Temporary shortage of coir fibre in coir production sector

There was a temporary and seasonal shortage of coir fibre in the export oriented production sector of the coir industry in Kerala during the second half of 2009 which had affected the functioning of small scale coir units in the export oriented production sector of Alleppey in Kerala.

The shortage of white fibre used in the export oriented sector in Kerala was mainly due to non availability of green coconut husk in the market caused by a fall in coconut price. In addition there has been a slow down in the fibre production activities in Kerala due to drudgery in operation, increasing awareness of pollution aspects of the environment due to retting, increased use of coconut husk for firewood purpose, etc.

The non-existence of adequate number of functioning fibre extraction units and husk collection mechanism in Kerala are also causes for shortage of coir fibre. The export of coir fibre which was 1553 tonnes valued at Rs. 196 lakh during 2005-06 increased to the level of 73075 tonnes valued at Rs. 9742 lakh during 2009-10.

The Coir Board, a statutory body under the administrative control of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, in association with the Government of Kerala has initiated several steps to improve the supply position of coir fibre in Kerala.

Read more on Temporary shortage of coir fibre in coir production sector at Fibre2fashion

Read more »

Woven yarn-dyed fabrics added to Annex 3.25 of CAFTA-DR pact

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (“CITA”) has determined that certain woven yarn-dyed fabrics of lyocell and cotton, as specified below, is not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR countries.

The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

• Determination to add a product in unrestricted quantities to Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement

Effective Date: August 12, 2010

The CAFTA-DR Agreement provides a list in Annex 3.25 for fabrics, yarn, and fibers that the Parties to the CAFTA-DR Agreement have determined are not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the territory of any Party. The CAFTA-DR Agreement provides that this list may be modified pursuant to Article 3.25(4)-(5), when the President of the United States determines that a fabric, yarn, or fiber is not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the territory of any Party. See Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement; see also section 203(o)(4)(C) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act.

Read more on Woven yarn-dyed fabrics added to Annex 3.25 of CAFTA-DR pact at Fibre2fashion

Read more »

Textile Ministry assents to new TUFS proposals

Recently, the Union Minister of Textiles, Dayanidhi Maran consented to most of the demands put forward by the sector experts in connection with the revised Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS). The same has been welcome by the textile industry.

It is believed that these draft proposals for the revised TUFS will be put up before the Cabinet for its approval within the next 10 days.

The revised TUFS scheme, which most likely would be announced by end of the month, is seen to greatly benefit the weaving, processing and technical textile industries.

As revealed by sources, the Textile Ministry has even granted its’ nod to prior proposal of granting 25 percent direct capital subsidy to the weaving industry, as also to other individual preparatory units such as two-for-one (TFO), winding machines and warping machines.

Capital subsidy of 20 percent will be granted to the Small Scale Units (SSIs) in the processing and garment sector with investments not above Rs. 50 million. Whereas, the converter industry in the technical textile sector with investments up to Rs. 50 million will be bestowed with a capital subsidy of 25 percent, as also with interest subsidy of five percent.

Also the Textile Minister has approved the proposal for extending five percent interest subsidy and 10 percent capital subsidy on the modern machines set up in the fabric processing industries.

India holds immense potential to be a major player in the technical textile sector. As such, the 25 percent capital subsidy and five percent interest subsidy granted to the converter industries would all together change the face of the textile sector.

Read more on Textile Ministry assents to new TUFS proposals at Fibre2fashion

Read more »

Matchless combinations for Legwear with Lycra

INVISTA, one of the world’s largest integrated producers of fibres and polymers, has launched its Legwear Innovation Collection for Autumn / Winter 2011 – 2012 with an emphasis on providing fashion-forward styles and solutions for this diverse sector.

Stand-out legwear has been a fashion staple on catwalks across the world for the past few seasons and there are no imminent signs of its ‘must-have’ crown dropping with cutting-edge trends still proving their popularity with consumers.

For Autumn / Winter 2011 – 2012, experts at INVISTA predict that both the fashion industry and wearers will be breaking away from classical shapes and bold colours to make way for matchless combinations that combine both style and comfort. The trends promise to use innovative new technologies and yarns that are set to send the fashion world into a frenzy.

In true INVISTA style, eight key trends have been revealed:

Raw Romance

• This is a true romantic collection that offers a wide selection of materials that range from organic silk, lace and hand knitted effect and Gobelin looks.
• A trend with a vintage spirit where soft and pastel colours make a comeback to unite with nude tones, lilacs and dusty whites as well as darker shades such as burgundy.
• For this season, wearers can be on-trend with knee-high and over-the-knee legwear that showcase loose hanging laces and sashes.
• This collection will give the wearer ultimate comfort, thanks to a touch of LYCRA fibre that provides soft yet beautifully stable hosiery.

