Fashion
ICE cotton ends higher on weak dollar, but weekly loss persists
ICE December cotton futures settled at 65.30 cents per pound, up 0.21 cent (0.3 per cent). The March contract, however, dropped 1.7 per cent (110 points), hitting its lowest level since May 30, 2025. March and May contracts closed higher by 14–21 points on the day but were 41–109 points lower on a weekly basis.
ICE cotton futures closed higher supported by a weaker US dollar, which made the fibre cheaper for overseas buyers.
However, prices still posted weekly losses amid uncertainty from the US government shutdown that has stalled USDA reports and pressured markets.
December settled at 65.30 cents/lb, up 0.21 cent, while March dropped 1.7 per cent to its lowest since May 2025.
Daily trading volume on October 3 was 40,408 contracts, compared to 42,492 in the previous session. The average daily volume for the week stood at 49,878 contracts, indicating slightly lower trading interest compared to the weekly average.
The US dollar index retreated, extending its multi-week decline against major currencies. A weaker dollar typically supports dollar-denominated commodities such as cotton by making them cheaper for holders of other currencies. Analysts noted that the weaker dollar makes cotton purchases more affordable.
The US government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, after the federal government ran out of funding. On October 3, the US Senate again failed to pass a temporary funding bill, rejecting both Democratic and Republican proposals. The shutdown has added uncertainty to financial and commodity markets. No USDA reports were released during the shutdown, delaying critical crop and export data. Analysts expect sideways market movement until the shutdown is resolved.
USDA’s weekly crop progress for the week ending September 28, 2025, showed 16 per cent of the US cotton crop harvested, up from 12 per cent the previous week. This compares to 19 per cent at the same time last year and a five-year average of 16 per cent. Crop condition was rated 47 per cent good-to-excellent, unchanged from the previous week but significantly higher than 31 per cent last year.
Short-term price volatility is expected to persist until government funding is restored and key agricultural data is released.
Currently, ICE cotton for December 2025 is trading at 65.30 cents per pound (up 0.21 cent), cash cotton at 62.80 cents (down 0.29 cent), the October 2025 contract at 62.86 cents (up 0.21 cent), the March 2026 contract at 67.19 cents (up 0.15 cent), the May 2026 contract at 68.50 cents (up 0.14 cent) and the July 2026 contract at 69.58 cents (up 0.15 cent).
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
Fashion
Globes red carpet: chic black, naked dresses and a bit of politics
By
AFP
Published
January 12, 2026
Hollywood’s top stars hit the red carpet on Sunday for the Golden Globes, the first major event on the road to the Oscars, and they delivered lots of old-school glamour.
Here is a glance at some of the looks seen at the Beverly Hilton Hotel:
Ever-chic black
Selena Gomez is a newlywed and her happiness shows. The best comedy actress nominee for her work on “Only Murders in the Building” radiated joy as she arrived on the arm of her husband Benny Blanco.
She oozed sophistication in a black Chanel column gown with a frothy white feathered strapless neckline, her black bob swept into soft waves.
Gomez was not alone in striking an understated pose, with lots of stars opting for black or dark, wintry hues.
Teyana Taylor, a winner for her searing turn as a leftist revolutionary in hotly-tipped film “One Battle After Another,” scorched the carpet in a cut-out backless black Schiaparelli gown with a halter neckline — and a cheeky crystal bow on her backside.
Ariana Grande (“Wicked: For Good”), who competed with Taylor for the award for best supporting actress, turned heads in a black textured Vivienne Westwood ballgown with an asymmetrical neckline and a bubble silhouette before trailing to the floor.
Her hair was swept into her signature ponytail, and she kept the jewelry simple with a diamond choker.
Amy Madigan, also in their category for her villainous turn in “Weapons,” went for a tuxedo look with cropped pants and patent leather boots.
Nominee Jenna Ortega embraced the goth chic of her title character in “Wednesday” in a black high-neck Dilara Findikoglu gown with glittering epaulets and cut-offs that revealed a bit of side boob… and part of her hip bone.
Among the male stars in attendance, Colman Domingo was as usual a standout, wearing head-to-toe black Valentino, with silvery appliques scattered from his left shoulder down his lapel to his waist.
Naked ambition
Jennifer Lopez is no stranger to strong fashion statements. Her plunging green Versace gown at the Grammys in 2000 is still a reference for winning the red carpet by adopting the “less is more” rule.
