Category: Denim Mills

  • Siddiqsons Pakistan | Denim Supplier

    Siddiqsons Pakistan | Denim Supplier

    This article is continuing   the series of articles for the companies who regularly  participate in Denimsandjeans shows. These are very reputed players in the denim supply chain and leave their footprints on the industry. We will bring the various aspects , strengths, products etc. of the companies through regular articles on such companies.


    Siddiqsons Pakistan

    About The Group and Mill

    The story of Siddiqsons began with venturing into the textile industry and unfolded as Mr. Muhammad Rafi embarked on trading cotton cloth in 1959. The company has expanded into various areas of textiles, becoming the pioneers of denim manufacturing in Pakistan. Along the successful journey, Siddiqsons diversified into other businesses including Tinplate, Construction & Real Estate, Dairies and Energy.

    The textiles division of the group is one of the oldest and most established in the country.

    According to their team :

    “ With a vast amount of experience and technical know-how we have come to establish a Denim Dynasty and are recognized by WGSN as one of Asia’s top 5 denim manufacturers. Company has recently installed in slasher dying machine & wider width fabric looms, further company plans to increase its capacity by 50% by the Mid of 2018.The sales turnover of the company is USD 600 Million.Our mission here is, “to bring the best clothing experience to consumers of all ages globally through our innovative quality-oriented product offerings.”

    True Indigo Knit Denim Fabric  is the Unique Sale Proposition according to Siddiqsons and as far as the capacity of production is concerned , the company produces the followings : 

    • 36 Million Meters of Denim Fabric
    • 6 million Garments
    • 1.5 million Kgs of Indigo Dyed Knits
    • 30 million lbs Spinning Capacity

    Product Range –Current  Focus

    The company focus lies mainly on creating authentic denims by sourcing the finest fibers. As fashion dictates the trends they also incorporate a range of new and innovative products with performance fibers such as

    1. T400
    2. Dual FX
    3. Thermo-cool, etc. and luxury fabrics mixed with Tencel, Modal, Viscose, Supplex.

    With trends shifting globally towards sustainability it is equally important to them to ensure that their product is not only fashion forward but also responsibly sourced and produced. They aim to reduce their carbon footprint by developing systems that use less chemicals, energy and water whilst minimizing waste and emissions to promote sustainable business practices in making our fabrics & garments.

    AW17/SS18 Products

    With six different stories for the season, their Fall/Winter ’17 collection focuses, as the name of the collection implies, on authentic denims with a touch of ethnicity. “Indigenous” by Siddiqsons captures the very essence of denim, while blending in luxury, performance and eco-friendly fibers to create products for niche markets.

    Some niche products from the company :

    DS-8028A Lycra Beauty

    From the story Femme which focuses on soft hand feels and feminine fabrics, this garment is embellished with lace flowers to add a delicate touch.

    Siddiqsons Pakistan | Denimsandjeans

    AZ-6160 Slub Stretch:

    AZ-6160 is versatile and can be used in men’s, women’s or kids garments. Here it has been garment dyed and embroidered with an ajrak pattern which is indigenous to Sindh.

    Siddiqsons Pakistan | Denimsandjeans

    D8026D Jetclub:

    A cotton, polyester & lycra blend which is soft to touch. From the story, Psychedelic, this piece has embellished turn ups with bright, neon colors that catch the eye.

    Siddiqsons Pakistan | Denimsandjeans

    Market Focus

    The company believes that USA, EU, TURKEY, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam are their main markets over which they are closely focusing and to tap the potential of these regions.The company is also focusing more and more on sustainability which is the need of the hour now. Their collections,Indigenous, has a story called Sustenance which makes use of alternative fibers such as hemp, crailar & jute cell along with recycled cotton & polyester.

    “ We have seen immense growth is Denim industry in past decades and we foresee a similar pattern going forward. As denim moving from just a rugged casual wear to everyday office and party wear product.”

    Suggestions For The Industry

    Industry needs to now focus more towards Sustainability & start implementing to protect the environment and conserve the nature for future generations.

    Siddiqsons at Denimsandjeans Shows !

    Sidd


  • ISKO Collaborates With Different Brands And Retailers ..

    ISKO Collaborates With Different Brands And Retailers ..

    In a continuous marketing push, ISKO™ takes its marketing beyond traditional fabric marketing . It collaborates with a number of well known international brands and retailers for co –branding and takes its own brand image to consumer level. Isko is very clear in its marketing push.  It wants  to have a consumer level awareness for its fabrics and looks for demand pull from the segment adding to the industrial demand.  Its collaborations with brands get weight from its various patented and high tech fabrics that it develops.

    DieselThe new formula for future fashion: Diesel style + ISKOâ„¢ technology, for the revolutionary JOGG JEANS & Diesel shoes made by the extraordinary 3D Denim known as ISKO Scratch & Jeanâ„¢.

    When distinctive Diesel style was blended with the extraordinary quality of ISKO™ fabrics, the result was JOGG JEANS, the revolutionary ‘jeanetically modified denim’ that combines iconic jeans fashion with the comfort typically associated with jogging pants. Labeling on the jeans’ inside pocket conveys the exceptional value offered by the collaboration. Described as: ‘One small step for Diesel, one giant leap for denim-kind’, the durability and softness that JOGG JEANS provide is guaranteed by ISKO FUTURE FACE™ patented technology, for a perfect fit all day long.

    The collaboration between ISKO™ and Diesel continues, with the addition of Diesel shoes made by ISKO Scratch & Jean™ . This fabric is known as ISKO™ ‘s revolutionary 3D denim made by using ISKO™ ‘s patented technology, which allows the fabric to take extraordinary effects.

    www.diesel.com

    Diesel style + ISKOâ„¢ technology : Denimsandjeans.com

     

    replayReplay Reinvents Athleisure With ISKO™ ‘s New Development Blue Skin™ and created Hyperskin

    Wellness is not a trend; it’s the perfect balance between body, soul and the environment: it’s a philosophy and a lifestyle. Replay took this as an inspiration to merge it with its denim DNA and created Hyperskin. The technology behind this product is ISKO BLUE SKINTM: entirely based on 360 degree freedom of movement. The construction offers total comfort and freedom by defying gravity with its 4 way holding power. The real second skin experience.

    The Jeans come in four different washes: a Raw Grey shade washing which keeps an original raw fabric look, a Blue shade washing achieved with a light bleaching process to obtain an intense mid-blue shade and a super softener for an amazing feel, a Marble and Dark Black.

    www.replayjeans.com

    Replay Reinvents Athleisure With ISKOâ„¢ : Denimsandjeans.com

     

    Pierre Cardin Pierre Cardin and ISKO join forces and launch FUTUREFLEX, the future of flexibility.

    Well-known brand Pierre Cardin expands its clientele with a premium denim line that boosts maximum functionality. A highly regarded brand its dedication to quality brought the FUTUREFLEX collection to life and was specifically designed for someone who wants to look good and feel comfortable all day.

    ISKO POWERFLEX™, was the perfect fit for this collaboration, it’s the perfect travel mate for anyone who wants 24/7 flexibility and freedom of movement, together with unique style and a perfect fit.

    FUTUREFLEX jeans come in three colors:

    • Black on black: a saturated and classic black.
    • Kanto blue: dedicated to real denim enthusiasts, Kanto blues is a pure, deep but bright indigo shade inspired by the typical Japanese super-saturated indigos, but with a chip off/contrast effect.
    • Reef green: A blackened green cast perfect for the vintage Aficionados.

    www.pierrecardin.com

    Pierre Cardin and ISKO join forces and launch FUTUREFLEX

     

    AYR AYR Introduces Flex Tech, Powered by ISKOâ„¢ Premium Denim Technology, in Collaboration with modelFIT

    With all the flexibility and recovery of a second skin, this premium denim technology powered by ISKOâ„¢ has 4 way holding power, offering complete comfort and freedom. Flex Tech was designed with 80% stretch, making it the ultimate performance jean, defying gravity and complimenting the body with a balance of stretch and recovery that is unprecedented in denim.

