Lenzing initiated a project in Albania designed to promote sustainable forestry and improve local living conditions. As a best practice example, 20 hectares of degenerated land will be recultivated with forest and fruit trees in cooperation with the local population and various NGOs. Moreover, concepts for sustainable forestry will be developed with local schools.

Cooperation with local communities and NGOs

Within the context of the project, the local community will be actively involved in the process in order to ensure a comprehensive transfer of knowledge. The pupils at the Forest School of Shkodra will actively take part in the entire process as a means of learning more about reforestation. Employees of Eco-Social Farm, a facility for people with disabilities located directly below the reforestation area, will take care of the irrigation of the seedlings.

Furthermore, an interdisciplinary cooperation will be carried out with the Austrian school in Shkodra. The reforestation project will serve as the basis for the diploma thesis of the pupils there. In turn, this will contribute to sustainably raising the awareness of pupils and the general public with respect to current challenges in forest management.

The project underlines the commitment of the Lenzing Group to promoting sustainability and enables the company to establish best practice examples for the industry and at the same time to learn for future projects and similar CSR-related activities.

EUROJERSEY brings Sensitive Fabrics a new collection called "conscious tech". A new feeling, a new sensation of rediscovered wellbeing packed with optimism and pronounced spontaneity for multifunctional fabrics endowed with sustainable and innovative technical performances.

Crease-resistant and breathable Sensitive Fabrics connects with the body shape to deliver maximum comfort, adapting to each movement in perfect synchrony with the most diversified everyday activities, thanks to their three-dimensional elasticity. Easy to care for and machine washable, they are quick drying and wrinkle-free, without any need for ironing.

The acctual fabrics for creating easy-care outfits for a dynamic lifestyle, for living in total comfort in any context, whether downtown or on the road, without any compromise in terms of fashion. In fact, digital printing enhances prints and decorative details which, thanks to 3D PRINT technology, manages to create patterns and natural looking textures as well as photographic effects. Colours and graphic designs are printed onto the ultra-flat surface of Sensitive Fabrics with a perfect chromatic rendering and a three-dimensional optical illusion.

All Sensitive Fabrics collections spring from the same virtuous industrial model able to promote a set of good practices and technologies which reduce the use of water, energy resources, chemical products and waste. EUROJERSEY was the first company in the textile industry to declare its environmental footprint called PEF (Product Environmental Footprint), expressed in 16 indicators, with PEF 010/19 Certification awarded by CERTIQUALITY in April 2019.

Saurer’s to bring more extensive spinning offerings, at the exhibition which will enable customers to process a wide range of fibres depending on their needs using ring, worsted and compact or rotor spinning technologies. Autoairo, the group’s new double-sided air-spinning machine, will also be introduced to prospective clients.

Saurer is keen to provide customers from the region with information on Epoca 7, its shuttle embroidery machine. Developed with over 150 years’ experience, this technology enables embroidery plant owners to embellish fabrics to their clients’ specifications, creating an array of designs ranging from traditional to haute couture. Additional attachments for the application of cords, ribbons and sequins as well as for laser-cutting patterns further broaden the variety of possible creations.

The Saurer team is eager to provide visitors with in depth look at the group’s latest offerings at the Swiss Pavilion at Millennium Hall, Addis Ababa, from February 14th to 16th 2020.

Saurer Group is a leading globally operating technology group focusing on machinery and components for yarn processing. As a company with a long tradition, Saurer has always been a leader in innovation.

Kornit Digital (Nasdaq: KRNT), a global market leader in digital textile printing technology, announced that the company will be introducing two new digital direct-to-garment (DTG) print systems at the upcoming Impressions Expo Long Beach event, taking place January 17th to 19th in Long Beach, California.

