Will liberalisation destroy the environment?
Get eight economists to discuss an issue and you'll get nine opinions. Down to Earth did precisely that. Eight noted economists were invited, …
There's nothing august about Mumbai
July 26, 2005: It began raining at 11 am. In the next 24 hours, India's most populous city received 944 mm of rainfall. The resultant flood …
Long yarn
The cotton story is a tangled tale. In many parts of India, farmers are committing suicide. It's been a while Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and now …
United Colours of Industry
Of all dyes produced across the world, 11 per cent goes out as effluents. 2 per cent from manufacturing and as much as 9 per cent from colouring. …
Organic thread
Even as Bt cotton invaded Indian fields in the past few years, some farmer groups kept pushing for organic cotton. In 2009-10, production in …
Temperamental fabric
The weather may be unpredictable but this new fabric quickly adjusts to its mood swings and maintains a balance between your body temperature and …
Return of a fabric
Instant success, total failure and stupendous return -polyester completes the cycle and comes out of oblivion to hit the market once again
No sweat over this shirt
A fabric developed at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, promises to keep sweat from being a bother
A little common sense
Recycling water and chemicals has resulted in drastic reduction of effluents from Surat's textile units.
A fibre for all seasons
The manufacturer of a newfibre claims that it combines the qualities of cotton and synthetics. But the price may not be right
Shades of green
Fabric printinggoes high-tech with the help of a computercontrolled nvironmentfriendly technique
Making clothes more comfortable
A mathematical theory may result in an objective technique to evaluate both the comfort of a fabric and how it will behave over time
A passage to India through trade
TRADE, TARIFFS AND EMPIRE Basudev Chatterji Publisher: Oxford University Press, Delhi Price: Rs 490
Carpet-baggers get wise to child labour
Under pressure from importers and voluntary groups, traders are acknowledging the need to regulate the employment of children.
Green standards put india in the red
Several Western nations have decided to stipulate high environmental standards for the goods they import. The step demands the substitution of …
Colour of desire
Book>> A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire by Amy Butler Greenfield, HarperCollins, New York 2006
'Oxfam’s used clothing trade in Africa opened employment, cut waste'
Second-hand clothing business has changed peoples’ lives for the better — they get a fair wage, steady employment, health care and …
The red triangle
The government, the judiciary and the people have to take action together to stop environmental damage. Laws have to be enacted and cases taken …
Dyeing cotton fabrics is an ancient Indian art
Indian textiles formed an important item in the trade network, the major thrust being on cotton fabrics in vibrant kalamkari patterns. Mastery …
Shroud for a crusader
For 35 years, Adhurai fought against Grasim Industries for polluting the environment in his village in Kerala. No one heard him. But after he …
Cotton imposters
Companies like Welspun India may be passing off ordinary cotton fabrics as Egyptian cotton ones and there is no foolproof method yet of detecting …
‘Plant dyes should be used on an industrial level only if the plants' cultivation is propagated’
Vadodara-based artist Taniya Vaidya recently exhibited her collection of paintings at New Delhi’s India International Centre. She mainly …
Dyeing cities
Textile mills of Pali district in Rajasthan and Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu have an annual turnover of over Rs 20,000 crore. But the rivers passing …
Decentralised clean energy tech can impact 37 mn livelihoods in India’s agri, textile sectors: Study
Decentralised renewable energy technologies have a market potential worth Rs 4 lakh crore in India, notes study