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US companies that make organic textiles will be given guidelines on appropriate labeling. The guidelines will be given by organisations like Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Organic Trade Association (OTA), and Textile Exchange. Retailers in the US have introduced organic lines. Sales of organic and eco-friendly textiles have seen double-digit growth in the last several years.
One of the fastest growing markets in sustainable textiles is organic cotton. Organics are grown without herbicides or pesticides and processed without bleach or chemical dyes. GOTS is a textile processing standard for organic fibers in the textile supply chain. The aim is to ensure organic status of textiles, from harvesting of the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing, up to labeling in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer.
OTA represents over 9,500 organic businesses across the US. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. Textile Exchange is a non-profit that works with all sectors of the textile supply chain. It provides the knowledge and tools the industry needs to make significant improvements in the areas of fiber and materials, integrity and standards, and supply chain.
Macpi has revolutionized the apparel industry by developing and implementing the stitch-free assembling, commonly known as bonding technology. The application allows to join materials of various kinds in order to modify the aesthetics, structure and functionality. There are many achievable combinations, such as PU adhesive, filter-breathable or dotted adhesive, that do not spoil or alter the fabric’s physical features.
New style concepts may be created, depending on the combinations achieved by transferring to the garment different technical or aesthetic qualities. The construction of the garment itself can be innovative, as in the case of bonded inside linings, reducing the lead times and improving the fitting.
This technology is constantly growing and allows for a wide range of solutions able to meet the most demanding needs for stitch-free applications on garments and footwear as well as technical use for medical or military outfits. Italy-based Macpi group of companies, is active in design and manufacture of software and hardware and machinery for the apparel and laundry industry.
Macpi has since 1961 worked closely with the clothing industry to solve the problems associated with the different sectors of garment construction and finishing. Macpi produces automatic units for fabric spreading and fusing including automatic feeding and unloading of garment parts.
India will be the fastest growing apparel market in eight years, expanding at a CAGR of 11.8 per cent. The export market too will be favorable for India. Developed markets will continue to provide huge opportunity to textile exporters with their large size despite moderate growth in demand. Apart from the US and Europe, China too will become a market for Indian exporters as Chinese textiles manufacturers have lost the co¬m¬petitive advantages of lo¬wer cost of production in the last few years.
China’s competitiveness in cotton texti¬les is dropping rapidly while India’s competitiveness is improving steadily. India’s apparel exports with an expected CAGR of 21 per cent are likely to play a major role in deriving gro¬w¬th in total textile exports. The Rs 6,000 crores package to increase employment and investment in the textile and apparel sector may boost competitiveness of Indian ap¬parels in the world.
Growing urbanisation and rising per capita income in India and China would result in increased purchasing power and change in lifest¬y¬le. China and India will be key markets for the growth of textile and apparel. However, India will have to add¬r¬ess challenges to ach¬ieve a higher market share. India does not have duty free access to the European Union.
India's exports in February 2017 grew 17.48 per cent compared to February 2016. However, imports during the month under review increased by 21.76 per cent. Non-petroleum and non-gem and jewelry exports in February 2017 grew by 20.15 per cent compared to February 2016.
Oil imports grew by a massive 60.02 per cent. Non-oil imports in February were up by 13.65 per cent. For the April-February period, exports rose marginally by 2.52 per cent. Imports fell 3.67 per cent.
The merchandise trade deficit cumulatively for April-February, however, declined by 16.65 per cent against the same period the previous year. The overall trade deficit for April-February is estimated at $41.8 billion, which is a 24 per cent fall from the level of $55.02 billion during the same period last year.
For December 2016, exports to the US grew by 5.61 per cent, grew by 1.68 percent to EU and grew by 10.87 percent to Japan but fell by 6.20 per cent to China over the corresponding period of the previous year. Services exports during January 2017 were valued at $13.57 billion while imports stood at $8.4 billion, resulting in a positive trade balance of $5.16 billion.
Ethylene prices declined sharply in the first week of March in Northeast Asia as demand dropped for downstream styrene monomer while other derivatives like poly ethylene weakened significantly. The European ethylene market was bullish as the material remained tight amid firm demand.
Paraxylene prices declined in Asian markets amid weakness in both up and downstream sectors. In the US, paraxylene spot was down as mixed xylene slipped. European paraxylene contract price for March was fully settled at a roll over while spot declined on the week.
Mono ethylene glycol prices dived in Asian markets on urgent sales with sellers lowering offers to avoid incurring port costs. In China, port inventories continued to swell while the supply in the domestic market was abundant this week. European MEG prices also fell as demand softened and March contract price settling at a rollover, thus ending the huge price increases. US MEG prices retreated from their 21-month, pushing the assessment of its highest level since July 2, 2015.
Polyester staple fiber prices moved down further in China with raw material costs dropping continuously while they remained stable in India and Pakistan. Polyester filament yarn prices declined in China while they rose in Pakistan. In India, partially oriented yarn offers were generally held stable amid thin spot trades as downstream buyers purchased on a need basis to maintain production.
