RadiciGroup will participate in the 57th edition of Global Fiber Congress (GFC), the international meeting on innovation in fibres that takes place in Dornbirn, Austria. The company will launch the RadiciGroup Performance Yarn Business Area that offers a range of yarn increasingly in line with market needs. The products on display include: PA 6 and PA 6.10 BCF yarn, which blend lightness, durability, design, sustainability and reduced costs to meet the requirements of new trends.

These tufted carpets are the best solution for the automotive industry, because they ensure quality, performance and easy maintenance with remarkable cost efficiency

About 700 specialists from 30 countries are participating in GFC to being held from September 12-14, 2018. The event will have over 100 lectures that will ponder over the situation in the evolving fibre world, with particular emphasis on the topics of the circular economy and sustainability. Participants will also have the opportunity to explore special areas of application more in depth, for instance, the automotive sector.

The third edition of Centrestage held in Hong Kong from September 5 to 8 attracted 8,700 buyers, a 2.4 per cent increase since last edition. The tradeshow, attracted buyers from over 80 countries including Canada, France, Germany, India, Korea, Russia, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates increasing in numbers significantly. Centrestage is one of Asia’s largest apparel and accessories tradeshows.

Buyers from Asia accounted for 35 per cent. This year's Centrestage attracted many global brands and buyers. An increased number of overseas buyers came looking for business opportunities and talents, which solidified Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s fashion capital. Three thematic zones showcased 230 brands from 22 countries and regions. The event also presented some 40 activities over its four-days, including more than 20 fashion shows.

Japanese street wear label Facetasm, Hong Kong women’s wear label Idism and Chinese luxury label Ms Min presented their latest 2019 spring/summer collections. Moreover, 13 new designer brands showed their 2019 spring/summer collections. Other collections were also showcased by local established brands including Dorian Ho, Artistic Palace, Harrison Wong, House of V, and Loom Loop. The industry is cautiously optimistic about sales in the coming year.

Centrestage was organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

The textile industry in Pakistan suffers due to lack of basic working capital. The industry wants a policy for clearing pending refund claims within a stipulated period. At one time, authorized dealers could send advance payments up to $10,000 per invoice for import of all eligible items without the requirement of letter of credit or bank guarantee to suppliers aboard.

This facility has been withdrawn and this has affected export-oriented industries, creating hurdles in meeting on-time export commitments while increasing the cost of doing business. The value-added garment sector has grown 11.22 per cent in 2017-18 despite internal and external challenges. The value-added garment sector is a major tax payer, the largest employment generator in the whole textile chain and exports worth $5.5 billion.

One suggestion is a one window operation could replace the lengthy procedure that involves interaction of manufacturers with various agencies. Another is social security and all other taxes should be merged and deducted at source. The feeling is the exchequer will receive more revenue if a reasonable percentage of realized amount is deducted. Also many small and medium enterprises will be added in the tax net automatically.

During the 2017-18 season, cotton acreage in Punjab stood at 2.91 lakh hectares as against the initial figures of 3.82 lakh hectares. However, higher productivity saw the state produce 11.5 lakh bales. Cotton is sown over nearly 110 lakh hectares across India.

Rates of raw cotton opened strong in most markets in Punjab as harvest of the state’s second biggest kharif crop started in the first week of September. Farmers are getting about Rs 5800 per quintal for their produce.

The strong market is expected to continue for about two months. The MSP of medium staple cotton, grown in Punjab, is fixed at Rs 5,350 per quintal this year, up from Rs 4,220 per quintal in the last kharif marketing season. Higher rates for the produce are likely to give better returns to farmers. A higher yield of crop is expected this season as compared to 2017-18. The buoyancy in rates is expected to remain at least till Diwali or till the arrival of raw cotton picks up in markets across India.

Farmers in Bathinda expect a good yield of over nine quintal per acre, which earlier was nearly eight quintal per acre. The price too is expected to remain good.

The textile sector is the largest employer of industrial labor in Pakistan and accounts for over 60 per cent of the country’s exports. In the backdrop of a competitive regional landscape, with countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam having emerged as sizeable players on the global stage, Pakistan has to invest in the entire value chain of the textile sector on a priority basis, including innovative solutions for enhancing cotton yields.

Backward linkages where large industrial players integrate into corporate farming for cotton could be a potential model to explore in this regard. Another key area of focus is checking undocumented imports of textile and apparel products from China. Undocumented or under-valued imports of such products distort the local market dynamics making it impossible for local players across the whole value chain to compete.

Companies in textile and apparel segment say they are willing to make further investments if they receive the right support, including simplification of cumbersome processes and procedures through effective one-window facilitation. Exploring linkages with China, especially with the industry on China’s west coast that is closer to Pakistan in terms of physical distance, in the form of contract manufacturing of garments, could be a profitable venture. This strategy could be very important given the context of rising domestic consumption in China.

Lectra, the technological partner for companies using fabrics and leather, has launched its latest PLM solution, Lectra Fashion PLM 4.0. Boasting of several new features and tools, Lectra helps fashion companies to work in a smarter and more agile manner in an IT-friendly environment.