On Sunday, Lopez — whose turn in “Kiss of the Spider Woman” was overlooked by Globes voters — wore a figure-hugging sheer gown with bronze patterns snaking over her body, ending in a mermaid fishtail.
Jennifer Lawrence –nominated for best drama actress in a film for “Die My Love” — got the memo as well, rocking a barely-there sheer nude Givenchy gown with only a smattering of strategically placed flowers.
Stars slam deadly ICE shooting
Hollywood never quite has a night out without a bit of politics coming into play.
On Sunday, some of the stars including nominee Mark Ruffalo wore pins with the messages “BE GOOD” — a reference to Renee Good, the Minneapolis woman who was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent.
Comedian Wanda Sykes wore the same pin on her lapel, while actress Natasha Lyonne, a nominee for her TV show “Poker Face,” attached one to her clutch handbag.
The campaign is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), one of the country’s most prominent civil rights organizations.By Frederic J. Brown with Susan Stumme in Washington
Copyright © 2026 AFP. All rights reserved. All information displayed in this section (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the contents of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presses.
Fashion
L.L. Bean promotes Greg Elder to CEO
Published
January 12, 2026
L.L. Bean announced on Friday the promotion of company veteran Greg Elder to the role of president and chief executive officer.
Elder succeeds Stephen Smith, who will depart the American heritage apparel company after ten years as CEO.
Elder will transition into his new role as CEO during the first quarter, with Smith continuing to serve on the board as an adviser until March.
Joining L.L. Bean in 2007, Elder has held several leadership positions at the company, including chief retail officer, his most recent post.
Prior to that, he held leadership roles at Eddie Bauer and Dayton Hudson Corporation, now known as Target. Elder is also a member of the Retail Industry Leaders Association.
“We were deliberate in finding a leader who will continue to honor our brand heritage while positioning us for the next era of growth,” Shawn Gorman, chairman of the board of L.L. Bean said in a statement. “Greg rose to the top because of his deep respect for our history, incredible knowledge of our business, strong track record of results and clear vision for the future.”
Elder will be the Freeport, Maine-based company’s fifth CEO in its 114-year history.
“What makes L.L.Bean truly special is its people and purpose. I’m proud to take on this responsibility alongside such a committed and talented team, and I’m grateful for the trust of the Bean family and our board as we begin this next chapter together,” said Elder.
“I’m also thankful for the past 10 years of leadership and friendship from Stephen Smith, who has led the company with heart and conviction through some particularly challenging seasons.
“This brand has been part of my life for many years, and it has deep personal meaning for me to accept this role. Our heritage, our connection to the outdoors and our culture of service and craftsmanship are powerful foundations. At the same time, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to keep evolving: to sharpen our product focus, deepen our connection with customers and ensure L.L.Bean remains relevant and inspiring for the next generation.”
Copyright © 2026 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.
Fashion
SFDA unveils finalists for inaugural New Wave Fashion Awards
Published
January 12, 2026
The SFDA Creative Talent Program announced on Friday the finalists of the inaugural New Wave Fashion Awards.
After three months of open submissions and professional review, six finalists were selected: Chen Sifan by Sifan Chen, Angus Chiang by Angus Chiang, Moto Guo by Moto Guo and Kinder Huang, 8ON8 by Li Gong, Mayali by Maya Li, and Feng Chen Wang by Feng Chen Wang.
Conceived as a long-term talent incubation initiative rather than a one-off competition, the New Wave Fashion Awards positions itself as a platform for identifying and cultivating designers with multi-dimensional capabilities spanning product, aesthetics, narrative, and brand structure.
The framework is designed to mirror the responsibilities of a modern creative director, offering an alternative to traditional fashion awards that focus primarily on runway collections.
“We launched this creative talent support program to build a long-term, systematic, and future-oriented training mechanism to help China’s new generation of creative talents achieve leaps in continuous practice and move towards a clearer and more internationally-oriented development direction,” said Madame LV, EVP of SFDA and secretary-general of Shanghai Fashion Week Organizing Committee.
The New Wave Fashion Awards will culminate during AW26 Shanghai Fashion Week in late March. The six shortlisted designers will present comprehensive brand expressions on site, translating their concepts into immersive spatial experiences.
These presentations will be evaluated by a jury with international perspective and industry authority, drawing from global fashion media, retail and brand operations, as well as the public.
Copyright © 2026 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.
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