Leading computerised knitting machine manufacturer Shima Seiki, alongwith its Hong Kong subsidiary Shima Seiki (Hong Kong), will participate in the autumn edition of the China International Knitting Fair (PH Value 2018 AW) exhibition in Shanghai, China this month. The exhibition will be held from September 27 to 29, 2018 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.

This is the first time Shima Seiki will be participating in the PH Value 2018 AW. As a trade promotion and business-to-business platform for the Chinese knitting industry, PH Value offers an opportunity for Shima Seiki to reach out to apparel manufacturers, retailers, merchandisers as well as ecommerce businesses in the Chinese fashion value chain. It will display APEX3 design system.

At the core of the company’s Total Fashion System concept, APEX3 provides support throughout the production supply chain, integrating production into one smooth and efficient workflow from yarn development, product planning and design to production and even sales promotion.

Applied DNA Sciences in partnership with American & Efird has unveiled a DNA-tagged thread that includes a DNA marker. This can test authenticity by adding a small amount of activator fluid to a swab that has been brushed on the product to collect a sample.

This is a biochemistry-based innovation in apparel authentication and can decrease the threat of counterfeit products in different industries. American & Efird is a thread manufacturer. With its array of thread products, A&E’s broad client base includes customers who use threads for industrial sewing, embroidery, consumer products and technical textiles. Among its clientele, A&E counts major fashion brands that rely largely on a reputation for quality and unique approaches to apparel manufacturing. This customer base includes makers of luxury apparel and accessories, a segment extremely vulnerable to counterfeiting.

Applied DNA Sciences provides DNA tagging as a type of verification to ensure authenticity of an array of products—from military electronics to Pima cotton. Through investing in anti-counterfeiting science at the beginning of the supply chain, manufacturers will not only deter counterfeiters but increase retailer confidence when selling to consumers.

The garment is brushed with a swab that becomes fluorescent under a black light after activator fluid is applied. By swabbing the fabric, testers at the end of the supply chain can verify a genuine article without damaging the product.

"The fashion and lifestyle sector, estimated at $80 billion in India, is growing at a CAGR of 10 per cent. Online fashion contributes around 7-8 per cent or approximately $6 billion to this entire market. It is further expected to reach $12-$14 billion by 2020 with the overall retail market at $100 billion. The driving forces behind this growth are: changing consumer preferences, brand awareness, increase in disposable income, and a rise in the tech-savvy millennial population. The introduction of international brands in India is leading to the growth of premium apparel and luxury segment which is likely to command 20 per cent share in the overall fashion e-commerce market. This exponential growth rate offers brands an opportunity to reap huge benefits."

The fashion and lifestyle sector, estimated at $80 billion in India, is growing at a CAGR of 10 per cent. Online fashion contributes around 7-8 per cent or approximately $6 billion to this entire market. It is further expected to reach $12-$14 billion by 2020 with the overall retail market at $100 billion. The driving forces behind this growth are: changing consumer preferences, brand awareness, increase in disposable income, and a rise in the tech-savvy millennial population.

Global brands leading growth

The introduction of international brands in India is leading to the growth of premium apparel and luxury segment which is likely to command 20 per cent share in the overall fashion e-commerce market. This exponential growth rate offers brands an opportunity to reap huge benefits.

Meanwhile improvement in logistics, infrastructure and convenient payment channels is leading to the growth of e-commerce in the country. Availability of numerous options at a single click keeps fashion consumers well-informed and on-trend. However, to carve a niche in India, one needs to focus on the local needs. The country’s youth is influenced by online research on current trends, product quality and company’s production ethic while making their purchases. This leads to growing awareness about the brand and its quality.

Rising purchasing power is luring brands to foray in smaller cities. As per an ASSOCHAM study, the rise in purchasing power of Tier II & III cities consumers has attracted many fashion brands to foray in these markets. Premium brands are scaling up operations, targeting aspiring customers, offering products at attractive price points. People who are aware about brand value and spend lesser than they would have on a luxury brand, are an attractive market for entry-level premium brands.

