China Likely to Pressure Cotton Prices

Alexandra Wexler reports today that “despite heavy purchases, China still needs millions of tons of cotton to feed its mills”, “traders are positioning themselves for a rise in cotton prices.”  For the full article, click here.

NAT’S CRAiLAR Flax Earns 100% USDA Certified Biobased Product Label

Naturally Advanced Technologies’ CRAiLAR Flax fibre has earned the USDA’s certified Biobased Product Label.

 “This is an important distinction for CRAiLAR Flax fiber and our partner brands who use it,” said Ken Barker, Chief Executive Officer, Naturally Advanced Technologies.  Consumers may feel secure in making well founded purchasing decisions considering all biobased amount claims are verified by independent labs and monitored by the USDA.  The USDA BioPreffered Program was created in 2002.

The program’s purpose is to increase the purchase and use of biobased products.  The  “USDA Certified Biobased Product” label assures the consumer that the USDA and Federal government stand behind the claims of the vendor and that the product or packaging contains biological ingredients.  Every product that has the “USDA Certitied Biopreferred” label has been submitted to the USDA for testing prior to approval. CRAiLAR is planning to feature the “Biopreffered Label” on certified products and available for consumers on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of partner brands.

Ken Barker, CEO adds to that, “Alongside the performance attributes we have uncovered across product categories, it further shapes the story that our partners can articulate to consumers, and provides another layer of assurance that the product ingredients are shaped by sunlight, rainfall, and low-touch inputs.”  To read the full press release please click here.

NAT Partners with PVH Corp

This week, we announced that we have partnered with PVH Corp  to evaluate the performance of CRAiLAR Flax fibres in the apparel company’s dress and sports shirts, which will give us a great opportunity to show the performance of the fiber in a category that demands a lot at the consumer level.  PVH has iconic brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and IZOD in it’s portfolio, so we are excited to be tested by some of the best in the category.

To read the full press release, including comments from PVH Chairman and CEO, Emanuel Chirico, click here. 

7 sustainable luxury brands making eco-friendly fashion

Photograph by Jean-Claude Lussier

This month, Elle Canada features seven designers that are making major strides in eco-conscious fashion.  With out minimising the incredible progress brands like Toms and Threads of Change have made for sustainable clothing, these designers are taking what could be a passing trend and making sustainable fashion timeless. VBH Animal Bags, toted by some of the top celebrities, well known for using exotic leather from crocodile or ostrich skin, are coming out with a completely animal-free line of bags.  The first bag will be available this season.  The VBH Brera, the most popular bag in their roster, has been reworked and hand-crafted by artisans in Florence from quilted black ecopelle – a manmade alternative to leather.  When it comes to shoes, materials like  discarded tilapia-skin, cork and raffia are the last you’d expect designer, Manolo Blahnik to use but that is exactly what he’s done.  Partnering with Marcia Patmos (formerly of Lutz & Patmos), he has released a full line of eco-friendly footwear.  The most innovative of the seven has to be Belgian, Bruno Pieters, whose new initiative Honesty truly embodies the definition of the word.  His line of men and women’s clothing which sources recycled, vegan-friendly and sustainable fibres, zippers, buttons and thread exposes the production process for the buyer.  Every garment’s information label will contain a full break down from raw material to finished product and the processes used.  This is an exciting prospect for CRAiLAR and our flax fiber if this were to catch on in the industry.  The price information tag will detail the cost per meter of fabric, how much was ordered and used, how much labor was involved, what the mark-up was, and how the profit was used.  Yves Saint Laurent once said “fashions fade, style is eternal.”  If greener fashion choices offer the same luxury and style that their regular counterparts do hopefully eco-friendly fashion will become less of a current statement and more of a lasting impression.  To read the full story click here.