India’s Northeast region is emerging as the latest destination for upscale apparel and accessories labels. Many top brands are rushing to take advantage of the growing demand in states such as Assam, Tripura and Manipur. From the makers of sports and fashion wear to branded jewellery chains, retailers are heading to the seven sisters either to open their stores or expand their retail footprint.

Take s.Oliver Fashion India for example, it runs the s.Oliver stores across India, and has been receiving queries from potential franchisees in cities such as Shillong, Guwahati and Siliguri. By mid-2013, the company is looking at venturing into this untapped market. It may be recalled that the premium German apparel brand had entered India in 2007. 

The Northeast, home to a combined 45 million people as of 2011 Census, comprises of the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura. A good pace of economic growth in recent years has increased the purchasing power of people in the region. While the average rate of growth in gross state domestic product (GSDP), a measure of state-wise economic output, was 6.88 per cent in 2011-12, some Northeastern states grew faster. Assam’s economy grew at 8.42 per cent, Tripura’s by 8.87 per cent and Meghalaya clocked in growth of 9.54 per cent reveal Planning Commission figures. 

Louis Philippe, the men’s brand from Madura Garments that sells apparel, shoes and accessories, started test-marketing its collections in the Northeast one-and-a-half years ago with a store in Guwahati. Now it is looking at opening more stores in the region. Similarly jewellery chain Tanishq has two stores in Guwahati and Agartala and is now planning to open three more within this year. Titan, which also sells watches and eyewear under the Titan and Fastrack brands, clocked in sales worth Rs 100 crores in the region last year, up from Rs 12-13 crores five years ago. 

A research done by Nielsen shows, the Northeast accounts for 3.8 per cent of India’s personal care market, in terms of value, but is growing at a yearly pace of 22 percent —three percentage points higher than the national average. No wonder then that even fashion retailers and consumer goods companies are planning retail strategies in the area. New Delhi-based DLF Brands, which represents brands such as Forever 21, Mothercare and DKNY in India, too is mulling entering the region in the next one year. 

There sure is a bright side to the economic slowdown at least for the Asian textiles and apparels industry. For manufacturers in India, China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan et al, the slowdown has not really meant slowing down of business completely. Indeed sales have been sluggish and demand not up to the mark at least from their traditional markets of the US and Europe, but manufacturers in this region are not complaining at least not yet. In fact, most stakeholders say they continued selling and what keeps them going is newer markets within the region. Most say the situation forced them to look beyond Europe and US and within the region and yes, they have not been too disappointed. 

This optimism was clearly visible among exhibitors at the Interstoff Asia Essential Spring 2013 meet held in Hong Kong from March 13 to 15. The fair had 229 exhibitors from 10 countries including China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand among others showcasing their latest offerings. Besides suppliers and buyers from Europe a large number of visitors were from within the Asian region. On display were innovative fabrics and new collections setting the trend for Spring 2014. 

And even though most exhibitors rued the slowdown in business and low demand from western markets, they were happy with the kind of sales they were doing within the Asian region. As Jin Wei Liang, Deputy Director, Shaoxing County Bureau of Commerce explained, “Earlier, the US accounted for nearly 20 per cent of our exports, but now it has come down to one per cent. The market has shifted to Southeast Asia and our focus is on newer markets here. That is why we are at this exhibition, to attract new buyers from within the region.” The Shaoxing County Bureau of Commerce participated with 32 exhibitors this time, the largest ever representation at the fair. What’s more the Shaoxing county is one of China’s biggest textile producing state and 90 per cent of its produce is exported. They are now tapping countries in Southeast Asia, ASEAN and even Brazil to tide over the slowdown. Agreed Kevin Tsang Fin Fung of Harbin Linen Mill (HK), who says “With the Chinese currency having appreciated in the past year, margins are low and prices cannot be increased too much. To tide over difficult times, we have been looking at markets in ASEAN and Southeast Asia. That has helped us also we have developed newer fabrics to fit client’s requirements.” 

Korean organic cotton specialist fabric maker Kayjune Company was at present at the fair backed by Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency. Their niche products are sold to manufacturers in Japan, Hong Kong, Russia among others and as SeongMoon.Kang, President of Kayjune Company explained, “Ours is a niche product and we have a lot of domestic customers. However, we are now tapping newer markets in Asia to grow our business.” Similarly Shingpung Textile makers of specialized nylon, spendex fabrics for outdoor wear and supplier to brands like Columbia, Puma, John Wolfskin among others has faced a slowdown since their biggest market is in Europe.  But as Hong-Cheul, Shing says “Indeed, the economic slowdown has affected business but we are developing newer customers in the region and also in Europe.” 

Closer home, the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has been encouraging Indian industry toincrease apparel exports from India to non-traditional markets from the current 24 percent to 35 per cent within next few years. In fact, in the past one year Indian exporters entered newer destinations such as Latin America, southern and western Africa, Japan, Russia, Israel and Australia during. With government’s support through focus market schemes and market linked focus product schemes and various FTAs have given Indian businesses market access especially in Japan. Newer markets brought in 10 per cent business for the industry. According to AEPC data, Japanese demand seemed to help Indian garment exporters. Exports to Japan rose to 4.4 per cent last year after a 2.1 per cent drop the previous year. The industry is also strongly working on moving from cotton to synthetic fibre, as it will help diversify into new products like sportswear, swim suits. This is expected to help double exports in the next five years.

With more and more men willing to loosen their purse strings on clothes and accessories, many menswear players are logging onto the e-commerce space to fulfil the rising demand. In fact, many web platforms like Elitify.com, Pernia Qureshi’s The Men’s Shop, GujralSons and SBJ House of Luxury are cashing in on the growth opportunity for menswear. 

A research done by Elitify.com reveals, men’s market is growing rapidly at a 13 per cent annually compared to 10 per cent for women. The fastest growing segment of online commerce is fashion, and it’s being propelled by men and they prefer shopping online as it is convenient and efficient. 

Another report by ASSOCHAM showed the online retail industry in India is likely to be worth Rs 7,000 crores by 2015 and the credit goes to easy internet access and availability of broadband services. The survey conducted by ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation (ASDF) is based on interactions with 500 shoppers in the age group 16 to 35 years in 10 cities -- Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Lucknow and Jaipur. 

No wonder from e-retailers to designers everyone is logging on the net to sell their products. Take Pernia Qureshi for example, the pop up shop recently launched ‘The Men’s Shop’ which stocks menswear designer clothes from the likes of Rajesh Pratap Singh, Karan Johar + Varun Bahl, Atsu Sekhose, Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna and Raghuvendera Rathore. On offer are formal suits, pants and shirts as well as laidback denims, kurtas and shorts and accessories. 

If designers are cashing in on the online trend, so are conventional menswear brands. GujralSons, a 40-year-old brand catering to men's ethnic wear, has also come up with exclusive wedding collection that is being retailed through their website as well as at their stores. It has a range of sherwanis, suits, kurta pajamas among others. Most top fashion brands too have taken the e-route to increase their sales. Online shops are also evolving by focusing on concepts such as Dial-a-Suit as introduced by SBJ House of Luxury -- a men’s apparel brand. 

Invista, the leading fiber and fabric innovator in textile industry organised the second edition of its knowledge and innovation conclave ‘Lycra Rendezvous’ at the Taj Palace, New Delhi recently. The event witnessed leading mills and brands from the textile and apparel industry such as Arvind Denim, Mafatlal Denim, Vardhaman, Banswara Syntex among others participate in the event. 

The day-long event saw insightful discussions and product showcase by Invista’s key customers. The highlight was the launch of its latest innovation LycraT166L fiber and the unveiling of Arvind Stretch Denim powered by Lycra fiber. Discussions amongst the top denim experts and a scintillating denim fashion show were the other high points. It started with a presentation on the evolution of denim jeans as a result of the butterfly effect ‘change happening at one place leads to spread of change everywhere.’ Denim jeans were showcased in new colour palettes, pastel and metallic and leather looks. 

Arvind Denim launched its latest range of stretch fabrics under two key themes – Denim Glam and Pop Vintage bringing Invista’s best textile innovations together with the denim fabric making expertise of Arvind. As Aamir Akhtar, CEO, Arvind Denim explained, “The Lycra fiber brand has delivered multiple breakthroughs over the years through continuous investment in innovations and conquered new frontiers in comfort, fit, functionality and consumer concepts. Invista as the pioneer of innovation has contributed to the growth of the Indian textile and apparel industry that is currently growing at a healthy 14-15per cent. Taking forward our association, we are delighted to present the new generation of stretch fabrics with Lycra fiber that take comfort, style and stretch technology to another level.” 

Invista shared the fiber innovation story with the audience. Main developments included the Tough Max Lycra fabrics made with Lycra T400 fiber, which imparts strength and comfort.  They also showcased their global denim concept collection for Spring/Summer 2014. The collection encompasses innovative garments highlighting company’s key technologies for denim including Tough Max, Lycra fabric, Xfit Lycra fabrics, Lycra dualFX fabrics and Coolmax fiber under key three themes of Fantasy, Reality and Harmony. Featured styles under Fantasy comprise of pearlized coatings, reflective surfaces, coloured weft yarns, prints and tie-dye effects; Reality features simple evergreen denim structures and neon colours; Harmony collection represents performance denims with knit inspired jacquard weaves of cotton and Lycra fiber. 

Talking about the innovations, Andrew Evans, MD-South Asia, Invista said, “At Lycra Rendezvous, our endeavour was to provide a platform to the denim industry to delve deep into the consumer psyche, identify consumer needs and come up with innovative ways to spark the industry’s growth. We received a fantastic response from our customers and representatives of the industry reiterating the success of the event that brought together the entire value chain together.” 

Commenting about their association with Invista Ravi Toshniwal, MD, Banswara Syntex said, “We have been working closely with Invista for the last 14 years on technical collaborations and new product developments for yarns and fabrics with Lycra fiber and Lycra T400 fiber. We highly value the partnership since it has enabled us to differentiate our offerings and deliver many firsts in the Indian textile market.” 

Invista also presented novel consumer insights and research findings in a special session aimed at enabling the brands to identify ways of ‘winning the today’s denim consumer’. The highlight of the event was the brainstorm wherein industry stalwarts delved on topics such as ‘Shifting Supply Base: Opportunities & Challenges’ and ‘What does the Indian market need’. 

The forum brought to the forefront challenges and opportunities that the textile and apparel industry is facing currently. The trends and future of the garment industry in countries like Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Vietnam were also discussed at length. It highlighted the ardent need for technological advancement and finesse in fiber processing. 

www.invista.com

www.lycra.com

www.arvindmills.com

Proline, the first Indian T-shirt brand 

launched in 1983 by the Batra Group,

enjoys a 10 per cent market share of

the sports lifestyle segment today.

With a modest start as a sportswear

brand, Proline has come a long way

to become a major performance and

lifestyle label in the country. The brand

is the brainchild of brothers, Rajesh and

'Rajiv Batra, both avid tennis players and

sports enthusiasts. The duo identified a gap

in the Indian market for good quality sportswear

and introduced Proline. Sandeep Mukim, CEO, Proline India,

talks to Gurbir Singh Gulati about the brand's evolution and its

product portfolio.

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For over two decades story has carved a niche in the mens' wear segment. The launch of

Growing awareness about designer wear and people's spending capacity along with a

Delhi hosts All India Textile Conference after 23 years:The 67th All

ATDC's principals' conclave moots strategies:The Annual Regional

Asia Retail Congress focuses on stakeholders:The two day event was

Commemorating 25 years as a leading promoter of Hong Kong's industry,Interstoff

The 7th China International Hosiery Purchasing Expo was held on March 5 to 7.2012.at

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FashionatingWorld  is a seamless network of GLOCAL (global and local-country specific) web platforms with sector focused approach on Fashion Retail, Apparel and Textiles. Sectors are a pleasurable experience taking you closer to your own sector for news and content related to the sector while seamlesslessly offering you a combined platform to browse for a much broader insight and understanding on all sectors right from Fashion Retail to Apparel (&  Apparel  SupplyChain) to Textiles (& Textile SupplyChain) aspects.   

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Singtex Industrial, a leading Taiwan-based textile company has launched SPIIN (S. Cafe, Partnership, Innovation, Inspiration, Nature) to integrate industrial resources by leveraging partners  the textile supply chain. It aims to become an essential platform for partners to explore creativity and business opportunity of utilizing coffee yarn called S. Café, into textile manufacturing.

S. Café is a technical composite fibre used to make yarn which then
becomes knitted or woven fabric through a series of manufacturing processes. It utilizes the natural ability of coffee grounds to absorb odours for a comfortable wearing experience and provides UV protection and fast drying. It combines the post patented processed coffee grounds and polymer to create master batches. The technology not only reuses the grounds to be the raw material of yarn technology but also reuses the highly concentrated oil by product from the patented process which can be used in cosmetics and textile industries. S. Cafe fabrics provide a comfortable feel combined with functional qualities for all outdoor and lifestyle activities.

Jason Chen, President, S.Cafe explains, “The idea of using coffee ground came to us in 2005. Being from the yarn background and with a coating and lamination factory, I saw a future in technology from coffee beans. The process involved taking the coffee ground in nano particle size, collecting and drying them. Simultaneously PET bottles are recycled which gets blended into the recomposition stage to be developed as yarn.” Chen further explains, “Out of coffee that is grown, .02 per cent of coffee is used which means 99.98 per cent coffee ground is eliminated or thrown away. Using this coffee ground makes the process sustainable"

The coffee yarn is sustainable and commercially viable and can also absorb sweat.  “The product is 30 per cent more expensive in comparison to regular yarns. We sell the yarn to weavers and it goes to China, Korea, India and US. We have a co-operation with an Indian company which uses the yarn for branding and marketing purpose,” added Chen.

Talking about the growth aspect, Chen reveals, “We grow by 30 to 35 per cent a year and work on high tech textiles and environment friendly fabric.  The fabric is also exported to brands like Nike, Adidas and some Japanese brands. We have a garment factory in Vietnam which is used for ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) primarily used for design. Some of this is for garment brands.  It’s a vertical service. The future looks very optimistic. We are an IPO listed company and a 50 million dollar company.  As of now we have a small business in India.  Some brands that make garments in India use our fabric. We are open to cooperation with Indian firms.”

S.Café has won Best Invention at Geneva Inventions and Pittsburgh Invention Gold Medal Award of Merit. Additionally, S.Café obtained GRS (Global Recycle Standard ) certification by Control Union (Holland base notarization unit) and Recycled Material Certification by TÜV (Germany base notarization unit).

www.scafefabrics.com

Over 135 companies from the upstream textile supply field from the Euromed region and Moroccan clothing manufacturers exhibited at this year’s editions of Maroc in Mode & Maroc Sourcing on October 24 and 25, in Casablanca. Denims and piece-dyed casual trousers were a focus of the exhibition with many innovative ranges on display.

Organised by Amith, the trade body for Moroccan textile and clothing manufacturers, in collaboration with Maroc Export saw retailers and fashion labels such as Stefanelli, Simonetta, Antica Sartoria or Pinko from Italy; Cortefiel, Iturri, Escorpion from Spain; Perry Ellis, Topshop, House of Fraser from Great Britain and Willy Bogner, Mac, Mustang and Orsay from Germany visit the fairs. 

The largest groups of visitors came from France, including Galeries Lafayette, Caroll, Cache Cache, Pimkie, La Redoute, La Nouvelle Vague, Go Sport along with Russian labels exhibiting for the first time. An extensive range of textiles for the production of in-house collections in the fields of womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, jeans, body and beachwear, as well as branded and private label collections and sustainably produced eco collections were on display.

Owing to rising production costs in Asia, Morocco’s textile and clothing industry is being viewed as a safe and comfortable sourcing destination. Duty-free delivery to the EU, short distances involved in transit, as well as environmentally friendly and sustainable production methods are some advantages that make Morocco attractive for international manufacturers.

www.marocinmode.com

Garment Printing, a leading international promotional and customized clothing company, offering a complete range of bespoke printing techniques has re-invested in its innovative IT platform that improves on its already strong, international supply chain. Combined with an enhanced customer relationship system, the company is focused on reducing turn-around times and improving customer satisfaction, proven by its increase in positive feedback.

“Fast Track IT innovation is driving our express T-shirt printing demand,” says CEO Gavin Drake. Having printed and embroidered extensively for the television, media, music, and advertising companies and global brands, Garment Printing is familiar with sudden changes and urgent requests. Drake has applied his 15 years experience of the printing business to solving unexpected pressures on his companies supply chain and ensuring high quality service for his customers, explaining how his customer services teams are like an extension of its clients marketing teams.

