Shirtworks, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of customized work and personalized clothing, is warning that the rising price of cotton is having an impact on the price of base garments.

“We’ve been watching closely over recent months, and we’ve seen the price of cotton rise steadily to a 15-year high in September of last year,” says Arron Harnden, owner of Shirtworks. “There are obvious knock-on effects of this, as it increases the price of the base garments we use for printing and embroidery in the creation of personalized work wear and printed t-shirts. We felt it was important to keep our customers informed; with the recent increase in [the United Kingdom’s Value Added Tax], the price rises are inevitable.”

When asked why cotton prices are so high, Arron said, “It’s a combination of several factors. One is the horrific flooding in Pakistan last year, and floods in cotton-producing areas of China also had a similar impact. There are also problems keeping up with an incredible increase in demand, caused in part by a booming economy in China, export restrictions in India, and the simple fact that cotton is very popular.

“I think there’s been a trend toward using more natural fibers in clothing and more interest in environmentally friendly and sustainable clothing materials, which has also increased demand,” he concludes.

(Source: www.cotton247.com )