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The US Cotton Trust Protocol has added one of world’s reputed denim companies, Levi Strauss & Co, and its legacy brands Levi’s®, Dockers®, Denizen® by Levi’s®, and Signature by Levi Strauss & Co™ as new members
Levi Strauss & Co has committed to sourcing 100 percent more sustainably grown cotton focusing on decreasing water use, cutting carbon emissions, and reducing fertilizer and pesticide use. This corporate commitment to more sustainable and resilient cotton sourcing is part of a broader internal initiative designed to move the company toward a more sustainable and circular product strategy.
The Trust Protocol will aid Levi Strauss & Co.’s efforts by providing verified data on sustainability practices from U.S. cotton growers and access to aggregate year-over-year data on critical metrics including water use, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, soil carbon, soil loss and land use efficiency. Levi Strauss & Co will also participate in the pilot phase of the Protocol Credit Management System which provides its members with complete supply chain transparency through use of TextileGenesis’ blockchain technology.
The Trust Protocol has welcomed more than 450 brand, retailer, mill and manufacturer members since its launch in 2020. This includes Gap Inc. and its collection of purpose-led lifestyle brands Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta as well as global apparel manufacturer Gildan. The Trust Protocol has also welcomed UK retailers Tesco, Byford and Next Plc. Other Trust Protocol member announcements include the first 10 U.S. mills to join and the first members in Latin America.
Held last month at the Yiwu International Expo Centre, the 21st ZheJiang trade fair for textile and garment industry attracted over 11,728 visitors and 300 exhibitors. The theme of the three-day exhibition was “trans-boundary innovation, intelligent textiles and healthy future”.
The exhibition was divided into four theme zones: knitting industry, sewing automation, digital and printing application, and knitting products and accessories, gathering many well-known exhibitors including Chemtax, Yingyun, Dahaomingde, Jiazhili, Kemei, Chu Yun, Kaiqiang, Jieke, Toka Benma, Bopai, and Dairen.
It showcased a wide range of automatic machineries, promoting industrial automation and providing valuable business opportunities. Professional visitors, delegation groups and enterprise groups from various countries were attracted to the show.
A series of concurrent events were held together with ZhejiangTex 2021 to let the professional visitors stay tuned to the latest market trends under the era changes. On June 9, 2021, National Antibacterial and Antiviral Functional Textile Supply Chain Conference was held. Initiated by textile innovations, more than 200 enterprises are connected, with their resources including raw materials, technology, knitting products OEM, and branding, forming the Yingyun Knitting Union. From June 9 to 12, China Yiwu Fashion Week was successfully held, leading an innovative fashion trend and opening a new fashion future.
The 25th WTO Trade Monitoring Report on G20 Trade Measures indicates, medical supplies rose by 16 per cent in 2020 while PPE exports grew by 50 per cent. This was despite an 8 per cent decline in the value of global merchandize trade during the year, as per a report by China Textiles.
The 25th WTO Trade Monitoring Report on G20 Trade Measures spans the mid-October 2020 to mid-May 2021 period. It provides an important insight into a number of areas as countries begin addressing the challenges of a post-pandemic economic recovery. In particular, the past several months saw international cooperation and coordination among nations and intergovernmental organizations increase and intensify.
The report also notes that the multilateral trading system has kept trade flowing, with the WTO playing a central role in ensuring that supply chains are kept open and restrictive trade policies are avoided.
The G20 economies implemented 140 trade and trade-related measures in the area of goods since the outbreak of the pandemic - 101 (72 percent) of a trade-facilitating nature and 39 (28 percent) of a trade-restrictive nature. The reduction or elimination of import tariffs and import taxes made up 60 percent of trade-facilitating measures taken, and certain G20 economies reduced their tariffs on a variety of goods such as PPE, sanitizers, disinfectants, medical equipment and medicine/drugs.
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"Netherlands based Knitwear Lab will host Lynn Hinkelmann, Peter Wissmann and Christina Hermann on July 21, for the second edition of its Yarn Show. As per a Knitting Industry report, the trio will present the following yarn collections by Zegna Baruffa Lane Borgosesia SpA / Botto Poala / Chiavazza; Emilcotoni SpA; Schoeller Spinning Group; Marchi & Fildi / Filidea; SY / TDD Torcitura di Domaso; Best Shan; Filpiu; M.ORO; Cofil, Italy; Maison Cofil, Italy; Filmar, Italy; Cariaggi Lanificio, Italy; Lanecardate, Italy and Biella Yarn by Südwolle + GTI Filati.