Garment Printing does not have fixed turnaround times. They work as per client’s requirements and urgent delivery deadlines. Whether it’s same-day T-shirt printing, next-day embroidered polo shirts, or anything personalized, customized or branded with company logos and designs, Garment Printing makes it happen. 

www.garmentprinting.co.uk

The 9^th edition of Interfiliere Shanghai & Shanghai Mode Lingerie, two trade fairs dedicated to lingerie and swimwear were held from October 22-23, 2013 at Shanghai Exhibition Centre. The two-day show saw nearly 7,300 visitors from 60 countries.

One of the main attractions in this edition was the trend forum by Concepts Paris. It showcased selected fabric and product samples and gave away the trends for next lingerie and swimwear collections. With the aim of bridging the gap between Chinese and international lingerie and swimwear brands, Shanghai Mode Lingerie had a new format and layout.

The two day event also saw trend and branding seminars that was attended by designers, marketing managers and buyers looking for the latest trends. Concepts Paris, Carlin International, Stylesight gave away insights and information for next collections and seasons.

Shanghai Mode Lingerie also developed a top-class business club, exclusively focused on B2B meetings, to give visitors a unique opportunity to meet and sit down with brands. This helped existing and potential partners to know the products better and learn more about the brand identity and image.

For the first time, Eurovet collaborated with Stylesight, the leading content and technology solution provider for professionals in the style, fashion and design sectors. They presented beachwear trends for S/S 2015. Specialists explored the latest collections of 269 Interfiliere exhibitors and 41 lingerie and swimwear brands from Europe, US and Asia. The trade show attracted 71 per cent Chinese visitors. The top regions and provinces were Guangdong, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Fujian and Beijing.

International visitors from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, United States, Thailand, Russia etc, attended the show. This time exhibition space increased from two to three halls. This edition profiled 269 local and international exhibitors from 17 countries divided into seven product-base.

http://www.interfiliere.com/

Made in France, the high-end apparel and accessories manufacturing trade show will take place in Paris from April, 9 to 10, 2014. This time the event will take place at a new venue, the Carreau du Temple. In fact, the historical venue where the event is set, is a major highlight this time. It will enable the show to build on the success of 2013 and encourage world-renowned contemporary know-how, techniques and craftsmanship to remain at the cutting edge of fashion. In keeping with the venue’s community spirit, ‘Made in France’ plans to open certain exhibitions and events to the general public.

The Carreau du Temple site, home to an open-air market, was ordained for the trade of old linens, clothes and rags, which was transferred out of Les Halles at the beginning of the 19th century. By 1808, the newly-covered market traded in carpets, silks, ribbons, gloves, feathers, household linen, leather, and second-hand clothes. In 1904, the market hosted the first Foire de Paris (Paris Fair). It was a huge hit with the public and the Carreau du Temple became a hotspot for stylish men and women with limited means. Sports arrived at the Carreau in 1920, although fashion, particularly men’s fashion in the 1960s and 70s, remained the district’s speciality. Since the 1980s, the Carreau du Temple hosted Paris Fashion Week’s catwalks, connecting it to a world of luxury and fashion.

This edition of the show will gain momentum as it has got a new shareholder called PV Manufacturing. The district’s ready-to-wear designers, jewellery and accessories workshops and leading school of applied arts will continue to establish connections between fashion and production at Made In France. Around100 exhibitors from apparel and accessories manufacturing experts with exclusive rights to label their products ‘Made in France’, will be among the first to fill this new fashion hotspot, which also boasts of sports and cultural facilities. The high-end manufacturing trade show will bring together experts with the capacity to turn fashion and accessories designers’ visions into reality, in one ideal location.

www.salonmadeinfrance.com

After years of work and investment in R & D, Miroglio Textile has come up with a new method of printing textiles called E.volution. A one-of-a-kind, this method improves quality standards in terms of technical and environmental performance. It is a combination of advanced next-gen digital printing, great environmental responsibility and outstanding creativity.

E.volution has recently added two new products namely Twin Fabs and Filature Miroglio. Filature Miroglio, part of Miroglio Textile, is a range of yarns made of a blend of 80 per cent Tencel and 20 per cent Ecolabel certified regenerated noble fibres such as wool, alpaca, cachemire. These yarns has been woven and printed with the E.volution system by Miroglio Textile.

Unique ingredients together with the cooperation and skills of an important partner like Lenzing, coordinated and implemented by Miroglio Textile in yarn, fabric and printing innovation, makes this range really unique in its look, touch and functionality from both technical and sustainability point of view.

http://www.mirogliotextile.com

Saluzzo Yarns, part of Sinterama Group has recently introduced the ultimate top innovation of the Newlife platform. The new ‘Thermal management’ range by Newlife offers new levels of lightness and thermal insulation together with high sustainable performance. It’s an unique range that fits new applications both for casual and active wear. New textile partnerships were made which were in line with manufacturers requirements.

For work wear, unique offers came from a complete supply chain based on Newlife yarns, woven by French weaver Chamatex with the inclusion of Sympatex sustainable laminate for a specific high quality top work wear (police, transports etc) fabric range, with enhanced mechanical properties, abrasion resistance and colour fastness. The ultra thin membrane ensures excellent handle and comfort stretch. It has dynamic breathability which means, the more the body perspires, the more moisture the membrane can transport outwards. The membrane is 100 per cent recycled and recyclable.

Newlife is the result of an ambitious project developed by Saluzzo Yarns. It is a unique, complete and certified system of recycled polyester yarns obtained entirely from used plastic bottles, which are transformed into a polymer by mechanical, and non-chemical process, right up to the production of the 100 per cent ‘Made in Italy’ yarn thanks to an exclusive horizontal partnership agreement. The knowledge gained by Saluzzo Yarns, together with its on going research aimed at innovation and the complete, patented process, which forms the basis of this entirely Italian-made project, makes Newlife into an incredibly flexible platform.

www.saluzzoyarns.com

Manufacturers of readymade garments (RMG) have decided to propose a minimum wage Tk 4,500 for garment workers before the wage board.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) held a meeting with all former presidents and other business leaders to take their opinion on the wage hike.

In its last meeting held in August, the wage board had asked owners' and leaders to submit their proposals in the next meeting. The meeting was attended by its office bearers including president Atiqul Islam among others.

Arshad Jamal Dipu, who is representing the owners, said there is a scope for government interference in the recommendations of the wage board and if the government wants, it can increase the wages. "The industry can't afford a minimum wage of more than Tk 5,000 ($64.7) at this moment," he said. "That is why we want to discuss the matter with the government so that the final wage remains within Tk 5,000."

Nazma Akter, resident of Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation said workers will be cheated if their basic payment is not increased properly. She feared that it might lead to an unwanted unrest among workers if their demand is neglected.

www.bgmea.com.bd

Bangladesh Bank has launched an inquiry into the recent substantial increase in garments machinery import despite ongoing political turmoil to see whether there is any attempt to draw off money abroad through over-invoicing. The opening of LCs for import of capital machinery increased by 23 per cent in July-August period of the current fiscal year over the same period of the last fiscal year. The value of LC opened against capital machinery stood at $428 million and settlement stood at $380 million during the period as compared to $348.31 million and $334 million respectively in the corresponding period of the last year.

Bangladesh Bank senior executives suspect money laundering activities as opening of import letter of credit (LC) increased substantially during the fag end of the present government tenure. Generally, the trend is witnessed at the end of every government. They said the ill attempts are being made through over-invoicing as the imported machinery are reported as new and at higher price, but actually those would be second hand ones at lower price.

The rising trend is illogical, say experts, as the entrepreneurs remain shy of making fresh investment in this situation of political instability ahead of the upcoming general election. Earlier, Anti Corruption Commission of Bangladesh had moved to investigate the cause of significant increase in LC opening.

www.bangladesh-bank.org

The value of Nepal’s readymade garments exports have risen by 17.8 per cent year-on-year, during the first two months of Nepali financial year that began on July 16, 2013. Depreciation of the Nepali currency vis-à-vis the US dollar was the major factor contributing factor that increased exports. On July 16, 2013, the exchange rate for 1 US dollar was Np Rs 95.01, which gradually rose to Rs 101.47 on September 15, 2013.

Nepal exported garments worth Np Rs 786.2 million ($8 million) in July to September, 2013 period as compared to exports worth Np Rs 667.4 million ($6.8 million) made during the corresponding period of last fiscal, as per the latest data from the Nepal Rastra Bank. During the two-month period, Nepal’s garment exports to India increased to Np Rs 55.1 million ($0.55 million), as against exports valued at Np Rs 35.2 million ($0.36 million) made during the same period last year.

For Nepal, garments were the second-largest export item, after hand knitted carpets, during 1990-2000 and fetched Np Rs 13.12 billion ($0.13 billion) at its peak. However, apparel exports declined to Np Rs 11.89 billion ($0.12 billion) in 2003-04, and then to around Np Rs 4 billion ($0.04) in 2012-13.

The inclusion of garments in the revised GSP would help Nepali clothing to qualify for preferential access to the US market. In addition, the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) is also considering the inclusion of garments in the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy 2010 priority product list, in order to boost the sector.

Cambodia’s garment exports continued to grow in the first nine months of the year in spite of the political uncertainty. The country’s garments and footwear exports were worth $4.1 billion in the first nine months of this year, a rise of 22 per cent from the $3.44 billion in the nine months upto September 2012, the Ministry of Commerce has revealed. As per Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC), though volumes have increased, factory profit margins were squeezed due to labour disputes and demand for higher wages.

GMAC points out that the US is the biggest market for Cambodian garments and textiles, with imports worth $1.21 billion in the first nine months. Europe, Canada and Japan are the major importers.

Hing Thoraxy, Senior Researcher at the Cambodia Institute for Cooperation and Peace said increasing garment exports reflects Cambodia’s improved economic conditions in and its growing importance in the exports market. Thoraxy added that while output is good, more is needed to diversify and enhance production levels. “We need to shift from simple T-shirts to produce more complicated products such as coats and shirts with embroidery, to add value to the product,” he said.

www.gmac-cambodia.org

Following the reduction of China’s share in the global textile and clothing trade coupled with the anticipated GSP Plus status for Pakistan by the EU in early 2014 Pakistan can earn an additional $700 million per year. Industry sources reveal Pakistan is working to get the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) plus status by January, 2014 from EU which will allow textile products greater access to those markets. The sole purpose of GSP scheme is to help poor countries by making it easier for them to export their products to EU at reduced tariffs.

In FY13, textile contributed 53 per cent to Pakistan total exports of $24.6 billion. Textile sector will gain as EU is likely to grant GSP plus status to Pakistan. Currently, any importer in EU who imports Pakistani textile products has to pay 11 per cent duty, which makes Pakistani products costly.

The new GSP legislation has set enhanced monitoring of the conventions (every two instead of three years) and with scrutiny by the European Parliament. GSP plus offers preferences over and above the standard GSP by covering roughly 70 more lines mostly duty-free. Pakistan is currently eligible for the GSP plus status and most likely will get the status in January, 2014.  Neighbouring countries like India, Bangladesh are holding GSP standard which offer partial reduction in tariff and Afghanistan has EBA status which allows it to export everything but arms absolutely duty-free and quota-free.

Italian textile industry has still to recover from the economic slowdown reveals latest data. The first part of 2013 shows a negative trend for the industry, with signs of a slight recovery during the second quarter of 2013. According to ISTAT data on industrial production (adjusted for the work calendar), during the first and second quarter of 2013, the Italian textile industry (excluding knitted fabrics) suffered a setback when compared to the same period in 2012, registering negative figures for the 7th consecutive quarter. The first quarter of 2013 was characterized by a -3.3 per cent production decrease, while the second quarter showed weak improvement, despite the negative zone (-0.4 per cent). It has been observed that in the first half of 2013, the Italian textile industry registered a slight production slowdown (-1.8 per cent).

The entire textile industry follows a similar trend as the weaving sector, holding steady during the 2^nd quarter and then beginning to stabilize, as in 2012. During the first half of the current year, the textile industry experienced a slight decrease in production (-2.1 per cent).

During the first five months of 2013, Italian fabric export remained in the negative. From January to May 2013, foreign sales of Italian fabrics registered a slight decrease amounting to -3.4 per cent in value and -4.0 per cent in quantity. A minor decline characterized silk fabric import (-3.7 per cent) during the first five months of 2013. Considering these results, the total turnover for the January-May 2013 period, was only slightly below that of the previous year (934 million euros to 846 million euros, a reduction of 88 million euros).

Among the top 10 market outlets, only Turkey and Hong Kong were in the positive zone, increasing by +12.8 per cent and +1.0 per cent, respectively. Even though Germany remains the primary market outlet for Italian fabrics, there was a slight decline in export (-4.1 per cent) as there was to France (-2.6 per cent).

During the first five months of 2013, China is once again the leading supplier, covering 25.9 per cent of total fabric import, still in the positive zone (+0.4%). Turkey makes up +23 per cent (compared to -19.4 per cent  registered last year). Fabric import from the Czech Republic and Pakistan has increased +5.3 per cent and +10.7 per cent respectively, while imports from Spain (-2.1 per cent) and India (-16.2 per cent) are in decline.

Libolon is a core brand of LeaLea Enterprise and Li Peng Enterprise who offer global services in both nylon and polyester. The services include polymerization, spinning, weaving, dyeing to post finishing processes. With 30 years of experience and fully automatic production lines for bulk production, Libolon is the best textile partner in Asia. Libolon develops RePET, recycled yarns and recycled fabrics, creating eco textiles that help protect the environment and natural ecosystems. These recycled yarns and recycled fabrics are made by recycling plastic bottles. Its features include free of petrochemicals, conserve natural resources, and reduce the environmental burden while still offering high-quality textile solutions. It can be used in any nearly any textile application.

Libolon’s innovative RePET solution and recycled yarns are more environmentally-friendly than traditional RePET products due to the elimination of the dyeing process. Using recycled fabrics and eco textiles, Libolon’s RePET-solution and rpet recycled yarns reduce emissions of GHG and COD, lower water consumption, and decrease the amount of chemicals involved in the production process. RePET-solution rpet recycled yarns also offer higher performance, including light-protection, water-protection, washing-protection, anti-UV, anti-aging, anti-weathering, and colour reproducibility properties. Libolon’s RePET-solutions is the best choice for recycled fabric and eco textile products.

http://www.libolon.com/

The Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI) showcased a range of cutting-edge textile innovations and research at the recent ‘2013 Textile International Forum and Exhibition’. The exhibition is a part of the Taipei Innovation Textile Application Show which runs at the Taipei World Trade Centre Nangang Exhibition Hall.  The TTRI’s pavilion caught visitor’s attention with a great mountain vest mockup, symbolizing the recent establishment of Taiwan Outdoor Group (TOG), an organization that joins together more than 20 local outdoor gear brands.

“The image of TOG highlights Taiwan outdoor gear brands as a whole. When we go abroad to do promotions, we introduce Taiwan as our brand concept, rather than individual products, says TTRI Executive Vice President Lien Jung-shen. At present, TOG has 22 members, including well known names like Atunas, GoHiking and Global Spirit.

TOG Chairman Robin Hsu says, the market for outdoor gear is worth $6 billion in South Korea and $2 billion in China. “The potential growth for Taiwan’s outdoor gear market is big because it is only $0.2 billion now,” he said.

Apart from TOG, the TTRI also showcased innovations in fabrics, such as the iodine antimicrobial yarn, which incorporates organic iodine agents in its fibre, perpetuating the antibacterial effect. In the past, antibacterial agents were processed onto the finished cloth. However, the TTRI’s R&D team has succeeded in manufacturing yarns that are already antimicrobial, so that the textile remains germ-free at all times.

http://www.ttri.org.tw/

Uzbekistan, the sixth largest cotton producer, has been facing a boycott by western firms owing to the use of child labour during harvesting. But now it has cracked a new deal to export 300,000 tonnes of cotton fibre to China in a bid to explore new markets. The country has also allowed monitoring of its harvest by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), while the reports of forced labour continue to creep in even this year.

Apart from China, the country has initiated an agreement with Bangladesh to export 200,000 tonnes of fibre in August. The two Asian manufacturing hubs will together account for around five-sixths of Uzbekistan's total cotton fibre exports, which are expected to total around 600,000 tonnes this year.

Uzbekistan officials may finalise the agreement with China at a cotton industry fair in October, which will give a boost to China's share of the harvest from around 15 per cent to 50 per cent, making it the single largest buyer of Uzbek cotton. At the same time, the Uzbek government is keen to increase domestic processing of locally produced cotton to 50 per cent.

www.ilo.org

Jeanologia, the Spanish company and world leader in development of sustainable technologies for garment finishing will present its latest offerings at the Denim by PV Asia and Intertextile events in Shanghai. It aims to transform the Chinese textile production model into efficient, sustainable and automated process. Jeanologia developed textile laser that reproduces jeans wear and tear avoiding the use of harmful techniques that could damage health of the workers, allowing savings in energy water, chemicals and time, at the same time getting automated production. In addition, eco-G2 uses ozone washing and oxygen from the atmosphere, which helps in saving over 60 per cent water and energy and about 85 per cent in chemicals.

