Monday, April 19, 2010

Textile Producers Need to Work Hard

The Indian textile sector requires reforming and strengthening itself to compete with the international players, who have more pleas that could grab hold of a market share, which actually belong to local brands.

The emergence of the textile industry has been witnessed steady. The hurricane of globalization has helped businesses to pull down the trade blockades, as well as the fast developing low-cost nations have changed the scenario of industries. The trend for shifting production facilities to low-costing nations is increasing day-by-day, and the previous major players such as US, UK, Germany, Italy and France are observing downfall in their textile industries. Cut-throat competition and demand compelled significant players in developed nations like US and Europe to establish production facilities in developing nations that have cheap labor costs and good skills.

The outsourcing product assortment involved largely indispensable articles with low-added value and lesser margins. However, in these nations, it was a complex procedure to make fashion products with high added value in terms of creative ideas, designing and know-how, specifically due to a complicated textile chain.

The rapid growth of the local economic scenario has elevated labor costing, and this has led to competitiveness with other developing and low cost nations. The first outcome of the higher cost was that the manufacturing facilities were moved to the cheaper nations.

Mass manufacturing is normally considered to cheap price and lower value addition. The movement of manufacturing units to these low-cost countries caters to the usual motive of buyers, who are looking for competitive prices and of manufacturers from developing countries who are concerned about larger volumes without big complications.

Cut throat competition, huge loss of mass production, and declining profit margins have led to trauma for the textile and apparel industries of the earlier major manufacturers. For them the only way-out was to march into new markets and making new products with added-value with more profit margins. Actually, to manufacture added-value assortment needs select raw materials, enhanced know-how, expert labor, technology and best quality control while the process, and usually lesser volumes. This might be a leading factor why added-value product assortments with complex manufacturing processes and lesser volumes are still made in the western countries.

source; articlebase

Antimicrobial Products in Textile Industry

As far as health-related professions are concerned, protection from pathogens is a growing concern, and textiles with antimicrobial properties are becoming more desirable. Fungi or similar other insects are responsible for lethal infections and allergic reactions. Despite the production of antimicrobial textile products; three inherent problems remain:

* Demonstration of efficacy,
* Claiming efficacy in a manner that does not invite legal challenge and,
* Maintaining efficacy over the lifetime of the textile and through generations of microbial challenges.

These problems might be restated as how to test and present the results of the testing, how to make the effect durable, and how to avoid microbial resistance to the treatment. These problems combine so that in spite of the obvious commercial and advertising potential, effective, durable, inexpensive, and safe biocidal textiles are not widely available in the market. It is of note that one promising compound which has been appearing commercially in a variety of products has just encountered its first resistant organism
Antimicrobial Technologies in Textiles:

Whether the performance or technical fabric is ultimately used outdoors, indoors, or on the body challenges such as microbial control, moisture management, odor control, elasticity, and even softness are prevalent. These challenges offer new opportunities to wisely seek technologies to address those needs whether you are looking for a single or combination of features.

This discussion will address the considerations important in choosing the right finishes for your customers performance needs, i.e. durability, ease of application, safety, and ultimate end-use performance requirements. Consumers needs drive the product value chain and features of value make the margin difference for marketplace success.

The inherent properties of the textile fibres provide room for the growth of micro-organisms. Besides, the structure of the substrates and the chemical processes may induce the growth of microbes. Humid and warm environment still aggravate the problem. Infestation by microbes cause cross infection by pathogens and development odour where the fabric is worn next to skin. In addition, the staining and loss of the performance properties of textile substrates are the results of microbial attack. Basically, with a view to protect the wearer and the textile substrate itself antimicrobial finish is applied to textile materials.

source; articlebase

Woven Textiles Are All the Rage

In years previous, it was only the fall and winter months where you could find woven textiles. Jackets and coats for men and women, as well as suits and blankets were what we could count on finding in the stores. Woven fabrics ranged from man-made fibers such as polyesters and acrylics, to natural fabrics such as wools, cottons and silks. The fabric patterns were always the same - hounds tooth, tweed, argyle and tartans were the most available choices. Styles were updated yearly, however always safe and somewhat reserved. Most woven fabrics were made from large manufacturing machines, and then sold in large bolts for everyone. Imported hand twilled woven fabrics usually came in the form of blankets, runners, rugs, and other household textiles.

These days, everything has changed. Yes, there still exist the woven textiles, patterns and styles of the past. However, there are many more options than ever before. Hand woven textiles from North American weavers, as well as international weavers, seem to have crossed the great design cue, and have created a new set of rules in weaving. New man-made fabrics and textiles as well as old world natural fibers have been introduced. A multitude of different fabrics such as rayon, jerseys, hemps and rare wools have jump started the creative juices of the 21st century craftsperson. Weavers, designers and stylists are always searching for something new, to introduce to the textiles and fashion market. This seems to be their time.

The styles of the 21st century reflect the fashions of the 20th century with woven twilled bolero jackets, wide leg tweed pants, ¾ length arm lengths, long gloves, fitted coats, and tunics. Now, all with a new twist in fabrics weaves and colors. Some fashions have changed as well as stayed the same. There are still beautiful textiles from South America, Eastern Asia and Africa. However, the color choices, and fabrics have evolved to include other influences, and rules are no longer set in stone. Globalization also affects culture and styles and is now having an influence in creating something new and unique in woven textiles. That is the new world in woven textiles, not everything old should be new again. Creating something unique and irreproducible is not an easy feat, but the challenge seems to be expanding and evolving, to the betterment of all of us.

source: articlebase

Textile Exhibitions

textile exhibitions are good to show forth the current textile products and new ones to be launched. Many companies get to know each other through such meets and may even develop into good partnerships. Now consider this. Textile Industry is one of the biggest, oldest and the most branched industries by numbers. In today's world, most of the Asian, Middle Eastern and European countries are in competition to get the most benefit out of the business. Being a highly and a globally competitive industry, textile companies need exposure in order to capture potential markets, as well as other industries which require competition.