The Knitwear Lab is described as the leading knowledge centre for industrial knitwear in the Netherlands, running extensive research projects on the most innovative technical applications for knitwear for both the fashion and textile industry.
The Lab is located in Almere, 30 minutes from Amsterdam where it houses three Stoll flatbed knitting machines, among which is the latest Stoll-Multi Gauge 7.2 ADF BW16.
Attendees are also invited to explore the Knitwear Lab and their products during the yarn show although organisers have asked, that because of COVID-19 restrictions, that visitors pre-arrange a time slot for their visit.
Released by Wunderman Thompson Commerce, the ‘Future Shopper Report 2021’, report highlights how consumers’ shopping preferences are shaping the future of commerce.
As per Campaign India, the study surveying over 28,000 consumers across 17 countries, finds that businesses need to respond to win the online battle, in order to sustain in the future.
The report estimates, online shopping to account for 51 per cent of global retail sales post pandemic. Around 72 per cent of global shoppers believed that online shopping came to their rescue in 2020, whereas 73 per cent said that e-commerce would be more important to them in 2021.
Around 60 per cent of global shoppers reported being more comfortable using digital technology in the wake of the pandemic, whereas 72 per cent of Indians admitted to being more scared of shopping in-store, as compared to their global counterparts.
The study also stated that 86 per cent of Indian shoppers demanded excellence from brands and retailers online, with Amazon ranking highest in terms of the service and experience they provided.
Consumers are now demanding integrated omni-channel offerings from retailers and brands. Sixty four percent global shoppers said, they prefer to shop with brands that have both an online and offline presence, while 59 per cent of consumers expect brands to communicate seamlessly with them across all channels. Seventy three percent demand better products, services and experiences from retailers.
The study projects the coming years to usher in an era of more diverse online offerings, with marketplaces, direct-to-consumer brand sites and social commerce all having a key role to play. It advises businesses to ensure that this more complex online landscape complements their overall retail offering.
Textile and clothing orders for Swaziland have declined due to effect of pro-democracy rallies that culminated in violent acts. As per a Textile Value Chain report, the national demonstrations have made suppliers hesitant to deploy trucks to deliver to the Kingdom of Eswatin. This will cost the factories a lot of money since the buyers would charge them a lot of money for missing deadlines.
Insiders in the textile and garment industries in the Kingdom of Eswatini claim they are having ’sleepless nights’ as a result of the continuing pro-democracy rallies. If they fail to get orders and run out of material, the thousands of emaSwati who work in the sector would be out of employment. The textile and clothing market is a delicate one because when a company fails to deliver, the customers shift their business elsewhere.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, from January to April, the industrial added value of garment enterprises above designated size increased by 14.1 per cent year-on-year. Affected by the higher base in the same period last year, the growth rate dropped by 3.4 percentage points from the first quarter; the garment production of enterprises above designated size totaled more than 7.05 billion pieces, up by 23.87per cent year-on-year, and the two-year average growth reached 4.8 per cent.
Total retail sales of consumer goods amounted to over CNY 13.83 trillion during the four month period, increasing by 29.6 per cent year-on-year. Retail sales of clothing, foot and head wear and knitted goods by major retailers above designated size surged by 52.6 per cent year-on-year to CNY 323.8 billion, reports China Textile Leader.
China's online retail sales grew by 23.1 per cent year-on-year to CNY 3.07 trillion and the two-year average growth reached 15.6 per cent. In the online retail sales of physical commodities, wearing goods increased by 33.8 per cent year-on-year. According to the Customs Newsletters, from January to April, China's garment and accessories exports rose by 51.7 per cent year-on-year to $44.41 billion.
Shedding light on increasing bureaucracy in the UK fashion industry, a new survey by UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) reveals, around 98 per cent companies faced red tapism in fashion trade during the first half of this year. And 92 per cent faced increased VAT costs and extra paperwork, affirms a UK menswear brand. They had to also deal with a 30 to 50 per cent increase in freight costs; 83 per cent faced delays in custom clearances as UK officially exited the European Union on December 31, 2021.
