FW
The 23rd Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF-2018) ended with spot export orders valued at around Tk 1.60 billion. The fair also sold items valued at around Tk 87 crore. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed announced the data of the export orders and sales at the DITF-2018 concluding programme held at Sher-e Bangla Nagar fair ground
He said the trade fair this year was more successful than the previous years with a massive response from visitors. He also said Bangladesh started export in 1972 with $348 million which toched $34.84 billion in 2016-2017 fiscal and in the current fiscal it will be about $37.50 billion. The government’s export target was $50 billion worth of products and services by 2021, he added.
Ahmed also informed the government has been constructing a permanent exhibition venue at Purbachal in a 35 acres of land with a budget of Tk 500 crore which will host trade fairs in near future. The commerce secretary reported global export has seen a 10-fold increase since 1970.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh's export reached $34.84 billion in 2016 as against $348 million 1972, a 100-fold increase. The government has been helping the country's business community with business-friendly export and import policy order. FBCCI President Mohiuddin said exhibitors especially furniture, electronics, ceramics and leather displayed a wide range of diversified products in the international trade fair.
Swadhinata Parishad, the newly-floated panel during the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) election, has threatened to take legal action against the decision to extend the tenure of the current executive board by another year. Md Jahangir Alam, convener of the Swadhinata Parishad said the extension is not legal because it was done post the announcement of election schedule. “If necessary, we will go for legal remedy in the court so that the BGMEA is bound to hold election and not resort to illegal time extension or selection of any particular body for BGMEA executive body,” he said at a press conference held at the capital's La Vinci Hotel.
The election was scheduled to for March 7, but the commerce ministry quickly extended the tenure of the current board of the BGMEA by another year using three excuses, Alam said. The reasons for the extension were: Implementation of the new wage board for garment workers; demolition of the BGMEA building; and the general election.
The extension was not needed for those causes. The extension was also not made following rules. The current board members needed to call an extraordinary general meeting — which was also not done. BGMEA members get to elect the executive board for a two-year term. The tenure of the past two executive boards was extended by six months for extraordinary circumstances: The Rana Plaza collapse and the issue of demolition of the BGMEA headquarters in Dhaka.
Macy's is the latest mass retail company to introduce merchandise that caters to Muslim consumers. The department store chain has announced that it's teaming up with Verona Collection, a modest clothing brand cofounded by Lisa Vogl and Alaa Ammuss, to stock a selection of dresses, pants, cardigans, tops, and hijabs.
The partnership stemmed from the retailer's The Workshop at Macy’s initiative, which aims to foster and support minority- and women-owned businesses into potential future retail partners. Retailers like DKNY have released one-off collections during the month of Ramadan and Eid. Even luxury major Dolce & Gabbana designed headscarves and coordinated abayas from their signature fabrics. Most collections however, target Muslim customers in the burgeoning Middle Eastern markets, where a young and growing middle class includes fashion-forward, luxury consumers.
Starting on February 15, shoppers will be able to shop an edit of Verona Collection's ready-to-wear piece.
Tehctextil Russia, an international trade fair for technical textiles, nonwovens and protective clothing, will be on from March 2- to 23, 2018 in Moscow. The expo is slated to be one of the year’s biggest highlights in Russia and Eastern Europe.
The Russian technical textiles industry is now seeing strong growth following a significant increase in project finance and support from foreign and domestic large-scale investors. Technical textiles and equipment for its production remain the major factor in development of Russian textiles industry.
The textiles industry was getting government support, at both regional and federal levels, innovative materials were developed and improved, a number of new plants were launched which had a healthy impact on Russian market. Rosstat reports production of synthetic yarn in 2017 grew 12.4 per cent, fabrics by 11.1 per cent of which 25.9 per cent were synthetic fibres and threads, 3.5 per cent were nonwoven fabrics. In addition, the output of fabric with PVC coating increased by 19.6 per cent.
Organisers explain, “All these factors once again confirm the necessity and significance of holding such event as Techtextil Russia on an annual basis.” In 2018, four top events will be once again co-located at the Expo centre fairgrounds within the Russian Textile Week. These include Techtextil Russia, Inlegmash, an international exhibition for textile manufacturing and processing, Interfabric, an international exhibition of fabric and textile materials and an international forum Legpromforum-2018.
The fifth edition of Legpromforum-2018 will among others host a symposium on technical textiles. Techtextil Russia is also developing a specialised programme which will discuss key market challenges and prospects, as well as industry trends and updates for the development of technical textiles and nonwovens in various applications.
Vietnam’s ministry of industry and trade has reported the country imported 1,40,000 tons of cotton valued at $244 million this January, up 49.7 per cent in volume and 51.1 per cent in value in January 2017. Economists say Vietnam, whose yarn industry is dependent on imported cotton, has been increasingly importing larger volumes of cotton in recent years to feed its growing textile and garment production and export — its biggest cotton import is from the US followed by India, Australia, Brazil and Cote d'Ivoire.
Vietnam's cotton import surged from 1,50,000 tons in 2005 to nearly 1.3 million tons in 2017. Last year, the country spent over $2.3 billion in importing cotton, a year-on-year rise of 41.2 per cent. Vietnam gained a bonanza of $2.3 billion from exporting garments and textiles in January, up 7.6 per cent on-year, mainly to the US, the EU, Japan and South Korea. The ministry noted the country's garment and textile export turnovers were over $25.9 billion last year, up 8.8 per cent.
