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H&M Move's Wellness Edit featuring SoftMove Yoga Leggings combines comfort with functionality.
Alongside H&M Beauty and H&M Home, H&M Move has launched Wellness Edit, a curated collection of yoga leggings made with Lycra Sports fabric using the brand’s SoftMove technology.
Delivering a perfect combination of softness and functionality, these leggings fit customers like a second skin offering them unparalleled freedom of movement. The collection is available globally in select stores and online at hm.com starting January 2, 2025.
Inspired by January’s unique light, both crisp and warm, the new SoftMove Yoga Leggings collection symbolizes a fresh start for the brand and guides it toward self-investment and growth, says Marie Fredros, Head - Design at H&M Move.
The Wellness Edit embodies everyday indulgence with the SoftMove Yoga Leggings as its premier product, offering unmatched comfort and adaptability. Available in calming natural tones like off-white, grounding neutrals, and buttery yellow, the collection is designed for low-intensity activities such as yoga, pilates, or meditation.
Key new pieces in this collection include minimalist sports bras, deep triangle bras, flared bottoms, and biker shorts, all designed to pair seamlessly with the Yoga Leggings. Layer up with padded jackets, crewneck sweaters, or hoodies, and elevate your practice with stylish wrist weights.
Supporting the collection, H&M Home offers plush embossed towels, matching robes and bathmats.
Overall, the Wellness Edit invites customers to invest in theme selves, making self-care a daily ritual and starting the year with intention and balance.
The company’s new $8.8 million facility in the Qantara West Industrial Zone will create 1,000 jobs and boost SCZONE's textile manufacturing hub.
Turkish garment manufacturer Denim Rise is establishing a factory in Egypt’s Qantara West Industrial Zone, with an investment of $8.8 million. Set to open in H2, 2025, this facility will create 1,000 jobs and export 70 per cent of its production.
The contract was signed by Huseyin Güzel, a board member of Denim Rise, who described the project as ‘a start for further expansions for the company in foreign markets.’
This initiative is part of the Suez Canal Economic Zone's (SCZONE) ongoing development of the Qantara West Industrial Zone. SCZONE has signed contracts for nine such projects in the zone’s first phase, totaling $317.8 million in investments across 777,000 sq m, creating approximately 15,200 job opportunities.
Highlighting Qantara West’s strategic advantages for labor-intensive industries, Waleid Gamal El-Dien, Chairman, SCZONE, says, its proximity to the Suez Canal and Delta regions, along with its location between SCZONE’s ports on the Red Sea and Mediterranean provide investors with seamless access to regional and international markets.
Denim Rise’s expansion coincides with other Turkish investments in the Qantara West Industrial Zone. Last year, SCZONE signed contracts with Turkey’s Eroğlu Global Holding AS to establish a jeans garment factory producing 7.2 million units annually. Eroğlu Holding is also developing a $40 million RMG factory in the zone, which will create over 3,000 jobs.
These projects underline SCZONE’s growing reputation as a hub for textile and garment manufacturing in the region.
Shahi Exports publishes third sustainability report focusing on renewable energy, coal elimination, biofuels, water recycling, and zero discharge in textile operations.
Shahi Exports has published its third sustainability report, offering insights into the company’s efforts in improving sustainability across its operations. Created in line with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, the report highlights Shahi Exports' progress and future commitments, including key areas such as traceability and due diligence. The company’s factories and mills sourced 65 per cent of their electricity from renewable sources in FY24, with a goal to reach 100 per cent renewable energy by FY27.
A major focus of the company’s sustainability efforts is in energy management, particularly in its use of thermal energy for boilers, which are essential in fabric processing. While thermal energy has traditionally been sourced from coal, the global shift towards cleaner energy is prompting change. With a global commitment to phase out coal by 2030 in OECD countries and 2040 for non-OECD countries, Shahi Exports is determined to move ahead of schedule. Many of the large brands it works with expect their suppliers to eliminate coal usage by 2025. In response, Shahi Exports is exploring alternatives, such as biofuels and biomass, to replace coal. However, the company conducted a study on the feasibility of switching to electric boilers and full electrification, finding that current technology would make the return on investment (ROI) of such a transition around 40 years. Consequently, the focus will be on eliminating coal usage by next year, with future plans to phase out biomass as well.
