Innovations in fibres, textiles, apparel and machinery, November-December 2006

30 pages, published in Issue 126, November-December 2006   Report price: Euro 395.00; US$ 520.00

Innovations are enabling firms to differentiate their products and become more competitive. Also new, environmentally sustainable materials are being used to cut fossil fuel consumption. A Japanese company has developed a method for converting bamboo sheaths into textile fibre while other researchers believe that textile fabrics can be made from chicken feathers and rice straw. Elsewhere, a cotton/polyester blend has been patented which can be dyed with indigo. Faytex has developed a new elastic moisture management yarn while Propex Fabrics has devised a method for improving the fuzz resistance of tufted carpets.

Malden Mills has a new eco-friendly Polartec fabric, Lonati has developed a new openwork knitted fabric, Japanese company Wacoal has a novel fabric for use in the manufacture of foundation garments, and a scarf has been created which changes its colour to suit a chosen outfit. Unitika, meanwhile, has launched an apron which is made from biodegradable maize fibre. An upper body garment has been developed to stimulate muscles and reduce muscular atrophy while a garment resembling a wetsuit has been found to reduce maternal deaths during childbirth. Nike has patented garments with special vented areas and researcher Frank Rudman has a ventilated garment for cooling the body by natural convection.

Georgia Technical Research Corporation has a sensor which transmits information from a patient during recovery while another researcher has come up with a dimmer switch which employs a touch-sensitive light control within a conductive textile. Procter and Gamble has designed a new disposable wipe for hard surfaces while an improved garment for pets contains waste more effectively. Singing Rock, based Czech Republic, has developed a new lightweight mountaineering rope while Viking has developed a textile-based life raft which overcomes the disadvantages of natural rubber.

Two US researchers have developed a novel approach to reducing odours in carpets while two chemists in Germany have patented coated textiles with self-cleaning properties. Milliken has developed a polyamine/isocyanate finish to impart anti-static properties, Sanitized uses zinc pyrithion to reduce dust mites in domestic textiles, and a more effective way of controlling malaria has been developed by treating clothing rather than bed nets. In the coloration area, a university has developed a process for dyeing which almost entirely eliminates the need for water. Unilever, meanwhile, has designed a laundry treatment which helps to maintain and enhance the whiteness of polyester garments.

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• Moisture management fabrics, (1st Quarter 2007)
• Innovations in fibres, technical textiles, apparel and machinery, 4th quarter 2006, (4th quarter 2006)
• Surfwear and surf-inspired clothing, (3rd Quarter 2006)
• Editorial: Nanotextiles--Reality or Buzzword?, (3rd quarter 2006)
• UV protective fibres and fabrics: function and fashion for a health-conscious age, (2nd Quarter 2004)

Six times a year, Textile Outlook International provides up to 200 pages of expert comment and analysis. A subscription provides an overview of the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. It is essential reading for senior executives in the fibre, textile and apparel industries ? and for anyone who is not involved in the industry, but needs to quickly gain an understanding of the key issues.
Reports in Textile Outlook International include:
	country profiles ? providing a comprehensive guide to the textile and clothing industries in a range of countries and regions. The reports include an economic and political profile together with a comprehensive overview of the main issues, plus an outlook for the future.
	company profiles ? giving you the opportunity to learn from strategies employed by others. Companies profiled recently include retailers, manufacturers, innovators and sourcing companies involved in textiles and apparel as well as smaller companies which illustrate the opportunities for firms which are interested in selected sourcing locations.
	trends in world textile and apparel trade and production ? taking into account current issues facing the industry ? such as global fibre prices; competition from China and other low cost countries; the elimination of quotas and imposition of selective new ones; relocation of production operations; the impact of economic factors affecting trade; international trade agreements; trade promotion agreements (TPAs); and much more.
	trends in EU and US imports of textiles and clothing ? providing comprehensive statistical data and analysis of the top ten supplying countries to the EU and US markets. These reports are updated each year and contain value and volume data as well as average prices and analyses of trends for up to 15 product categories.
	innovations, technological developments, business development opportunities, individual sector analysis and political implications which affect players in the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. Some of the topics which have been covered in recent reports include: new innovations in the textile and clothing industry, such as environmentally friendly textiles, plant based fibres, and developments in textile colorants; innovations in textile machinery; and overviews of the European swimwear, hosiery and lingerie markets.
So whether you are involved in fibres, textiles or clothing ? in manufacturing, spinning, weaving, knitting, sewing, import/export, retailing ? or if you are in education or consultancy or investment or finance, a subscription to Textile Outlook International will tell you what you need to know about the key trends in the industry.
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