Enrique Silla, President of Jeanologia says, "Asian textile production is increasingly directed towards automation, productivity and social responsibility, the use of laser technology, E-soft and ozone developed by our company, will contribute to this goal.” Silla also stressed on the importance of transparency in the Chinese textile industry because, he feels the industry must be concerned about the environment, health of workers and sustainability. "What matters is not only the product itself but the way in which it is made, how it is done," he explains.

He also highlighted the importance of the partnership between Prosperity and Jeanologia to transform the Chinese market, and stated that "China will remain the world's leading producer of jeans this time thanks to the efficiency of sustainable technologies like laser treatments or using ozone instead of water.”

Fashion, Vintage and Who collections to be exhibited at both events, will allow visitors to know more about the multiple effects that can be achieved and compare the garments before and after application of textile finishing techniques. Fashion features the latest fashion trends adapted to laser, Vintage is a purist collection getting back to basics created by laser and ‘Who is using laser’, shows how the world's most recognized brands use laser and ozone technology of Jeanologia in their collections, either for a premium denim or a low cost collection.

Jeanologia products and solutions are currently being used in more than 45 countries including China, México, Colombia, Brazil, USA, Germany, Italy, Portugal, India, Russia, Japan, Morocco and Bangladesh.

www.jeanologia.com

The 16^th edition of Milano Unica discovered new potential catering to sustainability issues. In an attempt to promote sustainability, Sustainability-lab.net; an online social network of textile and fashion professionals who are actively promoting sustainability in the fashion business invited a selected group of exhibiting companies to participate in a ‘Catalogue of Sustainable Fabrics and Accessories’.

The project, supported by Milano Unica, is breaking new ground for the Italian textile community and represents a roll-out, fine-tuning step to test market reactions that will be further developed at next editions of Milano Unica. The ‘Catalogue’ openly declares the parameters used in the evaluation and sustainable practices are summarized through easy-to-read icons in companies’ data sheets.

The catalogue was designed and created by Sustainability-lab with the support of Milano Unica. As Massimo Mosiello, Managing Director of Milano Unica says, “The catalogue does not cover completely the supply of sustainable fabrics and accessories showcased at Milano Unica yet. It is however a first positive test that allowed us to check ‘hands on’ companies’ sensitiveness about sustainability and to better understand the narrative of the companies’ strategies for sustainability. We are committed to ban green washing practices and to value actual engagement in sustainability. This first group of companies presented in the ‘Catalogue’ has cooperated with Sustainability-lab in developing an effective and meaningful language to frame in a concise but clear way companies’ commitment to sustainable practices."

Sustainability-lab project manager explained that the first step of the project led them to meet companies seriously committed to reducing environmental impact, to develop measures of social engagement, to use eco-friendly, renewable or recycled materials. “Our commitment is to widen the scope of the ‘Catalogue’, starting from next Milano Unica edition in September, in order to encompass a wider range of sustainable fabrics and accessories."

http://www.sustainability-lab.net

Groups representing various apparel manufacturers, brands and retailers in Africa and the US are calling for the swift renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) before its expiry in September 2015. Groups backing the calls for immediate renewal of AGOA include: African Cotton and Textile Industries Federation (ACTIF), American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), National Retail Federation (NRF), Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), and United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA).

As sourcing decisions are made many months in advance, the groups want AGOA to be renewed as soon as possible that is by 2013 and no later than 2014. Another goal is to see AGOA renewed for a longer period; at least 15 years to ensure the predictability necessary to support trade and investment decisions.

Short term renewals will not provide enough certainty to enable the industry to make capital intensive investment decisions necessary to attract textile investments or affect long term sourcing partnership decisions. Another call is for long-term renewal of the third country fabric provision, which has become central to AGOA.

http://trade.gov/agoa/

Pakistan’s textile and clothing exports witnessed a growth of 9.99 per cent in the first quarter of the current fiscal compared to last year. Export proceeds from these sectors rebounded following substantial increase in export of raw cotton and value-added products, reveals data Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Export of textile and clothing surged to $3.576 billion in July-Sept 2013 up from $3.251billion during the corresponding months of last year.

A sector-wise analysis showed that export of low value-added products, such as cotton yarn, was up by 8.55 per cent, cotton cloth 4.01 per cent, made-up articles 9.95 per cent, and other textile material 10.84 per cent in first three months of the current fiscal year over same months last year.

Depreciation of Pakistani currency is also one of the catalyst for export increase during the first quarter of the current fiscal year. In terms of rupees, exports proceeds witnessed a growth of 19.82 per cent in July-September 2013 this year from a year ago.

Cotton carded, yarn other than cotton yarn, towels and art silk products witnessed a negative growth in July-Sept 2013 over the same months last year. Exports witnessed a growth because of increase in export to the European markets owing to preferential market access on selected products.

The growth in yarn and fabric exports was mainly due to improved energy supply. Total export proceeds witnessed a growth of 9.23 per cent to $6.712 billion in July-Sept 2013 from $6.144 billion over the corresponding period of last year.

www.pbs.gov.pk

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has launched the ‘Better Work Bangladesh’ (BWB) program to improve working conditions of thousands of readymade garment factories (RMG) workers and promote its competitiveness. BWB is part of Better Work global program funded by the governments of Australia, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The government of Bangladesh and Better Work have agreed to link the continuation of the program to progress made relating to specific commitments.

In a joint initiative with the International Labor Organization (ILO), the BWB will provide factory-level services including compliance assessment in line with national labor laws and international standards, and advisory and training services to improve the workers' working conditions. 

BWB will build partnerships with the government, employers, unions, buyers, and other industry stakeholders. The goal of the program is to promote sustainable change in the sector by helping factories improve working condition and building capacity for better labor administration and industrial relations. The program will be funded by Switzerland and the United States. 

By helping improve working conditions in RMG, BWB will not just put people first but will also improve productivity, safeguard jobs and investment, and promote growth of the sector.

Mitsubishi Rayon Group, a renowned synthetic acrylic and acetate fibre manufacturer develops polyester fibre and polypropylene fibre for carpet, clothing products etc. It has recently launched a unique fibre called ‘Soalon’. Soalon is a semi-synthetic fibre derived from cellose but excels in thermal setting characteristics. The pleats are kept after repeated washing. Soalon is classified into semi-synthetic fibre and triacetate ‘Soalon’ is made from hightly pulified wool pulp and acetic acid. It has natural beauty and yet has many functions achieved by highly advanced technology.

Soalon features are its low refractive index and random grooves on the surface of the filament. Random grooves, diffuse light and gives a refined sheen and its low refractive index creates vivid colour development. The raw material used in Soalon is wood pulp. Soalon has high moisture content compared to synthetic fabrics. As a result, it causes less unpleasant static electricity and gives a gentle touch to the skin. When Soalon releases sweat and dampness, it takes away the heat of vaporization around it. The fabric itself is cooled, maintaining coolness inside clothing and gives a comfortable feeling.

Soalon is made from trees, which gives it higher moisture content compared to synthetic fabrics. This means that ‘Soalon’ causes less unpleasant static electricity and gives a gently touch to the skin. It has moderate firmness and resilience.

http://www.mrc.co.jp/

Italian company, RES Spa showcased its Autumn/Winter collection 2014-’15 at Premier Vision (Paris). The hi-tech collection featuring neoprene acquires new properties such as high water-resistance, breathability, excellent temperature control. All these make it a unique material for winter clothing. Designed as an active wear, the collection can also be used in other sectors due to its outstanding features.

Its silver fabric consists of a knitted nylon coated with silver fibres. Besides having bacteriostatic features, the fabric creates a barrier to electromagnetic waves. It also possesses exceptional technical characteristics derived from the continuous research conducted by the company that confers to garments and accessories features of elastic resistance, bacteriostatic and anti-static effect, stain resistance in addition to wear resistance and resistance to atmospheric agents. Furs and meshes embellished with metallic effects, two tone fleece, warm and breathable, flocked 3D fabric printed fabrics with veiled transparencies among others are part of the unique collection.  

RES Spa specializes in lamination of high-tech fabrics, devoting particular attention and efforts to applications in the fields of sports, footwear, furnishings, safety-wear and car interiors. Its products are environment friendly, heat resistant and water resistant and extremely resistant to delamination. The textile solutions developed by RES can be applied to a wide range of synthetic and natural materials.

RES gives constant attention to R&D, making use of considerable investments in terms of human and financial capital, carrying out its activities availing of its well-equipped laboratory for materials.     

www.res-spa.it

The second stage of Singapore's Indorama Industry’s textile production has become operational in the Ferghana region of Uzbekistan. After the second phase worth $31 million was commissioned, the cotton fibre processing enterprise's capacity increased by 5,000 tons to 15,000 tons. The project was financed through a direct investment worth $25 million by the Singapore-based company and by loans from foreign banks involved in project financing. Swiss company Rieter supplied equipment to the textile complex. The project implementation ensured increased capacity of processing cotton fibre up to 10,000 tons per year.

Indorama Kokand Textail joint venture was established with a capital of $20 million, where Indorama has a 75 per cent stake, the National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity, a 25 per cent.

Uzbekistan is the sixth world producer and the third largest exporter of cotton fibre. An average of 3.5-3.7 million tons of raw cotton is harvested and 1-1.2 million tons of cotton fibre produced in the country annually. More than 75 per cent of cotton fibre is exported.

www.indorama.com

Thermore, a worldwide leader in research, production and marketing of thermal insulations for apparel and sleeping bags has launched ‘Thermore ARIA’, a perfect technical synthetic alternative to real down feathers. An Italian word, ‘Aria’ means air in English. It perfectly describes this new insulation which is 98 per cent air by volume: ultra-light, soft and an efficient high-loft insulator. Aria product mimics the look of down when quilted with suitable fabrics. It is hypo-allergenic and does not contain any dangerous chemicals (it's free of PFOS and PFOA) and offers a very safe and humane alternative to using animal products for quilted outerwear.

The insulation does not need to be applied with specialized machinery or unique garment construction. Also, problems of fibre migration does not exist due to Thermore's proprietary finishing process-thus preserving the long term quality and appearance of the garment. Aria is an excellent alternative to down in with regards its appearance, health and ethical concerns, cost, availability and overall performance.

Thermore is dedicated to innovation and is using its experience to anticipate market demand with new products such as ARIA that are perfectly designed for purpose. ARIA straddles the seasons with an almost impalpable touch, yet still offers a full winter thermal performance.

Thermore was founded in 1972 in Milan and is a worldwide leader in the research, production and marketing of thermal insulation for apparel and sleeping bags with operations in Europe, US and Asia including production facilities in Thailand and offices in Hong Kong. The global presence of the Thermore Group makes it possible for international clients to benefit from its market leading experience at a convenient and cost effective price point. Thermore’s current product range includes Classic, Ecodown, Rinnova, Pro, and now ARIA. Thermore is a member of the Italian Outdoor Group, Outdoor Industry Association, SnowSports Industries America and of the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana.

http://www.thermore.com

The IX International Uzbek Cotton and Textile Fair commenced in Tashkent on October 16, 2013. Over 1,000 representatives of cotton and textile industry firms and companies from 40 countries are participating in the event. Fibre samples of this year's Uzbek cotton harvest and new textile products have been put up for sale in the exhibition halls of capital's Uzexpocenter. During the fair, participants will be able to conclude a contract for the selected batch of products and discuss the transportation routes. Given the importance of further development of the national textile industry, cotton forum participants will be able to get acquainted with the investment potential of the country's regions and projects in the textile industry.

The Fair's program provides for a conference, which will discuss the current problems and prospects of the development of world cotton market. The conference participants, including leading international experts in the field of world cotton and textile industry, will discuss issues as demand and offer, prices and factors of influence on the world cotton market, conditions and prospects of production and marketing of cotton in Uzbekistan. 

www.cotton.mfer.uz

Cotton Council International (CCI) organized a comprehensive Cotton USA Supply Chain Marketing event in Guangzhou from October 8-12. Renowned U S spinners got an opportunity to meet 25 new Chinese companies and visit six factories in the Guangzhou area. A detailed presentation on the attributes of US open-end yarn and benefits of Supima yarn for high-quality products were part of the event. CCI also presented information on US cotton production and spinning locations. Following the one-and-a-half-day private trade fair, US mills toured a variety of factories, met with purchasing managers and discussed product needs.

There has been 192 per cent increase in US cotton exports to China totalling to 173,000 bale equivalents since the first cotton trip to China. Sales in the first eight months of 2013 of US cotton yarns reached $120 million, which is ahead of the $44 million at the same time last year. The climate for imported cotton yarn to China remains excellent.

Cotton Council International (CCI), the export promotion arm of the National Cotton Council of America (NCC) is dedicated to promoting quality US cotton, cotton seed and their products. CCI represents the export promotion interests of the US cotton industry’s seven segments i.e. producers, ginners, warehouses, merchants, cottonseed handlers, cooperatives and manufacturers. CCI has more than 55 years of experience promoting US cotton fibre and products to the trade and to consumers around the world. 

http://www.cottonusa.org

With the aim of promoting wool, Australia’s Campaign for Wool has initiated a program called ‘Wool Week’ this month. The highlight of the event was to encourage manufacturers, retailers, designers, editors and consumers to nominate OneWool product of their choice. This new promotion follows the success of Wool House, the major interiors and lifestyle showcase held in March 2013 at Somerset House, where the Campaign for Wool saw a deluge of products from wool interior businesses across the world.  The Campaign is now keen to see how it can bring more wool products together by launching a social media and showroom promotion.

The program is being held on a larger scale this time and it is going to be launched in the US and will be open to everyone to celebrate wool as a global fibre. It encourages all participants to put wool and its creative edge at the top of the agenda for design. 

The Campaign for Wool is a broad and flexible program with an objective to promote wool as a natural, biodegradable and renewable fibre educating on its natural qualities and benefits. The campaign is held every year through a sequence of Wool Weeks in the most important countries and cities of the world through co-branding initiatives and in-store animations and promotions, with its recognizable educational approach. 

http://www.campaignforwool.org

Australia and the United States have launched a program, ‘Cotton Leads’ that aims to highlight responsible and transparent ways that cotton is grown in these two countries. The new initiative includes conventional and organic upland and pima cotton grown in Australia and the United States, which together account for around 17 per cent of global cotton production. The two partners emphasize the new program will complement, rather than compete with, existing cotton sustainability certification programs.

Cotton Leads is designed to assist businesses along the cotton supply chain with their sustainability goals. Apparel brands, retailers, and manufacturers require large volumes and a reliable supply of responsibly-produced fiber as well as proof of responsible production. Cotton Leads helps demonstrate how cotton grown in the United States and Australia can help meet these requirements.

The program is committed to providing the supply chain with greater volumes of responsibly-grown cotton, to ongoing improvement, and the transparency of processes and metrics. It aims to increase the global supply of responsibly produced cotton, by including cotton from countries that demonstrate responsible production practices with transparent national reporting and regulatory enforcement.

The depreciating rupee against dollar has boosted profits of the largest textile industry of the country, as the listed textile firms profit have jumped by 150 per cent to Rs 30.6 billion in fiscal year 2013. The fall of rupee is being viewed as a positive sign for exports of Pakistan, as the local currency has fallen 8 per cent since the beginning of 2013. Moreover, it depreciated faster in the last two months, as it went down by a sharp 4 per cent against the dollar. With a share of over 50 per cent in the country’s total exports, the textile industry has emerged stronger in fiscal 2013-14.

Industry sources believed that Pakistan’s textile exports are going to benefit from two major reasons, as China is focusing more on the technology sector instead of textile, but yarn demand from China is growing. Bangladesh which is the second biggest textile exporter in the world after China, is not getting the same number of export orders as it was getting a year ago. The country is facing major challenges in safety concerns of textile workers. Recent fire incidents in factories of Bangladesh, where hundreds of workers had died, attracted negative international media coverage.

 The listed companies, which cover 85 per cent of textile sector market capitalization, are very small compared to total Pakistan textile industry. So the actual profits of the textile industry would be much more than Rs 30.6 billion.

As per latest media report India is likely to withdraw the 12 per cent countervailing duty (CVD) it charges on apparel imports from Bangladesh. Revenue secretary Sumit Bose, recently assured a high-level Bangladesh delegation of positively considering the issue. The joint working group meeting is scheduled for October, 20-22 in Dhaka where Bangladesh will raise the issue again. Bose is likely to head the Indian delegation in the meeting. 

