43 of 2018

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Newsletter No. 43                                                                              9 November 2018

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Ghana forms textile import management body

The Government of Ghana recently constituted a textile import management body to oversee textile imports, according to trade and industry minister Alan Kyerematen. Vetting of designs, management of quantities will be among its the responsibilities of the body and it will also act as a single sourcing agency for all imports of wax prints, he said.

It will be mandatory for all importers to place their orders through this agency, the minister said at a town hall meeting with textile workers, who were sensitised on the implementation of the Textile Industry Reforms Programme.

A Textiles Anti-piracy Taskforce has been formed to monitor markets and ensure due diligence, media reports in Ghana quoted the minister as saying.

The steps are intended to protect the Ghanaian industry from fake imports, he clarified.

Some policies in the pipeline to enhance the competitiveness of the local textiles industry include introduction of tax stamp for locally-manufactured and genuinely-imported textiles and starting a designated entry corridor

Kenya’s Kitui county opens new apparel factory

Governor of Kenya’s Kitui county Charity Ngilu recently inaugurated the Kitui County Textile Centre (KICOTEC), the first ever garment factory by a county government that is expected to employ over 600 people and boost skill development of the youth. The factory will reduce garment costs, raise revenues and help the service industry in the county grow, he said.

People in the county now can buy locally-produced garments instead of those manufactured in Nairobi, Thika and Kiambu, she said.

The step will boost small and medium enterprises in the county, she added. F2F

Revolutionary Clean Dye Recycrom on Fast Track to Scaling

Biella (IT) – In 2016, the Italian textile chemical company Officina+39 invented Recycrom – color powders made from 100% textile waste. Almost immediately, Recycrom was being rated as one of the biggest innovations in dyestuffs in the last 50 years. In 2017, the clean dye won the Keyhouse Hightex Award at Munich Fabric Start 2017, and was applied to the first of two capsule collections by Italian high-street retailer OVS. As interest in this start-up technology increases exponentially, Recycrom is now set for truly mass volumes.

Turning waste into colors

Recycrom is a full range of colored powders made by recycling textile fibers from used clothing and manufacturing waste. Through an innovative and patented process, these fibers are upcycled into a remarkably uniform and solid powder that can be used as a pigment dye for fabrics and garments made of cotton, wool, nylon or any natural and most artificial fibers and blends. Recycrom can also be applied using various methods: exhaustion dyeing, printing and spray – with coating now under development.

The colors come out with a washed-out and natural look – making it very on-trend. Brands can also collaborate with the inventors Officina+39 to make custom dyes from their own scraps and textile waste.

Upcycling meets scaling

After winning the Keyhouse Hightex Award at Munich Fabric Start 2017, Recycrom had the attention of the industry. Officina+39 began collaborating with Italian high-street retailer OVS, which has so far resulted in two capsule collections. Currently the company is talking to many other interested brands and retailers for a whole range of collaborations.

The remarkable story behind Recycrom’s development is featured in the newly released Book of Denim, Vol 2 (Amsterdam Publishing Int, 2018). Officina+39’s CEO Andrea Venier will also be a featured speaker, along with other supply chain disrupters, during the denim industry innovations summit Kingpins Transformers in Amsterdam on 23 October 2018.

Roberto Venier & Andre Venier

Changing the game

Based in the traditional high-end textiles town of Biella, one of the most important textile regions in Italy, the textile chemical company was founded by Andrea’s father, Roberto Venier, in 1992. “The long-term goal for Officina+39’s R&D center was always to invent a game-changer – one that could impact the whole textiles industry,” says Andrea. “And in the end, we found our inspiration very close to home.”

With its long tradition in textiles, Biella also has a long tradition in recycling. “One day I was visiting an old friend, Simone Gaslini, who has a spinning unit for regenerated yarn. He was showing me how he selected and sorted scraps and I suddenly noticed some powder coming from his machines,” recalls Andrea. “I took some and discovered that I could use this powder as a pigment – but a very poor one due to all the inconsistencies.”

Hence, the Officina+39 R&D team set out to make a perfectly uniform solid powder – a huge challenge due to the famously stretchy nature of textiles. Eighteen months later, they came up with an eight-step process involving various machines that could transform fibers into powder. Result: Recycrom.

About Officina+39

Officina+39 is a textile chemical company based in Biella, Italy. As a ‘workshop’, the company speedily develops and executes new and sustainable ideas & technologies for dyeing, effects and finishing in the garment industry – with a particular focus on denim. The company works with partners worldwide to find new innovative ways to make textiles a cleaner and greener industry.

Woolworths is pulling David Jones brand from stores in SA

Woolworths is pulling David Jones brand from stores in SA The range will be rebranded under Woolworths’ own Classic Collection range in 2019.

David Jones Classic and Premium Collections will be repositioned as Woolworths Classic Collection

Did you know……..

Anna Wintour’s first cover of Vogue was so different to the previous editions that the editors thought she had made a mistake.

Genoan sailors were known colloquially as “Genes” and wore cotton pants, which is where we get the word “jeans” from.

The word “gymnos” means “naked” in Greek, which gives us our word “gym” or “gymnasium,” due to the fact that Ancient Greeks used to exercise naked

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