Water management is another critical area of focus for Shahi Exports. The company operates its largest textile mill in Shimoga, Karnataka, where strict regulations around water discharge require extensive investment in water treatment. The company has developed treatment plants that ensure zero discharge of chemicals. Currently, around 80 per cent of the water used in operations is recycled, and the company aims to achieve 100 per cent water recycling in the near future.
The state prioritizes textile industry growth with an investment of Rs 10,000 crore, boosting value chain, employment, and sustainable manufacturing.
To boost its economy and attract investments worth Rs 10,000 crore, the Andhra Pradesh government is prioritizing the development of textile and garment industries in the state. Leveraging abundant raw materials, the initiative aims to strengthen the textile value chain and create employment opportunities.
Unlike the previous YSRCP government, which introduced a five-year textile policy but failed to implement operational guidelines, the N Chandrababu Naidu-led NDA government has crafted a new textile policy with actionable guidelines to ensure smooth execution and sectoral growth.
Andhra Pradesh is India’s sixth-largest cotton-producing state, yielding 15.41 lakh bales in 2022-23. This presents vast opportunities for value addition within the state, says S Savita, Textiles sand Handlooms Minister. The state is equipped with 106 spinning mills, approximately 3 lakh spindles, and 12,635 power loom units, which helps attr investment to generate employment.”
Emphasizing on the the state’s skilled workforce, supported by educational institutions offering textile technology courses, Savitha says, the government plans to establish skilling centers in Vizag and Rayadurg to meet industry needs. She highlights, untapped opportunities in value-added activities such as weaving, knitting, processing, and technical textiles can drive large-scale employment while minimizing environmental impact. The ministry aims to convert the entire yarn produced in Andhra Pradesh into fabric, preventing value migration, she adds.
The new policy promotes key components of the textile value chain, integrated units, and technical textiles. Andhra Pradesh already hosts seven dedicated textile parks and five private parks, with Brandix India Apparel City standing out as a leading example of success in integrated textile operations.
The government is now focused on enhancing Venkatagiri Textile Park and Chirala Handloom and Textile Park while supporting emerging private industrial parks. This strategic approach aims to transform Andhra Pradesh into a hub for sustainable and value-driven textile manufacturing.
The 11th Surat International Textile Expo (SITEX) will spotlight India’s thriving textile sector from January 10 to 12, 2025, at the SIECC Campus in Surat’s Sarsana area. Organized by the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), the event aims to position Surat as a global textile hub while boosting business in South Gujarat.
Bringing together manufacturers, dealers, wholesalers, and retailers, SITEX will feature a wide range of products and services for the textile industry. Cutting-edge machinery and technology will be the highlights, including waterjet, rapier, air jet, power, and needle looms, high-speed warping machines, jacquard technology, and digital printing equipment.
The event is supported by sponsors such as Sarjan Position Printing Machine, Signature, Picanol, and Paramount Looms Private Limited. Marriott Surat, Maitreya, and Air Link are serving as hospitality, health, and WiFi partners, respectively.
By fostering innovation and facilitating networking, SITEX 2025 aims to reinforce Surat’s reputation as India’s leading textile hub while offering a global platform for industry players to explore opportunities and partnerships.
In a pivotal moment for India’s apparel industry, Sudhir Sekhri, Chairman of AEPC, emphasized the sector's potential to gain a larger share in global apparel imports. He noted that India's credibility among global brands has surged due to the ‘China Plus One’ strategy and challenges in Bangladesh. The Union Budget, he stressed, offers a key opportunity for long-term policy support to propel export growth.
