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Coated Fabrics- The High Value Specialty Fabrics

2009-04-30T15:12:32Z

In this age of specialty based environment, everything connected to highly technical man needs to be special. Fabrics are no exception. Many types of specialty fabrics go to serve the cause of consumer, industrial, medical, and military applications. Coated fabric is one such specialty fabric which has been there for a long time and is being refined with the time.

Coated Fabric

Any woven or a non-woven fabric, when coated with something like plastic resin, rubber, elastomers, fluoropolymer such as PTFE or Teflon, can be called a coated fabric. As common a thing as canvas- wax coated cotton fabrics - is in fact a coated fabric. We may realize or not, coated fabrics are everywhere nowadays- from projection screens to window shade fabrics, from artist’s canvas to custom laminated fabric, from ground sheets to truck tarpaulins-all of them are coated fabrics.

Materials Used for Coating Fabrics

There are many coating formulations that are used for coating a fabric to make it suitable for a specific purpose.

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)- PVC bags, rubber bath mat are made of them
PE and other Poly olefins,
PU (Polyurethane), such as PU coated leather
Acrylics
Rubber (natural or synthetic)
Waxes

Coating is done to give specialized characteristics to a fabric such as to make them water repellent fabrics. A wide range of properties like water resistance, fire retardance, UV resistance, flexibility, surface gloss, surface texture, etc. can be given to a coated fabric through proper application of specific chemical and additive mix and compounds on the fabric substrate.

Types of Coated Fabrics

Coated fabrics are mainly used for making protective clothing.

PVC coated fabrics: The PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) or polymer-coated fabrics are mainly used to make waterproof garments such as PVC rainwear. They are also used for making chemical protective clothing as well as industrial clothing that is oil and grease resistant.

Teflon coated fabrics: These coated fabrics are very strong and are used to make gaskets and seals in the automotive industry as well as conveyor belts for use in various industries.

Rubber coated fabric: They are used to make water resistant items such as bags and luggage bags. It is also used for heat curtains.

Vinyl coated fabrics: They are used to make water and mildew proof fabrics required for outdoor applications, such as for tents and tarpaulins.

TPO coated fabrics: Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) is usually coated on polypropylene fabric (PP). These fabrics are used to make ground sheets, field covers, roofing membranes, sporting tents, light weight sport field covers, agriculture coverings, truck tarpaulins etc.

A Word of Concern- The Environmental Factor

Along with many advantages, the coated fabric also have some disadvantages, the main being its threat to environmental cause. The problem lies with the disposal of waste, which is generated after the use of coated fabrics. They cannot be recycled even by applying high temperature or pressure. Dissolving them in solvents also doesn't seem to be working as these solvents too can't dissolve the whole of the coated fabric for recycling purpose. The waste of coated fabrics can only be burnt safely with all the precautions taken from environmental point of view.

What's the solution then? From among all the coated fabrics including the most popular ones made from polyester fabrics, /fabrics/polyester-fabrics.html and polyamide, the TPO coated polypropylene fabric is the only one that appears with labels such as “PVC free”, “halide free”, “Green product” etc. They are lighter than PU or PVC or rubber coated fabrics since polyolefin are lower in density than PU, PVC or rubber formulations. The coating and the fabric, both are homologous polymers and therefore, are melt recyclable.

Applications of TPO Coated Fabrics

TPO Coated fabrics are now projected as the future of coated fabrics. They are widely used for consumer as well as industrial along with military applications.

Ground Sheet: They are used by soldiers as sleeping mats, temporary shelters, for collecting water or as hammocks. The ground sheets made of natural fabrics, like cotton, are susceptible to degradation and have risk of microbial contamination when wet. The sheets made of coated fabrics of polypropylene works well for the purpose.

Auto Interiors: Coated fabrics, mainly PVC coated fabric is dominantly used in many automotive interior applications such as for door panels, roofing upholstery etc. However, as PVC's lead and cadmium containing additives and growi

How to Choose Top Three Fashion Accessories

2009-04-23T17:29:27Z

Everyone wants to look good, everyone wants to feel special, everyone wants to be fashionably correct, everyone wants comfort, and everyone wants the most out of the spent money. But how? Clothing is one thing that is essential for building our looks, in fact our overall personality. However, fashion clothing is just not enough! We need fashion accessories http://www.teonline.com/textile-accessories/fashion-accessories/ that go with our clothes and of course with our personality. These fashion accessories, most of the time, define the amount of charm we carry with us everywhere we go. So, what are the top fashion accessories that can change us from simpleton girls to a trendy gals!

Fashion Jewelery
Jewelery is special for every woman and why shouldn't it be when it can enhance the beauty of any dress! Necklaces, bangles, earrings, bracelets and a whole lot of costume jewelery is there for you in every color, price and style. Whether worn for ethnic or modern look, whatever the choice of jewelry may be, it should bring elegance along with it.

Tips to choose fashion jewelery

Decide what's your budget before setting out to buy jewelery.
Look for the jewelery in your pre decided price range. If you feel sales persons are making you frustrated, then search online by price, color, jewelry style and other jewelry descriptives on your mind.
Decide whether you want jewelery for playful, casual, glamorous or elegant looks. Then choose the jewelery that suits the required look. Gems or semi precious gems can look elegant or glamorous. Jewelery with beads and stones can give a casual or fun look.

When buying earrings, consider the shape of your face as well as the dress which you'll wear it. Dangle earrings suit round faces while round earrings go well with thin or longer face.
Ankle bracelets show off long legs, especially with short skirts. So decide accordingly, whether you want to highlight your legs or not. Understated high heels with a small golden chain anklet give a very glamorous look but never try it with fishnet stockings. It won't look good.
When wearing casual dresses like jeans, go for matching casual jewelery like a choker made up of hemp fiber or something made of leather or silver.
Try to give your attire a coordinated look through a consistent theme. Gold earrings with silver bangles or a colorful beaded necklace will look inconsistent.
Don't wear too much jewelry. Earrings, necklace, bracelet, bangles, ankle bracelets- all at the same time will give a cluttered look. Two at a time is always fine. Rings ( not more than two in a hand) can be spared from the list. Stud earrings are also exceptions. Exclude either necklace or earrings to highlight your lower body.
If wearing ladies tops having long sleeves, there's no need of a bracelet. If tops have short sleeves then a bangle or bracelet will look good. Patterned dresses don't need necklaces.

Handbags
Handbags are among the most favorite fashion accessories not only because they look attractive and give an undefinable charm to one's personality but also because they are essential for their utility as facilitator for carrying items required on a daily basis and some other tit bits too.

Tips for Choosing the Right Handbag

While choosing fashion handbags always look for right style and design that suits your body shape as well as the purpose for which it is being bought.

Small bags are good for women having shorter petite figure while middle or large sized handbags are suitable to those having tall and slim figure.
Further, tall and slim women should carry more rounded bags while women with shorter figure must go for more angular bags.
Although matching colored handbags complement any dress in an exclusive way, it's not always possible to have a cupboard full of handbags. As such, go for neutral color handbags such as blacks, browns and whites. Anyway, to pamper yourself, you can always buy a couple of bright colored handbags to match your expensive party dresses.
Always select handbags keeping in mind their purpose. Tote bags are good for office going purpose as they can hold a good amount of personal belongings. If they are with a number of compartments, it's all the more good as the things could be found easily saving your time for more important office works.
Clutch handbags are specially designed to be carried in the hand, perfect for evening parties where you don't need to keep your hands free for other works and you'll find enough space to keep the very essential things in your clutch bag.
Satchels having large straps are also good for office purpose and also for students as they can be carried over shoulder and have enough space for your important files, documents or papers. What more, they are fashionable too.
Duffel bags are best options for travel purpose. Having mush space and extra compartments, these bags, some of which have wheel, trolley, and removable straps, are true travel companions.
Hobos, typically large having crescent shape, can be carried over shoulder. Good for office going women who don't have to bother carrying too much of things.

Footwear
Footwear is the most sought after fashion accessories that needs no introduction. Everyday, new styles of shoes and sandals are introduced in the fashion market. Shoes can make or mar one's appearance. So, its important to select the right shoes that matches your outfit, are stylish as well as comfortable.

