is something that is inevitable,” observed Boe. “so like any company, we must adjust, do what’s necessary and move on. We thank them for their valued service and leadership to Beaulieu and wish them both very well.”
Mr. Boe acknowledges that this latest announcement follows stories about three facility closings in the last several weeks that has put the spotlight on Beaulieu. “It’s very important that people don’t read anything into all these recent events,” advised Boe. “These moves were necessary to adjust capacity with the market demand. Beaulieu now enters 2012 well positioned. We announced securing a $230 million loan refinance in October and we’re showing strong performance in several areas.”
As evidence, the company points to its new HealthyTouch and CCA Global Resista Refresh lines placed into almost 6,000 dealers with the highest rate of sales for any launch in Beaulieu’s history. Additionally, Beaulieu’s STAINMASTER with Magic Fresh odor reducer is out-performing its previous STAINMASTER collection 2 to 1. On the commercial side, Beaulieu is also seeing growth with both its Nexterra-backed modular tiles and Aqua in hospitality.
Read entire post Beaulieu Preparing Itself for Strength in 2012 @ Fibre2fashion
Taiwan, one of the world’s leading textile exporters, is looking forward to enhance its business association with textile firms in India.
In view of the same, 13 leading textile firms from Taiwan exhibited their most modern textile products at a two-day Taiwan Textile Fair organized in Mumbai by the Taiwan Textile Federation in association with the Bureau of Foreign Trade, Taiwan and supported by major textile associations of India like the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC).
Jennifer Liu, Project Manager, Taiwan Textile Federation, said the fair was intended to help the Taiwanese entrepreneurs to tap the real time opportunities in the Indian apparel sector as they explore new business opportunities for the textile and garment industry.
While the Indian apparel market is growing at an annual rate of 10 percent, rural and semi-urban markets of the country are advancing at a faster pace than anticipated. Also, an increasing number of urban customers are looking for branded and lifestyle goods. So, the market is sure to advance at a higher pace than ever before.
Read entire post Taiwanese textile industry seek to increase tie-ups with Indian cos @ Fibre2fashion
Cotton Council International (CCI) and Cotton Incorporated hosted suppliers of U.S. cotton, the Turkish textile industry, and their downstream customers in the brand and retail sectors at a one-day conference titled "Sourcing In A Volatile World" in Istanbul.
The conference provided opportunities for buyers and sellers of U.S. cotton to discuss the current market situation and how fast-changing raw material prices are pushing the entire textile and garment industry to look for new ways of doing business with their customers.
The conference brought together over 100 senior executives to hear the latest reports on U.S. and world cotton production for the current season, as harvesting is well completed in the Northern Hemisphere.
In today's volatile global economic environment, suppliers and buyers of U.S. cotton discussed the challenges and alternative solutions to sourcing U.S. cotton. Included on the conference agenda was how businesses can build a more efficient cotton supply chain during times of record cotton price movements, limited availability and sourcing challenges.
Read entire post COTTON USA Conference in Istanbul Covers “Sourcing In A Volatile World” @ Fibre2fashion
A whole range of traditional handlooms like Dharmavaram, Mangalagiri, Kuppadam, Pochampalli, Uppada, Chirala, Gadwal and Guntur are being showcased at the National Handloom Expo being held in Vijayawada city of the south Indian State of Andhra Pradesh.
For those not aware about the State’s rich textile heritage these are just names of places. However, those eager to learn about the art and the technique used by the weavers at these places for preparing one of the finest textiles, the Theme Pavilion at the expo is the best place.
In addition to live demonstration of the strenuous techniques of Uppada Jamadani weaving, Kalamkari block printing and Tie and dye Jamadani, the Vijayawada Weavers’ Service Centre (WSC) is also showcasing various customary and experimental samples of dress materials, saris and bed spreads which have been tidily labelled so that one can read and educate himself.
The speciality of the saris put up on display by the WSC is that these were woven at the Centre by weavers from different places who combined different weaving techniques to produce these saris. For instance, one whole sari was woven using the technique used to weave Gadwal saris, while its border was woven by weavers of East Godavari with the use of Kuppadam technique.
Read entire post Vijayawada : Textile Traditions Of AP On Display At Handloom Expo @ Fibre2fashion
The Fifth World Cotton Research Conference (WCRC-5) was completed last Friday in India, after five days of paper presentations from November 7-11, 2011 in Mumbai followed by two days of technical tour to cotton areas near Nagpur. The WCRC-5 included 654 researchers associated with all facets of cotton technology, from breeding and agronomy to fiber quality and ginning.
A total of 322 scientific papers were presented. The scientists passed a resolution supporting the creation of a global network of cotton stakeholder organizations. 
The network will operate through nodes associated with cotton organizations and institutes to support globally accessible, stakeholder-supported specialist training and collaborative research.
Areas of particular importance to be addressed by the network will include biosecurity in relation to diseases, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, and conservation and accessibility of genetic resources.
