To encourage entrepreneurship among women, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi purchased a few products, including textile items, on International Women' Day yesterday. Traditional textile products bought by Modi included a gamusa (product of Assam), a stole (Bihar), and two shawls (Tamil Nadu and Nagaland)—all handmade and unique products.
Announcing the purchases made by him, PM Modi wrote in his twitter account: "Women are playing a leading role in India’s quest to become Aatmanirbhar. On International Women’s Day, let us commit to encouraging entrepreneurship among women. Today, I bought a few products that celebrate women enterprise, creativity and India’s culture."
"You have seen me wear the Gamusa very often. It is extremely comfortable. Today, I bought a Gamusa made by various self-help groups of Kakatipapung Development Block," Modi wrote.
The Gamusa is made by women of different self-help groups (SHGs) of Kakatipapung Development Block under Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM), a government of Assam initiative for promotion of sustainable livelihood in rural areas.
ASRLM empowers rural women Self Help Groups (SHGs) with capacity building, credit linkage and market support. All products produced by the SHGs are sold under the brand name ‘ASOMI’. The word ASOMI is an amalgamation of alphabets A- Atmo SO- Sohayok, M- Mahila Gootor, I- Identity (Porichoy). ASOMI also evokes the identity of Assamese people. Buying ASOMI products encourages entrepreneurship among women SHG members and contributes to women empowerment in rural Assam.
Writing about the stole purchased by him, Modi said, "Khadi is closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi and India’s rich history. Bought a Khadi Cotton Madhubani Painted Stole. This is a top quality product and is closely associated with the creativity of our citizens."
Madhubani painting is a traditional style of painting practiced in Mithila region of Bihar having GI status. The stole is made by the rural women SHG members of Bihar. Buying hand drawn madhubani painted stole of khadi cotton supports rural artisans in making their lives better and shows love towards handmade and traditional products.
The Prime Minister also bought two shawls. He wrote on twitter: "The exquisite hand embroidered Shawl made by artisans of the Toda Tribe of Tamil Nadu looked wonderful. I purchased one such shawl. This product is marketed by Tribes India." He added, "India is proud of the Naga Culture, synonymous with bravery, compassion and creativity. Purchased a traditional shawl from Nagaland."
Source: Fibre2Fashion News
The sudden impost of customs duty on imported cotton has left the stakeholders in the cotton industry shocked. The user industry has expressed serious concerns over the viability of exports covering cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups and garments.
The Budget sprang a surprise by imposing on imported cotton a five per cent basic customs duty plus a five per cent Agriculture Infrastructure Development Cess. The pre-existing 10 percentage point Social Welfare Cess continues, taking the aggregate duty burden to 11 per cent ad valorem on cotton.
India imports 15 lakh to 20 lakh bales (of 170 kg each) of the fibre, especially superior varieties like Extra-Long Staple (ELS), from origins such as the US and Egypt. While these contamination-free fine varieties are hardly grown in our country, there is demand for such varieties from the user industry to make superior quality garments, lingerie and so on. The imported cotton is blended with domestic cotton to add lustre and strength to the value-added end-product.
The user industry has a point when it argues that import of less than 20 lakh bales of cotton in the country’s overall annual cotton production of 330-360 lakh bales is hardly an issue; but it would surely exert a negative impact on export. There is no evidence that import of varieties such as ELS affects the domestic market. If anything, the duty is likely to erode India’s competitiveness in the export market.
It is unclear what considerations lay with the Finance Ministry when it proposed the impost. Support to domestic growers could not logically have been the reason as the country does not cultivate ELS variety on any notable scale. Revenue, too, could not have been a consideration as the volume of import is rather modest.
Someone in the policymaking circle should explain the rationale for this impost. There is need to unambiguously state the objects and reasons for the levy of duty. If not, the duty should be withdrawn because of its counter-productive impact. A nuanced yet matured approach on the part of New Delhi would be to engage with the user industry to explore ways to enhance ELS cotton production in India.
Atmanirbharta in ELS
However, importantly, a study of agro-climatically suitable areas for cultivation should be undertaken. Demand projections for the next 10-15 years should be worked out scientifically. A long-term, sustainable production, consumption and export policy is the way forward. All this will take time, but a beginning must be made without delay.
So, until India reaches reasonable self-reliance in cultivation of superior cotton varieties, import of duty-free cotton should be allowed especially to ensure value-added export.
Textile is a critical sector for the country with significant labour-intensity and export earnings. Trade and tariff policies of the government should help sharpen the competitive edge of the sector rather than disrupt its activities in unproductive ways.
Source: The Hindu Business Line
Cotton futures were trading around 0.4 percent lower at Rs 22,200 per bale on March 8 as participants trimmed their positions on weak global cues. Prices had risen 0.4 percent yesterday to settle at Rs 22,240/bale on the MCX.
