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The West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board (WBKVIB) will soon apply for geographical indication (GI) for its muslin fabric. The work for preparing the necessary documentation for making the application is in its final stages. The board is collating the age-old gazette notifications, different publications in newspapers and magazines to establish the golden history of muslin in the best possible way.
It is also making a detailed documentation on the steps taken in recent times to boost muslin production in the state. It may be mentioned that in Bengal, there are primarily seven districts, which can be identified as major pockets of muslin fabric like Murshidabad, Birbhum, Nadia, Burdwan, Malda and Hooghly and Paschim Medinipur.
There are around 900 to 1,100 families engaged in muslin production. More importantly, even though muslin is produced in some countries of West Asia, their artisans can hardly go beyond 200 count. It is only these six districts that yarns of 500 counts and more are produced. Such fine yarns are of high demand in the international market, especially in Japan.
In July 2015, the state MSME department had started Project Muslin for revival and rejuvenation of brand Khadi and wooing back some of the traditionally skilled artisans who left the handloom sector and sought employment in less-skilled sectors.
Liva participated in the Delhi edition of Yarnex exhibition to facilitate its brand partners. Liva focused on knits, woven fabrics and stoles at the show. The range was carefully crafted to meet requirement of western and ethnic womenswear. Buyers appreciated the collection exhibited by Mercury, Mukut Mani, RK Handlooms and Shree Sakthi Vinayagar at the Liva pavilion, according to a press release by Liva.
Unlike other fabrics that are boxy or synthetic, Liva is a soft, fluid fabric which falls and drapes well. The new-age, naturally sourced fibre made into fabric in pure or blended form, transforms not just the garment but also the person wearing it. It is comfortable, soft, natural, and eco-friendly.
Birla Cellulose represents the pulp and fibre business of Aditya Birla Group, is India’s pioneer in Viscose Staple Fiber (VSF). Birla cellulose fibres are of 100 per cent natural origin, highly absorbent, have an especially good feel, and are completely biodegradable.
The US is likely to impose tariffs worth $7 billion on imports from the EU. The proposed tariffs are connected to a 14-year dispute over rival aircraft subsidies involving American firm Boeing and European firm Airbus.
The list of EU imports that may see duties includes handbags, sweaters, vests made from wool, cashmere from Kashmir goats and cotton, and apparel items like men’s and boys’ suits, women’s and girls’ cotton pajamas, cheese, liquor and food items. A World Trade Organization ruling found that Boeing rival Airbus had received illegal funding for several of its aircraft models. In the dispute, which began in 2004, the United States argued that the EU gave Airbus billions of dollars of launch aid that resulted in an unfair advantage for Airbus. Specifically, the United States asserted that the aid allowed Airbus to gain market share in Europe, Australia, China, South Korea, and elsewhere.
Meanwhile the US is still trying to resolve its trade dispute with China. And there have been rumblings that the US might be targeting Vietnam. The southeast Asian country has seen some benefit from the US-China trade war as apparel firms look elsewhere–with Cambodia and Bangladesh in the running, too–for sourcing and manufacturing production.
Under Armour has joined Alvanon to create a fleet of 3D avatars to digitize and standardize sizing in the fashion world. They will use the avatars to replicate UA’s proprietary fits, while fleshing out a complete spectrum of real bodies from infant size 0 to men’s 5XL. The project will allow brands to create products with improved sizing and standardization, increasing fit accuracy—ultimately decreasing sizing fears among consumers, especially those who buy online.
Under Armour turned to the technology to reduce the time and cost of product development and to decrease the number of physical samples made during the creative process. Under Armour has been using 3-D in its core size for some time and this was the next progression to develop a full-size range and make sure everyone in the market was fitted exceptionally well. Under Armour has already partnered on Alvanon’s Body Platform project—an ongoing effort to encourage brands and retailers to share their 3-D fit and core body standards with supply chain partners.
Alvanon has worked with brands to create a library of virtual bodies, each representing a specific brand’s fit standards. As much as 30 per cent of all returns are based on poor fit.
The University of Georgia will serve as the Official Academic Partner for the upcoming edition of Texprocess Americas to be held in Atlanta from May 12-14, 2020. The event will be co-produced by SPESA, an industry association for suppliers to the sewn products industry that includes apparel, upholstered furniture, home textiles, transportation interiors, leather goods, footwear, and industrial textiles, and will once again be co-located with Techtextil North America.
The multi-faceted partnership will continue its mission in benefitting the University of Georgia and the North American textile and sewn products industries by utilising expertise from the university’s world-renowned faculty and staff to provide top of the line educational opportunities for all Texprocess Americas attendees; providing exhibiting and visiting companies direct access to latest research from the world’s leading materials programs; gaining exposure for the university’s undergraduate and graduate research programs and their industry contributions through special feature areas on the Texprocess Americas show floor; facilitating future careers and strategic partnerships through collaboration with the university’s administration and shining a spotlight on the high level of global innovation and industry development coming from all levels of the North American textile and sewn products industries.
