Linen Facts: http://www.purelinen.com.au/Linen-Facts/default.shtml
Caring for Linen: http://www.purelinen.com.au/Caring-For-Linen/default.shtml
Caring for Linen: http://www.purelinen.com.au/Caring-For-Linen/default.shtml
World cotton area is projected to rise by 7% in 2011/12 to 36 million hectares, the largest in 17 years, in response to record prices in 2010/11. Farmers are expected to expand cotton area in 2011/12 in all producing countries. World cotton production is projected to increase by 9% to a record exceeding 27 million tons.
Rising cotton supplies will feed rising demand in 2011/12. However, although prices are expected to decline from current record levels, it is likely that prices will stay substantially higher than the average of 60 cents per pound that prevailed during the past decade. Higher prices, and competition from chemical fibers, are expected to limit growth in mill use during 2011/12 to 3% to 25.4 million tons. The largest increases in mill use are projected for India, China, Pakistan and Turkey.
World cotton prices reached new records during February 2011. A limited supply, robust demand and depreciation of U.S dollar may have caused the surge in prices. The very scarce uncommitted supply as of 2011 may provide strong pressure on prices and cause increased volatility through the rest of the season. The Cotlook A Index reached a record of 233.5 cents per pound on February 18, 2011 and averaged 147 cents per pound during the first seven months of 2010/11 (77.5 cents per pound during 2009/10). The New York futures contract for March 2011 delivery rose from 77 cents per pound on August 2, 2010 to a record of 205 cents per pound on February 28, 2011.
In the current environment of volatility, the ICAC price model is less relevant than in other seasons. The
Secretariat season-average projection for the 2010/11 Cotlook A Index is 161 cents per pound. The projection is not based on the ICAC price model, but on the average price for the first seven months of the season and our judgment that during the rest of the season prices will remain close to the average recorded during the beginning of 2011.
WORLD COTTON SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION
| | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 |
| | Million Tons | Million Bales | ||||
| Production | 21.8 | 24.9 | 27.6 | 100 | 114 | 127 |
| Consumption | 24.6 | 24.7 | 25.4 | 113 | 114 | 117 |
| Exports | 7.8 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 36 | 38 | 39 |
| Ending Stocks | 8.9 | 9.1 | 11.2 | 41 | 42 | 52 |
| Cotlook A Index* | 77.54 | 161** | | 77.54 | 161** | |
| * Season-average Cotlook A Index (U.S. cents per pound). ** The price projection for 2010/11 is not based on the ICAC price model. The projection is based on the average price for the first seven months of 2010/11 and our judgment that during the rest of 2010/11 prices would remain close to the average recorded during the beginning of 2011. | ||||||
Source: International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) Press Release
Order a FREE copy of your USTER Statistics 2007 CD-ROM online here.
Identifying fabric is important. More important is the comparison of fabrics. This makes us know the true quality of a fabric by differentiating it from its substitutes. The following chart gives a complete information upon different types of fabric at a glance. It gives information about the weaves of the fabric, its characteristics and the uses, the important part of comparison.
Another table is given at the bottom, which shows the comparison of only the characteristics of few fabrics. For example, water retention is very high in cotton and the lowest in polypropylene. Same with the drying time taken, very long in cotton and vice versa in polypropylene. Cotton and wool shrinks more than polyester and nylon.
Another table is given at the bottom, which shows the comparison of only the characteristics of few fabrics. For example, water retention is very high in cotton and the lowest in polypropylene. Same with the drying time taken, very long in cotton and vice versa in polypropylene. Cotton and wool shrinks more than polyester and nylon.