Mithileshwar Thakur, Secretary General of AEPC, outlined strategies to capitalize on supply chain shifts, urging investment in production capacity, workforce upskilling, and labor reforms to maintain growth momentum.
Key demands of the RMG sector include:
Interest equalization scheme: Continuation and enhancement of the interest equalization rate to 5 per cent to reduce the high cost of capital.
Tax reforms: Extension of the 15 per cent concessional tax rate under Section 115AB of the Income Tax Act for new garment units.
Relaxation of Sec 43B(H): Exclusion of exporters from strict payment deadlines, addressing cash flow disruptions caused by buyers' extended payment cycles.
Imports and procedures: Simplification of IGCR rules for trims and embellishments, and a 10 per cent wastage allowance for such imports.
E-commerce: Increased export value caps to Rs 25 lakhs per consignment and extended realization periods of 12 months.
Machinery duties: Removal of customs duties on imported garmenting machinery to boost global competitiveness.
Sustainability initiatives: Introduction of a Green Transformation Scheme offering long-term soft loans for sustainability and green manufacturing upgrades.
AEPC’s demands underscore the need for structural support to enable the apparel industry to meet global standards and capture emerging opportunities.
With both production and cultivation targets falling alarmingly short, the year 2024 proved to be a challenging one for Pakistan's cotton industry. The industry cultivated only 1.974 million hectare of cotton during the year against the target of 3.118 million hectare, achieving just 63 per cent of the goal, informed Sajid Mahmood, Head - Technology Transfer, Central Cotton Research Institute.
Cotton farmers in the country are currently facing multiple challenges including climate change, poor seed quality, and pest infestations. The seed germination was significantly hindered by unusually low temperatures while extreme heatwaves and unseasonal rainfall in June and July exacerbated the situation, severely impacting overall production, he explains.
The cultivation shortfall affected all provinces. Punjab could achieve only 78 per cent of its cultivation target. The state cultivated cotton on 1.304 million hectare. On the other hand, Sindh reached 87 per cent. Despite these figures, both provinces experienced a decline in production dcompared to the previous year.
The financial challenges for farmers further compounded the crisis. The absence of a government-mandated support price led many farmers to shift to more profitable crops like sugarcane and maize, reducing the land allocated for cotton cultivation, noted Mahmood.
Emphasising on the urgency of reforms to revitalize the cotton sector, Mahmood called for the adoption of modern agricultural technologies, availability of certified high-yield seeds, and implementation of effective pest management strategies to address persistent challenges.
The agricultural policy must focus on strategic planning to mitigate climatic impacts and control crop diseases, he emphasized, underlining the importance of preparing the sector for the growing effects of climate change.
The crisis serves as a wake-up call for policymakers, urging immediate action to safeguard one of Pakistan's key agricultural sectors.
The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) of Sri Lanka has partnered with international organizations to train approximately 90 individuals in textile recycling and reuse, aligning the island's apparel industry with global sustainability standards.
Known as GTEX, this initiative is organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). It began with a training-of-trainers program attended by 19 Sri Lankan academics, textile professionals, and government representatives.
Key sessions in the program focused on designing for circularity, enhancing reverse logistics for reuse and recycling, and exploring advanced textile recycling technologies and quality standards. These efforts aim to position Sri Lanka as a leader in the global movement for sustainable textiles.
This program helps the organizer equip Sri Lanka’s textile industry with the tools to stay competitive in global markets while addressing the urgent need for circularity, says Matthias Knappe, Head-Fibres, Textiles, and Clothing, ITC.
Looking ahead, GTEX Sri Lanka plans to train approximately 500 industry professionals and students in 2025 in widespread adoption of circular business models in the country’s apparel sector.
Highlighting the importance of this initiative, Yohan Lawrence, Secretary General, JAAF, states, an essential step, this initiative helps Sri Lanka’s apparel industry align with international standards and make it more resilient to global market demands.
