Latest news with #CottonIncorporated
Fibre2Fashion
3 days ago
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
US garment spending dips, imports rise amid tariff uncertainty
US consumer spending on garments fell by 0.7 per cent month-over-month in April 2025, despite a 4.6 per cent year-over-year increase. The CPI for garments also dipped by 0.1 per cent month-over-month and 0.5 per cent year-over-year, according to Cotton Incorporated. Meanwhile, imports of cotton-dominant apparel rose 13.4 per cent from a year earlier, maintaining average import costs near $3.70 per square meter equivalent since late 2023. US garment spending fell 0.7 per cent in April despite a 4.6 per cent annual rise, while cotton-dominant apparel imports rose 13.4 per cent year-over-year. Garment CPI declined slightly, and import costs remained stable. Tariff uncertainty looms as courts challenge the President's authority under IEEPA. Job growth slowed to 139,000 in May, with unemployment steady at 4.2 per cent. This import activity occurred amid ongoing trade uncertainty. In April, the US began implementing broader tariff increases, prompting mixed responses from retailers—some pulled orders forward to avoid higher duties, while others delayed shipments in hope of a rollback. The situation was further complicated in late May by two court rulings that questioned the President's authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping tariff changes. These decisions, now under appeal, may escalate to the Supreme Court, with existing tariff rates currently remaining in place, Cotton Incorporated said in its Executive Cotton Update - US Macroeconomic Indicators & the Cotton Supply Chain - June 2025. The US economy added 139,000 jobs in May, though prior months were revised down. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 per cent—its highest since 2021, yet historically low. Wage growth continued to moderate, rising 3.9 per cent year-over-year. Consumer confidence rebounded in May, with the Conference Board's Index rising by 12.3 points to 98 after five consecutive months of decline. Broader consumer spending rose just 0.1 per cent in April, following a strong 0.7 per cent increase in March. Ongoing tariff negotiations are set to conclude by July 9 for most partners and mid-August for China. If unresolved, reciprocal tariffs may take effect, posing further challenges for retailers and global supply chains. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)
Fibre2Fashion
14-05-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Global cotton prices remain stable amid currency movements: Cotton Inc
Global cotton benchmarks remained largely stable over the past month, with limited price fluctuations across key markets, as per Cotton Incorporated. The nearby July NY/ICE futures contract traded between 65 and 70 cents per lb, while the December contract ranged between 67 and 71 cents per lb. The A Index held firm between 77 and 81 cents per lb. Global cotton prices remained largely stable over the past month. NY/ICE July futures traded between 65â€'70 cents per lb, while the December contract stayed within 67â€'71 cents. The A Index held between 77â€'81 cents per lb. China's CC Index stayed near 89 cents per lb amid RMB appreciation. Indian spot prices rose slightly to 82 cents per lb, while Pakistani prices remained steady at 72 cents per lb. China's CC Index (3128B) remained steady near 89 cents per lb, with domestic prices close to 14,200 RMB per ton as the RMB appreciated from 7.34 to 7.24 RMB per USD, Cotton Incorporated said in its Monthly Economic Letter - Cotton Market Fundamentals & Price Outlook - May 2025. Indian spot prices (Shankar-6) showed a slight upward trend, rising from just below 80 to 82 cents per lb. In local terms, prices increased from ₹53,900 to 54,600 per candy, with the INR stable around 85 per USD. Pakistani spot prices hovered near 72 cents per lb, holding steady at around 16,700 PKR per maund as the PKR traded consistently at 280 per USD. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
COTTON INCORPORATED AND ABBODE DEBUT THE HEIRLOOM COLLECTION
A limited-edition line of 100% cotton table linens and kitchen accessories, designed to be passed down for generations NEW YORK, April 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cotton Incorporated and New York City embroidery studio Abbode are weaving together tradition and modern elegance with the launch of the Heirloom Collection—a limited-edition line of 100% cotton table linens and kitchen accessories inspired by spring's beauty and the joy of gathering around the table. Bringing artistry to the table, the Heirloom Collection features a cotton apron, an embroidered table runner and whimsical "cake" napkins, each adorned with Abbode's signature hand-drawn designs. Vibrant ranunculus from the Carlsbad Flower Fields, bright daffodils, playful cutlery, and decadent cake slices add a touch of nostalgia and romance to every meal. Crafted with sustainability and longevity in mind, these 100% cotton pieces are more than just beautiful—they're designed to be used, loved and passed down for generations. Free from microplastics and easy to wash, the collection offers a stylish alternative to disposable materials. The collection made a stunning debut at the Cotton x Cake Picnic at the Carlsbad Flower Fields in San Diego, where guests got a first look at these charming, heirloom-quality pieces, designed to turn everyday moments into lasting memories. "This collaboration is a love letter to cotton's beauty and resilience," said Kim Kitchings, senior vice president of consumer marketing at Cotton Incorporated. "By choosing high-quality, reusable cotton pieces, we're inviting consumers to embrace sustainability in a way that feels warm, personal and effortlessly