The agri commodity traded in the negative territory after a flat to gap-up start in the afternoon session.
The soft commodity has been trading higher than 5, 20, 50, 100 and 200 days' moving averages on the daily chart. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 64.07 which indicates positive momentum in prices.
“Cotton futures traded in the narrow range of Rs 100 during yesterday’s session as market awaits USDA’s WASDE report before taking any call on natural fibre”, said Mohit Vyas, Analyst at Kotak Securities.
“Persistent rise in yarn prices following recovery in the textile industry has also kept losses limited in domestic Cotton prices,” he said.
MCX March Cotton trade at a discount of 12 percent from Cotlook A price of 93.65 cents as of Friday.
In the futures market, cotton for March delivery touched an intraday high of Rs 22,260 and an intraday low of Rs 22,150 per bale on the MCX. So far in the current series, the commodity has touched a low of Rs 21,170 and a high of Rs 22,540.
Cotton futures for March delivery dropped Rs 40, or 0.18 percent, to Rs 22,200 per bale at 15:46 hours IST on a business turnover of 7,809 lots. The same for April contract slipped Rs 60, or 0.27 percent at Rs 22,540 per bale with a business volume of 3,547 lots.
The value of March and April’s contracts traded so far is Rs 23.20 crore and Rs 16.48 crore respectively.
Weak weekly export sales and correction in crude oil after multiple session of steep rise may keep cotton under check ahead of WASDE report, said Kotak Securities.
At 10:19 (GMT), US Cotton futures declined 0.78 percent quoting at 87.63 cents/pound on Intercontinental Exchange (ICE).
Source: Money Control News
Australian baby apparel brand Tiny Twig, launches it’s finest quality premium baby wear in the Indian market through their flagship store in Hyderabad & online store www.tinytwig.in Hyderabad, India – Business Wire India Cotton has been the go-to fabric in India, especially for infants. It is a common sight to find newborns swaddled in their grandmothers'' years-old cotton sarees. From the beautiful city of Adelaide in Australia, Tiny Twig wanted to translate the super-soft touch of granny''s pure cotton fabric to a boutique brand of baby clothing designed for the baby today and their future tomorrow.
Launched in 2009, Tiny Twig''s baby clothing made from organic cotton has been celebrated for years in various parts of the world. "Tiny Twig''s commitment to using organic cotton, fair trade practices, and functional design to support parents and infants alike is the driving force behind our work.
We''re very excited that our beautiful, organic cotton range, designed in Australia and already sold in Japan, The USA, Canada, and of course Australia, is coming ''home'' to India''. Designed in Australia and made in India, we bring you the best of both worlds," says Dr. Madhu Siva, the brain and passion behind the brand. Tiny Twig is the culmination of many experiences of Dr Madhu Siva, which started with her personal experience of looking for fabrics that were most comfortable for her son when he was an infant.
“I looked everywhere and researched extensively to find the safest, softest garments for my son and ended up using my mother''s old saree to sew my son''s first attire," recalls Madhu. A discussion with some friends about the causes of eczema in babies led Madhu to found Tiny Twig eventually. Baby-Friendly, Earth Friendly With a PhD in Chemistry, Madhu was always aware of the effects of harmful chemicals on humans and the environment.
"As I researched more about the impacts of these chemicals on human skin, I understood the value of organic cotton fabric for infants," says Madhu. "Did you know that a baby''s skin is seven times thinner than adult skin?" she asks while explaining how residual pesticide in non-organic fabric could seep into an infant''s skin, putting them at higher risk of several physical and developmental disorders.
Tiny Twig''s clothing is GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)-certified. GOTS certified the clothing''s organic standards and insists on maintaining a sustainable supply chain and fair processes from farm to finish. While the clothes are gentle on the infants themselves, they are equally kind to the environment too.
"The GOTS certification on our label is a testament that our textiles meet the highest requirements from field to factory. Thus, our customers can rely on buying a completely ''clean'' product - from the raw material through to finishing," Madhu clarifies.
This hard-earned reputation involves sourcing the best organic cotton that is soft, breathable, strong and durable, colours from certified organic dyes and nature-sourced accessories meeting the highest safety standards, making organic clothing fun to wear.
The team has taken it a step further by introducing coconut shell buttons and lead-free and nickel-free snap buttons on the clothes, avoiding all plastic or synthetic accessories. "You just have to touch the fabric once to understand the value of clothing made from organic cotton," insists Madhu. However, the team is aware that they can only meet their sustainability goals if they are ably supported by fair and safe work practices.