The latest PLM solution - Lectra Fashion PLM 4.0, has Lectra Easy Connect, a series of pre-configured connectors that allow the solution to interface with other IT systems such as ERP and CRM. These connectors ensure data integrity by facilitating a smooth and consistent flow of data between internal and external supply chain actors. Lectra has also enhanced connection to the design process by strengthening Adobe Illustrator integration via a new plug-in. It has enhanced the user experience by making its PLM solution highly configurable.

A star feature is Lectra Easy Configure, a tool that allows users to manage and organise data according to their own profile, company organisation and data structure to ensure easy and round-the-clock access. This enables companies to become more agile, as users can access and analyse their data whenever they need to, quickly and without technical hiccups. Lectra Fashion PLM 4.0 streamlines day-to-day activities via an updated interface with new search and notification functions, and a dynamic and configurable portfolio view that allows users to monitor and direct collections with the help of dynamic data display.

In its endeavor to become truly circular by 2030, H&M has opened a hydrothermal textile recycling plant in Hong Kong. The recycling method involves using heat, water and a blend of biodegradable chemicals to separate cotton and polyester from mixed fabrics. Once the fibers are separated, they can be sorted for reuse in new garments, including jeans.

The technology aims at overcoming the problem of recycling hard-to-recycle textile blends, which are the most widely-used fabrics globally. While the plant will initially be used by H&M only, the retailer will license the technology, so it can be used by other fashion manufacturers.

This method, which H&M calls garment-to-garment recycling, is expected to prevent the potential for chemical pollution finding its way into the environment while minimising carbon emissions and costs.

Alongside the garment-to-garment plant, H&M is showcasing a miniaturised version of the recycling technology at a pop-up H&M store in Hong Kong in a bid to educate customers about the importance of recycling. Customers are being encouraged to bring their unwanted or end-of-life clothing to the temporary store, where they will have the chance to see the technology first-hand.

The belief is when customers see with their own eyes what a valuable resource garments at the end of life can be, they can also believe in recycling and recognise the difference their actions can make.

Sensitive® Fabrics by Euro jersey for Fall/Winter 2019-20, will launch a new collection of versatile and multi-faceted fabrics ideally suited for a contemporary lifestyle. These technical and innovative fabrics have multifold applications. They have unique performing qualities such as impeccability in their fit, easy care, wrinkle free, breathable and able to follow each movement of the body in various activities all through the day, every shape is sculpted and comes to life in the form of iconic and multi-purpose garments.

The entire collection is underlined by digital printing, whose three-dimensional rendering interprets textural effects, thanks to innovative 3D print technology and special yarn dyed and délavé. For the latest technology, inspired by Massimo Osti's projects, the father of contemporary techno-fashion by experimenting innovative textile treatments, Eurojersey is presenting the garments' dyeing and cold washing technique onto Sensitive® Fabric.

The Cotton Association of India (CAI) has retained its cotton crop estimate for the ongoing crop year 2017-18 at 365 lakh bales of 170 kg each. Total cotton supply up to August 31, 2018, has been projected at 407.50 lakh bales. The stock at the end of August 2018, is estimated at 41.50 lakh bales including 30.40 lakh bales with textile mills while the remaining 11.10 lakh bales are estimated to be held by CCI and others (MNCs, traders, ginners, etc.).

The projected annual balance sheet for the season 2017-18 estimates total cotton supply till the end of the season (September 30, 2018), at 416 lakh bales of 170 kg each which includes an opening stock of 36 lakh bales at the beginning of the season.

CAI has estimated domestic consumption for the season at 324 lakh bales while exports are estimated at 70 lakh bales. The carryover stock at the end of the 2017-18 season is estimated at 22 lakh bales. Exports from India this year received a fillip thanks to the rupee depreciation. Pink bollworm infestation is influencing cotton production in India this year.

Italian jersey producer Brugnoli, has attained first place in Munich Fabric Start’s High Tex awards. Compared to conventional processes, Br4 technology by Brugnoli uses 20 per cent less water and energy. Brugnoli has been granted a double European patent for its Br4 technology: production process and fabric.

Cocccon secured second place at the fair for environmentally conscious production of luxurious textiles and innovative silk denim. Silkworms hatch by piercing and trimming the cocoon and are not killed in hot water as in conventional silk production. The fabrics, which come with an anti–allergic finish, are handwoven at a fair price and dyed without toxic chemicals.

The Reca Group was awarded third place for its process for avoiding product copies. The Italian specialist for packaging, cards as well as plastic and metal labels focuses on high–frequency embossing and printing on polyurethane. Depending on the perspective, different logotypes and colors are created.

Munich Fabric Start’s High Tex award supports and recognises the extensive and often costly commitment of innovative and creative companies in cooperation with innovative brands to set novel and sustainable product impulses. Companies are recognized for their overall strategic commitment with regard to resource–saving process solutions, innovative product development as well as process implementation and marketability.