#Raw Materials

2018-12-20

ICAC elects new standing committee officers during plenary meeting in Abidjan

One of the most important items of business undertaken during the Plenary Meetings of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is the appointment of the Officers of the Standing Committee for the coming year.

At the ICAC’s 77th Plenary Meeting in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire:

The Steering Committee considered the appointment of three new Standing Committee Officers
The three individuals — Mr. Ali Tahir (Chair), Ms. Maha Zakaria (First Vice Chair) and Mr. Selman Kurt (Second Vice Chair) — had already been provisionally approved by the Standing Committee
All three were approved and confirmed as ICAC Standing Committee Officers for 2019

On 6 December in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the following individuals were named Standing Committee Officers for 2019:

Mr. Ali Tahir of Pakistan as Chair
Ms. Maha Zakaria of Egypt as First Vice Chair
Mr. Selman Kurt of Turkey as Second Vice Chair

The Standing Committee meets in Washington, DC, at the ICAC Secretariat’s offices, or a member’s embassy, every two months to receive updates on the ICAC’s activities.

‘I am honoured to serve as the Chair of the ICAC Standing Committee for 2019’, said Mr. Tahir, who works as Trade and Economic Minister at the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, DC. ‘I and my colleagues look forward to providing guidance to ICAC on matters of strategic significance to ensure that the organisation continues to operate efficiently and provide value to its members’.

According to ICAC Executive Director Kai Hughes: ‘With Mr. Tahir, Ms. Zakaria and Mr. Kurt in the top leadership positions, I am confident we have the right people in place to help guide the ICAC in 2019. It will be a critical year for the future of the organisation, which is reinventing itself to meet future challenges to the global cotton industry, and we are fortunate to have a strong leadership team in place on our Standing Committee’.

ICAC announces 84th Plenary Meeting in Egypt with focus on cotton industry resilience

Registration is now open for the International Cotton Advisory Committee’s 84th Plenary Meeting, which will take place from 24 to 26 March 2027 in Alexandria, Egypt. The conference will address climate resilience, technological developments, sustainability and competitiveness across the global cotton and textile value chain.

New Cotton Review examines competitiveness, market risk, and opportunities

From moving record volumes of Brazilian cotton to market, to managing price volatility, unlocking Ethiopia’s production potential, and strengthening African textile trade, the latest edition of Cotton: Review of the World Situation examines some of the most consequential opportunities and challenges facing the global cotton industry.

ICAC’s 84th Plenary Meeting to be held March 24-26, 2027, in Alexandria, Egypt

Registration will soon be open for the International Cotton Advisory Committee’s 84th Plenary Meeting, to be held March 24-26, 2027, in Alexandria, Egypt. The local Organizing Committee in Egypt has chosen “Building a Resilient and Competitive Future for Cotton and Textiles” as the theme for the event, which will be held at the Rixos Montaza Alexandria Resort.

Kraig Labs ships first commercial spider silk yarn

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“the Company”, “Kraig Labs”, or “Kraig’s”), a world leader in spider silk technology*, today announced the shipment of its first commercial order of recombinant spider silk yarn. The custom-engineered yarn was produced to fulfill a purchase commitment from a globally recognized performance sports brand and is slated for development into a first-of-its-kind performance textile.

ALLIED expands down traceability with lot-level carbon footprint data

ALLIED Feather + Down has expanded its TrackMyDown traceability platform to include validated cradle-to-gate carbon footprint data linked to individual down lots. The initiative is designed to provide brands and consumers with more detailed environmental information on the materials used in finished products and could also support future data requirements associated with Digital Product Passports.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues 2026 concludes with 50 international participants immersed in Brazilian cotton production

The Cotton Brazil Dialogues concludes its 2026 edition after a series of technical visits to farms, cotton gins and reference centers, as well as workshops focused on Brazilian cotton production. A total of 50 participants from 14 countries took part in the field trips. The initiative is led by the Brazilian Association of Cotton Growers (Abrapa) and the National Association of Cotton Exporters (Anea), with support from the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

KARL MAYER expands TM WEFT capabilities for fashion fabrics at ITMA ASIA 2026

A new E 36 gauge, an EL pattern drive and improved yarn tension regulation extend the application possibilities of KARL MAYER's TM WEFT warp knitting machine. At ITMA ASIA 2026, the company will demonstrate the developments alongside a collection of woven-like warp knitted fabrics for fashion and apparel.

Textiles Recycling Expo USA 2027 opens registration and expands with manufacturing exhibition

The second edition of Textiles Recycling Expo USA will take place on 7–8 April 2027 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Following a debut that attracted more than 1,800 visitors and 95 exhibitors, the event will expand its exhibition and conference programme and will be held alongside the new Textiles Manufacturing Expo.

MarediModa highlights transparency and traceability with InsideOut by C.L.A.S.S.

The InsideOut by C.L.A.S.S. exhibition at MarediModa 2026 in Cannes focused on transparency, traceability and the measurable values behind fashion products. Its Decalogue of Values aims to make environmental, social and production-related information more accessible throughout the textile supply chain.