WASHINGTON — October 3, 2024 — National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas sent a letter to President Joseph Biden today asking his administration to intervene in the East and Gulf Coast ports strike that is exacerbating the economic distress facing the U.S. textile industry, which has been hit hard by Hurricane Helene.
“We respectfully ask that you urge the parties to reach a reasonable, fair, and expeditious conclusion given your role as a key negotiator and intermediary. The strike at East Coast and Gulf ports threatens not only our domestic competitiveness but also that of the broader Western Hemisphere textile and apparel co-production chain, which supports 2 million workers and $40 billion in annual two-way trade,” the letter reads.
Seventy percent of U.S. textile exports are shipped to the industry’s Western Hemisphere free trade agreement partners, who in turn produce finished apparel and home textile products for the U.S. market.
“The strike comes at a particularly difficult time when American textile manufacturers are reeling from the destruction of Hurricane Helene. Several companies have been hard hit as a result of this tragedy—some with severe structural damage and others with idled plants” the letter continues. “The industry’s main concern right now is prioritizing the safety and well-being of its employees and their families. This strike couldn’t come at a worse time as the industry has seen the closure of 21 plants in the last 18 months. We appreciate your leadership in helping mitigate supply chain challenges, as well as your work in support of working families and your work on behalf of the U.S. textile industry. We ask for your urgent assistance in helping to end these widespread supply chain disruptions so that our industry can have a fighting chance to regain its footing amid other serious and ongoing challenges.”
Posted: October 2, 2024
Source: National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)
MIDLAND, Mich. — October 2, 2024 — Dow and GoodBed, the premier mattress information resource for consumers, have collaborated to develop a benchmark lab testing program for the mattress industry. This powerful partnership combines GoodBed’s unique bedding expertise and proprietary mattress evaluation framework, Mattress DNA™, with the robust lab testing capabilities of Dow’s ComfortScience™ Studio.
One of the key challenges in understanding mattress performance is the lack of standardized testing to describe comfort in a quantifiable way. This results in consumers being unaware of how to properly shop for mattresses that best suit their needs, manufacturers being unfamiliar with how to make the best mattress or properly differentiate their products from competitors, and raw material suppliers being uninformed of how to develop innovative and effective materials.
Comfort is a fusion of perceptions that can be easy to experience, but difficult to describe and measure. Through this partnership, Dow and GoodBed are filling this knowledge gap and strengthening their shared commitment to evaluating and communicating the holistic experience of a given mattress by developing a new industry standard of scientific mattress tests.
“Dow is a well-established global leader in materials science and testing. Over the last three years, we’ve worked hand-in-hand to develop scientific tests that can accurately measure the attributes we know to be most important in determining the performance and suitability of a given mattress for different sleepers,” said Michael Magnuson, founder and CEO at GoodBed. “Together, we’re excited by the unprecedented quality of mattress information that we can now provide, and our ability to give consumers confidence in choosing the best possible mattress.”
“Our ComfortScience™ Studio was established to study the different properties of bedding products and their contribution to comfort,” said Kevin Meyer, Associate Technical Service & Development director at Dow. “By joining forces with GoodBed, the most knowledgeable and trustworthy source of mattress information in the market today, we’re transforming the mattress industry with a first-of-its-kind standard of testing. This will offer numerous benefits for key audiences, from consumers all the way to raw material suppliers.”
A portion of the initial phase of the collaborative research from Dow and GoodBed is detailed in their first published paper, which was selected for presentation at this year’s Center for Polyurethanes (CPI) Polyurethanes Technical Conference. The paper highlights key factors influencing mattress microclimates, such as temperature, humidity, and airflow, as well as showcases quantitative testing methods developed through the partnership. Additional test results in areas such as durability, spinal alignment, and pressure relief are planned for future publication.