Vulcan Plus: DTG Mass Customization, Improved for 2020

Kornit will introduce Kornit Vulcan Plus, it’s next-generation system for DTG mass customization at Impressions Exposable to deliver more than 2,000 retail-quality impressions in a 12-hour shift, Vulcan Plus builds on the success and feedback from customers using Kornit Vulcan, a 2017 SGIA Product of the Year. The eco-friendly system, which has undergone beta testing by Kornit customers in both the United States and Europe, represents the highest-capacity DTG print system in Kornit’s product portfolio and the broader marketplace.

Storm HD6 Lite: Completing the Retail-Ready DTG Portfolio

Kornit will also introduce the Storm HD6 Lite system, enabling print shops of all sizes with on-demand DTG printing that meets the retail quality and sustainability standards of the world’s largest and best-known retail brands. With a production capacity of up to 60,000 impressions annually, Storm HD6 Lite provides DTG printing for smaller print operations, such as commercial printers moving to the industrial market and analog printers broadening their production capabilities. Storm HD6 Lite effectively replaces Kornit Storm II.

Kornit’s Breadth of Capabilities

Kornit’s exhibit will reflect and build upon the momentum the company achieved in 2019, a year in which multiple game-changing systems were introduced. In addition to presenting Vulcan Plus and Storm HD6 Lite, Kornit welcomes visitors to observe live demonstrations of the brand’s eco-friendly Atlas, Avalanche Poly Pro, and Storm HD6 systems for on-demand DTG printing

Sportswear celebrated company PUMA has entered into a new long- term partnership with PSV Eindhoven, one of the Netherlands most successful football clubs. Under the terms of the deal, PUMA will become the official kit supplier of the club, starting in July 2020.

PSV Eindhoven have won twenty-four league titles and nine domestic cups having also achieved great success in Europe winning both the European Cup and the UEFA Cup.

The PUMA and PSV Eindhoven partnership builds on the shared values of innovation and cooperation, evident by the club motto ‘Unity Is Strength'. The club is deeply connected to Eindhoven, referred to as ‘The City of Light’, a city vibrant with culture, collaboration and global influence. Both PUMA and PSV Eindhoven’s ambitions are strongly aligned as they look to pushboundaries on and off the pitch, connecting with the city and the fans in new and exciting ways.

PSV Commercial Director Frans Janssen said: “PUMA and PSV share the will to be better every day, that ambition is the foundation of this partnership. Their motto ‘Forever Faster’ is something that we recognize and embrace. We are very proud to team up with a global brand that gives us the opportunity to stay unique.

Comfort, styling and quality are the main components in sportswear. These are all in the PUMA DNA. PSV is much honored to be welcomed into the PUMA family, joining great clubs such as Manchester City, AC Milan, BVB Dortmund and Valencia.”

Cotton consumption in Central Asia is expanding significantly. These countries are curbing exports as major cotton producing countries in the region such as Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan have sought to secure greater domestic supplies for inward processing and downstream exports e.g. cotton yarn, fabric, and garments. The region’s share of exports has dropped and 2019-20 shipments are projected to be less than half of the region’s exports just four years earlier. Uzbekistan banned exports starting this month. Tajikistan proposes to establish a full cycle of processing cotton by 2025. The country has recently expanded spinning capacity. Turkmenistan, the region’s second-largest producer, temporarily embargoed exports in 2018-19 so as to ensure adequate supplies for domestic consumers.

Companies are implementing a more fully integrated supply chain. They are improving efficiency of lint production via drip irrigation and machine harvesters, expanding spinning mills’ operating capacity, and further developing fabric and garment manufacturing as they shift to exports of value-added cotton products versus unprocessed lint. Expanded capacity is evident with record first quarter cotton yarn exports in the region.

Challenges with regard to expanding exports of processed products include consistent and sufficient domestic crops, affordable electricity, reliable and timely transportation for exports, and mill access to financing.

Diesel, the Italian denim brand has partnered sustainability and communications consultancy company Eco-Age to create a strategy to identify areas in which the brand can give back to the community.

