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Invista’s Cordura fabric, known for its resistance to abrasions, tears and scuffs, is a primary ingredient in many high-performance gear and apparel products. Complemented by examples of cutting-edge fabrics, Cordura, in collaboration with some leading innovative denim mills, has come up with its latest denim trends for 2017.
This season is about getting back to basics, embracing simplicity and spirited off- the-grid adventures, according to Cordura.
Themes and more
Invista’s first theme, entitled ‘The Future is Real’, is exploring the implications of the modern chaotic lifestyle, tied to technology, and weighs them against the authenticity and craving for escape. A leading denim manufacturer, Artistic Milliners, keeps it real with its classical Cordura denim Magnum, Kingpin and Cobra styles – all of which are said to have the authentic look, feel, and comfort of traditional 100 per cent cotton denim, with built-in long-lasting durability.
The theme, ‘Luxury in Lifestyle’ is about today’s consumer and their personalised product requirements. This often means combining strong with soft, form with functionality and durability with delicacy. The company explains that luxury doesn’t have to be unobtainable and functional doesn’t have to be ordinary. Artistic Milliners features Cordura denim fabrics featuring 2 and 4-way stretch based on Lycra and Lycra T400 fiber technologies in its Cobra Black Series and Magnum poly stretch. Another highlight is the AMS 1110 A featuring Lycra DualFX fiber technology.
Another denim producer, Advance Denim features super stretch Cordura Denim fabrics QA136-11 and QA136- 12, both with Lycra dualFX fiber technology, which contain about 30 per cent stretch but have a high degree of dimensional stability so that jeans retain their shape and fit over time. Samtex features Cordura Denims with Cotton/Modal/Viscose for super softness combined with Invista T420 nylon 6,6 fiber for long-lasting performance.
Versatility
According to Invista, in a time when freedom and diversity allow us to be who we want be and live as we like, we demand the same versatility from our world, our clothes and our fabrics. New capabilities, like moisture-wicking, temperature control and quick-dry technology, are hidden in the science of fabric technology. To meet the demand of maximum functionality, Artistic Milliners features Cordura Denims with Lycra T400 fiber technology, designed to keep the wearer cool and dry. Advance Denim features Cordura Denims with a combination of Coolmax and Lycra fiber technologies for moisture management and stretch (QA159 F36-16). Finally, Samtex presents Cordura Denims that are designed to combine the softness of modal with the quick-drying benefits of polypropylene.
Fabric performance
Invista is one of the world’s largest integrated producers of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibers, with leading brands including Lycra, Coolmax, Cordura, Stainmaster and Antron. Cordura fabric, known for its resistance to abrasions, tears and scuffs, is a primary ingredient in many high-performance gear and apparel products ranging from luggage, upholstery and backpacks to footwear, military equipment, tactical wear, workwear and performance apparel. Cordura Denim fabric is an intimate blend of cotton and Invista’s T420 nylon 6,6 fiber. It aims to retain the authentic look and feel of cotton denim, but with added abrasion resistance and toughness.
In an atmosphere of great international participation, of research and quality expressed by all attending exhibitors, the curtains to the 79th edition of Pitti Filati was wrung down on July 1.According to a survey, the first attendance figures show a more than 4 per cent increase in buyers at the fair. This brings the total number of buyers attending the fair to 5,400 (5,200 a year ago). According to the organizers, they registered both an increase in Italian buyers (+5 per cent) and international ones (+3 per cent).
The best-performing foreign markets attending the fair were France (+14 per cent), Spain (+8 per cent), China (+30 per cent), Russia (+18 per cent) while the US, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea and Sweden markets made a good showing. The fair registered a slight increase in the numbers of foreign buyers from of the UK too.
According to Pitti Filati CEO, Raffaello Napoleone there was a lot of attention from international markets and were in line with the results registered at Pitti Uomo and Pitti Bimbo despite a rather complex international situation. There was a positive feedback for the special initiatives at this edition viz: the fashion show of Sansovino 6 at the Teatro della Pergola and the contest ‘Feel the Yarn.’ The seventh edition of Feel The Yarn, the competition organized by Consorzio Promozione Filati (CPF) along with Pitti Immagine was dedicated to aspiring designers from 13 of the most prestigious schools of fashion and design in the world.