The cotton market in India seems to be stable. Domestic demand and prices are firm. Cotton prices vs yarn prices have settled. Volatility is more or less absent. Spinners, ginners and farmers are realising reasonable prices since February. Spinning mills suffered over the last two years and many closed doors due to cotton price volatility and weak yarn prices. This trend seems to have reversed.
In India, 65 per cent of the season’s cotton crop has arrived and if the price stability is maintained it will be a win-win for the cotton and textile sectors. However, if cotton prices skyrocket, spinners would face difficulties. The view from the spinning mills is that yarn prices are stable and there is demand for yarns and made-up goods such as bedspreads in export markets. This increases cotton demand and helps push up the price of cotton.
Indications are that cotton price this March is going to be steep when the peak arrival season ends in India. Overall, the agriculture market is expected to be bullish in the coming months. Pakistan, Bangladesh, China and Vietnam are key buyers of Indian cotton. Textile mills in southern India have contracted cotton for shipments in March and April.
As much as 70 per cent of the cotton crop in India is believed to have already hit the market.
As arrivals rose cotton prices indicated a softening trend from their initial peak levels. But prices are again on an uptrend after the temporary dip.
The main export destinations are Vietnam, Bangladesh and Indonesia. This is expected to further fuel the bullish sentiment.
Yarn demand from China is expected to increase this year. So mill consumption in India will be more than expected, which will further put pressure on prices.
Fears of El Nino will also keep cotton prices higher.
Prices at procurement levels may scale up to touch Rs 6,500 per quintal while processed cotton prices are expected to jump to levels as high as Rs 48,000 per candy of 356 kg.
Farmers continue to realise a better price for their produce since cotton prices have remained firm. Cotton arrivals are in full swing now and the gap of arrivals as compared to last year has narrowed considerably in the preceding period.
Farmers have got prices as high as Rs 6000 per quintal for raw cotton.
The opening stock was about 4.5 million bales at the beginning of the 2016-17 season.
Outlook Plus Latin America was held in Brazil fro, March 7 to 9, 2017. This event covers the nonwoven personal care industry. There were presentations on market, product, and technology intelligence for hygiene and personal care. Market leaders in the nonwoven and film markets for these products shared their vision of the future. Regional demographic and consumer trends of relevance to the industry were highlighted. A session was dedicated to the use of nonwovens in healthcare and infection prevention applications and future opportunities.
More than 270 participants joined the conference and more than 25 companies took the opportunity to promote their products and services through tabletop exhibits. Nonwoven fabrics are broadly defined as sheet or web structures bonded together by entangling fiber or filaments (and by perforating films) mechanically, thermally, or chemically. They are flat, porous sheets that are made directly from separate fibers or from molten plastic or plastic film. They are not made by weaving or knitting and do not require converting the fibers to yarn.
Nonwoven fabrics provide specific functions such as absorbency, liquid repellency, resilience, stretch, softness, strength, flame retardancy, washability, cushioning, filtering, bacterial barriers and sterility. These properties are often combined to create fabrics suited for specific jobs. They can mimic the appearance, texture and strength of a woven fabric, and can be as bulky as the thickest paddings.
The global luxury apparel market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 13.2 per cent up to 2024. The market is segmented into leather, cotton, denim, silk, and others. Cotton holds a dominant share of 35.87 per cent. Cotton is ideal for hot and humid weather. The fiber has high absorbency, comfort, and is breathable. High cotton production in India and China has made Asia Pacific a frontrunner in the global market.
Leather is the next emerging segment in the global market. This material is being preferred due to its durability and ability to myriad designs that characterize high fashion. The expensive nature of leather also makes it a fit for luxury brands, who work on the premise of premium pricing. Silk is also gaining significant momentum due to its smooth texture, softness, and the elegance it bestows on the overall design. Production of silk in India and China has lent an impetus to the luxury apparel market of the Asia Pacific.
Europe has a strong footing in the global market due to the presence of several luxury brands and houses that have been in the business for several decades. Some key players operating in the global luxury apparel market are: Versace, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Armani, Ermenegildo Zegna, Ralph Lauren and Hugo Boss.
About 2.5 million workers in India’s leather industry toil and suffer. They work long hours with toxic chemicals for poverty wages, making shoes and clothes for western brands. Leather industry hubs like Agra, Tamil Nadu and Kolkata supply hides, leather, garments, accessories and footwear for export.
Employment is created through the growth of large-scale export centers. But accidents regularly occur. Machine operators get trapped. Workers cleaning underground waste tanks suffocate from toxic fumes or drown in toxic sludge at tannery premises. The workers include women and children.
In small, unregulated factories, workers have no social security cover such as state health insurance or pension and earn a tiny fraction of the products' global price. India is the world’s second largest producer of footwear and leather garments and almost 90 per cent of India's footwear exports go to the European Union.
Tannery workers often suffer fever, eye inflammation, skin diseases and cancer as they work with toxic chemicals and rarely have any safety training or protection. Dalits and Muslims make up the majority of the workforce. It’s necessary for brands to increase the traceability and transparency of their supply chains up to the level of tanneries and subcontractors.