Tiny Twig also strives to maximize its social and economic impact at every stage of production. A source of employment with a flexible work environment for women and value-based partnerships, resulting in a sustainable future, underpins the social purpose of the Tiny Twig business. Functionality in Styling While the fabric used in Tiny Twig''s clothing is incredibly soft and highly durable, the team has put a lot of thought into comfort, styling and innovation.
Their proprietary design of the two-way zipper growsuit with a zip runner ending on the shoulder keeps babies from getting hurt at the neck or the chin while dressing them. "We also keep reviewing our designs at regular intervals to ensure good quality in tailoring and finish", says Madhu. Another trademark of Tiny Twig clothing are suits with fold back mittens and foot cuffs to keep infants warm at night and free during the day for playtime. The clothes do not gather at the belly like baby clothes usually do.
Tiny Twig has also paid attention to minute details such as the number of buttons on a baby shirt. "The detailing in these clothes is impeccable," said a visitor at a clothing expo. Madhu also talks about the logic behind the colours and the designs of the clothes. "We believe that babies are precious and very individual, and we strongly feel that our clothes need to reflect this uniqueness and rare value," she adds.
Ready for Indian Markets For a country well on its way to challenge developed countries'' economies soon, India''s baby clothing market-size has also seen an astounding growth in the past year. The kidswear segment, growing at a rate of 14% YoY, accounts for about 20% of the apparel market, which is worth $15 billion in 2021.
The steady increase in smartphone users and a digital boom contributed to the quick expansion of consumers looking to switch to digital-first brands. The thought process behind Tiny Twig has a deep cultural connection to India, so Madhu felt strongly about making this internationally acclaimed clothing brand available in India.
While the clothing line is currently being sold from their website (https://www.tinytwig.in) & their Amazon Store, the clothes will soon be available for sale via all the popular e-commerce platforms such as Flipkart, First Cry and Ajio. Since their soft launch in the latter part of 2020, Tiny Twig has already built a steady, loyal customer base in India.
The team is excited and justifiably proud of the incredibly positive feedback from its online customers. The customers are raving about the fabric, the classic designs, timeless patterns and super softness of Tiny Twig''s garments. The team is also in conversation with retailers all over India to make their beautiful clothing available at brick and mortar stores.
"Every Indian baby deserves Tiny Twig", says Madhu, "and we want to touch as many families as we can with our lovely clothes." About Tiny Twig Tiny Twig is a babywear apparel brand located in Hyderabad, India, and in Adelaide, Australia, with their products shipping worldwide. Tiny twig clothes are made of super soft organic cotton that is certified for its organic standards and sustainability. Each product is curated based on the values of quality, consistency, social equity, and a commitment to the future.
Source: The Outlook News
The country's exports are steadily recovering and it is expected to record a healthy growth rate in March, a top government official said on Wednesday.
Commerce Secretary Anup Wadhawan said the country's merchandise exports were impacted on account of the COVID pandemic.
"But since then, there is a steady cumulative recovery. Our exports turned positive in September 2020. After September, there was borderline negative (growth) for a few months, then in January 2021, it was positive again.
"February was more or less even and now March is again promising to be significantly positive," he said in a webinar.
He added that India's exports borne the shock well and it has recovered quickly from the pandemic.
India's exports marginally declined 0.25 per cent to USD 27.67 billion in February while imports grew by 6.98 per cent to USD 40.55 billion during the month.
The official trade data for March will be released in April.
He also said there is a need to recover in areas like gems and jewellery and petroleum and there is a "need to sustain the gains in areas like pharma, and food products".
About trade agreements, he said that India has implemented 10 free trade pacts and six preferential trade agreement.
"We have FTAs (free trade agreement) with major economic powers" including with Japan, Korea and ASEAN, he said adding "we have not done badly in FTA and we are serious about growing this space," the secretary added.
Further, he said that India is emerging as a major investment destination hub in the world and the government is taking steps in that direction.
Wadhwan said that huge investment opportunities are there in the services sector like finance, and insurance.
Source: The Economic Times
India’s e-commerce industry will grow 84 per cent to $111 billion by 2024 as it gains from demand created by the coronavirus pandemic’s impact, said a report on Wednesday.
The 2021 Global Payments Report by Worldpay FIS, a financial technology product and services provider, tracked trends in 41 countries to find that digital commerce accelerated during the pandemic.
“The Indian eCommerce industry (sic) has witnessed a huge upsurge due to COVID-19 and there is substantial room for future growth,” said Phil Pomford, managing director of Asia Pacific, Worldpay from FIS.
The report said India’s e-commerce market will be driven by mobile shopping, projecting it to grow 21 per cent annually over the next four years. Digital wallets (40 per cent) followed by credit cards (15 per cent) and debit cards (15 per cent) were the most popular payment methods online in 2020.