Natural Vibes

• Natural Vibes is the ultimate trend for the true nature lover. The look focuses on comfort and natural elegance legwear trends with rustic, organic patterns in cable knit socks, leg-arm-warmers and knee highs.
• Colours are inspired by natural, earthy tones of rich browns, deep forest greens and stone greys
• This collection combines the softness and drape, cotton touch and wool with LYCRA fibre for shape, fit and comfort.

Read more about Matchless combinations for Legwear with Lycra at Fibre2fashion

Read more »

Fibre2fashion & TAI to host global denim conference

The new face of the Indian textile & apparel industry is “Denims” today. Textile Association India, Ahmedabad Unit is all set and geared up to host a Denim conference on the global denim & jeans industry in association with Fibre2Fashion. Under the chairmanship of Dr. PR Roy, the two-day prestigious event is to be held at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM A) on the 29th & 30th of October 2010.

The word Denim evokes and conjures up many thoughts and imaginations in our minds. Denim as typically masculine attire was in the early stages adorned by the cowboys or the people of the Wild West in America. Today, denim is a must irrespective of age or gender to be in the wardrobe of all modern fashionable consumers.

Indigo Blue denim is a great style statement. Historically, Levi Strauss, the inventor or the creator of today’s jeans and subsequently many other authors in the western world has well documented the rise of Denim Jeans to its present status. In the west, there are many designers who have given the denim their personal touch and autographed it with their excellence and craftsmanship. The Indian denim industry too is on the rise and raring to go global.

The proposed conference will help the industry discuss the future trends as well as the latest developments in the industry including expansion of India’s participation in this growing sector.

Mr Sanjay Lalbhai, CMD - Arvind Ltd and the biggest denim producer in India is expected to inaugurate and address on “Strategic issues in managing global denim business”. Robin Anson, Editorial Director - Textiles Intelligence, UK will deliberate on “India’s potential in the international market for denims & jeans vis-à-vis China, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka”.

Shumone Chatterjee, Head Marketing, Asia Pacific Region of Levi’s Strauss will hold forth on “Global Brands entry into emerging Indian Market”. Other eminent experts/speakers from the global textile industry will also speak on important topics related to the theme during the two-day conference. The conference is primarily aimed at CEOs and other top functional executives of the denim & jeans wear industry.

Learn more about Registration, Sponsorship Options, and many more at Denim Conference Organized By Fibre2fashion & TAI. Original News Fibre2fashion & TAI to host global denim conference Published on: Fibre2fashion

Read more »

Thermo°Cool Innovation Excellence Award for Hong Kong Nonwoven

Bringing together the finest work in the field of high-tech fibre concepts for performance insulations, the ThermoCool Innovation Excellence Award has been presented to Hong Kong Non-woven Fabric Ind. Co., Ltd., specialist in the global insulations market. The Award recognises outstanding product development and innovation and highlights the importance of working in partnership to bring innovative product concepts to market.

Anderson Lee, Business Director of Hong Kong Non-Woven commented. “We are proud to receive this Innovation Award which recognises the success of ThermoCool insulations. Industry feedback has been very positive with the products now adopted by dozens of leading Outdoor brands including industry leaders like Marmot, confirming that this new performance product is top of its class and the best available performance insulation in the industry.”

David Bayliss, Business Director of ADVANSA added, “This award recognises Hong Kong Non-woven for outstanding innovation. Only a company with such a high level of technical expertise and insight into the market needs could have achieved so much, in such a short time. It is also the proof that partnership is the key to successin bringing new product concepts to market. “

Read more on Thermo°Cool Innovation Excellence Award for Hong Kong Nonwoven at Fibre2fashion

Read more »

A decade of research yields new uses for ancient material

Tougher than a bullet-proof vest yet synonymous with beauty and luxury, silk fibers are a masterpiece of nature whose remarkable properties have yet to be fully replicated in the laboratory.

Thanks to their amazing mechanical properties as well as their looks, silk fibers have been important materials in textiles, medical sutures, and even armor for 5,000 years.

Silk spun by spiders and silk worms combines high strength and extensibility. This one-two punch is unmatched by synthetics, even though silk is made from a relatively simple protein processed from water.

