Sustainable

The Switzerland based International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has published its State of Trade Report for the 4th Quarter of 2011. The organisation reports that estimates for Global Yarn and Fabric Output in Q1/2012 are negative but that the outlook for Q2/2012 is positive.

The long awaited relaunch of the leading free content website for the knitting and hosiery industries is here at last. Innovation in Textiles’ relaunched sister site Knitting Industry (www.knittingindustry.com ) went on Wednesday afternoon offering readers even greater benefits than before.

After a sharp reduction in global shipments of new textile machinery in 2008 and 2009, as a result of the global financial and economic crisis in 2008/2009, deliveries of new textile machinery surged in 2010 and even stronger in 2011, in most cases to new record highs.

The Italian textile machinery industry is getting ready for the ITMA ASIA + CITME exhibition which will be held in Shanghai from 12-16 June where its focus will be on technologically sustainable solutions.

Naturally Advanced Technologies (NAT) which produces and markets CRAiLAR, a natural fibre made from flax and other bast fibres, has entered a joint development agreement with leading cellulosic manmade fibres producer Lenzing. The agreement calls for the companies to evaluate the blending of CRAiLAR Flax fibres with Tencel (Lyocell) and Lenzing Modal.

Dr. Sam Moore of Hohenstein Institute America will present interim findings from a long term study of the effects of nano silver particles on the environment. The presentation will be made at the joint conference of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) and the Southern Textile Research Conference (STRC) to be held May 20-22, 2012 at Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort in Pawley’s Island, SC.

In this third part of a three part feature on sustainability Sabine Anton-Katzenbach discusses how retailers, producers and importers have begun campaigning for working conditions that are socially sustainable, within the scope of their corporate social responsibility (CSR).

The mass manufacturing of textiles and apparel will return to developed regions like Europe and the USA, but probably not in any recognisable shape from the past. The only question is what timeframe this will take.

According to Germany’s VDMA Textile Machinery Association, the forthcoming ITMA ASIA + CITME in Shanghai is an excellent platform for German technology suppliers who will play a key role in the technological upgrading of the Chinese textiles industry.

Alexium International Group has announced today it has received a letter of intent from Duro Textiles to license Alexium’s novel flame retardant (FR) treatment under an exclusive commercial agreement. The scope of the license would cover Duro’s nylon product areas for military, government agencies, upholstery, and industrial workwear markets in North America.