Despite high inflation in the US and the EU markets, Bangladesh’s RMG exports to both regions surged during July to May of FY 2022-23. As per a Daily Industry report, the EU holds 50 per cent while the US holds 21 per cent share in Bangladesh exports. Both have witnessed a hike in commodity prices due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In the US market, the consumer price index (CPI) increased to 8.3 per cent year-over-year in April this year. While annual inflation in the EU grew to 8.1 per cent in May 2022, according to EuroStat, the statistical office of the European Union,

Despite this, the unit price of Bangladesh’s apparel increased 6.5 per cent in the US and 10.7 per cent in the EU market. Data from the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) also showed, average garment unit price rose 6.5 per cent to $3.3 for the US market during the July-May period of FY 2022-23. In the EU, garment prices for brands increased 10.7 per cent, shows data from the Eurostar.

As per the data of USITC and EuroStat, Bangladesh’s garment export volumes have also witnessed a significant rise in the two major markets helping achieve an excellent growth rate.

Bangladesh RMG export volume to the US market grew by 36.5 per cent to $1.89 billion during the period. Its knitwear exports grew by 40.2 per cent and woven garments exports increased by 31.2 per cent.

During the July-May of FY 2022-23 period, local RMG exporters received on average $2.1 per unit of knitwear garment in the US market. While woven products got on average $5.2.

In the EU market, knitwear clothes prices grew by 13.2 per cent to €13.4 per kg. And woven products’ price grew by 7.1 per cent to €15.4 per kg in the July-March of FY22.

Founded by Billi Hardwick and Marie Bouhier, hosiery brand Billi London is showcasing new eco legwear range at Salon International de la Lingerie (SIL), from June 18-20 June at Porte de Versailles in Paris alongside brands such as Rejeanne and Sisters Republic. Each hosiery item in this range is made with innovative enhanced degradable yarns Amni Soul Eco® nylon and ROICA ™ V550 elastane. The Amni Soul Eco ® yarn degrades in twenty faster than the normal 40-100 timeframe. It degrades in five years, breaking down into biomass and biogas and creating renewable energy. The soft yet chic fabrics have pioneered a change across the fashion sector that goes beyond just using recyclable materials.

The brand also features in The Selection, a guide of the organizers’ must-haves of the year based on their innovation, creativity and quality. Sophie Billi-Hardwick from Billi London will be one of the panelists in a fire-side style discussion titled ‘Women who change women!’ paying tribute to those women who innovate and make an impact on the conditions of other women worldwide. The talk will take place on Monday, June 20, 2022.

Voice of the European textile and clothing industry Euratex re-elected Italian textile entrepreneur, Alberto Paccanelli as President for two more years, in its General Assembly on June 17. Chief Executive Officer of the Martinelli Ginetto Group, Paccanel is lso a Board Member of Sistema Moda Italia and Confindustria Bergamo.

Presenting his vision for the future European textile industry, Paccanelli said, the EU Textile Strategy launched in March 2022, will change the industry’s nature. It emphasizes focus on not just sustainability, durability and transparency within the supply chain but also on enhanced communication with consumer, a better level playing field for European companies, and more investment in innovation, digitalization and skills development. Euratex too needs to actively contribute to this mission, he added.

Euratex GA also elected four other members: Bodo Bölzle (Amann, Germany), Jean François Gribomont (Utexbel, Belgium), Grégory Marchant (UTT, France) and Ismail Kolunsag (Cross Tekstil, Turkey). During the Assembly, EURATEX also welcomed new memberships from Ukrlegprom (Ukraine) and Astrico (Romania), and a partnership with Inditex (Spain) as Presidents.

The AATCC has appointed a new Board of Directors for 2023-24. Andrew Fraser is the new President elect while Patric Ayers has been appointed a representative for the Central Atlantic Region. Nelson House will represent the Midsouth region while New England will be represented by Bethany Pollack. The Southern region will be led by Ashley Handley while Ashis Kumar Samanta will represent the Southeast Asia region.

Interest group representatives of the AATCC will include: Sabyasachi Gaan, Chairman, Chemical Applications Group; Tom Stutt, Chairman, Concept Two: Consumer Group; Christina Rapa, Chairman, Materials Group and Jessica Brooks, Chairperson, Rising Professionals Group.

The world’s leading not-for-profit association serving textile professionals since 1921, headquartered in Research Triangle Park, NC, US, AATCC provides test method development, quality control materials, and professional networking for members in

Levi’s has launched a ten-piece collection for the Paris Fashion Week in collaboration with Los Angeles-based fashion designer Reese Cooper.

As per a Fashion Network report, the collection is inspired by Cooper’s relationship with the brand starting from his childhood in Atlanta, Georgia. It offers jeans, trucker jackets, hoodies, and tees, and focuses on authentic workwear materials and construction showcasing Levi’s influence in both the fashion and workwear space.