Textile industry is one of the oldest industries, because of the need of protection of human body. However, the introduction of artificial fibers goes back to the beginning of 20th Century, around 1920's. The demand for exposure in the market has been so high for especially the last decade that organizing an exhibition itself has become a sector. If we come to the history of textile exhibition, it goes again back to the early 20th century, with only a few businessmen in Paris Exhibition. Today, however, organizing an exhibition is a sector itself. To give a rough idea of how big the exhibition industry is, ITME Exhibition for Textile Machinery which took place in Singapore in 2004, had around 100000 visitors and the area contained of 50000 square feet.

There are other benefits of joining a textile exhibition other than exploring markets. By joining an exhibition a company introduces itself and its products to multinational industrialist, meet with competitors in the same sector, have an opportunity to discuss about the problems of the sector and by joining the panels industrialists know more about the technologies, the innovations in their sector.

At the exhibitions usually a textile company has its own booth where it shows the product line, there is a few number of representatives of the company to introduce their company, answer questions as well as taking orders.

source: articlebase

Role of Hrd in Textile Sector

The advent of technological advancement in industrial set-ups has altered the working conditions and requirements on the part of employees and employers. Also the changes in government policies have also been taken place since the last decade. Different work patterns like night shift, part time work, overtime, etc is being experienced. The situation is same in textile sector also.

Now-a-days the recruitment of the workforce has become a specialized field. The main motive is skill development as technical jobs are becoming more complex and demand more professional skill. As at managerial and marketing level, skills and knowledge demand have increased in importance. So before imparting training with respect to textile or garment industry the training program should be so designed that it covers the skills that will be required in long term and short term basis.

Many countries of the world have understood the importance of human resource development, thus encourages the business organizations to take active part in designing and execution. The changing face of business organizations in national and international markets demands a new breed of skills that are non-technical in nature.

Generally, when some new skills are to be taught to upgrade the ongoing work profile, on the job training and special course classes could be arranged to upgrade the employee's skills and knowledge. But after a certain level, the recruitment of higher posts requiring specialized skills are done through direct recruitment method. If the employers wish to extent the contribution of laborers in growth in textile industry, then the laborers should be given technical as well as non-technical training to enhance their skills and knowledge base.

source: articlebase

Textile Industry

The Textile Industry is one of the earliest to come into existence in India, after agriculture and one of the most important segment of the Indian economy.

Textile Industry satisfies the most basic needs of people and holds importance, maintaining sustained growth for improving quality of life.

It has a unique position as a self-reliant industry, from the production of raw materials to the delivery of finished products, with substantial value-addition at each stage of processing; it is a major contribution to the country's economy

The production of textiles is an ancient craft, whose speed and scale of production has been altered almost beyond recognition by industrialization and the introduction of modern manufacturing techniques. However, there is little difference between ancient and modern plain weave, twill or satin.

Many textiles have been in use for millennia, while others are recent inventions. The range of materials has increased in the last century with the introduction of artificial fibers in the 1920s and 1930s.

Textiles are used in wide variety of applications. The most common of which are used for clothing and containers such as bags and baskets Today, we can see that textiles and woven fabrics are used worldwide in a wide variety of applications such as the apparel industry, household textiles and furnishings, medical items, industrial uses and technical products. Fabric weaving consumes about 28 million tons of fibres per annum, equivalent to over half of the global textile market.

Textiles used for industrial purposes, and chosen for characteristics other than their appearance, are commonly referred to as technical textiles.

The global textile market stands high with the fabric weaving consumption reaching about 28 million tons of fibre every year. The figure is equivalent to over half of the global textile market. It has been predicted that global production of woven products will grow by 25% between 2002 and 2010, reaching more than 35 million tons.

Textiles production increased handsomely by 8% in 2005-06 (measured in terms of Index of Industrial Production, Central Statistics Organization), over and above the 9% growth clocked in 2004-05. Such back to back high growth was last recorded in 1995-96 and 1996-97 when the increases were in double digits. The end of quota regime, opened doors for global trade.

source: articlebase

Global Textile Industry

Global Textile Industry

With the invention of the spinning and weaving machines in Britain, the world textile industry witnessed a remarkable development, culminating in the Industrial Revolution that would once again change old customs of manufacturing. The high production of wool, cotton and silk, registered all over the world for the past few years, brought its undeniable contributed to the development of economy all over the world.


From the UK, where it was formerly launched, the textile industry and textile production was soon after that passed over to Europe and also North America, in the 19th century, the manufacturing processed was mechanized in these areas. As time passed, other countries especially those of Asia, gradually began investing more in this sector, especially in the industrialization of their economies and nevertheless textile industry, which gradually started to gain more and more ground. So the textile industry also moved to Japan, India, Hong Kong and China, which eventually found their way to being leading textile manufacturers, especially due to the cheap labor force.

The incentive came soon after, with the Industrial Revolution from the 18th century and so the textile industry witnessed a tremendous growth, and the production of clothing was to be changed to mainstream industry. However, the 20th century textile industry acquired a rather bad reputation, since now the workforce was mainly that of immigrants who worked in illegal "sweat shops", and paid less than minimum wages.



Gobalisation, which would later take over, would help outsource the whole manufacturing process, particularly in areas where trade with textile was common. Leaders in this business changed their focus to the whiter collars, and it was that that the industry of fashion design emerged together with fashion modeling, which also started to flourish and t become in our days a million-dollar industry.


source: articlebase