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TEXTILE NEWS South Africa to grow recyclable grass DUTCH AWEARNESS, A sustainable textile company, has launched an initiative to cultivate a type of grass that can be used to create zero-waste recyclable textiles. Miscanthus or elephant grass contains a high amount of cellulose, which can be utilised to create viscose rayon. After use, it can be converted back into cellulose. The material is meant to have a low impact on the environment, can be easily cultivated in various climates and recycled repeatedly. The new grass is being developed by the University of Wageningen. However, the ‘Grass for Sustainable Growth’ programme would take place in Johannesburg with the planting of 1,500 ha of miscanthus in Eastern Cape. A consortium comprising Dutch aWEARness, Ekcon and AlternaFruit is backing the initiative. The project is part of the Black Economic Empowerment initiative, supported by the South African government and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.
American university invests US$20mn in South African textile industry to rebuild sector THE UNIVERSITY OF Delaware’s Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies has decided to invest US$20mn in South Africa’s textile industry, in order to boost competitiveness and minimise environmental impact in the region. The money would help establish the Southern African Sustainable Textile and Apparel Cluster, which will focus on reducing carbon footprint associated with the processes in supply chain. Experts and graduate students from the department have been offering their research expertise in order to advance the project, collecting data on labour standards, environmental practices, and supply chain operations. They will also be looking at the chain from a global perspective and monitoring the environmental impact of imported
materials, added university officials. Marsha Dickson, professor of human services and head of the fashion department, said, “The goal of the competitiveness grant is to allow whatever is implemented to continue and thrive after we leave, so there’s a need to develop domestic expertise at universities there.” The idea was floated with the South African cotton farmers, who felt the need to revive and expand employment opportunities through farming, added Dickson. They thought that a focus on environmental and social responsibility would be a good way to rebuild the sector, which was affected due to the easy availability of inferior quality exports, post the apartheid era, stated officials from the University of Delaware.
East African Community set to promote textile and tanner industries
HEADS OF MEMBER states of the East African Community (EAC) have agreed to set up a mechanism that will promote the growth and protection of the textile and tanner industries in the region. Harrison Mwakyembe, minister of the East African Cooperation, said that the East African region was committed to effectively utilising the potential in the textile industry, and reduce dependence on the imports of second-hand goods. The council of ministers will work out modalities to enhance implementation of the agreement, he added. Guaranteeing that there would be no hindrance to the socio-economic and political stability, Mwakyembe said that the agreement was intended to foster trade within the community and beyond.
Ethiopia and Kenya favourites for sourcing apparel
MAJOR RETAIL BRANDS such as Walmart’s Asda, Primark, Tesco, Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) Phillips Van Heusen and Tchibo are sourcing apparel from Ethiopia and Kenya, stated Textile Outlook International. In addition, brands such as Marks & Spencer, VF and Zara are in the process of establishing offices in Ethiopia. Between 2010-11, the employment figures in the apparel industry in Ethiopia doubled to 11,716, while textile and apparel export earnings rose from US$12.6mn to US$111mn. The Ethiopian and Kenyan governments are creating favourable conditions to attract investors. For instance, Kanoria Africa Textile Plc, established by Indians,
has begun production of yarn for the manufacturing of denim fabric. The company procured an investment licence and built a factory in Bishoftu, eastern Addis Ababa across an area of 155,000 sqm. Jay Soyanter, marketing vice-president of the company, said the factory would employ 600 people and produce both yarn and denim for textile and garment factories. The factory was established with a capital of US$35mn. In Kenya, as many as 46 apparel manufacturing industrial projects were approved by Kenya Industrial Estates in 2013. This was a record level and was more than double the annual average of 19 projects approved for the period 2009-12.
mPedigree launches Goldkeys Technology to combat textile piracy in Ghana
MOBILE AND WEB technology developer mPedigree has launched the Goldkeys Technology in an attempt to put an end to textile piracy. Ghana’s Premium African Textiles (PAT) has decided to use the Goldkeys Technology Application for its wax prints, stated company officials. The new technology will enable consumers to authenticate the prints through a free Short Message Service (SMS) of a unique security code under a scratch panel on each pack. PAT’s SMSauthentication programme will be powered by mPedigree Network’s Goldkeys technologies such as Acodion and Signet. According to Stephen Badu, marketing director of PAT, the technology would become a “permanent mark of quality” that would help distinguish the company’s signature prints in the marketplace. The SMS with the unique verification code ensures authenticity. (Image source: Goldkeys.org)
AFRICA AND MIDDLE EAST TEXTILES ISSUE FOUR 2014 / ONE 2015
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