#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)

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Cotton made in Africa partners receive top marks in independent verifications

Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) and CmiA Organic are two internationally recognised standards that aim to promote sustainable development in the African cotton sector south of the Sahara. To ensure the standards’ credibility among brands, retailers, and consumers, independent verifiers evaluate compliance on the ground. The verification results for 2025, now published in the Aggregated Verification & Implementation Report, were very strong: The verifiers awarded consistently very good remarks regarding management, people, prosperity, and the environment.

Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brings supply chain leaders together around cotton innovation

Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brought together more than 300 industry leaders from 140 companies across 10 countries, including more than 45 top global brands and sourcing organizations, underscoring strong global interest in cotton-rich product development, sourcing and supply chain collaboration.

Bremen Cotton Exchange: Fritz A. Grobien re-elected as President

The members of the Bremen Cotton Exchange have re-elected Fritz A. Grobien as President during the association’s 152nd General Assembly on June 18, 2026. The election confirms the organization’s commitment to maintaining its role as a leading international platform for the cotton and fiber industry amid a period of geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

Organic cotton at the crossroads: Ideology, evidence, and the road ahead

Organic cotton occupies one of the most contentious spaces in global agriculture. While praised by brands and consumers for its environmental ideals, it also faces persistent questions about yield stability, certification integrity, and scalability. The current edition of The ICAC Recorder cuts through the ideology to deliver a rigorous, evidence-based assessment of both sides of the debate.

EDANA announces five new board members following 2026 Annual General Meeting

The EDANA Board of Governors is elected or re-elected at the Annual General Meeting by the member companies. The Governors are senior executives (business leaders) from member companies, based in different countries and representing different sectors of the nonwovens industry. The Board has central responsibility for guiding EDANA's overall strategy and approving its policies and priorities. It meets three times a year.

Bangladesh: Italian textile machinery mission stops in Dhaka and Chittagong

Technological upgrading and the transition toward higher value-added production are driving the new Italian industrial mission to Bangladesh. This year, the mission will split between the country’s two main manufacturing hubs, where Italian manufacturers will meet the leaders of the local textile supply chain in two strategic stages: July 7th in Dhaka and July 9th in Chittagong.