Brands address shift in consumer demands

Changing buying habits have pushed brands to address the shift in luxury consumer behavior. E-commerce players offering luxury and premium products are aligning their offerings to the needs of consumers. Internet boom and the penetration of social media has played an essential role in creating awareness among buyers of premium products. Consumers regularly seek the first source of information from social media, and many seek personalised, targeted promotions like emails on new collections and discounts from brands they wish to own.

Global luxury fashion brands are partnering premium e-retailers to leverage growing demand. A Euromonitor, Forrester and McKinsey study reveals digital share of global luxury market will be around 20 per cent by 2025.

Social media influence digital luxury market

Social media has flourished significantly, with shoppers spending a considerable amount of time online, and 50 to 60 million consumers buying fashion online. By 2020, this number is expected to double. A recent report published by BCG and Facebook estimates 70 per cent of the branded apparel in future will be digitally influenced.

India’s luxury spending is at par with the UAE, far ahead of Turkey, Thailand, and Argentina, and growing faster than Singapore and Australia. The country, with its favourable trade and FDI policies and penetration of organised sector, is one of the most promising markets for investors.

US-based brand Patagonia, is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, defending clean water and air, and divesting from dirty technologies. Its mission is to build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.

Patagonia-inspired fleece jackets have been popping up on runways over the past several years. Patagonia grew out of a small company that made tools for climbers. Alpinism remains at the heart of a worldwide business that still makes clothes for climbing – as well as for skiing, snowboarding, surfing, fly fishing, and trail running.

The approach Patagonia takes toward product design demonstrates a bias for simplicity and utility. Patagonia donates time, services and at least one per cent of its sales to grassroots environmental groups all over the world who are working to reverse the steep decline in the overall environmental health of our planet.

The company co-founded Sustainable Apparel Coalition in 2009 with a vision to join an apparel, footwear and home textile industry that produces no unnecessary environmental harm and has a positive impact on the people and communities associated with its activities. Patagonia aims at reducing the environmental impact of its company and supply chain.

United States denim imports from January to July 2018 rose 8.22 per cent in terms of value. In volume terms, US denim imports grew three per cent during the same period.

China’s denim exports to the US grew 2.89 per cent. Mexico’s denim exports to the US fell by 1.85 per cent. Bangladesh’s denim exports to the US rose by 16.30 per cent. Vietnam’s denim exports to the US grew by 37.84 per cent. In the same period, Pakistan’s denim exports to the US jumped 18.91 per cent. Cambodia’s exports surged 32.22 per cent.

Mexico’s sliding share provided opportunities to both Bangladesh and Vietnam in the denim apparel segment. Pakistan is one of the biggest denim exporters in the world. Cambodia is another country which might dent the denim export value of its competitors in the near future.

Denim is on an upswing in the US. Retailers are starting to rebuild their denim assortments. Price points have increased considerably since 2014, creating a more competitive denim market.

Skinny jeans still represent 58 per cent of women’s jeans. Straight leg jeans come second followed by cropped and ripped. Other silhouettes that have gained since 2016 are cropped, culotte, mom and wide.

T Rajkumar is TSC (Textile Sector Skill Council) chairman. DL Sharma is vice chairman. TSC was formed on the initiative of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) as a an industry-driven non-profit, registered under the Companies Act 2013 and set up under the aegis of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and governed by 14 major textile industry associations and export promotion councils and has representatives from textile research associations and NSDC on its board.

TSC has been set up to develop a skilled work force for the textile industry by setting a curriculum for training and accreditation of trade competency. TSC plans to facilitate scalable skill training to the complete work force engaged in the manufacture of textile and handloom products.

TSC has been implementing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) projects in different locations in India to recognize informal learning in the textile and handloom industry. The objectives of the program are to enable a large work force to take up industry relevant skill training for better livelihood, to enhance career opportunities for trainees, to assess and certify the skills of traditional weavers and reduce inequalities between skills. A RPL program was conducted for power loom weavers of Tamil Nadu who are known for their artistic skill of making good quality and attractive fabrics.