With unparalleled expertise in polyurethane chemistry, Dow is at the forefront of R&D and product development in the bedding market and beyond. By configuring three dimensions of comfort — ergonomics, microclimate and sensation — differently, Dow creates tailored solutions to deliver the most comfortable experience possible.
ATLANTA — September 30, 2024 — While state officials and agencies continue working around the clock with local and federal partners to support Georgians recovering from Hurricane Helene, Governor Brian Kemp, Commissioner Tyler Harper and Colonel Billy Hitchens also issued the following statement to remind relevant parties that the Georgia Hemp Farming Act, which places public safety restrictions on hemp products manufactured and sold in Georgia, will become effective tomorrow on October 1.
The General Assembly passed the Georgia Hemp Farming Act in March, and the majority of the bill will go into effect on October 1. The law imposes age restrictions on the possession of consumable hemp products and requires consumable hemp retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers to obtain a license to operate in Georgia, among other testing and regulatory requirements.
All residents and visitors of Georgia, along with all Georgia law enforcement officials, are reminded that as of October 1, it is a crime to sell consumable hemp products to persons under the age of 21. It is also illegal to purchase or possess consumable hemp products if you are under the age of 21. These new restrictions will be strongly enforced throughout the state to protect the health and safety of young Georgians.
“Here in Georgia, the safety of our residents is top priority, especially that of our children and young people,” said Governor Kemp. “Consumable hemp products are dangerous to minors and unregulated hemp products are a danger to all Georgians. Knowing these dangers, I want consumers to be aware of these new laws and know that all law enforcement officers in the State will be enforcing them starting October 1st. I’m grateful to the General Assembly for passing this legislation that puts in place necessary guardrails to protect Georgia’s children and communities as this industry evolves and want to thank the Department of Agriculture and all public safety agencies across Georgia for working hard to implement this new framework effectively.”
“Our team at the Georgia Department of Agriculture was proud to work with Governor Kemp, the General Assembly, and other Law Enforcement Agencies from across the state to protect Georgia consumers and children by establishing much-needed guardrails for consumable hemp products in our state,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “The laws regarding under 21 sales and the sale of raw flower products are very straightforward and will be strictly enforced by our Law Enforcement and Hemp Program Divisions as well as other state and local law enforcement starting October 1st.”
“Through our traffic enforcement across Georgia, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is committed to applying the new law set by the General Assembly and strongly supported by Governor Kemp regarding limitations placed on consumable hemp products,” said Colonel William W. Hitchens, III, DPS Commissioner. “We take the safety of our residents and visitors seriously and will carry out our duties which will include enforcing the restrictions set by the Georgia Hemp Farming Act.”
The new law implements necessary public safety measures that are a result of Congress legalizing hemp production in the 2018 Farm Bill. Hemp is a cannabis plant that naturally contains small amounts of the psychoactive cannabinoid delta-9 THC, along with other natural cannabinoids that may be used for medicinal purposes. In recent years, consumable hemp products like oils, gummies, and beverages have been sold throughout the state with little oversight, no standard for quality control, and few requirements for labeling products.
State law enforcement agencies encourage all citizens and public safety officers to review these new restrictions, as well as the rules proposed by Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper that provide comprehensive standards for hemp production and product testing.
A copy of the Georgia Hemp Farming Act can be found here. A link to the proposed Department of Agriculture rules regarding hemp can be found here.
The Georgia Hemp Farming Act is administered separately from and does not impact Georgia’s medical cannabis program. For those patients with qualifying medical conditions, information on Georgia’s Low-THC Oil registry can be found here.
Posted: October 2, 2024
Source: Georgia Office of the Governor — Governor Brian P. Kemp
ZÜRICH, Switzerland — October 2, 2024 — Established in 1975, Busana Apparel Group is a renowned leader in the fashion industry, dedicated to delivering superior clothing options across multiple countries while infusing cutting-edge innovation into every aspect of fashion. Its versatile product range includes woven dress and sport shirts, women’s tops and dresses, bottoms, denim, outerwear, and elevated knits — all crafted with the utmost precision.
