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Avantex Paris, a trade fair for sustainable development technologies, will be held at Le Bourget from September 17-20, 2018. The trade fair, to be organised by Messe Frankfurt France, emphasises on innovation and sustainable development in services, materials and technologies for textiles and clothing. Avantex has become a real network, an aggregator of ideas, a lab that goes beyond the world of fashion in the strict sense. The show, in its seventh edition, will be well represented by high-tech technical textiles from China and Taiwan. South Korea will be present its myriad skills in outdoor materials from Bosung Textile, and the best in applied research and experimental development from the international Korean Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH)
Avantex aims aim to demonstrate the links between technology and clothing through a series of presentations and roundtables moderated by experts on the inherent issues in the market and which make up the exhibition: materials and components, clothing and accessories, prototype studio, smart retail.
Archroma has entered a partnership with Carlin. The aim is to promote the use of Archroma’s exclusive color inspiration tools among fashion designers and stylists in France. Archroma is a global leader in color and specialty chemicals. Archroma offers a suite of services and tools that are both practical and instantly available. Carlin is the world’s very first trend forecasting agency founded in 1947.
Carlin will also use the color atlas during its color workshops, and Carlin and Archroma will organize regular conferences and events for fashion brands in major French cities. Carlin will be Archroma’s sales agent for its color management products in France, including the color atlas by Archroma and related tools. Archroma’s color management services will continue to be sold through the existing channels.
The color atlas is a color library for the textile industry. It is an essential and inspirational reference that gives creatives options that they had never dreamt of. By partnering with Carlin Archroma will be able to share its color atlas and its passion for color with a new audience.
The color atlas uses complementary tools to enhance creative possibilities for designers and brands. It incorporates the six-volume library with over 4300 colors on cotton poplin, the two-volume color atlas compact for improved portability; and the color atlas online, which enables one to take an image with a smartphone and identify the closest color atlas shades.
Bangladeshi apparel exports to Japan have been increasing over the years, thanks to entrepreneurs' relentless efforts to meet buyers' quality requirements and policy support from the government. Another reason for the rise in exports is 'China-plus policy' and relaxation of rules of origin. Locally-made knitted items have been enjoying duty-free entry in Japanese market since April, 2015 and woven items since April 2011, even though raw materials are imported.
As per Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data, the country exported apparel items worth $787.13 million during July-May of fiscal year (FY) 2017-18, a 13.04 per cent growth over the corresponding period of previous fiscal. Apparel exports fetched $744.48 million in FY 2016-17, up from $572.27 million in FY 2013-14. RMG export was only $74.33 million in FY 2008-09. Overall exports reached a billion-dollar mark in FY 2015-16 for the first time and maintained the same trend during the last two fiscal years.
Cool Visions dyeable polypropylene fiber is proving to be a versatile, all-performance partner in a raft of new hybrid developments for the outdoor market. A disperse-dyeable polypropylene, Cool Visions fiber provides mills and brands with the means to create differentiation in fabric structure, pattern, and coloration.
The lightweight, moisture-wicking, thermally-regulating polypropylene staple fiber is perfect for spinning with merino wool or cotton, creating yarns that combine polypropylene’s performance attributes with the comfort of natural fibers, without the use of additives or topical enhancements.
The latest development in Cool Visions products comes in an inspired odor-control yarn from Fil Spec called Fresh Fil. The Canadian-based technical spinner has combined a polyester fiber impregnated with zinc oxide with Cool Visions staple.
Fresh Fil yarns with Cool Visions provide freshness and UV protection in lightweight apparel, adding to polypropylene’s inherent performance benefits such as moisture management, breathability, thermal regulation, and durability. It’s the best of both worlds for outdoor and active brands. Hard-core performance brands will benefit from new Cool Visions dyeable filament. Da Fon in Taiwan has created a range of moisture-wicking, quick-drying, breathable knits combining Cool Visions filament with polyester.
Grupo Miro from Mexico has launched Virtu-Scan Apparel, a line of thermally-regulating performance safety apparel featuring Cool Visions + Cotton. The gear features a logo that can be scanned to confirm the wearer’s identity.
A combination of factors has muddied the waters of the global cotton market. Cotton demand is up, especially in Asia and South Asia but drought conditions in the West Texas region of the United States and the potential of new tariffs on cotton are serious concerns. Relations between the world’s largest exporter, the United States, and the world’s largest consumer, China, have been tense.
