American cotton farmers are worried about the trade war with China. The US cotton market has been fluctuating because of the dry weather and rain or no rain and the threat of tariffs. Currently, cotton is at a good price due to high demand and the rough weather conditions making it less available. But farmers feel it's only a matter of time before this changes and that if something is not done now it could be worse later. They feel China has had enough control already and it’s time for the US to do something.

The feeling is the trade war will not impact farmers in the short term, however, over time long-term consequences are feared. If every year prices are about six or seven per cent lower because of the tariffs prospects are not seen as good for US cotton. In response to the US’ 25 per cent tariff placed on Chinese goods, China has placed a 25 per cent retaliatory tariff.

China wants the US to set aside threats of tariffs on Chinese goods and US investment restrictions on Chinese companies. China also wants a relaxation of US export controls that ban American firms from selling certain high-technology products to China.

The US has imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from India. India, in return, will raise duties on about 30 US imports, including certain iron and steel goods and even fruits, vegetables, almonds and apples. However, India may lose much more than the US in this trade war. US exports are barely 12 per cent of its GDP. India, on the other hand, is the largest exporter to the US after China.

India was earlier on the US radar over India’s imposition of 50 per cent duty (earlier 100 per cent) on Harley Davidson bikes. There were just 84 of these expensive bikes sold in India last year. The US is also reviewing the General System of Preferences that India enjoyed after the US dairy and medical equipment sectors complained over not having easy access to India’s markets. They are especially irked by price controls on items like stents.

The US has always had a grouse on India being categorised as a less developed country. It feels India is no longer an LDC as its per capita income is over $1000 a month and wants India to end the subsidies it gives its exports, particularly in agriculture and the electronics hardware technology parks scheme.

Zimbabwe’s textile and garment industry is facing rough weather due to heavy taxation and is on the verge of witnessing thousands of job losses and several shop closures. Importers have called for liberalization of tax laws that govern import of fabrics and garments. They want a level playing field that can enable them to stay competitive with their neighbors in the region. Current tax slabs are up to 60 per cent. They threaten to drive traders and industrialists out of business. Thousands of people earning their livelihood in this sector stand to lose their jobs.

Zimbabwe’s textile and clothing sub-sector consists of three components: production and ginning of cotton, transformation of lint into yarn and fabric, and the conversion of fabric and yarn into garments.
Other problems plaguing the industry are: poor performance, low productivity, out of date technology, and lack of investment and government support. An increasing number of textile mills in the country is closing down. Zimbabwe is finalising the new prices for different grades of cotton ahead of the beginning of the selling season.

Simply Be has become the first UK retailer to launch new jeans made from a blend of cotton and recycled bottles. The new range, its first performance denim range with Coolmax EcoMade technology, is made from 97 per cent recycled sources. Each pair of the special relaxed slim-leg jeans is created using cotton together with fibre made from recycled plastic equivalent to about 18 plastic bottles.

To make these jeans, plastic PET bottles are diverted from landfills, cleaned and ground into flakes and after a multi-step process, are transformed into yarn. This yarn is combined with cotton to make breathable denim with an authentic look and feel. The denim’s fibre structure is engineered to move moisture away from the skin to the surface of the fabric where it evaporates, creating jeans that help the wearer feel cool and dry and that can also be comfortably worn in the warmer summer weather, according to the manufacturer.

The technology behind the fabric involves the use of polyester fibres with engineered micro-channel cross-sections. The channels help move the moisture away from the body and the specially shaped cross sections also have a high surface area to spread the moisture out for faster evaporation.

Puma is making a major play to get back in the world of basketball, and the company took a big step by inking possible overall draft pick DeAndre Ayton for an endorsement deal. Ayton, who played one year at the University of Arizona before declaring for the draft, announced the deal on Twitter. The signings makes Puma a player in pro basketball, a sport it has sat out since striking a deal with Vince Carter in the late 1990s.

Ayton, a native of the Bahamas, even suggested he wanted to try a collaboration with Rihanna, who is from Barbados. Jay-Z, who founded the agency Roc Nation in 2013, is expected to play a major role in marketing and pursuing players as future endorsers.

Puma's sudden commitment to basketball is its first action in the sport since it signed Vince Carter to a 10-year deal in 1998, though that deal lasted only two years. The company also re-signed perhaps its most famous basketball player from past decades, Walt "Clyde" Frazier, to a lifetime contract earlier this week and launched a modernized version of Frazier's old shoe from 1973.

Bagley and Smith have each signed multi-year shoe deals with Puma, and the company is expected to pursue other top prospects as well as established NBA players after inking Ayton.

Tennessee-based men’s wear brand Marc Nelson Denim has launched whiskey-infused denim which soaks the denim in whiskey for 30 days. This stains the jean into a warm golden color. These jeans are sold in the brick and mortar store in Knoxville and through e-commerce at the company’s website.