elegant." "At Abbode, we believe in turning everyday items into keepsakes," said Abigail Price, founder of Abbode. "This collection is meant to be used, loved and celebrated—whether it's draped over a table for Sunday brunch or tucked away as a cherished family heirloom." With the Cotton x Abbode Heirloom Collection, Cotton Incorporated is encouraging consumers to rethink their kitchens and dining spaces—trading single-use materials for pieces that tell a story and grow more meaningful over time. Cotton x Abbode Heirloom Collection Lifestyle Images x Abbode Heirloom Collection Product Images HERE. The Cotton x Abbode Heirloom Collection will be available at beginning April 22, 2025: Cotton x Abbode Table Runner – $125 Cotton x Abbode Apron – $58 Cotton x Abbode Cake Napkins – $24 each / $75 set of four Cotton x Abbode Collection Set – $225 About Cotton Incorporated:Cotton Incorporated is the research and promotion company for Upland cotton. Funded by U.S. cotton growers and importers of Upland cotton-containing products, the not-for-profit organization's mission is to increase the demand for and profitability of cotton. As a resource for the cotton industry, Cotton Incorporated conducts or oversees more than 450 research and educational projects in an average year. Research areas range from the development of agricultural and textile innovations to analyses of commodity and market data. For more information or to learn more, follow along on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Pinterest, and YouTube. The Fabric of Now is Cotton's new always-on, modern marketing platform that lives within The Fabric of Our Lives® ecosystem — a bold leap into the future of how we connect with the people who love us. About Abbode:Abbode was created by Abigail Price in February of 2020 and opened its doors in New York City in May 2021. Originally offering dry floral arrangements and curated vintage pieces, the business took a transformative turn in 2022 with the introduction of custom embroidery. Today, Abbode is New York's go-to destination for bespoke embroidery, known for creating personalized pieces that beautifully capture life's most meaningful moments. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Cotton Sign in to access your portfolio
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WIRED
21-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- WIRED
High Thread Count Doesn't Really Matter
You might actually be happier with a lower thread count bedsheet—if it's made from the right materials. Photograph: Richard-I'Anson/Getty Images If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED At some point during the '90s, the trend of marketing high-thread-count bedsheets as a higher-quality option took off. It's easy to see why you could fall for it: Higher-thread-count sheets often feel soft and silky, with a nice weight to them thanks to all the piled-on threads. More fabric must be better and last longer, right? But while thread count does affect the density and feel of that fabric, it doesn't necessarily make it a great bedsheet, or a longer-lasting one. Part of that is the heat component. 'It's pure physics," says Kristie Rhodes, manager of woven product development at Cotton Incorporated. 'The less yarns you have in an area, the more open areas you have for the air to move through.' Staying too hot at night is a major sleep disrupter, since you need to be able to lower your body heat in order to fall asleep. Heavier bedsheets won't help you at all in that aspect, no matter if they're bamboo or linen. Trust me—I've tried every kind of bed sheet, and nothing can fix bad airflow on a set of sheets if you're a hot sleeper. Thread count can also be a misleading form of measurement. 'Manufacturers can manipulate thread count using thinner threads, so it's important to consider multiple aspects of sheet quality beyond just the number of threads," says Phoebe Yu, founder and CEO of Ettitude, maker of bamboo home textiles like sheets, towels, and even rugs. Parima Ijaz, founder of Pure Parima, which specializes in Egyptian cotton sheets, agrees and recommends prioritizing the material over the thread count. But material quality can be difficult for shoppers to gauge unless they're deeply entrenched in where businesses are sourcing their fabrics from, and have both time and energy to research it. (Or are reading in-depth sheets reviews like you'll find here on WIRED.) It's another clear reason why thread count is such a memorable yardstick for shoppers: It's a nice, clean number shoppers can look at and feel they've discerned quality. Thread Count, Explained Photograph: Richard-I'Anson/Getty Images Thread count isn't counting all the threads in the entire bedsheet, but rather one small area. '[It] refers to the total number of threads woven into each square inch of fabric and is calculated by adding horizontal and vertical weft threads together to create the total number of threads per square inch; i.e., your thread count number," says Zoe Doyle, the associate brand manager of Mulberry Park Silks. It's almost surprising that it's for such a small area, especially when you think about the bedsheets with counts reaching 800 or even 1,000 threads. That's a ton of fabric to have in such a small area, and high numbers like that aren't recommended by any expert or bedding brand I spoke to, whether the sheets are cotton, bamboo, linen, or silk. Speaking of those different sheet types, thread count comes up in different forms depending on the type of material used. Cotton always uses thread count, while silk and linen sheets usually use weight—grams per square meter or GSM for linen, and momme for silk—as a form of measurement instead. Silk momme actually takes both weight and density of the weave into consideration, according to Doyle. 