The Indian Technical Textile Association (ITTA) has announced that the 3rd Defence-ITTA Joint Exhibition and Conference on Technical Textiles will be held on 22nd and 23rd May 2017

Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana has announced that it has developed country’s first genetically-modified (Bt) varieties of cotton — the seeds of which could be reused by farmers, resulting in saving the repeated cost they have to bear every season.

Surgical masks, gloves, footwear, and other apparel is seeing an increase in demand within healthcare facilities for the protection of patients, as well as doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers.

Gokaldas Exports will set up four apparel manufacturing units in Andhra Pradesh. The units, which are likely to be ready in four years, are expected to entail an investment of Rs 200 crore.

The Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani unveiled a Mudra portal recently that will enable banks to deposit financial assistance to handloom weavers in electronic mode and credit the loan directly to their accounts.

India’s apparel exports to the US rose 4.3 per cent y-o-y in January 2017. Export volumes increased 8.6 per cent but export realisation fell four per cent.

India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has maintained a stable outlook for cotton textiles for FY18. However, the agency has revised its cotton outlook to stable for FY18 from negative for FY17.

Polyester is now one of the most commonly used fibres in the global textile and apparel industry, accounting for more than half of the overall fibre used worldwide.

US apparel and footwear industry operating profits are expected to be three to five per cent this year. Conditions are expected to remain challenging in the first six months and will begin to improve in the second half.