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Stäubli, the Swiss mechatronics company, well known for its textile machinery will participate in the 15th Dhaka International Textile & Garment Machinery Exhibition from February, 8 to 11, 2018 at BICC. They will be exhibiting their know-how at their agent Spintex Technology’s booth. On display will be machinery and system solutions that permit optimisation of workflow in textile mills to create enhanced quality output and profit from increased time saved.
The automatic warp tying machine Topmatic 201 PC has an integrated double-end-detection that works even with flat warps without lease. Its tying speed can deliver 600 knots per minute. In addition to its rapidity the owner profits from the machine’s durability/sturdiness and flexibility.
The large product portfolio include solutions for frame weaving with air-jet, water-jet, rapier and projectile weaving machines. The range includes e.g. the new robust 1691 cam motion that is available with up to 8 lifting units, at a pitch of 12mm. Weavers can swiftly produce high quality fabric as the machine assures gentle warp treatment.
Its automatic and fully integrated levelling device prevents overstretching the warp and avoids start-up marks. Due to interchangeable cams, weavers profit further from enhanced flexibility as they can use the same cams for creating either a warp/weft effect.
Regarding electronic rotary dobbies, Stäubli is offering the new generation of reliable state-of-the-art dobbies S3000/S3200. These series feature the new concept of selection of heald frames by locking and are compatible with standard weaving machines. Using less footprint and maintenance these machines operate at highest production speeds whilst deliving less noise and vibration. There are over 30,000 S3000/S3200 dobbies in service around the world today.
Flat, terry or technical weave – the SX and LX Jacquard machine masters any application and adapts to all types of air jet, rapier, and water jet machines, the SX Jacquard machine produces excellent results in the form of terry cloth, decorative material, tapestry, silk fabric, apparels or seat covers.
With its optimised housing and performant lifting mechanism the machine operates reliably within the most demanding conditions in weaving mills. The maximum number of hooks for the Jacquard designs is 25,600, or 51,200 hooks by combining two machines.
Beltwide Cotton Conference (BWCC) will be held in the US, January 3 to 5, 2018. It will provide an insight on current research and emerging technology and help attendees improve production, processing and marketing efficiency. Among the scheduled topics are looking ahead to Bollgard III use, a review of year one of dicamba use, thrips control, bacterial blight, nematodes, cotton root rot and fungicide seed treatments. Also included will be a regulatory update and presentations on growing cotton economically and on contamination prevention.
The ginning conference will include presentations critical to cotton quality and efficient processing. Included will be updates regarding ongoing ginning research, new equipment, and lint contamination research and prevention. A new type of presentation will be offered at one of the technical conferences. The Cotton Improvement Conference will feature five-minute lightning talks from poster presentation authors. The authors will provide the main points of their research for the purpose of stimulating more discussion later at the poster session.
There will be a special workshop on small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for agricultural producers. About 80 per cent of commercial UAS systems are expected to be used in agriculture. Because most initial users are uneasy about this emerging technology, the workshop will focus on risk-based trainings for both current and future users and include reports on aircraft systems and a workflow demonstration.
Many organisations representing America’s most recognised retail brands, suppliers and businesses recently announced the launch of the US Global Value Chain Coalition. The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), the National Retail Federation (NRF), the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and the US Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) formed the coalition to educate policymakers and the public about millions of American jobs and national economic growth their members generate through their value chain.
A research revealed that making use of the global marketplace, 98 per cent of the apparel sold in the US, companies to offer consumers the widest variety of apparel at the best prices while supporting millions of medium- to high skilled jobs. The report also shows that tariffs routinely applied to apparel imports are among the highest levied on any industry and can result in higher prices for consumers.
Retail global value chains employ millions of Americans through the production of goods and provision of services, distribution and sales. The Coalition aims to be an advocate, educate, conduct research and engage policies that support American employees and their families through this grand Coalition.
Rick Helfenbein, President and CEO, AAFA disclosed, “In today’s global economy, it is essential that policies in Washington support the modern supply chain. While 98 per cent of the clothes and shoes sold in the U.S. are imported, it is important to note that our industry provides nearly four million American jobs throughout the supply chain. By developing policies that open new markets and remove trade barriers, we can be more competitive, supply more good-paying jobs to American workers and provide greater value for American consumers.”
Jonathan Gold, Vice President for supply chain and customs policy for NRF said, “Global value chains are a critical component to businesses success.” Following the launch, the Coalition will meet with officials in Congress and the Administration to discuss the impact and importance of the U.S. global value chain.
Maharashtra wants Bollgard II to be denotified from the Bt cotton category since it’s no longer resistant to pink bollworm. Bollgard II is a genetically modified seed. The state has suggested the seed be downgraded to hybrid, which will lead to a drop in its price. If BG II is denotified, it may result in a reduction in price from the present around Rs 800 a packet to Rs 400 a packet. Farmers can use the money saved in meeting the additional cost of plant protection.
Maharashtra is among the leading cotton producers in India, cultivating 41 lakh hectares. As much as 98 per cent of the crop is grown from Bt cotton seeds with BG II technology. The seeds are meant to be resistant to the American and pink bollworm, thereby reducing the use of pesticides. But the seed’s resistance to the pink bollworm has been dropping for a while, leading to a rise in the use of pesticides. Farmers opt for BG II seed on the assumption that crops would be protected from pink bollworm.
The BG II technology was developed by the global seed giant Monsanto and marketed in India through the joint venture firm Mahyco Monsanto Biotech India, which licenses the technology to Indian seed companies.
A scheme has been devised for Indian power loom units. Energy Efficiency Services (EESL) will procure energy efficient power looms, motors and rapier kits and give them to small and medium power loom units at no upfront cost.
