Manmade Fibres

Surat-based Man Made Textiles Research Association or MANTRA is one of the eight national level Textiles Research Associations (TRAs) and one among the leading in man-made fibres. While the key focus is the textile industry in the synthetic capital of the country, it works on the overall textile development and on technical textiles in general. In conversation with Director Dr Arup Rakshit.

The US National Cotton Council has released survey findings showing widespread consumer confusion about microplastic pollution sources, particularly regarding synthetic clothing's contribution to environmental and health risks. Research reveals significant barriers preventing consumer action, including unclear guidance and uncertainty about effective solutions for reducing personal microplastic exposure.

Neolast, the latest ' new material' in the market, promises the apparel industry with a high-performing alternative to elastane for performance stretch fabrics, unlocking the potential for end users to recycle such fabrics.

Without a rapid transition to “preferred” fibres and raw materials, including significantly reducing reliance on virgin fossil-based synthetics, the textile-fashion industry is unlikely to meet the 45% GHG emissions reduction target for raw material production by 2030, warns the just out 'Materials Market Report' by nonprofit Textile Exchange.

The Lycra Company has now come up with Qira, a renewable ingredient derived from Iowa field corn, following a tie up with Qore, a Cargill-HELM joint venture.

Setting the stage for circularity,  the Lycra Company has launched a new Lycra FiT400 fibre for knits, which, in controlled tests under specific conditions, was recycled back into new polyester fibres, demonstrating the technical feasibility of this process.

Sustainable forest management has become increasingly critical as the role of man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCFs) gains currency as preferred materials that play a vital role in the textile-fashion industry's efforts to embrace environmentally responsible and socially accountable approaches. A whitepaper by PEFC or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification equips brands and retailers on how to advance the traceability of MMCF materials.

A thorough examination of the fashion industry’s climate targets has revealed that brands are not as ambitious as their barrage of press releases and net-zero marketing campaigns would lead us to believe. The 'Synthetics Anonymous 2.0: Fashion’s persistent plastic problem' report from Changing Markets Foundation, published today, has uncovered this and more.

The first ‘tree-free rayon’ fibre — Nullarbor — has been used to create the first set of garments by Australian biomaterials company, Nanollose Limited. The garments have been produced by Paradise Textiles, which is part of the Alpine Group.

The Lycra Company, a global leader in developing innovative fibre and technology solutions for the textile and apparel industry, has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Qore to enable the world’s first large-scale commercial production of bio-derived spandex using Qira.