The Suit Stays on the Hanger at the Paris Men’s Shows
Cotton, summer and relaxation always go together. Nothing feels or looks better for warm weather occasions, and maintaining focus on the runway shows indicates what consumers are thinking, and what will eventually be available at retail. Some of the most interesting clothes to come out of the Milan spring men’s shows, and now Paris, try to elongate the silhouette and, at the same time, to use fairly standard uniform styles and materials, especially cotton. I am thinking of Prada and Alexander McQueen and the American maverick Rick Owens, who on Thursday showed long, chaste, stripped-down coats in black or white with pronounced shoulders, drainpipe sleeves and a bit of flare in the back. Read this story by Cathy Horyn, published on June 25, 2010 in the New York Times.

Two Texas Tech University Students Take Prize in ‘Denim Runway’ Competition
April 27, 2010, Lubbock, TX — Two Texas Tech University student “jeaniuses” recently were named winners of the first Denim Runway competition for designing the best new women’s and men’s jeans. The competition was sponsored by Plains Cotton Cooperative Association (PCCA) and Cotton Council International (CCI) in collaboration with the university’s College of Human Sciences Department of Design’s Apparel Design and Manufacturing program.

“Discover Natural Fibres Initiative” founded
February 12, 2010, Brussels — The member organizations of the IYNF (International Year of Natural Fibres) Steering Committee will continue their co-operation as the DNFI (Discover Natural Fiber Initiative) beyond 2009. The decision to continue working together closely was the result of an IYNF committee review meeting held in Frankfurt in January 2010. DNFI is an alliance of key international natural fiber associations/organizations.

IFCP Elects Officers at ICAC Plenary Meeting in Cape Town
Mr. Zbigniew Roskwitalski was elected Chairman of the International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP) for a third consecutive term at the Annual Business Meeting of the membership held in Cape Town, South Africa on September 8, 2009. Mr. Roskwitalski is the Executive Director of the Izba Bawelny w Gdyni (Gdynia Cotton Association). The meeting ran concurrently with the ICAC 68th Plenary Meeting.

Enhancing Demand for Cotton Products: The IFCP Introduces Speakers Bureau
The International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP) hosted a demand enhancement breakout session at the 68th Plenary Meeting of the ICAC to communicate promotion techniques that can be used by the cotton textile supply chain. The IFCP introduced the IFCP Speakers Bureau by presenting several of the organization’s activities over the previous year. Video clips of related material were introduced, followed by an interactive discussion with the attendees that numbered over 70. The IFCP encouraged the cotton community to embark on similar projects.

China Cotton Association to Introduce Cotton Logo for Domestic Promotion
There are several advantages to promoting cotton domestically, including the ability to influence the competitive landscape, knowledge of the specific culture, lower costs, understanding the buying and selling habits of the consumer, and understanding the retail supply chain. The IFCP promotes cotton indirectly by “promoting the promotion” of cotton to those who have an interest in doing so. Domestically focused demand enhancement programs will be key to increasing worldwide consumption of cotton in the future. Read this excerpt by Gao Fang, Secretary General of the China Cotton Association (CCA) as they introduce a new cotton logo, and a promotion program to support it.

Bloomingdale’s To Launch Supima Collection
Supima and Bloomingdale’s have announced a collaboration, where the retailer will offer a collection of apparel under the Supima brand. All items will be made with 100% Pima cotton, grown in the U.S. The program will begin in the flagship store in New York City, and will then be sold nationally throughout other Bloomingdale’s stores. The program developed as a result of Supima’s pop-up store program, where they demonstrated visual merchandising that appealed to consumers.

Preparations for the 68th ICAC Plenary Meeting
Preparations for the 68th ICAC Plenary Meeting are progressing well, and an interactive agenda is being prepared. A robust Inaugural Session is planned for Monday September 7, including recognition of the ICAC Cotton Researcher of the Year, the Report of the Chair of the Standing Committee, a report from the Private Sector Advisory Panel, and the Keynote Speech by Berrye Worsham, Cotton Incorporated, on the topic of Positioning Cotton As a Solution to 21st Century Problems.

Putting Sustainability into Action
The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City will hold its 3rd Annual Sustainable Business & Design conference on April 2, 2009, entitled: Putting Sustainability into Action. Included in the program will be a panel discussion entitled "Cotton Sustainability in the Textile Complex". The panel is in support of the International Year of Natural Fibres (IYNF). The discussion will address factors that are considered good practices toward gaining credibility with the consumer, communicating and implementing sustainability at the retail level, and progress achieved in the cotton processing sectors, including agriculture.