Sources reveal India was charging 12 per cent excise duty on its domestic apparel production. In order to ensure a level-playing field for both local products and imports, it imposed the 12 per cent CVD after granting the duty-free access for all but 25 goods from the LDCs. However, in the last budget, India withdrew excise duty on local apparel production, but it did not withdraw the CVD creating an uneven competition for the exports to Indian market, the sources said. <br/

The 12 per cent CVD also reduced competitiveness of Bangladeshi exporters and hindered the level-playing field. As a result it emerged as a barrier to reducing the trade gap between the two countries. Referring to Bangladesh's trade gap with India, sources say even the duty-free access facility could hardly reduce the imbalance. The Bangladeshi delegation told Bose that such discrimination would further widen the gap since export of apparels, Bangladesh's major export item, face the CVD barrier. 

Abdus Salam Murshedy, President of the Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB), told media that when India granted the duty-free access for almost all LDC goods, it should not create such an obstacle to export of any specific goods. 

www.bgmea.com.bd

The 15th Heimtextil Russia was held from September 25 to 27 at the IEC Crocus Expo in Moscow, Russia and gathered the key players of the international textile business. This year, a total of 15,117 professional trade visitors witnessed the best collections of textile and wall coverings by 311 companies from 21 countries such as Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Germany, Greece, Egypt, India, Spain, China, Moldova, UAE, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, USA, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, France. The national pavilions of Germany, Spain, Italy, China, Pakistan, Portugal, Turkey participated at the event this year too whereas India and Taiwan pavilions were the new entrants. 

Leaders of the home and interior textile industry took part in Heimtextil Russia 2013. The latest collections of international textiles were exhibited by Eke, Hefel, Texathenea, Aydin Orme, Sleepwell Kauffmann, Zorlu, Angelo Carillo & C S.p.A., Welspun Global Brands Ltd, among others. The special show for wallpaper and wall coverings had leading Russian and foreign companies such as KT Exclusive, LeDimore, Art-Master and Pan-El. 

Heimtextil Russia makes visiting the exposition maximally effective and convenient for its visitors. This year, the fair presented a new online platform which was available as a mobile application for Android and iOS. Fair visitors could download this application and use it to check the fair exposition and plan their schedule correctly for maximum benefit. 

http://www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.ru

Li Peng Enterprise which makes nylon products, has said that it will become the world’s largest nylon maker after it completes its expansion to increase capacity by 180,000 tonnes of nylon next year. They are adding one more production line, and after the expansion, their capacity will increase to 580,000 tonnes of nylon a year, replacing BASF SE as the world’s largest nylon maker.  

Li Peng president Jonathan Lin expects the new production line will contribute to Li Peng’s revenue starting the third quarter next year. Meanwhile, the company is also building a dying and finishing plant in Yangmei, Taoyuan County, enabling it to sell finished fabrics to its clients. Their Japanese clients can purchase fabrics directly from them and ship it to Southeast Asia. Lin forecast that the dying and finishing plant could raise the company’s revenue by NT$10 billion ($340 million) in 2015. 

From January through last month, Li Peng posted revenue of NT$19.77 billion, up 0.69 per cent from NT$19.63 billion a year ago, according to the company’s filing to the Taiwan Stock Exchange. During the first six months of the year, the company registered a profit of NT$561.02 million, up from the losses of NT$508.08 million a year ago, when the company suffered from low nylon prices, the filing showed.

Cashmere World 2013, the world’s only trade fair dedicated to cashmere and other fibres was held from September 25-27 at Hong Kong. Co-organized by the China Chamber of Commerce of Import & export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal by-Products and UBM Asia., the event runs concurrently with Fashion Access, an exhibition dedicated to head-to-toe fashions, enabling both fairs to benefit from each other’s synergy.

More than 60 exhibitors and 2,000 buyers visited the fair. Outsourcing as well as quality, marketing, supply chain and sustainability issues; the advent of new technologies and fashion trends were among the topics debated at the Cashmere World Forum that was held over two days which attracted cashmere industry’s experts and aficionados from all over the world.  

There was a lot of buzz around the Afghan Made cashmere booth. Afghanistan is currently the third largest producer of cashmere in the world after China and Mongolia but due to lack of training and equipment, only 30 per cent of the country’s cashmere is currently harvested. Philip Eddleston, Cashmere Specialist and Advisor of AfghanMade, the label developed for and by the US task force project, predicted that Afghan Cashmere will come as an identified product by the end of 2014. Production from Afghanistan is hoped to alleviate the worrying global shortage of raw material, attributed to the reduction of grazing land and of animals raised for their fibres. Meanwhile, despite the much talked about decrease of competitiveness of China, the country is expected to remain the world’s main cashmere manufacturer for the years to come.

http://www.cashmereworldfair.com/

Data released by Japan Textile Importers Association reveals that the value of apparel imports made by Japan in August 2013 increased by 21.4 per cent year-on-year to 280,732 million yen. This data is based on the Ministry of Finance trade statistics. August was the fifth consecutive month when Japan’s apparel imports increased both in terms of value and volume. Japan’s garment imports from Asean nations shot up by 45.3 per cent to 41, 681 million yen in August, while volume grew by 19.4 per cent to 50.639 million units. Among Asean countries, Japan’s clothing imports from Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar showed an increase.

In 2012, Japan’s total clothing imports were valued at US$ 32.073 billion, compared to imports of $31.110 billion and $25.262 billion made in 2011 and 2010 respectively, according to relevant data. China was the largest supplier of apparels to Japan in August with 300.513 million units, almost same as the quantity supplied during the corresponding period of last year. The value of Japan’s apparel imports from China rose by 16.5 per cent to 211,992 million yen, during the month. 

www.jtia.or.jp

Sri Lankan apparel exporters are demanding flexible labour laws and revisions in energy tariffs to facilitate apparel manufacture by lowering cost of production. “Energy costs continue to be a large and increasing part of our industry. We would look at removal of the fuel adjustment charge applicable under the tariffs which most of our members operate. With the commissioning of the coal power plants there is now a valid argument for the removal of this surcharge. Our association has made a number of observations to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and we would seek an opportunity to discuss these in detail as we believe there are some fundamental issues in the way the current tariff system is structured,” Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association Chairman Yohan Lawrence stated at the association’s recently held AGM. 

Lawrence also called for the implementation of incentive schemes for alternative energy generation, particularly in the conversion from furnace oil to biomass boilers. Meanwhile, touching on Sri Lanka’s labour laws, Lawrence called on amendments with a view to allowing factory workers to work longer hours while also allowing factories to run continuous shifts. 

“Increased labour market flexibility will be a significant advantage to the industry as this allows us to have 24-hour/seven-day shift operations,” Lawrence noted. Sri Lankan factory workers are allowed a maximum of 57.5 hours in comparison to Bangladesh with 60 hours and Vietnam with 64 hours and a fixed weekly holiday. Continuous shifts may also have positive implications for Sri Lanka’s power grid, which would otherwise see a significant drop in consumption after peak hours. 

www.srilanka-apparel.com

Anthropologie is opening its fourth UK store in Guildford next month. Opening on October 21, the five-storey building at 149 High Street in the centre of Guildford, will house women’s fashion, accessories and home decor, including exclusive products such as Mister Finch’s collectable objects of art...Read More

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British lifestyle brand Holland & Holland, known for its traditional outdoor sporting attire, has launched its online store in America...Read More

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French designer Christian Louboutin is asking a Belgian court to kill a far-right campaign using his iconic stilettos for a poster denouncing Islam, the Belga news agency reported...Read More

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Alessandro Dell’Acqua has been confirmed as the new creative director at Rochas, replacing designer Marco Zanini, who was announced as the new creative director of legendary fashion house Schiaparelli. In a statement by Rochas, they confirmed the arrival of Dell’Acqua as a “new chapter” for the label, while adding that the Italian designer will still be continuing with his own brand, No.21, which showcased its latest collection in Milan. Dell’Acqua’s first collection for Rochas will be presented in Paris in February 2014...Read More

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French fashion label Sonia Rykiel has appointed Nathan Levy as managing director in America.

The newly created role, which is part of the brand’s development strategy in the U.S., will see Levy overseeing the commercial management and the implementation of the company’s retail and wholesale activities in the region...Read More

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Geoffrey J Finch, founder and creative director of Antipodium, has joined Topshop as part-time creative design consultant...Read More

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To keep up with competition, the readymade garment industry has urged the Bangladesh government to fix a separate exchange rate for Taka against the dollar. This demand was made recently by MdAtiqul Islam, President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association(BGMEA).The demand was for a separate exchange rate for the apparel sector to narrow the difference between the cost of importing raw materials for export and the actual export rate.The past few months saw declining order for Bangladesh as several buyers were moving to India and Vietnam.“India’s readymade garment manufacturers can easily accept order now as the value of rupee against dollar has depreciated. On the other hand, our Taka has gained. This development has set us back in the competition,” said Atiqul.

Former BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedi agreed.“Bangladesh’s readymade garment is becoming less able to compete in the international market for many reasons. A fresh blow is the neighbouring country’s inflation.”

The recent hike in power tariff will increase the cost of production by 21 percent, making Pakistan’s industry uncompetitive in the world market, feels Muhammad YasinSiddik, Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA). Addressing a press conference recently, he said that the government had increased power tariff for the industry by 70 percent which was not acceptable.

The hike has taken the power tariff of the industry to Rs 13.16 per unit as against Rs 7.75 per unit. He said they have rejected this increase that is just because of inefficiency of GENCOS and distribution system. He said that following the directives of the Supreme Court, the federal government had already withdrawn the notification for the recent increase for the domestic consumers, while the higher tariff for the industrial sector still existed despite the fact that both increase was made through the same notification.

The chairman also disclosed that the NEPRA chairman had proposed diverting gas from the Captive Power Plants (CPPs), CNG sector and fertilizer to GENCOS (generation companies) so that they could generate expensive electricity and sell it to the industry at highest rate. He rejected this proposal presented by NEPRA chief in the Supreme Court and warned the government that the result of withdrawal of gas from CPPs would be a drastic one.

An updated assessment of economic trends and prospects in developing Asia forecasts a slowdown in the growth of Bangladesh's ready-made garment exports in the current fiscal year following a series of deadly industrial accidents in the country.Export growth is projected to slow down to 7.0 per cent on an expected weak expansion in garment exports because of some unfavourable buyer reaction in the aftermath of fatal factory fires and the horrific factory collapse. This projection is significantly lower than the government's estimate at 12.3 per cent for the year ending June 30 2014, which includes higher garment exports.

Highlighting key findings at a press conference in Dhaka, Mohammad Zahid Hossain, principal economist of ADB's (Asian Development Bank) Bangladesh Resident Mission also said labour unrest and a less competitive exchange rate may also curtail sales.

The bank's data shows Bangladesh's overall exports grew by 10.7 per cent in the fiscal year to June 2013, up from a rise of 6.2 per cent the year earlier, largely because of higher demand for low-end garments.

Garment exports, which provide close to four-fifths of export earnings, grew by 12.7 per cent, doubling the 6.6 per cent growth recorded in the prior year. This growth reflected higher demand in the EU and US, as well as faster expansion into new markets, according to the ADB.

www.adb.org

A Bangladesh factory that sews garments for The Gap and Old Navy brands routinely forces workers to work over 100 hours a week and they are slapped, shoved and punched, says a report.It also says workers live in penury, earning 20 to 24 cents an hour, and illegal firings are regular.The 68-page report focuses solely on the Next Collections factory in Ashulia, a thriving suburb of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital city. The factory employs 3,750 workers and 70 per cent of its production is for The Gap and Old Navy.The report contains allegations about the treatment of pregnant workers.

Charles Kernaghan, Director of the institute, said in the report ‘These abuses have been going on for more than two and a half years.”Laura Wilkinson, a spokesperson for Gap Inc, said the factory in question has been audited for working conditions and “allegations (in the report) don’t align with the audit and worker interviews.”

This shocking report comes after 1,129 garment factory workers, mostly women, died in the Rana Plaza collapse in Savar, an industrial suburb of Dhaka, on April 24, 2013.It is believed to be the deadliest garment-factory accident in history.

Data released by Hellenic Fashion Industry Association (APR) reveals the Greek textile and apparel industry performed well during the first half of 2013 in comparison to the same period last year.The textile sub-sector production declined by 10.9 percent year-on-yearfrom January to June 2013, but it was better than the 17.9 percent year-on-year dip registered during thecorresponding period of 2012.  Similarly, garment sector production increased 2.4 percent year-on-year, as against a drop of 16.8 percent year-on-year in 2012.

The textile sub-sector’s turnover fell 2.2 percent year-on-year during the six-month period, while the clothing sector turnover registered a marginal growth of 0.1 percent compared to a dip of 17.8 percent year-on-year in the corresponding period of 2012.

The turnover of enterprises serving the Greek domestic market fell 2.5 percent year-on-year in textiles and 1.7 percent in clothing, APR data revealed.In the domestic market, new orders rose by 0.1 percent year-on-year in textiles during the six-month period, whereas they increased by 2.3 percent year-on-year in garments.

On the export front, textile exports from Greece during January to June 2013 period remained at the same level as in 2012 at €196.2 million.The imports of textiles by Greece decreased by 8.6 percent year-on-year from January to June 2013, while clothing imports dropped 7.4 percent year-on-year.

The American textile and apparel industries as a whole is experiencing a nascent turnaround as apparel and textile companies demand higher quality, more reliable scheduling, and fewer safety problems than they encounter overseas.

Accidents such as the factory collapse in Bangladesh this year, which killed more than 1,000 workers, have reinforced the push for domestic production. However, the industries were decimated over the last two decades and 77 percent of American workforce has been lost since 1990, as companies moved jobs abroad and manufacturers are now scrambling to find workers to fill the specialized jobs that have not been taken over by machines.

Wages for cut-and-sew jobs, the core of the apparel industry’s remaining work force, have been rising fast, increasing by 13.2 percent on an inflation-adjusted basis from 2007 to 2012, while overall private-sector pay rose just 1.4 percent.

Like manufacturers in many parts of the country, those in Minnesota are wrestling to attract a new generation of factory workers while also protecting their bottomlines in an industry where pennies per garment can make or break a business. The backbone of the new wave of manufacturing in the United States has been automation, but some tasks still require human hands.Nationally, manufacturers have established recruitment centresthat use touch screens and other interactive technology to promote the benefits of textile and apparel work.

Last year, about 142,000 people were employed as sewing-machine operators in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the Minneapolis-St Paul metro area, which had almost 1.75 million workers last year and where the unemployment rate as of July was 4.9 percentonly 860 were employed in 2012 as machine sewers.

 www.bls.gov

Mergers and acquisitions can help garment factories of Bangladesh. Most Bangladeshi garment factories are small in size and they  depend on subcontracting. Therefore, mergers can help them attain scale, where they can make the necessary investment in compliance. This in turn can help them get orders.  

Compliance has a cost but there are rewards too, because of the compliance, cost of production comes down, factories get better price, knowledge, experience and training that ultimately increase Production. 

One country Bangladesh can look to for inspiration is Vietnam. Vietnam may not produce better quality products but the country is disciplined and there are no strikes and other irregularities in the readymade garment sector. Further factories in Vietnam are bigger and are compliant from day one. Vietnam does not allow any factory to operate unless it’s compliant. So Bangladesh has to develop its industry to remain competitive. 

Trade unionism has crept into Bangladesh garment factories, which isn’t a bad sign, but ignorant young workers aged 18 to 30 are involved in trade unionism. There needs to be a move toward legal and constructive trade unions which understand their role and function. 

For now Bangladesh remains in the list of first three countries
for garment sourcing and this is expected to be the situation at least till 2020. 

Textile exporters in Pakistan say the recent hike of Rs 5.89 per unit in power and Rs 4.12 per litre in petroleum would fuel inflation and ultimately affect the already crisis-hit industry.

Their main fear is the cost of production in Pakistan isalready one of the highest in the region and these hikes will make Pakistani products lose their competitiveness in export markets. They say instead of increasing petroleum prices, the government should decrease the petroleum levy. Meeting export targets would be difficult if input prices are raised.

Exporters warn that frequent increase in power and petroleum prices will accelerate the capital flight from the country and discourage local and foreign investment. Therefore, in the larger national interest, they demand the government should take back this decision to save the economy from further damage. 

Pakistan textile units are as it is suffering a serious energy shortage. Many industrial units have closed operations. Mill owners have urged the government to explore renewable energy resources and overcome the energy crisis in the country. 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth Taka 1.0 billion ($12.9 million)in loan and technical support from JICA was signed recently to build a safe working environment in the vulnerable readymade garment (RMG) and knitwear factories of Bangladesh.Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Bangladesh Bank (BB), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) jointly signed the MoU.