As the Turkish textile industry participates in international trade fairs and events and monitors fashion trends worldwide, the country can deliver latest trends to consumers. This has helped Turkey’s textile and apparel exports record $30 bn annually, of which $7.5 bn accounts for Merter, a District in Istanbul known for its ready-to- wear textiles. Data from the Merter Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MESIAD) chairman Yusuf Gecü, reveals all medium and large textile and apparel manufacturers in Turkey have a store or showroom in Merter. There are 10,000 stores in the region and the number of people directly employed in these stores has now touched 1,00,000.
As per latest statistics, the district exports textile and apparel products to 215 countries. Gecü says Merter welcomes 3,000 importers every day from 60 countries in the Middle East, Africa, the Turkic Republics, the Far East and especially from the US, Russia, Europe and the Gulf countries. Merter’s exports amount to 25 per cent of annual textile and apparel exports in the country.
Turkey’s average export value per kg is around $1.7 and this figure reached $15 in apparel and $5 in textile. Gecü says Turkey’s 2023 goal is to exceed $50 bn in exports and they target $15 bn of this figure from Merter alone. Turkey is among the few countries in terms of producing quality denim jeans and knitted products. Turkish producers are striving to become top brands as they are focusing on quality product with design. Turkish goods are seen worldwide as cheaper than Europe and much better in quality than China. Gencü says this perception was in the minds of consumers particularly in Russia, Turkic Republics, African, European, Middle Eastern and Gulf countries.
India’s coir exports during the last financial year recorded a 17 per cent increase in value, largely due to higher exports of coir pith. The volume of exports increased by 20 per cent. India is the largest exporter of coir products such as mats, matting and rugs in the world. Coir pith is the top performer in terms of volume with a share of 54 per cent. Other products like coir geo-textiles, handloom mattings, tufted mats, power loom mats and coir rugs and carpets also showed a rising trend in exports.
Exports of items like curled coir, rubberised coir, power loom mattings and handloom mattings declined during the period. The US tops the list of countries in value terms of exports with nearly 26 per cent of the total realisation, while China, with 36 per cent of volume share, tops in that category. The US, China, Netherlands and South Korea are the main buyers of coir products from India.
However, coir is witnessing stiff competition from other mechanised products like PVC tufted mats. Coir is a natural fiber. Kerala is the home of the Indian coir industry. India supplies over 60 per cent of the world supply of white coir fiber.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to revive the lost glory of the country’s cotton, textile and garment industry for sustainable economic development. Aisha Abubakar, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment reaffirmed this at the Textile and Garment Manufacturing Conference organised by Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) 2016 in Lagos. The minister said the government was passionate about promoting growth in the industry and across its value chain. Her government would continue to create an enabling environment to promote the ease of doing business and active participation of the private sector to boost production, she added. According to her, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Bank of Industry (BOI) have been repositioned to implement the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) goals to boost SME development in the country.
She also is said to have stressed that government initiatives toward stimulating growth in the industry included tax incentives, harmonised tax, infrastructural development and financing.
Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) at the government Institute of Emerging Technologies, township in Turkey is making all necessary arrangements are being finalized to establish garment Institute next month by the. Garment related courses including industrial stitching machine operator, denim washing expert and denim dry finishing expert short courses would be offered after finalisation of arrangements.1500 students will be trained in these courses annually.
Technical assistance in the shape of latest machinery and equipment for successful launch of the garment courses is being provided by Turkish Cooperation and Co-ordination Agency (TIKA). Chairperson TEVTA Irfan Qaiser Sheikh says after installation of machinery/equipment, TEVTA would be able to provide training of garments sector on international standards in Lahore and fulfill the demand of skilled manpower and contribution towards export in the said sector.
A new edition of the ICA Bylaws & Rules has gone live. The ICA Bylaws & Rules were originally created in 1863 to regulate the sale and purchase of raw cotton. They can be applied to contracts covering the purchase and sale of cotton between any two companies anywhere in the world. They are continuously updated in line with current industry practice and are published in a variety of languages.