Tips for Choosing the Right Footwear

Choose footwear according to the occasion. Formal occasions need formal shoes where as casual shoes are there for daily wear. For example, leather sandals with high heels go well with womens evening gowns.
Flat shoes or sandals look stylish with jeans.
Open toe, high heeled sandals with straps go well with formal dresses.
Color is also important when choosing footwear. For example, a red dress matched with a shoe having a touch of red hue will definitely make a person more attractive.

Get some neutral colored shoes too like blacks and browns as they can be matched with most of the colors.
Keep comfort also in view when buying shoes. Worn out shoes can lead to back pain, sore knee joints, or aching feet. Replace your shoes when you start feeling uncomfortable wearing it.
A good shoe gives you proper fit, support, cushioning, and flexibility.
Try to buy shoes late in the day, say in afternoons. Feet have the tendency to swell and if you buy a shoe right in the morning, it might feel tight when worn in the afternoon.
Foot size tends to change every year. So measure your foot before buying a shoe. Try to buy the shoes that are shaped like your foot.
The sole on the bottom of your foot must have a soft and supportive cushion.
While trying the shoes, take a quick walk to get a feel for the shoe. Your feet must not slide around inside and but must be a little room beyond the largest toe which should not be more than half inch.
Never ever buy a tight shoe.

Latest Trends of Global Textile Machinery Industry

2009-04-17T10:15:26Z

The global textile machinery market, which was growing at a fast rate in the recent past, has suddenly experienced a setback mainly due to the global economic downturn. The investment climate had been favorable to the textile machinery industry in the first six months of 2007. However, thereafter, the industry's growth had become slower, the culprit being global recession.

Imports and Exports

Both, imports and exports worldwide have declined. China, the largest importer of textile machineries reported a decline of 14% in its imports during the period Jan-Oct 2008 when compared with the same period in 2007. Germany, the world's largest exporter also experienced a major fall in the demand for textile machinery which was down by 12% in the first seven months of 2008 when compared to the same period in 2007.

Textile Finishing Machinery Market

With the growing demand of high performance fabrics worldwide, the textile finishing machinery becomes all the more significant. However, this segment of textile machinery industry also did not see all the good, it was a mixed bag for it in 2007. While the demand for mercerising machine had been on rise, the same for textile bleaching machinery, textile dyeing machines and textile washing machines had declined. As far as textile drying machines are concerned, the demand for stentering machines, or stenters, increased only a little.

Emerging Markets for Textile Machinery

Italy had remained one of the major global producers of textile machinery. Although according to the report of the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT), Italy's preliminary year-end 2008 estimates indicate 18% lower production as compared to 2007, it gives an idea about the emerging markets for textile machinery. China remained the leading importer of textile machinery though it purchased 25% lower machinery than it did in 2007. India remained second with a fall of 12% followed by Turkey who was also down by 53%.

China, India and Turkey had long remained leading consumers of textile machinery. However, other major consumers, namely Germany, United States and Switzerland placed fewer orders for textile machinery as compared to 2007. What had been surprising is the fact that developing countries namely Brazil, Egypt and Bangladesh Have emerged as strong markets for textile machinery. As per the ACIMIT report, the orders from Brazil were up 22% and that of Russia increased by 59%.

Current Status and Future Prospectives

The downward slide is continuing well in 2009. Current credit crunch and demand for more guarantees by banks for providing credit lines along with other reasons have made the investors cautious. Going by the market experts, there is no sign of recovery of global textile machinery industry in 2009. Reasons given for such state are the uncertain financial markets and dependence of the textile industry on state subsidies in many countries of the world.

However, what is expected by the industry is to maintain the growth if not further rise in demand for textile machineries globally. The growing Asian textile industry is the key factor that can renew the business of western textile machinery manufacturers as well as local competitors. Also, there is a considerable rise in the demand for nonwoven disposable textile products like filters and tissues. This factor will also lead to growth in textile machinery market. It will be particularly relevant in the emerging economies such as China and India, where nonwovens are seeing great business opportunities due to the growing prosperity in these countries. Also due to the immensely growing popularity of eco- friendly fibers, such textile machinery that help in their production, for example, cold pad-batch dyeing machine that uses a more environmental friendly technique for coloring knit fabric, will see a good growth.

Interior Decoration with Textile Furnishings

2009-04-10T12:02:04Z

Interior decor, in fact, the whole interior environment of any home decides the comfort, utility of space and the level of effect on one's psyche. Home furnishings, also popular by the names textile furnishings or soft furnishings, are one of the most important component of a home's interior environment. They are flexible, they come in a variety of textures, prints, designs, patterns and fabrics. What else we need other than textile furnishings to give every corner of a home its own identity.

Role of Fabrics in Interior Decor

Fabric is such a material that is used by most of the interior decorators to cure any flaw in the interior architecture. There are many other primary functions of fabrics in interior decoration apart from this secondary function of hiding defects in furnitures and architecture.

Fabrics provide good insulation, keeping cool in summers and warm in winters according to the choice of fabrics.
They can provide privacy to any required degree- sheer curtains http://www.teonline.com/home-furnishings/curtains/ will let people enjoy outside beauty while the opaque curtains will keep outside world literally out of sight.
Fabrics provide sound insulation. They reduce noise, make music and even speech richer and more resonant of all acoustic materials.
They can be used almost everywhere and can take almost any shape and size. No other material can be used with so much of versatility.
They can be reused, changed or replaced with great ease.

Characteristics Needed in Textile Furnishings

Home furnishings are not meant only for decoration. They have to be enough strong or light, resistant to some materials such as water or fire, and should have many other properties according the purpose they are intended to be used.

Curtain fabrics should have light fastness.
Upholstery fabrics and curtain fabrics again should have resistance to seam slippage.
Bedding fabrics should have resistance to pilling and stains.
Quilting fabrics and fabrics used for pillow covers, cushion covers, mattress cover etc. should have resistance to snagging.
Fabrics for kitchen linen should be flame resistant fabric.
Shower curtains should be made from water repellent fabrics.
Other fabrics for bathroom furnishings like bath towels should have high water absorption ability.
Upholstery and other fabrics like that for aprons should have shape retention capability.

It is this requirement of properties that some fabrics are preferred more for one home furnishing item and some others are liked for other home furnishings.

Interior Decor Styles Achieved Through Fabrics

home furnishing fabrics

Chenille fabric and printed flocked fabric, used with a creamy white background color along with subtle shades of patterns will give a shabby chic style to a room.
The rough strong corduroy fabric, used in various coverings, curtains and cushions give a contemporary stylish look.
The same corduroy when combined with Damask- plain or with patterns- will give a traditional appearance.
Jacquard fabric and brocade fabric-again available in plain or patterns- will give traditional looks.
Stripes and chequered fabrics can make a room look bright and informal and when different sized stripes and checks are mixed and matched with complimentary colors, they will definitely provide a contemporary look.
And here is the versatile knit fabric, that can give all kind of colors, forms, textures and dimensions to a room. They can be used for almost any home furnishings- cushion covers, bed coverings, sofa throws, rugs, curtains, sofa covers and what not! They are capable of giving traditional as well as contemporary look, that too with style.

Industrial Textile Products - The Other Side of Textile

2009-04-03T09:52:12Z

While talking of textile and textile products, an average man mostly thinks about clothing and sometimes about home furnishings plus certain commonly used products made of fabrics such as bags. It only happens rarely that someone thinks about textile as serving other industries that are not at all related to textile or fabrics. So much so that the industrialists themselves never realize how they use textile for supporting their production, in spite of using textile products day and night. This article is an effort to underline the importance of textile in almost all industries by giving an account of certain commonly prevalent but rarely thought about industrial textile products.

Tarpaulins

Not so rare at home, the tarpaulins or tarps made of water repellent fabrics are of great use to industries when it comes to cover the transportation trucks full of their manufactured products or protect their valuable movable or immovable belongings on the industry campus. Canvas tarps are generally made of some natural fiber like 100% cotton canvas. However, the current popular choice for tarpaulins is that which is made up of Polyethylene Fabric, commonly known as Poly tarps. The industries prefer it due to several reasons including cost effectiveness, convenience, beauty and flexibility.