Cordura has launched a fabric series in collaboration with leading Japanese bag brands. This is Cordura’s way of showing appreciation and support for Japanese craftsmanship. One collaboration is with CIE, a Japanese bag brand that has a military approach to carry solutions. Cordura’s NYCO fabric, which is used widely used in US military uniform applications, is integrated in CIE's designs. Cordura fabrics are used in products from apparel to bags, packs, and footwear.

In the first phase of the project, Cordura will release a video made in collaboration with a leading bag brand. Through close-up shots of the detailed work of artisans, from design planning to cutting and sewing, the video emphasizes the intricate detail and beauty of Japanese craftsmanship with Cordura fabric.

Cordura is a brand belonging to Invista and pushes the boundaries of durable fabric technology through its latest innovations, combined with forward-thinking collaborations with its supply chain and brand customers. Japanese craftsmanship has long been valued by the design world and Cordura has a deep appreciation for the Japanese market, which values high-quality, built-to-last products.

Invista is one of the world’s largest integrated producers of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibers and runs brands like Lycra, Coolmax, Cordura, Stainmaster and Antron.

The National Council of Textile Organisations (NCTO) has applauded the recent Section 301 tariff announcement by the Trump administration to resolve longstanding trade inequities with China. The organisation believes the administration’s continued focus on added tariffs on upstream textile inputs while thus far refusing to impose tariffs on finished Chinese textile home furnishing and apparel is flawed.

NCTO also thanked the Trump administration for removing various items from the latest retaliation list, including rayon fibre and certain dyes and chemicals. The US textiles industry requested the exclusion of these products because they are not available domestically and China is the only significant source of supply. NCTO is a Washington, DC-based non-for-profit trade association established to represent the full spectrum of the US textiles sector, from fibres to yarns to fabrics to finished products, as well as suppliers of numerous support services such as trucking, banking, chemicals, and other such sectors that have a stake in the prosperity and survival of the US textiles industry.

New York Denim Days will be held from September 22 to 23. The second annual show returns with a two-day shopping event and speaker series. The event connects denim professionals, designers and brands with denim consumers and brings together denim lovers in a festival atmosphere with vintage markets, live music, demonstrations, hands-on workshops and activities for children.

The event is sponsored by Tencel. Denim made with Tencel fibers will be front and center at New York Denim Days. The Tencel branded booth will be stocked with denim by Mavi, 3×1, Reformation and Paulita Carlotta and an exclusive Denim Days T-shirt made with Tencel branded lyocell fibers.

Rivet too has partnered Tencel for a collection of men’s jeans to be launched at Denim Days. The Edit Denim x Rivet collection pays homage to Americas. Stretch fabrications are made with cotton, spandex and Tencel from the US, and Mexico’s Kaltex produced the fabrics and garments.

The collection is based on two essential fits—slim and straight—and six washes. Minimal, matte finish hardware and dyed-to-match trims enhance the jeans’ premium hand feel. Exhibitors include Candiani, Hudson, Madewell and garment finisher Tonello, who will present art by Holly Brown and Juan Manuel Gomez, using 100 per cent recycled dyes produced by Officia+39.

India plans to impose anti-dumping duty of up to $4.83 per kg on Chinese flax yarn of below 70 lea. The duty will be imposed for five years to guard domestic players from cheap imports from the neighboring country. The recommended duty ranges between $1.30 per kg and $4.83 per kg. It is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers with regard to foreign producers and exporters.

Flax yarn is used for making flax fabric, which has applications in apparel sector such as dresses, jackets, shirts and home textiles. The commerce ministry's investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has conducted a probe of alleged dumping of 'flax yarn of below 70 lea count' from China, following a complaint from Jaya Shree Textiles unit of Grasim Industries.

In its final findings of the probe, the DGTR has concluded that due to dumped imports, the domestic industry has suffered material injury.