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An Interview with

Ahmad Shafi TEXtalks: Can you give some pointers on the history Ahmad Shafi: US cotton allows us better efficiencies
of Crescent Group and the capacities of yarn
and better yarn results because we produce air-jet
production?
quality yarns most of which goes to knitwear
Deputy Chief Executive Ahmad Shafi: Crescent Textile Mills started in 1950, producers. US cotton is classified by the USDA, and
founded by four brothers and one of them was my
we are going to buy and get exactly what we expect
grandfather Muhammad Shafi. Crescent Textile Mills
which reduces a lot of rework and in the end, we can
has about hundred thousand spindles and produces
lower our costs.
The Crescent Textile Mills about 1,500 bags of yarn daily. TEXtalks: With international brands, what is the
TEXtalks: What part does US cotton play and how
acceptability of the products that are being
Limited, Pakistan much cotton is being utilized by Crescent Group on manufactured with US cotton?
an annual basis?
Ahmad Shafi: US cotton is certified as a sustainable
Ahmad Shafi: Crescent Textile Mills consume about
product and with the recent pandemic everybody is
17,000 tons of cotton per year, and about one third of
it is US cotton; in the last three seasons the moving towards sustainability. They are looking for
those products which can be traced back to their
consumption of US cotton has grown by five times origin but also have credibility for being
and the reason behind it is, it increases the efficiency environmentally friendly at the same time. They do
which allowed us to produce a yarn which already give importance to such products and this sort of
has brand equity in the market. We do not face sustainable market has been grown by about 25% in
issues we have with local cotton such as the past year.
contamination. Overall, the image of our products
become much superior. TEXtalks: Do you know the initiative of the US
Cotton industry towards sustainability (USCTP)?
TEXtalks: How much do you think that the superior Your views to supply sustainable products to your
micronaire, strength, length and dyeability add customers?
value to your customers/brands? Ahmad Shafi: The US Cotton Trust Protocol program
Ahmad Shafi: It’s really important that the raw started a year ago when COTTON USA was
material, we use is of very good quality because our introducing it to the yarn spinning industry. We are
customers expect the top quality products from us promoting this product to our customers and it will
and the quality products, like with US cotton. It is the take some more time. Soon customers will
perfect match for us, that’s why it’s grown understand the importance of sustainability but when
substantially in term of our consumption every year. they do our products will be ready and available to
them. We have a comfort level and trust with the US
TEXtalks: What is the level of comfort your Cotton Trust Protocol, and it is a pleasure for us to
consumers are willing to pay for a good quality US offer this to our customers.
cotton?
Ahmad Shafi: It’s always a challenge with price. TEXtalks: Would you like to give a few words of
suggestions or a glimpse into what you would be
Customers don’t want to pay a premium, even they expecting in the coming future?
want a premium product. Nevertheless, it’s all about Ahmad Shafi: Future seems bright. We have never
satisfaction and as long as our customers are seen current surge ever in my working experience.
satisfied, we prefer better quality cotton such as US With people staying home and looking into home
cotton. improvements, one product which comes to their
mind is bedding that’s what we do. There is a huge
TEXtalks: Is there any significant financial
advantage to your company for using top quality US demand for bedding out of Pakistan. It’s probably the
cotton? first time when capacities are fully booked and we
don’t see any let down in the near future.

January/February 2021 January/February 2021