Under the MoU, each vulnerable factory will get up to Taka 100 million ($1.29 million) based on its safety assessment reports, officials said.Japanese experts will provide the building assessment support under ‘RMG Sector Safe Working Environment Programme’ initiated in the MoU following the Rana Plaza disaster.

Two of JICA's on-going projects will contribute to this new initiative in two different aspects:‘Financial Sector Project for the Development of SMEs (FSPDSME)’ with the BB and ‘Capacity Development on Natural Disaster Resistant Techniques of Construction and Retrofitting for Public Buildings (CNCRP)’ with the Public Works Department.

The central bank will provide concessional financing such as maximum 10 per cent interest rate and up to 15 years repayment period with two year grace period to the garment factories through the existing FSPDSME procedure, JICA officials said.

www.jica.go.jp

Retailers are betting on Bangladesh’s garment industry more than that of any other country for the coming years show recent studies. Despite the recent deadly factory accidents that have put their reputations at risk.According to a new study by McKinsey & Co, Wall Street Journal, Bangladesh’s $20billion garment business came out ahead of smaller rivalsVietnam and Cambodia in the ranking of countries with the highest potential for future sourcing.

Research showed that production capacity and price appeared to trump safety and labour issues when it came to choosing where to source clothes. Bangladesh has suffered more industrial disasters than any other garment-producing country but its low minimum wage and high number of garment factories has made it a magnet for global retailers, according to the report.

Retailers including H&M, Wal-Mart, Gap and Zara parent Inditex SA are grappling with how the public perceives their role in Bangladesh. Labour unions have pointed fingers at retailers for turning a blind eye to safety violations in factories. The companies have formed safety pacts aimed at improving working conditions which also help improve their image.

A 12-member Alliance delegation headed by its president Jeffrey Krillaare in Dhaka to work out the detailed framework of the safety program including development of a common safety standard.The delegation of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety reiterated its commitment to completing the proposed inspection of Bangladesh ready-made garment (RMG) factories within the stipulated timeframe.The coalition of North American apparel companies and retailers, industry associations and NGOs was established inJuly to improve workers' safety in Bangladeshi garment factories."The Alliance members informed that they would inspect about 500 garment factories by July 2014," laboursecretaryMikailShipar told the media. He said the Alliance team had also reiterated their assurance that they would carry out their inspection under the national common standards that would be set according to the laws of the land.

The Alliance members have committed more than $45 million to administer the programs and to support the specific ones in the initiative, with some companies offering an additional combined total of over $100 million in loans and access to capital to assist factory owners they work with in Bangladesh targeting factory safety improvement.

http://www.bgmea.com.bd/#ad-image-0

Cashmere World, a vertically integrated business platform for the international cashmere trade, will take place from September, 25-26 in Hong Kong. It is a high-quality, annual meeting place for business, a catalyst for fashion trends and technology innovation, as well as a venue for the promotion of the unique qualities of cashmere.

The leading international cashmere trade fair was renamed to Cashmere World in 2010, as a result of a new partnership between CFNA and the professional fair organizer UBM, which operates 110 international events annually.

The event fosters international collaboration of cashmere professionals spanning the various sectors of this specialized industry, from raw materials to finished products, including yarns, fabrics, garments, knitted sweaters, fashion accessories, lifestyle accessories, components and accessories, processing chemicals and dyes and machinery.

The past three events in 2007, 2008 and 2010 attracted some 200 exhibitors from major cashmere supplying countries, including Afghanistan, China, India, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Switzerland and the UK, displaying the full spectrum of products and services from along the entire cashmere supply chain.  About 12,000 visitors from around the world including France, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US, attended the event.

http://www.cashmereworldfair.com

Apparel exports from Bangladesh to the US recorded a 9 per cent growth in the first seven months of the current calendar year compared to that of the same period of 2012.Bangladesh exported 1.21 billion sq. mtr.apparel products during the first seven months of 2013 to the US market against 1.09 billion sq. mtr.during the corresponding period in 2012.

US imports from Bangladesh totaled $4.9 billion in 2012, an increase of 0.8 per cent from that in 2011 and up by 130 per cent from 2002. The five largest categories of US imports from Bangladesh in 2012 were woven apparel ($3.3 billion), knit apparel ($1 billion), miscellaneous textile products ($ 178 million), headgear ($115 million) and others ($86 million). 

Bangladesh is trying hard to bring reforms in its ready-made garment sector. It aims to be one of the best apparel sourcing places in the world and to be the most competitive in the world in terms of both price and quality. 

Ultimately it depends on global retailers continuing to have their confidence in Bangladeshi suppliers. And that faith doesn’t seem to have been shaken in spite of the recent tragedies in Bangladeshi apparel factories. 

 IlyasMehmood of Dawood Exports was elected unopposed as the Chairman of the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA). Adil Tahir of Adil Tahir Textiles was elected as vice chairman for 2013-14. Earlier, 12 members were elected to the executive committee of PTEA for the next two years.The new PTEA chief is a seasoned industrialist and heads a group of ultra-modern textile mills. He is serving on the boards of many charitable, health and educational institutions. He plans to tackle problems facing the textile industry like the high utilities cost, the trade deficit, additional levies as well as the law-and-order situation. 

The Pakistan Textile Exporters Association was established in 1985. Several of its members have won export merit trophy awards. It handles issues like authentication of applications for drawback claims to exporters, sales tax refund problems and dissemination of textile-related information to members. It proposes suggestions to the government for promotion of exports. It issues certificates of origin of textile items to its members. 

A major activity of PTEA is facilitating its members by obtaining favorable market environment in buyer countries by fighting against tariff and non-tariff barriers on textile imports from Pakistan. 

www.ptea.org.pk/

In recent months, Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) has given approval to several foreign businesses to invest in the country’s garment manufacturing sector.Sources reveal two companies, one from the UK and another from Hong Kong, have been given permission to bring in 100 per cent foreign investment for setting up their own business of cutting, making and packing (CMP) apparel in the country recently.

China’s Jiangsu-based Solamoda Garments Group and Hong Kong-based AMG Factory are also among the companies that have got a green signal for investing in Myanmar. In addition, Thailand-based North Star Manufacturing would be setting up a joint venture CMP garment unit with a local partner in Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone, also in Yangon.

Singapore-based power companies, UPP Holdings and UPP Greentech, were given approval for producing and selling electricity as wholly-owned businesses at Ywama power station in Yangon Region. Last month, MIC had granted permission to China-based SDI Manufacturing to invest in garment business in Ngwe Pinlel Industrial Zone in Yangon.

The total amount of foreign investment in Myanmar reached over $43 billion at the end of August, with China being the largest investor followed by Thailand and Hong Kong.

Clothing retailers that sold garments made at the collapsed Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh failed to reach an agreement on compensation after talks, with Primark, saying it will pay more short-term aid.Primark, a unit of Associated British Foods Plc (ABF), said it will pay salaries to all the factory’s workers and their families for three months, declining to disclose the amount. This follows earlier payments and food aid of about $1 million to victims and their families. The retailer has registered the details of 3,333 workers as part of the program. “The company remains concerned about the length of time it is taking to agree on a framework for long-term compensation,” Primark said in a statement recently.

Of the 29 brands that were invited to the recently held meeting in Geneva, only nine attended, the IndustriALL Global Union said in a statement. “Consumers will be shocked that almost half year has passed since the Rana Plaza disaster, with only one brand so far providing any compensation,” Monika Kemperle, Assistant General Secretary of IndustriALL, said in a statement. “I respect those brands that came to these meetings. But I cannot understand brands that are not around the table.”

One of the absentees, Benetton Group SpA, said the meeting wouldn’t provide a framework to address compensation.Benetton, which joined a safety initiative called Bangladesh Fire & Building Safety Accord earlier this year, said it participated in discussions over the last two months that were aimed at setting forth a multi-stakeholder framework to address compensation.“The meeting wouldn’t provide such a structure mainly due to lack of clarity around the objectives as well as the nearly complete the lack of involvement allowed to several key stakeholders,” Benetton Chief Executive Officer BiagioChiarolanza said in a statement.

http://www.industriall-union.org/

Bangladesh's garment industry has been hit by a dispute between factory owners and workers over minimum wages.Labor groups are demanding a big increase to offset the impact of high inflation rate that has often climbed above 10 per cent in the country. Factory owners say a higher minimum wage could hobble the industry as costs of other inputs are also rising, in addition to which demand from many Western markets is weak. 

In June, Bangladesh's Ministry of Labor and Employment formed a committee with factory owners, workers and government representatives to review wages in the garment sector. The committee is supposed to report back with a negotiated solution by December. 

Bangladesh's garment industry exported more than $20 billion of clothes in the fiscal year ended June 30 and employs roughly four million workers. About 80 per cent of the people in the industry are women and most of them are from poor, rural areas. 

Bangladesh’s readymade garment sector is a ready market for textile goods, so investors' interest in the textile industry is increasing.Local and foreign entrepreneurs have been coming forward with fresh investment or reinvestment in the textile sector. A total of 1,457 fresh investment proposals were registered from local investors in fiscal year 2012-13. Since the readymade garment sector is growing significantly, demand for backward linkage accessories, including fabrics and textile items, is also rising. 

Most textile units in the country are going to double their production capacity to meet the growing demand for fabric and yarn at home and abroad. Due to fresh investments, and growing demand for textile items, cotton consumption in Bangladesh will increase by seven per cent this fiscal year.

The textile sector is getting popularity among local and foreign investors thanks to export-oriented industries enjoying different types of incentives like tax holiday, warehouse facility and others. 

The United Nations is monitoring garment factories in Cambodia, particularly worker’s rights and safety standards. Accidents have occurred in Cambodia recently, including two at factories in May, one of which left two people dead.The program is known as ‘Better Factories Cambodia’. It inspects manufacturing facilities for problems such as child labor and unsafe conditions and offers training for factories to upgrade. 

Better Factories plans to release information on a new website about the performance of all factories it has inspected at least twice regarding 21 issues, such as wages, worker rights, fire safety and treatment of unions. But some people in Cambodia have opposed the program, saying it could wind up exposing factory owners to public ridicule.

Currently, Better Factories Cambodia submits confidential reports to factories, whose business partners have the option to buy them. It also publishes public summaries that don't name plants. Under the new program, factories that have had three or more Better Factories inspections and still fall two standard deviations below the mean for compliance will be subject to an even higher level of disclosure. 

The Roseville-based Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) will bring the IFAI Specialty Fabrics Expo 2013 to the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla, from October 23 to 25. The expo, said to be the largest specialty fabrics event in America and held in conjunction with IFAI's Advanced Textiles Conference & Trade Show, will feature more than 400 exhibits covering more than 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space at the OCCC, and will collocate with the 2013 SGIA Expo.Special events include the Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) golf tournament and a sunset gator tour on and the IFAI annual meeting. Winners of the IFAI International Achievement Awards (IAA) competition will be presented during a special event held prior to the IFAI annual meeting. IFAI received 236 entries from 96 companies in 13 countries for the IAA competition, which recognizes design excellence within the specialty fabrics market.

The ShowStoppers awards competition will return after its debut at the 2012 Expo. The competition is open to all Specialty Fabrics Expo and Advanced Textiles Conference & Trade Show exhibitors and recognizes product innovation in six categories: fabrics, fibers and films; chemicals, coatings and compounds; hardware, findings and accessories; equipment and tools; services to manufacturers; and end products. Entries will be on view in a special ShowStoppers display booth on the show floor. The award winners will be selected by expo attendees and announced on October 24.

Other show floor highlights include a fabric sourcing centre offering samples of exhibitor materials organized into application types; aerospace display featuring specialty fabrics used in air and space applications; and a welding workshop.

The 2013 SGIA Expo, organized by the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA), Fairfax, Va. will present the full spectrum of specialty printing and imaging technologies and applications in more than 219,000 sq. ft. of floor space at the OCCC. Organizers report the SGIA Expo and IFAI Specialty Fabrics Expo will be complementary, especially for those involved with printing graphics on flexible materials.

"People will be talking about the IFAI Specialty Fabrics Expo and Advanced Textiles Conference & Trade Show in Orlando for years to come," said IFAI President Mary Hennessy. "On the heels of our Centennial show in Boston, we are set for another record-breaking year. Exhibit sales and attendee pre-registration numbers are soaring, as people are buzzing about the possibilities of the two dynamic shows together."

As a part of the Expo's education program, IFAI will present three business power programs with industry-specific roundtables‘Survive and Thrive Strategies,’‘Winning Sales and Services Strategies’ and ‘Work Smart Strategies’. Bonus programs will be offered each afternoon, including "Growing into Graphics — When to Make the Leap to Buy Equipment"; "Advanced Asset Protection, Business Succession & Exit Planning Strategies"; and "Finding, Training and Retaining a Skilled Workforce to Insure Competitiveness."

www.ifai.com

India and Sri Lanka have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on combining their strengths – Sri Lanka’s garment producing infrastructure and India’s quality fabric output. The aim is to jointly compete for China’s textile market as that country’s textile industry is gradually moving from production to consumption.The MoU comes after last year’s agreement allowing Sri Lanka to export up to eight million pieces of apparel to India with zero duties. The MoU will assist in effective cooperation between the Indian and Sri Lankan textile industries. It will expand business and co-operation in the development of SME in the handloom, power loom and textile sectors. The MoU will remain in force for five years and may be renewed. 
The Chinese textile sector represents 40 per cent of Sri Lanka’s annual industrial output. Textile and garment exports are worth roughly US$248 million annually, showing that the country is still largely agricultural in nature, despite its modern image. 

Labor costs, raw material costs and financing costs of China’s textiles and garment companies are rapidly increasing, and the Chinese market shows a great potential for foreign imports.

Global apparel and textile production has continued its year-on-year growth into the second quarter, with developing and emerging economies leading the way.While the latest figures support forecasts for a modest rise in total world manufacturing growth in 2013, apparel and textile output in the quarter is lower than it was in the first three months of the year. In the latest of its regular reports, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) forecasts that global manufacturing output will grow by 2.7 per cent in 2013 as recovery begins in Europe and higher demand is seen across industrialized nations.

Textiles production rose 4.8 per cent in the second quarter compared with the same period last year, owing to a 6.3 per cent rise in developing countries, partly offset by a 1.4 per cent decline in the industrialized nations. But output was 1.5 per cent lower than in the first quarter of this year, with a decline of 2.1 per cent in developing countries and flat production in industrialized ones.

Apparel and fur output rose 3.7 per cent year-on-year, with an 8.9 per cent rise in developing countries partially offset by a decline of 7.4 per cent in the industrialized nations."Developing and emerging economies performed well in the production of basic consumer goods," UNIDO said, adding that the production of wearing apparel rose in India, Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey.

http://www.unido.org/

The 24^th edition of BATEXPO (BangladeshApparel and Textile Exposition), is set to be held from October 10 to 12, 2013. It is Bangladesh’s biggest apparel trade show and local exporters are expecting $90 million worth spot orders and a large number of global buyers. The international quality and competitive prices of products are expected to attract new buyers from Japan, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Russia to the annual exposition. In all there will be buyers from 60 countries including traditional and new markets. 
The country's readymade garment are now going in for environment-friendly green manufacturing plants and they are investing in more sophisticated production technologies which will boost exports in the coming days. BATEXPO hopes to emerge as an icon in the global fashion retailing industry

BATEXPO is organized annually by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) .The exposition provides a platform for Bangladeshi clothing manufacturers and exporters. BGMEA has been continuously striving for the last three decades to promote the readymade garment industry of Bangladesh.

www.bgmea.com.bd/batexpo/

The export of handicraft products surged by 6 percent in the last fiscal year, compared to the previous year. A significant increase in the export of pashmina products, metal crafts, glass and leather products have helped in increasing the export earnings from the sector, said the Federation of Handicrafts Associations of Nepal (FHAN).The FHAN’s statistics show that Nepal exported handicrafts items worth Rs 4.36 billion in 2012-13, compared to Rs 4.11 billion in 2011-12. The export of handmade textile products increased by four percent to Rs 2 billion, while the export of non-textile handicrafts products increased by eight percent. Hem Ratna Shakya, President, FHAN attributed the publicity of handicrafts products to trade fair for the increase. The branding of ‘Chyangra’ Pashmina, a collective trademark, and the rising price of the US dollar helped improve export earning from the sector. “Encouraged by the good impact of Chyangra Pashmina, that has helped maintain the quality standard, we have planned on issuing similar trademarks for the entire handicrafts products of the country,” he added.