Can Green Retailers Make Green?
Biodegradable coffee cups. Reusable grocery bags. Organic cotton. Socially conscious products are seemingly everywhere. But "going green" almost invariably means increased costs for companies, resulting in higher prices for consumers. In uneasy economic times, are we willing to pay a premium to feel good? By Lauren Sherman. Originally published on Forbes.com.

Court Says Hess Natur-Textilien Ads in Violation of Fair Competition Code
With judgement of 29 January 2008 the district court Giessen confirmed a prohibitory injunction that had been ordered already a year ago against the mail order company Hess Natur-Textilien, Butzbach, Germany. Thus the enterprise is not allowed to promote its so called bio products to the debit of conventional cotton.

The International Year Of Natural Fibres 2009
2009 has been proclaimed the International Year of Natural Fibres. The Year is to be coordinated by FAO, under the guidance of an international steering committee, and FAO is seeking funding for its activities. But most of the activities will be initiated, planned and funded by individual organizations around the world. Organizations with an interest in natural fibres are urged to develop their own plans for 2009.

Press Release: Roskwitalski to Helm IFCP
November 9, 2007, Washington, DC — Mr. Zbigniew Roskwitalski was elected Chairman of the International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP) at the annual business meeting held in Izmir last month. Mr. Roskwitalski, Director of the Gdynia Cotton Association, is a founding member of the IFCP and has been active in bringing the importance of demand enhancement to the forefront of cotton business activities. Read the attached release for further details.

Registration Underway for the ICAC Plenary Meeting in Izmir
The 66th Plenary Meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) will be held in Izmir, Turkey, from October 22-26, 2007. The theme of the meeting will be Strategies for National Competitiveness. Opening ceremonies, plenary and open sessions, and meetings of the Steering and Drafting committees and the offices of the Secretariat will be located at the Hilton Hotel in Izmir. IFCP members are urged to register early for travel and hotel accommodations.

IFCP Elects New Officers
The International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP) elected new officers last week at the organization’s annual business meeting, held in Goiânia, Brazil at the 65th ICAC Plenary Meeting. Chairman, for 2006-2007 is Mark Messura of Cotton Incorporated, Vice Chairman is Zbigniew Roskwitalski of Gdynia Cotton Association, and Treasurer is Nayan Mirani of SCIL Capital India Ltd., representing the East India Cotton Association. Ascending to Immediate Past Chair is Dr. Sebahattin Gazanfer of Taris, representing ITKIB. Jeffrey Silberman will serve another term as Executive Director.

The Confederacion Colombiana Del Algodon (CONALGODON) has joined the International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP)
Conalgodon, the Colombian Cotton Confederation, is an umbrella organization of regional cotton associations that represents the interests of Colombian cotton growers at the national and international levels. Conalgodon manages various programs that benefit the cotton sector in the country, among which is the Colombian Cotton Corporation, a cotton promotion non-profit organization initiated in July 2005. Conalgodon represents Colombia before the International Cotton Advisory Committee.

Registration Underway for 65th Plenary Meeting in Brazil
The 65th Plenary Meeting of the ICAC since 1939 will be held during 11-15 September 2006 in the dynamic city of Goiânia, capital of the state of Goiás in central Brazil. The theme of the 65th Plenary Meeting will be "Improving the Environmental and Social Impacts of Cotton Production and Use", and will provide opportunities for information exchange and consensus building around best industry practices. The meeting will showcase the beneficial impacts of cotton production and use in the achievement of social objectives, and the meeting will showcase the extraordinary growth of Brazilian cotton production and improvements in quality.

Cotton Incorporated’s Storm Denim^TM Repels Rain, Attracts Consumers
Innovation drives markets. New ideas, new technologies, new ways of making the established and familiar more attractive and desirable keeps those products viable. The newly introduced Storm Denim^TM technology provides water-repellency, protection from the cold and damp, and above all, breathability — all in a garment-form application that merges fashion with function like never before.
More: Cotton Incorporated

ICAC to Hold 65th Plenary Meeting in Brazil
The 65th Plenary Meeting of the ICAC since 1939 will be held during 11-15 September 2006 in the dynamic city of Goiânia, capital of the state of Goiás in central Brazil. The theme of the 65th Plenary Meeting will be "Improving the Environmental and Social Impacts of Cotton Production and Use", and will provide opportunities for information exchange and consensus building around best industry practices. The meeting will showcase the beneficial impacts of cotton production and use in the achievement of social objectives, and the meeting will showcase the extraordinary growth of Brazilian cotton production and improvements in quality.

ICAC Podcasts
The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) has begun publishing a series of podcasts. These 2-to-5 minute reports, recorded at the beginning of each month, provide abbreviated information on the latest events affecting the world cotton market. These are a wonderfully convenient way of keeping up with the latest cotton news — listen to them on your computer, or on the go.

