The Indian finance and textile ministries have refused to allow the refund of input tax credit (ITC) to the power loom weaving sector. This was conveyed recently to Synthetic and Rayon Textile Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC) chairman Narain Agarwal by finance minister Piyush Goyal and textile minister Smriti Irani in separate meetings in New Delhi. Both the ministers categorically refused to allow ITC refund to the power loom weaving sector and stated that the accumulation of ITC in othe

The US Home Fashion Products Association (HFPA) has rebutted the argument for tariffs on Chinese textiles imports. The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) gave testimony to the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) in favour of such tariffs on May 17. The US Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI) and Narrow Fabrics Institute (NFI) also back the tariffs. As the shift of home textiles manufacturing to Asia was highly disruptive, several companies did not survive the transit

Australian technology company Nanollose has developed a sustainable fabric from Nullarbor, a fiber created using natural coconut by-products. This fabric is the first of its kind marking a breakthrough for an industry that is urgently seeking sustainable alternatives to rayon and cotton, both of which cause significant environmental issues. Nullarbor is named from Latin phrase nullus arbor, which means “no trees” (much like the Nullarbor Plain near the Great Australian Bight). There is an i

Esprit, the Hong-Kong based fashion brand, has committed to raise sustainable viscose production as outlined by Changing Markets Foundation roadmap. Esprit will work with suppliers and viscose manufacturers to move to a closed loop production system by 2023-25. With this, Esprit commits to improve the manufacturing process of viscose and modal fibers. Esprit to increase more sustainable viscose productionFigure: To minimize the effects of harmful chemicals in the manufacturing processes,

In the face of inflation of wages, energy and food and commodities, automation and investment in technology has become the biggest opportunity and need of the apparel industry considering how labour-intense the industry is, said Sanjay Mahtani, owner, Must Garment Corporation. The firm has benefitted by investing in RFID production technology and nanotech. “We have invested heavily in RFID production technology and nanotech and foam dyeing for our wet processing. Some of these efforts have

Effective July 1, 2018, the Government of China will reduce average tariff rate for clothing, shoes and hats, kitchenware, and sports and fitness supplies from 15.9 per cent to 7.1 per cent. Indicating further cut in future, Premier Li Keqiang said at an executive meeting of the State Council, “China’s door will only open wider and wider.” The progress that China has made over the past 40 years shows that continuous opening-up has boosted reform and development, which must be unswervingly i

Esprit, an international fashion brand, has committed to increase sustainable viscose production as outlined by Changing Markets Foundation roadmap. Esprit will work with suppliers and viscose manufacturers to move to a closed loop production system by 2023-25. With this, Esprit commits to improve the manufacturing process of viscose and modal fibres. Following the roadmap outlined by the Changing Markets Foundation, Esprit will take all steps to promote and improve the sustainable producti

Brand: Tommy Hilfiger, owned by PVH Corporation, mainly focuses on designing and marketing apparel, footwear and accessories for men, women and kids.Company: Tommy Hilfiger is one of the world’s premium designer lifestyle groups. Brand ambassadors: American model Hailey Baldwin, and Winnie Harlow, Canadian fashion model and activist are the new global brand ambassadors for Fall 2018 Tommy Icons capsule collection for women. Product profile: Tommy Hilfiger’s focus is on designing and ma

Union textile minister Smriti Irani and Union finance minister Piyush Goyal recently called a meeting with the heads of Export Promotion Councils (EPCH) to formulate the strategies for enhancing export in each sector which comes under the ministry of textiles and to resolve the problems and challenges commonly faced by the handicrafts sector. O P Prahladka, chairman, EPCH gave an overview of the sector at the meeting and informed the ministers about the strategies being adopted by the EPCH

The government of Tamil Nadu has provided exemption from generation of e-way bill for jobwork and services relating to yarn, fabrics and garments. Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA) president Raja M Shanmugham has sent a letter to the state chief minister thanking him for clear understanding of Tiruppur knitwear business and conceding the request of TEA. Tiruppur knitwear cluster has grown up to a level where it is producing ₹42,000 crore worth of garments annually because of the cr