In particular, the collection includes a Levi’s Type II trucker and a Levi’s straight fit jean in triple-stitched organic cotton duck canvas in a stunning green or ecru, as well as a patchwork chore coat and straight fit jean in indigo denim.

There’s also a two-pocket hoodie in either green or ecru, both of which feature graphics based on heritage Levi’s back patches, and two graphic pocket tees, with graphics based on the brand’s iconic workwear lineage.

The Levi’s x Reese Cooper collection will be available for purchase starting June 22 on Levi.com, the Levi’s app, and Reese-Cooper.com. It will equally be available at the Levi’s x Reese Cooper pop-up shop from June 23 to the 26.

As per the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the country’s textile exports generated revenues worth $17.62 million July-May 2021/22.

In May 2022, Y-o-Y textile exports grew 56 percent to $1.64 billion as compared to $1.05 billion in the same month a year ago, while M-o-M growth declined by 5.6 percent. The exports of this group stood at $1.73 billion in April 2022. In the textiles group, cotton yarn exports increased 24.2 percent during the period to $1.11 billion compared to $896 million in the same period last year, with May 2022 exports up 48 percent to $106.57 million over the same month last year.

Cotton cloth exports increased 30.34 percent to $2.24 billion, knitwear 36.4 percent to $4.65 billion, bedwear 21.68 percent to $3.0 billion, towels 21.66 percent to $1.02 billion, and readymade garments exports grew 30.68 percent to $3.54 billion in these eleven months. Raw cotton exports went up by 10 times to $6.58 million.

According to the Indonesian Textile Association (API), the growth rate of the textile and textile products (TPT) industry will slow down in the second quarter due to the flucation of the US dollar.

Rizal TanzilRakhman, Secretary General, says the growth of the textile and textile products industry in the second quarter is lower than the realization in January - March of 14.2 per cent. Even so, its growth is forecast to remain above 10 per cent. However, the projection could change due to global economic sentiment.

In addition to oil, Rizal considered the new price of coal to be an important factor. According to him, fluctuations in coal will affect electricity tariffs.

Meanwhile, electricity is an important component in the cost structure of the textile industry and textile products.

Even so, Rizal is optimistic that the textile and textile product industry will grow 5 per cent Y-o-Y this year.

The handlooms and textiles department is acquiring the 100-acre land required to develop a textile city in Chennai’s Ambattur area.

To be implemented under public private partnership, the project is aimed at creating marketing networks and networking infrastructure, both physical and virtual, by establishing robust IT and network initiatives and creation of large-scale marketplaces.

The upcoming textile city will have research and development facilities, wholesale-cum-export facilities, GST and customs tables to facilitate the investors for ease of doing business and enhance exports multifold. The upcoming facility will be superior in all ways than the existing textile valley in Karur, which has limited facilities.

The USDA’s Jun supply and demand report says, global cotton production and ending stocks declined during the 2021/22 season. The association also forecasts a lower consumption for 2022/23 seasons, showing that the high cotton prices restrain the consumption apparently, and later, the consumption is likely to be lowered further. The drought condition in Texas persists, but crop growing development is good, and the expectations of a higher new cotton production maintain.

For 2021/22 season, USDA says, cotton production declined by 220kt from May, and production of Brazilian cotton also declined by 110kt. Meanwhile, consumption declined by 270kt. Overall, the cotton supply remained tight. 2021/22 global ending stocks declined by 150kt from previous month. But recently, new cotton arrived on the Brazilian cotton market, and local cotton prices dipped quickly. In Australia, affected by the rainfall, the harvests delayed in South Wales.

For 2022/23 season, USDA forecasts a slightly lower cotton consumption, to 26.46 million tons, down 30kt from 2021/22 season. Production is slightly higher. Though Texas need more moisture despite of recent rainfall, USDA reports a good development of US cotton planting this year, and it has not anticipated a production reduction.

Bangladesh RMG unit prices increased during July –May 2022-23 in both the US and EU markets despite a record-high inflation in both the countries.

Both the market play a paramount role in Bangladesh’s apparel exports, as the EU holding 50 per cent and the US holding a 21 per cent growth share during the July-May period of the current fiscal year.

However, both the US and the EU, along with most of the other nations are witnessing a hike in commodities due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In the US market, in April alone, the consumer price index (CPI) had risen to 8.3 per cent year-over-year. While, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, EU area annual inflation was 8.1 per cent in May 2022.

In spite of this scenario, Bangladesh’s apparel unit price increased significantly by 6.5 per cent in the US and 10.7 per cent in the EU market which is a great boost for the Bangladesh RMG.