Higher expectations on the 2019 crop and unsettled trade disputes between the United States and China are leading to an unsettling situation in the cotton industry.Figure: Not all is rosy for the United States’ cotton sector, as the trade war is raging between the US and China.Planting has taken a momentum this week in the High Plains of Texas with good soil temperature in most parts. “Moisture is the dream come true,” said one seed company representative in a recent meeting at the Lubbock-based

‘Expert systems’ is a branch of artificial intelligence that makes extensive use of specialized knowledge to solve problems at the level of a human expert. The famous mathematical physicist Feigenbaum has defined an expert system as “an intelligent computer program that uses knowledge and inference procedures to solve problems that are difficult enough to require significant human expertise for their solutions.”An expert is a person who has expertise in a certain area; the expert has the knowled

The board of directors of Chico's Fas has unanimouslyrejected the unsolicited proposal received from Sycamore Partners to acquire the company for $3.50 per share in cash. After reviewing the proposal, the board determined that Sycamore's proposal substantially undervalues Chico's Fas and is not in the best interests of Chico's Fas shareholders.Pic: Choco Fas'sThis follows the board's review and rejection of another recent proposal dated April 14, 2019 from Sycamore to acq

Tokyo-based DataGrid has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system that can generate ‘high quality’ renderings of people who don’t exist, with face, hair, body, etc using neural networking, a field of computing partially inspired by the biological system of the same name. Brands can personally construct the perfect model without casting real people.Pic: DataGridAdvertising and apparel e-commerce sites will use the technology for virtual modelling, the company claims.Unrealistic beauty ide

Authorities of 20 ready-made garment (RMG) factories have closed their units following unable to pay wages to workers under the new wage structure.Figure: Many factories cannot cope with wage hike, low prices given by buyers, and poor placements.According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (), about 10,685 workers lost their jobs due to the closure. Workers of eight factories received their lawful benefits, while the process is underway to clear the dues and other

FESPA is expanding its textile portfolio with the launch ofSportswear Pro, a new exhibition dedicated exclusively to sportswear manufacturing. The first event will run alongside the flagshipFESPA Global Print Expo 2020, from 24 to 27 March at IFEMA, Madrid, Spain.With a focus on the latest technologies in on-demand and customised sportswear production, Sportswear Pro will bring together suppliers of solutions for three key areas of sportswear manufacture: design (CAD/CAM and 3D body scanning); p

The Lenzing Group, world market leader in specialty fibres made from renewable material wood, is strengthening its position in sustainability in the textile industry. Lenzing will use blockchain technology to support its Tencel branded fibre business ensuring complete transparency and traceability for brands and consumers of its fibers in finished garment.Pic: Lenzing AGAfter evaluating various initiatives Lenzing decided to join the platform of the Hong Kong based technology company TextileGene

Bed Bath & Beyond, an omni-channel retailer for home and heartfelt life events, has appointed Mary Winston, a seasoned public company executive who recently joined Bed Bath & Beyond board of directors, as interim chief executive officer (CEO) with immediate effect. Steven Temares has stepped down as CEO and resigned as a member of Bed Bath & Beyond board.Pic: Bed Bath & BeyondWinston has significant governance expertise across a broad range of industries having served on large pu

The operating margins of Indianyarn spinners may shrink by 100-150 basis points (bps) in fiscal 2019-20 owing to lower cotton output, rising cotton prices and moderating demand, reversing the recovery seen the previous fiscal, according to rating agency CRISIL. That, however, is unlikely to materially affect the credit profiles of spinners, it said.The unlikelihood results from the continuation of three major spurs of fiscal 2019—modest capital expenditure intensity, prudent working capital mana

Exporters of goods and services and suppliers to units in special economic zones (SEZs) in India are reportedly expected to get goods and services tax (GST) refunds automatically from June with plans for faceless scrutiny of refunds and faster claim settlement. Automatic refund is available now only for exporters who have paid integrated goods and services tax (IGST).Under GST, every person making a claim of refund on account of ‘zero-rated’ supplies has two options. Either he canwithout payment