    In collaboration with ISKOâ„¢ and modelFIT, AYR introduces the scope of movement and beauty of versatility in their Flex Tech denim video. Shot at the modelFIT studio in downtown Manhattan featuring ballerina/muse Suzanne Diaz, the video highlights the versatility of the most future forward fabric on the market.

    www.ayr.com

    AYR Introduces Flex Tech, Powered by ISKOâ„¢ Premium Denim Technology

     

    IMPSELFSPremium children’s line IMPS & ELFS brings in ISKOTM for the most adorable collaboration yet!

    IMPS & ELFS is the first kid’s brand ISKOTM has collaborated with. The Dutch premium label for the younger generation focuses on Design, Comfort & Quality. The brand is sold over 500 boutiques worldwide and shares a clear vision on ‘how they want to be a child again and how a child would love to see the world.

    Two special denim lines for S/S 2016 are made up of all ISKO patent technologies.

    ‘Fashion in Action’ allows the kids to play & run with freedom, comfort and most importantly in style, using JEGGINGS™, ISKO POP™ and ISKO REFORM XP™

    “We are all artist” is made of ISKO™ SCRATCH’N JEAN fabric specially crafted for children who love to draw and doodle.  With a simple scraping technique, kids and parents can make every piece a one of a kind masterpiece.

    “Collaborating with ISKO™ has been a great success, bringing our designs to life and giving kids the freedom of movement in a high-quality fabric. Performance is key for kids as jumping, running, and being active is what they do” says Fons Cohen, CEO of IMPS&ELFS.

    www.imps-elfs.com/isko

    Premium children’s line IMPS & ELFS brings in ISKOTM

     

    Liu-Jo

     

    Think comfort and seduction, femininity and contemporary look: that is the BOTTOM UP AMAZING FIT collection, born of the collaboration between LIU JO and ISKO™. All BOTTOM UP AMAZING FIT collection garments are constructed in ISKO BLUE SKIN™. It’s a stunning innovation that meets the unique design of LIU JO for an eye-popping collection that’s totally dedicated to today’s busy and stylish women.

    collaboration between LIU JO and ISKOâ„¢ : Denimsandjeans.com

     

     

    International-Strap-Mono-Black-StrapBarbour International launched its first denim collection for women using ISKOâ„¢ fabric technology.

    Barbour selects ISKOâ„¢ renowned REFORMâ„¢ technology fabrics enhanced with ISKO STAY BLACKâ„¢ and ISKO PJ SOFTâ„¢ to ensure perfect fit and outstanding softness in their new womens collection.

    The collection comes in a variety of washes on indigo denim or a sleek black finish with ISKO STAY BLACKâ„¢ technology, special finishing allowing jeans to maintain their saturated black colour and long-lasting biker look.

    ISKO PJ SOFT™  finishing gives the garments a super soft hand feel inside and out.

    Check out the new line

    www.barbour.com/blog/elle-biker-blueprint

    Barbour International launched its first denim collection for women using ISKOâ„¢ fabric technology.

     

    julesJULES introduced a new line dedicated to ultimate freedom of movement

    The French brand JULES presented a new collection featuring the ISKO REFORMâ„¢ advanced technologies, to be communicated under the JULES LAB umbrella. This special line, enhanced by ISKOâ„¢ ingredient added value, is leveraging the idea of 24/7 fashion comfort, catering to the urban lifestyle for the contemporary man made possible by smart and practical innovation.

    www.jules.com

    JULES presented a new collection featuring the ISKO REFORM : Denimsandjeans.com

     

    BodyconBodycon: a revolution in Denim

    By encircling traditional cotton yarn with a tight coil of stretch fibers, innovative ISKO REFORM™ fabric gives Bodycon denim extra stretch power. The greater the pull on the fabric, the more it rebounds, both holding curves in and smoothing them out – making Bodycon jeans the most flattering jeans of their kind. Since its launch, the Bodycon collection has expanded with new fits including the Bodycon 5 Pockets, Bodycon Marrakesh and Bodycon Zipper Skirt.

    www.mih-jeans.com/the-bodycon

    Bodycon: a revolution in Denim : Denimsandjeans.com

    Bodycon: a revolution in Denim : Denimsandjeans.com

     

    MCGUIRE DenimISKOâ„¢ announces the collaboration with MCGUIRE Denim

    ISKO™ collaborated with McGuire Denim to create a guerrilla marketing campaign launched via posters in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn. Inspired by classic 60s and 70s film icons, the campaign featured model Olivia Frischer photographed by New York photographer Darren Keith. McGuireʼs glamorous take on heritage denim was enabled by high performance ISKO REFORM™ stretch technology .

    www.mcguiredenim.com

    ISKOâ„¢ announces the collaboration with MCGUIRE Denim : Denimsandjeans.com

     

    Pull In ‘Dening’ ISKO™ & Pull In ‘Dening’ Collaboration

    Pull In, who is the well-known underwear specialist from France launched denim pants four years ago, but wasn’t satisfied with the outcome. However, after conducting some research within the denim sector, Pull In contacted ISKO™ for the  ISKO Future Face™ concept. After frequent discussions, ISKO™& Pull In have launched ‘Dening’ to support the growing global trend towards ‘urban leisure’. Pull In has chosen to collaborate with ISKO™ for the creation of their new collection that puts denim into action. ISKO Future Face™ was indeed the ultimate selection for this collaboration.

    www.pull-in.com

    ISKO™ & Pull In ‘Dening’ Collaboration : Denimsandjeans.com

     

    TOPMAN TOPMAN chose ISKO™’s innovative modern denim to develop its TOPMAN PREMIUM DENIM collection using patented ISKO XMEN’S™ and ISKO RECALL™ fabrics.

    www.topman.com

     

    TOPMAN chose ISKO™’s innovative modern denim : Denimsandjeans.com

    TOPMAN chose ISKO™’s innovative modern denim : Denimsandjeans.com

     

    StroilliBoth denim and sparkling jewelry are must-haves, and key icons of style. This common trait is the inspiration of why ISKO™ has partnered up with Stroilli, to launch their  new ‘Bling Bling Denim’ collection, which brings together denim and jewels. This collection perfectly expresses the innovative genius of both brands through twelve completely new models, including rings, bracelets and earrings, which combine denim and precious materials. As the global leader in denim innovation, ISKO™ is the perfect partner for Stroilli, bringing its style, ‘blue’ creativity and experience to the table along with Stroilli’s designs to generate a highly original collection.

    www.stroilioro.com

    ‘Bling Bling Denim’ collection, which brings together denim and jewels.