Polyethylene tarpaulins are excellent textile products for a variety of industrial as well as home application- as covers for canopies, boat covers, car covers, gardening, storage, transportation etc. Its quality is decided by its weaving. The cross weaving of poly yarns is followed by double-sided lamination to make it strong and waterproof. As such, it is possible to make tight or loose tarpaulin according to specific requirements. Tarpaulin with a tight pattern may be identified by the greater number of cross weaves per inch, which makes it highly durable and resistant to external factors.

All types including lightweight and medium to heavy duty tarpaulins are manufactured for various purposes. However, industrial application demands heavy duty tarpaulins that are about 12 mils in thickness and around 14 by 14 mesh count. ( Thickness of poly tarps is measured in mils and mesh count is a measure of how tightly woven the poly tarp is.) Also, the industrial heavy duty poly tarpaulins have more weight, around 6 or more ounces per square yard. Grommets (holes) are also added to such a solid designed tarpaulin to which ropes can be attached for tying or suspending wherever necessary.

Slings

Material handling is a major function in any industry. Slings are mostly used as materials-handling apparatus. Factors that are considered when selecting sling for a job include the size, weight, shape, temperature, sensitivity of the material to be moved, and environmental conditions under which the sling will be used. There are many types of industrial slings – chain slings, wire rope slings, metal mesh slings, Natural and synthetic fiber rope slings, and synthetic web slings. Apart from chain and metal mesh slings, all the other slings fall in the category of textile products.

Wire rope slings are constructed from individual wires twisted together in order to make strands. These strands are twisted around a core to make a rope. The core is made of fiber or a wire. Fiber core is more flexible while wire core tends to be more stronger and is more resistant to heat damage. Wire rope slings are selected on certain characteristics such as strength sufficient to accommodate the maximum load that will be applied, and the ability to withstand abrasion and repeated bending. Although wire rope slings are lubricated during manufacture, they must be lubricated regularly while they are being used as it prevents or reduces corrosion and wear due to friction and abrasion.

Natural and Synthetic Fiber Rope Slings are pliant, grip the load well, and do not damage the surface of the load. As such, they are perfect to be used for expensive loads, highly finished or fragile parts, and delicate equipment. However, they should be avoided for lifting objects that have sharp edges capable of cutting the rope or where it has to be exposed to high temperatures, severe abrasion, or acids.

Synthetic web slings have many advantages like strength as they can handle loads of up to 300,000 lbs; conform to any shape; hold the load with a tight, non-slip grip, do not destroy highly polished or delicate surfaces, are not affected by mildew, rot, or bacteria; resist some chemical action and abrasion; cost effective as they have long service life, absorb heavy shocks; and are unaffected by temperatures up to 180ºF. Nylon slings are best wherever there is alkaline or greasy condition but they shouldn't be used in acid solutions or where high-temperature bleach solutions are used. Instead, Dacron or Polyester slings should be used in such conditions. However, Dacron slings can't be used in alkaline conditions where nylon or polypropylene slings will suit the purpose. Polyester slings are also ideal for applications where a minimum of stretching is required.

Tents

Tents are yet another textile product that is used widely by the industries as storage facilities, sales areas, exhibition halls, weather-protected space, production and workshop facilities, airport check-in halls or waiting rooms, sports or horse riding centers, and also as a cover for building sites and protection for tipped sand or gravel, among other applications. Industrial tents, in fact, present an efficient way of enlarging space requirements without investing much of business capital in solid or steel structures.

Cotton canvas, coated and treated to make it waterproof, has been the popular choice for making tents for years. However, technological developments and innovations in the tent industry has made it possible to use a variety of fabrics for the purpose. The high performance nylon fabrics, polyester fabrics having natural capability of resisting water and deterioration resistance, polyethylene fabric – the toughest material for fabrication and other specialized UV protective tent fabrics are used for making a wide variety of beautiful and functional tents.

All About Eco Friendly Fibers -A Gift for Environment Lovers

2009-03-27T06:15:03Z

Eco-fashion is the new buzzword! Have you heard that? I hear you saying “yes!” But do you know what all fibers are eco-friendly? Did you say, natural fibers! But then what about the textile chemicals that go into giving all those high end finishes to these fabrics made from natural fibers? And have you ever thought that some fibers that are casually said synthetic fibers are not synthetic at all? They are man made fibers. Now you might be thinking what's the difference between the two- man made and synthetic- both seem to be the same! I don't intend to confuse you all, I just want to clarify your understanding about eco- friendly fibers. Let's move on to first know, why all natural fibers are not environmental friendly?

All natural fibers are not Eco- friendly Fibers

Natural fiber, such as cotton fiber is free of impurities but only when no harmful pesticides or insecticides are used in its cultivation. If so, then it is environmental friendly. However, even if they are produced sans any of these harmful substances, they can become 'polluted' when processed for making yarns and fabrics because of all the textile chemicals used on them. Same is the case with animal fiber like wool which can get contaminated due to pesticides used in sheep dips or a variety of drugs used for treating the animal diseases. However, when the plant fiber, cotton for example once again, is cultivated without any harmful pesticides and with the help of composted manures and cover crops then only can it be said 'organic cotton' which is 100% eco-friendly fiber.

Man- made fibers can also be Eco- friendly Fibers

Natural fibers are obtained from plants (such as cotton, hemp, jute etc.), from animals (such as wool, fur etc.), or insects (such as silk). Man- made fibers can be divided into two categories- synthetic fibers and regenerated fibers. Synthetic fibers are completely made from chemicals like polyester fiber or nylon fiber. Regenerated fibers are made by transforming natural polymers through chemical-based process. These fibers again have two categories – one having protein origin and the other with cellulose origin. Regenerated fibers of protein origin come from plant protein such as corn, soy, peanut etc. or from animal protein such as casein from milk. Regenerated fibers of cellulose origin come from cellulose of wood pulp or leaves. Examples of such fibers are bamboo, rayon, lyocell, tencel, viscose etc. Thus these man- made regenerated fibers ( some of which are sometimes called synthetic fibers like rayon), are also eco- friendly fibers. However, if chemicals are used while processing of such fibers then they lose their identity of being eco- friendly.

An Introduction to Rare Eco- friendly Fibers

Now when we know how to identify any fiber as eco- friendly fiber, it seems to be the appropriate time to have an introduction of some rare Eco- friendly Fibers.

Stinging Nettle Fiber: This fiber is obtained from the Brennessel plant which is naturally resistant to vermin and parasites. It can be grown without pesticides and herbicides and with very little fertilization as the minerals do not get leached out of the ground. The environmental friendly process requires the plant stems to be cut and left on the field for retting. Retting is exposure to rain, moisture and sun to facilitate the removal of fiber from the woody tissue. Then the straw is collected, pressed into bales and placed in a barn to dry. Fiber is separated from the stem mechanically i.e. by removing the wood from the fiber. The fibers are then cleaned by combing. They can then be mixed with organic cotton and spun into yarn.

Nettle fiber is stronger than cotton and finer than linen fiber. They can be made into a wide range of woven as well as knitted fabrics. Due to its fine weft and glossy look, nettle fabric was very popular in middle-ages but lost its position to inexpensive cotton. Now again, it is becoming popular as sustainable alternative to cotton.

Pineapple Fiber: One of the eco- friendly fibers gaining fast popularity is the pineapple fiber, the pina fiber. It is extracted from the pineapple leaves by hand scraping, decortication or retting. Decortication uses a motorized machine with blades to scrape off the pulp in order to separate the fiber. In retting, the leaves are immersed in water for softening the plant gums. They are then dried in the open air, the fibers are waxed to remove any entanglements and then they are knotted and bind into yarns for weaving into fabric. The fibers are hand spun into ivory-white colored and naturally glossy fabric. Pineapple fabric is lightweight, soft, shinning, transparent and a little stiff fabric used for making clothes having elegant looks.

