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Welspun the Mumbai-based terry towel producer has partnered forensic science company Oritain Global to develop a fiber-tracking technology. The technology enables Welspun to verify the origin of cotton at each stage of the manufacturing process to ensure an authentic final product. It was after a large customer terminated a contract with Welspun following mislabeling of provenance of fiber in certain consignments.
Called Wel-Trak, the solution uses RFID and customised software. It involved an investment of around Rs 38.5 crores and more than six months of rigorous efforts. It helps track the cotton to its source.
Apart from deploying this solution in several cotton growing areas across the globe, Welspun India is now looking at helping cotton farmers grow better quality cotton and also encourage them try organic cotton. Welspun is guiding and mentoring farmers on right practices, right seed and right pesticides. Cotton farmers are being mentored on the kind of crops to grow after cotton harvest so as to help them improve the overall soil nutrients like nitrogen. The company is looking to cover at least a fifth of farmers supplying cotton to it by 2021.
Welspun India has a set a target of doubling revenue by 2022.
Roica’s unique premium stretch innovations for active wardrobe will be launced at ISPO, Munich to be held from January 28 to 31, 2018. The brand will showcase its latest innovation the new hi-tech performance stretch solutions with partner’s unique stretch ideas, designed to meet contemporary business and astute consumer desires. Roica will present modern wardrobe concepts in three distinct dimensions:
Roica’s Active Wardrobe: A commercial fashion range ready for summer 2018 that include the Roica Eco Smart family and the Roica Feel Good family of unique premium stretch yarn solutions. Roica Innovation: On display will be their latest textile performance innovations from their partner mills that display the brand’s creativity. The Roica Fabric Gallery is a rich and varied fabric that focuses on the revolutionary Roica Eco Smart family of sustainably designed stretch yarns. These yarns are either GRS certified, or have the Cradle-to-Cradle Innovation Institute’s Gold Level certificate for material health, including the Hohenstein Environment Certificate — where at its end-of-life, it smartly breaks down releasing less harmful materials. These are unique commercialised solutions suites for intimates, athleisure, sportswear, and more.
The unique Roica Feel Good family promises a new level of performance with ‘feel-good comfort’ and freshness. Their branded CF yarn delivers an odour-neutralising durable function, in wash and wear because its active ingredient is locked inside the yarn and only requires a small amount to perform in most fabric structures. A new Roica Stretch Energy™ is a truly verified heat-generating system that combines a customised branded polymer with special fabric structures where a stretch and recovery action produces real warmth yet maintains support during exercise.
The brands third product Closet: Here one can explore the brands new garment designs from their experimental laboratory that uses innovative Japanese fabric creativity. Also at their booth, one can explore their sister brand Cuproinnovations that is designed responsibly for a new, luxe view of athleisure sportswear. Their premium stretch brand focuses on performance for the active sportswear, swimwear and athliesure wear categories, making it the ‘smart-fit’ for the ISPO BrandNew Village presentation.
Timberland is making strides with its corporate social responsibility initiatives—including using more responsibly sourced cotton in its apparel and footwear products. Timberland increased responsibly sourced cotton in its product supply chain, with 79 per cent of cotton used in its apparel items being either BCI certified (42 per cent) or organic (30 per cent) or US-origin (seven per cent)—up 10 per cent since third quarter 2016.
For Q3, most of the cotton sourced is for its internal global apparel manufacturing. Its production partners have increased their use of responsible cotton, including organic, over the past few years. Timberland’s remaining cotton is sourced by its licensees (seven per cent) and Central America apparel operations (seven per cent). Moving forward, Timberland wants to source responsible cotton from the following categories: organic cotton, US-origin cotton or Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)-certified cotton. By 2020, the company has set a goal that 100 per cent of the cotton used in its clothing will be from environmental sources.
Timberland is an outdoor retailer. It is currently working on minimising carbon footprint of its leather apparel, accessories and footwear products. Also, Timberland is aiming to improve its leather products by facilitating environmental audits at tanneries.
