The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 not only affects human health, but also has impacts on national economic wealth as well as people’s daily life, the turbulent change might cause the significant difference in production and consumption patterns. What are consumers looking for? What do they really care? The Founder of Camangi Corporation and the inventor of UMORFIL^® Technology, Dr. James Hou shared “Now people are looking for the very beginning mind, desire to achieve balance and comfort both in physical and mental way. It’s the same mentality when I invented the UMORFIL^® Bionic Fiber series, as my son has the skin problem and couldn’t wear the normal cloth, I started to create the textile materials that hope my son could feel more comfortable and I made it.”

UMORFIL^® Technology uses supramolecular technology to integrate collagen peptide amino acid upcycled from food waste- fish scale with cellulose fiber (UMORFIL^® Beauty Fiber^®), polyester (UMORFIL^® T) and nylon (UMORFIL^® N6U^®), create the bionic functional fiber series with the circular economy concept. The name originates from the combination of Latin “Umor” and French “Fil”. Umor means moisture and fil means yarn, UMORFIL^® Bionic Fiber series just like natural protein fiber have amino acid naturally, but easier for industry as well as consumer to take care, they can be blended and interwoven with all kinds of staple fiber and filament fiber, like cotton, linen, lyocell, silk, wool, and a variety of synthetic fibers.

The product that made by UMORFIL^® Bionic Fiber series have unlimited possibilities that can heal hearts and balance our life via super soft hand feelings. Sparkles at skin friendly features, UMORFIL^® Bionic Fiber series have passed the medical level of skin sensitization/ irritation testing (ISO 10993). Well performance relates with home textile, mattress ticking, wadding, inner wear, denim, active wear, fashion and shoes products. Hou explained, “When we with a textile product that made by UMORFIL^®, the materials coexist with the natural functions provide our skin a better environment to keep our skin stay in a healthier and better condition, also can prevent environmental pollution without using too much chemicals and detergent.”

As an international textile material brand, UMORFIL^® has been invited by French pavilion displayed in Milano Expo 2015 and it’s the only one textile material with HALAL Certificate, wins the silver medal from French Concours Lépine 2015 and 2017, gold medal from French Concours Lépine 2021. “We have got more and more inquiries and orders from these seasons,” said Hou. “Thank all the supply chain partners, thank you for your support of UMORFIL^®, we appreciate your belief of UMORFIL^® and invest your time on developments as well as marketing promotions, even some of you during the trial period, we do feel your sincere support.”

UMORFIL^® Technology upcycled food waste that help to solve the environment issue which is kind and eco-friendly, at the same time, the natural bionic features can enhance the comfort and durability performance of textile products which can provide a sustainable way for brands and consumers. UMORFIL^® makes you feel more!

For more information, please check on www.umorfil.com & contact [email protected] for inquiries.

Through cutting-edge patented technology, Eastman is taking its partners in the home textiles industry on a journey that begins with reclaimed carpet waste and ends with truly sustainable—and high quality —Naia™ Renew fiber. 

Innovative and trailblazing, Eastman’s advances have taken its position as a thought leader in sustainability to an unprecedented new level, driven by a commitment to educate the industry while improving the health of consumers and the planet. Several significant developments tell the story.

A CLOSER LOOK

Eastman’s new molecular recycling process breaks down waste otherwise destined for landfills, incineration, or other undesirable end-of-life options and uses them as feedstock to create acetic acid, a biodegradable organic acid. This acetic acid is then used to produce Eastman Naia^™ Renew cellulosic fiber for spun and filament yarns. Because waste is broken down to its molecular level, material such as post-consumer carpets can be recycled infinitely without compromising on comfort, quality and appearance of new materials made.

Of the feedstock used to produce Naia^™ Renew, 60 percent comes from sustainably sourced wood pulp and 40 percent comes from certified* recycled content.

“Through molecular recycling, we are helping to solve the global waste problem and reduce our carbon footprint,” says Dnyanada Satam, global market segment manager for home textiles at Eastman. “We’re not just talking about plastic bottles; we’re taking a more comprehensive approach to recycling because we can use a wide variety of waste materials from different industries to produce Naia^™ Renew.” 