'Momme is calculated by the weight of a 100-yard length of silk that is 45 inches wide,' Doyle says. 'If 100 yards of silk fabric at 45 inches wide weighs 19 lbs, it is considered 19 momme.' Meanwhile, bamboo and lyocell sheets also tend to use thread count, though it's often not as clearly labeled as a cotton sheet's thread count is. Material Over Numbers With everyone I spoke to, a common consensus came forward: Better sheets come from better materials, not higher thread counts. Specifically, long single-ply fibers are ideal over lots of shorter fibers woven together. 'The thread count of a fabric matters less than the quality of cotton," says Doyle. "For example, 200 thread count sheets made of high-quality cotton, such as extra-long-staple Egyptian cotton, will be softer, stronger, and more beautiful than higher thread count sheets made from inferior cotton.' Long-staple fibers actually can't produce high thread count sheets the way short fibers can. Shorter staple fibers automatically require more fibers to create the length you need for the sheet, and will need to use a double-ply thread to weave the fibers together. In contrast, a longer single-ply thread would be stronger and smoother to the touch, but won't need as much actual thread to complete the same job shorter fibers would. That fiber length also plays a role in how long your sheets will last, and how soon they'll start to pill. 'Thread count aside, fiber length is a crucial factor in durability," says Akshay Bahl, CEO of Delara Home. "Long-staple cotton, like Egyptian, Pima, or Supima cotton, creates stronger, softer, and longer-lasting sheets with fewer exposed fiber ends, reducing pilling over time. In contrast, short-staple cotton tends to break down faster, leading to rougher textures and less durability.' Temperature Check I could tell you all day about how long-staple, lower thread count bed sheets will probably be softer and last longer. These factors can take some time for you to see, especially if you're purchasing something like linen that will soften over time. But you'll likely notice one thing right away if you purchase high thread count sheets: heat retention. As Rhodes mentioned, it's a pretty straightforward concept. 'Fewer yarns means the sheet is lighter weight, providing a cooler sleep experience," she says. More thread means less room for heat to escape, leading more heat to be trapped within the sheet and around your body. Thread count isn't the only aspect that affects heat retention when it comes to sheets. Style of weave can make the arrangement of those threads, no matter the count, vary with how much heat and air can escape. Cotton, for example, has two popular weave styles—percale, which is a one-over-one thread style, and sateen, which is a three (sometimes four!)-over-one thread style to make it feel silky. Sateen is usually the hotter sheet when comparing cotton styles (unless you're adding flannel to the mix) due to that weave. Material plays a big role, too. Linen retails less heat than cotton, for example, so heavier linen sheets can still be more breathable than a heavy sateen sheet. Is there a best thread count at all, you might wonder? You'll hear different advice based on different opinions and what kind of fabric you're shopping for. When it comes to testing and rating cotton and bamboo sheets, I've consistently preferred thread counts between 200 and 400, with a 300 thread count usually being my sweet spot, especially for cooling sheets. My best advice, though, is to read our reviews of different sheet styles, like linen and bamboo, to get a better idea of how warm and soft each sheet set is to see what works for you. However, there's definitely a worst number. 'Anything beyond 800+ is often marketing driven and may involve multi-ply threads rather than higher-quality single-ply fibers,' says Bahl.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cotton Maintains ‘Incredible Secrecy' About Synthetic Pesticide Use, Report Says
Despite imbuing the 'fabric of our lives,' as the Cotton Incorporated jingle goes, there's still plenty we don't know about the world's second-most popular fiber after polyester. That includes the precise makeup of the synthetic pesticides and fertilizers that boost its growth, according to pro-organic organizations, which have despaired of what they call a 'glaring lack of transparency' regarding the names and quantities of these chemical inputs in all countries save the United States. The problem is thrown into greater relief with the mounting popularity of regenerative agriculture, which is far more permissive of synthetic chemical use than, say, certified-organic, even though the idea is for farmers to eventually phase these out as they work to restore soil health and improve biodiversity in a less regimented and more expedient way. More from Sourcing Journal Why These NYFW Designers Use Cotton For Fall Collections Can Fashion Get Past 'Carbon Tunnel Vision' And Embrace Nature Targets? Gildan CEO Glenn Chamandy Says Competitive Advantage Drives Growth 'So many people like talking about regenerative agriculture and things like that, but they don't want to address the details,' said Sandra Marquardt, president of sustainable fiber consultancy On the Mark and co-author of a report by The Organic Center, a nonprofit research group whose work on the issue was financed, in part, by Naturepedic, a manufacturer of organic mattresses and bedding. 'Everybody's doing regenerative, but no one is saying, 'What does regenerative mean when it comes to the use of pesticides and fertilizers?'' she added. 