Have you made appointments yet for ITMA SHOWTIME?
ITMA
Join us in High Point, N.C., the home furnishings capital of the world, June 5-8 for SHOWTIME, the largest decorative event in the Western Hemisphere; where industry leaders present their latest designs to home furnishings manufacturers.More

Cotton supply is tightening
Textile World
The situation in the cotton trade is still a big question mark. In the last few weeks, the heat is still on, and it's time for another update. As always, the Rupp Report appreciates information from individuals as well as Plexus Cotton Ltd., the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Bremen Cotton Exchange.More

Factories boost output for 9th straight month
The Associated Press via Google News
U.S. factories produced more consumer goods, business equipment and raw materials in March, boosting manufacturing activity for the ninth straight month. Output at the U.S. factories, mines and utilities increased 0.8 percent last month after edging up 0.1 percent in February, the Federal Reserve said.More

Off-price booms as overstock supply shrinks
California Apparel News
The off-price market has been booming throughout the recession and recovery. But just as demand for off-price merchandise is skyrocketing, the supply of it is becoming scarce in America.More

9 tips for small business success on eBay
Mashable
Over the last decade, many new technology platforms have transformed everyday Janes and Joes into entrepreneurs and sidepreneurs, and perhaps none moreso than eBay. In the current economic climate, supplemental and secondary incomes are becoming even more necessary, and eBay has become a new source. More

Residential color trends for 2011
Floor Daily
For the past three or four years, we have been living in a world of conservative colors. Manufacturers, homeowners and designers have been playing it safe. Now, we are all hungry for something new. More

OTEXA to sponsor USA Pavilion at Techtextil India
Textile World
The U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles and Apparel is sponsoring a USA Pavilion at Techtextil India 2011, to be held Oct. 10-12 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. Techtextil India is an international nonwovens and technical textiles trade show providing exhibitors a chance to introduce their products to the market in India.More

Research shows apparel sales look solid for 2011
California Apparel News
Here's a bright piece of information for Los Angeles denim makers. Sales of women's jeans jumped 20 percent during the three-month period ending February 2011 after posting a 2.6 percent increase in 2010, according to The NPD Group Inc., a market-research firm in Port Washington, N.Y.More

Smart Fabrics moves towards commercialization
Knitting Industry
The 7th Annual Smart Fabrics Conference, held at London’s Russell Hotel, covered an array of new technologies and applications focused on making our lives easier, safer, healthier and more comfortable through the textiles we wear and use every day. More

Smithsonian exhibition explores how materials helped put man on the moon
Textile World
"Suited for Space," a new Smithsonian traveling exhibition sponsored by DuPont, celebrates the innovation and critical role that materials have played in space exploration. Products developed by DuPont, such as Nomex, Kevlar, Neoprene and Kapton are just some of the materials that have helped Americans travel to the moon and explore beyond.More

US import prices rose 2.7 percent in March
Bloomberg Businessweek
Prices of goods imported into the U.S. rose in March at the fastest pace since June 2009, led by a gain in crude oil and the biggest jump in food costs since 1994. The 2.7 percent increase in the import-price index followed a 1.4 percent rise in February, Labor Department figures showed in Washington.More