Shortage of cotton yarn in the domestic market has pushed up prices of hosiery items, including innerwear and loungewear, by 10-20%, and manufacturers say the price jump could double if the supply disruption caused by increased exports is not remedied.
Top manufacturers Lux Industries and Dollar Industries said the increase in yarn export to Europe and the US since October--due to disruptions in their local manufacturing and in their sourcing from China--has led to a shortage of yarn in the domestic market, and the situation is not expected to improve till July.
About a third of the country’s Rs 30,000-crore innerwear industry is in the organised sector, controlled by companies having more than Rs 500 crore in annual turnover.
Vinod Kumar Gupta, managing director of Kolkata-headquartered Dollar Industries said his company has already increased prices of innerwear and outerwear by 6-8% since January and plans to increase prices further. "During the next few months, starting from March till May, we are going to further increase the prices by 10% or 12%," Gupta said, adding that prices of yarn and finished goods are unlikely to cool before July.
However, Gupta said that the price increase would not lead to any contraction in demand. "Since the products we manufacture are of basic nature, people can only differ from buying, but cannot do away with it. Hence, demand suppression may not happen during the summer season sales,” he said.
Lux Industries has increased the price of garments containing cotton yarn. "We have scarcity of raw material in south India, as required quantity is not available. The market demand starts converting to the summer season from January onward. Since January, we have already increased prices by about 20%," said Rahul K Todi, director, Lux Industries.
Explaining the shortage of yarn and other raw material like dies, plastic and corrugated boxes using for packaging, Shashi Agarwal, general secretary, All India Federation of Hosiery Manufacturers, said, "After Europe opened in October, the export demand started growing, creating scarcity of raw material from November onwards. Prices of yarn in the international market have increased by about 45% since November, as demand for yarn from countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, etc., which export garments to European countries and the US, has increased.”
India’s knitwear industry is among the few sectors that managed to buck the general downtrend seen in the economy due to disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The industry is doing very well. The business we had during the first nine months of the current fiscal has already crossed the business we had during the first nine months of the previous fiscal, and we also expect to do good business in the fourth quarter," said Gupta of Dollar Industries.
Source: The Economic Times
Production Linked Incentive scheme for man-made fibre and the creation of seven mega textile parks in the country will help increase production and exports of the sector, AEPC said on Wednesday. Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) Chairman A Sakthivel said the MMF garment industry in India is poised for fast growth as the government has agreed to promote the sector.
He was speaking at a virtual B2B meeting on 'Improving MMF Fabric Options for Indian Apparel Exporters'.
The council in a statement said that buying houses believe that Indian man-made fibre (MMF) garment exporters can aspire to grab USD 20 billion business in the global MMF garment trade even as the domestic apparel industry works at resolving its limitations.
Source: The Economic Times
Last year during mid-December, a group of leading exporters of Tirupur urged mills’ associations to ensure the continuous supply of yarn as the spinning mills had stopped supply of cotton yarn and were not taking up fresh orders.
Now after 2 months, again the same group and many others met again and formed various committees to meet the textile mill associations and discuss the issue.
This is not just the scenario of Tirupur or a particular hub; apparel manufacturers across India are facing high yarn price issue from last four months.
In January 2021, cotton yarn prices increased 15 per cent on M-o-M and 30 per cent on Y-o-Y basis. As per the industry informed apparel manufacturers, few specific yarns aren’t easily available as they are very much in demand. For example, 40’s combed yarn price as per the market is Rs. 279 per kg but the actual price is somewhere around Rs. 300 per kg and even at this price, this yarn is not available for all. There are apprehensions that price can increase again. Even today in mid-March, prices are increasing.
Since December 2020, yarn prices have increased by Rs. 65 per kg; it has never gone up so high in the last few decades.
Also Read: To protest yarn price hike, Tirupur’s apparel production will remain closed on 15 March
It is also pertinent to mention here that the international prices also rose by 13-17 per cent Y-o-Y, led by the buoyant China’s demand for US cotton, which is having a rub-off effect on cheaper Indian cotton prices.
SMEs worst affected
As usual, when any unexpected or sudden challenge arises, SME sector faces most heat; this challenge has also had worst impact on them.
In few cases, even knowing that there will be hike in the yarn price and at the same time, there will be orders from international buyers, SME exporters can’t keep stock of yarn or fabric as they don’t have much resources.
Top players having vertical integrated set up and having resources to keep required stock of yarn or fabric with them are comparatively less impacted due to this challenge.