     

    GERRY WEBER EDITIONISKOâ„¢ announced the co-branding with GERRY WEBER EDITION

    Working together, ISKO™ and GERRY WEBER EDITION have developed a co-branded collection using patented ISKO BLUEJYM™ fabric to create a true fashion breakthrough. The result is an innovative collection, powered by ISKO BLUEJYM™, a fabric technology that exudes a sporty attitude. Combining a knit look and feel with denim performance, the collection represents a fabulous fashion fusion of jeans styling and sweatpants’ comfort, to produce one distinctive personality.

    www.gerryweber.com

    ISKOâ„¢ announced the co-branding with GERRY WEBER EDITION

     

    Gaudì Jeans Gaudì Jeans puts its trust in ISKO™’s excellence for an exclusive denim collection

    Powered by ISKO™, the Gaudì collection is truly unique, created with a focus on the minutest details. Garments are made with top quality raw materials, including ISKO FUTURE FACE™, fabric with the tough look of denim plus exceptional softness that elegantly embraces the bodyʼs curves, without constricting movement. For its FITTING BLUE collection, Gaudì Jeans chose ISKO REFORM™ advanced stretch technology for the assurance of perfect fit, superior shape retention and the magic power to make you look a size slimmer.

    www.gaudi.it

    Gaudì Jeans puts its trust in ISKO™’s excellence for an exclusive denim collection

     

    GANG Get ready to experience the comfort of being fashionable

    ISKO™ and GANG joined forces to put denim into action for two collections rich in sporty attitude: ‘Sweatie Denim’ for women and ‘Fitness Denim Culture’ for men. For its second consecutive season, GANG chose ISKO FUTURE FACE™ to create jeans with perfect fit and outstanding freedom of movement, both for men and women. This one-of-a-kind patented ISKO™ denim technology uses an advanced shuttle-woven fabric, which looks like circular knitting and lends jeans an incredibly soft feeling with maximum flexibility for a superior fit.

    www.gang-fashion.com

    Get ready to experience the comfort of being fashionable

     

    Guess Guess introduced Powerdenim and Powershape using the technology of ISKOâ„¢

    Guess features ISKO™ patented technologies in a new selection of high performance denim.  The jeans maintain a truly rigid, purist look with distinct twill lines and yarn character, while ensuring ease and versatility for every lifestyle. The authentic spirit of this resistant fabric is combined with one-of-a-kind performance for flexibility and freedom of movement. For women, the ultra-feminine Power Shape range is based on ISKO™ʼs 100% JEGGINGS™ technology, an incredibly light fabric that adapts perfectly to the bodyʼs curves, embracing the silhouette and creating the wonderful sensation of a second skin. Guess has also developed their new Power Skinny Denim with ISKO Reform XP™, to provide the brand’s most flattering and effective jeans yet. These jeans are designed to make you look one size smaller, but yet keep it’s comfort.

    www.guess.com

    Guess introduced Powerdenim and Powershape using the technology of ISKOâ„¢

     

    MaviISKOâ„¢ teams up with MAVI for the New POPSTAR Collection

    Mavi, innovator in denim design and manufacturing, teams up with Turkey’s leading denim fabric producer ISKO™ to launch Mavi POPSTAR, which is an exclusive addition to the Mavi Gold collection for Fall 2015.

    www.mavi.com

    ISKOâ„¢ teams up with MAVI for the New POPSTAR Collection

     

    Moussy Blue FF Denim next and “Emotion”

    Following successful collaborations in previous seasons with its Blue Future Face Denim collection, in 2013 leading-edge Japanese brand Moussy developed an outstanding collaboration with ISKOâ„¢ based on the ISKO FUTURE FACEâ„¢ fabric. . For 2014, Moussy again chose ISKOâ„¢, using ISKO REFORM XPâ„¢ to create its engaging Emotion collection.

    www.moussy.ne.jp

    Blue FF Denim next and “Emotion”

     

    James Jeans James Jeans and ISKOâ„¢ launch the James Twiggy Dancer Jeans collection

    ISKO™ joined James Jeans to create James Twiggy Dancer Jeans, a whole new expression of denim style. With a perfect fit 24 hours a day, they ensure that women wearing them feel comfortable and special all the time. James Twiggy Dancer Jeans use a mix of two cutting-edge technologies: ISKO PJ SOFT™, powered by 50% Modal fibers for 24/7 comfort and ISKO REFORM™ for  elasticity.

    www.jamesjeans.us

    James Jeans and ISKOâ„¢ launch the James Twiggy Dancer Jeans collection

     

    Tom Tailor Denim“Naturally” jeans: Tom Tailor and ISKO™ present “We Care”

    German high-end casual clothing brand Tom Tailor and ISKO™ have worked closely together to launch the ‘We Care’ denim collection. Using recycled cotton and the most advanced eco-friendly techniques and treatments, including lasers, the range is produced in ways that ensure significant savings in terms of water and CO2 while creating a stylish, fashionable look.

    www.tom-tailor.com

    “Naturally” jeans: Tom Tailor and ISKO™ present “We Care”

     

    3×1 Performance, innovation, personalization: the brand-new partnership between ISKO™ and 3×1

    American brand 3X1 chose ISKO™ for its women’s collection to maximize personalized performance. The collections feature ISKO REFORM™, plus İSKO™’s trademarked coatings such as Soft Jeather to incorporate the most innovative finishing techniques. The collaboration between 3X1 and ISKO™ ensures that every garment embodies the craftsmanship, glamour and optimum fit to best flatter each individual and suit their lifestyle, character and personality.

    www.3×1.us

    Performance, innovation, personalization: the brand-new partnership between ISKO™ and 3×1

     

    HUDSONHUDSON and ISKOâ„¢, innovation in our DNA

    Premium denim leader HUDSON is collaborating with ISKO™ to deliver novel new products with uncompromising quality and value in their DNA. HUDSON’s REFORM collection is powered by patented ISKO REFORM™ technology to create superior 360-degree stretch coupled with maximum retention and recovery. It follows an earlier collaboration when ISKO FUTURE FACE™ fabric brought innovative knitted denim technology to market offering HUDSON Jeans outstanding freedom of movement.

    www.hudsonjeans.com

    HUDSON and ISKOâ„¢, innovation in our DNA

     

    Nudie Jeans Sustainable fashion process that underlines Nudie Jeans Post Recycled Dry collection.

    With ISKO™ RECYCLED, old worn-out Nudie Jeans are cut into pieces, then milled down to a cotton-like pulp, which in turn becomes a new yarn and used for new fabrics.  The advanced method for recovering and re-using denim fabrics enables the creation of a product that enjoys a “new life” .

    www.nudiejeans.com

    Sustainable fashion process that underlines Nudie Jeans Post Recycled Dry collection.

     

    HABITUAL Let exceptionality become a habit… HABITUAL and ISKO™, together for a brand new collaboration in style

    Los Angeles-based brand HABITUAL used advanced ISKO™ patented technology to introduce a new collection reflecting a modern classic mood. As it says on the garment hangtag: “We use ISKO POP™ to deliver unparalleled silk-like softness that you will experience wear after wear…” .

    www.habitual.com

    HABITUAL and ISKOâ„¢, together for a brand new collaboration in style

     

    JeckersonLooking cool, feeling smooth, a style of ISKOâ„¢ and Jeckerson!

    Looking cool, feeling smooth, Jeckerson collaborated with ISKOâ„¢ to create an exclusive collection for the modern metropolitan man. Jeckerson chose ISKO FUTURE FACEâ„¢, a woven fabric with the softness of a knit to create extraordinary garments that are strong and supple, smart and casual. It also used ISKO technologies for its original Cult collection to express a cosmopolitan yet comfortable style.

    ISKO™’s recent collaboration with Jecerkson was made with ISKO™’s Creative Room™, who developed the new collection of jJEANS by Jeckerson. jJEANS is a sub-brand of Jeckerson dedicated to a younger target market, and the whole collection was made by a mixture of  ISKO™’s fabrics; including ISKO X-Men’s™, ISKO Comfort™, ISKO Bluejym™ and ISKO Reform XP™.

    www.jeckerson.com

    Looking cool, feeling smooth, a style of ISKOâ„¢ and Jeckerson!

