In the International Year of Natural Fibres, declared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations, cotton is even more the focus of attention than in the past. For decades,
cotton was considered to be a kind of “bad” fiber, using too much water for irrigation, and,
moreover, too much pesticide. Those times are gone.

What Is Clean Cotton?

As Textile World has reported before, there is a totally new approach to cotton these days.
Sustainability is one of the key words. Customers around the world are putting more attention on
“clean cotton.” But what exactly is clean or sustainable cotton? As quoted in the last cotton
report from Bremen Cotton Exchange, sustainability as well as sustainable cotton production are
much-discussed terms.

However, there are still misunderstandings between sustainability and terms like “organic” or
“bio.” Back in 1987, the United Nations presented its definition of sustainability: “Sustainable
development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.” Therefore, a sustainable agricultural production
should have an ecological, economical and social balance that also considers the options of future
developments.”

Research Programs

Under the theme “Sustainable Cotton Production,” the International Cotton Advisory Committee
(ICAC) organized a Research Associates Program, which took place April 6-16. Cotton researchers
from Ivory Coast, Germany, Greece, Sudan, Turkey and Zambia participated. The focus of the program
was to learn the definition of sustainability in combination with practical input of the cotton
production sector.

Besides modules at the ICAC office in Washington, other important locations for the US cotton
industry – including visits to the United States Department of Agriculture and Cotton Council
International in Washington, and Cotton Incorporated in Cary, N.C. – completed the program.



Improved Seeds

The US agricultural sector also tries to improve its methods through intensive research, the
report says. The use of chemical inputs is being reduced further owing to the use of genetically
engineered seeds. Furthermore, the agricultural research has reached a stage of high-tech crop
management that can reduce pesticide use to a minimum. An exact diagnosis of the soil condition,
irrigation steered by satellite and, of course, specific seed breeding are factors already used in
the fields.



To Face Financial Problems

Obviously, the financial crisis hit the textile sector. This was mentioned at a panel
discussion of the ICAC Standing Committee in which the research associates could participate as
well. The meeting took place at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. The main
focus of the gathering was the panel discussion on “Demand for Cotton Products in the Economic
Crisis”. On the panel were representatives of textile-based sectors like fabric research or fabric
development as well as denim development and jeans manufacturing, but also the cotton research
sector. The main idea was that – at least in the US market – quality is of core importance. The end
consumer considers cotton a high-priced quality fiber despite the fact that man-made fiber can be
more expensive.

For more information on the important subject of sustainable cotton, please visit
www.textileworld.com.

May 12, 2009

Gastonia, N.C.-based spandex fiber manufacturer RadiciSpandex Corp., the North American business of
Italy-based RadiciGroup, has announced five winners of the 2009 “Stretch To The Future” Design
Scholarship Competition. The Radici competition – held with junior class design students at The
Fashion School of Kent State University, Kent, Ohio – was established 10 years ago to promote
apparel design using fabrics containing spandex. Judging was held at Kent’s Manhattan design
studio.

This year’s honorary judges were Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai, designers and founders of
Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Vena Cava, a contemporary womenswear label. Mayock and Buhai received Stretch
to the Future honoree awards from RadiciSpandex Marketing Manager Kim Hall. The Underfashion Club
sponsored the contest’s lingerie award for the second year.

This year’s winners were chosen from a field of 30 students. Fabrics used contained
RadiciSpandex’s RadElast® spandex. Alexandria Kakoules, who designed a one-piece swimsuit
constructed in fabrics from Darlington Fabrics, took the Grand Prize. Christine Barbas received the
Activewear Award for her three-piece design comprising a zip-up vest, long-sleeve top and leggings
using fabrics provided by Darlington, Gehring Textiles, Paul Gottlieb and Sextet Fabrics. Chelsea
Paskvan won the Swimwear Award for a swimsuit and cover-up designed using fabrics by Sextet.
Brittney Sampsel received the Lingerie Award for a bustier and panty constructed using Sextet and
Cyberknit fabrics. Jenna Weickert won the Eveningwear Award for her gown designed in black stretch
fabric provided from Darlington.

