Primark helps consumers take care of their garments
Clothing retail giant Primark has announced plans to develop greater durability standards and repair opportunities in its garments.
In 2022 Primark trialled repair workshops in 43 locations across the UK and Ireland, and in light of their success, the company hopes to expand these repair workshops into Europe. In addition to hosting in-person workshops, the company is producing online repair tutorials to help consumers extend the lifespan of their garments.
Primark is also interested in increasing the durability of products, conducting research in collaboration with the University of Leeds and Hubbub and drafting new standards with the assistance of WRAP via the Textiles 2030 initiative. According to Primark, 60% of their denim products have successfully tested against their new standards, and the company is now testing socks and jerseys too.
Lynne Walker, Director of Primark Cares, states: “We believe passionately that more sustainable fashion should be affordable for all and whatever your budget you should be able to trust that the clothes you are buying meet a certain standard … We know that many clothes that are discarded may still have plenty of wear left in them and that’s why we want to help people learn new repair skills to be able to sew, fix a button or even customise a piece of clothing and give it a new lease of life.”
Read the full story at CircularOnline
New e-textile technology capable of charging devices
Dr Theodore Hughs-Riley from Nottingham Trent University has produced an e-textile capable of charging a phone through his team’s research. The fabric consists of a waterproof polymer yarn which wraps around 1200 photovoltaic cells, producing 400 milliwatts of power.
The e-textile has also been designed with wearability in mind, having breathable and flexible qualities. The fabric can also be laundered effectively, surviving laundering at 40°C. The new fabric could open many doors for future garment design, allowing wearers to passively generate their own power for small local devices.
Dr Hughs-Riley commented: “This prototype gives an exciting glimpse of the future potential for e-textiles. Until now very few people would have considered that their clothing or textiles products could be used for generating electricity. … This is an exciting development which builds on previous technologies we have made and illustrates how it can be scaled up to generate more power.”
Read the full story at MyModernMet
Pakistan’s Garment Exports to China rise by 33%
In 2022, Pakistan’s male garment exports shot up by just under 33%. The increase has been attributed to a number of factors.
One factor is the growing relationship between Pakistani suppliers and Chinese buyers. The countries currently enjoy numerous free trade agreements, and the positive reputation of Pakistan’s textile industry has been increasing. According to Muhammad Ameen Nathani, Chairman of Combine Group, Pakistan also has many manufacturers which are able to meet international quality standards at competitive prices, which makes the country attractive to Chinese suppliers.
Pakistani products continue to prove popular in the Chinese market, with the value of men’s garments increasing from $21.6 million USD in 2021 to $28.66 million in 2022. This growth is not set to subside, and businesses within Pakistan’s textile industry are looking forward to increasing employment opportunities and reaping the rewards of increasing growth.
Read the full story at Associated Press of Pakistan