Levi’s has teamed with Wardrobe.NYC to offer Release 04 Denim, a men’s and women’s capsule collection centered around essential denim garments.
Release 04 Denim offers two bundles, a four-piece collection and an eight-piece collection. Each collection is based on classic staples and washes that transcend seasons. The women’s four-piece bundle offers a white T-shirt, double breasted blazer, Levi’s vintage western shirt and 501 jeans. The eight-piece range adds a ribbed tank, trench coat, a boxy denim jacket and the choice between a midi or a mini jean skirt. The four-piece bundle for men also offers a blazer, T-shirt, denim shirt and 501 jeans. The expanded wardrobe includes a trench coat, knit sweater, jean jacket and denim shorts.
Levi’s is a legacy denim brand. Through this venture, Levi’s aims at building a better wardrobe. Wardrobe.NYC was launched in 2017 and aims at providing consumers luxury-quality pieces. Previous collections by Wardrobe.NYC have focused on tailoring, sport and street wear.
Bundling high quality pieces with the potential for various combinations taps into a larger trend that stretches far beyond the fashion industry: minimalism. Today’s fashion consumer is scaling back and downsizing because of fashion’s impact on climate change and the general concept of using ethics to guide brand loyalties.
June-quarter same-store sale of Burberry grew 4 per cent mainly on account of the creative designs of its new creative director Riccardo Tisci. As per the company, Tisci’s designs received an “excellent” response and his collections delivered a strong double-digit percentage growth compared to prior-year equivalent collections. The company has increased the proportion of Tisci’s collections in its mainline stores by around 50 percent.
Burberry’s adept use of social media also helped the brand to recover its business with celebrity influencers such as Rihanna and Irina Shayk continuing to expand the brand’s reach and drive engagement with consumers.
Meanwhile, the brand reconfigured 23 of its stores to its new creative vision, which led to the brand reducing its selling space by 2 per cent by closing its non-strategic sites. Of 38 smaller stores selected for closure, nine have been already shuttered and in the wholesale space, Burberry is continuing to rationalise space in non-luxury US resellers.
Backed by leading retailers such as Gap, H&M, Lee; the Ellen MacArthur Foundation has launched new circular principles for denim design. These guidelines set minimum standards for recyclability, durability, material health, and traceability of a pair of jeans, in a bid to curb the outsize environmental cost of denim production.
The guidelines were developed by 40 denim experts from academia, fashion brands, retailers, manufacturers, collectors, sorters, and NGOs. Around 15 fashion retailers have already promised to abide by the guidelines. These include: Arvind, Bestseller, Boyish Jeans, C&A, GAP, Hirdaramani, H&M Group, HNST, Kipas, Lee, Mud Jeans, Outerknown, Reformation, Sai-Tex, and Tommy Hilfiger.
As per Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the first pairs of jeans produced in line with the guidelines are expected to hit shops in 2020. Bearing the Jeans Redesign Logo, these jeans will be able to withstand at least 30 washes, feature labels with clear information on product care, be made with at least 98 per cent plant-based fibres from organic or regenerative farming methods, and design out metal rivets to improve recyclability. However, it is unclear whether the guidelines will be applied to the entire ranges of participating fashion companies, or restricted to specialist ranges.
Kenya has announced plans to start commercial production of Bt cotton. The country will release Bt cotton seeds at 1,000 demonstration sites in all parts of cotton growing areas by November. The hybrid variety will then be registered by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service.
A final report on second National Performance Trials will be submitted to National Performance Trials Committee by September 2019. The process will be further approved by National Biosafety Authority (NBA) for environmental release and placement on the market.
Kenya’s Vision 2030 has identified cotton as a key sub-sector with the potential to benefit eight million people in the drier areas of the country. The country has the potential to produce 260,000 bales of cotton if area under cultivation was increased.
American company Alkhemist is making garments out of hemp. Hemp is a non-psychoactive cousin of marijuana. The company has launched a women’s collection of hemp-infused tees, jeans and trucker jackets and comfy hemp leisurewear. In jeans, some hemp content varies between 6 to 50 per cent. But hemp is going to be a regular staple in the company’s everyday apparel composition. The company grows the cannabis. After the flowers are extracted for medicinal and recreational use, the leaves and stems are collected and processed to produce fabric.
Women wear have summer bell bottom wide flare, shorts, the skinny and the cargo. Because this is a hemp lifestyle, it’s a capsule collection based. A range for men, children and even babies in the offing with hemp diapers, which will be naturally antimicrobial and anti-odor.
Alkhemist is not only cultivating new cannabis products but is innovating with the future of denim and apparel by merging the two worlds as a vertically integrated operator in the legal cannabis sector. The brand hopes to encourage a socially conscious hemp lifestyle. It’s advocating a whole hemp lifestyle - hemp paper straws, hemp plastic and more.