“eCommerce capability is no longer limited to just traditional websites, and physical retail has blended with the digital world. The shop floor is now in the palm of our hands and consumers expect the same hassle free and convenient shopping experience whether they are purchasing in app, through their social feeds or in the real world.
"Merchants will be well positioned to be successful, if they put customer experience at the heart of the checkout process. Those who position themselves with digital payments capabilities will be well-positioned to capture the next wave of growth in the retail and eCommerce market in India,” said the report.
Source: The Business Standard
While the value-added sector terms the situation a crisis, spinners insist a false picture is being presented.
“As per Customs data, yarn is already being imported from 59 countries,” Chairman of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) Sindh-Balochistan Asif Inam said.
“India’s hostile attitude towards Pakistani products is worrying,” the Aptma representative said.
“The data is strangely fabricated to portray a doom and gloom scenario. There was a slight decline in exports when comparing exports of 28 days of Feb 2021 with 29 days in the same month last year (2020 was a leap year),” he added.
The seven-month data (7MFY21) shows that Pakistan has already imported cotton worth $1.336 billion. The massive imports highlight cotton shortage in the country, with production at its record lowest level.
Mr Inam said the government should not allow imports of cotton yarn or cotton from India until the “country goes for trade normalisation with Pakistan”.
“The value-added garment and home-textile industries are facing jeopardy in the wake of unavailability of cotton yarn and abrupt decrease in the value of rupee against dollar,” said Pakistan Apparel Forum Chairman Jawed Bilwani.
“During the past three months, cotton yarn 30/1 prices have been increased by 15pc while it is not available in the market,” he said.
In the last six months, the dollar has also depreciated against the Pak rupee by 5.58pc — down from Rs166.5 to Rs157.2. Exporters previously had negotiated and finalised their export orders at dollar rate of Rs166.5, Mr Bilwani said.
The fortnightly report of the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association shows that 72,000 bales of cotton were sold to exporters.
“Cotton prices are high in the market while arrival for this year is almost over. There is need to import more cotton but more important there is a need for a policy to improve cotton growth with high quality seeds and increased cultivation area,” said Karachi Cotton Brokers Forum Chairman Nasim Usman.
Source: The Dawn
The Peruvian National Competition and Intellectual Property Protection Agency’s committee on dumping, subsidies and non-tariff trade barriers announced last month its decision to terminate the anti-dumping investigation against Chinese polyester fabric and not impose anti-dumping duty (ADD) on the same. The announcement takes effect from the date of promulgation.
Cent per cent polyester fabric originating in China did not cause material damage to Peru's domestic industry during the damage investigation period, i.e., January 2016 to December 2019, Peruvian media reported.
The products involved are 100 per cent polyester fabrics of taffeta, white or dyed with a width of less than 1.8 metres and a unit weight of between 80g/sq m and 200g/sq m.
The notice was issued in early February in response to Peruvian company Tecnologa Textil S.A.
Source: Fibre to Fashion News
The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) will request the government today to increase alternative cash incentives from 4 per cent to 7 per cent for the upcoming fiscal year, to fight the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The association will also call for reducing source tax to 0.25 per cent from the existing 0.50 per cent for the next fiscal year.
The platform of textile mill owners will place a set of demands to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for the tax regulator's consideration ahead of the national budget in June, to help the textile sector turnaround from the pandemic.
In a pre-budget meeting with the NBR on Wednesday, all these issues would be discussed in the presence of the textile sector people.
Alternative cash incentives came down to 4 per cent due to gradual cuts in the last few years. With the existing rate and adjustment of some benefits, millers were competitive but the ongoing pandemic has left the sector people in tough competition, Mohammad Ali Khokon, president of BTMA, told Dhaka Tribune.
In consideration of the devastating impact of Covid-19 pandemic, a 4 per cent alternative cash incentives is not enough for the sector, said the business leader.
After the LDC graduation, there will be new challenges for the sector due to erosion of duty benefits enjoyed as a least developed country, Khokon said.
"Considering the benefits of cash incentives for the sector, we are urging the government to increase it to 7 per cent and withdraw tax on incentives," he added.
In fiscal 2018-19, the tax at source was set at 0.25 per cent and it was affordable. But in fiscal 2019-20,mit was increased to 0.50 per cent.
Export earning from the apparel sector have witnessed a negative growth due to the pandemic, which also hit the backward linkage industry badly, Khokon said.
"In the given context, we need a cut. The government should set source tax at 0.25 per cent for the next fiscal year," he added.
Meanwhile, the textile millers also demanded withdrawal of 2 per cent tax on purchase of cotton from local sources.
They also called for withdrawing 5 per cent advance import tax on pet chips as it will increase the prices of yarn.
On top of that, textile entrepreneurs also urged the government to remove 5 per cent value-added tax on all kinds of fabrics made of man-made fibre at production level.