WASTE CRISIS A TOP-TIER ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN 

Today’s consumers are just as concerned about waste as they are about climate change, air quality, and water quality. They understand how molecular recycling benefits them and the planet. As a result, brands that are first to offer solutions via molecular recycling have a tremendous—and so far untapped—opportunity to drive sales, brand equity, and consumer loyalty.

These interesting findings come from a recent Eastman survey of 2,000 U.S. and European consumers conducted to help its industry partners accelerate consumer understanding of molecular recycling.

“Consumers are on the same path as we are,” Satam is proud to say. “They demand sustainable materials. And with Naia^™ Renew, they now have that option in the home textiles market.”

She goes on to explain that, as an industry, home textiles is always looking toward  the fashion market to discover exciting new trends. Naia^™ Renew is a perfect example. This season, fashion icon H&M is featuring a pioneering new fashion collection that incorporates Naia^™ Renew. As H&M’s most circular collection ever, the Innovation Stories series spotlights new approaches to recyclability and circularity by showcasing new material innovations and cutting-edge waste-conscious techniques.

Complete details on the consumer study can be found at: https://info.eastman.com/Renew_SJ.html?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=Naia%20HT%20Sponsored%20Article_HTT_March_Article_Link

TRANSLATING SUSTAINABILITY INTO BETTER SLEEP 

Naia^™ Renew is an ideal solution for textile brands dedicated to meeting the growing consumer demand for sustainable solutions.

Getting a restful night’s sleep is vital for our overall health and well-being; and bedding made with Naia^™ Renew cellulosic fiber can help us get there with three key benefits to ensure we wake up refreshed, restored, and at ease: comfort, long-lasting quality, and sustainability.

“One of the greatest strengths of Naia^™ Renew is that this is not pie-in-the-sky thinking. This is sheets-on-the-bed reality,“ Satam says. “A truly circular solution available right now, Naia^™ Renew checks all the boxes for softness, long-lasting quality, ease of care, and sustainability. And that should give everyone a better night’s sleep.”

“We want consumers who purchase Naia^™ Renew-based products to wake up to a better tomorrow—confident they are doing their part to make a positive impact on their household and reducing the impact on our shared home, Earth,” Satam concludes. “We invite our partners in the home textiles arena to explore the important value-added solution Naia^™ Renew represents.”

*Naia™ Renew recycled content is achieved by allocation of recycled waste material using an ISCC-certified mass balance process.

Detroit, MI – Outdoor Fabric Manufacturer EverTru Fabrics, a division of Arden Companies and a member of the Central Garden & Pet family, launched its Oceantex Collection in 2021. Oceantex is a sustainable fabric offering for outdoor cushions and pillows with plans for substantial growth in 2022 and beyond. EverTru’s flagship textile offering is its 100% Solution Dyed Acrylic performance fabric and is now adding multiple sustainable fabric options to its lineup.

Every yard of Oceantex fabric produced is made from ocean-bound plastics such as bottles and discarded fishing nets. In the past year alone, over three million pounds of plastic waste have been diverted from entering the ocean to be recycled into Oceantex fabric. Experts say that an astounding eight million tons of plastic enters our waterways each year and that number is expected to triple by 2040 without drastic action.

EverTru has teamed up with OceanCycle, an organization committed to stopping ocean plastic pollution and one of the world’s largest certification providers of ocean-bound plastic material.  Oceantex has been featured by some of the largest retail stores in the USA since its debut last February.  Oceantex offers a conscientious approach to comfort and the environment.  The EverTru team believes we all play an important part in ensuring our planet is livable for future generations and are committed to making a change.

EverTru Vice President of Operations Kyle Sharpe noted that its commitment to sustainability has never been greater than it is now. “During the Oceantex development phase, I was floored by the statistics and the amount of ocean plastic pollution occurring, and that only amplified our commitment as an organization to do our part in the prevention and clean-up efforts. We are proud to launch Oceantex, but it’s only the beginning of where we will be taking sustainable textiles in the future.”

