textiles and fabrics

Broad-brimmed hat maker Akubra will start using only rabbit skins imported from Europe in its products.

The collapse of a shoe factory in eastern China has left twelve people dead and over thirty injured, according to Chinese state media.

Personal care and hygiene product maker Asaleo has plans to expand into the nappy market, as it remains on track to increase full year profit.

North Brisbane-based Makin Mattresses is now making mattresses which feature innovative micro coil sheets locally.

DKM Blue has won the Gold Award at this year’s APPA Awards for Promotional Excellence for the range of Akubra luggage and accessories.

Curtain and blinder maker Kresta Holdings has flagged an after-tax loss of about $1.5m for 2014.

Kresta has received a takeover bid from a subsidiary of Chinese sunshade maker Ningbo Xianfeng New Material, also known as APLUS.

Our weekly news roundup. Everything that is happening in manufacturing, both here and overseas.

The federal government will cut funding to Ethical Clothing Australia, the garment industry’s only ethical compliance body.

A Chinese textile maker has launched a $27 million takeover bid for Perth -based manufacturer of blinds and curtains Kresta Holdings.

The Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia has launched legal action against 23 Australian fashion labels.

The Federal Government may ban dyes which are often used in clothing and have been linked to cancer.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has recalled another brand of jeans containing a cancer-linked dye from sale.

Safety experts have commenced a program of inspections of 1,500 garment factories in the impoverished nation of Bangladesh.

Nike has opened a waterfree dyeing facility featuring high-tech equipment to eliminate the use of water and process chemicals from fabric dyeing.

Surfwear company Billabong will sell its Canadian retail chain West 49 to fashion retailer YM Inc.

Iconic British boot maker Dr Martens has been purchased by private equity firm Permira for £300m ($507 million).

Surfwear company Billabong has lost the head of its European business who has quit the company to join US action sports brand Columbia Sportswear as senior vice-president of its European division.

Surfwear company Billabong has posted a $859.5 million loss for last financial year, compared with $282.7 million in the previous year.

The CEO of United Pacific Industries, which currently exports to 18 countries, has spoken of the advantages of continuing to make its Thermoskin product in Australia.