Huntsman Textile Effects, which is a leading global provider of high-quality dyes, chemicals and digital inks, has launched HIGH IQ® Lasting Black eco – thereby extending its industry-leading HIGH IQ® brand assurance programme.The new colour-retention programme, which is based on Huntsman’s award-winning AVITERA® SE Black reactive dye, will help mills, brands and retailers meet global demand for eco-friendly black shades that retain their intense colour even after repeated washing.Black shades h

The government’s directive to states and union territories not to impose lockdown outside containment zones without approval comes as a silver lining for the retail industry that has been battling local restrictions, according to the Retailers Association of India (RAI), which said retailers are depending a lot on the upcoming festive season for business recovery.Pic: ShutterstockWeekend and partial lockdowns were being implemented at the local levels earlier despite orders from the home ministr

The novel coronavirus pandemic has aggravated issues related to competitiveness in the Indonesian textile industry, as people are buying fewer clothes due to falling incomes. The textile and garment industry contracted by 14.23 per cent year on year (YoY) in the second quarter of this year as domestic and global demand slowed, compared to an annualised growth rate of 20.71 percent in the corresponding period in 2019, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS).Pic: ShutterstockThe textile industry c

The US Trade Representative (USTR) recently sought a list of retailers that cancelled work orders with Bangladeshi firms due to the coronavirus pandemic. The US government is expected to urge the retailers to accept their shipments of work orders cancelled earlier. About 95 per cent of all exports from Bangladesh to the United States are garments.Pic: PR NewswireA senior USTR official expressed his organisation's willingness to carry out this initiative during a virtual meeting of the Trade

Indonesia’s textile industry is yet to be fully prepared to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical workers treating COVID-19 patients, according to Indonesian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s deputy chairman for trade Benny Soetrisno, who recently said the domestic textile industry's focus remains increasingly unwavering on apparel products, while the potential for non-apparel textile products is immense.Pic: Shutterstock"For non-apparel textile products, it is still

As global operations in the fashion, apparel and textile sector—badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic—slowly resume, 15 major companies, brands and organisations recently published an open letter stressing the need for the sector to build back better and more sustainably from this crisis and to ensure that the pandemic helps speed up the sector’s transformation.Pic: WWF-UKLaunched during 2020’s virtual World Water Week, the letter’s signatories include multinationals like H&M, Tchibo, Burberry,

Flipkart recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Assam government to promote the state’s art, craft and handloom sectors by bringing them into the e-commerce fold. The partnership with the Assam industries and commerce department under the Flipkart Samarth scheme will enable national market access for Assam’s artisans, weavers, and craftsmen, allowing them to showcase their hallmark products on Flipkart’s marketplace.Pic: ShutterstockBoth sides will focus on creating avenues

Two African-American millennials have set up a new company - Kassa Trade Organisation, or Kassa Trade - in the apparel manufacturing sector. The company works directly with factories in South America, helping them minimise costs and provide lower prices to retailers and designers who need inventory. Retailers can refill their orders via text message.Pic: ShutterstockKassa Trade was founded in early 2020 with the goal of bringing apparel manufacturing into the 21st century. Kassa Trade works dire

The depreciation of price slowed down at the Australian wool auctions this week assisted by far less volume put up for sale. The eastern market indicator (EMI) fell by 1.7 per cent to 929ac cln/kg and the USD EMI lost more by falling to 669usc cln/kg, a 2.5 per cent decline. However, clearance rate lifted and 89 per cent of the offering was sold.Pic: Shutterstock"Prices spent the week trying to establish a firmer footing of trade where local and overseas buyers could gain some semblance of

STOCKHOLM - Swedish sustainable fashion startup A Good Company, which recycles its clothing through a closed loop process, has launched a Kickstart appeal to scale up production.The B-Corp company, which makes clothing with QR tracking codes so consumers can see where their products are in its 'Good Loop' circular system, has already raised more than a quarter of its US$45,230 target in just a few days.A Good Company has designed a range of t-shirts, long sleeved tops, underwear and sock