Simultaneously, the scientists endorsed the creation of an International Cotton Researchers Association to work with the International Cotton Advisory committee (ICAC) Secretariat to plan and promote the creation of the global cotton researchers network and to manage the agendas of future World Cotton Research Conferences.
Read entire post Fifth World Cotton Conference (WCRC-5) Completed @ Fibre2fashion
The Karnataka government has come to the rescue of silk growers in the State, who have been enduring a vertical fall in silk cocoon prices since March this year.
The government has announced that it would pay a support price of Rs. 30 per kg whenever the silk prices drop below Rs. 160 per kg.
Experiencing a drastic fall of almost 62.5 percent, the price of cocoons has dropped from Rs. 160 per kg during the first quarter of this year to Rs. 60 per kg at present.
The government has come out with a market intervention package of Rs. 50 million to help the silk growers who are suffering severe financial crisis due to a fall in silk prices and has announced that additional sums would also be released based on the seriousness of the situation, BN Bachegowda, Minister for Sericulture and Labour said.
He informed that the market intervention scheme has become effective from November 1, 2011 and added that the State government has already released Rs. 120 million to the Silk Marketing Board to help it stabilize the prices. Besides, it has even extended an assurance of raising a fund of Rs. 250 million from the commercial banks.
Read entire post Karnataka Govt Announces Support For Silk Cocoon Growers @ Fibre2fashion
Australian Wool Industries Secretariat Inc (AWIS) releases wool sale report for the week ending November 11.
The Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) Regional Indicators finished 0.5% lower, on average, at sales in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle this week when the US exchange rate fell by 1%.
The Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) at 1219¢ was 18.1% higher than in the same week last year; and the season average Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) of 1247¢ is 38.1% higher than the season average at the end of Week 19 last season.
Although down, the market performed well this week under the circumstances that developed in Italy during the week. The market eased. But, it performed better than global share markets, which eased by 2 to 3% on Thursday (and by 2.3% in Australia). Overall falls in the individual Micron Price Guides were generally small for the week and there were small gains among the broader Merinos.
Read entire post Micron Price Guides Drops @ Fibre2fashion
Bremen Cotton Exchange says cotton deliveries for near dates or by December the latest were of interest for the spinning industry on the domestic market. Just slightly decreasing prices, the impact of cheap import yarns as well as existing stocks continuously led to a wait-and-see-attitude of the processor.
The prices have not yet reached the level where spinning industries satisfy their long-term demand; maybe hopes for dropping prices in the future have played a role, too. Due to the unsecure economic development in Europe there was hardly any stimulation by further steps of the textile chain in general. Contracts were only closed at fitting prices and for the satisfaction of current orders.
Read entire post Prompt Delivery Preferred - Bremen Cotton Exchange @ Fibre2fashion
The results are in and wool is the winner – objective testing has shown that ultrafine wool garments can outperform 100 per cent cashmere and high quality cotton for comfort and softness.
The Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation (Sheep CRC) commissioned the manufacture of select ultrafine wool fabrics to provide a set of benchmarks for the measurement of next to skin comfort and handle. The Sheep CRC is a collaboration of industry, government and the commercial sector, which is working to increase productivity and profitability of the industry through new technologies for adoption by both the meat and wool supply chains.
“It is the first time that ultrafine wool knitwear has been shown, using objective testing, to be superior to other natural fibres in terms of functional qualities valued by consumers,” Sheep CRC chief executive officer Professor James Rowe said.
“Wools in the ultrafine micron category, used for the manufacture of these test garments, represent about two per cent of the Australian wool clip and therefore constitute a very rare and valuable fibre resource.”
To establish a performance benchmark for wool garments, the Sheep CRC provided wool buyers with fleece specifications for the purchase of four bales of ultrafine wool (14-15.7 micron) through normal market channels. After purchase the bales were identified as CRC 1 to 4 and sent to Italy for processing through to fabric.
Read entire post Wool Is The Winner & Its All About Comfort @ Fibre2fashion
China is expected to import more cotton this year as the domestic production of the crop is likely to be less than that required for its local consumption.
During the current Chinese cotton year, calculated from August to July, cotton production in China is estimated to be around 7 million tons compared to its domestic requirement of 10 million tons, according to Terry Townsend, Executive Director at International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC).
Speaking on the sidelines of World Cotton Research Conference in Mumbai, Mr. Townsend said China is likely to import about 3.3 million tons of cotton this year compared to its import of 2.7 million tons last year, a rise of 22.22 percent year-on-year.
Read entire post China To Import 3.3 Million Tonne Of Cotton This Year @ Fibre2fashion
Ruddick Corporation announced that it has completed the previously announced sale to two newly formed affiliates of KPS Capital Partners, LP of all of the Company's ownership interest in its American & Efird business, for $180 million in cash consideration, subject to adjustments for working capital and certain liabilities, including under funded pension liability and foreign debt as previously disclosed.
