Leading global producer of wood-based specialty fibers, Lenzing has launched the Tree Climate fabric collection by Tencel™, curated by outdoor fabric innovators David Parkes and Marco Weichert, at Performance Days in Munich.

The new Tree Climate outdoor fabric collection features the wide range and versatility of TENCEL™ branded lyocell fibers. It displays a great variety of base, mid, and outer layer fabrics each offering a range of inherent performance qualities, as well as waddings made of wood-based Tencel™ Lyocell fibers for outdoor applications. The three-fold collection allows the creation of synthetic free and enhanced synthetic content layering solutions for different weather conditions.

The environmental impact of the fibers is amongst the lowest of all materials according to the Higg Materials Sustainability Index, an industry-wide tool that measures and communicates the environmental impact of materials used for apparel. In addition to the clear sustainability benefits, the collection demonstrates the versatility of TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers in functional outdoor applications. Wind and water resistant, with optimum breathability and thermal regulation, makes the fabric ideal for outdoor sports lovers all year round. The fibers, which are gentle on skin, also blend well with natural fibers such as wool and hemp.

Japanese ready-to-wear brand Uniqlo and Italian luxury label Marnihave teamed up for a capsule collection thatwill be released in Uniqlo stores and on the brand’s e-shop. The limited-edition collection features vibrant, colorful items patterned with floral prints, stripes and checks. It includes dresses, anoraks, raincoats, trousers, button-down shirts, T-shirts with graphic motifs and more. One of the stand-out items is a unisex jacket decorated in a floral pattern.

Francesco Risso, Creative Director, Marni, has reinvented Uniqlo’s signature looks, adding a luxury feel to them. The palette is vivid, full of typical spring colors: blue, green and yellow.

Uniqlo is also launching a Spring/Summer 2022 collection in collaboration with ready-to-wear label MameKurogouchi, founded by Maiko Kurogouchi. It will be available on Uniqlo’s e-shop and at selected stores from June 9 2022. This womenswear collaboration will celebrate women through a unique wardrobe in a soft, earthy colour palette ideal for highlighting all skin tones

Government ministers and advisors, the European Union, UN bodies, brands, global fashion campaigners, brands, manufacturers and industry leaders will rub shoulders at the Sustainable Apparel Forum that will be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on May 10, 2022.

This year’s SAF, the third such event, aims to establish Bangladesh as the world’s most responsible apparel sourcing destination. That’s why senior government representatives will be speaking and in attendance, listening to the needs of industry and thrashing out what needs to be done to take Bangladesh garment production to the next level.

Senior representatives from globally renowned recycling and renewable energy companies will also be in attendance as well as exhibit their sustainability and green technologies, products and solutions under the same roof.

The SAF will showcase opportunities for much-needed green financing in the industry.Issues under the spotlight will include climate action, environmental social & governance (ESG) and green finance, purchasing practices, circular economy, and regulatory reforms.

The Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh is title sponsoring the 3rd SAF. Pacific Jeans, Cotton USA and KDS are platinum sponsors; Epic, Laudes Foundation, Higg and H&M are gold sponsors; while Better Work Bangladesh is silver sponsor of the event.

The Union government plans to impose a temporary ban on cotton exports if prices continue to surge, says Upendra Prasad Singh, Textile Secretary.

Cotton prices have doubled in barely a year to over Rs90,000 per candy. Prices of some varieties of cotton have even touched Rs100,000 per candy. A ban could help soften prices by freeing up cotton for the domestic market, adds Singh.

High cotton prices affect the Indian textile industry disproportionately, as it is heavily dependent on cotton, unlike other markets where man-made fibre occupies a larger share.

Singh opines, cotton prices are unlikely to decline before October when the new cotton crops arrive. Cotton prices have been a “dampener" and the problem could persist for some time as there is a global shortage of cotton, he adds.

To be held from February 24-26, 2022 at Tuyap Fair Convention and Congress Center in Istanbul. International Istanbul Yarn Fair will be a sales and marketing platform that shapes the international yarn trade and textile production. The fair will feature leading yarn companies showcasing their organic and technological innovations. The fair will be organized in collaboration with industry leaders who shape the international yarn trade. It will give Turkey's and the world's leading yarn manufacturers an opportunity to exhibit their new products manufactured using modern concepts.

The biggest fair in Eurasia, the event will be the 18th edition of the International Istanbul Yarn Fair. It will offer various advantages in terms of prices, diversity, and technology for the industry's professionals. With the highest number of participants among the others in the field, the International Istanbul Yarn Fair will have the best manufacturers of fancy, cotton and polyester yarn. It will allow visitors to access and compare more products in a short period of time.