They also called to set Tk 3 as VAT per yard on all kinds of yarn made of any kind of fibre. Currently, they have to pay Tk 4 per yard.
Source: The Dhaka Tribune
While berating the move to import yarn from India that has changed the status of Kashmiris in held Kashmir, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) came up with an alternate to overcome the shortage of yarn in the country, asking for government’s help for revival of 10-15 yarn units which were harshly hit by the ongoing pandemic resulting in cash flow crises.
The identified 10-15 textile companies contribute roughly $1 billion per annum to the exports and their continued operation will keep 15,000 plus people directly employed and in addition unquantifiable indirect jobs. These companies are suffering from liquidity crises and are on the verge of collapse due to Covid-19 and the change in the Sales Tax regime.
The APTMA, in a letter to Razak Dawood, Adviser to PM on Commerce and Textile, asked for a discounted financing scheme amounting to $300 million for the acquisition of the said units by larger and reputable textile companies and with minor modification and upgradation, these “low-hanging fruits”, under new and seasoned management, can be put back on track for production and keep on contributing $1 billion exports per year to the economy.
It goes without saying that if these companies are neglected in the wake of such crises, the loss will be long-term and far greater than the interest margin on $300m concessional financing. The cost benefit analysis will clearly highlight the fact that the continued operations of these units will yield very high economic returns.
APTMA says that the identified companies are creditworthy with no current default of any sort. If allowed for a buyout, all debt from the SBP will be paid off before commencement of operations by the new management. “The transaction of purchase will follow all prudential regulations with no write-offs of any debt under all circumstances.”
Under the existing SBP charter, there are no financing schemes for the purchase of existing sick units. Given the fact that utilizing existing refinancing schemes to set up new capacities will incur four times more cost, at least two years’ duration to set up and depletion of precious foreign reserves than purchasing existing in-trouble but technically sound units, it is economically cost effective to introduce a subsidized finance scheme for the purchase of these in-trouble units by new creditworthy owners.
Under these circumstances, the creation and launching of a new subsidized credit line for purchase of these in-trouble units is required very urgently to maintain export and employment levels.
APTMA in the letter argues that the import of yarn from India will directly impact cotton prices in Pakistan. Cotton price in Pakistan is currently at an all-time high of Rs12,000 per maund driving Phutti prices at Rs8,000, providing sufficient incentives to the farmer to farm cotton. The cotton sowing season is currently starting in Pakistan and the predicted drop in cotton price owing to import of yarn from India is approx 10-15 percent, discouraging farmers not to sow cotton. As a consequence, Pakistan will end up buying cotton amounting to $3 billion from international markets, resulting in a lower GDP and a national loss many times the cost of the cotton.
APTMA urges that the policy on the acquisition of non-operational/sick/in-troubled units may kindly be approved immediately. “This will instantly address the yarn shortage by adding 1,000 tons per day or 30,000 tons per month owing to the addition of 600,000 spindles to operational capacity.” The letter also mentions the names of 11 sick units, saying if they are made operational, can generate 50,000 jobs in almost three months.
The 11 units include 1) Stallion having 200,000 spindle counts, 2) Hira Textile Mills 50,000; 3) Alam Cotton 50,000, 4) Moiz 25,000; 5) Dawood 25,000; 6) AL Textile Mills 25,000; 7) Standards 25,000; 8) Gulistan Spinning 50,000; 9) Gulistan Textiles 50,000; 10) Paramount 50,000 and 11) Bilal 50,000 spindle counts.
APTMA also built its argument saying the policy on acquisition will also provide political capital as these mills were shut down and made non-operational during the tenure of the last government due to their irrational policies. Moreover, it will also result in quick employment opportunities. “The acquisition policy will, as a matter of rule, not involve any loan write-off.” APTMA also wants the commerce ministry to pitch this matter in the next ECC on an urgent basis.
Under these circumstances, it says, the creation and launching of a new subsidized credit line for purchase of these in-trouble units is required urgently to maintain export and employment levels.
Under the proposed policy on the acquisition of non-operational/sick/in-troubled units, the plants or factories that have shut down over the past three years do not require write-off of any bank loans as in all cases the assets are more than adequate to cover liabilities. These plants/facilities should be available for a buyout by the new management or owners and will require minimal rehabilitation, modification or upgradation to be operational. APTMA estimates the quantum of latent export capacity of such plants to be approximately $200 million per annum, requiring an investment of $150 million for the buyout.
And the plants or factories that are currently operational but are on the verge of shutting down are in need of liquidity, upgradation or ownership/management by a credible group or company. The export capacity of such units is estimated to be $250 million requiring an investment of $150 million but as stated earlier will not be able to sustain operations especially in the aftermath of Covid-19 and withdrawal of zero rating.