But in recent years scientists have begun to unravel the secrets of silk.

In the July 30, 2010, issue of the journal Science, Tufts biomedical engineering researchers Fiorenzo Omenetto, Ph.D., and David Kaplan, Ph.D., report that "Silk-based materials have been transformed in just the past decade from the commodity textile world to a growing web of applications in more high technology directions."

Fundamental discoveries into how silk fibers are made have shown that chemistry, molecular biology and biophysics all play a role in the process. These discoveries have provided the basis for a new generation of applications for silk materials, from medical devices and drug delivery to electronics.

Edible Optics, Implantable Electronics

The Science paper notes that the development of silk hydrogels, films, fibers and sponges is making possible advances in photonics and optics, nanotechnology, electronics, adhesives and microfluidics, as well as engineering of bone and ligaments. Because silk fiber formation does not rely on complex or toxic chemistries, such materials are biologically and environmentally friendly, even able to integrate with living systems.

Down the silk road of the future, Kaplan and Omenetto believe applications could include degradable and flexible electronic displays for sensors that are biologically and environmentally compatible and implantable optical systems for diagnosis and treatment. Progress in "edible optics" and implantable electronics has already been demonstrated by Kaplan and Omenetto, John Rogers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and others.

Many challenges remain. Kaplan and Omenetto say that key questions include how to fully replicate native silk assembly in the lab, how best to mimic silk protein sequences via genetic engineering to scale-up materials production, and how to use silk as a model polymer to spur new synthetic polymer designs that mimic natural silk's green chemistry.

Techniques for reprocessing natural silk protein in the lab continue to advance. Silks are also being cloned and expressed in a variety of hosts, including E. coli bacteria, fungi, plants and mammals, and through transgenic silkworms.

Read more on A decade of research yields new uses for ancient material at Fibre2fashion

Read more »

Pupils develop high performance sporting products

From 20th to 23rd July, nearly 50 aspiring 15 to 17 year old engineers enjoyed a unique learning experience at The University of Manchester. Sponsored by The Drapers’ Company and working with the University’s Centre for Textile Science and Technology, the course gave students the opportunity to learn about the vibrant, innovative and global industry of sports materials, which brings together science, technology, engineering and imagination to develop high performance sporting products.

Over the four days the students had an introduction into this fascinating subject, with lectures on subjects including electronic solutions for sports textiles, and a demonstration by Speedo of their high performance textiles which reduce drag. A visit to Sigmatex, one of the world’s leading carbon fibre convertors, gave the students an insight into carbon fibre composite manufacture.

Students had a hands-on experience working in teams to complete a challenge which involved designing, making and testing an innovative pattern for a rugby ball.

Spokesperson for The Smallpeice Trust, Claire Fisher commented, “We are delighted to be working with the university to provide students with a valuable insight into the rapidly changing and increasingly sophisticated technology used in sports materials. We hope the students now have a clearer understanding of the exciting career opportunities available to them in this sector.”

Outreach Administrator for the School of Materials, Karen Donnelly-Bale added “It is really important to improve awareness of high performance textile technology among young people, as they will be developing the science and engineering applications of the future. We are very pleased to have been able to do this on the Sports Materials course in Manchester.”

Read more on Pupils develop high performance sporting products at Fibre2fashion

Read more »

EL textile can provide light for signage/marketing purposes

Since 2007, Cetemmsa has been an active member of the Organic Electronic Association (OE-A), by participating in roadmaps definition and by being the speaker of the Smart Textile group within the association.

In 2009-10, Cetemmsa decided to go further, and lead a demonstrator project with 3 other OE-A members: UAB-Cephis, HC Starck and Varta Microbatteries.

This demonstrator joins together smart textiles and printed electronic to build an eye catching electroluminescent flag which moves in the wind.

It is built from an electroluminescent multilayer device printed on a commercial textile by Cetemmsa (Centre de Tecnologia Empresarial de Mataró i Maresme), and connected to a hybrid inverter composed of inkjet printed passive components and of SMD inverter chips hybridised on a circuit printed on polyimide. A fully printed RC circuit switches off the EL textile approx. 10s after the user has switched on the demonstrator.

The OE-A Flag demonstrates that EL textile can provide light for signage / marketing purposes while still keeping the fundamental property of textiles, which is its flexibility. EL is also a robust technology, virtually indifferent to environmental conditions, and thus not requiring a tough, only foldable and not yet good enough encapsulation material.

Read more on EL textile can provide light for signage/marketing purposes at Fibre2fashion

Read more »