Milk Protein Fiber: These fibers are used to make yet another healthy and eco- friendly yarn- the milk yarn. Milk is dewatered, i.e. all the water content is taken out from it and then skimmed. With the help of bio-engineering technique, a protein spinning fluid is made. Wet spinning process converts this fluid into high-grade textile fiber. The skin friendly milk yarn goes to make glossy and luxurious fabrics similar in appearance to silk fabrics that have antibacterial and antifungal properties too. Their hygroscopic character makes them one of the finest moisture management fabrics. They can be blended with a number of fibers to get many characteristics- blend them with bamboo to get cool fiber and with wool fiber to have a thermal protective fiber.

Bamboo Fiber: The bamboo fiber is obtained from the pulp of bamboo plants. Bamboo fiber is a regenerated cellulose fiber. However, bamboo fiber is eco- friendly only when it is extracted with mechanical process. It's chemical processing is not environmental friendly. When mechanically processed, the crushed bamboo is treated with biological enzymes which breaks it into a mushy mass after which individual fibers are combed out. Organic bamboo fabric is left unbleached by the manufacturers. Bamboo fibers make smooth, soft, antibacterial and luxurious fabric that have a very good absorption quality.

Banana Fiber: The banana fiber is extracted by hand stripping and decortication. Thus, it is 100% eco-friendly fiber. This fiber looks like bamboo fiber and ramie fiber. It is strong, shiny, lightweight and bio-degradable. It can even absorb moisture very efficiently. Banana fibers were used for making ropes and mats till recent past. With its many qualities getting popular, the fashion industry is also fast adopting this fiber for making various fashion clothing and home furnishings.

Global Recession Impacts on Fashion Industry: Strategies for Survival

2009-03-20T09:39:08Z

The whole world is facing global recession. The economy is slowing, the business environment is unpredictable and the consumers are getting increasingly diverse, informed, technologically strong and demanding. The global meltdown has, in no way, spared the fashion industry. This industry, along with other textile products industry, is also feeling the pinch of financial adversity.

The Fashion Industry

The fashion industry can be termed as complicated with no standard for defining fashion companies. They belong to a wide range of enterprises working in the apparel, clothing & garments, footwear, home furnishings and textile accessories markets. This industry consists of diverse professionals and companies- modeling, fashion-designing, retailing, marketing, planning, and distribution. There are brands and local sellers too, all struggling with their products for survival. All of them are feeling the impact in different ways but what is similar among all is their narrowing wallets.

Impacts of Recession on Global Fashion Industry

The trends all over the world is that of rising unemployment, credit squeeze and plummeting home budgets. Lavish spending habits have been replaced by very cautious closefisted consumer. One of the few items on which the consumers cut back in tough times include apparels and fashion accessories. As such, many fashion companies have also started to fall into credit problems. In the last few months, various companies worldwide have filed for bankruptcy.

Many big names in the fashion industry are facing financial problems, many of whom have even declared their negative condition. Some of these companies are hoping for a take over.
Many companies are negotiating for a partnership deal with willing investors in order to help their finances.

Announcing of plans to remove jobs in regional offices have become more common news.
Many events, innovative plans are being canceled.
Many fashion labels in fashion hubs like Italy, are holding emergency talks with the government and are appealing to support their industry or at least lessen the effects of their financial slowdown.
Many fashion houses are not showing their collections for fall 2009 due in the season as the shows will cost them thousands of dollars with no guarantees of returns.
Many designers have set the trend of smaller or more reserved shows. The industry experts are expecting many more designers to follow suit.
Designs also seem to be affected by the crisis as many shows featured only quiet colors and minimalist lines.
Predictions say that 2009 trends will open the way for again wearing some of the pieces from the past seasons. Subsequently, when the crisis is over, major players are likely to again produce extravagant creations.

Strategies for Fashion Industry in 2009

Although consumers are thinking twice before spending on designer textiles and fabrics, http://www.teonline.com/fabrics/ still there are opportunities for fashion industry in 2009. However, the keywords are individuality and innovation for securing future of any brand. Consumers have to be given exactly what they need and in the way they desire.
- Consumer spending has got lower resulting in pressure on retailers' margins. Therefore, the business will have to focus on protecting gross margin by way of loss prevention, price optimization and efficient inventory management systems.
- Consumers will have to be provided with consistent brand and service offering through multiple touch points -stores, online, social commerce sites, blogs, mobiles, etc. Value-added services such as "buy online, return at stores" etc. can only help establish brand loyalty among customers which is the success mantra for survival. Social media channels are increasingly being used and are very effective means to reach consumers for promotion and brand loyalty.
- Private labeling will be the buzzword of 2009. Private labels provide higher margins, increased flexibility and the capability of responding fast to changes in fashion trends. Stronger brands, already having a direct retail channel, will continue to grow and will gradually begin competing with retailers who were once their customers. Owning own retail channels give brands tighter control over their brand identity. Weaker brands should look for opportunities of becoming private-label suppliers to retailers. The emerging economies of Eastern Europe, South America and Asia will present new growth opportunities in the wake of already saturated U.S. and Western European markets that are also facing financial crisis.
- A strong brand identity will be crucial for international success as stronger brands will be able to take advantage of their brand strength for global expansion using alliances and franchise arrangements.
- New technologies like kiosks, RFID, mobile devices, smart carts, wireless sensors, contact less payment solutions, magic mirrors and virtual closets etc. decide the shopping process of technology savvy consumers. Variety of services such as mobile vouchers, coupons and loyalty cards, location based services, mobile purchasing and building mobile social networks will have to be provided to them.
- Sustainability, reduced carbon footprint, eco-friendly fashion and green supply chain will become more prevalent terms. Brands genuinely committed to environmental cause will get rewarded.
- Today's consumers demand customized fashion tailored to their individual lifestyle needs. So, those companies that provide online template to customize their shoes, bags, t-shirts etc. will get ahead.
- Competitive intelligence capabilities have to be increased. It will be crucial to understand competitor's latest price change or promotion for quickly reacting in the marketplace. Apart from traditional techniques like syndicated data, mediums like social web analytics and blog scraping will tell companies about their customers by continuously monitoring their conversations among themselves instead of periodic surveys. This will enable them to respond faster to perceived trends, customer complaints, unmet requirements, etc.

Wear Fruity Dresses to Match Healthy Fruit Dessert! (Pineapple Fabric)

2009-03-16T10:23:40Z

Many health conscious people love to have Pineapple as their favorite dessert. It's because of many health benefits of the delicious fruit. It protects from a simple flu as well as fights off free radicals that cause cancer. It cleans the internal system to keep our body healthy through fibers that help in proper digestion. That's not all, it's not the only kind of fiber that a pineapple carries. Pineapple leaves are used to obtain Piña, a textile fiber that is used to make fabrics. As such, we are able not only to keep our internal system clean but also to achieve an outer elegant appearance!

Origin, Extinction and Revival of Pina

Pineapple is mainly grown in sub-tropic countries, including Philippines, Taiwan, Brazil, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, and the West Indies. However, the credit for making textile fibers from pineapple leaves go to the Philippines. Piña weaving is an age-old tradition dating back to Hispanic times. Piña clothes were said to have reached Greece and African countries many centuries ago. During 19th century, pina fabric was much in demand, not only in Philippines but worldwide. However, when the much cheaper cotton fabrics became popular, its production ceased and Pina fabric almost disappeared. Till the mid eighties of 20th century, pina fiber was nearly impossible to find, with only a handful of aging, part-time weavers working for its survival. In fact, Pina has been revived in the recent past two decades only.

Great efforts were made for the revival of this age old tradition and for re-establishing the pina trade. It started with marketing of pina barong (embroidered traditional garment of Philippines) locally which eventually got popular with the elite. Traditional pina weaving has survived inspite of all odds and production has since begun to flourish. Now once again, pina fiber is globally popular and Piña cloth from the Philippines are being exported to various parts of the world, particularly to North America and Europe.

Making of Pina Fabric – Long, Tedious but Worthwhile Process

The pina fibers are extracted from the pineapple leaves by hand scraping, decortication or retting. While hand scraping, leaves are stripped by pulling or scraping the fiber away with tools such as porcelain plate, coconut shell, plastic comb and seashells. It is a tedious, time consuming and labor intensive process. The more refined processes include decortication that uses a motorized machine with blades to scrape off the pulp in order to separate the fiber. In retting, the pineapple leaves are immersed in water for some time to soften the plant gums.