EverTru’s Acrylic Collection entered the market in 2018 and has experienced consistent growth with some of the largest specialty and mass retailers in the outdoor and indoor furniture industry. Sharpe adds, “We are bringing the same service, value and performance that we have established with our Acrylic operation and branching out with more sustainable offerings. We have a tremendous textile design team and a robust global supply chain network in place to support growth in multiple fabric categories. We’re excited to continue delivering to our customer’s needs.

Please visit www.evertrufabrics.com & contact [email protected] for inquiries and/or questions.

Arkwright Home has come a long way since setting up shop in New York City in the 1990s. They made their name by providing discounted home textiles to local retailers. Today, their multinational team works with global retailers and online marketplaces to develop programs for every customer’s customer. From new automotive Messy Mechanic and TowelZilla offerings to their wildly popular Sloppy Chef range of kitchen towels, they design textile programs for the modern family on the go. Five strategies catapulted Arkwright to the forefront of retail buyers’ radar in 2020.

Opportunity Purchases

From the beginning, Arkwright cultivated relationships with global mills to purchase distressed home textile inventory. When mills experience order cancelations and overruns, they carry inventory made to a particular specification that may not work for the next customer. Arkwright provides a solution that helps the mill rout of an untenable situation while giving customers a better quality product for a discounted price.

Arkwright bundles and similar products (e.g., by weight or pattern) to create new assorted product lines (e.g., Towel Assortments). They rebrand products, so customers benefit from a wider assortment variety under a unifying brand.

An excellent example of opportunity-buying in practice is Arkwright’s first Sloppy Chef Kitchen Towel line. Customers receive a case of 48 featuring six to eight patterns presented with an attractive bellyband and j-hook. -an instant engaging POP display for all sizes of retailer.Sloppy Chef has since become so popular that first-quality kitchen textile lines continue to be developed. Featuring Herringbone Tea Towels, Cheesecloth and Antimicrobial Treated Kitchen Towels, the line has premium and economy options in stock today, with more lines in development.

Enhanced Home Textile Programs

While Arkwright was founded on opportunity, they grew through new product development. Arkwright works with customers to develop first-run home textiles across all production aspects: colors, patterns, weight, case pack, packaging, and price-points.

As consumers are trend-focused, a healthy new product pipeline is essential to satisfying demand. To address this, Arkwright assembled an R&D team featuring executives from leading mills, rug manufacturers, branding agencies, and e-commerce. Each new product undergoes a viability study to ensure each facet of the textile exceeds customer and consumer expectations.

New products are also developed following e-commerce compliance guidelines. Polybags with openings larger than five inches contain suffocation warnings. SKUs include an easily-accessible barcode. Packages are sealed and compact with master cartons that contain a single SKU or controlled assortment.

The most recent addition to several beach towel lines is the Aston & Arden Resort Towel. At 35″ x 70″ this 30Double 25lb beach and pool towel is the most luxurious towel to be developed by Arkwright.

Zooming the New Normal

A practice born from necessity will become commonplace for many brands in our space. With showrooms in New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia and a healthy show schedule and active salesforce, Arkwright met with customers regularly to sample the ever-evolving product lines. They still do, albeit virtually. With three new multimedia presentation booths, the team meets with customers around the globe 24/7. While in-person communication is essential and will resume post-COVID, Zoom meetings allow customers worldwide to interact with the team ad-hoc rather than waiting for market weeks and shows.

Build Your Own Quote

Arkwright’s new website allows buyers to build a quote 24/7. Investments in technology and personnel keep the catalog and website up-to-date with all products in stock. If it is on the website, you can buy it. While Arkwright was planning the interactive inventory tool before March 2020, the pandemic accelerated the need for buyers to access Arkwright lines without meeting in person. Now, many buyers regularly use the tool to reorder staple products while discovering what’s new for the season.