     

    C.P. Company Elegant functionality and sophisticated comfort

    C.P. Company chose ISKO FUTURE FACEâ„¢ fabric to create elegant functionality and sophisticated comfort for a new collection of jackets with a natural feel and cotton touch. ISKOâ„¢ innovation allowed C.P. Company to capture all of the comfort, lightness and softness of a knit but with superior shape retention for a perfect fit and complete 360-degree freedom of movement.

    www.cpcompany.co.uk

    Elegant functionality and sophisticated comfort

     

    Bik Bok Welcome to a super flex era

    With collections designed in Oslo, Bik Bok aims to be the first choice among fashion-conscious girls who follow all the twists and turns of the fashion world. Collections are continually updated with new and inspiring clothes every week. Powered by ISKO™ fabric technologies, Bik Bok’s super flex jeans couple super high elasticity with a very comfortable fit that perfectly adapts to the body’s form.

    www.bikbok.com

    Welcome to a super flex era

     

    Esprit Spotlights on ISKOâ„¢ and Esprit, to drive fashion forward with the collection 24 Hours 2.0

    Esprit partnered with ISKOâ„¢ to produce a collection of denim garments for any occasion. This further comfort evolution is perfect for any event and activity, allowing for 360-degree movement with ISKO FUTURE FACEâ„¢ technology. The exceptional patented shuttle-woven fabric has a look like circular knitting, yet is denim with surprisingly soft features and fit.

    www.esprit.co.uk

    Spotlights on ISKOâ„¢ and Esprit, to drive fashion forward with the collection 24 Hours 2.0

    Spotlights on ISKOâ„¢ and Esprit, to drive fashion forward with the collection 24 Hours 2.0

     

    Haikure Once upon a futureâ„¢, tomorrow is now

    Denim brand Haikure combines contemporary Italian design with high-performance eco-friendly materials and processes. With high stretch and shape recovery, ISKO RECALLâ„¢ fabric ensures that Haikure jeans maintain a flattering fit. The ISKOâ„¢ fabric is made using organic fibers and is part of the Once Upon a Future partnership between Haikure and ISKOâ„¢ that aims to promote sustainability within the denim supply chain.

    www.haikure.com

    Once upon a futureâ„¢, tomorrow is now : Denimsandjeans.com

  • Rajby Denim | Interview With Daniyal Saleem

    Rajby Denim | Interview With Daniyal Saleem

    rajby denim Pakistan is one of the most important country for denim production. Supported by the availability of enough cotton right for denim , the country has great strength in denim fabric production. After the receipt of GSP from EU last year , the industry got a further fillip and is adding capacities to cater to additional market it can garner. Many of the denim mills are vertically integrated from spinning to finishing of denim and some of them go a step further with apparel production. Rajby  is one such company which is completely vertical with over 18 million garments p.a (mainly jeans) being produced and supported by in house production of denim fabrics.

    We had a chat with Mr Daniyal Saleem –  Director at Rajby denim -  to take a peek into the functioning of this fully integrated denim unit and also to understand more about Pakistan industry  in the denim context.

    1. Please tell us something about Rajby and its history.

    Rajby Established in 1973 and is a vertically integrated garments manufacturing organization engaged in developing , manufacturing and marketing end-to-end apparel solutions for global fashion Brands. Specializing in denim jeans, Rajby produces 1.5 million Garments & 1.6 million yards of denim per month, giving it a very distinct tactical edge in reinforcing its core strength and to meet the expectations and needs of its customers across the globe.

    Time has been witness to our commitment for progress and excellence. Innovation, perseverance and our determined attention to customer needs, continue to be the pillars of our success. Since our beginning in 1973, it has always been our aim to be one of Pakistan’s leading apparel providers.

    At Rajby, we have always felt the pulse of the global market; welcoming change and reinventing ourselves to address the challenges presented by this dynamic and ever demanding industry. Rajby’s expertise is end-to-end; we apply exacting standards of innovation, design and services which ineradicably seal our presence in the global apparel trade.

    Finally, the company’s most recent and aggressive ventures in the branded apparel. Infrastructure and sustainability have consolidated our presence throughout the apparel value chain, and laid the foundation for a quantum leap forward to achieving our goal of being one the premium resources of denim apparel and fabric, in the world of fashion.

    2. What are the main product strengths of your company? What kind of customer base do you cater to?

    Our main strength is bottoms, in which we cater from high fashion to basics. The impressive growth of RAJBY has been a result of having state of the art plant and exclusive innovations in equipment and products, Our R&D and technical teams are working round the clock on new developments to meet the international market requirement .We are working with well- known Brands, of Europe, UK, Canada and USA.

    customers1

    customers3

    customers2

     

    3. Being a vertically integrated manufacturer – from yarn to garments – does it help you add value for your customers?

    Yes it helps to add value; we can produce any fabric which our customer needs. We are very fast in production. We present our collection in every season, our R&D play a vital role in presenting new product to the customers.

    4. We hear of some interesting products from Rajby for S/S16. Can you throw some light on it?

     

    Well, we have developed some new qualities for S/S 16 like including Selvedge denims, Combed Denims and  Jacquards and high fashion denims using  Tencel , Modal®, Dual FX, T400  . The  Brilliant colors, super-soft feels, power stretches,specialized coatings and finishes make the collection stand apart. For S/S16 it is worth watching out for our new eye catching colors which incorporate new indigo types including green cast, electric blues, cobalt blue etc.
    We have a special focus on sustainability. Besides the endeavour to reuse waste water after treatment and usage of ozone machines in our plants , we use low temperature enzymes and resins and help us in reducing consumption of bleach, potassium, utlities and water. We aim to play our  role in the creation of “Green Planet”

    At the same time we focus on  the apparel being extremely easy-care, crease-resistant and sustainable apparel.In our S/S 16 collection we mainly focused on Sustainability and we made some. We have water treatment plant as well there we purify the water before drain & reuse. In Laundry, we are using Ozone Machine, low temperature Enzyme & Resin. Due to Ozone, Special Enzyme & Resin, we reduce usage of Bleach, Potassium, Utilities and Water. Rajby is trying to be a part of “Green Planet”.

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    5. Europe was undergoing some difficult times and seems to be still grappling with it. But with Pakistan getting GSP benefits, Pakistan manufacturers are getting an advantage. Do you think it makes EU much more imp for Rajby?

    The main focus of Pakistan’s denim and garments manufacturers  is the EU market. After the grant of  duty free status to Pakistan we are very happy  with the response and look forward to having more  exciting ventures. Overall this will also improve the sustainability of our manufacturing sector and will create additional business.

    The difficult times in Europe  affect our market, but this happens every 4/5 years .This time it is EU market and it happened similarly with  USA and Turkish markets few years ago. In such times we focus on innovating more and try to create better value for our customers by offering them a slew of new products which carry more value in terms of price and quality. Our customers appreciate this and that is why we have long term relationships and partnerships with them.

    6. How do you see the growth of Pakistan denim industry in the coming years?

    There are number of advantages, we have our own cotton and cotton yarn which is best in the world for denim production, We have invested heavily in Latest Equipment and Technology, Product Development, Innovation, Marketing, Sustainability, Compliance, Health & Safety etc. This is probably the best way which will keep the industry more strong in coming years.

     

    7. Do you see Pakistan becoming even more important player in the world denim industry considering China is slowly reducing their capacities?

    As you know Chinese capacities are huge and designed on basics but if you compare  we at Pakistan are designed on high end products. There are many countries in the world producing denim without having raw materials. With fast fashion becoming more important , they have no chance to produce high value product in short time. We as Pakistani producers have the entire set of  raw material and skills to produce whatever companies in countries like Italy, Spain , Turkey etc are producing and even more. We are very competitive and can give better value to customers.

    8. Lastly, how do you think Rajby would like to add value for its customers?

    We are fortunate to have a leadership that defies the conventional confines of the boardroom and is actively involved in the day to day functions of the company to ensure that it remains customer and market oriented. The blueprint of our successful manufacturer-customer relationship lies in being fair, being real and urging others to do the same. This moral fiber woven into our culture supports our courage to take bold decisions on the fringe, making ingenuity matter – always. This is our contagious attitude in a nut shell and this is exactly what helps us add value in our own unique way.