The use of these efficient equipments would result in energy saving and cost saving to the unit owner and he would repay in installments to EESL over a period of four to five years. The aggregation of demand and bulk procurement will also lead to a reduction in capital cost, the benefits of which will be passed on to power loom units so that their repayment amount and period would reduce.
The initiative will be implemented on a pan-India basis. Plain power looms are being upgraded. They are being attached with process control equipment. This leads to higher productivity, better quality and more than 50 per cent additional value realisation. So far, 1.70 lakh plain power looms have been upgraded.
The power loom sector in India is predominantly an unorganised on and has a large number of micro and small units which produce 57 per cent of the total cloth in the country. There are 24.86 lakh power loom units in this country, most of whom use obsolete technology.
Mumbai-based Boheco is offering hemp fabric as a sustainable alternative to cotton. The company not only produces hemp textiles but also clothing like shirts, T-shirts, scarves, and tunics. The Bombay Hemp Company (Boheco) was founded in January 2013. The brand’s tagline is educate, cultivate, elevate and its aim is to become a world leader in industrial hemp production. The brand specialises in clothing but also makes medical marijuana, hemp food items, and Hempcrete Biocrete used to make housing.
Awareness about environmental damage of cotton production is rising, along with the rising suicide rates of cotton farmers who have seen their GM crops fail. This situation has led those interested in sustainability to search for an alternative.
Boheco currently has India’s largest seed bank with over 150 types of seeds and is receiving enquiries from farmers representing a total of 25,000 acres of land across India. Boheco is educating these farmers on the economic value of hemp and is trying to raise awareness among consumers.
Cultivation of hemp is considered more environmentally friendly than growing cotton, as it thrives in moderate climates, and doesn’t need artificial irrigation. Hemp is said to be ideally suited for crop rotation schemes and delivers around twice the fiber yield of cotton.
Alumni from design school Pearl Academy now have an online platform to showcase their creations, courtesy a tie-up with Amazon. The two have joined hands for the initiative to showcase graduating students' and alumni's creations at The Designer Boutique at Amazon. It is part of Amazon fashion's move to democratize designer wear in India and bring it to customers' doorsteps with the ease of shopping online.
Nandita Abraham, CEO, Pearl Academy, says for the last 25 years, it has been their constant endeavour to provide best platforms and opportunities to the students and help further their career goals. This opportunity will act as a launchpad for young designers and alumni to showcase their creations at Amazon.
Arun Sirdeshmukh, Head of Amazon Fashion says The Designer Boutique platform allows established and emerging designers to focus on their core products. The endeavour is to make designer wear available, affordable and accessible, says Sirdeshmukh.
Metalbottoni has set benchmarks in the production of accessories and fashion and garment finishings. Among its new offerings is an all-copper jeans button. This button is entirely made of copper, recycled processing scrap, without galvanising treatments or other chemicals. The result is a product with a potentially indefinite life cycle and which is 100 per cent recyclable. The jeans button is entirely made of recycled copper.
The brands other new collection is dedicated to beachwear accessories. Metalbottoni is participating for the second time at the ongoing Kingpins Amsterdam from October 25 to 26, 2017. It has collections developed on the basis of a new concept, which over the next few years will be underpinning the Italian company’s promotion and development activities.
The new proposals are based on a single broad connecting thread: looking at the world of accessories from a new perspective, with a view to creating products which provide unique added value for the garment. This pathway also includes a continuous improvement process requiring constant research both in terms of style and in the R&D phase.
The goal is to provide a new and forward-looking perspective on the world of accessories based on researching trends, new materials, processing and finishing techniques, paying constant attention to gaining an increasing amount of real sustainability, without neglecting the fashion side, the elegance and style which are the true trademarks of Metalbottoni.
M&S’ sourcing from Bangladesh has grown by at least 30 per cent year-on-year in the past three years. There is a big change in the garment sector. Now, owners are more proactive about protecting the production environment, where previously they were not. Bangladeshi garment units are now examples of factory safety after owners began correcting structural flaws with the help of Accord, Alliance and the government.
M&S has started purchasing diversified garment products from Bangladesh. It helps the factories with technologies, expertise, modern design and banking products so that the factory owners can survive in the business. It also helps its model factories increase their productivity.
In 2006, the British retail giant used to source garment items worth only $5 million from Bangladesh. In the current year, the value is expected to hit $700 million. M&S has no cap on sourcing items from Bangladesh. Today, Bangladesh is no longer just a source of basic garment items. It is also a major source for value-added products like formal dresses, men’s suits, formal blazers. M&S works with 12 green factories in Bangladesh. The country has no major competitor in the garment business. Myanmar and Africa have some way to go.
India has cut duty drawback rates for apparel exporters. The cut back would likely lead exporters to raise prices to balance the loss of revenue from the refund. Duty drawback rate on garments containing cotton and manmade fiber blends is now 2.5 per cent compared to the earlier 9.5 per cent. Clothing items made of silk are now subject to a rate of 4.8 per cent compared to the earlier 7.6 per cent while the rate on wool apparel is 3.5 per cent from 8.7 per cent.
The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) wants the earlier rates to be continued till March 31, 2018, to instill confidence in the sector and for sustaining employment in the sector. It says in the absence of encouraging drawback rates, exports will further witness a sharp decline just when the industry was expecting a recovery.
In contrast Pakistan has raised duty drawback rates to promote exports. Half the incentive for eligible textile and non-textile sectors will be given immediately. The remaining 50 per cent of the rate of incentives would be provided if the exporter achieves an increase of 10 per cent or more in exports compared to the corresponding period of last year. An additional two per cent drawback would be provided for exports to non-traditional markets.