The Yarn Fair will offer its visitors an opportunity to find the best yarn manufacturers for tricots with the best prices under the same roof.

Cotton spinners in Japan continue to relocate their spinning capacities to overseas joint venture textiles as domestic demand declines. As per a Textile Network report, in FY 2020-21 Japan’s cotton imports declined 34 per cent to 31,570 tons from 47,790 tons in 2019-20. The decline is mainly attributed to a stagnant demand and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main sourcing destinations were the United States, followed by Greece, Australia and Brazil. Imports from the US declined 39 per cent to 16,300 tons, accounting for 52 per cent of Japan’s total imports. Imports from Australia declined 45 per cent to 3,700 tons. On the other hand, imports from Brazil declined 45 per cent to 2,800 tons. In contrast, imports from Turkey surged by 125 per cent to 1,500 tons.

The US, Australia, Greece and Brazil accounted for 89 per cent of Japan’s total imports in 2020-21. Japan’s cotton consumption in 2020/21 declined to 31,600 tons as demand stagnanted demand and COVID-19 caused several disruptions in supply.

The National People’s Congress of China has decided to approve the ratification of International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Forced Labor Convention, 1930 (No. 29) and the Abolition of Forced Labor Convention, 1957 (No. 105). With the ratification of these two instruments, classified as Fundamental Conventions, the total number of ILO conventions ratified by China will increase to 28, including six of the eight Fundamental Conventions.

ILO says, the ratification reinforces China’s commitment to eliminate all forms of forced labor within its jurisdiction, realize work in freedom for its 1.4 billion people, and respect ILO’s fundamental principles and rights at work. These conventions will enter into force in China a year after their instruments of ratification are deposited with ILO.

These ratifications will create renewed momentum towards human-centred development in China in line with the ILO Centenary Declaration on the future of work, says Guy Ryder, Director General, ILO.

Failure to receive payments from Russian brands is forcing Indian apparel industry to urge for the immediate commencement of the Rupee-Rouble trade mechanism with Russia. Payments from Russia have got stuck due to the sanctions imposed by the US and the western countries. This is making MSMEs’ operations challenging and difficult for them to sustain business.

Tirupur knitwear exporters, who earlier received payments in Euro/Dollar currency are now not receiving them due to the sanctions and exclusion of Russian Banks from SWIFT platform. Buyers have been willing to make the payments. However, they are constrained with no options, says Raja M Shanmugham, President, Tirupur Exporters Association. TEA has urged Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of Finance, and Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Textile and Commerce to resume the Rupee-Rouble trade mechanism with Russia immediately to receive stuck payments. From April 2021 to February 2022, India exported apparels worth $61 million to Russia.

Producer of contemporary textiles, HBF Textiles is introducing a new spring 2022 collection: Two-Part Harmony. As per a Home Textiles Today report, the collections comprises four woven fabrics and three coated performance fabric product in a wide range of colors and applications for corporate, hospitality, higher education, retail and healthcare projects.

The collection also introduces two new Clean Impact Textiles; Crumpled Paper and Skim Coat. Mary Jo Miller, Vice President- Design and Creative Direction, HBF Textiles says, we continue to add Clean Impact Textiles to our portfolio, which is new fabric made from 100 per cent post-consumer recycled polyester that is 91 per cent biodegradable in a landfill.

The Woven Fabrics range comprises woven fabrics including Skim Coat, Crumpled Paper, Dusted Fleck and its pastel partner, Rush. The Coated Fabrics range includes two new polycarbonate faux leathers — Well Loved and Notable Grain — along with the brand’s first silicone product, Inherent, a flame resistant, antimicrobial and stain resistant product.

Israeli company specializing in ecofriendly ultrasonic textile technology, Sonovia has launched a new technology to transform indigo dyeing in collaboration with Italian denim manufacturer PureDenim. As per Isreal 21c report, the disruptive technology aims to reduce water and energy, usage and improve dye durability in the global denim industry that is set to reach $76.1 billion by 2026.

Leveraging Sonovia’s technology in indigo dyeing will help PureDenim reduce chemical, water and energy consumption and make the production process mmore ecofriendly and sustainable, opines Gigi Caccia, Founder and CEO, PureDenim. Sonovia’s antimicrobial ultrasonic fabric finishes are commercialized in products including Sonomask, a facemask that gained popularity r during the pandemic.

Roy Hirsch, CBO, Sonovia says, the technology can offer significant solutions to inherent challenges in the indigo dyeing industry by eliminating outdated dyeing and finishing practices that cause massive pollution. An alumnus of the Fashion for Good accelerator, Sonovia made a successful IPO debut at the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange in December 2020.