Source: The News
Vietnamese garment manufacturer Dony Garment, producer and distributor of high-quality community face masks, plans to make its face coverings available in the US and Europe who are working to bring the virus under control. The company has exclusive partnerships worldwide for face masks which have improved fit and filtration, helping increase user safety.
“We have already had a tremendous impact in helping to curb the spread of COVID-19 through our exclusive distributors in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Malaysia, UAE, and Canada,” said Dony CEO Pham Quang Anh. “But we are ready to do more. While countries in Europe and the US continue to work to bring this terrible virus under control, we hope to find distributors that can bring our high-quality face coverings into those locations where they are needed most.”
The quality of the masks produced by Dony is among the top in the world, due to a specialised manufacturing process, that brings highly efficient production capabilities together with the highest in quality standards.
“Our masks are the best available at this price point,” Anh said. “They can be reused over and over again with our instance on using three-ply 99.9 per cent antibacterial cloth and a layer of water resistance. But they also breathe well, with our unique implementation of nano-silver technology. Our masks continue to exceed certifications set across the globe.”
The masks are also reusable, without losing effectiveness after washing up to 60 times.
“It’s not just about producing a high-quality face mask that can protect a user for one trip,” Anh said. “We produce a product that can last, helping keep families, coworkers, friends, and acquaintances safe for extended periods of time.”
But he said he knows that a mask is only effective when it is used, so when Dony designed their specialised face coverings, comfort was paramount.
“We know that in many cases our users are wearing our masks for days at a time," Pham said. “So, we designed them with comfort in mind and so far, the response from users across the world has been overwhelmingly positive.”
And with the information learned about facemasks in 2021, especially how the fit of a mask impacts the effectiveness, Dony has worked to create a face covering that is snug enough to maintain optimal safety as well as be comfortable.
Even as COVID-19 vaccines roll out globally, leaders in governments almost all agree, masks will continue to be a vital tool in the fight against the virus. Some nations, like the US, are even recommending face coverings after a vaccination.
“Yes, there is good news on the horizon, but for the foreseeable future we need to maintain a solid supply of high-quality facemasks, to help keep people safe,” Anh said. “Masks remain the most effective tool to fight the spread of COVID, so we will continue to ensure the need is met.”
With fruitful partnerships in so many countries, he believes the move into US and EU markets should be an easy one and is confident distributors and wholesalers will find a profitable and effective product that can be used in a variety of settings.
“Our masks are available globally,” Anh said. “But as we grow our distribution points, we are seeing even more unique opportunities for business leaders and those in the retail space to clear a tidy profit, while keeping countless people safe.”
While Dony face coverings are sold by distributors almost everywhere in the world, businesses have also come to the company to find direct protection for their employees and customers. “We have solidified our B2B operations and can offer this vital product directly to the business at an unbelievably good price,” Anh said. “When those US and European businesses are looking to stock these live-saving items for their internal use, I am supremely confident they will find Dony masks offer the best protection of any reusable mask out there,” Anh said.
Source: Fibre2Fashion News
Global leader in design Herman Miller has unveiled a new sustainable textile collection including fabric made from all recycled and ocean-bound plastic materials and a 100 per cent post-consumer biodegradable polyester. The collection uses the latest sustainable textile innovations to reduce waste, without sacrificing aesthetics, performance, or longevity.
The collection is known as Revenio. For every yard in the Revenio collection, 7-15 bottles of plastic are diverted from the ocean. Annually, the Revenio Collection will divert an estimated equivalent of 4.6 million or approximately 37,000 pounds of discarded plastic bottles – 1.37 million of those bottles will be collected in vulnerable coastline cities, where they will be intercepted before reaching the ocean.
"This is our most sustainable textile collection yet," said Elaine Gerbers, director of Materials at Herman Miller. "This new collection amplifies our commitment to creating a circular economy through the use of environmentally mindful materials. By utilising 100 per cent recycled content and introducing ocean-bound plastic, we are diverting plastic from the landfill and our waterways and giving them new life in these beautiful new textiles. Additionally, our new biodegradable textile reduces the environmental impact at the end of a product's life."
The industry-leading 100 per cent post-consumer biodegradable polyester can decompose in landfills and wastewater conditions at a rate similar to that of natural fibres (tested under ASTM D5511). This is achieved through the addition of a biocatalyst in the yarn extrusion process that enables anaerobic digestion in landfill and wastewater treatment conditions. In addition, these polyester fabrics can also be recycled and reused as raw materials for future generations of polyester fabrics.
Herman Miller joined NextWave Plastics as a founding member in 2018 and has been working to incorporate ocean-bound plastic in its solutions. Convened by Lonely Whale, NextWave is a collaborative and open-source initiative convening leading multinational companies to develop the first global network of ocean-bound plastic supply chains.