After extraction and subsequent drying in the open air, the fibers are waxed to remove any entanglements and then they are knotted and bind into yarns for weaving into fabric. The fibers are hand spun into ivory-white colored and naturally glossy fabric. As the fiber is fine and breaks easily, working with piña is really slow and tedious. One can see the workers constantly knotting the broken threads. However, all these efforts go to produce lightweight, soft, shinning, transparent and somewhat stiff fabric that can be termed as a royal exotic fabric. Sometimes, pina is used to make blended fabrics by combining it with silk fiber or polyester fiber. The resultant fabric is lightweight, easy to care for and has an elegant appearance similar to linen fabrics. Pineapple silk is, in fact, considered the queen of Philippine fabrics.

Classification and Application of Pineapple Fibers and Fabrics

Pineapple fibers, primarily used in hand weaving are divided into two groups- the linuan or fine fibers and bastos or coarse fibers. Red Spanish or native variety of piña is mainly used for hand weaving to make valuable items such as traditional Barong Tagalog, wedding attire for men, and blouses for women , kimonos, panuelos, handkerchiefs, table linen, mats, fans, gowns, and other clothing. The smooth Cayenne or Formosa varieties are primarily used in development of Philippine Tropical Fabrics.

The pina fabric is decorated by a traditional style of hand embroidery called calado. An embroidered piña garment is known as piña calado. These handwoven fabrics are dyed with vegetable dyes obtained from leaves and bark of various trees. Pina fiber is often blended with cotton, abaca, and silk to make amazing light and breezy fabrics. When woven with silk, it is known as pina seda or pina-silk. Pina jusi is a blend of abaca or silk for strength and sheerness and is less expensive than 100% pina.

Characteristics of Pineapple Leaf Fiber Fabric

As the pineapple leaf fiber fabric or the pina fabric is lightweight but stiff, this sheer fabric can be used in any creative design. These fabrics, apart from environmental friendly, have many other qualities.

They have beautiful elegant appearance with natural shine, similar to that of linen.
They are lightweight.
They blend very efficiently with other fibers.
They are very soft, even softer than hemp.
They have better texture than silk.
They can be washed and don't need to be dry cleaned.

As the making process of piña fabric is tedious, time consuming and labor intensive, it becomes quiet expensive. However, when worn, one can feel the luxury of this exotic fabric and then its price becomes immaterial. In fact, a garment of piña fabric is categorized as an heirloom garment.

Recent Market Trends in the Textile Chemical Industry

2009-03-09T04:42:20Z

Textile Chemicals which forms as essential component of the textile industry is creating a rage all over the world. In the recent times, this industry has witnessed a dynamic change in its innovation and a result, a fast pace increase in demand has been registered in the past decade. The methodology involved in the manufacturing of these textile chemicals includes various procedures and chemical treatments. The markets gains of the textile industry relies heavily on the global trend of increased vehemence on the production of textile goods that are higher in value and also satisfy the environmental concerns.

All over the world, there has been a huge demand for textile chemicals, at a lower cost. This is possible only when high solid concentrates are used, amount of water to be shipped in checked upon, transportation is lowered and even the cost is cut. Combination of several chemical auxiliaries in one product too is becoming an efficacious way to lower the overall chemical costs. New chemical technologies that can help in maintaining the growth of textile chemicals in accordance with legislation on health, safety and environment too are surfing up. Now lets have a brief over view of what is in new in the global textile industry.

Of recent major advances in chemicals for technical textiles have been in polymers. The main advantages of this material, i.e. strong growth potential and fibers inherent semiconductor capabilities, are being highlighted. Besides, new coatings, laminates and binder systems are also providing higher added value products in the textile manufacturing industry. Another niche in this segment is the textile wet processing chemicals that can help lower the cost of textile chemical production effectively. Another approach to lower chemical costs is to provide the chemicals in bulk or semi-bulk containers. In this way, the costs for drums and drum disposal are eliminated.

Continuing the decade old trend of having the strongest growth in the textile industry, the textile chemicals manufacturers and wholesalers have now come up with unique ideas for making even the textile chemicals industry go eco friendly. Natural fibers that are less expensive and have better durability are now replacing the use of higher-value non-chlorine bleaching chemicals and other products such as finishing chemicals.

The global demand for textile chemicals is being estimated to increase 2.8 percent per year to $19 billion in 2012. While the manufacturers and suppliers of these textile chemicals are predicting a rise in the Colorants and auxiliaries in this segment all over the world, the tag of being the leader in the consumption of textile chemicals is going to belong to India and China. The Chinese chemical textile market on the other hand promises long term development trends that are going to have an impact on China's macroeconomic trends, investment environment, textile chemicals industry structure and capacities, production and demand, end-user market consumption trends, distribution channels and industry participants.

Microfiber Fabric and its Various Applications

2009-02-25T06:35:34Z

New developments in manufacturing of synthetic fibers is a continuous process. Many fibers have been developed which possess such qualities that have given a setback to the natural fiber too. One of such developments is that of microfibers. Microfibers are synthetic fibers that measure less than one denier. Denier is the measurement of linear density and is used to describe the size of a fiber or filament. Over nine thousand meters of a one-denier fiber weighs over one gram. Most of the microfibers are made of polyester, though they can also be composed of nylon or other polymers. They are exceptionally strong and ultra fine - four times finer than wool fiber, three times finer than cotton fiber and twice as fine as silk fiber

Characteristics of Microfibers

Microfiber fabrics have many qualities due to which they are preferred in many applications mostly for cleaning various surfaces.

In spite of very fine quality, microfibers have exceptional strength.

They are breathable fabrics.
Their comfort is similar to natural fibers.
They are soft.
They are very durable.
They can be easily maintained and cared for.
They retain their original shape.
They are windproof and water resistant.
They have good moisture wicking ability.
They have excellent drape.
They are light weight.
They carry electrodynamic ability.
They have good filtering capabilities.

On a whole, microfibers are high performance and low maintenance fabrics.

Applications of Microfiber Fabrics

Developed in Sweden, microfiber fabrics were originally used as wiping cloths due to their many characteristics suitable for cleaning. Gradually, they started to be used as table cloths, blankets and other home furnishings. Due to their softer feel, good drapability, moisture wicking property, water repellent characteristics, they are used for making a variety of apparel, clothing & garments. They are widely used for making rain wear, sportswear, mens suits, kids clothing, inner wears, hosiery, evening wear, outerwear, sheeting, upholstery and many textile accessories.

Cleaning

The first and the foremost purpose for which microfibers are used, is for making wiping cloths and mops for cleaning. Those wipes used for consumer cleaning are generally made from split conjugated fibers of polyester and polyamide and those used for commercial cleaning are made from 100% polyester microfiber. High-quality microfiber when combined with the right knitting process, creates a cleaning material par excellence which can hold up to seven times its weight in water. They can also absorb oils, that too in a very effective manner. They are excellent for removing wax, quick detailing, cleaning interior and glass, as well as drying of cars and other automotive as they leave no lint or dust. They prevent dust particles from floating in the air and allows them to settle on the cloth due to their electrostatic properties which attracts dirt, fats or grease. Thus they are also ideal for allergy sufferers. They also pick up much of the bacteria from the surface being cleaned. In fact, they reduce the number of bacteria by 99% whereas a conventional cleaning cloth reduces them only by 33%.

Clothing

Due to microfiber's high absorption quality and moisture wicking ability, this fabric has become a popular choice for performance apparel and sports wear. It is fast replacing cotton fabrics in production of these specialty clothings. As microfiber wicks moisture away from the body, it keeps the wearer cool and dry. As such, it has come to occupy an important position in the category of moisture management fabrics. As this fabric is liquid and stain resistant, it is ideal for office wear even in rainy season. When blended with other fabrics like nylon fabric and polyester fabric, it results into hybrid cloth having a very superior quality.