Besides whiskey-infused jeans, the brand also offers The Andy, raw denim with a slim straight leg or a lightweight selvedge chambray jean. For those wanting a more classic look, Marc Nelson offers slim straight styles in black denim or a vintage wash. The brand also sells bottoms in chino, flannel and canvas fabrics.

The brand is also releasing two new pieces that infuse innovation with style. The first of these is a five pocket men’s active wear jean, and the other is a motorcycle pant with a denim and kevlar weave woven in Japan.

Le Col is launching an official supporters’ Tour based on Le Col’s SS18’s Pro Air range, which offers a range of eye-catching designs in combination with enhanced materials and new designs. The jerseys affirm Le Col’s position as a pioneer in this field as they have taken apparel innovation to the next level with both jerseys being constructed solely from 100 per cent recycled fabric. The jersey will be available for men, woman and unisex respectively.

The jerseys will be in either black with white strips or blue with red and white stripes respectively. The Tour Series Jersey is on sale at lecol.cc & Aqua Blue Sport, which is the official online store for The OVO Energy Tour Series, The OVO Energy Women's Tour and The OVO Energy Tour of Britain and all replica technical and casual clothing. £1 of every purchase of the jersey from official retailer Aqua Blue Sport will go to Breast Cancer Care charity.

Sports apparel brand Lacoste has developed new men’s clothing and accessories line in partnership with the International Olympic Committee. The line will feature limited edition collections that reflect the graphic legacy of legendary Olympic Games. For the first edition, Lacoste has chosen to celebrate the 50th anniversaries of the Olympic Winter Games Grenoble 1968 and the Olympic Games Mexico City 1968.

The IOC and Lacoste collaboration, to continue until 2020, will develop a collection each season. This will initially be sold, starting this summer, in Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain and the UK.

IOC got into this licensing agreement with Lacoste to further connect people with Olympic history and legacy. The Olympic Heritage Collection is being developed by the IOC as one of its three global licensing core programs and it centers on past Olympic Games, lifestyle and high-end products with limited editions aiming to connect the audience with Olympic history through the art and design of previous editions. The target is thus not the typical Olympic spectator and fan, but rather Olympic enthusiasts or anyone who would like to own a piece of Olympic history. Additional collections are being developed and will be launched soon.

Lacoste was founded by tennis player and entrepreneur René Lacoste, Olympic medalist in 1924.

In 2017, Italian textile machinery production rose eight per cent while exports grew seven per cent. Production benefitted from growing demand abroad for Italian machinery, and the recovery of Italy’s domestic market, mainly due to the boost generated by fiscal incentives for digitalization of companies.

Italian textile machinery manufacturers are entering partnerships with technology suppliers. This is seen as an essential component in providing solutions to the needs of fast fashion and increasingly more significant e-commerce retail channels. The entire textile industry is going digital. However, digitalization of production processes requires a whole new set of skills and consequently new training solutions. So the industry is strengthening links with educational institutions. Having a dialogue with schools will ensure our needs are met in professional terms, created by the new digital context and the ensuing opportunities young people can seize upon in sectors such as textile machinery production, in which Italy plays a pre-eminent role in providing excellence worldwide.

The Italian textile machinery industry represents an industrial sector comprising around 300 manufacturers (employing close to 12,000 people), with exports amounting to more than 84 per cent of total sales. Creativity, sustainable technology, reliability and quality are the characteristics that have made Italy a global leader in manufacturing textile machinery.

Heimtextil & Ambiente, to be held in New Delhi, June 27 to 29, 2018, will display India’s heritage art and crafts. A pavilion will highlight traditionally crafted products with a contemporary touch in miniature painting, terracotta, cane and bamboo arts, wood craving and wood inlay, bidri craft, mithila painting, wood craving, brass engraving and pottery.

Creating the perfect combination of Indian and international designs, the platform will also host companies from China, Indonesia, Switzerland and Thailand and international speakers from France and Finland to throw light on lifestyle trends through co-relation with Indian design due to the growing influence of India through the emergence of successful Indian designers and brands internationally.

The fair will host top manufacturers and suppliers of the home textile and interior décor industry with more than 100 companies participating from India, China, Indonesia, Switzerland and Thailand. Companies from Thailand will present their stunning collections in dining, living, giving and home furnishing segments at this three day fair in New Delhi.

Heimtextil & Ambiente are the world’s largest trade fair brands for the home textiles and consumer goods sector which set the trend barometer globally. In India, the sister fairs Heimtextil India & Ambiente India present the first-look of the new season’s collections for the Indian market offering inspiring product designs, live design sessions and experience zones.