Fast-fashion retailer Zara is in trouble again. While the brand is testing its first click-and-click concept store in London’s Westfield shopping center, it's also facing criticism for selling a check mini skirt which some shoppers believe rips off a lungi, typically worn by men in countries like Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Somaliland, Nepal, Cambodia, Djibouti, Myanmar, and Thailand; regions where it gets a bit too hot to wear pants for long hours at a time.
The brand is accused of appropriating the South Asian fashion without accrediting its inspiration. London-based English daily The Telegraph notes a lungi is a “grandpa’s uniform,” and typically wouldn’t ever cost the financial equivalent of $89.90. For the record, Zara has also been in hot water for selling a children’s shirt that resembled concentration camp uniforms in 2014, and most recently, a denim skirt with Pepe the Frog on it, now a symbol of the alt-right movement.
The Government of Uzbekistan recently issued a resolution on measures to introduce modern forms of cotton and textile production.
This is a part of an experiment involving 13 enterprises beginning with the cotton crop this year, domestic textile enterprises can directly order and make advance payment to farmers and producers for producing cotton.
A business news portal in the country reported that thirteen enterprises have been permitted to participate in this experiment.
The enterprises will be subject to certain restrictions provided for farmers on acquisition of agricultural machinery in leasing, supply of mineral fertilisers, seed, fuel and lubricants, chemical protection products of plants and other material resources.
Cotton fibre, produced for its own needs within the cotton-textile production, is certified on a voluntary basis in the country. In general, cotton fibre is subject to mandatory certification.
The resolution permitted banks to lend cotton producers and textile manufacturers in 2018 and approved financing schemes by enterprises for farmers.
UBM Fashion is partnering mmode, the Montreal Metropolitan Fashion Industry Cluster, at Magic Las Vegas, bringing over 60 Montreal fashion industry companies and brands to UBM Fashion’s largest marketplace from February 12 to 14 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
The February show marks the first time the two organizations are partnering, in their mission to champion and showcase Canada’s top fashion city. The Montreal Style Gallery at MAGIC brands will join the over 4,000 exhibitors, and some 58,000 international visitors with a devoted neighborhood located at the heart of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The prominent showcase of Québec-based companies will span 1,200 sq. ft. of the show floor welcoming attendees to connect, discover, and interact with brands FW’18 collections spanning women swear, menswear, footwear, furs, outerwear, denim, active wear, children’s, accessories and more.
Montreal is one of the top-three North American leaders in clothing manufacturing, alongside Los Angeles and New York. With more than 1,850 players, including manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors and creators, it is a strategic pillar of Quebec’s economy, generating more than 83,000 jobs. Montreal’s fashion industry benefits from cultural and linguistic diversity, a quality workforce, a dynamic education system, a strategic geographical position, and a thriving design and creative community.
British brand Paul Smith is slowly getting back on its feet. The company has recorded a 3.5 per cent increase in revenue to £185 million for the year up to June 30, while profits before exceptional items increased by 45 per cent to £5.7 million. The results come after a year of restructuring following an 8 per cent decrease in full-year revenue in the previous year.
The high-end clothing company spent most of 2017 carrying out restructuring measures and strengthening its two product lines Paul Smith and PS Paul Smith. Retail sales for the year increased 11 per cent overall and 3 per cent on a like-for-like basis, reflecting the closure of the Paul Smith Fifth Avenue store in New York in January 2016 and the relocation of the Paul Smith flagship store in Paris in September 2016.
However, extraordinary items and the continued restructuring sent the brand’s profit for the year tumbling by 74 per cent from £7.8 million to £2.1 million. As per the company its retail performance continued to improve since year end, with season to date sales for the AW 17 season up 18 per cent, or 11 per cent on a like-for-like basis.
And whilst wholesale sale decreased 11 per cent to £74.1 million in 2017, hit by weak demand in the UK, France, Russia and Asia, wholesale forward orders for SS 18 were up 7 per cent on the previous Spring Summer season. Paul Smith has stores in London, Paris, Milan, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea and the UAE.
The 8th edition of the International Apparel and Textile Fair (IATF) is due to take place during 24th to 26th April 2018.
The November 2017 edition was inaugurated by H.E Butti Al Ghandi, Board of Director of the Dubai World Trade Centre at Hall 6, Dubai World Trade Centre.
With more than 140 exhibitors from various countries around the world, IATF has once again proven its claim as UAEs exclusive sourcing fair for textiles and clothing.
IATF provides a platform to manufacturers and their agents to showcase their collection to the most influential buyers and designers in the MENA region.
The event also, offers buyers, distributors and designers the opportunity to view an extensive range of textiles from big branded mills in the world of fashion and design.
IATF attracts some of the world’s largest manufacturers of fabrics and leading print design studios. Exhibitors mainly from India, the UK, China, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, Hong Kong, Thailand and other countries are sprucing up their act for the Spring/Summer April 2018 edition. The expo saw exclusive pavilions from India, China and Taiwan.
The Federation of Indian Exports Organisations brought 50 exhibitors from India who displayed their extensive collections in the Indian pavilion which was inaugurated by Vipul, Consul General of India. A Sakthivel, Regional Chairman, FIEO Southern Region and leader of the Delegation said that India and UAE need to work together in the textiles segment to promote high quality and fashion clothing industry which can be promoted not only in the West Asia and West African region but also in other developed countries, including the EU and the US from Dubai.
The platform was also used to conduct various workshops on hot industry trends such as 3D printing and embroidery using state of the art machines.
