Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Introduction: The Global Fibre Economy Is at a Turning Point The materials underpinning the global textile industry are becoming an important question for industrial policy, investment and sustainability. For decades, the expansion of synthetic fibres, particularly…
The green transition is also changing the environment in which international textile and apparel trade takes place. Buyers, regulators, investors, and consumers increasingly seek information about how products are made, what materials they contain, and how environmental and social risks…
Circularity is often introduced through the problem of textile waste: discarded clothing, production offcuts, unsold inventory, and the environmental consequences of disposal. Waste management is important, but a broader industrial perspective asks a different question: how can textile materials retain…
Energy is one of the most important variables in industrial competitiveness. Textile manufacturing requires electricity and, in many production stages, heat. Spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, finishing and garment production have different energy profiles, but all depend on reliable energy services…
Africa’s textile industrialisation strategy begins with cotton, a common resource across several countries. Yet the existence of a domestic or regional cotton supply does not automatically translate into a competitive textile industry. Cotton must meet the requirements of spinners and…
Sustainability is often discussed as an additional cost of doing business. Manufacturers are asked to improve environmental performance, document their supply chains, reduce emissions, manage chemicals responsibly, and demonstrate compliance with social and environmental standards. Where factories operate on thin…
Friday, October 09, 2026 Introduction Africa’s textile industrialisation challenge begins with a paradox. The continent has an important agricultural resource base, produces cotton across multiple countries and possesses a large potential consumer and labour market, yet much of the value…
What will it take for Africa to build a green and globally competitive textile industry? Africa’s textile and apparel industry has significant potential to drive industrial development, create jobs and strengthen regional trade. However, achieving this potential will require greater…
World Cotton Day 2026 offers an opportunity to recognise cotton’s importance to millions of farmers, workers, businesses, and communities worldwide, while reflecting on its growing role in Africa’s industrial and trade ambitions. Cotton is much more than an agricultural commodity.…
Tuesday, October 06, 2026 Introduction For much of the African textile and apparel industry, sustainability has traditionally been seen as a compliance issue where international buyers ask suppliers to demonstrate responsible production, environmental management, labour standards, traceability, and evidence of…