The current global market conditions are more challenging, volatile and uncertain than it has ever been before. It is not just textiles but all businesses face uncertainties following changes in government policies, natural/ environmental calamities and other factors that are contributing to the volatility. Explaining his predicament Abhay Sidham, CEO, Batliboi Textile Machinery Group says 25 years back one could assume certain circumstances and make decisions and even keep back-ups for any possible leak or loop and sail through the storm smoothly. Today it has become extremely difficult to judge what would happen next and predict the exact market trend, changing preferences and fashions especially in terms of textile products. These fast-moving conditions are very difficult to tackle.
Unlike the well-organised spinning sector in India, the knits value chain is mostly decentralised and unorganised. One of the main disadvantages of the players in the Indian knits textile segment is their lack of competitiveness in production cost and quantity. India still does not have volume players (such as China) who can cater to a wide range of customers. Investment in the latest technology is another drawback if one is to fall in line with international standards. Besides, the demand for textiles is increasing exponentially.
Sidham further explains that to meet growing demand, the industry has to be more competitive in terms of volume and quicker deliveries to cope with the ever-changing fashion scenario. Before GST, the bottom of the value chain was not tax bound and paying an immediate tax of 18 per cent has created a major liquid cash crisis. However, from a long term point of view, as the impact of GST wanes it will be beneficial both for the business and customers.
GST’s impact is also evident on imported goods. When capital goods are imported, their input tax credit is much higher than the tax liability, posing a big challenge to the trade. Paying the tax amount proves difficult in most case and affects the financial condition of a company. This is a big issue for small entrepreneurs and growing businesses. Batliboi recently started representing a company called Danitech from Italy offering Softfow dyeing machines with very innovative concepts resulting in optimised water consumption and higher productivity.
PrimaLoft’s Insulation Eco fleet features three varieties of sustainable synthetic insulation—PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco, PrimaLoft Silver Insulation Eco and PrimaLoft Black Insulation Eco—that contain recycled fibers. With its range of Insulation Eco products, PrimaLoft aims to reduce outerwear’s carbon footprint and enable outdoor brands to take part in a more circular economy.
PrimaLoft historically has post-consumer recycled content within its insulation. Silver Insulation Eco and Black Insulation Eco have been in the product line for quite some time. Gold Insulation Eco is an update to PrimaLoft Gold Insulation that features 55 per cent post-consumer recycled content. PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco possesses the same high performance capabilities of PrimaLoft Gold Insulation—including breathability, compressibility, softness and superior warm-to-wet ratios, with a more circular markup. The insulation is designed to protect consumers in the most extreme weather conditions, possessing similar qualities to down without the negative environmental footprint.
PrimaLoft’s mission is to deliver high-performance and sustainable insulation solutions. PrimaLoft is making moves to continue incorporating more sustainable materials, including post-consumer recycled content, throughout its entire insulation product line. The company also has a host of other eco-friendly insulation products, including PrimaLoft Black Insulation Eco and PrimaLoft Silver Insulation Eco. Black Insulation Eco combines advanced fiber technology and 60 per cent post-consumer recycled material. Silver Insulation Eco is made using 70 per cent recycled fiber technology, a proprietary water repellent treatment and high-performance capabilities.
From next February, the Parisian textile and yarn trade shows run by Première Vision Paris, PV Fabrics and PV Yarns, will have a new exhibitor stand concept, designed to ‘urbanise the shows and their forums.’ The 811 exhibitors at the PV Fabrics show and their 44 counterparts at PV Yarns, both scheduled from February 13 to 15, will benefit from stands with rounded, matt wall panels designed to integrate monitor screens. Lighting will be through a system of ultra-streamlined lamp-stands. Designer Ora-Ïto, who was commissioned to create new exhibition spaces, explains, "The new stands are a unique combination of all of Première Vision's signature values: aesthetic research, use of new technology and environmental awareness."
Interiors make-over will synch with reorganisation of their forums and information areas. The central forum, PV Perspectives, will now be aligned with the main entrance of exhibition Hall 5. Each of the shows' other themed sections will have its own 'Selection' forum, with the addition of the Tech Focus and Jewel Focus areas in halls 6 and 4. Première Vision Paris will host 1,725 companies, of which 113 are new entries, from around fifty different countries.