Ruddick Corporation is the parent company of Harris Teeter, Inc., a leading regional supermarket chain with operations in eight states primarily in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States, and the District of Columbia.
Aerican & Efird (A&E) is one of the world's largest global manufacturers and distributors of industrial sewing thread, embroidery thread and technical textiles, produced from natural and synthetic fibers.
Read more about Ruddick Completes Sale of A&E Biz To KPS Capital @ Fibre2fashion
The Karnataka government’s proposal for setting up a textiles park at Gulbarga has been given a nod by the Central Government, the State Textiles Minister, Mr. R Varthur Prakash has revealed.
The Minister stated that the Centre would provide Rs. 400 million by way of assistance for setting up the park. He informed that the State has also urged the Centre to set up such parks in Bellary, Kolar, Belgaum, Tumkur, Chikkaballapura and Chitradurga.
Mr. Prakash said the State has met with good response at the Technotex 2011, an international seminar on technical textiles held in Mumbai, where Karnataka was a partner State.
He added that the State is likely to attract investments worth around five billion rupees. He further said that the State would provide a power subsidy of one rupee per unit to the industries setting up their units in textile parks of the State.
Presently, the State houses around 2,500 garment units in its textile parks, in addition to around 55,000 handlooms and 1.007 million powerlooms.
Read entire post Centre Gives Nod For Gulbarga Textiles Park @ Fibre2fashion
Cotton farmers in east Africa do not gain from the high international cotton prices due to absence of a link between them and garment producers and designers in world’s leading fashion centres, African Cotton and Textile Industries Federation (ACTIF) Chairman, Jaswinder Bedi ,has said.
Speaking at the East African Cotton, Textile and Apparel (CTA) conference in Mombasa, the second-largest city in Kenya, Mr. Bedi said the absence of a link between the local Kenyan farmers and clothing manufacturers and designers is also a hurdle in the revival of Kenya’s domestic cotton industry.
While cotton prices prevailed at around Sh100 per kg in international market, farmers in Kenya fetched only around Sh20 to Sh65 per kg, he said.
He added that high cost of inputs prevents cotton production, as just pesticides alone constitute a one-third of the farmer’s input cost.
The conference organized by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), Kenyatta University and ACTIF was aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the cotton crop with the help of skill development, enabling legislation and innovation.
Read entire post East African Cotton Farmers Losing Out Due To Absence Of Business Link @ Fibre2fashion
Australia’s Namoi Cotton Co-operative Ltd has entered into a 50-50 joint venture with China National Cotton Group Corp (CNCGC), a China state cotton firm, which will help the Australian firm market its produce across the globe through 2012-2017.
Namoi, Australia’s leading cotton processor, has registered loss this year in spite of the country witnessing record cotton production and high prices of fibre.
The current deal is expected to improve the balance sheet of the Australian cotton processor and place it in a better position to compete with other leading companies in the global cotton trade.
The Australian firm registered a net loss of US$ 58.5 million during the six months ended August 31, 2011, which it attributed to unparalleled volatility in cotton prices and increased cost of borrowings.
The Australian firm recorded loss in spite of the country producing a historic four million bales (4.4 bales = 1 ton) of cotton during the current year.
Read entire post Australian Namoi in JV with China state cotton firm @ Fibre2fashion
The wool market continued its upward trend at this week’s sale and the Cape Wools Merino indicator gained 3.9% on last week to close at R104,03/kg (clean) – an increase of 13% on the opening sale.
Supply concerns appear to be a major driving force with supplies in the main consuming countries currently at fairly low levels. The Australian market also saw an increase in prices.
The rand was slightly weaker against the US dollar, dropping 0.8% compared with last week’s average rate, trading at R7,95. It was 0.4% weaker against the euro at almost R10,95.
There was good competition from the various sectors of the trade and 96% of the offering of 10 369 bales was sold. Major buyers were Modiano SA (3 927 bales), Standard Wool SA (3 084 bales), Stucken & Co (1 189 bales) and Lempriere SA (1 014 bales).
Read more about Prices Of All Long Wool Types Surge @ Fibre2fashion
The United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) and the American Import Shippers Association, Inc. (AISA) will host the 23rd Annual Textile and Apparel Importer Trade and Transportation Conference on Tuesday, November 8th, in New York City.
This year, the conference will feature top Obama Administration officials, Congressional leaders, USA-ITA and AISA leadership and counsel, and industry executives discussing transportation, sourcing, supply-chain logistics, and the recently passed trade legislation, among other topics.
The confirmed Administration speakers include: Kim Glas, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel at the U.S. Department of Commerce; John Leonard, Director of Textile Enforcement at U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Gail Strickler, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
The confirmed Capitol Hill speakers include: U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Paul DeLaney, International Trade Counsel for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee; and Brock McCleary, Deputy Political Director for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).
Read more about 23rd Annual Conference for Textile and Apparel Importers @ Fibre2fashion