'There's been a real—and important—focus on soil building carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions, but with no details. And my biggest concern is that yet another term becomes greenwashed.' According to Marquardt's research, the United States is 'literally' the only country that tracks this information and makes it public at no cost, although she also cast some doubt on whether this will remain the case with the Trump administration's propensity for downplaying or suppressing scientific research. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has conducted surveys on cotton every two years from 2015 to 2021, with the most recent covering nine states making up 92 percent of the 11.1 million acres planted that year. The next census is due in 2025. According to the 2021 results, roughly 42 million pounds of chemical pesticides were applied to help 10.3 million acres of cotton thrive. This gives conventional cotton the dubious honor of having the most intensive pesticide use per land unit of the nine field crops surveyed by the agency over the past five years, surpassing even corn, soybeans and wheat. While only 10 synthetic chemicals comprised 86 percent of all pesticides reportedly used, at least 98 different types were deployed, including some that contain the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS or 'forever chemicals.' Even among the top 10, however, several have been flagged by the United Nations and others as highly hazardous, presenting acute or chronic threats to human health or the environment. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in weed killers such as Monsanto's RoundUp, accounted for 30 percent of all pesticides used in U.S. cotton. Its effect on those exposed is subject to intense scientific debate. Though the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies glyphosate as 'probably carcinogenic to humans,' and some studies have indicated that it can increase the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma by as much as 41 percent, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that it 'is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans.' Other countries, such as Brazil, which leapfrogged the United States to become the No. 1 user of synthetic pesticides between 2018 and 2022, and China, India and South Africa, which claimed the third, fourth and fifth spots during that period, respectively, have been less forthcoming about the potentially toxic chemicals they use, Marquardt said. Even the relatively progressive European Union, she noted, keeps the data it gathers from member nations every five years under lock and key. And while the International Cotton Advisory Committee, or ICAC, has taken to providing overviews of global pesticide use for public perusal, it usually omits specific information involving names and amounts. There's an 'incredible secrecy that surrounds pesticide use,' she said. 'But if we want to reduce pesticide use, we need to know how to target those products and provide information to brands, governments and researchers.' Marquardt said that she's grateful the United States has been tracking and publishing this data so far, but she's also concerned that the Trump administration, which is supposed to release the results of its survey in 2026, could take the information down. There has already been a purge of all mentions of climate change from federal websites. Last month, a group of farmers and environmental nonprofits sued the USDA for erasing data, guides and resources that they say will hurt farmers who rely on them to make agricultural decisions and apply for funding. This is one of the reasons Marquardt wants to sound the alarm about the issue now. Not everyone agrees with the report's framing. Jesse Daystar, chief sustainability officer for Cotton Incorporated, said that The Organic Center fails to acknowledge that organic cotton often lacks robust, year-over-year impact data, unlike many other cotton programs. Its report, he said, uses U.S. cotton pesticide data to contrast organic cotton more favorably against conventional cotton, creating a 'biased narrative designed to promote organic cotton without applying the same level of scrutiny.' If data is used to penalize growers rather than support improvements, he added, it disincentivizes others from supplying similar information. Others, such as Better Cotton, the world's largest sustainable cotton program, saw Marquardt's point. Many cotton-producing countries lack standardized reporting systems that are integral to enabling comprehensive data collection, a spokesperson said, and it will ultimately take 'collaboration and systems change to raise the standard' of publishing data on chemicals used in cotton production at a global scale. Textile Exchange, the sustainability-focused multi-stakeholder group where Marquardt served a senior manager of fiber crops for nearly six years, said it recognizes a 'real lack' of publicly available data on pesticide usage and types, especially outside of the United States. 'We support the call for improved reporting so we can accurately measure impacts of cotton production and monitor progress towards phasing out synthetic fertilizers and pesticides,' said Debra Guo, its cotton and crops lead. For Marquardt, keeping information about the billions of pounds of potentially toxic inputs being used to grow cotton in a black box not only undermines discussions of sustainability but it also represents a wasted opportunity. 'Had Rachel Carson not looked at DDT, we'd still be using it, you know,' she said. 'And there are problems with all of these pesticides that they're using. Of the top 10 pesticides, seven of them are considered hazardous. This is a concern to workers in the field, to the environment. They are designed to kill. And we need to know what's in them before we spread them willy-nilly across the land. We need to have parameters so that people are playing with the same deck of cards.'