Cotton on the History Channel
The History Channel recently aired a program focusing on the history and contemporary use of cotton, as part of the Modern Marvels series. It’s available on DVD, and you can also search the History Channel website to see if they will be showing a rerun in the next 2 weeks.

IFCP Second Open Session Plenary Program
The International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP) will focus on demand enhancement in the Second Open Session at the 64th ICAC Plenary Meeting in Liverpool. The program features Woods Eastland, Jeffrey Silberman, Sebahattin Gazanfer, and Mark Messura.

Woods Eastland to Speak for IFCP at ICAC Plenary
Mr. Woods Eastland will present "The Case for Producer Support for Consumer Promotion" in Open Session at the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) Plenary Meeting in Liverpool on September 26. The talk is aimed at encouraging organizations to take up the challenge of developing domestically focused cotton promotion programs.
More: Woods Eastland’s bio

64th Plenary Session of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)
The 64th Plenary Meeting will be conducted in historic St. George’s Hall in Liverpool, UK during 25-29 September 2005. Blocks of hotel rooms have been reserved for meeting participants in numerous hotels in the vicinity of St. George’s Hall. Hotel reservations should be made directly through the Liverpool travel authority. Liverpool is designated as the European Capital of Culture, 2008. An extensive social program is being prepared, beginning with a reception on Sunday night at the historic Liverpool Town Hall, a Conference Dinner on Monday, a trip on the Mersey Ferry on Tuesday, a sightseeing opportunity to an historic spinning mill or options to visit museums or go shopping on Wednesday, and dinner at the Maritime Museum on Wednesday with an opportunity to view the Cotton Exhibition being prepared for its opening night during the plenary meeting. Conference lunches and tea and coffee breaks will be provided each day.

International Textile Trade Seminar — Expanding Trade in Cotton Textiles
An international seminar will be held in Taipei, China (Taiwan) on 1 October 2005 sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The seminar will be organized by the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF) and the ICAC. Preparations for the seminar are in full swing and participant registrations are advancing. The seminar will focus on potential growth in world trade in cotton textiles and apparel and investment opportunities in the textile industry. Presentations and discussions at the seminar will cover numerous subjects, including an outlook for world trade in cotton textiles, how to face free trade in cotton textiles, potential for expanded trade in textiles, the role of the government in stimulating growth and investment opportunities for the textile industry. The seminar will complement the Taipei International Textile & Apparel Show (TITAS), also organized by the TTF, to be held between 29 September and 1 October 2005.

100% Cotton
The incredible story of cotton and its impact on the history of Liverpool and the world is told in a unique and extensive exhibition called 100% Cotton at the Merseyside Maritime Museum from 24 September 2005 to 4 June 2006.

Press Release: IFCP: New Officers Elected
January 1, 2005, New York, NY — Dr. Sebahattin Gazanfer was elected Chairman of the International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP) at the December 2004 Annual Meeting of the membership in Mumbai, India. He succeeds Allen Terhaar of Cotton Council International who served two consecutive terms of office, and now serves in the new capacity of Immediate Past Chairman.

Mark Messura and Zbigniew Roskwitalski were elected Vice Chairman and Treasurer respectively. Read the attached release for further details.

Silk Demand Enhancement Program Launched in India
A new mark has been developed by the Silk Mark Organization of India to promote silk. The Silk Mark joins the existing wool, linen and cotton marks being used to promote natural fibers in India.

Press Release: IFCP Hosts Spring Promotion Workshop
June 10, 2004, New York, NY — The International Forum for Cotton Promotion held its Spring Cotton Promotion Workshop May 23-26 at Cotton Incorporated’s Cary, NC world headquarters. Hosted by Cotton Incorporated, Cotton Council International, and the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), the workshop focused on promotion techniques, case histories and the launch of domestically focused and funded cotton promotion programs.

Press Release: IFCP Web Site Targets Cotton Industry Organizations
January 13, 2004, New York, NY — The International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP) has announced the launch of www.cottonpromotion.org, a web site designed to enlighten and empower cotton organizations in the service of increasing consumption of cotton within their own markets.

Fiber Content Labeling begins to take hold in India
By Vijay Trivedi, The Financial Express. In order to provide quality textile products and more product information to the local consumers, the textile ministry has issued a notification stating that enforcement of markings is mandatory on the yarns made wholly from cotton, cloth containing cotton or wool and tops containing wool.

Highlights from the Promotional Activities on Textiles and Clothing Sectors of Turkey
By Dr. Sebahattin Gazanfer. On behalf of the Istanbul Textile & Apparel Exporters Association, (ITKIB) on promotion progress in Turkey.