Emphasising on the necessity of sustainability in today’s textile industry, this initiative equips Sri Lanka to meet the growing global demand for circular and environmentally friendly practices.
India’s cotton production is projected to increase to 302.25 lakh bales of 170 kg each during the 2024-25 season, with imports rising to 25 lakh bales. Compared to 30.19 lakh bales last year, the country’s ending stocks for September 2025 are forecasted to decline to 26.44 lakh bales.
Global cotton production for 2024-25 is estimated to rise to 117.4 million bales, with higher outputs from India, Argentina, and Brazil. Driven by an increased demand from India, Pakistan and Vietnam, global cotton consumption is expected to expand by 570,000 bales, off setting declining consumption in China. While opening stocks have fallen by 428,000 bales, world ending stocks have grown by 267,000 bales.
Buoyed by a strong demand for cotton yarn from the apparel sector and robust exports, cotton candy prices in India increased by 0.04 per cent to Rs 54,160 per bale in 2024-25. However, domestic cotton arrivals in northern states like Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan plummeted by 43 per cent Y=o=Y as of November 30, 2024, disrupting the supply chain. Currently, farmers are holding back kapas (raw cotton) in hopes of better prices, causing a shortage of raw material for ginners and spinners.
The cotton candy market witnessed short covering, with open interest declining by 0.27 per cent to 367 contracts. Prices stabilized at Rs 53,260, with potential declines to Rs 52,350. Thus, the interplay of rising imports, fluctuating domestic supplies, and global market trends continues to shape India’s cotton sector, highlighting the need for strategic planning to balance supply and demand.
The global denim fabric sector was marked by both challenges and opportunities in 2024. While the industry grappled with economic slowdown changing customer choices, it also saw a lot of innovation and a renewed focus on sustainability. Here is a look at the key trends, challenges, and triumphs of the denim fabric sector in 2024, and outlook for 2025.
What influenced the sector in 2024
Several factors played a crucial role in shaping the denim fabric landscape in 2024.
Sustainability took center stage: The demand for eco-friendly denim continued to increase, with growing consumer awareness and stricter environmental regulations. Brands and manufacturers actively sought sustainable solutions, including organic cotton, recycled materials, and water-saving technologies. For example, Lenzing Group's Tencel branded lyocell fibers gained popularity in the denim industry due to their sustainability and performance benefits. Made from wood pulp sourced from sustainably managed forests, Tencel fibers offer softness, breathability, and reduced environmental impact. As Tricia Carey, Director of Global Business Development - Denim, Lenzing Group puts it, "Sustainability is no longer a trend it is a necessity. Consumers are demanding it, and brands are responding. The denim industry is undergoing a transformation, and those who embrace sustainable practices will thrive."
Premiumization in focus: The rise of premium denim, characterized by high-quality materials, innovative designs, and superior craftsmanship, gained further momentum. Consumers showed a willingness to invest in durable, comfortable, and stylish denim fabrics.
Supply chain disruptions: The lingering effects of the pandemic, coupled with geopolitical tensions, led to supply chain disruptions and increased raw material costs. This posed a significant challenge for manufacturers, impacting production and pricing strategies.
Technological advancements: Innovation in denim technology continued to drive the industry forward. New dyeing techniques, laser treatments, and smart fabrics enhanced the functionality and aesthetics of denim, catering to evolving consumer demands.
Production, consumption and trade
While the denim fabric sector faced issues, it showed resilience and adaptability. Overall, the industry performed in line with projections, with some segments exceeding expectations.
Global production: Denim fabric production remained stable, with key players in Asia, particularly China and India, maintaining their dominance. However, rising production costs and supply chain challenges impacted output in some regions.
Consumption and demand: Despite economic uncertainties, consumer demand for denim remained strong. The casualization of fashion and the versatility of denim contributed to its continued popularity. However, growth in demand varied across regions and market segments.