With a strong presence in Indonesia and Ethiopia, operating 24 manufacturing facilities, and partnerships with Bangladesh, Jordan, India, Nicaragua, and Honduras, Busana’s fashion journey is further enriched through washing, embroidery, and printing collaborations. Employing over 33,500 people, their production capacity is a testament to excellence, with 70 million units produced annually, making Busana a formidable force in the global market.
Dr. Christian Schindler
Christian Schindler, director general of ITMF, stated: “ITMF is very pleased to welcome Busana Apparel as a corporate member. Busana Apparel is a producer of high-quality apparel products serving brands and retailers around the world. As an apparel producer it must source good quality fabrics from reliable and competitive suppliers. ITMF offers its members a unique network of producers of fibers, yarns, fabrics, etc. from around the world as well as machinery and instrument manufacturers. It is mutually advantageous if companies from the entire textile value chain are coming together at ITMF to meet and discuss issues related to the entire value chain. Busana Apparel has a lot of expertise to offer but can also benefit from other members’ experience and best practices.”
Maniwanen Marimoetoe, chairman of the Busana Apparel Group, pointed out: “By having joined ITMF the Busana Apparel will now have access to a lot of valuable reports, statistics, and surveys. This by itself is already worthwhile becoming a part of this platform. Furthermore, an important aspect is the fact that so many other important companies from along the entire value chain are affiliated with ITMF. This will allow Busana Apparel more valuable interaction with colleagues from around the world. In today’s interwoven world it is important to be well connected in the industry and to have easy access to both information and industry colleagues around the world.”
Posted: October 2, 2024
Source: The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF)
CINCINNATI — October 1, 2024 — Michelman’s Steve Bassetti, director of Global Marketing for Fibers and Composites, will lead a session entitled Fiber Sizing – Insights at CompositesWorld’s Carbon Fiber 2024. Steve’s presentation will take place on October 9 from 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM EST and will cover the fundamentals of fiber sizing, including what it is, how it works, why it is essential, and what benefits it provides.
Steve Bassetti, Michelman Director of Global Marketing
He will follow these fundamental topics with an overview of current R&D efforts taking place in the industry that are helping create new products for emerging and growth applications. Steve will discuss the use of chopped and continuous carbon fiber for thermoplastics and will break these two applications down by polymer type, including polypropylene, polyamides, polycarbonates/PC-ABS, and high-performance engineering thermoplastics.
Steve will also discuss the emerging use of recycled carbon fiber. “The recycled fiber community is becoming more prominent, with companies focusing on recovering and reusing carbon fiber from products such as decommissioned wind turbine blades, discarded laptop housings, and production waste,” Bassetti commented. “Fiber sizing plays a critical role in helping create value-added products from these recycled materials.”
The Carbon Fiber conference will be held October 8-10, 2024, at the Charleston Marriott in Charleston, S.C.
MÖNCHENGLADBACH, Germany — October 2, 2024 — Monforts recently celebrated its 140th anniversary at a special event for staff and their families at its headquarters in Mönchengladbach, Germany. Building on a very rich history since its foundation by August Monforts in 1884, the company remains 100-percent dedicated to the development of technologies that will ensure the future success of its textile industry customers.
Under the motto, “140 Years of Performance, Innovation and Partners,” Monforts is looking forward to further celebrating this milestone with its representatives and customers at the forthcoming ITMA Asia + CITME exhibition in Shanghai from October 14-18, in Hall 5 at stand C09.
The first Monforts machines were mechanical napping units for raising the surfaces of cotton fabrics.
“We have moved over the many decades through mechanical and steam-powered technologies to the first mass production lines, electronic drives, special machine construction and highly modular machines,” observed Monforts Managing Director Gunnar Meyer. “Now we are truly in the digital age, and we are committed to investing in the digitalization of our technology, with concepts which assure an overall quality control and energy monitoring.”