Refreshing the Brand

Arkwright launched a new identity and website to better reflect its evolution from opportunity textile experts to a leading provider of branded textile programs for retail chains and e-commerce marketplaces. The new corporate brand identity includes a new name and logo, a modern, retail-friendly interpretation of its original double-bar logo.

An updated corporate website was introduced at www.arkwrighthome.com to reflect the new brand identity and showcase the company’s offerings. Buyers may browse by category or space and build a quote to start the conversation.

“We’ve grown a lot over the past couple of years. Never before has Arkwright offered so many high-quality, value-priced textiles for every room in the home. To celebrate and help buyers navigate our offerings more cleanly, we’ve transformed our look and website.” said Andrew Moore, Arkwright’s Head of Marketing.

Arkwright thrived during a time of stress. As an essential company (importing microfiber cleaning supplies and PPE), Arkwright stayed open. Many new retailers discovered what their customer base always knew. Arkwright has quality inventory at the right price. Get in touch with Arkwright today to learn more: (732) 246-1506 or [email protected]

WASHINGTON—Consumers are expected to spend more this year on back-to-school products as families gear up to devote at least some school time to online learning.

According to a survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, parents of students in elementary through high school will spend nearly $100 more than last year, with an average bill per family of $789.49 versus last year’s record-setting $696.70. Those with college students will dish out an average of $1,059.20 per family, which is up from the record of $976.78 last year.

Looking at the bigger picture, spending for non-college students is expected to total $33.9 billion, while money allotted for back-to-college will total $67.7 billion. That brings total combined spending to more than $100 billion for the first time.

The most recent data as of July 15 from The Chronicle of Higher Education on plans for about 1,200 colleges and universities show that 55 percent are preparing for in-person learning, while 30 percent will offer a hybrid model and 10 percent will be online only. Those numbers have skewed away from in-person learning and toward the hybrid and online models since mid-June.

As reported in the July/August issue of HFN, online sales for dorm-related products such as bedding, headboards and storage rose for at least one online retailer during the period when stores were completely shutdown. But doubt about the strength of in-store back-to-school campaigns linger as textile suppliers noted some companies canceled or delayed orders because of the pandemic.

“By any measure, this is an unprecedented year with great uncertainty, including how students will get their education this fall, whether they are in kindergarten or college,” said Matthew Shay, president and CEO of NRF. “Most parents don’t know whether their children will be sitting in a classroom or in front of a computer in the dining room, or a combination of the two.”

The vast majority (88 percent) said COVID-19 will affect their shopping in some form this year, with 43 percent saying they plan to do more online shopping, including on websites of brick-and-mortar retailers, and 30 percent saying they’ll do comparison shopping.

“With consumers cautious about how much time they spend in public, there is likely to be less going store-to-store to comparison shop this year,” said Phil Rist, executive vice president of strategy at Prosper Insights. “College shoppers in particular may be planning to choose just one or two places to pick up the items they need rather than browsing at multiple locations. And college students beyond their first year may already have most of the big purchases they need.”

Among back-to-college shoppers, dorm furnishing purchases were expected to rise slightly, going from an average of $120.19 last year to $129.76 this year. Sixty percent said they were planning to buy electronics, with the average spend rising to $261.52, an increase from $234.69.

Just 17 percent of the 7,481 consumers surveyed during the first week of July had finished their back-to-school shopping. Among those with shopping left to do, 54 percent said it was because they didn’t know what they will need. Only 10 percent had received supply lists, but 40 percent expected to do so by the end of July, with an additional 30 percent citing the end of August as the date.

One of the reasons for the overall uptick in likely spending is the need for computers. The survey found 63 percent of K-12 families said they expected to buy computers or other electronics this year versus 54 percent who said that last year.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index increased in June, after virtually no change in May. The Index now stands at 98.1 (1985=100), up from 85.9 in May. The Present Situation Index — based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions — improved from 68.4 to 86.2. The Expectations Index — based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business and labor market conditions — increased from 97.6 in May to 106.0 this month.

The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey, based on a probability-design random sample, is conducted for The Conference Board by Nielsen, a leading global provider of information and analytics around what consumers buy and watch. The cutoff date for the preliminary results was June 18.