"Herman Miller was foundational to the creation of NextWave Plastics and since 2017 has been a driving force in our collective work to turn off the tap on plastic pollution," said Dune Ives, CEO of Lonely Whale. "This milestone launch is a story about perseverance and an ongoing commitment to open-source collaboration that makes a tangible impact for our ocean. Each year, over 8 million metric tons of plastic enters the ocean. If no action is taken, the amount of plastic going into the sea every year could triple in the next 20 years. Herman Miller, and all the NextWave Plastics members, are taking the action needed to keep plastic in the economy and out of the ocean."
The Revenio Collection is currently made up of four textiles and will be available on Herman Miller seating and workspace solutions such as the Sayl Chair, Eames Molded Plywood Lounge and Dining Chairs, and Canvas Office Landscape. The textiles will also be offered on products from Herman Miller Group brands, Geiger and naughtone.
They will be available to order starting March 1, 2021, in North America. Additional textiles with ocean-bound plastic and details around global distribution will be announced at a later date.
The Revenio Collection comprises Terra, Scatter, Mellow, and Crepe.
Source: Fibre2Fashion News
Cotton prices increased in the Brazilian market in February, boosted by international valuations and the fast exports pace. Between January 29 and February 26, the CEPEA/ESALQ Index for cotton rose by 10.7 per cent, closing at 5.0595 BRL per pound on February 26, the highest nominal level in the series of CEPEA for cotton, which began in July 1996.
Cotton prices were also pushed up during the month as large amount of the current season crop was already sold, along with uncertainties about the size of the new crop, and sellers leaving the market, according to the Sao Paulo-based Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA).
Buyers, on the other hand, were concerned about passing on cotton valuations to its by-products and, thus, were trying to extend the term of payment.
Despite the record harvest in the 2019-20 season, high international demand is lowering cotton supply in the Brazilian market, making sellers more unwilling to lower asking prices. Up to the third week of February, according to data from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex), Brazil had exported 179,700 tons of cotton, 5.8 per cent up from the volume shipped in the same period last year and the highest amount exported in a month of February since 1996. Between August 2020 and February 2021, Brazil exported 1.56 million tons of cotton.
According to data released by the Brazilian Association of Cotton Producers (Abrapa) for 2020-21 crop, up to February 18, cotton sowing in the 2020-21 season had reached 96 per cent of the expected area in Brazil. In Bahia, the area sown was at 98 per cent; in Mato Grosso, at 95 per cent; in Minas Gerais, at 96 per cent; in Mato Grosso do Sul, at 99 per cent; and in Tocantins, at 98 per cent. In Goiás, Maranhão, Piauí, São Paulo and Paraná, sowing was over.
The area sown in the 2020-21 season may total 1.356 million hectares, 16 per cent lower than the previous season, the Abrapa data showed. The association has revised productivity estimate down by 1.5 per cent to 1,770 kg per hectare. Thus, cotton production is expected to decrease by 17 per cent compared to that in the 2019-20 season, to 2.402 million tons.
Source: Fibre2Fashion News
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa recently opened the DAG garment factory in Monaragala. DAG Apparel (Pvt) ltd has set up this unit with an investment of Rs. 500 million. It has directly employed 600 and will indirectly enhance the income of an estimated 3,000. The factory is expected to export around Rs 3.5 billion worth apparel each year.
Prime Minister Rajapaksa was accompanied by company managing director Gamini Keerthiratne and members of the board of directors of the company during the tour of the unit, according to Sri Lankan media reports.
Source: Fibre2Fashion News
The textile sector has voiced fear of losing export orders due to unavailability of cotton yarn and fluctuations in the rupee-dollar parity.
In a statement on Monday, Pakistan Apparel Forum Chairman Jawed Bilwani said that unavailability of cotton yarn and abrupt decrease in the value of rupee against the US dollar can collapse efforts made by the value-added garment and home textile segments.
“Due to this, the exporters belonging to the garment and home textile sectors fear a steep decline in exports in the coming months,” he said.
It is pertinent to mention that in the last six months, the dollar has depreciated against the rupee by 5.58% to stand at Rs157.2 at present, while exporters had negotiated and finalised export orders at Rs166.5 per dollar, said Bilwani.
Similarly during the last three months, the price of cotton yarn climbed 15% and still it is not available in the market, he lamented.
“Due to these two factors, exporters are reluctant to register new orders because the cost of the production has risen in the past few months,” he said. “Exporters are taking a dual hit therefore the government should intervene to save the value-added textile export chain.”
Taking notice of the ongoing situation, the government should immediately abolish customs duty on import of cotton yarn to aid the value added garment and home textile exports of Pakistan, said Bilwani.