Shakya attributed the export growth to the increasing demand for metal crafts from China. “Increasing participation of the local traders in the China-based trade fair has also helped the publicity of the product in recent days.”With importing handicrafts worth Rs 1.27 billion, the US became the largest importing nation in the segment. Nepal exported handmade products worth Rs 1.20 billion in 2011-12 in the US. Germany and Japan were the second and the third largest buyers of the Nepali goods.

http://nepalhandicraft.org.np/

Cambodian garment workers stitching clothes that supply to UK high street are malnourished to the point of collapse.A recent study reveals a third of Cambodian garment workers producing clothes sold in the UK by global brands, including clothing giant H&M, are not getting enough food. Some 25 per cent are so underweight they would be classified as anorexic were they diagnosed in the UK.The findings of the report by worker rights group LabourBehind the Label follow a spate of mass fainting over recent years, when groups of up to 300 at a time have passed out.Researchers attributed the incidents to the serious malnourishment of the industry’s 400,000-plus mostly female employees who work for a monthly minimum wage of around $80 (£50) – too little to fund an adequate diet, the researchers say.

According to the report, Shop ‘Til They Drop, employees consumed around half the calories needed for garment factory work, while protein intake fell well below half the basic human need. The recommended 3,000-calorie diet alone would cost some $75 a month, leaving just $5 for all other costs.Although some factories offer allowances for food, these are often spent on other essential expenses, which for many include sending a share home to family members, the report states.

Apparel and textile manufacturing is set to restart at North Korea’s Gaeseong Industrial Complex (GIC), also called Kaesong Industrial Park. Located just north of the South Korean border, the process of starting GIC will begin nearly five months after work was halted as tensions escalated between the two Koreas following a nuclear test done by North Korea in February this year.

The second meeting of the South-North Joint Committee for GIC, held recently decided that the GIC companies will begin testing machines, and resume operations thereafter, according to a press release by the South Korean Ministry of Unification.

Through the meeting, both the countries established a systematic framework, which will help the GIC become a stable industrial complex that has international competitive power. The GIC has 123 South Korean factories that together employ over 5,000 North Koreans. About 60 percent of these factories are engaged in manufacturing of fabric and apparel.

In order to compensate for the GIC companies’ financial losses, South and North Korea agreed to give the tax exemption benefit for the year 2013. The deadline for tax payment by the GIC companies for the year 2012 is now extended to the end of 2013.

Launched in 2003, GIC is largely financed by South Korea. In 2012, the complex produced $470 million worth of products, and was the biggest contributor to inter-Korean trade. The industrial zone is the last functioning inter-Korean joint project and is a major source of revenue for North Korea.

China has a plan to invest in cotton ginneries in Tanzania. The investment plan includes construction of cotton processing factories in the Shinyanga region with the view to adding value to improve farmers’ earnings and creating an estimated 30,000 new jobs.Seven cotton factories will be built that will include cotton processingfactories, textile factories, and factories for packaging materials. Chinese investors would also help increase productivity in the region by introducing new technology as well as seeds from China. 

Currently farmers in the region are producing 400 kg of cotton

per hectare, whereas in China farmers produce four tons of cotton by
cultivating on the same size of land. Chinese industries require new markets for their products and Africa is a potentially enormous outlet. Chinese clothing, jewelry, electronics, even matches, tea bags have flooded cities, towns and villages in Africa. African consumers like Chinese products because they are affordable. China on its part sees Africa as a strong source of raw material supplies.

Nearly 7 out of 10 garments exported from Paraguay are destined for Brazil, and the apparel sector of Paraguay has been reactivated due to growth in exports to the Latin American country.Argentina used to be the traditional buyer of Paraguayan apparels. But there have been obstacles faced in the Argentine market because of which entrepreneurs are trying to explore other markets.

Several Brazilian textile companies are coming to Paraguay because of the opportunities being offered by the country, mainly in terms of the Fiscal Incentives Act, the Maquila Law, and the law that provides legal guarantee for domestic and foreign investments. Around 20,000 people in the country are directly dependent on the apparel sector, of which most are women or heads of the household. 

Paraguay's earliest manufacturing industries processed hides and leather from its abundant cattle and tannin from quebracho trees. Small-scale manufacturing, especially textiles, flourished under the Francia dictatorship, when the nation's borders were closed. 

Textiles, clothing, leather, and shoes comprise the third largest manufacturing subsector of the country. These industries are traditional, grounded in the nation's abundance of inputs like cotton fibers, cattle hides, and tannin extract.

Bangladesh wants India to remove all tariff and non-tariff barriers on Bangladeshi garments.Although India granted duty-free access for Bangladeshi readymade garments in September 2011, the volume of trade has not risen to expected levels. Bangladesh feels this is due to various barriers. The main complaint is that despite granting duty free access to Bangladeshi garments, India levies a countervailing duty of 8 per cent on the assessable products and a special additional duty of 4 per cent. A further point is that India does not accept test certificates issued by laboratories in Bangladesh for garments and other products. 

In the meantime the neighboring country has urged Indian entrepreneurs to set up their units in Bangladesh and take advantage of the duty-free and quota-free access it has to advanced countries. India and Bangladesh's trade basket of goods and services includes cotton, automobiles, iron and steel, mineral fuels, paper yarn, copper and related products, and organic and inorganic chemicals. Bangladesh is an important trading partner for India. Bangladesh and India have signed the doubletaxation avoidance agreement as well as one on bilateral investment promotion and protection. 

Around 20,000 jobs have been created in Myanmar during the current fiscal year due to the increase in foreign direct investment (FDI), reveals government data.During the first five months of the fiscal year 2013-14, the FDI reached $1.8 billion, and was mostly focused in the garment manufacturing sector, reports sources.

Aung Naing Oo, Director General of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA), said the majority of investments came from East Asian countries such as South Korea, Japan and China. He said that Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Company was the most notable major investor in recent months.

“Every single garment factory that opens creates an additional 1,000 jobs,” he said. “This fiscal year, we have so far approved 20 garment factories, so can estimate that around 20,000 new jobs have been created.”Naing Oo added that a quicker process now exists for setting up a garment factory; one can now become operational within six months after acquiring the relevant permits.Oo said this fiscal year DICA is expecting around US$ 3 billion of FDI in the country.

http://www.dica.gov.mm/

Turkey’s textiles exports, excluding apparels, has seen an increase if 6.6 per cent in the first six months of 2013 compared to the corresponding period of last year.Turkish firms exported $4.164 billion worth of textiles to other countries during January to June 2013, accounting for 5.6 per cent of total Turkish exports. 

Segment-wise, woven fabric exports earned $1.436 billion, followed by knitted fabric which fetched $845.6 million. Yarn exports from Turkey were worth $838.5 million, while fiber exports amounted to $307.8 million from January to June 2013. Exports to the EU accounted for 45 per cent of all Turkish textile exports during the six-month period. 

Turkish textile exports rose to $7.75 billion in 2012 from $7.7 billion in 2011. Turkey exported textiles worth $542.2 million to Russia, $418.2 million to Italy, and $213.8 million to Germany during the first quarter of 2013. 

Garments factory owners have urged their association to increase minimum wage for workers by not more than 20 per cent and set the hike commensurate with the rate of inflation.This demand was raised at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) recently. The meeting discussed fixing of minimum wages, preparation of biometric database of workers, amended labour law 2013 and the role of owners in implementing the steps taken by the clothing buyers’ ‘Accord’ and ‘Alliance.’

Every factory has to make fire and building safety assessments, said BGMEA President Atiqul Islam, urging owners to remove the tin-sheds from the rooftops to create 25 per cent open space for the compliance of fire safety.He also said the BGMEA has heard the owners’ voice and would take the decision on minimum wage considering their demands.

The country has witnessed 19.53 per cent inflation from 2010 and the trade body would like to offer 19-20 per cent wage hike as inflationary adjustment, said Arshad Jamal Dipu, a member of the wage board representing the owners. The wage should be based on the country’s socio economic status, he added. Production cost has increased due to compliance of fire and building safety while devaluation of Indian Rupee increased competitiveness in the global market.

The minimum wage should be fixed at a level which is affordable to all kinds of owners and the ultimate impact of the wage in the sector should be considered, saidAbdus Salam Murshedy, former BGMEA president.DipuMunshi, a former president of the apex apparel body, said minimum wage should not be beyond the limit of owner.A minimum wage proposal of Tk8,114 has already been placed from the part of workers before the wage board.

http://www.bgmea.com.bd/

Human rights expert and attorney Jeffrey Krilla has been named President of the coalition representing 20 North American apparel companies, retailers and brands.Krilla brings extensive foreign policy experience to the position, having spent most of his career working around the globe on trade, development and human rights issues.While a lawyer at Dentons US LLP, Krilla co-chaired the firm's Africa Committee and was the member of its Public Policy and Regulation practice. Prior, Krilla served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.

"JeffreyKrilla's experience championing the rights of workers around the globe makes him the ideal person to lead the Alliance as it seeks to rapidly improve the lives of workers in Bangladesh," said Ellen O'Kane Tauscher, Alliance Chair. "His extensive foreign policy experience and his deep understanding of this issue will guide the organization as it strives toward its goal of inspecting all Alliance factories by next summer."

Krilla says he is excited to join an organization that is already making real progress in improving the lives of Bangladesh garment workers. "Just nine weeks after being formed, the Alliance has already achieved some significant milestones and has been a part of fruitful discussions with key stakeholders, including the ILO and the Accord, on developing common safety standards that will transform conditions of our workers," he avers.

http://www.bangladeshworkersafety.org/

The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, a coalition representing 20 North American apparel companies, retailers and brands has unveiled its draft standards, focusing on key areas of concern including fire and building safety for the apparel industry.The Alliance published the draft fire and building safety standards as a part of a collective effort by the stakeholders to ensure a common set of safety measures for Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) sector.These standards have been developed by a small group of professionals who have personal experience in the assessment of over 100 Bangladeshi factories for fire safety and structural integrity, the draft said adding this group has solicited input from a number of sources, including other Alliance retailers, who have been dealing with the same concerns as well as some professionals in the Bangladeshi factory design and management community.

The draft Alliance Standards were created in conjunction with fire and building safety experts, and developed with a commitment to align with the Bangladesh National Building Code, and is in support of the National Tripartite Plan of Action. "These draft standards are exclusively focused on the technical aspects of fire and building safety. The Alliance continues to advance its mission to improve safety for Bangladesh garment workers through separate, but closely related, work streams focused on worker empowerment and worker training," Rosanna Maietta of the Alliance told media.

The Alliance said in the spirit of transparency and collaboration, "We shared these standards with the ILO, the Accord, BGMEA, BUET and the Bangladeshi Ministry of Labour and Employment in advance of the meeting held on September 7."

http://www.bgmea.com.bd/

In the past four years, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has registered an increase of $3.5 billion in textile exports,this, despite the energy crisis and high interest rates.The group has set a target of another $13 billion in the next five years that will generate 10 million jobs in the country.

An unprecedented energy crisis and highly uncompetitive interest rates have been hampering the growth of Pakistan’s textile industry since 2007. 

Now the group has pursued the government for a reduction of 2.5 per cent in interest rates to compete with regional players. APTMA plans to hold international roadshows in the EU and the US and this exercise will start from a show in Lahore in the month of December. Efforts are also underway to bring Chinese investment into the textile sector of Pakistan.Pakistan is the fourth largest cotton producer in the world and the third largest cotton consumer.

APTMA is a trade organization for the Pakistani yarn, spinning, weaving and knitting industries. It also plans to become a member of the International Cotton Association so that it can avail of arbitration facilities at the world level for the cotton trade. 

aptma.org.pk/

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is promoting the knitted garment sector in Pakistan by supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in making exports to the international markets.Recently two among the group of 20 SMEs have made exports worth $3.3 million to the US markets.The USAID through its firm’s project is supporting these SMEs to build up their production base and cater to the demands of mid-tier international buyers in the knitted garment sector.

The 20 selected SME's have received accredited certifications, such as Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) and Customs Trade Partnership against Terrorism (C-TPAT). "These certifications have breathed a new life into our businesses and have provided us with direct and easy access to 700 member companies of the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) with a safe and secure supply chain," said a SME beneficiary.

In addition, the selected SMEs are being supported with training and workforce development, machinery upgrades, enterprise resource planning system and creation of market linkages.These efforts are expected to increase sales revenues by an additional million dollars by December 2014.

Sharing his experience of working with USAID, one of the SME's said, "Previously, we used to earn less profit as we had to export our products through intermediaries since we did not have international certifications. Thanks to USAID for supporting us in receiving international certifications, we are now sending our garments directly to the international markets."

http://www.usaid.gov/

The PCI Fibers Conference 2013 will be held November 7 and 8^th, 2013 in Hong Kong.This is a marketing conference covering textile fibers and certain raw materials.  It will feature speakers on a number of fibers including acrylics, carbon, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, spandex and viscose as well as the prime feedstock and intermediates for these. Wool and cotton will also be covered. 

China's manmade fiber capacity has been growing 15 per cent per annum until recently, while global demand over the period 2000-10 grew on an average at just under 5 per cent. In this period, while Chinese capacity has been growing rapidly, in the rest of the world, fiber types, such as acrylic staple, nylon textile filament and nylon staple, saw a decline in the range of 5 to 10 per cent a year. 

For the period 2010-15, capacity growth in China is expected to ease back to 10 per cent a year, while elsewhere there are signs of some expansion, at the rate of just over 3 per cent, led in particular by India. Expansion in China is a little slower now, but it will continue to influence operations in other markets. China will continue to set the pace in nylon textile filament, in polyester textile filament and in polyester industrial filament, but in other fibers there is expected to be a more even global expansion. 

In partnership with The Woolmark Company, Saks Fifth Avenue has announcedDormeuil and FratelliTallia di Delfino, the winners of the second annual fabric No. 1 award, a prestigious prize that commends the season's finest fabrics for Made-to-Measure suits and sport coats from the world's premiere textile mills.The two winning mills --Dormeuil, selected for suiting, and FratelliTallia di Delfino, selected for sports coats -- will be honoured at a special award ceremony on September, 19 at Saks Fifth Avenue's New York flagship store to kick off the semi-annual Men's Luxury event (which focuses on Saks' Made-to-Measure assortment).

Dormeuil, woven in England, this winning fabric's pure long filament Super 150's worsted wool has the enigmatic name: 15 point 8. The name refers to the very fine diameter of the fibre used (a mere 15.8 microns) to create a fine, soft fabric perfectly suited for wearing every season of the year. The extraordinarily soft handle is further enhanced by the special 2/120 compact yarn used in both the warp and the weft. The compact yarn is woven in an extremely tight British setting, which gives unequalled quality, regularity and performance for such a fine fabric. Dormeuil's exclusive finishing process is applied to create a lustrous soft handle. This fabric is 100 per cent wool and available exclusively at Saks Fifth Ave as a limited-edition, individually numbered, two-piece Made-to-Measure suit.

FratelliTallia di Delfino, Woven in Italy, this winning fabric is the perfect blend of fine pure new wool and cashmere of the finest grade. Carefully selected raw materials, an old fashioned yet contemporary woolen spun production cycle along with meticulous weaving grant thiscloth has deep, rich colours and an extremely soft, lofty handle. This beautiful fabric is 90 per cent wool and 10 per cent cashmere, which is the result of FratelliTallia di Delfino's continuous effort to blend its centenary tradition with today's state-of-the-art technical and stylistic innovation.

Individually tailored to its owner by Saks Fifth Avenue's master craftsmen, each Fabric No. 1 piece will be identifiable by a custom number and label, marking it as a one-of-a-kind garment. The Fabric No. 1 program will be supported by window displays in Saks' flagship store, a spread in Saks' Men's Fall Fashion Catalog, advertising in the Wall Street Journal and promotion on Saks' social media platforms. Fabric No. 1 Made-to-Measure orders will be available in limited quantities at Saks Fifth Avenue locations in New York, Chevy Chase, Chicago and Phoenix.

http://www.woolmark.com/

The European Commission, which is in the final stages of reviewing the current EU organic legislation, has decided that the legal basis of its organic regulation should not be extended to cover textiles.As a part of its latest review of the sale, farming and marketing of organic consumer products in the EU, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development has decided against including textiles as part of its regulations.

The EU looked at four key areas: simplifying the legal framework, whilst ensuring standards are not watered down; co-existence of GM crops with organic farming; better control systems and trade arrangements for organic products; and impact of labeling rules.

A statement from the Global Organic Textiles Standard pointed out that "Organic textiles are not currently included in the EU organic regulation, which cover organic food and farming in Europe. This means that the use of the term 'organic' is not controlled in the European market, so there are inappropriate and inaccurate claims made resulting in consumer confusion and the risk of greenwash".Despite these concerns, the EU concluded that the legal basis of the organic regulation should not be extended to cover products such as textiles and cosmetics, stating that "organic farming should remain focused on agriculture since it is a crucial instrument to deliver environmental services and boost development, innovation and employment in rural areas."