Today, it is estimated that the majority of the world’s cotton is still traded under ICA Bylaws & Rules and, whilst they have changed with time, their aim remains the same – to create a safe trading environment and protect the legitimate interests of all those who trade cotton, whether buyer or seller.
The platform provides a wide range of mediation and training support for trade associations and individual mills to ensure safe trading under ICA bylaws. Apart from that ICA has education programs on quality, risk management and so on. The aim is to educate the parties and bring added value to the industry.
During fluctuation of cotton price the ICA plays a vital role in ensuring that both the buyers and sellers of cotton are protected and respect contract sanctity.
According to ratings agency ICRA, government’s latest package for the textile sector is likely to improve competitiveness of the country's exports but achieving target of $43 billion of apparel exports by 2018 still remains a challenge. Recently, the Centre approved Rs 6,000 crores special package for textiles and apparel sector to create Rs 1 crore new jobs in three years by attracting investments of $11 billion and generate $30 billion in exports.
These steps will lead to increased competitiveness of India's apparel exports and improve employment generation in the garment sector given its labour intensiveness. While the financial year incentives under the package will improve capacity additions and increase the competitiveness of India's exports, however, achieving the target of $43 billion of apparel exports by 2018 appears to be a challenge, said ICRA Assistant Vice President Anil Gupta.
In ICRA's view, the increased benefit of 25 per cent of capital subsidy under amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) for new garment units will further reduce investments requirements for new units by 7.5 per cent.
In addition, the proposal would also benefit new garment units by way of savings of up to 3.7 per cent on labour costs and 1 per cent on total manufacturing cost of apparel due to Government's contribution towards employer's share of Employees Provident Fund contribution, the report said. India's garment exports grew at 4 per cent in 2015, whereby they increased to $17.1 billion from $16.5 billion in the previous year.
India's textile and apparel exports are expected to touch $50 billion this fiscal. Elaborate marketing plans have been devised to boost exports. While hope is that key markets like Europe and US will continue to grow, India is also looking at exploring new markets such as Iran, Russia and South America to expand reach and diversify products. With the opening of new markets, the country is hopeful of achieving its export targets.
India is ready to capitalise China’s falling share in textile exports in international market. China’s market share has slipped to 38 per cent from 40 per cent due to the high wage rate and its entry into high-end tech products. The industry hopes free trade agreements with EU, Australia and Canada are finalized and that a concessional tariff with China is negotiated in order to protect domestic suppliers.
India exports $10 billion worth of textiles and apparels to the European Union of which nearly 23 per cent goes to Britain. With Britain’s exit from the EU, Indian exporters hope to enter into a preferential trade agreement with Britain. A Rs 6000 crores package has been approved for the sector with an aim to create one crore new jobs in three years and attract investments of $11 billion while eyeing an additional $30 billion in exports.
The next round of negotiations of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) trade deal with the US will begin in Brussels on July 11, despite the turmoil surrounding Brexit. This was declared by Cecilia Malmstrom, trade commissioner of the European Commission. The trade commissioner said that they are committed to the trade agenda and are negotiating a lot of other issues with many countries besides the TTIP. And they will do whatever it needs to make as much progress as possible in the coming months possibly before the end of the Obama administration. This part has been confirmed by member states.
Also sooner or later the EU will have to make decisions about TTIP once the UK and its next prime minister define its trade relationship with the EU and rest of the world. But for now, negotiators will negotiate as a 28-member bloc with the UK, she averred. US and EU negotiators have been negotiating TTIP for more than three years seeking to forge a deal that would eliminate tariffs on imports, streamline regulations, remove burdensome technical barriers and eliminate redundancies in areas such as customs procedures, product safety testing and certification and labeling requirements.
The US and EU have long touted the TTIP as an agreement that can bring regulatory cohesion to a thicket of diverse regulations that often impede trade across the Atlantic and the fashion industry associations of both the US and Europe have pressed TTIP negotiators to streamline, simplify or eliminate duplicative and burdensome labeling and product safety requirements.