Home Furnishings

Microfiber fabric can be given textures like waffle texture, velour texture, etc. Waffle texture is used in blankets and bed coverings as the dimples created by the air pockets of this texture keep the user warm. Velour textured fabrics are very comfortable and soft that are increasingly being used by fashion designers for their clothing lines. Microfibers used in tablecloths and as upholstery are designed to be liquid and stain resistant. These fabrics show liquids in the form of bead on the surface until they are removed. Microfibers are also used in bath towels and other towels, especially those used for swimming pool purposes, as they allow very quick drying. Many furniture such as sofas have a polyester base and microfiber is used as their top covering. As a result one would not need fabric protectors or stain removing cleaners as microfiber is already stain resistant. Microfiber fabric is also used for thermal insulation in sleeping bags and outdoor equipment as they can retain heat better when damp or wet.

Careful Usage of Microfiber Fabrics

In spite of having many advantages, care has to be taken while using microfiber fabrics, especially when using these cloths to clean sensitive surfaces. As microfiber fabric tends to accumulate dust, debris, and particles in its structure, it can easily damage the sensitive surfaces like the high-tech coated surfaces e.g. CRT, LCD and plasma screens. These surfaces should be protected from abrasion due to dust particles gathered in the wiping cloth. To minimize the risk, a flat, non-rugged microfiber cloth can be used, as they tend to be less prone to holding such fine abrasive materials such as sand grains.

Selecting the Right Embroidery Thread

2009-02-17T10:46:40Z

Embroidery has always been a fascination for those who love embellished apparels and fabrics. With the growing use of embroidery machine, this craft has crossed all the limits of popularity. It is a general belief that the right fabric and right design are the two things that are essential for a good embroidery project. Embroidery Thread, however, is also an important factor for making a stunning work of embroidery.

Embroidery Threads – Different Varieties and Characteristics

Just as the fabrics are made from natural fiber as well as synthetic fiber, threads too are made from both the types of fibers. For selecting embroidery threads, there are many criteria such as sewability, seam performance and appearance, availability and cost.

Rayon Thread: Presently, rayon thread is the most preferred thread of the embroidery lovers worldwide. It has great sheen, good availability, and trouble-free performance. It matches high-speed stitching without breaking or fraying. It comes in a wide variety of colors, from solid singles to mixed variegated colors. Solid colors when twisted together to make a single strand gives automatic shading and dimension to flat designs. Most of the rayon threads are available in a standard 40 wt. and 30 wt. When talking of thread sizing, the higher the number, the finer the thread. However, very fine rayon threads are not so strong. Most of the commercial embroidery is done with rayon thread only.

Polyester Thread: Polyester thread is more economical and more durable when compared to rayon threads. It comes in various colors and also does not shrink or fade. It's great for doing embroidery on kids clothing as it doesn't bleed. Its sheen falls between that of rayon and cotton and is stretchable to some extent. The most popular polyester thread size is 40wt, but 30wt and 50wt can also be easily found.

Cotton Thread: With its lovely soft sheen, the mercerized cotton thread too has a good performance. Although cotton thread does not stretch too much and breaks if pulled too tightly, it allows for a wide range of tension adjustments due to its texture. It's available in heirloom quality of up to 100 wt but finer threads tend to be weaker. 30 wt or 50 wt. cotton thread is appropriate for machine embroidery as it's stronger and provides better coverage. However, it fades in sun, and shrinks when washed. If opting for cotton thread, one should always go for high quality threads that are made with long staple cotton. They are softer, stronger and have higher sheen.

Silk Thread: The royal silk thread is mostly used for embroidery projects involved with luxurious fabrics. It is soft, strong, stable, have enough elasticity and sews smoothly without breaking. It shines like no other thread does. Silk threads are available in a variety of sizes but the threads of 30 wt to 50 wt are appropriate for machine embroidery. The only limitation in their wide application is their cost which is very high. Therefore, they are mostly used for special projects. However, maintaining them is not too much a problem as the fabrics having silk thread embroidery can be gently washed in washing machine with a mild soap. Bleaching agents are not recommended as they can damage the threads. If anyway, one decides of using silk threads then only high quality threads should be selected as they can stand up to high-speed embroidery machines without breaking or shredding. Bargain bin threads are comparatively inexpensive, but are of poor quality, and will lead to wastage of time and frustration also.

Acrylic Thread: Acrylic thread is stronger than the rayon thread but its feel is more rough than the rayon thread. It can be called a coarse thread and therefore is less preferred by many. The color of the acrylic threads don't fade easily and they are comparatively inexpensive too. If one is a beginner and is learning to do embroidery, acrylic threads can be used for good. However, a larger needle is needed to make the sewing go smoother with this thread.

Metallic Thread: Metallic thread has a core wrapped with a metal foil which might be coated with silver alloy. Color is added to this foil with a polyester film which may also be applied as an undercoating. It is one of the most durable types available on the market. As they have complex differing structure, some of them might perform better than others. However, one has to be very careful while using these threads for embroidery projects as the type of machine too affects their performance. The only way out is, to experiment with different varieties of metallic threads to find the one that is trouble-free in the user's machine. Once done that, they deliver amazing results.

Mylar threads: Plies of film are layered together and cut into slices to form a flat filament and glittery mylar thread. Although durable, they tend to break under high-speed sewing. Mylar threads come in a wide variety of colors. One of their unique color feature is that of holographic hues, which pick up light and color from surrounding objects and add spectacular luminous accents to the embroidered product.

Special Effect Thread: Rather a new variety of embroidery threads, the special effects thread give special characteristics to the embroidery. Some of them give away crewel-like effect and some others are fluorescent neon threads. Some threads change their colors when exposed in sunlight, and some others glow in the dark.

All the above discussed threads have their own appeal. After knowing their characteristics, one can easily select the thread that suits the most to the embroidery project in hand.

What to Wear on Valentines Day

2009-02-09T11:20:39Z

You have already planned the big Valentine's date with your sweetheart. There are two consequences that may follow this plan. Either you have thought of what's your clothing going to be on the special romantic day or you are not at all worried about dressing up in a special way. After all he/she is going out with you and that's enough to show that you are liked by your mate. So what's there about dressing up in a special way? That's just to jazz up the things! Show her how you care for her and dress up a little to make her romantic fantasies come alive. And for you, the young lady, dazzle him up with a new look or just changing a bit and then see how deep those two eyes can be, with passion and love!

Valentines Day Dresses for Morning

For Her: Greet him right at the start to make the whole day a romantic affair. If he's your hubby dear then don't forget to wear that soft silk or satin gown, the night before, so that you can greet him as soon as he wakes up. A good idea would be to wake up a little sooner than him and surprise him with 'not so everyday' look. You can wear a lacy satin night gown with a light make up. Just avoid the bright colors and go for sober soothing colors like pink or yellow, in pastels, if possible. And if your boyfriend is about to come to greet you then wearing a camisole will be the best idea. Team it up with a nice pair of jeans and a light make up. He's got to like the fresh look!

For Him: And now some tips for all the husbands who want to make their wives a little more happier on valentines day. Leave the bed earlier on the day and get into a nice night gown or night dress of yours. Or you can wear your athletic pants and shirt and wake her up along with coffee and a nice gift. Also gift her a beautiful track suit in blue or pink and then both of you can set off for a romantic jog! Not a bad idea indeed! And if you are her boyfriend then before going to greet her just wear a nice pair of jeans and equally nice, not too funky, t-shirt. Don't forget to carry her gift along!

Valentines Day Dresses for Daytime Date

For Her: While going out for lunch, avoid bright clothes. Subtle hues of colors like pinks, cream, beiges, blues, yellows, etc. look good. If its a casual date, your best pair of jeans and a figure-hugging t-shirt is enough to do the magic. A camisole with shrug is also a good option. Ensuring comfort is also important, so avoid high heels. Use accessories to your full advantage. Stylish belts, attractive bags, classy earrings and delicate bracelets with light makeup will give you all you want for the day.

For Him: For lunch, you should go for pastel shades such as light blues, creams, or browns. For casual date, a clean pair of denims teamed up with turtle neck t-shirts are great. If you want to maintain your sporty look then also turtleneck tee is a good option or V-neck t-shirt can also be worn. If you don't feel like wearing jeans, then go for baggy pants.

