Global fitness brand Reebok has unveiled the first product from its “Cotton + Corn” sustainable products initiative, announced last year. The programme aims to produce footwear with “things that grow” to create sustainable products. The sneaker, the NPC UK Cotton + Corn, is constructed from an upper made of 100 per cent cotton, and a corn-based sole. The shoe has insoles that are derived from castor bean oil and comes in packaging that is 100 per cent recycled. “Most athletic footwear is

A shortage of skilled labour in Pakistan’s textile sector warrants the establishment of a Sector Skill Council, according to National Vocational and Technical Training Commission executive director Zulfiqar A Cheema. The council, to be become operational by August end, will strengthen the industry and boost economic progress, he said recently in Islamabad. Associations representing the textile industry in the country have welcomed the establishment of the council, according to Pakistani me

India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has revised down its economic growth forecast for fiscal 2018-19 to 7.2 per cent from the earlier 7.4 per cent. The key reason is the headwinds emanating from the elevated global crude oil prices and the government decision to fix the minimum support prices of all kharif crops at 1.5 times the production cost. Ind-Ra believes the other headwinds lurking on the horizon are the rising trade protectionism, the depreciating rupee and no visible signs of the

The JSC Zhongtai Dangara Sin Silu Textile factory in Tajikistan’s Dangara district plans to raise its volume of processed cotton fibre, according to the country’s ministry of industry and new technologies. After the enterprise enters its second stage in 2018 second half, the volume will increase by 17,000 tonnes. Its capacity now is 15,000 tonnes. Construction of the complex that can process up to 52,000 tonnes of cotton fibre annually and produce 150 million meters of textile was launched

US e-tailer Amazon has invested an additional $400 million (2,700 crore) in two of its Indian subsidiaries, according to business intelligence platform Paper.vc. This takes Amazon’s total investment in its Indian subsidiaries to $3.6 billion (25,241 crore), Paper.vc founder Vivek Durai told a news agency. Amazon has been infusing funds into its various Indian entities. These investments are on building warehouses, strengthening logistics and increasing product assortment. As per docu

Over 81 garment, fabric and leather companies from 9 countries and regions are slated to participate in the Philippine Garment Industry & Fabric Expo 2018, which will be held at the SMX Convention Centre in Manila from August 23-26. The event will highlight leather goods and machinery along with leather goods design as well as various tools and software. The expo is being endorsed by the Philippine Board of Investment (BOI) and the Confederation of Wearables Exporters of the Philippine

The latest Economic Outlook Survey by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) forecasts India’s annual median gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 7.4 per cent for 2018-19, with a minimum and maximum range of 7.1 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively. The projection is in line with the estimates put out by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) this month. The survey was conducted in July this year covering economists representing industry, banking and financial servi

The living cost of readymade garment (RMG) workers in Bangladesh marked a 17 per cent annual rise from Tk 10,353 in 2013 to Tk 19,267 in 2018, according to think tank Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). CPD research director Khondaker G Moazzem said this while presenting a study at a programme on minimum wages and livelihood conditions of RMG workers in Dhaka. The study, titled ‘Addressing the livelihood challenges of RMG workers: exploring scope within the structure of minimum wages and bey

Azerbaijan's Gilan Textile Park has raised its exports by 40 per cent compared to 2017, according to park CEO Mehriban Akhundova, who is also the chairwoman of the Azerbaijani Textile Producers and Exporters Association. Russia continues to remain the biggest importer of the park’s products, followed by Turkey, Ukraine and Belarus, she said. The textile park’s products include bathrobes and towels, bed linen, blankets and pillows made of 100 per cent cotton. Plans are under way to ex

Odd Molly, leading Swedish global lifestyle brand, plans to expand in North America and extend its omni-channel retail business worldwide. To expand its concept outside of Europe, Odd Molly has recruited a new leadership team. Together with CEO Jennie Högstedt Björk, Odd Molly has recruited Sara Fernström as Co-CEO to develop a global omni-channel business. Fernstrom has a long history of successful brand development and global business expansions of omni-channel businesses for consumer-re