Why the hike has happened
China factor!
There are different opinions on how much China is responsible for this problem. India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) is strongly of the view that China’s demand for India’s cotton has pushed domestic yarn prices higher. The agency says that while yarn production was substantially lower on Y-o-Y basis up to 8 months in FY ’21, exports increased by higher single digits Y-o-Y due to a healthy demand from neighbouring countries. China’s demand for Indian yarn resumed to pre-Covid levels during November-December 2020, as against a volume drop from Bangladesh and Vietnam during same period.
According to the official data, India’s cotton yarn export was worth US $ 2.61 billion in 2020 and noted 8.50 per cent Y-o-Y fall. Shipment to China remained negative by 25.16 per cent that is at US $ 571.66 million, while it upped by 41.54 per cent to US $ 141.67 million as far as Vietnam – the 3rd top exporting destination for India – is concerned.
Though a chunk of the industry is also of the view that yarn prices went up because of pipeline drying, cotton and other fibre prices going up, industry is more optimistic of 2021.
During pandemic, consumption patterns changed but there was consumption; production, however, got impacted and is still not up to full capacity across globe.
Apparel manufacturing industry is also of the view that mills are using unethical practices as the situation is in their favour.
Cartel!
Some of the industry insiders claim that a cartel is working in the country, which increases the rates of yarn without any basis and also creates an artificial shortage in the market. It seems quite logical as there is no significant increase in cotton prices.
Solutions, efforts made so far
With proper coordination amongst mills to apparel manufacturers supporting each other, this issue requires active steps at policy level and only Union Government can help at this front.
Banning yarn exports may not be in the favour of mills and yarn exporters but it is a strong solution as far as the plight of apparel manufacturers is concerned. Various associations have time and again also requested the Government to ban yarn exports to control prices in the domestic market.
At the same time, apparel exporters have also appealed to the international buyers to increase the price so that the apparel exporters are able to meet the higher production cost at this hour of crisis.
Even leading associations and local yarn traders have also requested the Government to reduce the import duty on cotton which was recently imposed in Union Budget as it is also increasing cost.
Trade bodies of apparel manufacturers have also made several requests to mills, traders and even job workers in this regard; they have requested to various Union Ministers also.
Need to learn from Nitin Gadkari
The challenge of raw materials’ price hike is not only faced by the textile industry but in last few months, even steel companies have raised the rates by 55 per cent.
Concerned over the steep hikes in the prices of steel and cement, both inputs for construction, in mid-December, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for MSME, Road Transport and Highways wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to arrest the trend.
Prior to this, the Minister also accused cement units of forming cartels to raise the prices of the building material. Later he also warned steel cartel on price hike and said that he will use alternatives. He has been constantly pursuing the matter to ensure that the steel manufacturers reduce the prices.
On the other hand, despite all the hue and cry, so far Ministry of Textiles (MoT) has not come forward officially in this regard and not even any statement has come from the Minister or senior official of the MoT (at least at the time of writing this feature).
Pressure of politics
In this entire scenario, it is also pertinent to mention that due to the efforts of Tirupur Exporters Association, some movement has been seen on this issue as after the letter of Senior Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi, MoT contacted this forum and asked to furnish factual and authentic month-wise data of last 24 months with respect to price hike in cotton yarn for further examination of the matter.
This issue is getting momentum in Tamil Nadu as the state is the leading hub for textile and apparel industry and its state assembly election is due in the next few months.
What next
The big question is that when can one expect the situation to be more balanced and there are different opinions in this regard.
A chunk of the industry feels that as already yarn prices have retraced from January reaching the peak by 5 per cent, by April situation should become balanced as mills will start running fully and the issue of shortage and price increase will be solved, while at the same time, some are also of the view that looking at the developments, it is totally unfair to say anything.
In this entire scenario, there are some other views also it is being said that mills wish to change the Credit culture, especially in South India as over the decades a system has developed to buy yarn on long credit period which is not feasible in the changed scenario so mills are insisting cash payment and prefer to work with such garment manufacturers only those pay as per their convenience.
Whatever the reasons are for this hike, all stakeholders must accept that they have to work and grow together rather than working in silos or misusing the situation. At the same time, Ministry has to play active role at this front also. Textile mills and apparel manufacturers can’t survive without each other; they have to be supportive for each other.