| Fabrics | Weaves | Characteristics | Uses |
| Acetate | Soft, crisp feel and durable. | Clothing, uniforms, lingerie, linings, interlinings. | |
| Acrylic | Durable, soft and wooly feel. | Used as replacement of wool. | |
| Alpaca | Various weaves, knits and weights. | Fine, silk-like, soft, lightweight, and warm. | Men's and Women's suits, coats, and sportswear, linings, sweaters. |
| Angora goat | Various weaves and knitted. | Smooth, very strong, and high luster. | Carpet, upholstery, curtain, and automobile cloth. |
| Angora rabbit | Various weaves and knitted. | Long, very fine, light weight, extremely warm and fluffy. | Knit wear - gloves, scarves, sweaters, etc. for children and women. |
| Beaver | Soft, silky, shiny. | Fur coats, trimming fur and fabric garments. | |
| Broadcloth | Plain weave. | Closely woven with smooth finish. | Shirts, dresses, particularly the tailored type in plain colors, blouses, summer wear. |
| Camel hair | Twill or plain | Light weight, lustrous and soft. | Coats, women's suits, sports coats, sweaters, some blankets and put in some very expensive oriental rugs. Also used in (fine) overcoating, topcoating, hosiery and transmission belts. |
| Canvas | Plain. | Mostly rugged. | Hair canvas is an interfacing material in various weights. |
| Cashmere (Kashmir) | All weaves but mostly plain or twill. All knits. | Soft, silky and very lightweight. | Knitted into sweaters for men and women, also women's dresses. |
| Challis | Plain. | Soft and very lightweight. | Women's and children's dresses and blouses, kimonos, neckties, and sportswear. |
| Chiffon | Plain. | Lightweight, sheer, and transparent. | Evening wear, blouses and scarves. |
| Crepe | Mostly plain but various weaves. | Crinkled and puckered surface with rough feel and appearance. | Depending on weight, it is used for dresses of all types, including long dinner dresses, suits, and coats. |
| Damask | Figured on Jacquard loom. | Reversible fabric with woven pattern. Sheds dirt. | |
| Denim | Twill - right hand - may be L2/1 or L3/1. | Originally had dark blue, brown or dark gray warp with a white or gray filling giving a mottled look and used only for work clothes. Comes in heavy and lighter weights. | Pants, caps, uniforms, bedspreads, slipcovers, draperies, upholstery, sportswear. |
| Douppioni | Plain. | Irregular with many slubs. It is imitated in rayon and some synthetics | |
| Drill | Twill. | Closer, flatter wales that gabardine. | Uniforms, work clothes, slip covers, sportswear, and many industrial uses. |
| Flannel | Usually twill, some plain. | Soft, with a napped surface that partially cancels the weave. Dull finish. Made in a variety of weights. Shrinks if not pre-shrunk. Sags with wear, unless underlined. Does not shine or hold a crease. | Blazers, dresses, skirts, suits and coats. Boys suits, jackets, and shirts. |
| Gabardine | Steep twill | Clear finish, tightly woven, firm, durable. Wears extremely well. Inclined to shine with wear. Hard to press properly. | Men's and women's tailored suits, coats, raincoats, uniforms, and men's shirts. |
| Georgette | Plain. | It is characterized by it's crispness, body and outstanding durability. It is sheer and has a dull face. | |
| Herringbone twill | Twill. | It is usually created in wool and has varying qualities. | Suitings, top coatings, sports coats. |
| Houndstooth | Broken twill weave. | Weaned into an irregular check of a four pointed star. | sportcoats, suits. |
| Mohair | Plain or twill or knitted. | Smooth, glossy, and wiry. | Linings, pile fabrics, suitings, upholstery fabrics, braids, dress materials, felt hats, and sweaters. |
| Nylon | Very strong, resistant to both abrasion chemicals. It is elastic, easy to wash and is quite lustrous. It returns easily to it's original shape and is non-absorbent. It is fast drying, resistant to some dyes. | Women's hosiery, knitted or woven lingerie, socks and sweaters. | |
| Organdy | Plain. | Made with tightly twisted yarns. Crispness is due to a finish with starch and calendaring which washes out, or a permanent crispness obtained with chemicals. Wrinkles badly unless given a wrinkle-free finish. | Collars and cuffs, artificial flowers, millinery, summer formals, blouses, aprons. |
| Organza | Plain. | Fine, sheer, lightweight, crisp fabric. It has a very wiry feel. It crushes or musses fairly easily, but it is easily pressed. Dressy type of fabric, sometimes has a silvery sheen. | Evening dresses, trimming, millinery, underlinings for delicate, sheer materials. |
| Oxford | Plain variations - usually basket 2 x 1. | Warp has two fine yarns which travel as one and one heavier softly-spun bulky filling which gives it a basket-weave look. Rather heavy. | Men's shirts mostly. Summer jackets, shirts, skirts, dresses, and sportswear. |
| Polyester | It is lightweight, strong and resistant to creasing, shrinking, stretching, mildew and abrasion. It is readily washable and is not damaged by sunlight or weather and is resistant to moths and mildew. | Vary, depending on blend. | |
| Pongee | Plain. | Light or medium weight. | Dresses, blouses, summer suits. |
| Rayon | It¹s drapability and dyeability are excellent and it is fairly soft. Rayon does have a tendency to shrink but does not melt in high temperatures. It is resistant to moths and is not affected by ordinary household bleaches and chemicals. | Clothing, hose. | |
| Sateen | Sateen filling-face weave. | Lustrous and smooth with the sheen in a filling direction. Better qualities are mercerized to give a higher sheen. | Dresses, sportswear, robes, pajamas. |
| Satin | Satin. | Usually has a lustrous surface and a dull back. Made in many colors, weights, varieties, qualities, and degrees of stiffness. | Slips, evening wear, coats, capes, and jackets, lining fabrics, millinery. |
| Spandex | It is lightweight and flexible. It resists deterioration from perspiration, detergent and body oils. It is characterized by it¹s strength and durability. | Athletic wear and foundation garments. | |
