#Raw Materials

2020-07-16

Cotton Incorporated survey says shoppers plan to spend 12% more on clothing

As schools and parents across the country consider the best re-opening plans for students in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, shoppers are planning too and there is hope for brands and retailers. Back-to-school clothing shoppers plan to spend about $340 (up 12 percent from 2019) on clothes per person, according to Cotton Incorporated’s Lifestyle Monitor™ survey.

Two-out-of-five respondents noted they would shop differently this year depending on if their children go back to a classroom. Those back-to-school shoppers say they will purchase more clothing made for:

comfort (37 percent),
more loungewear (22 percent),
less dresswear (17 percent),
more activewear (17 percent)

When choosing apparel, the majority of buyers say they prefer their child/children’s clothing be made from cotton because its comfortable (78 percent).

“We anticipated back-to-school shopping to look different for consumers across the country,” states Kim Kitchings, senior vice president of consumer marketing for Cotton Incorporated. “It’s reassuring to brands, retailers and growers, that parents plan to buy clothing for the new academic year and they want their students to be comfortable in cotton whether in school, on campus or distance learning.”

More than half (58 percent) of shoppers plan to buy back-to-school clothing in stores, according to Lifestyle Monitor™ survey, while 42 percent say they’ll shop online. Not surprising, this is up nearly 30 percent from last year’s survey.

Shoppers plan on spending more but are buying less. Here’s what they say they’ll buy on average:

8 shirts (down significantly from 11 in 2019)
6 undergarments (down significantly from 10 in 2019)
7 socks (down significantly from 9 in 2019)
4 pants (down significantly from 6 in 2019)
4 jeans (down from 5 pairs in 2019)
3 activewear items (down significantly from 5 in 2019)

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

New U.S. cotton study uses real-world grower data to reveal where fiber impacts occur

Cotton Incorporated has released a critically reviewed life cycle assessment (LCA) of U.S. cotton fiber production that examines how cotton’s environmental impacts are measured and where meaningful improvements can be made across the value chain. The new data, grounded in real‑world grower inputs, measures what drives U.S. cotton’s environmental footprint from field to gin.

China projected to increase cotton production, yields, and imports in 2026/27

World cotton production in the 2026/27 season is projected at 25.9 million tonnes, exceeding global consumption of 25.2 million tonnes, according to the May 2026 issue of Cotton This Month. That means both production and consumption are expected to remain close to current season levels, while global cotton trade is projected to decline by 2.7% to approximately 9.6-9.7 million tonnes.

ECCO introduces first shoe featuring innovative protein-based fibre

ECCO, in partnership with Spinnova, announces the launch of the limited edition ECCO BIOM® 720, a first-of-its-kind shoe utilising an often overlooked leather by-product, transformed into a protein-based fibre. The fibres are produced using patented technology that advances material innovation while reducing waste and supporting full resource use across the leather and textile industry.

Itema to showcase weaving excellence at ITM 2026

From June 9 to 13, Itema will exhibit at ITM 2026 in Istanbul (Hall 8 – Stand 806D), unveiling a distinctive exhibition concept designed to highlight the Company’s expertise across the entire weaving value chain. For this year’s edition, Itema will introduce an innovative stand experience built around two core areas: advanced weaving and spare parts solutions and an immersive textile gallery featuring fabrics produced by Itema Customers worldwide.

Last chance to apply: ITMA 2027 Start-Up Valley closes tomorrow

Applications for the Start-Up Valley at ITMA 2027 close tomorrow, offering young technology companies the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of several successful participants from the 2023 edition. The initiative, organised under the CEMATEX Start-Up Grant programme, has already helped a number of textile start-ups accelerate their transition from early-stage concepts to industrial partnerships, funding rounds and commercial deployment.