Source: Apparel Online
After passing a year in COVID-19 – mostly wearing sweats, leggings, shorts and elevated pajamas in lockdowns – a new fashion search platform Lyst reveals positive signs that consumers are coming back to jeans. Lyst revealed that its global analysis of more than 60 million jeans-related searches disclosed that customers are now favoring looser styles.
After observing the recent months, Lyst is observing that the influenced TikTok generation is preferring wide-leg jeans. With leading denim brands like are introducing the High Loose fit, a modern construal of a ’90s-era wide-leg, and other leaders of the denim industry are serving baggy denim looks on the runway, while the consumers choice has certainly broadened.
In the last 3 months, wide-leg jeans have been growing at 148%. And the trend has multitier demand. And brands like H&M and Kut are among the most prevalent fashion brands for these comfortable styles, as well as the designer streetwear label Vetements, reported Lyst.
Moreover, the social media popularity of show gurus wearing straight-leg jeans is topping the scene. This trend gone-up 145 percent in the past quarter year-on-year, says Lyst.
Having said that the appeal for skinny jeans hasn’t decreased. As its data shows that searches for the form-fitting fit during this same period grew by 107%. Where, Levi’s 501 skinny jeans, Asos’ contouring jeans and Amiri’s distressed jeans seeing a jump.
Consumers looking for distressed denim, increased by 91% month-on-month. The Amiri’s California-enthused rocker appeals to rising demand in distressed denim in general.
While torn (or ripped) knees are the most desirable distressed jeans. Increasing a 37% week-on-week, appealing to all generations. Demand for ‘ripped skinny jeans’ is also rising by 50% since February.
Sustainability-related searching increased
The sustainable concern among the consumers are witnessing impressive growth. Lyst says sustainability-related keywords have greatly increased by 138% in the last 3 months. Pageviews for ‘recycled’ and ‘organic’ denim have amplified by 229% and 119% correspondingly.
Leading denim brands are overwhelming shoppers with new sustainable collections. M&S, Cos and Mango brought lower-impact denim collections. Lee and H&M’s collaboration brought 100% recycled cotton jeans to the market. Levi’s and Ganni brought cotton hemp jeans, and Weekday brought regenerated textile fiber, Infinna. While both Mother and Outerknown presented denim collections made with upcycled post-consumer denim, demonstrating the integrating look to suit just about anybody’s style.
Brands closing loop resale initiatives like Levi’s SecondHand and Tommy’s for Life appear to feed the consumers to the idea of wearing pre-owned denim, too. Giving a 68% rise to pre-owned jeans page views in the past three months.
Patchwork jeans appeal is growing at 200% in January and over the last three months. More precisely, pursuits for straight-leg patchwork jeans are up by 44% and 51% for wide-leg patchwork jeans.
The COVID-19 has also given rise to more creative types of patchwork denim too. The search term ‘bandana patchwork jeans’ is also trending in searches, with the most sought-after brands for this denim style being Jaded London, Etro, Amiri, and D&G.
Styles come and go in the jeans arena, but the vintage styles have been stuck there for like forever. Which was eminent in Lyst’s report. Vintage styles like split-hem jeans as one of the ‘hottest denim trends for spring,’ observing that Hollywood modernizers have been seen sporting them recently.
‘split-hem’ and ‘split-leg’ jeans searches grew by 40% over the past 3 months. The most prevalent styles include Reformation’s Peyton slit-hem boot-cut jeans and Paige’s black split-hem flare jeans.
Known for its simple, versatile and stylishness – the gray denim is hugely pulling the shoppers. In the last three months, gray denim searches have amplified by triple digits.
In spring, light washed denim maintains its universal appeal with an increase by 53% in searches. While popular ‘faded jeans’ searches grew by 49% with blue, gray and black the most sought-after colors.
In this new normal scenario, people’s fashion is becoming more and more casual, and the denim trend is displaying no signs of downfall on appealing consumers worldwide with the market still extremely resilient, as the report from London-based luxury search engine Lyst shows.
Source: Textile Today
Despite the immense potential in Bangladesh’s textile and backward linkage industry of readymade garment (RMG) business, new investments are coming poorly due to various hindrances in this capital-intensive industry. While surprisingly, the top 10 textile factories account for 24% of Bangladesh’s RMG business.
According to the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), 12 textile mills have been in the top 10 in the last three years.
President of BTMA, Mohammad Ali Khokon mentioned that it is not positive that one-fourth of the country’s business is owned by ten companies. However, due to various obstacles in this capital-intensive industry, new investments are coming less. But there is a good possibility in woven clothes and denim fabric.