Valentines Day Dresses for Evening Date

For Her: Planning to have a romantic dinner date? Then nothing is more classy than a black dress. Red also has become the color of season, so you may go for a red dress too. For a formal date, like a formal party or a music concert, formal dresses like a knee-length skirt and fitted peasant blouse will do good. A one-shoulder dress can also be tried. Elegance is the key word for the evening dates. A nice prom party dress and footwear with heals is fine. You’ll be seated, so avoid wearing anything too short, too tight, or too revealing. A knee-length hem and empire waist silhouettes are a safer bet. Avoid textiles that wrinkle easily or crinkle loudly. Fluid, jersey-knit fabrics are a better choice.

For Him: For men too, black is the perfect color to wear for a dinner date. Black jeans, preferably of a famous brand like Seven Jeans or True Religion Jeans or trousers with a maroon or wine colored t-shirt or a shirt looks great. For a formal party, a black suit, with a plain, bright shirt is the best option. A scarf can be worn too for jazzing up the look. Leather shoes are all for your special evening. A simple, sober and smart dress reflects perfectly your style and attitude.

Valentines Day Dresses for Night Party

For Her: If you are going to party in a discotheque, then go for all shimmery and glamorous looks. A tank top with cigarette pants and stilettos is just perfect for dancing through the night. Dressy boots can be worn for that hip hop style. And if its not charged up discotheque and a sober ballroom party, or an occasion for the waltz and not Lambada then also your dress must allow you to move comfortably. Floor-sweeping hems, spaghetti straps or strapless dresses are a complete 'no no'. Enthusiastic movements can make straps to snap. A thicker strap or sleeves is fine to enjoy a romantic dance with your partner.

For Him: If planning to dance away the valentine's night in a discotheque, you can wear your khakis or cargo, with a round neck or v-neck t-shirt. Give yourself a funky look by gelling up your hair, and wearing a bracelet. However, if its a ballroom party, better dress up in a formal suit, preferably a black one. A bow or necktie will look good. You can even go for a pair of formal pants and a white shirt.

Designing Party Dresses with Beads, Appliques, and Bows

2009-02-03T11:56:35Z

Beautiful wardrobe is what everyone desires. Although there are countless ready to wear apparel, clothing & garments yet embellishing one's own clothes can be a fun filled activity. When self designed clothes are worn, they give an incredible charm to one's personality. If you are prepared to get that perfect glow on your face, just read on to know how you can decorate your clothes with ever popular trims like beads, appliqué's, and bows.

Sewing Beads on Clothes
Beads have become popular beyond imagination for embellishing not only the clothes but also for making jewelwery, fashion accessories and decorating home A casual and plain dress can be turned into a stunning party wear just by adding beads to it. Sewing beads is also a very simple task for that matter.

Select a pattern which you can readily find in books or on net. You can even make your own pattern with the help of a little imagination. Visualize beads of different sizes, shapes and colors set in straight, curvy or zig zag pattern, how the lines can be set- close to each other or apart from each other, whether a small pattern like that of a small flower, rectangle or circle will look good among the lines, or there's no need of lines and only small patterns scattered all over the dress will look good. These and similar other questions will help you in selecting your pattern.
Draw the selected pattern on tissue paper. Use colored pencils to indicate a change in bead color in the pattern. Attach the tissue paper to the fabric with a few temporary large stitches which can be removed later.

Now place the fabric along with the attached pattern on an embroidery loom. Take care not to tear the tissue paper. Ensure that the pattern paper and the fabric are not loose but smoothly fixed to the loom.
Choose threads that match the fabric. Thread your needle making the thread about two feet long. Knot the thread at the end and insert the needle into the back of the fabric, anchoring the thread. Pull the length of thread through the fabric.
Now start beading. Slide a bead into the needle, push it down the thread to the fabric and then push the needle back through the fabric. Again bring the thread on to the top of the fabric by anchoring through needle and sew another bead according to the pattern.
Knot the thread in back after every few stitches to keep the beads in place and continue until the pattern is complete.

Making Appliques
Appliqué, if simply defined can be called a decorative patch. While patches are for repairing clothes, appliqué's are for decorating them. Appliqué's are commonly used for quilts but the elegant appliqué's have, of late, come to be used for embellishing dresses. Appliqué's look great on a dress. Many of them are often put together to make an interesting pattern. Sometimes different fabrics are selected for individual patches in order to add texture, contrast and style.

Select an image that you want on your garment. This can be anything- a flower, tree, star, fish- anything. Complex patterns will take comparatively longer time than the simple ones.
Draw the image on a thick piece of paper.
Trace out the image on the smooth side of some fuseable web.
Take the fabric intended for making the appliqué. Choose the fabric very carefully as it will be applied on your garment.
Place the fabric right-side-down, and the fuseable web paper on top of that, smooth side up.

Set iron on silk setting and iron both the pieces together about 5 seconds on each spot. Follow the specific instructions, if any, on the fuseable web package. Don't use steam while ironing.
After fusing the fabric together with the web, cut out the image.
Peel the paper off the fabric, and lay down the image on the garment at the intended point.
Iron the fabric to the garment until it is all fused together, and is all easy to sew.
Attach the appliqué to the garment by sewing through zigzag stitch.

Making a Fabric Bow
Bows also represent fashion in a much pretty way. You can even consider designing your party dress with bows. Fabric bows can be made in any size or width, and with any type of fabric from heavy velvet to light chiffon.

Determine the size of the bow you want to make for your dress. Cut a strip of the fabric you have selected. Calculate the length of the fabric you need for the bow by adding together the length of each tail, plus twice the width of the bow. If you intend to make a bow with more than one loop on each side, add extra length to the fabric. The fabric should be twice as wide as the bow piece width. Cut extra width and length for seam allowances. Also, cut a small piece approximately two inches long and the same width as the other fabric.
Fold the fabric lengthwise so the right sides are facing each other. Then, fold the fabric in half the other direction, matching the ends carefully. Mark off an angle at the bottom of the fabric ends with the help of a ruler. Cut this triangle off the fabric. This allows a neat, pointed end to the bow tails. Fold the small piece of fabric lengthwise as well.
Take a thread that matches the dominant color of the fabric and slide it into machine needle. Sew carefully up the pointed end and down three-quarters of the length of the fabric. Then, skip sewing for approximately one inch. Resume sewing with the machine on the other side of the gap and continue until you reach the end of the other point. Remove the fabric strip from the sewing machine and cut off the extra threads. Sew up the side of the short piece of fabric to form a basic tube.

Clip the corners of the pointed ends of the sewn fabric carefully. It will make the points sharp and well-defined in the bow. Turn the short piece of fabric and the fabric tube right side out through the small hole left in the long side of the fabric. Hand stitch the open piece of the large fabric ribbon closed neatly.
Lay the piece of fabric out flat on a table with the sewn seam facing downward. You might want to lay it near a ruler to make sure the measurements of each side of the finished bow match. Fold in both ends of the fabric strip until they cross in the center. This will make the loop sides of the bow.
Gather the centers of the three sections of fabric together and wrap the small piece of fabric tube around them. Keep the stitched seam hidden by squashing the tube with the seam in the middle of one side. At the back, fold under one of the raw edges and use it to cover the other raw edge. Use a needle and thread to stitch these ends together. You may also use a hot glue gun instead.
Sew the bow at the intended point on the garment.

If you don't want to sew a bow, you can even tie a fabric in a variety of bow forms with the garment. They look equally stunning!

Leather Apparel and Leather Products- The In Things

2009-01-27T05:32:37Z

Leather had been companion of human beings from very early ages when primitive man used skins of animals to protect himself. With the passage of time, the animal skins were refined with the help of technological development and today, different types of leather fabric are available that are used for making a wide variety of apparels and other leather products.

Why Leather Fabric

Although leather is comparatively expensive than the other fabrics used for making daily wear and other accessories then also it is preferred by those who want to get optimum value for their spent money. Here are some reasons explaining why is it so?