    To give additional service to our customers, Rajby has created a centralized Research & Development Department which is called “Denim Studio by Rajby”.There is cut to finish facility (Pattern Makin, Cutting, Stitching, Washing & Finishing). Rajby R&D Team studies the international trends and makes his own mood board according to Season/Fashion that our customers are targeting . Then the team starts working on the new collection & presents it to our valuable customers. We offer a complete collection to our customers , even including  Paper & Metal accessories. This helps them a lot as it reduces their effort and helps them to take quick decisions on their collections. I think this integrates us better with our customers, helps them a lot and of course gets more business for us. We try to create a WIN WIN situation for all our stakeholders ..

    20140215_172509

    20140215_172529

    20140215_172547

     

    Contact Rajby Denim for information on their company / products by CLICKING HERE

  • Calik Denim AW 14/15 Collection

    Calik is a rapidly growing denim company from Turkey . With a capacity of 36 million meters and both rope dyeing and slasher facilities, the company is focusing on high end market.  During the recent mill week at Turkey, the company launched its Fall / Winter 14-15 Collection. This event was attended by Adriano Goldschmied – the legendary denim veteran.
    Adriano G at Calik Denim Millweek2

    Calik’s  collection which is titled – Hide and Seek – and it focuses on new constructions, softer handles and blends of fibers that result in premium denims. The company also claims to have novel products with special finishes and sophisticated fabrics for indigo shirting.

    Some key highlights of this collection are :

    1. Spectrum: a colored denim concept with emphasis on grey, black and green indigo in 3/1 twills and Batavia

    2. Raw as itself: RTD denims to complement the colored denim story in superstretch and rigid both with slubby character and more flat looks.

    3. Superego: an innovative indigo shirting story with a whole variety of weaves such as pied de poule, checks, dobby as well as twills.

    4. Fix-Fit: the superstretch story for womenswear, stable recovery and growth, soft handles and sateen for a smooth surface and 3/1 twills for a genuine denim look in high elasticity denims.

    5. Made: exclusive denims for tailored looks in special finishes for a smoother, shinier surface and soft handle, complemented by viscose and tencel blends with cotton for luxurious denims.

    Soft as Heaven: the warmth and softness of wool give an edge to these denims for the cold winter days in playful constructions of BT, double face, herringbone in blends of cotton and wool. Classic winter colors of grey, brown, black and indigo add a strong touch to any winter closet.

    Here are some visuals of the products launched.

    Calik aw1415 denim look pfdCalik aw1415 indigo shirting1Calik aw1415 indigo shirting2

    Calik aw1415 jacquard indigo shirtingCalik aw1415 pied de poule indigo shirtingCalik aw1415 wool denimcalik aw1415-double face wool touch

  • New Denim Concepts From Soorty

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    Soorty Denim from Pakistan brings out two new denim concepts for SS’14  – “Alive” and “Denim Art” .

    Alive Denim

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    “Alive” concept is another project of Soorty’s R& D.
    The fabric feels the human energy and changes color according to it. At room temperature it will have a different color but outdoor it will have a different color. Therefore, one can  enjoy different looks in one garment. When one touches it, it will take energy Alive , of one’s body, and its molecules will react and change color. Another scenario is that when one wears the garment, it will have different colors at different places on Collection Alive Green your garment. It will  actually be “ALIVE” denim .

    alive denim soorty

     

    Denim Art

    image

    Soorty development describes the “Denim Art” collection

    “If Van Gogh or Picasso choose to wear denim , we are pretty sure it would be Soorty’s “ Denim Art” collection. This collection is a tribute to these great artists . The fabrics are inspired from their color palettes and softness is just like their paint brush”.

    The collection is made up of denim in which warp is made up of tencel and is dyed in different colors including fluorescent.

    Denim Art Soorty

    Denim Art Soorty Pakistan

     

    For more details on these concepts , contact Soorty.com .

  • Arvind Mills Plans A Denim Plant At Bangladesh

    arvind bangladesh

    Arvind , the largest denim company in India with a capacity of about 110 million mtrs , is planning to set up a manufacturing plant in Bangladesh in a 80:20 joint venture with Nitol Group of Bangladesh . The planned investment is about $69 million over a period of three years. In the first phase, a plant of 10 million mtrs would be set up with an investment of about $25 million and then it will be scaled up in the coming years.

    Why Arvind Wants To Put Up  A Plant In Bangladesh ?

    There are just too many reasons to justify this move by Arvind. In fact , there could not be a better place  for Arvind to go for to set up a new plant for denim.

    • It is a Huge Market and consumes almost around 300 million mtrs of denim p.a out which about 100 million mtrs is imported . We have seen a number of new denim plants been set up in Bangladesh in the last few years and this has taken the domestic production capacity up to 200 million mtrs.
    • Bangladesh enjoys the GSP benefit to the EU ie the garment exports from Bangladesh to EU are duty free . This provides a huge benefit to the local industry in Bangladesh – a benefit Arvind aims to tap.
    • Bangladesh was the top export performer in the EU market in 2009 with a 6% growth whereas most of other countries suffered a fall in exports to EU to global recession. Bangladesh exported a total of Euro 5.9 billion worth of goods (over 90% were garments) to EU.
    • Bangladesh exported a total of about 89.6 million pieces of jeans to EU in 2009 against only 8.1 million pieces from  India .

    There are significant cost advantages in Bangladesh as compared to India. These relate to labour  costs, power costs and cost savings due to efficiencies of scale. Eg, the power cost in the Comilla Export Processing zone  ,where Arvind will set up its plant , is about Taka 4.18 /kwh which translates to about Rupess 2.69 (about 6 cents) . Compare this with the cost of power that Arvind is currently incurring– Rs 3.8/kwh at Naroda plant and Rs 4.7/kwh at its Santej plant (about 8.5 to 10.5 cents/kwh). There will thus be a saving of about 30% in power costs alone. The labour, overheads and freight costs would be some of the  other categories where Arvind would save substantial costs.

    The lower costs in Bangladesh are one of the reasons why the average price of export of Denim Apparel from Bangladesh was  Euro 4.17 in 2009 as compared to Euro 9.46 from India . The difference is Huge ! .  In all likelihood, Arvind will go for a forward integration for export of garments from Bangladesh and aim to utilize all its fabric for own orders. This will mulitiply the gains accruing to it .

    All the above mentioned factors and more have contributed to Bangladesh becoming a favourite destination for denim garment exporters and encouraging the denim major Arvind to set up base there .

  • Artistic Fabric Mills – An Innovative Denim Company From Pakistan

     image Pakistan had always had a strong textile industry due to historical reasons and an  abundance of cotton fibre grown in the country . However, the denim component has been developing the fastest in the last decade – with Pakistan touching almost 350 million mtrs of denim fabric production p.a. There are many players in the denim industry of Pakistan  , but some of them like Artistic Fabric Mills/ Artistic Garment Industries  stand out due to their innovative approach  . We thought it might be a good idea to speak to the owners  of the group – Mr. Javed Ahmed  and Mr. Iqbal Ahmed-  to know more about their companies and about Pakistan Denim Industry in general.

    Tell us briefly about the history of the company.

    Artistic has been a pioneer in the textile industry of Pakistan. It all started in 1949 with an enterprising man and his dream to own mills one day.

    In the last 60 years, with this vision the company expanded from a small retail shop to establishing many garment factories. The Artistic group has come a long way since its initiation. The 1990’s saw the first venture into the denim field. Vertical growth took new meaning and denim-weaving plants were set up. Artistic Fabric Mills (AFM) and Artistic Garment Industries (AGI) have recently expanded to become a fully vertical set up and are together one of the leading manufacturers of high fashion denim fabrics and garments in the region, offering high end customers innovative products, premium quality and efficient service.