Therefore, it is necessary to implement it with a long-term plan to bring new domestic and foreign investment in the textile sector to increase the export income and value addition of the readymade garment industry.
The total investment in the country’s textile sector is about BDT 70 thousand crores. The BTMA members include 450 spinning, 850 weaving and 170 dyeing and finishing factories. These domestic companies are supplying 80-85 percent of the yarn required for the knit garments industry and 35-40 percent of the fabrics for the woven garments.
Top 10 mills
Badsha Textile started its journey in 2003 by setting up a factory on 100 acres of land in Bhaluka, Mymensingh. Within a decade, Badshah Mia took over the top spot in yarn exports. Last year, Badsha Textiles exported about four and a half crore kg of yarn, valued at US 110.64 million.
Badsha Textile and other top ten companies account for 23.70 percent of the yarn export business. In all, about 57 crore kg of yarn worth Tk 23,639 crore was exported from the country last year. Of these, the top ten companies have exported yarn worth Tk 5,603 crore or $659.02 million.
Badsha Mia, Managing Director of Badsha Textiles, said that they have many factories in yarn production. However, there are opportunities to invest in the production of new yarn, but there are few weaknesses in weaving.
Badsha Textiles has been at the forefront of yarn exports for several years, but unfortunately, its exports have been declining for three consecutive years. In 2018, they exported yarn worth $144.08 million. Over the next two years, the company exported yarn worth $120 million and $116.04 million, respectively.
Square Textile is the second-largest exporter of yarn. Launched in 1997, the company exported 32.3 million kg of yarn worth $97.01 million last year. Square has done better last year than the previous two years. In the previous 2018 and 2019, Square Textile exported yarn worth $59.4 million and $86.5 million, respectively.
3rd place is occupied by MSA Spinning Limited. The company exported 2.56 million crore kg of yarn worth $60.94 million last year. In the previous year, their exports were $60.34 million US$.
Kamal Yarn, another part of the Badsha Group, is also in the top ten. It also ranks fourth in export prices. Last year, their yarn exports amounted to $68.08 million, before they exported about $94.07 million in 2019 and $84.07 million in 2018.
AA Quars Span was ranked in the top ten two years ago. Last year, they came in 5th with $66.07 million worth of yarn exports.
Pahartali Textile and Hosiery Mills is ranked sixth with export of $59 million. MSA Textiles is in 7th place with exports of $49.04 million. Besides, the 8th-ranked Maksons Spinning Mills exported $48.05 million, the 9th-ranked NRG Spinning Mills exported $46.07 million and the 10th-ranked Pakiza Cotton Spinning Mills 44.07 million dollars.
Challenges and long-term future plan
Thinking of the top industries, Badsha Mia, Managing Director of Badsha Textiles said, “Bangladesh has a lot of factories in yarn production. However, there are opportunities to invest in the production of new yarn. On the other hand, the BD RMG sector has weaknesses. That’s why we have to import a lot of woven clothes.”
“Long-term planning is needed in Bangladesh’s RMG sector. Our neighbor and rival India plans to set up seven large textile parks across the country in three years to strengthen its exports of RMG and textiles. Each textile village will be set up on more than 1,000 acres of land with world-class infrastructure.”
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has no long-term plan yet. A garment village is being set up on 500 acres of land at Bangabandhu Industrial City in Mirsarai, Chattogram. However, initially, only 37 institutions are going there. Apart from this, investment is being made in setting up only 5-7 factories in the textile sector.
In this regard, Mohammad Ali said, “Our textile ministry is being run like a government corporation.”
Khokon added, “It seems that there is no work other than visiting the government mills. In India, the Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles has held the same post for 30 years but the secretary of our country retired or went to another ministry as soon as he understood the textile sector. The Ministry of Textiles needs to be given special responsibility for the development of the textile sector.”
Referring to the data of 600 crore meters of cloth import per year, the BTMA President further said that gas is one of the raw materials after cotton in the textile mills. Currently, those who have gas lines are getting gas for factory expansion. Whereas, gas line is not given to new factories.
As a result, if the long-term plan for the textile sector is worked out, the textile sector will be stronger. It will also increase the export-oriented RMG business, he opined.
Source: Textile Today
Buying houses believe that Indian man-made fibre (MMF) garment exporters can aspire to grab $20 billion business in global MMF garment trade even as the domestic apparel industry works at resolving its limitations.
