FW
Canadian denim brand Triarchy has become a fully sustainable jeans brand. Triarchy is dedicated to educating the world on the waste and pollution caused by global denim production. With a mission to reduce the amount of water used in the creation of denim, Triarchy successfully produces a globally accessible contemporary ready-to-wear collection of sustainable denim pieces for men and women. Using repurposed materials, recycled goods and sustainable washing and bleaching processes, Triarchy has saved over 1,000,000 gallons of water to date.
Triarchy is continuing offer denim jeans, jackets and dresses using over 85 per cent recycled water during production. Relying on nature, Triarchy’s production unit in Mexico City uses natural bacteria, which consume the indigo before re-introducing it to the wash process. Triarchy’s Atelier Denim line is made exclusively of vintage denim and Triarchy jeans are made from sustainably sourced and washed material.
The brand’s mission is to shine a light on irresponsible denim manufacturing practices and forge a new way in making jeans. The brand’s labels are recycled leather and its woven labels are made from recycled water bottles. Triarchy has been made fully sustainable. The brand switched from cotton denim to cotton-tencel denim, which reduces water consumption to 1,300 gallons per pair.
Global Sources Fashion is on in Hong Kong from April 27 to 30. This is Hong Kong’s largest fashion sourcing event. Attendees can source fashion accessories, fabrics and apparel all under one roof. Global Sources Fashion features verified suppliers from major fashion manufacturing hubs including mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
The show hosts the largest collections of bags and luggage, footwear, and sports fashion in Hong Kong and Asia's largest scarves pavilion. Dedicated pavilions highlight quality fashion products from countries and regions including Vietnam, India, Jiangsu, Hunan Shaodong and Xiamen.
In addition to showcasing a wide range of products and suppliers from across Asia, the show is seeing growing participation from branded companies. It will host more than 500 exhibitors promoting their own designs and brands. Amazon and other online sellers will find a variety of products with more than 65 per cent of exhibitors able to accept small orders.
Thousands of buyers are expected to attend the show including Adidas, Avery Dennison, Colette, eBay, Fossil, Gap, Mothercare, Potpourri, Ralph Lauren, S Oliver, Sears, Target Australia, Tiffany, United Colors of Benetton and Vivarte. There is a dedicated area for fashion startups and up and coming designers to introduce their creations. Models will wear the hottest designs from exhibitors and rising designers.
Peruvian textiles and apparel exports could grow six to eight per cent in 2018. This expected to rise further due to promotional efforts launched four years ago in markets such as the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Europe and Asia.
Heirs of an ancient textile tradition, Peruvian apparel makers have seen their industry make a recovery in recent years, including export growth of 6.1 per cent in 2017. The country hopes to do $2 billion worth of exports, which it did a decade ago. Peruvian exporters include some 30 firms that have been registered as eco-friendly apparel makers and have seen buyers interest grow. Then there are some 40 firms that specialize in crafts, decorative items and jewelry.
The US and Brazil are among the main destinations for Peruvian apparel exports, while alpaca garments have a strong presence in Europe and Asia. The first alpaca store in China will mark a full year in 2018 and the first Peru Textiles store will open in Brazil second half of this year. Peruvian brands are focusing on sustainable fashion, innovation and trends. Peru is known for its flagship cotton and alpaca fibers. Buyers are also interested in acquiring Peruvian brands.
India exports less than one-third of its apparel production while tiny countries like Bangladesh or Vietnam export almost twice as much as India. India’s apparel exports grew around 35 per cent over the last five financial years. However, during the current year, there has been negative growth as of December 2017. The present market conditions indicate that during the full-year, negative growth will only be higher.
Imports into the country, on the other hand, increased by around 82 per cent during the last five years and by 20.64 per cent during April-December 2017. Indications are that the import surge will grow further during the rest of the year. The country’s major export markets have been sluggish because of a slowdown in global economy. During 2017, total garment imports into the US, which is India’s largest single export market, declined by 0.49 per cent compared to the previous year.
India has been specifically targeted by the US in the matter of export subsidies. Textile and clothing exports are likely to be among the first victims since that is an area where India is fairly competitive and has a significant presence in the US market.
Guess is looking to reduce the environmental threats that often result from making its jeans. The company has educated its employees about its commitment to support sustainable apparel manufacturing. It has also enrolled its designers and patternmakers into a sponsored class which includes coursework in sustainability through focusing on zero waste and circular design.
Guess’ denim products represent 20 per cent to 25 per cent of its business. Guess discovered that the processing of cotton was responsible for 64 per cent of the water used during the production of one denim jean. Communicating this message to its vendors is a major part of Guess pledge to decrease unnecessary water use during the manufacturing process for its denim. The new challenge lies in examining how its sources processed cotton and working with those suppliers who have not yet adopted best practices.
Guess’s annual revenues for fiscal year 2018 were $2.4 billion. Its premium denim retails at $100 dollars. Customers, in general, are millennials and increasingly Gen Z, who are known for caring about social and environmental responsibility. The brand believes its efforts will be embraced by its clientele.