“Consumer Confidence partially rebounded in June but remains well below pre-pandemic levels,” said Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board. “The reopening of the economy and relative improvement in unemployment claims helped improve consumers’ assessment of current conditions, but the Present Situation Index suggests that economic conditions remain weak. Looking ahead, consumers are less pessimistic about the short-term outlook, but do not foresee a significant pickup in economic activity. Faced with an uncertain and uneven path to recovery, and a potential COVID-19 resurgence, it’s too soon to say that consumers have turned the corner and are ready to begin spending at pre-pandemic levels.”

Consumers’ appraisal of current conditions improved in June. The percentage of consumers claiming business conditions are “good” rose from 16.4 percent to 17.4 percent, while those claiming business conditions are “bad” decreased from 51.2 percent to 43.2 percent. Consumers’ assessment of the job market was also more favorable. The percentage of consumers saying jobs are “plentiful” increased from 16.5 percent to 20.8 percent, while those claiming jobs are “hard to get” decreased from 29.2 percent to 23.8 percent.

Consumers’ short-term outlook was less pessimistic in June. The percentage of consumers expecting business conditions will improve over the next six months was virtually unchanged at 42.6 percent, while those expecting business conditions will worsen decreased from 20.5 percent to 15.3 percent. Consumers’ outlook for the labor market was mixed. The proportion expecting more jobs in the months ahead declined from 39.5 percent to 38.4 percent, however those anticipating fewer jobs in the months ahead also decreased, from 19.9 percent to 14.2 percent. Regarding their short-term income prospects, the percentage of consumers expecting an increase improved from 14.6 percent to 15.1 percent, while the proportion expecting a decrease declined from 15.4 percent to 14.4 percent.

Pittsburgh, Pa. – U.S. consumers are feeling more optimistic about when they’ll be able to get back into stores, according to new research from First Insight.

Sixty percent feel that stores should reopen by the end of May. Some have an even earlier time table. Consumers living outside of New York, Millennials and men were most likely to believe stores should be at the end of April or early May.

“It’s clear that people are getting antsy and ready to get back to some form of normalcy, including shopping in-store,” said Greg Petro, CEO of First Insight. “However, the continuing increases in percentages of those worried about the Coronavirus in the last weeks points to the true reality of the situation. We may still have a way to go.”

The latest survey found 87% of consumers are worried about the Coronavirus versus 71% in the last survey in mid-March, an increase of 23%.

Key findings:

• Millennials are the most avid. Between 59-63% of respondents across every generation felt stores should be open by the end of May. However, Millennials are the most hopeful, with 39% of Millennials feeling stores should be open by the end of April/early May compared to 31% of Generation Z, 30% of Generation X and 28% of Baby Boomers.
• Men are ready to shop: While 65% of men and 54% of women felt stores should reopen by the end of May, 39% of male respondents felt stores should open weeks earlier, by the end of April/early May, compared to women (25%).
• Location counts. Forty-three percent of respondents living in Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans, Los Angeles and San Francisco felt stores should reopen by the end of April or early May. Thirty-five percent of respondents in the New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut areas felt the same, on par with rural areas (the survey was performed before New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s executive order extending the New York Pause to the end of April). The greater Seattle area in Washington State showed to be the least optimistic, with only 28% of respondents agreeing.

Petro suggested retailers and brands should be planning now to ensue they have the right product and price when the time comes, even if it’s just being offered online for now.

“It’s a delicate balance, but those who are connected closest with their customers will be best aligned should they be given the green light to reopen their doors,” he added.

Cologne, Germany – More than 200 participants representing 26 countries took part in the 1^st International Conference on Cellulose Fibers here, celebrating continued growth within the textiles market.

Cellulose fibers, which are the fastest-growing group within the textile industry, now account for 6% of the world market. The conference covered the entire value chain, from feedstocks through finished products, including cellulose fibers such as rayon, viscose, modal and lyocell and its woven and non-woven applications.

nova-institute, a private and independent research institute that organized the conference, said high growth rates for cellulose fibers are driven by the demand for natural fibers, the microplastics problem and the possible bans of plastic fibers. The focus of the conference was on markets, technologies and sustainability, along with alternative cellulose feedstocks.