May 12, 2009

Klopman Vantage workwear fabric featuring Invista’s Cordura® technology has received the Company
Clothing Industry Award’s 2009 Fabric and Fibre Innovation Award.

Wichita, Kansas-based Invista – a manufacturer of global integrated fibers and polymers – and
England-based Klopman International – a manufacturer of polyester/cotton blended fabric – partnered
to develop a comfortable, durable, abrasion-resistant twill fabric that could be used for a
complete garment.
(See ”
Invista,
Klopman Unveil Klopman Vantage Fabric With Cordura Technology,” October 2008.) Klopman
Vantage with Cordura contains an intimate blend of 50-percent Invista™ T420 Nylon 6,6 fiber and
50-percent combed cotton. The fabric is used to make trousers, coveralls and jackets, and is
available in five colors. Klopman currently is working to expand the range of fabric weaves in the
Vantage line.

“We chose to recognize Klopman Vantage Fabric featuring Cordura brand technology because the
performance of the fabric represents a step-change in terms of durability and abrasion resistance
without compromising on comfort or aesthetic appeal,” said Jose Sanchez de Muniain, chairman of the
judging panel, former editor of Company Clothing and current editor of Fire & Rescue magazine
and Industrial Fire Journal. “These factors heavily influence the success of workwear garments. The
fabric offers something new to the industry – and that is what we look for in a winning fabric.”

May 12, 2009

On Monday, May 11, Rep. Sue Myrick, R., N.C., presented the US Department of Commerce (DOC)
Appreciation Award for Trade to The National Council of Textile Organizations’ (NCTO’s) North
Carolina office for its continuing efforts to support trade — specifically, export trade — within
the US textile industry. NCTO selected RadiciSpandex Corp., a Gastonia, N.C.-based spandex fiber
manufacturer and NCTO member, to accept the award because it is a leading exporter of US-made
goods. RadiciSpandex Marketing Manager Kim Hall represented the company at the award ceremony,
which was held at the Gaston County Citizen’s Resource Center in Dallas, N.C.

May 12, 2009

Effective June 1, Charlotte-based DAK Americas LLC — a producer of polyester staple fibers (PSFs),
polyethylene terephthalate resins and terephthalic acid monomers; and a subsidiary of Mexico-based
Alfa S.A.B. de C.V. — will implement a 3-cents-per-pound price increase on all of its PSF products,
in addition to the 4-cents-per-pound price increase that became effective May 1. The company cited
the escalating demand for paraxylene, a raw material feedstock used to manufacture PSFs, in
announcing the increase.

May 12, 2009

Effective June 1, or as contracts allow, Florham Park, N.J.-based BASF Corp. will implement a price
increase of 4 cents per dry pound for all Styrofan™ carboxylated styrene-butadiene polymers sold to
the carpet industry in the United States and Canada.



May 12, 2009

Dalton, Ga.-based J&J Industries — a manufacturer of carpet for commercial applications
including corporate interiors, healthcare, retail and educational facilities — has announced three
carpet backing systems in its J+J/Invision product line have been certified by Ann Arbor,
Mich.-based third-party certification organization NSF International to be compliant with the
NSF/ANSI Standard 140-2007 Sustainable Carpet Assessment standard.

J+J/Invision’s eKo® modular carpet backing system has received platinum certification; and
its PremierBac™ Plus and TitanBac® Plus broadloom carpet backing systems have received gold
certification. NSF/ANSI 140-2007 rates sustainable carpet on three performance levels — silver,
gold and platinum — using established criteria for sustainable manufacturing processes; reclamation
and end-of-life management; energy usage and efficiency; use of bio-based, recycled or
environmentally preferable materials; and efforts to minimize adverse impacts on public health, the
environment and the community.

Eko modular carpet backing contains less material, making it 33-percent lighter-weight than
traditional polyvinyl chloride backing; and it also is recyclable in a closed-loop system.
PremierBac Plus and TitanBac Plus broadloom carpet backings feature lifetime warranties for tuft
bind strength and delamination protection. TitanBac Plus also features a system that keeps moisture
from penetrating into the subfloor. Eko, PremierBac Plus and TitanBac Plus are all part of EnAct®,
J&J Industries’ company-wide focus on sustainability.

May 12, 2009