This was among the key takeaways from a virtual B2B meeting on ‘Improving MMF Fabric Options for Indian Apparel Exporters’ held between MMF garment exporters, buying houses and fabric suppliers organized by Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) on Tuesday.
“MMF globally is a $200 billion opportunity. If we come together as a country and create a supply chain that starts with design, product development, fabric development, and, of course, garmenting, we can target 10% of the $200 billion,” said Sanjay Shukla from Triburg Apparel, in a statement.
Other buying houses like Impulse also shared that there was an opportunity for MMF garments and that they have already identified major buyers and markets, and will make sure that MMF garments from India get more importance.
In a statement, AEPC chairman A Sakthivel, said that the MMF garment industry in India is poised for fast growth as the government has agreed to promote the sector. “The government has announced Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for MMF segment and creation of seven mega textile parks in the country. These measures will increase production and export of MMF garments from India,” he said, adding that the AEPC has created a separate cell to promote MMF garments, in the statement.
Speaking at the meeting attended and participated by about 100 players from the three key segments, MMF garment exporters said that while they have huge orders they found it difficult to get proper fabrics, and were forced to import these. They said that long delivery time and issues of quality consistency of MMF fabric were the main constraints in increasing apparel exports from India. The country has sufficient supply of MMF fibre and yarn, but is in short supply of quality fabric.
Replying to the concerns of the exporters in the meeting that held three sessions, fabric producers assured that they have ample machinery and technology to produce fabric of international standard, and that they are already supplying to the exporters in a big way. They said that the exporters need to ask for their needs and they will facilitate.
In a statement, Ajay Sardana from Birla Group of Companies said that his company, which is mainly into viscose staple fibre (VSF), will do everything possible to produce all types of viscose fabric, and that he has got a special team to take care of exporters’ needs.
“We have a complete supply chain team which helps to get the fabrics if it is not available. If anybody is facing any problem, they can contact our team and we will make sure that the right quality is available at the right time. If AEPC agrees, we can jointly create a fabric library for those fabrics that are not regularly available but are required in small lots. We are ready to invest,” he added in the statement.
Sudhir Sekhri, Chairman (Export Promotion), AEPC, remarked, “The government's PLI scheme and the mega parks will expand the MMF weaving and processing sector. Many units in China and South Korea are willing to move their machinery and equipment into India.”
Source: The Economic Times
The Central government is gearing up for elaborate celebrations to mark 75 years of India’s independence.
The Information & Broadcasting Ministry said that “Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav” would commence 75 weeks prior to Independence Day 2022 and would continue till Independence Day 2023.
“The event would be kicked off with a 25-day celebration, beginning March 12, 2021 (anniversary of launch of the Dandi March) with the launch of opening ceremony by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat and concluding on April 5, 2021 (conclusion of Dandi March),” the official statement added.
The I&B Ministry said it has drawn elaborate plans for coverage of various events of the celebrations.
Gujarat inaugural events
“Doordarshan News and News Services Division will provide live coverage to the inaugural events in Gujarat. Subsequently Regional News Units will provide coverage to the events organised at State-level across the country. Prime time discussions and special programmes will be carried by both the organisations on the Amrut Mahotsav and a national round-up will be prepared after the launch events,” the statement added.
The Bureau of Outreach Communication in partnership with state governments will organise exhibitions across the country on the theme of 75 years of Independence.
State-level exhibitions
“The main event will be inaugurated at Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad by PM Narendra Modi. Subsequently, a total of thirty seven State-level exhibitions will be inaugurated by eminent personalities in the afternoon. The exhibitions will feature major landmarks of India’s struggle for independence with focus on Dandi March, Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Patel and other leaders of the movement who made sacrifices for our country,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Publications Division will publish books on unsung heroes of freedom movement, women freedom fighters, battles and freedom fighters from North-East India, the Indian National Army train in the Red Fort, role of press in the freedom movement among others. These publications will be brought out over a period of two years, the statement added.
Source: The Hindu Business Line
The textile sector of Pakistan has been on an uphill since late summers last year all thanks to COVID-19. The blessing in disguise for the sector was backlogged orders as well as new orders diverted from other regional countries like India and Bangladesh amidst COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions.
Textile exports during 7MFY21 increased by 8.2 percent year on year against a growth of 5.6 percent in total exports during the period. Much of the growth in textile exports is attributable to the growth seen in the last five months and in the value-added segment particularly bedwear, home textile, and knitwear. Export volumes of knitwear stood 42 percent year-on-year higher, while export revenue generated from the segment was higher by 19 percent year-on-year in 7MFY21.