| Taffeta | Usually plain with a fine cross rib. | It is smooth with a sheen on its surface. The textures vary considerably. They have a crispness and stiffness. | Dressy evening wear: suits and coats, slips, ribbons, blouses, dresses. |
| Tussah | Usually plain but also in twill. | It is coarse, strong, and uneven. Dull lustre and rather stiff. Has a rough texture with many slubs, knots, and bumps. | In lighter weights, dresses. In heavier weights, coats and suits and ensembles. |
| Velour | Thick, plush pile, with a plain or satin ground, or sometimes knitted. | The pile is characterized by uneven lengths (usually two) which gives it a rough look. The two lengths of pile create light and shaded areas on the surface. A rather pebbled effect. | Dressing gowns, dresses, waist-coats. |
| Velvet | Pile, made with an extra warp yarn. | velvet may be crush resistant, water resistant, and drapes well. Has to be handled with care, and pressed on a velvet board. | Eveningwear, at home wear. |
| Voile | Plain, loosely woven. | Sheer and very light weight. To obtain a top quality fabric, very highly twisted yarns are used. Voile drapes and gathers very well. | Dresses, blouses. |
| Wool | It is very resilient and resistant to wrinkling. It is renewed by moisture and well known for it's warmth. | Clothing, blankets, winter wear. |
Fabric Characteristics
| Cotton | Wool | Polyester | Polypropylene | Nylon | |
| Water Retention | High | High | Low | Lowest | Medium |
| Drying Time | Long | Long | Short | Shortest | Short |
| Heat Conduction (Wet) | High | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
| Comfort Level (Dry) | High | Medium | High | Medium | Medium |
| Shrinkage | High | High | Low | High | Low |
| Durability | Medium | Medium | High | Medium | High |
| Colour Choice | High | High | High | Low | High |
| Paddling Suitability | Low | Low | High | Medium | Medium |
| Camping Suitability | Medium | High | High | Medium | Medium |
Source: http://www.fabrics-manufacturers.com
A paper published in the journal of The Institution of Engineers (India) by P R Wadje. This paper is an attempt to provide all basic information related to textile Industry – in the field of manufacturing, purchasing, promoting, selling and so on. The study may also be useful for intermediate level employees engaged in different aspect of textile technology, consumers and home economists who need sound guidance in the selection and care of textile products. This article covers comprehensive outline of fibers and steps involved in conversion of fiber to variety of yarns, fabric manufacturing and wet processing of fabric for value addition.
Click here to download
A resourceful website called 'Project Cotton' created by the students from the Department of Textile and Apparel Management, University of Missouri to enhance learning and awareness of cotton fibers and textiles among university students.
You should explore the section called Cotton Classroom with the following topics:
Cotton Growing
- Commercially
- Organically
- Environmental Impact
Cotton Growing
- Aesthetic
- Durability
- Comfort
- Appearance Retention
- Resistance to Chemicals and Light
- Care Properties
Cotton Growing
- Cotton Fiber Identification
- Physical Structure
- Chemical Composition
Cotton Yarns
- Making Cotton Yarns
Denim
- Stone Wash
- Acid Wash
- Garment Wash
- Sanded Wash
- Enzyme Wash
- Teflon® Treated
- Storm Denim™
A website containing few notes on textile basics like fiber science, yarn science, textile formula etc. Thanks to Mr. Ganesh Babu for leading me to this site through his blog.
here's the link
A technical document from Invista on techniques of producing stretch woven fabric using their newly invented stretch fiber T-400. Thanks to Mr. Bilal Tariq, an experienced textile engineer from Pakistan for providing this document online.
Click here to view the document
Technical document from Invista on Xfit Lycra. Thanks to Mr. Bilal Tariq, an experienced textile engineer from Pakistan for providing this document online.
Click here to view the document
Journal of Fibres and Textile is issued every quarter of the year in english language by department of fibres and textile chemistry, Slovak University of Technology. Individual issues can be downloaded in Portable Document Format (*.PDF).
here's the link
A pdf document from North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance. It discusses on almost all man-made fibers. A must have document.
Click here to download
A pdf document from North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance on natural fibers like cotton(a vegetable fiber) and wool(a protein fiber).
Click here to download
The Journal is an international, peer-reviewed scientific e-Journal that publishes original R&D on all aspects of fabric technologies and their value chain from raw materials to end use products.
You can also subscribe online for free.
here's the link
A research journal published by Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres (IBWCh), Łodź, Poland and in publishing participates Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Kaunas, Lithuania.
Abstracts are presented since 1998 and full texts of articles since 2002
Click here to download
A book on Man made fibers written by Cesare Andreoli and Fabrizio Freti and a publication of the ACIMIT foundation, a Moral body of the Italian Association of Textile Machinery Producers.
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About Me
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- Sazid Rahman
Hey there!! I'm Md. Sazid Rahman. I'm a textile engineer, graduated from College of Textile Engineering and Technology(CTET), University of Dhaka. I'm a member of the technical team of Bangladesh Textile Today, a comprehensive magazine for the textile and apparel industry. The main purpose of my blogging is to share my learning experiences and all the useful and invaluable resources that i've been gathering for years now from the internet. Cause as Seneca, a Roman Philosopher said “There is no delight in owning anything unshared”. I take interest in lot of things. So i hope the resources i'll be sharing will be helpful for many.