Global trade: Global trade in denim fabric witnessed moderate growth, with key exporting countries like China, India, and Pakistan catering to the demand from major consuming markets in Europe and North America. However, trade flows were impacted by geopolitical factors and shifting sourcing strategies.
To provide a clearer picture of the global trade landscape, let's examine the export and import data for key countries:
Table 1: Top denim fabric exporting countries (2024)
|
Rank |
Country |
Export value ($ bn) |
Market share (%) |
|
1 |
China |
12.5 |
35.2 |
|
2 |
India |
8.2 |
23.1 |
|
3 |
Pakistan |
4.8 |
13.5 |
|
4 |
Turkey |
3.1 |
8.7 |
|
5 |
Bangladesh |
2.9 |
8.2 |
|
Others |
3.5 |
9.3 |
|
|
Total |
35 |
100 |
Source: Eurostat, Statistia, USITC, Ministry of Finance, Japan, General Department of Vietnam Customs, Secretaría de Economía, Mexico
Table 2: Top Denim Fabric Importing Countries (2024)
|
Rank |
Country |
Import value ($ bn) |
Market share (%) |
|
1 |
European Union |
10.8 |
30.9 |
|
2 |
United States |
8.5 |
24.3 |
|
3 |
Japan |
3.2 |
9.1 |
|
4 |
Vietnam |
2.8 |
8 |
|
5 |
Mexico |
2.5 |
7.1 |
|
Others |
7.2 |
20.6 |
|
|
Total |
35 |
100 |
Source: Eurostat, Statistia, USITC, Ministry of Finance, Japan, General Department of Vietnam Customs, Secretaría de Economía, Mexico
The tables show China remains the dominant player in denim fabric exports, leveraging its large-scale production capacity and competitive pricing. India and Pakistan are also major exporters, catering to the growing demand for value-oriented denim fabrics. The EU and the US are the largest importers of denim fabric, reflecting the strong consumer demand for denim apparel in these regions. Emerging markets like Vietnam and Mexico are witnessing significant growth in both denim fabric imports and exports, indicating their increasing role in the global denim supply chain.
Countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam emerged as winners in the global denim trade, capitalizing on their competitive labor costs and growing manufacturing capabilities. They successfully attracted orders from brands seeking to diversify their sourcing base. On the other end of the spectrum, some traditional denim-producing countries, such as Italy and Turkey, faced challenges due to higher production costs and competition from emerging markets. They focused on niche segments and high-value products to maintain their position in the market.
Outlook for 2025
Looking ahead, several factors will drive change and create opportunities in the denim fabric sector in 2025.
First the transition towards a circular economy will gain further traction, with a focus on recycling, upcycling, and reducing waste throughout the denim supply chain. The adoption of digital technologies, such as 3D printing and AI-powered design tools, will revolutionize denim manufacturing, enabling greater efficiency, customization, and sustainability.
Growing demand for personalized denim will continue to grow, prompting brands and manufacturers to offer customized fits, washes, and finishes. At the sametime consumers will increasingly demand transparency and traceability in the denim supply chain, seeking information about the origin, production processes, and environmental impact of their denim products.
Meanwhile the global denim fabric market is projected to witness steady growth in 2025, with increasing demand from emerging markets and the continued popularity of denim across various fashion segments. Brands and manufacturers that prioritize sustainability and embrace circular economy principles will gain a competitive advantage.
Investing in R&D, with focus on sustainable dyeing and finishing among others will be crucial for companies to stay ahead of the curve. And most importantly, collaboration across the denim supply chain will be essential to address challenges and drive innovation. Partnerships between brands, manufacturers, and technology providers will foster sustainable and efficient production practices.
To sum up while economic uncertainties and supply chain disruptions persisted, the industry continued to innovate and prioritize sustainability. Looking ahead, the outlook for 2025 is positive, with opportunities for growth and transformation driven by circular economy principles, digitalization, and consumer demand for personalized and transparent denim products. By embracing innovation and collaboration, the denim fabric sector can navigate the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future.
