texfash

Most environmental issues in the cotton industry are being discussed and addressed, but the question remains: is enough being done? Award-winning innovation and sustainability leader, Michela Puddu, touches on a diverse range of subjects, from the cotton production and recycling landscape to its huge and fragmented supply chain, the role of standards & certifications, traceability, impact of global climate change, water challenges, livelihoods and more.

Border posts remain clogged, orders and payments are stuck, and amidst all there’s also a lot of talk that the political upheaval in neighbouring Bangladesh could see shifting of orders to India. But, till government tweaks some policies, Indian apparel manufacturers making hay from the Bangla crisis appears wishful thinking.

Why does a designer have to lie? Why don’t we give the master craftsperson his/her due? Master embroiderer, craft exponent and revivalist Asif Sheikh answers these questions and more on the whats and whys that plague the handcrafted handloom industry.

More than 11 million tonnes of textile waste end up in US landfills yearly. The problem is getting worse, but the apparel industry has the power to be part of the solution. It is with this thought and the urgent need to rein in the fast fashion pollution that Congresswoman Chellie Pingree launched the Congressional Slow Fashion Caucus to create climate-smart policies to reduce, repair, rewear, and recycle textiles.  She outlines her plans in this exclusive to texfash.

Japan-based fastening company YKK is focused on growth with a sharp eye on its target set for carbon neutrality by 2050. A company spokesperson engages with texfash to highlight the steps it is taking towards this goal.

Ever wondered what happens to your hair once you go for your six-monthly chop-chop at the salon? If Human Material Loop, a Dutch start-up, has its way, all of this could well be mopped up to give you an all-new ethical, traceable and high-performing textile fibre, prototypes of which have been developed and the immediate plan is to go commercial. Founder-CEO Zsofia Kollar in conversation with texfash.

It is not just an irony, but an outright travesty that this needs to be emphasised: the second-hand clothing sector does indeed generate jobs in a region where millions live below the International Poverty Line of $2.15 a day. A study that looked at SHC in Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia explored a facet that anti-waste activists unfortunately choose to ignore.

A consulting firm in 2020 that transitioned into a membership-based supplier-driven and brand support organisation, Sourcery has since shifted its goal post, evolving into a digital trading platform that empowers supply chain stakeholders to secure cotton fibre with access to assurance and impact data. texfash.com talks to Co-Founder Imran Asghar to learn how their innovative sourcing solution is aiding deeper collaboration between growers and fashion brands.

Greenwashing cannot just be wished away and when audits and certifications cause fatigue or come under a cloud, an industry has cause to worry. How can the TIC Council that promotes best practices in safety, quality, health, ethics and sustainability across industries check all of this? texfash.com talks to Director-General Hanane Taidi to understand the role the Council is expected to play as Europe chalks up a slew of legislations to help battle the global climate crises.

Recognised as a flagship start-up in French green innovation, the Carbios innovation enables recycling of all types of PET waste, including complex and soiled plastic, while producing recycled and recyclable PET products without compromising on quality. The Carbios ambition is to become a leading r-PET player by 2035. texfash.com talks to its CEO, Emmanuel Ladent, to know more.