    Presently, we have doubled our Fabric capacity with the help of our new Denim Mill -AFM 2, which has a 36 Rope Indigo Dyeing Technology. We will be looking to produce 40 million meters of Premium Denim Fabric annually in addition to 12 million Garments from our garment set-up, which includes an in-house State-of-The-Art laundry.

    Why did Artistic Garments choose denim as an area of growth ?

    I guess you could say Denim is in our blood !

    There are actually several factors that influenced us. For example raw materials; Pakistan is the fourth largest cotton producer in the world with an annual production of 14 million bales. This makes Textiles one of the most important industries in the country. We could have chosen other segments within this industry such as twills, home textiles etc. but we have always been very passionate about Denim. It is a fascinating product- always changing and evolving yet staying true to its core.

    Every season we see something new and innovative in this field and that really excites us. The glamour associated with denim is quite attractive as well. You constantly see it featured in movies, endorsed by celebrities, on the runway and now it’s making its way into Couture. Also, the various denim tradeshows provide an opportunity to network with denim lovers from around the world, teaching you a lot about the industry and its infinite possibilities.

    How do you think Artistic Fabric Mills is different from other denim mills in Pakistan?

    Firstly, we are one of the oldest Denim mills in the country. However, the oldest doesn’t always mean the best. Being the best is about Innovation, dedication, investment and a true passion for denim – all of which are qualities we pride ourselves upon.

    We like to think of ourselves as leaders in the Pakistan market rather than followers. The reason for this being that investing in the best technology and human resources is one of our fundamental beliefs. With a vision to serve the buyers better, we move forward with an experienced team of people and a strong orientation to latest technical know-how.

    Artistic Fabric Mills continuously strive to be the best by investing in superior R&D.

    We use only the finest quality dyes and liquid indigo. Our weaving department is equipped with the latest Projectile and Rapier looms. We have modern finishing and mercerizing set ups, with an added bonus of Stenter technology, through which we create premium finishes and coatings.

    AFM also has foreign fabric/yarn designers and technologists on board, who have a plethora of experience in this field. They have a good pulse on the future denim market trends and accordingly develop a collection with new colors and warps every season. In addition to this, we have an office in Los Angeles, California to keep up with the latest Denim Trends originating from the West Coast (the home of Premium Denim Jeans in the US). On the European side, our organization has a showroom in Stockholm, Sweden with a denim guru there to develop a broader and more versatile range of fashion concepts.

    There is a famous quote: “Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you keep standing there”. Therefore, we are always trying to innovate and improve ourselves. Our team has set high production quality standards and works hard to sustain them.

    All in all it’s our integral values that make us different. We have a loyal and sincere approach to our product and the customer. With us its about multiplying value, we believe in giving more value to our customers in return for their business.

    What are your other denim fabric styles, which are your best sellers ?

    artistic fabric mills We at Artistic Fabrics and Garments have a great relationship with Invista and our vintage stretch collection using their LYCRA® fiber always gets a great response from buyers.

    As far as our recent best sellers are concerned- For Womens The new Super stretch with soft hand feel and Jeggings have been quite popular recently.

    For Men’s Rigid, 100% cotton based subtle cross hatch constructions, heavier weights with Left Hand Twills and softer feels is one of our best selling category. Most popular are the black bottoming, pure indigo and green indigo shades. The coated and over dyed denim range is always a top favorite for designers.

    Coated denim seems to be getting popular. Do you also feel so ?

    Definitely. We have been very innovative in exploring different coating technologies and chemicals.

    Coating is the next big thing because of the high and lows one can achieve and the multiple washes that are possible. It adds a whole new dimension to the normal denim fabric and what wash experts can do with it. We see the trend growing with raw coated finishes and vintage looks.

    Artistic Fabric Mills will be launching the New collection of our coated fabrics at the Hong Kong edition of the Kingpins show in November.

    You also have a large garment division. Is denim the main product there?

    artistic garment industries Actually, Denim is the only product at Artistic Garment Industries. 100 % of the garments are stitched using Denim fabrics. Primarily, we manufacture denim jeans and cater to all types of bottoms: Straight leg, boot cut, skinny etc. Apart from jeans, we also produce denim jackets.

    The output capacity is about 1,000,000 garments per month, which covers many different age groups from Toddlers to Adults. The production at AGI has been enhanced by our state of the art laundry facility, which was established in early 2007. This modern plant is equipped with the latest Italian washing machines and can be compared with any of the world’s top laundries.

    Which are your main markets? Would you like to share names of some of your main buyers with us?

    Roughly half of our exports go to the US market. The other half goes to the European market. Many of the Middle to Upper Tier Fashion Brands are our main buyers.

    What new trends do you observe emerging in the denim jeans silhouettes?

    Men’s silhouettes have remained fairly constant over the past couple of seasons. We’re used to seeing the usual straight leg or boot cut styles. Comfort Stretch seems to be getting more popular for men.

    On the other hand, the women’s collection has been tailored by major changes in fashion trends. While the boyfriend and skinny fits remain popular, leggings/jeggings are taking the markets by storm. We think the tapered/skinny boy friend along with skinny cargoes will be big soon. However, the women’s market changes more quickly so in the near future, the market will want something new.

    Pakistan denim industry is getting bigger. Can you tell us something about its size, growth etc ?

    It is getting bigger indeed. This means more competition for us. However, we enjoy the challenge.

    Presently there are about 15-20 denim mills in Pakistan, and about 35-40 companies involved in denim fabric or denim garment production.

    The Monthly Production is about 30 million meters of finished Denim Fabric.

    Direct Employment of 18,000 People in industry. A major part is employment on contractual basis.

    The Textile sector contributes to a 60% share in the exports of the country.

    Presently in Pakistan, Denim Production is on top in Textile Sector due to Export & Garments Industry. Export of denim has shown a 27% increase per annum in the Dollar value since 2005.

    Denim is now one of the key apparel sectors and the driving force behind the apparel exports of the country. Total apparel exports from Pakistan were approx US$ 1.23 Billion in 2008-09. This sector still has potential for further growth.

    (Statistics taken from the Pakistan Textile Journal).

    How does Pakistan compete with countries like Bangladesh and China for denim exports?

    As compared to Bangladesh, we have an advantage of having an abundance of cotton and greater experience in this field. Bangladesh is catching up fast and with their advantage of cheaper labor we often compete fiercely with them on price. Pakistan has an edge due to the availability of the Basic Raw Material though and having the Yarn locally produced. The AGI/ AFM nexus has the added benefit of a Strong Spinning Mill being part of our vertical set up. Pakistan has also benefited from a more favorable exchange rate for export in recent times.

    China has historically been a strong competitor but lately we feel we have come to par with them as the number of local trained Professionals and Technicians for the Denim field increases in Pakistan. We strive to continuously improve and enhance ourselves to rise above the competition from this region.

    The recent floods in Pakistan have caused a lot of devastation. Do you think the floods will affect the denim industry or the textile industry as a whole ?

    The recent floods really have been quite catastrophic. However, fortunately for the Textile Industry the flood waters did not affect any of the major urban cities. The main impact has been through the damaged cotton crop. There is some speculation that around 2-3 million bales might have been affected.

    Luckily in some areas that have not been hit by the floods, the rain has actually benefited cotton and this year Pakistan was expecting a bumper crop as some farmers had opted for cotton instead of rice and sugarcane so despite the damage, the total crop might equal last years amount. Furthermore, Pakistan will gain from the fact that next-door neighbor India has lifted the restriction on Cotton Exports and therefore, will import a fairly large quantity from across the border. So overall the rates should be at par with New York Cotton Exchange. We feel the Pakistani Textile Industry is quite resilient and will not be so severely impacted by the floods.