Mimaki’s new UCJV series of print-and-cut machines offers a versatile solution to production. The range comprises the UCJV 150-160 and the UCJV 300-160 with the devices featuring a combined function of both printing and cutting mounted with UV-curable ink.
The UCJV 300-160 is the faster of the two new models, with the ability to print at speeds of up to 25.8 sq m/hr at a top resolution of 1200dpi. The machine can also offer four-layers print and can run with the new, environmentally-friendly UV inks LUS-170 and LUS-175. Features on the UCJV 300-160 include four-layer day/night printing, which enables designers to build layered graphics for backlit applications. This process gives print companies the opportunity to offer a unique product. It's possible to produce a dynamic graphic that morphs its image or color scheme depending on the light source.
Meanwhile the UCJV 150-160 can reach a top speed of 13.4sq m/hr and boasts many of the same features as its sister machine, including productive cutting functions such as the new option ID Cut, which helps improve the overall efficiency of work.
The integrated cutting functionality on the printers enables users to create applications including labels, decals, window clings, floor graphics, POP displays, vehicle markings, packaging and prototypes in a single unit.
Mexico will not be left out in the dark if the US decides to call it quits on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Mexico has been working to put its eggs in baskets other than the one belonging to the United States. The country could reach a framework for a trade deal with the European Union in the next two weeks provided both sides can reach accord on things like agriculture exports, investment dispute settlement and rules of origin.
NAFTA talks have been tied up largely over US demands to up the input of American raw materials in cars. Mexico and the EU already have an agreement that has cut tariffs on goods like cars and machinery since 2000, and both sides agreed in 2015 to deepen their trade relationship. If this deal goes forward, it would free up trade in sectors like e-commerce and agriculture. But mostly it would lessen Mexico’s dependence on the US.
Apart from cozying up to the EU, Mexico and Canada have vowed to keep NAFTA going even if the US bows out. Mexico has also been in discussions with China about a trade deal. The EU has also been expanding its trade relations and is in talks for a deal with Japan and Canada.
Advance Denim uses Invista fibre science to create international demand for its quality fabrics. Leading Asian, European and US brands source from this 30-year-old Chinese producer, because of its assured quality and fabric innovation. Advance Denim’s General Manager Wang Zongwen attributes the company’s success to their strategic partner INVISTA. She says, the market insights it shares and the innovative technologies in its portfolio have helped them to achieve one breakthrough after another on their way to becoming one of the world’s most innovative producers of high quality denim. The productive partnership between the two began in year 2000 following the development of fabrics incorporating the benefits of Lycra T400 fibre.
Advance Denim was first to market a generation of products that introduced Asian consumers to new standards of comfort, superior performance and wear characteristics. Continuous process improvements over the next two decades led to the 2016 launch of 360° bi-stretch fabrics that use Lycra dualFX technology. Advance Denim enabled its brand and retail customers to set new standards in Asian markets and its international reach had grown to help meet demand for better differentiated products worldwide.
Advance Denim is a 100 per cent specifier of Lycra elastane products and a member of Lycra Exchange, a strategic partnership program that enables close collaboration between Invista and a selected mills who share its commitment to creating consumer access to the benefits of state-of-the-art fabrics.
It began with cotton cultivation, over the years the Turkish textile segment has become an export industry. The export of Turkish yarn and fibre products has increased in recent years following huge investments made in the industry. Turkey is among the most important producers of cotton as well as yarn manufacturing and processing countries in the world. The yarn industry continues to increase its value of exports with value-added products such as customised, high-performance products and eco-friendly yarns.
Given this background, the 15th International Istanbul Yarn Fair is set to open its doors from April 14-17, 2018 at the Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Centre where it will bring the yarn and fibre industries together. Participants who wish to export their goods to Europe and worldwide will get a chance to showcase their innovations and establish new partnerships as well as strengthen the image of their brand.
Visitors will have the opportunity to view cotton yarn, combed cotton yarn, polyester yarn, acrylic yarns, woollen yarn, fibres and many other kinds of yarn from different parts of the world as well as meet suppliers. To be held with the participation of the world’s leading manufacturers of textile machinery, ITM 2018 - International Textile Machinery Exhibition will take place on the same dates as the International Istanbul Yarn Fair between.
