Cotton Inc to display current denim trends at Kingpins

Digital and 3-D Denim

From the Digital Printing Laboratory at Cotton Incorporated comes an intriguing take on how to create a denim jean that has virtually no environmental impact.  Specialists at Cotton Incorporated have developed a means of achieving the textural appearance of denim, along with finishing effects such as whiskering, using computer graphics software and a textile printer.  The process uses no indigo, water, or other chemicals except the textile printing dyes.  The process has also been used to achieve 3-D finishing effects, visible with 3-D glasses.  This novel approach shows great promise for the future of design and production.

Zugay explains that that while consumers are always looking for the next new thing in denim, their appreciation of cotton as the main remains strong.  "Our Cotton Incorporated Lifestyle Monitor survey reveals that consumers have noticed other fibers being substituted into their denim apparel; and they are not happy about it."  According to survey responses:

• 58% of consumers are bothered that brands and retailers might be substituting synthetic fibers for cotton in denim; and
• 57% of consumers say they would prefer to pay a slightly higher price to keep cotton from being substituted with synthetic fibers in their denim jeans.

"Keeping denim authentically cotton is a win-win for businesses because it fosters consumer satisfaction and gives those businesses access to the full range of resources at Cotton Incorporated," concludes Zugay.

Cotton Incorporated, funded by U.S. growers of upland cotton and importers of cotton and cotton textile products, is the research and marketing company representing upland cotton.  The Program is designed and operated to improve the demand for and profitability of cotton.

Cotton Incorporated