“There are many exciting developments going on, like textile recycling and new technologies and applications,” said Josef Innerlohinger, head of global R&D at Lenzing, “and there is a growing demand for sustainable fibers made from renewable materials. So, I see a huge potential for cellulose fibers in various fields. But there are also some potential obstacles, which may hinder developments, where a strong cooperation is needed to overcome these topics.”

Sustainability was a major topic, with cellulose fibers’ lower environmental impact vs. petrochemical fibers or cotton highlighted. But Nicole Rycroft of Canopy pointed out the importance of wood for cellulose fibers coming from certified sustainable forestry, as well as alternative feedstock sources. Presentations noted that high-quality cellulose fibers are coming from recycled materials, cotton waste, agricultural by-products and even used toilet paper.

Innerlohinger called this first edition of the conference “really successful…and I hope that many more will follow. The talks and accompanying discussions covered a wide area of topics related to cellulose fibers at a very high level.”

The conference was sponsored by Bozzetto, Lenzing and Sateri as gold sponsors, with additional sponsorship from LEVACO Chemicals, NC Partnering and Stora Enso.

A second edition is planned for Feb. 2-3, 2021 in Cologne.

Valencia, Spain – Carmela Martí Decoración, a designer for the hospitality sector, has launched her first full collection of textiles made from recycled fibers from plastic ocean waste and repurposed cotton fibers.

The Posidonia collection, named for the Mediterranean seagrass, includes blackout curtains, sheers, quilts and cushions that are sustainable and meet the technical requirements and functionality for the hospitality industry.

The fabrics are made from two types of recycled fibers: polyester made from plastic bottles and packaging, and recycled cotton taken from old cotton garments that are shredded and recycled into new fiber.

The fabrics have been certified through the Global Recycle Standard that ensures their sustainable origins and processes throughout the chain of production in line with the United Nation’s 2030 agenda and sustainable development goals.

New York – Building on the strength of one of the best known names in cotton in the business and its own ability to market brands, Revman International is introducing USA Pima bedding. The new program, available initially online, features American-grown pima cotton in a line of 300-count percale sheeting in a variety of colors.

Revman, which is known for its stable of high-profile brand names such as Tommy Bahama, Ellen DeGeneres, Laura Ashley and Vera Wang among many others, is working with Supima on the program, which debuts this month.

“It’s hard to find a better cotton,” Rich Roman, president of Revman, said in an interview with Home Textiles Today about the new introduction. “Long-staple cotton, like pima, is not only soft but it’s also stronger than regular cotton and that’s important.”

The choice to do sheeting to start with was an easy one, he said. “It’s the most appropriate use of this fiber and it makes a great bedding yarn. “This gives the consumer a great product at a great price.”

This is the first time Revman has worked with Supima on a cotton program though both companies have known each other for years. “We’re looking forward to this being the first step in a long relationship with Supima,” Roman said, “and integrating Supima into more of our products in the future.”

The decision to start selling only online was made to test the waters and see consumer reaction to the product. “It costs more when compared to the cheap sheet sets that are typically offered in the market,” he said. Once the program proves its commercial appeal, it will be available for distribution in physical stores as well, he added.

Another reason for the e-commerce launch is that selling online allows the pima story to be told better than it might be in a retail store, he said. The packaging for this program does include details on why pima is important as well, but websites allow for more details and information to be conveyed to the consumer.

Roman said he especially likes that USA Pima products have a benefit to domestic cotton farmers. “This cotton is 100% grown in the U.S. and it really benefits American growers.”

For Supima, the new program represents another expansion of its efforts to bring its premium cotton to the marketplace, an initiative that has been especially effective the past few years.

Roman says the timing of this program is a key as the new consumer looks for products that offer more than just the same old story. “It’s authentic…and there’s real value there.”