Though export volumes for bedwear were down by three percent, export revenue was 16 percent higher year-on-year primarily fetched from higher pricing benefit on value-added products. Towels witnessed 11 percent growth in volumes and 20 percent year-on-year growth in dollar exports. Readymade garments too posted a 5.5 percent growth despite 39 percent year-on-year decline in quantity signifying the benefit of higher prices and value additions.
This growth also corroborates with how the integrated textile companies have performed during 1HFY21. The sector’s growth in profitability has been in double digits - a staggering increase of over 30 percent year-on-year overall primarily due to increase in textile exports.
However, there is apprehension that the textile sector growth could slow down in the coming months – the signs of which include month-on-month decline in January 2021 export numbers after continuously increasing in the past five months. Exports in January were down 5.5 percent versus December 2020 with decline seen almost across all segments. Meanwhile, cotton cloth and yarn continue to be on a year-on-year as well as monthly decline, which apart from rising demand for value-added segment is also due to poor cotton yield. Furthermore, 4.5 percent year-on-year decrease in textile exports is being highlighted for February 2021.
While export orders are claimed to be sufficient to keep textile capacities operating at full up till June 2021, the growth in export hinges on how the orders are received once other regional players are all back to running full utilization – many are returning to that level gradually. Also, a key challenge for textile players these days is the unavailability of local yarn, which they fear could result in decrease in exports in the coming months.
It’s high time that the governemnt unveils its long-awaited textile policy. There is a need to take initiative and preserve the benefits accrued due to COVID-19. There is a need to focus on the low hanging fruits like apparel and the readymade garment sectors and move away from low value-added product to high value addition as MD Al-Karam Textile Mills, Fawad Anwar highlighted in recent interview with BR Research that garments is one segment which can easily grow very quickly because of low capex requirement and will allow every small and medium player to be part of it.
Source: The Business Recorder
Textile millers and garment manufacturers yesterday demanded that the government impose value-added tax (VAT) of Tk 3 on the sales of every kilogramme of all kinds of yarns, including that of manmade fibres, to facilitate product diversification.
Currently, the rate has been set by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on sales of yarn made of cotton fibres inside the country.
But millers who produce yarn from manmade fibres have to pay Tk 6 per kg as VAT on sales.
Similarly, millers who make fabrics from manmade fibres have to pay a 5 per cent VAT at the production level whereas those using cotton fibres need not.
Such kind of discrimination has been acting as a barrier in product diversification, discouraging manmade fibre importers.
Source: The Daily Star
Scientists have created flowing smart textiles that could potentially change the future of both displays and clothing, they say.
The newly created textile is like most other fabrics: it is flexible, breathable and durable, allowing it to be used for a variety of purposes. It can be washed and worn without worrying about it being destroyed or wearing out.
But it is also electronic and functions like a display. It can even be integrated with a touch-sensitive keyboard and power supply, both made of fabric, that essentially turn the fabric itself into a computer.
Researcers have been able to show how the fabric could show an interactive map, or used as a way of sending or receiving voice messages through a smartphone connected over Bluetooth.
It is made up of individual illuminated pieces that form out of conductive and glowing fibres that meet at contact points within the fabric.
Even when the textile went thorugh 1,000 cycles of bending, stretching and pressing, most of the units still remained as stable displays, the researchers say. Scientists also put the fabric through 100 cycles of washing an drying, and the fabric kept glowing as before.
Scientists have previously been able to make textiles that are able to perform a range of smart functions, such as sensing or supplying electricity.
But the new fabric represents a breakthrough because it is the first time a textile has been able to include a large and functioning display that both withstands being worn and can be easily integrated into clothing.
The piece of textile made by the researchers is 6 metres long and 25 centimetres wide, and the display is consistent right across as well as being able to last like traditional textiles, the researchers say.
The primary use that the researchers demonstrated the technology for was in healthcare, and allowing people who might otherwise find it difficult to communicate to do so through their clothes. They showed how the fabric could be connected to signals from the brain, which could be analysed to understand how a person is feeling and then communicated on the front of their clothes.
But it is not hard to imagine how the fabric could be used for more aesthetic purposes, too, with a range of companies already attempting to integrate technology into their clothing.
A paper describing the research, ‘Large-area display textiles integrated with functional systems’, is published in the journal Nature today.
Source: The Independent News