International outlook
The first Monforts machines were mechanical napping units for raising the surfaces of cotton fabrics, providing softness and warmth and adding value. By 1893, Monforts 24-roller napping machines were drawing appreciative crowds at the World Fair in Chicago — establishing international trade networks was paramount to the company from the outset.
In 1897, August Monforts established an iron foundry equipped with hydraulic casting machines, by which time the company employed 1,200 people. This was followed by the introduction of semi-automatic manufacturing tools — an area in which Monforts achieved a number of firsts, such as the single-spindle lathe which became a big export hit in the late 1930s due to its unique and unmatched precision.
Overseen by successive four generations of the Monforts family, the company’s range of textile machines has been significantly expanded based on decades of accumulated know-how and a dominant position in fabric finishing technologies has been established.
Since 2013, Monforts has been a member of the CHTC Fong’s Group, today one of the world’s largest textile machinery manufacturers.
The company’s range of textile machines has been significantly expanded based on decades of accumulated know-how and a dominant position in fabric finishing technologies has been established.
Industry standard
Monforts Montex tenters — for processes such as drying, stretching, heat-setting and coating — are now the industry standard for the fabric finishing industry, not only in the sectors of denim and home textiles, but also in the field of technical textiles, with numerous patents registered over the course of the decades for premium quality and a number of advantages in terms of production throughput and especially in energy efficiency and savings. The other key technologies in the Monforts range include DynAir relaxation dryers, Thermex continuous dyeing ranges, Monfortex compressive shrinking ranges and Montex®Coat and coaTTex coating units.
ATC
Since its opening in 2013, the 2.5 million euro Monforts Advanced Technology Centre (ATC) in Mönchengladbach has proved an invaluable resource to customers for achieving new standards in fabric finishing.
Over an area of 1,200 square meters, it houses two full finishing lines, engineered to accommodate an extremely diverse range of processes, in addition to a Thermex range for the continuous dyeing of denim and other woven fabrics, a full color kitchen and a number of lab-scale systems for smaller batch trials.
“The ATC allows our customers to test their own textiles and technical fabrics on Monforts dyeing and finishing machines under fully confidential, real production conditions,” said Monforts Technologist Saskia Kuhlen. “Using the results from these trials, we are also able to make recommendations for improving many fabric finishes.”
Montex Austria
For over 40 years, Monforts finishing machines have been manufactured at Montex Maschinenfabrik based in St. Stefan, Austria.
“From the outset, we have specialized in all aspects of machine production, including high-precision sheet metal working, laser cutting and welding, and the pre-assembly of machines and components, along with a well-organized quality management and spare parts service,” said Montex plant manager Gert Hanzl. “We work very closely with the Monforts research and development team in Mönchengladbach to take the latest new ideas through testing and prototyping, in readiness for future series production. We are fully exploiting the many new possibilities in the continuous development of design and manufacturing methods.”
While there is standardization in series-produced Monforts machines, Montex Maschinenfabrik is also increasingly called upon to construct bespoke machines with unique designs, according to the special needs of customers in technical textile or special textiles.
Made to last
Today, Monforts Montex stenters and coating units are the industry standard for the fabric finishing industry.
“Our machines are built to last and known for their robustness and long service life,” Meyer concluded. “Textile companies making major capital investments in new manufacturing lines rely on durability from our production ranges, and it’s for this reason that there are currently an estimated 2,000 Monforts machines in operation worldwide — some of which were first installed over 30 years ago.
“It would not have been possible for Monforts to have thrived for 140 years without successfully and rapidly responding to industry changes and this continues today. I would like to thank all of our dedicated staff in Germany and Austria and our many colleagues and partners around the world for their continuous contributions to ensuring our further longevity.”