Tariffs and cancelled orders lead to cost increase
Seventy five per cent respondents faced increased tariffs while 44 per cent got affected by re-export duties. Around 55 per cent had to deal with cancelled orders from wholesale customers/retailers due to Brexit. Orders of 44 per cent brands were rejected as EU consumers had to now pay 12 per cent tariffs on products bought online. Around 38 per cent EU consumers also returned unsold goods. This further added to their costs of sending samples to customers and organizing trade shows. Around 32 per cent respondents were unsure about UK-manufactured goods meeting the Rules of Origin requirements for the UK-EU Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA). Another 41 per cent faced double duties due to the implications of free circulation in the agreement.
Simple solutions to boost exports
Respondents also questioned the stifling of freedom of EU citizens. A British fashion brand rued the lack of access to new talent in the industry due to the
new rules while others hailed the opportunities offered by UK’s exit from the EU, particularly in reshoring and enhanced appeal of UK goods in domestic market.
Discussions on problems faced by the industry post Brexit have been underway for a long time. UKFT has held numerous meetings with civil servants and ministers to ease movement of product samples across countries. These meeting mainly focused on simplifying the rules of origin. UKFT also held several webinars to explain changing trade dynamics with the EU. In conjunction with BTC, it also held media briefings to provide in-depth reports on the organizations interactions with government.
UKFT plans to continue seeking support for businesses to trade in its biggest and closest market. The association plans to develop simple and effective solutions to help the UK fashion and textile industry increase export sales.
Future trading to become more complicated and expensive
Conducted in May 2021, the survey received responses from 138 businesses, including leading UK fashion brands, UK textile manufacturers, wholesalers, fashion agencies, garment manufacturers and retailers. A Scottish textile manufacturer predicted further difficulties in trading and a negative impact on British goods. Another held a pessimistic outlook on future production costs.
A UK-based technical textile manufacturer said, it plans to increase production capacities in the EU and make UK production redundant. And a UK women’s wear brand said it plans to suspend business due to Brexit challenges. An occasion wear brand from the UK predicted an increase in product prices by companies that do not export their goods. The brand said it plans to focus on non-EU markets as the current scenario in EU looks bleak.
A UK knitwear manufacturer said, it expects custom costs in EU to decline as cost for customers would increase. A designer fashion brand urged manufacturers to re-think their existing business models as they might have to close their UK business and move operations to Portugal.
Global leader in zippers and fastening products, YKK plans to explore Green Theme Technologies’ (GTT) water-free and non-toxic Empel™ water protection technology on its zippers and has signed a licensing agreement with the company. As per a Textile World report, GTT operates at the leading edge of sustainable performance textile finishes, and its PFC-free Empel platform is one of the best performing dry fabric finishes in the world, now being utilized on zippers for the first time.
The adoption of GTT’s Empel water protection technology is in keeping with YKK’s Sustainability Vision 2050 action plan to reduce water and chemical usage through innovative new technologies. The company has a long history of zipper innovation with its slide fasteners being used on everything from commercial fishing nets to space suits.
As a leader in product sustainability, YKK launched the Natulon® zipper — the first zipper to be made with recycled material — in 1994. Since that time YKK has developed an expansive portfolio of eco-friendly products such as GreenRise® the first zipper to use plant-based polyester, and Natulon® Ocean Sourced® zipper, made from ocean bound plastic waste.
GTT launched the Empel platform in 2018 and began with the goal of eliminating toxic PFCs. In addition to being highly sustainable, Empel treatment ranks among the highest water repellency and longest lasting protection available. GTT and YKK plan to collaborate with leading premium brands on the best quality and performance zippers on the market.
US’ import of denim jeans surged 29.18 per cent year over year in the five months through May to a value of $1.15 billion, shows the latest report by OTEXA. As per Sourcing Journal, US import of jeans surged by 30 per cent, or $26.39 million, cumulative year-to-date from April to May. Imports of blue denim apparels from Bangladesh rose by 35.61 percent in the year through May from the same period in 2020 to $218.35 million. Imports from Mexico surged by 51.35 percent to $232.76 million after a 25.07 per cent hike the previous month.
Among the Top 10 suppliers from Asia, imports from Vietnam rose by 8.69 per cent in the five months to $121.58 million, following a 2.86 percent drop the prior month, as sourcing experts have said capacity issues have started to challenge the country’s rapid rise. Imports from China increased by 38.67 per cent in the period to $117.27 million, while shipments from Pakistan increased 38.73 per cent to $116.62 million, imports from Cambodia rose 10.33 per cent to $59.92 million and shipments from Sri Lanka gained 32.79 per cent to $23.48 million.