“The government’s goal is to increase exports and narrow the import bill,” said Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) former president Mian Anjum Nisar. “If the country loses textile orders, it will be a huge setback for Pakistan.”
He urged the government to work in the greater interest of the value-added textile chain.
Separately, Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association (PYMA) Senior Vice Chairman Hanif Lakhany said that soaring yarn prices were pushing the textile-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to the brink of collapse.
Failure of authorities to review the tariff structure of polyester chain and allow duty-free import of cotton, polyester cotton and polyester filament will be catastrophic for small businesses, he said.
“The textile industry will be ruined if it is not supplied with raw materials at reasonable prices in line with the demand,” he said.
Source: The Express Tribune
The world is not going to break away any time soon from cotton and polyester, which together make up for 76 per cent (51.5 per cent polyester and 24.1 per cent cotton) of the global fibre market in the fashion industry. While the ubiquity of cotton cannot be overlooked, the alternative to cotton—polyester—results in a lot of microfibre pollution.
Cotton has been under pressure because of anthropogenic activities, climate change, etc. It is not the most sustainable thing around, and "you need land to grow it. If a huge piece of land is used to plant cotton, then you wouldn’t have that land for food. Second, the water consumption of cotton is high," says Hoi Kwan Lam, group chief marketing officer, HeiQ Materials AG, in the March 2021 edition of Fibre2Fashion.
Polyester, the alternative to cotton results in a lot of microfibre pollution. It is in the dock for oceanic pollution as well as being a fossil fuel fibre. "In case of polyester, the quantities increased in the last couple of years by I don’t know how many times. There is not a single textile which perhaps had not been made or attempted to be made out of polyester—whether it is a t-shirt or cushion, be it good or bad. But the prime selling reason was always price," says Robert Jarausch, managing director, PyroTex Industries GmbH, in the article 'Fibre! Fibre! Burning Bright'.
According to Michael Lüthi, head of Business Unit Polymer at Sanitized AG, "These fibres (cotton and polyester) are too prevalent in the industry and in spite of all issues they undoubtedly have great properties, which is why they have conquered the industry."
Of course, there will be new fibres coming from new sources like we have seen with hemp and bamboo, but "we believe these will be more in addition to the existing fibres to support more sustainable production," Ulrika Björk, chief executive officer, Polygiene AB, in the same article of March 2021 edition of Fibre2Fashion.
Source: Fibre2Fashion News
Imports at the largest retail container ports in the US are expected to grow dramatically during the first half (H1) of 2021 as increased vaccination and continued in-store safety measures enable additional shopping options, according to the latest monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.
“NRF is forecasting what could turn out to be record retail sales growth in 2021, and retailers are importing huge amounts of merchandise to meet the demand,” NRF vice president for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “The supply chain slowdown we usually see after the holiday season never really happened this winter, and imports are already starting to grow again. Consumers haven’t let the pandemic stop them from shopping, and retailers are making sure their customers can find what they want and find it safely.”
“As COVID-19 ravaged the economy in 2020, it seemed as if any hope of recovery was distant,” Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said. “Then came the rollout of vaccines that appear to be highly effective and are bringing strong signs of a quick recovery. The successful distribution of vaccines will help ensure that the economic recovery will likely be strong and sustainable.”
US ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.06 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU) in January, the latest month for which final numbers are available. That was down 2.3 per cent from December as the busy holiday season came to an end. But with a 13 per cent year-over-year increase, it was the busiest January since NRF began tracking imports in 2002 and the first time the month has ever topped the 2 million TEU mark. A TEU is one 20-foot container or its equivalent.
"While import numbers for both February and March are forecast to be significantly higher than normal, year-over-year comparisons are difficult because of the pandemic," NRF said. February is traditionally the slowest month of the year as Asian factories close for Chinese New Year, but last year most remained closed into March because of the coronavirus, reducing numbers even further. This year, however, some remained open during the holiday in order to fill a surge in orders, and ships arriving at US ports faced a backlog to unload.
February results aren’t available yet, but the Global Port Tracker projected the month at 1.88 million TEU, up 24.4 per cent over last year, while March is forecast at 1.98 million TEU, up 44.1 per cent. April is forecast at 1.9 million TEU, up 18.2 per cent year-over-year; May at 1.92 million TEU, up 25.2 per cent; June also at 1.92 million TEU, up 19.6 per cent, and July at 2.02 million TEU, up 5.3 per cent.
Thus, the first half of 2021 is forecast at 11.7 million TEU, up 23.3 per cent from the same period in 2020, which experienced a major decline in imports due to COVID-19. Imports saw a total of 22 million TEU in 2020, up 1.9 per cent from 2019’s 21.6 million TEU and beating the previous record of 21.8 million TEU recorded in 2018.
Source: Fibre2Fashion News