GLOBAL — October 2, 2024 — Is a circular fashion wardrobe a reality in 2024? At World Circular Textiles Day (WCTD), the organization tracking and emboldening circular textiles progress, we challenged ourselves to imagine that our whole wardrobe had been lost in a house fire. Our old clothes, now a pile of smouldering ashes, had been quite a careful mix of vintage, second hand, long-life classics and our fair share of fashionable mistakes. Luckily, we had insurance. So now we need new clothes. What could we buy now, to make a whole new circular wardrobe?
Using a six-point assessment criteria, WCTD made a longlist of 30 circular textile clothing products available on the shop floor today. We then tasked 30 international experts — including Adriana Galijasevic, founder & CEO Cocircular Lab, Amsterdam; Hannah Carter, ReSkinned, London; Dr. Hanna de la Motte, Tree to Textile, RISE, Sweden; Hannah Lane, Redress, Hong Kong; Hélene Smits, Stating the Obvious, Amsterdam; Dr. Serena Bonomi, Circular Economy Innovation Consultant, Berlin; Tamara Cincik, Fashion Roundtable & Bath Spa Uni; and Lewis Perkins, Apparel Impact Institute, San Francisco — to create a final shortlist of the Top 10, which will be revealed at our annual event on October 8.
Event Details
Facilitator: Becky Earley, co-founder of World Circular Textiles Day 2050, UAL Chair of Circular Design Futures, Design School, Chelsea
Panel 1: Circularity Perspectives
Global experts will discuss the Top 10 product shortlist, bringing unique perspectives to this year’s circular products and discussing how their work contributes to the ecosystem.
Shelly Gottschamer, New York | Accelerating Circularity
Tricia Carey, New York | Catalyzing Circularity
Jai Prakash, Usha Yarns, Chandigarh, India | Manufacturing Circularity
Ina Budde, Circle Fashion, Berlin, Germany | Verifying Circularity
Kate Goldsworthy, University of the Arts London Innovation Lab, UK | Quantifying Circularity
Panel 2: Product Deep Dive
Introducing the Tree Jumper — what it is made from; how it was made; what were the challenges; what are the opportunities ahead for their companies and the industry as a whole.
Anna Pehrsson, Engineer and R&D Partnership Lead, Texaid, Zug, Switzerland
Robin Gnehm, Co-Founder & CPO at NIKIN AG, Lenzburg, Aargau, Switzerland
NewsRound: 2024
WCTD’s annual round up of breakthrough highlights from around the world and what others are doing to celebrate WCTD this year.
Join Us Online
Get your ticket via the Eventbrite booking form here. Zoom details will be sent by email 24 hours before the event.
MONTREAL — October 1, 2024 — The global textile industry is undergoing significant digital transformation, driven by increasingly technologically savvy clients. Recognizing the need to adapt to these new demands, The Association of Textile Manufacturers of Ecuador (AITE), sought innovative solutions to assist their members in digitizing their product portfolio and enhancing operational efficiency. Tengiva, the technological provider in this initiative, has been instrumental in this transition, offering the necessary tools for AITE members to thrive in a digital world.
This strategic partnership began last year when Camilo Ontaneda Pinto, president of AITE met Tengiva’s team and its co-founder and CCO, Carlos Agudelo, at ITMA 2023. Ontaneda quickly realized that Tengiva, a technology company providing cutting-edge solutions for the textile supply chain, was the ideal partner to revive a major association project that had been put on hold for over three years due to the global pandemic.
Tengiva’s experts managed the onboarding and setup of AITE’s members’ product data into their new system, digitizing the products of all AITE members and integrating them seamlessly into their current operations, optimizing internal operations.
It took us three years to find the right solution, and Tengiva’s all-encompassing service has been a game changer for supporting our clients through their digital transformation,” said Camilo F. Ontaneda Pinto, president, AITE. “It’s not just their technology that makes the difference — it’s the exceptional service that comes with it which ensures a personalized onboarding for our members.”