China has announced a 25 per cent tariff on uncombed US cotton that is scheduled to go into effect on July 6. While both production and consumption are projected to increase in 2017-18, higher production will result in world stocks increasing three per cent, to 19.3 million tons, following two seasons of continual decreases in global stocks. Consumption in 2018-19 is projected to grow five per cent with production projected at 25.9 million tons. With consumption expected to outpace production in 2018-19, global stocks are expected to decrease to 17.8 million tons.
Prices have dropped from a season-high of 102 cents per pound. However, current price of cotton is still higher than the season average of 87 cents per pound and considerably higher than the 20-year historical average of 73 cents per pound.
Euratex, the European Textile and Apparel Confederation, has drafted certain recommendations to promote quality and sustainability of EU textile and clothing productions. These include the work done in the European Parliament (EP) that can be a great opportunity to improve sustainability in the global garment supply chain, stopping abuses and prevent incidents.
As per these recommendations, there is a need work together to help voluntary-based initiatives to delivery at global level. Build on achievements of OECD, ILO, UN, other successful public/ private initiatives. Refrain from new mandatory regulatory systems. Promote transparency and simplicity, support (not imposing) traceability for SMEs, encourage green public procurement, reduce audits fatigue by sharing audit results, harmonise standards while maintaining diversity. Enable a level playing field for a global impact, same conditions for EU and non-EU companies. Inform consumers, facilitate simple information and transparency for consumers, and help consumers choosing sustainable products.
The Woolmark Company hosted the Merino Wool Awareness Day in Hanoi recently, which was attended by over 100 industry professionals including international and local experts, experienced designers, suppliers and manufacturers in the textile and garment industry.
The event highlighted the benefits of Merino wool and provided guidance on how to access and process the fibre in innovative ways, as well as giving domestic companies an opportunity to showcase their wool products and connect with more than 80 supply chain brands in Vietnam. Participants learnt valuable lessons from experienced experts from leading brands in Vietnam and across the world such as Canifa, Ivy Moda, Fixxed Studios and Appeal Korea.
The Woolmark Company has been working in Vietnamese market for five years, watching the country’s growing interest in use of natural fibres and its potential for production of quality wool product.
The knitwear industry in Tirupur has urged mills not to increase cotton price further, as exporters are already struggling to survive. The falling rupee has given no respite to the industry as the price of yarn, its key raw material, has zoomed. Cotton yarn price has risen by Rs 20 a kg this month to Rs 240 per kg for 40 count yarn. With strengthening cotton prices, industry fears another hike of Rs 5 per kg in July. The price hike has put the knitwear garment export sector in a difficult situation, hard to sustain in the competitive global environment.
Beleaguered knitwear export sector has been passing through a challenging business environment following the implementation of GST. This was evident from the continuous decline of knitwear exports month after month since October 2017, after three months transition period was over. The exports declined by as much as 21 per cent during the second half of 2017-18. The most worrying factor is that the negative growth trend in exports is continuing in the current financial year and the average decline of knitwear exports in the month of April and May was 34 per cent.
Print Make Wear, the new textile printing technology was launched recently at the Global Print Expo 2018. The technology, launched by FESPA, was viewed as an opportunity to update industry knowledge in the areas of increased efficiency and sustainability, workflow and technology and evaluate equipment and technology to inform future investment.
Around 467 delegates at the event registered specifically for Print Make Wear. They were joined by the 17 per cent of visitors to the FESPA event who came with a specific interest in garment decoration and/or manufacturing, and who visited the Print Make Wear area, as well as more than 2,000 visitors who took advantage of the expert-guided feature tours.
Technology investment was high on the agenda of visitors to Print Make Wear, with more than half planning to invest within six months, supported by average investment budgets of over Euros 180,000. The audience comprised 90 per cent senior managers, with 76 per cent of visitors having purchasing authority.
Albstadt-based circular knitting machine manufacturer Mayer & Cie. (MCT) has been named one of Germany’s most innovative SMEs for the second time. The company was awarded for its innovation management and success, the most well-known example of which is currently their spinitsystems spinning and knitting technology.
A compact machine with the dimensions of a conventional knitting machine, the technology combines two previously separate processes, spinning and knitting. This saves a great deal of time, space and energy. Operating for over 100 years, Mayer & Cie has sold over 75,000 machines worldwide since its founding. The company invests 5 to 6 per cent of its turnover each year into research and development. Around 7 percent of the employees are engaged in development and construction. Mayer & Cie. keeps a close ear to the market – and not just with the sales and marketing staff in the headquarters in Albstadt, but also with 80 representatives around the world.