    How is Pakistan denim industry dealing with the environmental issues like waste water disposal etc ?

    WWTP One of AFM/AGI’s main goals aside from quality service and on time delivery to its customers is to be environmentally friendly and adhere to social compliances. Therefore over 4000 employees at AGI are enjoying all the social benefits, as we are compliant approved by all our customers. In the past we have been approved by ISO and we established a state of the art Waste Water treatment Plant (WWTP) in 2007 with the help of an Italian company ,

    What is your forecast for the demand growth in the next 2 years ?

    We predict that the next 2 years are going to be challenging but rewarding at the same time. Denim is a lifestyle and that culture will never cease so we hope it will grow bigger and better.

    There is usually a lot of movement in denim and currently we see a definite shift towards the Pakistani market. With our new mill coming up we are definitely looking forward to the near future as we constantly endeavor to upgrade ourselves with revolutionary ideas and adapt to the fast changes in trend.

  • A Chat With Jeannie Cumiskey of Tavex Denim

    logoinstitucional With a history of more than 150 years , Tavex is a name to reckon in the global textile industry. Starting in 1846 as “‘Fábrica de Hilados, Tejidos y Estampados de Bergara” , the mill produced Indian and other cotton fabric using the indigo dye right from the beginning. It took the strategic decision to invest in denim manufacturing in 1970 and brought the first Rope Dyeing machine to Spain. Thereafter , it has been a story of continuous growth and expansion crossing various milestones on the way. A few years back , Tavex and Santiesta (Brazil) merged and created a large textile conglomerate.

    On the recent visit to  New York , I met Tavex team who participated in the show . It was a good oppurtunity to know more about the company and I chatted with Jeannie who looks after the marketing and product development for the North American market  . She  very kindly updated me with  various informations. Here are some excerpts from the chat :

    Hi Jeannie, Tavex and Santiesta have merged. How is the group operating now ?

    clip_image002[3]The merger  happened almost 4 years ago . Tavex and Santiesta came together and created the NEW Tavex Corporation . We are doing upwards of 150 million mtrs of denim and we all work under the Tavex umbrella for denim . We manufacture both flats and denim. Denim is made in Morocco, Brazil , Chile , Argentina and Mexico .

    Flats and work wear fabrics are produced in Morocco and Brazil. TAVEX purchased 2 factories in Mexico a couple of years back WITH THE INTENT OF doing DENIM product at the same level as we do in Europe but closer to the American market. These factories are the primary responsibility for the North American Sales team although we also represent our highly influential European collection here in the US, as well.

    Under Santiesta name , is denim not produced any more ?

    Denim is  all Tavex now . A Lot of people still reference Santista,  in South America , because it has always  been a big name in denim and it  is still very much a part of  our workwear / uniform  business in Brazil..

    So  probably you are the second biggest in the world now for denim production ?

    We are the largest in the Americas and Europe , but not completely sure how we stack up to some Chinese mills. So I am guessing that we are 2nd .

    How have the last couple of years been for Tavex’s growth ?

    The last 3 years for Tavex have been all about restructuring to meet the needs of each region . In Europe and the US , in particular , we made many many changes – buying plants , moving or replacing equipment , hiring new teams etc . But , today , we have overcome all the start up and restructuring issues and have emerged a much stronger force . We have always had a strong financial position . But , today , the company worldwide is much stronger in product innovation , quality and service . We are expecting  great results for 2010.

    What are the latest trends in the denim fabrics that  you are noticing?

    Stretch and more stretch, always with a soft touch , continues to be the biggest volume trend. In Mexico, we have put a LOT of emphasis on growing our stretch business – both comfort and stretchy stretch. We have a great deal of internal yarn capability that allows us to offer a wide range of fabric characteristics that emulate our premium , European stretches , but manufactured much closer to the market. We have a very nice menswear business . In better fashion basics that we are continuing to expand with new shades, finishes and yarn aspects as we see the menswear market continuing to demand better , more interesting fabrics as well. One of our largest programmes is actually a stretch programme for the men’s market . We see this segment growing as well.

    Any other products of Tavex that you would like to tell us about ?

    tavex amazon tex We have a few really unique developments like eco friendly , fair trade products and Wellness textiles. We have a finish called Amazon Tex which comes from a nut which is harvested in the Amazon that supports the indigenous people of the rain forest . We are also embarking globally on Therapeutic or Wellness textiles . Our first development in our ‘Denim Therapy ‘ Group is called ‘ Energizing’ . It is regular denim improved with a bio – ceramic complex application. This application pulls the far infra red rays of the stun, stimulating the molecules in the body , which in turn improves ciruclation and gives you a better sense of well being . It also improves your equilibrium giving you better balance .We have had a lot of fun proving this improved balance with our customers. It really works and the BENEFIT  is IMMEDIATE . The application has been used in lot of high tech fabrics like skiwear and medical apparel . This is the first time it has been APPLIED TO FABRIC FOR EVERYDAY CLOTHING.  It is not a cheap process but there is a growing market out there – Clothing for the elderly , skate / surf / performance market etc . We think this is a very exciting category and will continue to introduce new and and different therapeutic concepts into this segment.

    Which dyeing technology do you use ?

    We have Rope and Slasher in all locations .

     

    And here are some pictures from their Summer 2011 collection

    Tavex Global Tribes :
    South America with Africa, India with aborigines.Multicultural humanity: respect for different cultures and traditions.

    tavex aborigines

    Tavex Backwood :

    The combination of rock and roll with hillbilly, in the 1950s and 1960s.
    Young escape to rock and roll icons.

    tavex backwood

    Tavex Decelerate :
    Northern coast of Europe, sandy beaches and landscapes swept by the wind, MILAN, L.A.
    tavex decelarate

    And since Jeannie won’t allow me to put up her picture , I could only put one of  Steve Naturale from NY Sales 🙂

     

    DSC05580

     

    Contact Tavex – Email here

  • Mount Vernon Mills , USA – An Interview

    mvm denim mill usa Mount Vernon Mills(MVM) is one of the oldest mills in the USA with its roots in mid-nineteenth century. MVM also makes some great denim fabrics in USA awhere most of the denim mills have either shut down or have shifted operations. We thought it might be a good idea to know what makes MVM tick and interviewed Mr Dale McCollum – Vice-President(Merchandising-Denim).

    Q.Tell us a little about Mount Vernon   Mills (MVM) and its history

    Mount Vernon Mills, Inc. ("MVM") is a diversified and integrated manufacturer of textile and chemical products. Beginning with flour mills converted to cloth production in the 1830s in the Baltimore, Maryland area, MVM became an important producer of cotton duck and canvas fabric by the late 19th century. The company’s focus shifted south in the 20th century as it expanded into polyester/cotton blends in addition to cotton fabric. As the last mills in Maryland were closed, production increased at plants in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.

    MVM became part of the R.B. Pamplin Corporation family in 1982. This gave MVM much more opportunity to grow, both internally and by acquisition. The 1985 purchase of Riegel Textile Corporation quadrupled MVM’s revenues, and made MVM a key producer of finished apparel fabric (especially denim and piece dyed twills), consumer products and home furnishings. Pocketing, findings and related product manufacturing was added in the 1990s, firmly establishing MVM as a leading U.S. supplier to the apparel industry. MVM also retains important market share in other textile markets, such as woven paint roller fabric, table linens, and transportation of fabrics. MVM now operates plants in six states in the Southeastern U.S.