Leather fabric is highly durable. It can be used over years and yet don't lose its smoothness and feel.
It can be maintained without much concern as it does not wrinkles easily.
It is water proof and wind proof. It explains why it is the first choice of the bikers.
Being waterproof doesn't mean, it is not water friendly. It is completely washable. Why else, the market of leather swim wear be so happening then.
It is a breathable fabric and therefore comfortable to wear.
An apparel made of a good quality leather, stretches well over the body of the wearer, and hence provides a good fit.
Now leather is not only for cool weathers, the technically advanced processes have made it possible to wear some of its varieties in hot weathers too.
Last but not least, it enhances personality by giving a style statement to the wearer or those who carry any kind of leather accessories.

Leather Apparel and Products

Leather craft has been very popular since ages. Not only arts but it can produce items that are used on a daily basis. Leather apparels are equally admired by men, women, children, young, and old.

Leather Jackets:

Mens Leather Jackets are the first thing that comes to anyone's mind when talking of leather jackets. However, leather jackets for women and kids are equally popular and have a big market. They have actually gained an iconic status. Apart from black, brown and gray color jackets, now they come in every imaginable color. A protective clothing and a fashion statement for bikers, they are also a necessity for other professionals in army, navy, air force, and police etc.

Leather Innerwear:

For those who crave for style and luxury, the textile industry has introduced the gorgeous leather innerwear. It is fast becoming popular in the fashion world. They are available both for men and women and in a variety of colors, patterns and finishes. Belts, corsets, bras, teddies, panties, stockings, thongs, etc. are some of the innerwears that are quickly being accepted by everyone. What more, the available sizes range from normal to extreme plus. They are usually preferred in traditional colors such as black, brown, white, and tan but are also available in other colors. The rising demand of leather lingerie has inspired many manufacturers who have introduced the whole leather lingerie ranges. Good quality leather lingerie is soft and supple, breathable, and comfortable. They are molded in body shape when worn and therefore fit like a second skin. Easy to care for, leather innerwears remain soft and supple for a long time just by using leather cleaners and conditioners.

Leather Bags:

No other fashion accessory brings so much of style with it as a leather bag. For office or for shopping, these leather bags are great companions. Brands like Prada Handbags and Juicy Couture Handbags make them in any imaginable color, shape and size. Spacious backpack for a sports person, stylish carryall bag for a shopping freak, or a fashionable purse for party purpose- all are there to satisfy everyone's needs. The only concern is that they are a bit expensive but looking at their great style, utility and durability, it seems to be wise to spend a little more money on them.

Other Leather Products:

The market is full with a wide range of leather products and accessories. Apart from jackets and innerwear, there are other leather garments that are very popular with the masses, such as leather skirts, coats, pants, vests, shorts, tank tops halter and many more. They are all liked for their versatile features. Leather briefcases in various colors, shapes, sizes, styles and different compartments for laptops, cellphones, etc. have become the true travel partners. Other leather accessories such as pen holder, frames, book covers, card holder, laptop bags, passport holders etc have gained importance as office partners and as personal and corporate gifts. One more area of application where leather has found great use and acceptance is that of footwear industry. Trendy and stylish leather footwear have become equally popular among men and women. Apart from apparel, footwear and accessories, leather is also used as upholstery everywhere, home offices, automobiles and the like.

Caring for Leather Products

Properly stored and maintained leather apparel and products can retain their appeal for a very long period of time. On the other hand, if not properly cared for, these leather products tend to lose their stretchiness and softness.

Hangers should always be used to store leather apparels. Plastic bags should not be used to store them which causes leather to become dry.
Leather apparel should not be exposed directly to sunlight for a very longer period of time. It leads to damage of such apparel.
Perfume should not be directly sprayed on leather garments.
When leather products get wet, they should be allowed to dry naturally.
Always good quality cleaner should be used to clean leather products. A good quality conditioner can also be used occasionally to bring back the suppleness of leather.

New Approach of Synthetic Fibers Industry

2009-01-21T10:48:05Z

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has declared the year 2009 as the International Year of Natural Fibres. The objectives are to bring attention to and stimulate demand for natural fibers to foster international partnership among natural fiber industries, encouraging governments to respond appropriately to problems faced by natural fiber industries and promoting the sustainability of these industries.

This is an attempt to revive the natural fibers industry which has lost a lot of its market share due to the increased use of synthetic fibers. An analysis, therefore, is necessary to understand why a whole year dedicated to natural fibers had become essential, why synthetic fibers are not considered as an option for sustainable development, what are the trends of synthetic fibers and what all is being done by the man-made fibers industry to contribute to world's sustainability and for reducing its carbon footprints?

Growth and Challenges of Synthetic Fibers Industry

Synthetic fibers Synthetic fibers are becoming more and more important with the days going by. Over the last few years, the manufacturing ratio of natural to synthetic fibers has come to be 35% to 65%. This growth can be attributed to a number of causes- relatively low prices, easy manageability of artificial fabrics, technologically competent products and processes, growing demand of technical textiles and the like. Of these, the low price factor, somehow, is valid no more due to the rising costs of energy, transportation and raw materials. The era of comparatively inexpensive natural resources is over and this condition is likely to remain for many years as the production of raw materials is a capital intensive and time consuming process. A good example is that of petroleum-based raw materials, so essential for much-in-demand fibers like polyester fiber This problem of shortage can't be solved in a short period of time.

Another important challenge before the synthetic fibers sector is that of rising awareness about the environmental degradation and growing demand for eco friendly products. Already there is demand from consumers for eco-labels that provide information on how many grams of carbon dioxide or equivalent greenhouse gas emissions arose in production, transport and storage of a given product. An impressive large number of people are even ready to pay more for sustainably produced products. However, the challenge before the industry is to make available eco-products at competitive prices so as to remain in an advantageous position.

New Attitude of Synthetic Fibers Industry

With the growing understanding about the challenges before synthetic fibers industry, it is all set to change its attitude for good. The 47th Dornbirn Man-Made Fibers Congress, which took place in Austria in September 2008 had sustainability as its central topic, with the focus on cradle-to-grave products. the industry is worried about climate change as was reflected in many papers presented at the congress because of the simple fact that climate change directly and personally affects each and every person on the earth.

Efforts for Sustainable Development by the Industry

Sustainability is one of the key issues in the manufacturing of fibers and fabrics. The most important parameters for the textile manufacturers, and suppliers in the future will be in the fields of fibers, yarnsand fabric production; dyeing, printing and finishing; making of textile end product; transportation; product use and maintenance; and recycling, incineration or disposal.

With the changing climate and growing consumer awareness, the efforts of sustainable development have already begun. The legislation for “the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances” (REACH) has come into effect in the European Union. It will influence all the produced and imported chemicals in the European Union (EU). The law is being studied by other parts of the world and other countries are expected to follow suit.

The debate about climate change has made all big companies to reconsider their policies. The term "carbon footprint", which could not be explained by anyone a few years ago, has come to be in central focus. Companies have understood their competitive disadvantage if they refuse to accept the issue of sustainable development. They are now ready to prudently and sustainably use natural resources. This has led to growing use of more renewable raw materials. One of its example is cellulosic fibers. Wood from trees is the fundamental raw material required for about 90% of regenerated cellulosic production. Moreover, trees have a very low negative impact on environment and the fertility of the soil and one can not tap the full global potential for wood production. Cellulose, one of the most widely used natural polymers, are easiest to process, specially in an ecologically sensitive manner with the help of available technologies. It is all the more expected that some years from now, cellulose required for the fiber industry will not only be obtained from wood, but also from quickly growing plants like sugar cane, grass and straw. New fiber qualities and specific applications will be developed by mixing different raw materials. Some companies are already using polymers recycled from post-consumer waste, such as polyethylene terephthalate bottles. The morale is that, those companies who will implement innovative measures at an early stage will have a competitive edge over others.

One positive change that has occurred in recent years is that many of the retailers have become transparent with their products and their manufacturing processes information that are made available to the consumers. Consumers too, have more choices available now.

Future Perspective

One thing is clear from the above analysis that although man made fibers had been contributing to the environmental pollution in the past, it is an important part of textile industry that can't be done away with. However, with the consciousness about sustainable development, the synthetic fibers industry has come to accept its responsibility and is taking steps for sustainable growth. It will remain important, as the natural fibers are, for fulfilling the demands especially, of technical textiles and nonwovens as also for managing demands for large global population which is estimated to be about 9 billion by 2050.