This leaves a significant gap in the organic legal framework, and GOTS noted that "Organic textiles are an important part of the overall organic market. They provide an opportunity to improve sustainability with a global reach. Making sure that the organic label is based on robust standards and verification will help provide confidence to consumers and build the organic textiles market."

The GOTS Technical Committee has already started to thoroughly evaluate and assess the contributions and will consult further experts as necessary to complete the 2nd Revision Draft. The 2nd Revision Draft will be published on November, 1, 2013 and GOTS Version 4.0 and the related manual are intended to be released in March 2014.

http://www.global-standard.org/

Cotton is expected to continue to lose market share in the ongoing season. Despite the loss of market share, world cotton consumption is rising in absolute terms.It appears that 2013-14 will be the fifth consecutive season in which cotton prices in China will be substantially above polyester prices in China. Falling mill use of cotton in China due to its cotton procurement policy is encouraging a significant shift in mill use to other countries.

World cotton production would be down 3.5 per cent from last season. The US will likely account for most of this decline, because US production will fall by 25 per cent. By contrast, production in China and Uzbekistan is projected to remain unchanged.

World cotton trade is forecast to decline by around a million tons
to less than nine million. This decline is almost entirely accounted for
by reduced imports into China. Shipments from all major exporters are
expected to fall, except from the CFA zone where producers are
increasing production this season, thus also exports, and in response
to higher cotton prices.

Estimates of mill use in India and Pakistan during 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 have been lowered.

The Turkey Cotton Association (IPUD) has set atarget of producing 13,000 tons of cotton for the 2013 harvest period under the standards of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) which will be launched this year in the country.The BCI aims to transform cotton production worldwide by developing Better Cotton as a sustainable mainstream commodity.In order to achieve this goal, the Aydin, Izmir, Bursa, Adana, Gaziantep, Mardin, Sanliurfa and Sirnak regions in the country have planned to cultivate about 8,000 hectares of land, with the help of  seven organizations such as the IPUD, the National Cotton Council, Taris Cotton Association, the Sanko Textile and Apparel Exporters Association of Istanbul, Izmir Mercantile Exchange, Textile Employers’ Association of Turkey and Turkey Union of Chambers of Agriculture, who would work with around 310 cotton producers in the country.

Earlier in January, 2013, the BCI held a one-day multi-stakeholder workshop in Istanbul where 55 participants representing various cotton producers’ organizations, Turkish Government agencies, non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental agencies met and discussed implementing the ‘Better Cotton’ initiative in the country.

The workshop participants agreed that Turkish cotton quality is recognized for the efficiency of its production, but there are number of material sustainability challenges which BCI must focus on, which include water use and negative impacts of irrigated cotton; implementing threshold spraying (of pesticides); and, in southeastern provinces in particular, decent work for hired (seasonal) labor on cotton farms.

The participants also suggested that BCI should collaborate with a range of stakeholders, including public, private and third-sector (NGO) organizations, for the cultivation of Better Cotton in Turkey.

http://bettercotton.org

Preview in Seoul 2013held from September 4 to 6, 2013 at Hall B, in Samsung-dong, Seoul, Korea showcased new textile materials for the future growth engines, creating opportunities for discussions between business partners.

The exhibition focused on introducing various and differentiated functional and eco-friendly textiles, as well as patented materials. Many submitted products satisfied functionality, eco-friendliness, and reinforced fashion characteristics. Nearly 69 famous textile companies from 10 nations to enter in Korean market participated at the event.

Functional materials including moisture proof laminating materials, heat insulation, high-density thin fabrics, and UV blocking materials were augmented in this exhibition. The competitiveness of international participants was reinforced, too. Austria's Lenzingknown for its eco-friendly new materials, participated in the exhibition for three consecutive years. Everest, a Taiwanese company specialized for overall functional textiles, and Toyobo Japan, a leader in the development of new synthetic composite material, participated for the first time.

Nearly 41 Chinese textile companies including Jiangsu Hengli Chemical Fiber participated with an eye on the Korean market. Various companies from Turkey, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, etc. showedcased their embroidery fabrics to outdoor functional materials, and demonstrated their price competitiveness as well the quality and technology.

The ‘Trend Forum Hall’ showing participants' various materials and the newest trends suggested buyers the possibilities in using various materials, and reinforced its index and visual functions through composing patent materials, collaboration (material company + designer), fashion products, and Small Order Zone. Small Order Zone was established for small quantity orders with low pricing to provide buyers opportunities to use various products.

In a symposium inviting fashion professional groups, PFIN offered 2014's SS Creative Trend Seminar to suggest the overall design directions for colours and fabrics in 2014's SS, while Fashion in Trend opened the five strategies to lead the outdoor fashion market with the agenda, the Challenge of Outdoor Fashion Companies.

Apart from luxury brands from the US and Europe, giant fashion groups, general import and export companies, garment makers and other important buyers from Japan, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong visited the exhibition. Studio Paglaiai visited PIS to import Korean high quality fashion material to the mid to high pricing market in Italy. Kusilas showed a great deal of interest in eco-friendly materials and embroideries.Hengyuan (Group) from China visited the expo to research the quality and the design competitiveness of Korean materials to launch its women's wear brand. Fazeya Group actively discussed with Korean material companies according to the policy to use Korean materials for their renewal plan of 200 or more shops.

About 6,000 Cambodian garment workers will return to work after their company agreed to withdraw a huge dismissal order for employees. After discussions with owners of the Singapore-owned SL Garment Processing Factory, workers will now return to work. But, despite the agreement, workers still have demands, including increased wages, improved working conditions and better health and safety standards. 

The union says workers were being intimidated by armed military police who regularly inspect the factory. In July, a report from the International Labor Organisation said conditions for garment factory workers in Cambodia are declining. Inspection of 158 factories revealed that areas where things could be improved are: child labor, fire safety and workers' health.

The death of two factory workers in Cambodia in May raised the pressure to improve the record. The garment industry provides 6,50,000 jobs in Cambodia but safety needs to be improved. Since the country's elections in July, the government is investing more time into issues like workers’ conditions. It has agreed to help set up a committee for increased salaries. 

For the quarter ended June 30, 2013, Trident’s yarn segment revenues climbed 18 per cent. Higher realizations consequent to improved contribution from value-added products like mélange yarn enabled topline growth. This was despite a marginal increase in sales volumes. PBIT margins improved from 6.2 per cent to 16.8 per cent driven by cost optimization measures along with improving realizations resultant to enhanced product mix towards value-added products.

In terry towel lower sales volumes moderated topline performance -- partly mitigated by improved realizations on account of higher sale of value-added products. Despite lower sales volumes, profitability was flat given various cost rationalization initiatives combined with a change in the product mix towards value-added products.

Trident, the flagship company of the Trident Group, is a leading manufacturer and exporter of textiles and paper products. The group is broadening its reach and strengthening its partnership with suppliers and customers. 

Import of textiles and apparels by the United States has increased by 3.11 per cent year-on-year during the first seven months of 2013.Apparel import was up 3.59 per cent year-on-year while non-apparel was up 1.63 per cent year-on-year.

Vietnam’s textile exports to the US jumped 13.48 per cent year-on-year during the seven-month period whereas US imports from Bangladesh increased 9.06 per cent year-on-year. China continued to be the top supplier of textiles to the US with its exports registering a rise of 1.82 per cent year-on-year.

India and Indonesia were the other countries among the top five textile exporters to the US during the period under review.  US imports of textiles from India showed an increase of 4 per cent year-on-year.  US textile imports from Indonesia grew 3.57 per cent year-on-year during the same period. 

US textile imports from EU-28 countries rose 4.73 per cent year-on-year while imports from NAFTA fell 1.53 per cent year-on-year during January to July 2013.

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The campaign for wool initiative has helped the natural fibre firmly back into the minds of millions of consumers after its launch three years back. Over 600 retailers and brands have now joined the campaign across 16 participating countries with 81 retail participants in Australia this year. The global target as stated in the new Australian Wool Innovation Strategic Plan is to increase the sale of wool units per store by over 1,000 a year by 2015.

With the Prince of Wales as its patron, the ‘Campaign for Wool’ has now become a global phenomenon according to AWI's Global Strategic Advisor and President of the International Wool Textile Organization (IWTO), Peter Ackroyd. "Significant seasonal events are taking place across key markets such as the UK, Italy, Germany, USA, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Spain and China. Many leading international luxury brands have quickly associated themselves with our patron's strong commitment to sustainable solutions in fashion and the world of interiors at a time when consumers are increasingly seeking assurances about provenance and sustainability."

He says primary processors, spinners and weavers of wool participating in the campaign have seen strong growth in demand for wool products over the past three years as global markets continue to prioritize renewable and sustainable sourcing of raw materials.

AWI via The Woolmark Company is a key supporter of the Campaign for Wool, with AWI chief strategy and marketing officer Rob Langtry says it is a critical campaign which connects the entire wool industry; from woolgrowers to consumers. "The Campaign for Wool focuses its attention on the natural, renewable benefits of the fibre. It is an opportunity for the growers, supply chain and retailers to combine and present consumers with a superior, natural alternative for both their apparel and interiors choices."

http://www.wool.com/en/home

The Government of Norway has intensified its efforts to strengthen the rights of those working in the garment and textile industry of Bangladesh. It wants to ensure that the textile industry is a safe workplaces with decent pay and good working conditions for both men and women.

Norway imports garments, textiles and other goods, which create thousands of jobs in developing countries. Norway’s import of garments from Bangladesh has increased over the past 10 years and is expected to rise further. The current Norway-Bangladesh textile and garment trade is estimated at one billion krone annually. 

The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) has provided up to 14.3 million krone in funding for the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) to actively pursue programs to improve conditions for textile and garment workers in China, Vietnam, India and Bangladesh.

Courses under this initiative have already been developed for manufacturers in China, India and Vietnam, and NORAD is now extending its agreement with ETI to include Bangladesh as well. The objective of the NORAD initiative is to have 700 employers attend courses run by the ETI during the 2013-15 period.

Readymade garment (RMG) manufacturers and factory owners in Bangladesh have failed to submit their proposal on a wage hike to the wage board as promised earlier. The failure has raised fear among labor representatives about a fresh bout of workers' unrest in the industry.

Representatives of the readymade garment factories took two weeks' time from the wage board for submitting their proposal. However, labor leaders fear unrest amongst the workers if the owners take too much time in placing their wage proposals for the country's three million plus apparel workers. They allege that it is a plot to stretch the process beyond Eid. 

In June last year, the government formed the new wage board, comprising six members, for enhancement of wages for the country’s garment industry following a series of violent acts over a wage hike. The last wage board was formed in January 2010 and set the minimum wage in July 2010. 

Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF) saysexports of textiles and garments by ASEAN member countries to the US and the EU markets declined in 2012.The maximum decline in exports was posted by Philippines, whose textile and apparel exports to the main markets decreased by 17 percent year-on-year, TTF said. Based on a report,TTF mentioned that although there was significant difference in performance of Asean member states, the overall trend showed signs of drop in exports.

Textile and garment exports from Malaysia and Thailand to the main markets fell 12.4 percent year-on-year and 12.2 percent year-on-year, respectively, during the year under review. Textile and clothing exports from Indonesia to these markets also dropped 6.3 percent year-on-year. However, exports of some ASEAN member countries performed well during the year, especially Cambodia and Vietnam, which posted a year-on-year rise of 8.7 percent and 8.5 percent respectively, in their textile and garment exports to the US and the EU in 2012.

TTF said Cambodia’s textile and apparel sales in the EU grew by 32.4 percent year-on-year due to the EU’s decision to relax the rule of origin (RoO) criteria under its Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), but its exports to the US market dropped by 2 percent year-on-year.While Vietnam’s textile and clothing exports to the EU seem to be affected, its sales have grown in several markets, including the US, Japan, China, Russia and South Korea.

http://ttf.textiles.org.tw/

The whole process of import as well as audit under DTRE system takes at least 26 weeks in Pakistan while in Bangladesh the entire procedure is completed in just two hours. As a result, Bangladesh textile exports have surged to $26 billion without producing a single bale of cotton while Pakistan has never crossed the figure of $16 billion despite producing its own raw material.

The Procedure of Duty Tax Remission for Exports (DTRE) scheme has been designed in such a manner that just few companies out of thousands of value-added textile sector units in Pakistan were benefiting from the scheme to increase the country’s export volumes.

Exporters are of the view that apparel industry should be allowed to import fabric under the SRO 492 scheme, as the weaving industry of Pakistan is not efficient enough to fulfill the domestic apparel demand for fashion wear. Stressing the need for consistency in export-related policies, they urged the government to simplify the complex nature of several segments of its policy, including DTRE and Sales Tax Refund system.

PRGMEA central chairman SajidSaleemMinhas suggested the country’s garment industry mainly comprises of small and medium scale units, which are better off in producing high-end fashion products, as the order sizes remain small. However, due to the current import policies they fail to utilize their full potential. “If the import of synthetic blends and cotton fabric, which are not being manufactured in Pakistan, is made duty-free the apparel and sportswear exports will double immediately while export from Sailkot will surge manifold,” he added.

PRGMEA former chairman and chief coordinator IjazKhokhar said that small trims that carry no commercial value should also be made duty-free to avoid delays and problems with customs. Exports of the sector could also improve due to expected GSP Plus (Generalized System of Preferences) status from EU as lower import duties will make our products more competitive.

http://www.prgmea.org/

The government of West Bengal has finalized its textile policy, industrial policy, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) policy. Under its textile policy, the government will set up Spinfed Holding company by bringing all state-run mills under one umbrella.

The government also proposes to set up a mega powerloom park spread over 100-acres in Belur, and an Indian Institute of Handloom Technology in Nadia. Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of the state said the government would set up 200 handloom clusters across the state, with an average of 10 clusters in each district. She added, “The government’s target is to create 10 million new jobs in the textile sector over the next 10 years.” 

Banerjee said that setting up industries under the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode is welcome, but government incentives would be based on factors like employment generation and production. Under its industrial policy, the state is targeting creation of 6.6 million jobs over the next five years. The MSME policy envisages special concessions to cooperatives and self-help groups, and setting up of clusters in all districts of the state.

The African Continental Free Trade Area, which took effect in May, is expected to boost economic growth in the continent by cutting tariffs among member states. Lower costs for trade means more trade, which boosts demand, sales and jobs. Demand from a stronger textile industry helps cotton farmers and also helps other businesses expand and develop.

Sub-Saharan Africa’s apparel and footwear market is already worth $31 billion. Sizable growth in the sector is expected over the next decade. The next decade could see the continent become a substantial player in global sourcing. Betting on growth, Kenya revived and equipped its biggest textile factory, Rivatex, in June, hoping to create 9,000 jobs at the facility.

However, the continent’s industries have to improve if they are to grab a share of the growing fashion and textile market. Africa has to have its own industrial capacity to be able to take advantage of a $3.3 trillion market with the African Continental Free Trade Area, so Africa has to industrialize. Industrialization is critical. It is not just about moving raw materials. It is value-added products. Boosting the textile industry is one step toward connecting 1.3 billion people across 54 nations and heating up commerce across the continent.

The fourth straight year of surplus cotton output and the biggest drop in Chinese imports since 2000 are creating record global inventories, signalling higher profits for the makers of Hanes underwear. Hanesbrands, the Winston Salem, NC based maker of Hanes underwear and Playtex bras, said that its cotton costs dropped 49 per cent in the second quarter. The company raised its full-year earnings-per-share forecast from $3.50 to $3.65, from $3.25 to $3.40. Net income at Levi Strauss & Co., the San Francisco-based maker of Levi's jeans and Dockers apparel, more than tripled to $48 million in the second quarter, mainly due to lower cotton costs, along with higher sales and more-profitable products, Chief Financial Officer Harmit Singh said.

China, which uses about a third of the world's cotton, will reduce imports by 46 per cent, or 9.33 million bales, from last year as it focuses on supporting local producers. It is accumulating the biggest stockpiles ever after the government bought supply to aid farmers as growth slowed. The USDA's prediction for Chinese imports is about twice the drop it expects in global output, at a time when crops are improving across the U.S., India, Brazil and Australia.

We expect weak Chinese demand and high global production to continue weighing on prices," said Paul Christopher, the St. Louis-based chief international strategist at Wells Fargo Advisors. "The Chinese economy is slowing and export growth has been weaker than we expected for textile mills and other manufacturers."

http://www.hanes.com/clothing/men/underwear

Turkey with its long history of textile production is shifting its focus to technical textiles, finding application in apparel, as well as industries such as agriculture, construction, geology, healthcare and others. Large scale companies currently producing technical textiles are mainly located in Istanbul, Bursa, Kocaeli and Tekirdağ.

