What lies ahead?
What are the strongest current trends in the fibres and fabrics sector?
Eclipse Textiles marketing and product development designer Vanessa Kirk
A natural feel to fabrics, alongside technological advancements. With additional unique performance features fabrics can now provide a desirable combination of performance, refined quality and innovation
Standardknit Fabrics director Carol Crawford
The key trend for knit fabrics is a return to natural fibres. Many of our customers are interested in eco-friendly fabrics knitted from organic yarns. The cotton in these fabrics has been grown without harmful pesticides or chemicals and uses eco-friendly dyestuffs
Stretchtex national sales manager Raymond Fuchs
Our sector - performance fabrics - is changing constantly. Some of the most innovative fabrics have an organic component, such as a new bamboo Polypropylene micro fibre called Dryarn, which also has a thermal compression capability
D&M Fabrics director Nicholas Leitch
For local makers the strongest trend in business terms is the move to increasingly speedy access to the newest developments as they come onto the world market
What is currently the most significant challenge for fibres and fabrics suppliers to the fashion industry and why?
Eclipse Textiles marketing and product development designer Vanessa Kirk
The most significant challenge for fabric suppliers is being able to supply not only a quality product, but one that also reflects consumers' lifestyles and the emotional desires of the target market
Standardknit Fabrics director Carol Crawford
The most significant challenge for us as fabric suppliers to the fashion industry is to continually create fabrics that entice our customers to buy locally. It is challenging but highly rewarding
Stretchtex national sales manager Raymond Fuchs
Keeping abreast of new research and development. As new fibres come on the market it's not just a matter of turning them into fabrics; it's about finding out what they are capable of and then finding a customer who can do them justice
D&M Fabrics director Nicholas Leitch
Being able to order the minimums demanded by the mills is a major hurdle as a result of the large orders being placed by bigger economies from Europe and the US
What are some of the ways suppliers are responding to this challenge?
Eclipse Textiles marketing and product development designer Vanessa Kirk
By carrying products with key additional features such as micro-encapsulating finishes like Vitamin C, Ginseng and seaweed extracts that give the consumer a feeling of regeneration and energizing properties or fabrics that impart power and control
Standardknit Fabrics director Carol Crawford
Standardknit aims to rise to the challenge of a highly competitive market by continuing its focus on providing a personalised, locally based service that responds rapidly to clients' needs
Stretchtex national sales manager Raymond Fuchs
Through continually pushing the boundaries of research and development, we are in the forefront of performance fabrics globally. Our market is growing overseas, particularly in Asia but also the Americas, including the US, Venezuela, Guatemala, Columbia, Argentina and Mexico
D&M Fabrics director Nicholas Leitch
D&M adds to global orders heading for other markets and joins forces to travels with other wholesalers from different countries, buying as a group to reduce the cost of an initial commitment
How has the fibres and fabrics market changed in the past three to five years?
Eclipse Textiles marketing and product development designer Vanessa Kirk
Fibres are now becoming finer and handle and feel are increasingly important. Yarns are becoming finer and softer, and the fabrications themselves are finer due to the use of a finer gauge in construction
Standardknit Fabrics director Carol Crawford
The market has not changed too much in recent years; the challenge created by foreign imports had its effect earlier than this. We have a responsive stock service and are able to cater to specific requirements for organic fabrics or "high tech" finishes
Stretchtex national sales manager Raymond Fuchs
The performance market has moved away from basic to functional fibres, particularly those with moisture management or thermal control qualities. Now it's not just about quality fibres; fabrics need to offer specific benefits to deal with particular challenges
D&M Fabrics director Nicholas Leitch
Previously the system was that makers would place orders in advance so the wholesaler could work with the maker to achieve delivery on time. Now makers don't place the order until they sell the product and they also want delivery that week, so the process is much tighter
In your view, how will fibres and fabrics businesses need to evolve over the coming years?
Eclipse Textiles marketing and product development designer Vanessa Kirk
Fabric production will need to evolve to a more environmentally conscious level. We are now all living in an era of significant environmental change; and the environmental effects of products will soon be foremost in consumers' minds
Standardknit Fabrics director Carol Crawford
It's difficult to predict exactly how the businesses will evolve over the coming years, however it is those companies that can meet the oncoming challenges and adapt accordingly that will succeed in the future
Stretchtex national sales manager Raymond Fuchs
They will need to be able to respond quickly to a constantly evolving market. There will also be a marked move towards organic, biodegradable and recyclable fibres and fabrics. This is already a strong growth area, and consumer demand for it looks set to increase dramatically
D&M Fabrics director Nicholas Leitch
By releasing smaller ranges more often and injecting new items mid-season. We believe that by offering new high class merchandise that isn't being produced in Indonesia or China, D&M Fabrics can offer a point of difference to the discerning Australian market.