    Largely because of its need for textile chemicals, MVM has also moved into the chemical blending and processing business. This includes dry chemicals like size, and wet chemicals such as softeners and lubricating aids. These operations are also allowing MVM to enter non-textile markets like adhesives and personal care

    Q.Denim is one of the main products of MVM . What other products do you manufacture and what are their individual capacities?

    denim yarn spinning Apparel Fabrics– denim capacity 1,500,000 yards weekly(about 78 million yards annually); piece dyed fabrics 2,000,000 yards weekly (including flame retardant fabrics) for career apparel, military uniforms, sportswear and work wear

    Brentex– pocketing; waistbands and interlinings, greige apparel fabrics; industrial fabrics

    Consumer Products– table linens; sheets and towels for hospitality market; infant beddingWeaving denim

    LaFrance– woven paint roller fabric; fabrics for cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles; industrial fabrics

    Chemicals– speciality chemicals (wet and dry) for textile, personal care, paper and other industries

    Q.MVM makes some great denims. Can you tell us something about your denim product line?

    Denim and Jeans photos 3-26-10 009 Mount Vernon Mills offers a complete product line of quality denim fabrics.  From heavy weight denims yielding maximum performance for industrial use – to the lighter weight premium stretch fabrics for a night on the town, we can provide it all.  We feature new shades and constructions each season to maintain trend alignment.  We offer a variety of pure indigo shades, indigo/sulfur combinations, as well as deep black and a host of other yarn dye colors.  Variety does not stop with shade.  Mount Vernon Mills also offers a wide range of fabric finishes as well. Flame resistance, custom tints, over dyes, and resin treatments are just some of the options available.  We have the capability to source all of your Denim needs.

    Q.How does MVM stand out (or is different) from other denim mills in North and South America?

    A couple of things that stand out in regards to MVM are:

    • We are privately owned, so we do not have to carry the debt burden that many of the other mills have to cover.
    • MVM is also very diversified into other product categories as detailed above.
    • We have our piece dye plant at the same location as our denim facility, 3.5 million yards of capacity in the little town of Trion, GA.  This piece dye plant gives the flexibility of specialty finishes on denims as well as the ability to run non-denims in our weaving facility if the market demand moves us in that direction.

    Q.As a denim mill solely producing in USA , how do you find the competition from other lower cost countries? How do you cope up with the same?

    The competition is really tough, especially form the Asian denim producers.  Mount Vernon is able to compete by providing top notch service and quality, on time delivery, quick turnaround for chase business and a constant infusion of innovative new product lines.

    Q.Are there any plans for expansion in US or overseas?

    At this time we do not have any expansion plans on the table; however, we are constantly reviewing the possibility of acquisitions outside of the US.

    Q.Premium denims are the in thing for the last couple of years. How has the growth of premium denims affected the denim mills in US?

    I feel that the growth of the premium denims has forced the US mills to re-examine the way they develop new products with this market in mind.  While the premium market is still a small portion of the overall denim market it is a very important one.  Many of the premium looks have filtered down to the middle tier markets and have given the US mills new opportunities to upgrade their product offerings.  At Mount Vernon Mills we keep an eye on the premium market and introduce some of the characteristics of those products into our more affordable product lines.

     

    Mr Dale McCullum is the Vice-President (Merchandising-Denim) at MVM and one of the key persons at the company. He can be contacted at this email address .

  • Denim Mills in USA – Struggling and Shutting Down. A review

    The fascinating world of Denim is briefly highlited on a quick Mill Tour.
    Fierce Middle East and Orient lower price on fabric and apparel manufacturing has forced some America Mills to shutdown.
    When you go into the Mills facility the characteristic good smell of cotton dominates.
    All Mills listed use Rope Dye process, will describe Open Yarn Dye process in some Puebla Mexico Mills.
    Wich one is better, well : Cone and all below will tell you Rope Dyeing is the Best, but others will say Open Yarn Dye its better, really both are good and by the fabric looks its impossible to tell wich Dye process was used.
    1.-Swiftgaley Yarn facility at Columbus Georgia represented the bloom of the Denim Mills in North America in the past Century, located in an old Downtown building, it was amazing how yarn was manufactured in different floor levels of the Old building, then truck carried to a Modern finish Plant nearby Downtown Columbus. Mill was shut a couple of years ago.
    2.-White Oak , Conedenim s flagship Mill in Greensboro N.C. it is an appropiate layout to produce Denim, it is impressive by all means: contrasting its antique selvedge looms, its museum and modern state of the art Denim manufacture and expert knowledge its people has gotten thru the years.
    3.-Mount Vernon Mills located in cute Trion Georgia, Denim Mill aside the Piece Died facility, impressive automated warehouse and truck loading, huge facility.
    With a first quality Lodge in the Mill courts to receive its distinguished visitors.
    4.-Avondale Mills, Eva Jane Plant in Sylacauga Alabama, another big Mill with a modern layout and state of the art Indigo Dye process.
    This is another Mill Company that struggled after the 2005 train derrailment and chlorine spill in Graniteville plant. Avondale finally shut was shut down.

    5.-ACG Mills -Lubbock Texas based :  located in Littlefield Texas. Mill thats setting a trend by acquiring Guatemala s giant jean operation: Koramsa now named Denimatrix
    This looks like a good move from ACG, still need to see if brotherhood brings prosperity.
    We all in the Denim world hope it does.

    jorgeThis is a guest post by Jorge Esparza of Mexico . He started on the Denim Jean manufacturing in 1995 in the Torreon Mexico area, once considered a very important Denim mfg.hub. With over 4 years on the Sew floor knowledge and 5 years dealing with Denim fabric issues Jorge has visited most major Mexico and USA mills for quality review.

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  • 100 jobs cut at ITG Denim Plant in Greensboro , USA

    International Textile Group Inc. has cut 100 jobs at its White Oak denim-manufacturing plant in Greensboro — about 25 percent of the work force.

    It is the second time in five months that the company has eliminated jobs at the plant in an attempt to balance production capacity with demand for its denim from such customers as Levi’s. ITG cut 150 jobs in December as part of eliminating yarn production at the plant.

    • We have seen considerable negative news related to Denim plants originating in last one year specially from US and Europe –

    M0unt Vermon Mills cuts 250 jobs at Trion Plant

    UCO Denim Unit Shutting Down

    Hope we don’t see many more of these news …..

  • Raymond denim to be sold after UCO denim unit shutting out?

    The denim unit of the UCO appears to have shut down resulting in a loss of more than 350 jobs . It was a part of the Raymond UCO denim. The two companies had merged their denim operations in 2006 with headquarters in Belgium and forming a combined entity manufacturing about 80 million metres of denim.
    Raymond has been suffering huge losses on its denim operations for the last few quarters. In the last financial year, the losses to the tune of Rs120 cr(about USD 29 million) were declared by the Raymond Group on its denim operations.
    As per reports in a national paper , Raymond appears to be willing to put its denim operations on the block. The worsening denim market coupled with increased prices of raw material – cotton – have contributed to this poor performance by the company. However, according to informed sources, Raymond has not yet taken a decision to this effect .
    Raymond Denim is one of the most respected denim company in India and enjoys a good brand image overseas. It deals with all the major denim labels and is well known for its denim developments.
    Then what are the reasons for the current situation?
    I think the merger with UCO was mistimed . Europe is no longer the right place to manufacture low value textiles like denimand to take up cost of running a number of manufacturing units there pulled heavily on Raymond Denim’s balance sheet. To top it up, the denim markets scenario worsened , rupee appreciated against the dollar and raw material (cotton fibre) became costly, wiping out margins.
    However, it still seems unlikely that Raymond will sell of its denim unit – though it may restructure it The denim operations align well with the other textile products of Raymond(Suitings,Apparel etc) and unless Raymond is unable to make a reduction in losses even in this year (with a much depreciated rupee) , I don’t think they would like to sell their denim operations.