According to figures from the Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (ITHIB) technical textiles exports of Turkey have increased tremendously in the recent years and reached approximately $1.4 billion in 2012. The biggest buyers are EU countries, led by Germany with 11 per cent share. As a specific product group, non-woven fabric exports constitute 19 per cent of total technical textile exports.

Istanbul, which is emerging as a leading centre for textile fashion and design, is also a hub for taking the existing Turkish technical textile capacity to world markets. This is aided by the Istanbul Textile Research and Development Center (ITA), which was established by ITHIB to support research and development activities within the industry, and to connect the private sector, universities, research centres and national and international buyers of technical textiles.

http://www.2bfuntex.eu/partners/itkib-ita

Australia’s Woolmark has launched a new campaign highlighting the benefits of washable wool apparel to increase the demand of woolen garments. The three-year campaign will involve an effort to persuade apparel businesses to add washable wool to their ranges, as well as educating consumers about wool’s easy care properties.

The campaign with the tagline ‘Tested by Nature, Tested by Us’, comes in response to research which shows that consumers strongly associate wool with being hard to care for. “This campaign is about stopping consumers associating wool with hand wash or dry clean, and emphasizes the washability aspects of wool,” said Cathryn Lee, The Woolmark Company’s category manager (Apparel Care Group).

“All products must be tested and comply with the strict Woolmark Specifications, which will give customers assurance of quality and peace of mind.” Woolmark-certified wool labeled as ‘machine wash’ or ‘machine wash and tumble dry’ is treated to prevent shrinkage, staining or fading.

http://www.woolmark.com

Bangladesh’s leading economists has issues a warning that amidst weakening currencies, Bangladesh exports is set to face tough competition especially in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector. Indonesia's Rupiah, Indian Rupee, Turkish Lira, South African Rand have all weakened substantially against US dollar since May last.

Ahsan H Mansur, Executive Director at the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI), said, "Our concern is about RMG and it is set to face the toughest competition from its rival nations." Turkey is one of the largest apparel-making countries with its largest share in Europe and its currency weakening means that its export prices are becoming cheaper.

Mansur said Bangladesh's exports might fall substantially due to the weakening of currencies of Turkey and Indonesia. Bangladesh gets duty benefits as a least developed country (LDC) in the EU and it is around 12 -15 per cent. But currency depreciations in Turkey, Indonesia and India are narrowing down this difference.

Zaid Bakht, Director (Research) at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) said the new phenomenon with respect to fall in value of currencies in emerging economies should be a 'headache' for Bangladesh which will affect the country's export earnings. Bangladesh earns more than $20 billion from export of woven and knit garment.

The Bangladesh government will recruit 60 additional factory inspectors by October in line with its efforts to regain the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) in the US market. These inspectors will review readymade garment factories. 
About 30 teams of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology will inspect some 1,750 factories. Four inspectors have already been appointed.

Earlier, after a devastating fire broke out in a factory, the government formed a committee comprising 11 ministers to oversee fire safety in the apparel sector with a view to resolving different problems in the country’s largest export earning sector.

The labor ministry with assistance from the International labor organisations will start inspecting the remaining garment factories that are outside the safety inspection program by the EU Accord and US Alliance by September 15.

A meeting will be held on September 7 to prepare an unified checklist of safety inspection where representatives from the ILO, Accord, Alliance, government officials, garment owners, workers representatives will also be present. Issues like implementation of a tripartite plan of action on fire and building and the steps taken to regain the GSP in the US market will also be taken up.

Björn Borg's distributor in the Netherlands has applied for a corporate reconstruction of its retail operations in the country. The plan is to implement a substantial reduction of the retail network, currently comprising 24 Björn Borg stores, against the backdrop of long-term weakness in the Dutch market...Read More

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British accessories brand Cambridge Satchel Company is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a collaboration with fashion designer Vivienne Westwood. The special collaborative collection, first spotted at Westwood’s Red Label spring/summer 2014 show during London Fashion Week, is inspired by the British designer’s 1981 ‘Pirate’ collection and will launch this October...Read More

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REPORT_ H&M Group sales including VAT increased in local currencies by 8 percent in the first nine months of the financial year. Sales in comparable units decreased by 2 percent. For the third quarter H&M Group sales including VAT increased in local currencies by 12 percent and sales in comparable units increased by 2 percent...Read More

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Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, taking place from 21st to 24th October 2013, is all set to show its sustainable side. For the first time, the trade fair features an “All about Sustainability” zone and underscores its eco focus at the Planet Textiles Conference.

The overall theme of the “All about Sustainability” zone is ‘Recycle’, featuring recycled textiles and products. “The issue of sustainability is becoming increasingly important for Chinese consumers as they become more conscious of environmental protection. This zone, therefore, provides new opportunities for overseas companies that have strong environmental credentials to enter the Chinese market as this trend begins to take off,” explains Wendy Wen, senior general manager of fair organiser Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.

Sustainability throughout all phases of production

As a display and educational zone, “All about Sustainability” will not only offer presentations and discussions but leading companies in the field of sustainability will present their products and services. Among them outdoor clothing supplier Patagonia, a pioneer in the use of Repreve fibres, which contain recycled materials, including post-industrial waste and used plastic bottles. Repreve fibres are produced by Unifi, another exhibitor at the fair.

Swedisch clothing giant H&M will present its ‘Conscious’ collection as well as ‘Conscious Exclusive’, a new line of party wear for spring 2013. Both collections feature garments made from organic cotton, recycled polyester and Tencel.

Hong Kong-based NGO Redress will show visitors how to promote environmental sustainability in Asia’s fashion industry by reducing textile waste, pollution and water and energy consumption. The Crystal Group, also based in Hong Kong, will display their eco-friendly jeans production processes including laser and ozone bleaching and denim waste usage. Popular recycling fabrics will also be a hot topic in the “All about Sustainability” zone.

Together with the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, Yarn Expo Autumn and PH Value (formerly known as the China International Knitting Trade Fair), will run concurrently. All fairs will take place at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

www.messefrankfurt.com.hk

Luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has acquired a minority stake in London Fashion Week label J.W. Anderson, and named its eponymous designer creative director of luxury leather goods brand Loewe.The exact size of the stake in J.W. Anderson or the financial terms has not been disclosed, but LVMH did confirm that Jonathan Anderson remains the majority shareholder of the company. Rumours of a partnership between the designer and the group, which owns Givenchy, Marc Jacobs and Celine, started circulating earlier this month and made his SS14 show one of the must see presentations of LFW...Read More

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Swiss luxury goods group Richemont (CFR.VX) is allegedly looking for a suitor for its leather articles brand Lancel. As main French media reported earlier this week, Richemont has appointed investment bank Nomura to advise on a possible sale of luxury leather goods brand...Read More

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Asos director James Hart has resigned after 14 years with the online clothing retailer. Hart, who was one of the company's first employees in 1999, alongside founder Nick Robertson, is set to leave the business later this year to spend time developing his new family home...Read More

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Some of the UK's finest independent boutiques are closing at a rate of 18 a day as high street retailers continue to suffer, according to the latest figures. More stores are closing than opening with fashion and clothes store retailers suffering the most, data from the Price Waterhouse Coopers and the Local Data claimed without providing specific figures. Meanwhile, charity shops, betting shops and cheque-cashing outlets continue to grow...Read More

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Australian menswear retailer Industrie is set to make its UK debut in London’s Seven Dials in Covent Garden with the opening of its first store outside Australia...Read More

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London Fashion Week designer Matthew Williamson has teamed up with Swedish high street retailer Lindex to launch a new collection of apparel for both women and children...Read More

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Giorgio Armani always closes Milan Fashion Week and as one of Italy's last self-owned fashion companies, Mr Armani knows what to deliver to his clients, even if that means avoiding producing the most press worthy catwalk show...Read More

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River Island has signed the Bangladesh factory safety Accord, a union-backed agreement designed to improve workplace safety in the country, following the Rana Plaza factory collapse which killed more than 1,000 textile workers five months ago...Read More

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Belgian fashion designer Anthony Vaccarello is rumoured to be in talks with Italian fashion house Versace to be the next guest designer for its sister label Versus...Read More

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The Italian luxury label has confirmed recently to be at the lookout for a new financial partner. Sources close to Versace have pointed out that the company would be ideally looking at selling a 15-20 percent stake in its capital. Institutional investors from South Korea and Qatar have been mentioned as potential suitors...Read More

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Leather accessories brand Zatchels is to launch its first standalone store in Westfield London at the end of the month...Read More

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Luxury designer brands Chanel, Prada and Alexander McQueen all feature in the top 20 of the annual CoolBrands list, following the disappointment last year where no fashion labels were featured. For the 12th annual survey, Chanel came in a 13, placed just ahead of Prada at 14, which hasn’t featured in the top 20 since 2007, while Alexander McQueen helmed by Sarah Burton, which last year was ranked outside the top 20 and named the coolest fashion brand, was ranked 19th...Read More

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Department store Debenhams is celebrating its 200 year anniversary with an exclusive limited edition collection spanning across fashion and homewares. The collection, designed exclusive by its Designers at Debenhams, includes a floor-length gold sequin dress by Julien Macdonald, a luxury leather nude coat from Betty Jackson, as well as decorative plates and mugs designed by John Rocha, Ben de Lisi and Matthew Williamson...Read More

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A quick look at Milan Fashion Week for SS14 shows..

1. An effortless, elegant and chic collection at Jil Sander
2. A succesful debut of Tod's ready-to-wear with Alessandra Facchinetti at the helm as creative director
3. Miuccia Prada's feminist statement at Prada
4. Golden coins as a cental theme at Dolce & Gabbana's first collection since the designers conviction of tax evasion
5. High expectations being met at Alexis Martial's first show for Iceberg...Read More

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Fashion retail group Arcadia, which owns Topshop and Topman, is plotting to open more than 150 franchise stores over the next year as its pushes forward with its international expansion plans...Read More

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Swiss luxury brand Bally has appointed Frederic de Narp as its new chief executive, effective November 4.

De Narp joins Bally from his position as president and chief executive of Harry Winston, where he has been credited with turning around the luxury jewellery and watch brand...Read More

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British footwear designer Nicholas Kirkwood has sold a stake in his fashion label to LVMH to help him expand his brand internationally and “further develop his vision”. The French luxury conglomerate group behind brands including Louis Vuitton, Céline, Givenchy and Bulgari, has acquired a majority stake in Nicholas Kirkwood and will provide its “expertise” to help the footwear designer focus on the creative aspect of the business...Read More

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REPORT_ For the fourth quarter Asos retail sales showed growth of 47 percent. International sales were 64 percent of total retail sales over the period compared with 65 percent last year. Asos expects profit before tax for the year ended August 31, 2013, to be marginally above expectations...Read More

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The struggling Australian surfwear company Billabong has once more accepted help in form of a refinancing plan, this time from New York-based Centerbridge Partners and Los Angeles-based Oaktree Capital Management, together known as C/O Consortium. In July, Billabong had announced a deal with private equity firm Altamont Capital Partners and GSO Capital Partners that included a bridge loan for 294 million dollars...Read More

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REPORT_ Dick’s Sporting Goods unveiled its detailed long-term plan and key strategies to deliver sales and operating profit growth and drive shareholder value over the next five years. During its analyst day meeting, the company presented a sales target of 10 billion dollars by the end of fiscal 2017, representing a 5-year compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 11 percent from fiscal 2012 sales of 5.8 billion dollars...Read More

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Marigay McKee, chief merchant at Harrods, has been confirmed as the new president of Saks Fifth Avenue, following Hudson’s Bay Company’s acquisition of the American retailer. The appointment will take effect shortly after completion of HBC’s acquisition of Saks, which is expected to close before the end of the year...Read More

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Marks and Spencer has launched an external design studio in collaboration with The British School of Fashion, as the high street retailer looks to investing in “British fashion leaders of tomorrow”...Read More

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Walpole chief executive Julia Carrick has stepped down from her role after 13 years at the luxury brands trade body, as she looks to “new challenges within the luxury arena”. Carrick, who joined Walpole in 2000, will continue a close relationship with Walpole as she has been confirmed as the group’s first global ambassador and member of the Walpole Advisory Council...Read More

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Bangladesh will not be affected by the changes in Canada’s General Preferential Tariff (GPT) as duty-free access facility for the products of least developed countries remains intact, said Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Heather Crudden. “Nothing will change for Bangladesh. Duty-free access for LDCs will remain as it has been,” said Cruden. "The GPT would be modernized by graduating 72 higher-income and trade competitive countries as of January, 1, 2015. As an LDC, Bangladesh is unaffected by these changes since it is eligible for duty-free access under the LDC tariff," she said.

Canada would take steps to ensure that the benefits of the LDCT are not reduced by the changes to the GPT, Cruden said adding this means the LDCT rules of origin requirements will be amended so that apparel producers will continue to benefit from duty-free access to Canada while using textile inputs from current GPT countries like China and India. She said an air agreement has been initiated between Bangladesh and Canada and if it is signed, it will open up more opportunities for both the countries.

On the change in GTP, BGMEA leader said the export of Bangladeshi products including garment to Canada would not face obstacles. The envoy also expressed concern over the working conditions of the country's readymade garment (RMG) industry citing the Savar and Tazreen tragedies as evidence. "Like many other countries, Canada remains concerned about dangerous working conditions in the RMG sector."

http://www.bgmea.com.bd/

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development continues to boost Turkey’s Anatolian regions, making €3.7 million loan to Kivanc Tekstil, a leading producer of clothing fabrics and yarn based in Adana. The EBRD financing will allow Kivanc Tekstil to purchase more than 50 weaving machines to expand its operations. The loan will also be used to install an additional generator that will increase the factory’s co-generation capacity and recycle its own steam, thereby saving water, energy and money.

Kivanc Tekstil, 100 per cent owned and controlled by the founding family of the same name, has successfully operated in the textile sector for more than 60 years. Today it is an industry leader in Adana, a major commercial centre and the home of Turkey’s textile industry. The company supplies high-quality ‘Made in Turkey’ fabrics using the latest designs. Thousands of national and international clothing manufacturers use Kivanc Tekstil fabrics, including brands such as Banana Republic, Zara and Ann Taylor. “We were impressed by this tight-knit family-owned company, run by four brothers, that operates in the highly-competitive global textile market, and in a challenging economic environment,” said EBRD Director for Turkey, Mike Davey.

Ziya Kivanc, CEO and shareholder in the company, said: “As our business grows and our focus shifts more to the export market, it is important for us to work with an international lender with the vision and capabilities of the EBRD. Working with the EBRD has been a learning experience for all of us at Kivanc and has enabled us to see our business from a different perspective.”

http://www.kivanctekstil.com.tr/

China’s dwindling share in the global textile and clothing business, because of surging cost of production and Pakistan’s expected duty-free access to the European Union (EU) from next year, are being viewed by the textile industry as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity for the country.On the other hand, massive opportunities are about to open up for Pakistan to at least double its share in the global textile and clothing trade of $800 billion, from slightly above 1.5 per cent to three per cent over the next two to three years.However, the country is not fully geared up to grab the upcoming opportunities.

“Pakistan is in a unique position today to double its present share of just over $13 billion in the international textile and clothing trade in the short to medium-term,” believes Amir Fayyaz, a leading Lahore-based producer of processed fabric for the world’s major brands.

China’s share in the global textile and clothing trade has dropped from $300 billion to almost $270 billion in the last one year. “Imagine where will our textile exports reach even if we succeed in grabbing half of the market share China has lost,” he said. Many Chinese textile companies had shown keen interest in setting up joint ventures with Pakistani textile producers, added Fayyaz.

The reduction in China’s share in the global textile trade is only one part of the story.Another major window of opportunity for Pakistan’s textiles is likely to open up from January 1, only four months from now in the shape of duty-free access to the EU market. However, many textile producers doing business with buyers from EU member countries say the chances of Pakistan increasing its share in the European market immediately are not very bright because of the energy crisis at home.

REPORT_ Debenhams has announced a trading update for the 52 weeks to August 31, 2013, ahead of its full year results. Gross transaction value and like-for-like sales for the group have grown during the year. Profit before tax is anticipated to be in line with current market expectations. Gross margin is expected to be flat, in line with guidance, reflecting a good recovery in the second half following a decline of 20 basis points in the first half...Read More

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An investment fund managed by Chinese Fosun International Ltd. has announced the acquisition of a 35 percent stake in Caruso Spa. Fosun has chosen the Italian label as its first investment in the luxury sector in Europe as Guo Guangchang, chairman and founder of Fosun Group said in a note: “we are interested in investments linked to the secular trend of manufacturing and consumption upgrade in China. Fosun will leverage its own competitive advantages to help Caruso expanding in the China market as well as bringing this precious made in Italy brand to the Chinese consumers"...Read More

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