#Raw Materials

2024-03-14

Annual Member Meeting in India highlights future opportunities

(c) 2024 Better Cotton - Location: New Delhi, India, 2024. Description: Audience at Better Cotton India Annual Member Meeting.

Better Cotton hosted its latest India Annual Member Meeting at the end of February – welcoming around 150 Members and stakeholders from across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.

Held in conjunction with global textile expo Bharat Tex, in New Delhi, the meeting gave retailers and brands, civil society organisations, suppliers and manufacturers, spinners, fabric mills and cotton traders the opportunity to connect with Better Cotton, learn about trends and projects guiding the organisation, and network with peers.

A keynote speech from Mithileshwar Thakur, Secretary General of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) – part of India’s Ministry of Textiles – set the scene with a focus on the government’s ambitions of advancing India’s cotton sustainability credentials, and its work to increase exports into the global fashion and textile markets.

Member companies and organisations – including IKEA and the Welspun Group – also spoke, highlighting success stories which included the latter’s WelKrishi Programme and its goal to boost uptake of more sustainable agricultural practices among cotton farmers.

A series of sessions led by Better Cotton staff followed, with updates on:

Better Cotton’s 2030 Strategy, the India programme and supply chain engagement, by Jyoti Narain Kapoor, Director of Better Cotton’s India Programme
The organisation’s traceability solution, by Manish Gupta, Supply Chain Manager of Better Cotton’s India Programme
Better Cotton’s India Impact Report 2014-2023 results, our approach to data analysis and positive changes on cotton farms, by Vidyun Rathore, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Coordinator
The changing legislative landscape and how it’s set to impact members, by Eva Benavidez Clayton, Senior Director of Membership & Supply Chain
Better Cotton’s ambitions to improve farmer remuneration via new financing mechanisms, by Lars van Doremalen, Director of Impact

ICAC announces 84th Plenary Meeting in Egypt with focus on cotton industry resilience

Registration is now open for the International Cotton Advisory Committee’s 84th Plenary Meeting, which will take place from 24 to 26 March 2027 in Alexandria, Egypt. The conference will address climate resilience, technological developments, sustainability and competitiveness across the global cotton and textile value chain.

New Cotton Review examines competitiveness, market risk, and opportunities

From moving record volumes of Brazilian cotton to market, to managing price volatility, unlocking Ethiopia’s production potential, and strengthening African textile trade, the latest edition of Cotton: Review of the World Situation examines some of the most consequential opportunities and challenges facing the global cotton industry.

Kraig Labs ships first commercial spider silk yarn

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“the Company”, “Kraig Labs”, or “Kraig’s”), a world leader in spider silk technology*, today announced the shipment of its first commercial order of recombinant spider silk yarn. The custom-engineered yarn was produced to fulfill a purchase commitment from a globally recognized performance sports brand and is slated for development into a first-of-its-kind performance textile.

ALLIED expands down traceability with lot-level carbon footprint data

ALLIED Feather + Down has expanded its TrackMyDown traceability platform to include validated cradle-to-gate carbon footprint data linked to individual down lots. The initiative is designed to provide brands and consumers with more detailed environmental information on the materials used in finished products and could also support future data requirements associated with Digital Product Passports.

KARL MAYER expands TM WEFT capabilities for fashion fabrics at ITMA ASIA 2026

A new E 36 gauge, an EL pattern drive and improved yarn tension regulation extend the application possibilities of KARL MAYER's TM WEFT warp knitting machine. At ITMA ASIA 2026, the company will demonstrate the developments alongside a collection of woven-like warp knitted fabrics for fashion and apparel.

Textiles Recycling Expo USA 2027 opens registration and expands with manufacturing exhibition

The second edition of Textiles Recycling Expo USA will take place on 7–8 April 2027 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Following a debut that attracted more than 1,800 visitors and 95 exhibitors, the event will expand its exhibition and conference programme and will be held alongside the new Textiles Manufacturing Expo.

MarediModa highlights transparency and traceability with InsideOut by C.L.A.S.S.

The InsideOut by C.L.A.S.S. exhibition at MarediModa 2026 in Cannes focused on transparency, traceability and the measurable values behind fashion products. Its Decalogue of Values aims to make environmental, social and production-related information more accessible throughout the textile supply chain.