cotton: denim manufacturers embrace blends as cotton prices soar | Ahmedabad News
Ahmedabad: In winter, you may find designer jeans made of blended fabric and not pure cotton. To solve the problem of high prices for cotton and other raw materials and unable to pass on higher prices to their customers, a few denim manufacturers are turning to value engineering by blending other fibers. Cotton prices hit Rs 97,000 per candy at a time when manufacturers are also facing other inflationary pressures.
Vinay Thadani, CEO of Vishal Fabrics Limited, said: “As cotton prices have risen, we have started to move towards blending other fibers such as lycra and polyester with cotton to reduce costs. Against 5% of our product portfolio, we are now targeting 12% of our product mix in mixtures. Denim manufacturers are forced to find cost-cutting measures.
The case of Arvind Limited is similar, according to market sources. “High cotton prices have increased the pressure on jeans manufacturers. Arvind’s denim division also focuses on adding value to its products by blending cotton with different fibers. The idea is not to compromise on quality,” said a source familiar with the development.
Industry players say that in the Indian market, blended denims can be seen in jeans during the launch of the fall-winter collection.
Polyester blends, they claim, will not perform well in the Indian climate.
Many brands in foreign markets readily accept blended fabrics, which was not the case before. Manufacturers go the extra mile to ensure the quality is not compromised and the texture and feel of the fabric does not change too much.
Several MSME denim manufacturers are also experimenting with blended fabrics. Saurav Jalan, director of a textile manufacturing company, said: “We are experimenting with blends and the response has been good over the past six months as customers are also unable to raise prices. We are exploring blends with polyester and other synthetic fibers. This helps reduce costs by up to Rs 130 per kg, significantly reducing dependence on cotton.
“Cotton prices in India have seen the biggest increase compared to other markets. Interestingly, in China, the increase in cotton prices was minimal. This limits the competitiveness of Indian manufacturers, who are forced to add value to products,” an industry source said.
Vinay Thadani, CEO of Vishal Fabrics Limited, said: “As cotton prices have risen, we have started to move towards blending other fibers such as lycra and polyester with cotton to reduce costs. Against 5% of our product portfolio, we are now targeting 12% of our product mix in mixtures. Denim manufacturers are forced to find cost-cutting measures.
The case of Arvind Limited is similar, according to market sources. “High cotton prices have increased the pressure on jeans manufacturers. Arvind’s denim division also focuses on adding value to its products by blending cotton with different fibers. The idea is not to compromise on quality,” said a source familiar with the development.
Industry players say that in the Indian market, blended denims can be seen in jeans during the launch of the fall-winter collection.
Polyester blends, they claim, will not perform well in the Indian climate.
Many brands in foreign markets readily accept blended fabrics, which was not the case before. Manufacturers go the extra mile to ensure the quality is not compromised and the texture and feel of the fabric does not change too much.
Several MSME denim manufacturers are also experimenting with blended fabrics. Saurav Jalan, director of a textile manufacturing company, said: “We are experimenting with blends and the response has been good over the past six months as customers are also unable to raise prices. We are exploring blends with polyester and other synthetic fibers. This helps reduce costs by up to Rs 130 per kg, significantly reducing dependence on cotton.
“Cotton prices in India have seen the biggest increase compared to other markets. Interestingly, in China, the increase in cotton prices was minimal. This limits the competitiveness of Indian manufacturers, who are forced to add value to products,” an industry source said.