PARSIPPANY, N.J. — October 1, 2024 — Sun Chemical will increase prices across its solvent-based white ink product line in the United States and Canada, effective November 1, 2024.
The price increase has been caused by rising key raw material costs coupled with material supply tightness, escalating global freight expenses and inflation.
“The current global market situation necessitates that Sun Chemical pass along a portion of these price increases to offset these challenges,” said Chad Steiner, president of North America Packaging and Graphics, Sun Chemical. “Sun Chemical will continue to monitor dynamic supply realities closely and give every effort to mitigate continued escalations.”
Sun Chemical will communicate specific increases directly with its customers. Customers with questions can reach out to their local Sun Chemical sales representative.
DUSSELDORF, Germany — October 1, 2024 — C&A, one of Europe’s leading fashion retailers, is proud to introduce its latest innovation in more sustainable retail design: floors made with recycled denim fabric surplus, a pioneering effort to repurpose textile remnants for its new store locations. This innovative flooring solution debuted September 19, with the reopening of the C&A flagship store on Mariahilfer Strasse, one of the largest and most famous shopping streets in Vienna. The next store to feature the denim floor will be in the Parquesur shopping center in Leganés, Madrid, in December.
The flooring material is created using surplus denim material from C&A’s C&A’s FIT (Factory for Innovation in Textiles) in Mönchengladbach, with plans to incorporate denim collected from customers in the future. For each square meter of flooring, approximately one kilogram of denim off-cuts is recycled, contributing to a reduction in unused textiles while creating a striking design feature in stores.
European Innovation and Responsibly Sourced Materials
The denim floor was developed by the Swiss family enterprise LICO, utilizing denim fabric off-cuts, cork underlays from the bottling industry, and wood-based boards. To process the denim fibers into flooring, natural products, such as vegetable fats and natural rubber, are used. The flooring, specifically designed to withstand high-traffic retail environments, is being tested as an exclusive pilot project by C&A.
Produced in Europe by LICO, the flooring materials focus on more responsible sourcing, with 80 percent of the components made from recycled materials. The energy required for production comes from renewable sources, including LICO’s photovoltaic plant and local hydroelectric power plants.
The denim floor has been awarded the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and the Blue Angel ecolabel by the German federal government. It also won the Green Collection Award 2023.
Betty Kieß, chief communications officer, C&A Europe, said: “We are proud to pilot and test this innovative floor concept, which allows us to repurpose denim fabric off-cuts, while enhancing the in-store experience. This initiative reflects our deep-rooted commitment to reducing waste and driving forward our sustainability efforts, as well as our pioneering spirit. We continue to seek innovative ways to improve our store environments and make a positive impact.”
About the denim factory from C&A
The C&A FIT (Factory for Innovation in Textiles) is a pioneering facility located in Mönchengladbach, Germany, focused on reshaping industry standards for denim production through cutting-edge technology and more responsible practices. Established in 2021, the FIT factory produces around 1,000 pairs of jeans daily, utilizing advanced automation, digitalization, and electricity coming from renewable sources. The factory significantly reduces water consumption, using only 10-15 liters per pair of jeans compared to the industry average of 70 liters. Partnering with leading academic institutions and industry innovators, C&A’s FIT factory aims to set new benchmarks in textile production, bringing European-made, premium denim to customers in a more sustainable and efficient way.
Introducing ‘You Are Walking on Denim’
To raise awareness of the recycled denim flooring and engage customers, C&A launches the ‘You Are Walking on Denim’ campaign. Through creative video content and a presence on social media, the campaign highlights the innovative flooring concept. In-store, customers can scan QR codes embedded in the floor to learn more about the sustainable material they are walking on.
WASHINGTON — October 3, 2024 — National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas sent a letter to President Joseph Biden today asking his administration to intervene in the East and Gulf Coast ports strike that is exacerbating the economic distress facing the U.S. textile industry, which has been hit hard by Hurricane Helene.