The plan is build upon four pillars that consider the health and safety of the planet and workers. Under the pillar ‘be the alternative,’ Diesel will invest in research and development to create low-impact materials and processes. ‘Stand for the planet’ reflects how the brand will work to reduce water usage and carbon emissions. ‘Celebrate individuality’ speaks to how Diesel will create a safer, more inclusive space for its workers and ‘promote integrity’ will provide transparency throughout the denim label’s supply chain.

Aside from launching upcycled denim capsule collections with Coca-Cola and Readymade last year, Diesel’s sustainability initiatives have been kept relatively quiet—especially for a brand that’s known for its bold marketing.

Troubled over the steep escalation in cotton prices and the Cotton Corporation of India’s (CCI) cotton trading policy, the mill sector has appealed to Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani to intervene and direct CCI to arrest the price rise. Accusing the corporation of holding large volumes of cotton and quoting prices higher than market rates, industry sources said that the Corporation’s present stand not only affects market sentiments but also puts the competitiveness of the user industry at stake.

The sector has advised CCI to be prudent in pricing and rethink its trading policy. Its policy of operating MSP through CCI instead of direct transfer to farmers or allowing free market to function is neither helping the farmer nor the user industry. Mills are unable to source cotton from CCI as the base price quoted by the Corporation is Rs 46,000 per candy while the market price is Rs 40,000 a candy

According to SIMA, industry-friendly cotton trading policy followed by CCI will help mitigate current challenges and enable the industry to grab the market opportunities in the wake of the thaw in the US-China trade relations.

Lycra’s ground-breaking innovations include LycraFitSense, LycraMyFit, LycraEcoMade and Planet Agenda. Lycra will showcase these latest innovations at ISPO, a leading multi-segment trade fair for sports that takes place 26-29 January.

LycraFitSense technology is a patented water-based dispersion. This revolutionary innovation is screen printed onto fabric containing Lycra fiber to provide lightweight, targeted support exactly where it is needed the most. This solution also helps streamline garment manufacturing by eliminating sewn-in panels and extra seams. LycraMyFit is a polymer engineered to deliver a customized fit experience by offering greater shape tolerance for a range of body types within a size. This innovation directly addresses major consumer needs around fit, which can help brands reduce returns, increase consumer satisfaction, and build brand loyalty. The Lycra Company is also featuring its first branded elastane that is made with pre-consumer recycled materials at ISPO. LycraEcoMade is an elastane offering the same performance as the original Lycra fiber but is made partly with fiber waste collected at the company’s manufacturing sites, which is blended with virgin polymer at specific concentrations. This sustainable solution reduces waste and puts it back into production. Planet Agenda is Lycra’s sustainability platform created to provide insights, technologies, products, and processes that can help customers reduce waste, save energy, extend garment wear life and more.

Lycra works with brands, and their supply chains, to create offerings that bring tangible value to garments, consistent with consumers’ active lifestyles and their desire for lasting comfort, fit and shape.

Bangladesh will focus on certain garment products for value addition and exports. The global market size for these products is $132 billion and Bangladesh earned $7.16 billion by exporting them in 2018. Among these are: women’s briefs, panties, blouses, men’s underpants, coats, trousers, T-shirts, stockings, socks and other hosiery.

These products are either made of cotton where Bangladesh has an edge or non-cotton having features similar to traditional products. These products are relatively easy to manufacture so the cost of making them would not be too high. The aim is to help the sector diversify and reduce its dependence on a few products and progress upmarket.

About 73 per cent of Bangladesh’s total readymade garment export earnings in the last fiscal year was from T-shirts, sweaters, trousers, jackets and shirts. Bangladesh lost 1.61 per cent off the unit value of readymade garment products on the global market in the last four years.

Future expansion will be in non-cotton, women’s/girls’ clothing and outerwear/athleisure. It is important for Bangladesh to consider more investments in primary textiles, especially in the woven and non-cotton sectors, as the preferential regime by the EU for middle-income countries require a double transformation process as per its GSP rules of origin.