Esprit taken a significant step as it has become the first fashion brand to become a signatory of the joint initiative between the German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textiles (AGT). Esprit has 50 stores in the Netherlands. The two organisations had signed a collaborative agreement with the goal of supporting companies in the implementation of due diligence by consistent sustainability requirements.
Esprit has wide-ranging remit encompasses every aspect of the implementation of sustainable practices in the textile supply chain, is the first fashion brand to become an associated member of the initiatives. The partnership stated member organisations will work together on projects to improve working conditions in high-risk areas, facilitate the sharing of industry knowledge and encourage co-operation between producers, governments, trade unions and NGOs.
Existing members are eligible to become affiliated to the partner organisation, upon fulfilling certain criteria. Members of the German Textiles Partnership have to submit a list of their production locations of direct suppliers to the Dutch secretariat to join the Dutch AGT, they must accept being subject to AGT complaint mechanism for third parties. Members of the Dutch AGT must publish their action plans and progress reports on the website of the German Partnership for an associated membership to the German Textiles Partnership.
China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is looking for closer ties in economic and other areas with Indonesia as well as ASEAN under the Hong Kong-ASEAN free trade agreement (FTA) and the Belt and Road Initiative.
According to Yau Tang-wah secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Indonesia is a very big business partner with Hong Kong and a market ad it is a very important mission for Hong Kong, the delegation "highlighted the tremendous potential for growth of this bilateral relationship as Indonesia continues to prosper, and Hong Kong serves as the regional hub for this region, in particular, for Indonesia.
He also pointed out that with the signing of the FTA between Hong Kong and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Hong Kong is serving a greater role as a service hub, in particular for professional services, between ASEAN and other parts of the world.
The textile and clothing industry is one of the most important manufacturing industries in Asean countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Kampuchea, Burma and Thailand. They have a strong compatibility with China and are close neighbors. With the implementation of preferential tariff policy, Vietnam's clothing exports to the EU will increase significantly. Vietnam's clothing, textile and leather shoes industries will benefit from the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership agreement.
Garments produced by Cambodia are mainly exported to the United States and the European Union. Of the more than 200 textiles and garment enterprises in Cambodia, more than 80 per cent are from China. Indonesia’s exports of clothing account for about 70 per cent of the country’s total exports. Although the country’s textiles exports increased five per cent in 2017, in 2018 growth is expected to slowdown.
In 2017, Malaysia’s silk trade was down 18.64 per cent. And import saw a 23.14 per cent year-on-year decline, export volume increased 2.37 per cent over the same period. Chinese and Asean enterprises in the textile industry have huge possibilities of cooperation. Textile parks of can be set up in Asean countries for development.
China’s apparel imports in 2017 increased 9.4 per cent. The main factor contributing to the increase was: increase in volume. The index of apparel imports was 115.9 while the import price index was 94.4. Imports of major categories of knitted and woven garments increased by 13.4 per cent while average import prices dropped by 4.3 per cent.
Textile imports increased 3.7 per cent, a growth in both volume and value. The import volume index was 100.5, and the import price index was 103.1. Imports of yarn and finished goods both increased by 6.2 per cent and imports of fabrics decreased by 1.3 per cent.
Decline in exports to the EU has narrowed and the impact of Brexit in the United Kingdom is expected to outweigh the disadvantages. Exports to the United States, Asean and Japan resumed growth.
The United Kingdom is an important export market for China’s textile and apparel, ranking fifth in terms of individual countries and the largest market in the 28 EU countries. In 2017, China’s exports to the United Kingdom accounted for four per cent of total global exports and 21 per cent of the exports to the EU.
Changing Goods and services tax (GST) rules, are affecting refunds, and procedural issues affect export from special economic zones (SEZs). The Export Promotion Council for Export Oriented Units & Special Economic Zones (EPCES) has listed a number of persisting procedural and regulatory obstacles. Vinay Sharma EPCES Chairman says there have been a staggering 367 changes to the GST rules till April 15, since the new tax structure came into being last year.
He further added one-size-fits-all policy, was not taking into account many ground realities. Arun Goyal, Special Secretary, GST Council, and Yogendra Garg, Additional DG, Directorate of GST, have been advised by businesses to let the use of regional languages during the generation of e-way bills.
The issue of pending GST refund from the central government have started flowing, those from state governments are still piling up, says Sharma. SEZ exporters say over 60 per cent of their refunds are stuck, severely reducing their working capital. According to official data, a total of Rs 176.16 billion has been disbursed by the government as refund till March. EPCES has suggested these zones be treated as deemed foreign territory for the purpose of the ‘place of supply’ rule under integrated GST regulations for services exports.
However, the 204 such zones saw 18 per cent increase in exports between 2016-17 and 2017-18. Software exports from SEZs alone rose 17 per cent. Combined exports from SEZs were Rs 5.5 trillion in 2017-18, from nearly Rs 4.7 trillion in 2016-17. There are also suggestions for faster processing of refund claims by suppliers.
