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Cotton and its blends
According to a recent survey, cotton fabric has maintained its favourable slot
among the fashion apparel buyers. The survey has re-affirmed that cotton continues
to reign as compared to other fabrics when basic attributes are concerned. Towards
this end, although India has got the largest acreage under cotton, the productivity
level of 300 kg per hectare is far below the world average of around 600 kg
per hectare. Small land holdings by farmers, scanty use of modern technologies,
a weak seed supply system and excessive dependence on rain are cited as causative
factors for the low yield in India. Another matter of concern to all those connected
with cotton is the progressively diminishing share of cotton in the total fibre
consumption all around the world including India. Only a decade ago, cotton’s
share in India was around 73 per cent. However, the same has come down to around
55 per cent during 2002-03.
The gradually increasing production capacity for synthetic fibres and the comparatively
low raw material cost have contributed in good measure to the down slide in
the share of cotton in fibre utilisation by the industry. Although cotton fabrics
are the most comfortable, synthetic-fibre fabrics are preferred for their durability,
easy-care properties and affordability. Blending is a process by which the desirable
traits of component fibres could be incorporated in fabric to enhance its wear-life
and aesthetics.
Over the years blended textiles have received increasing commercial acceptance.
The popularity of the blended fabrics can be judged from the fact that the production
of blended yarns in India has nearly trebled from 207 million kgs in 1990-91
to around 650 million kgs during the year 2002-03 as against an increase of
only 46 per cent for pure cotton yarn during the same period. Out of the total
blended yarn production, 35 per cent of the yarn contain cotton as one of the
constituents. Among the cotton blended yarn, cotton-polyester is the most popular
combination contributing to about one-fourth of the production of blended yarns
in the country. Blending of cotton with other natural and manmade fibres calls
for identification of cotton compatible with each class of natural or synthetic
fibres. In addition, it is necessary to formulate appropriate mechanical processing,
weaving and chemical processing/finishing sequences to produce finished fabrics
suitable for different end-uses. Addressing these issues will call for joint
efforts on the part of trade, industry as also government agencies in the field
of R&D. There is need to bring R&D workers in the field of natural and
manmade fibres and policy planners on one platform for effective interactions.
In future, we will be needing more efforts for optimal utilisation of the potential
existing in the field of blends. Moreover, there is need to form a platform
that can provide the necessary inputs to formulate a long-term policy.
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