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Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel (Freudenberg Apparel) has launched its cutting-edge Film Bonding series, specifically designed for sew-free bonding applications. This advanced solution aims to enhance manufacturing efficiency and precision while providing durable, shape-retaining garments.
The Film Bonding series offers high-quality adhesive films, ensuring a strong shear bond and recovery, allowing garments to conform to body movements without losing shape. It eliminates bulky seams, giving fabrics a smooth finish. Available in tape form, the series accommodates various weights (90-220 grams per square meter) and includes thin options below 80micrometers. The series also offers thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) variants with different softness levels, making them ideal for stitch-free bonding on garments such as bras, briefs, vests, and leggings.
In addition to the Film Bonding series, Freudenberg has expanded its Net Bonding series by introducing an innovative oval net structure to its TPE polymer adhesives. This structure complements the existing Diamond and Hexagon patterns, providing more options for breathable and elastic garments. The Net Bonding solutions, ranging from 50-240 grams per square meter, are ideal for intimate and activewear, including leggings and sports bras.
Freudenberg continues to lead in bonding technology, optimizing fabric strength and elasticity while reducing the need for traditional stitching methods.
Zara plans to launch its ‘Pre-Owned’ platform for selling, repairing or donating second-hand clothes in the United States by Oct-end.
Zara has been operating its 'Pre-Owned' platform in 16 European countries, after it was launched in Britain in Nov’22.
The service is available through Zara stores, its website and an app in countries including Spain, France and Germany.
According to Oscar Garcia Maceiras, CEO, Inditex, the company’s online platforms are visited by over 22 million customers per day.
Zara also plans to launch live shopping shows in the US, as well as other key markets such as Spain, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Britain, Ireland and The Netherlands in the coming months. The brand’s sales getting a boostfrom the five -hour long live shopping shows in China and broadcast weekly on Douyin, TikTok's sister site in China, as per retail analytics firm Edited.
Other fast fashion retailers such as H&M also offer products for resale in the US. The brand sells secondhand items in the US via a stand-alone website in partnership with ThredUp.
A vertically integrated global textile leader, Himatsingka Seide plans to expand both its market presence and customer base in FY25 to align with the evolving market landscape.
Furthermore, Himatsingka also aims to maintain high standards of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) responsibility. The company will continue to maintain its leadership position in the home textiles sector by combining best-in-class innovation, flexibility and global client networks. It will also seek to de-leverage its balance sheet and optimise capital efficiency, says Shrikant, Himatsingka, Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director.
A specialist in the design, development, manufacturing, and distribution of a diverse range of textile products, Himatsinghka has four advanced manufacturing facilities along with some of the largest installed capacities in the world for bedding products, bath products, and cotton yarn.
Fiscal 2024 proved to be both rewarding and challenging for Himatsingka Seide as the company faced global macroeconomic headwinds while consolidating its operations. The company demonstrated remarkable resilience, driven by its strong business fundamentals, integrated manufacturing platforms, and commitment to innovation. Its consolidated revenues grew by 4 per cent to Rs 2,862.58 crore during the year while consolidated EBITDA increased by 78.40 per centto Rs 617.33 crores.
This growth was driven by a stable demand environment, enhanced capacity utilisation, and the easing of supply chain costs, notes Himatsingka. The company continues to focus on optimising operations further and reducing debt in FY 25.
From 2025, the Fall/Winter edition of Première Vision Paris has been shifted from its current schedule in July to mid-September.
Additionally, reacting to the increasing presence of Turkish and Asian exhibitors at Première Vision Paris, a number of Italian producers have opted to exhibit at trade shows in Italy instead of Paris,
Focusing on designer and luxury pre-collections, the Blossom showwill continue to be held twice a year, in early summer and December. Meanwhile, the future of the Fashion Rendezvous event, which is not on this year's calendar, is still under consideration. The organisers aim to ensure that each event is held at the most appropriate time for the industry.
This date change aligns with the new ownership and leadership structure of Première Vision’. In February 2023, GL Events, which previously held a 49 per cent stake in Première Vision, acquired full ownership of the trade show. A year later, Florence Rousson, Managing Director, GL Events was appointed President, Executive Committee, Première Visionwith the mandate to revamp the 11 trade events the company regularly organises across Europe, Asia, and North America.
In 2025, Première Vision Paris will be held on Feb 11-13, followed by a second session on Sep 16-18. Held from July 2-4, 2024, the most recent edition of the event featured 930 exhibitors and attracted visitors from around 8,000 companies.
Cotton prices in India are increasing continuously due to an acute shortage in the market. This season, cotton prices have increased by 3 percent above the Minimum Support Price (MSP), with experts predicting further increases in the near future.
The price hike is being driven by several factors including a decline in cotton cultivation by 11 lakh hectare in the current Kharif season. A significant damage caused to the cotton due to heavy rains in key cotton-producing states like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh is another factor driving this price rise. Additionally, cotton sowing in Punjab has also reduced compared to last year.
Last season, farmers faced heavy losses due to a caterpillar pest outbreak that severely impacted cotton yields, making it difficult for them to recover production costs. This has disheartened many farmers from cotton cultivation this year, leading to a noticeable decrease in sowing.
According to the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, by Sep 2, 2024, cotton cultivation across India declined to 111.74 lakh hectarefrom 123.11 lakh hectare recorded last year.
Cotton prices are rising sharply in the wholesale markets. In Surat and Rajkot, the average cotton priceshave reached between Rs 7,525 and Rs 7,715 per quintal. In Amreli Mandi, cotton is priced at Rs 7,450 per quintal, while in Chitradurga Mandi, the maximum price has touched Rs 12,222 per quintal.
The central government has raised the MSP for cotton by Rs 501 for the 2024-25 Season. The MSP now stands at Rs 7,121 per quintal for the medium staple category and Rs 7,521 per quintal for the long staple category.
Currently, the average market price for cotton exceeds MSP by Rs 300-400. With this gap further widening, cotton prices are likely to increase even further, creating new challenges for both farmers and the market.
Held in Samarkhad, Uzbekistan, the ITMF Annual Conference and the IAF World Fashion Convention showcased the transformative potential of Uzbekistan’s textile and apparel (T&A) industry.
The event brought together leading Uzbek textile manufacturers, international investors, and representatives from public and regulatory bodies to discuss the sector’s future.
Focusing on the theme, ‘Innovation, Cooperation and Regulation-Drivers of the Textile and Apparel Industry, the ITMF Annual Conference and IAF Fashion Convention 2024attracted over 500 industry experts. The event explored the future of textiles, showcased cutting-edge innovations, and stressed the importance of global collaboration.
From January to July this year, Uzbekistan exported textiles worth over $1.7 billion to 85 countries. It plans to triple this figure to $6.5 billion by 2026. Driven by recent reforms and modernisation efforts, Uzbekistan’s textile industry has made significant strides. A few of the industry’s key milestones include the establishment of cotton-textile clusters in 2017 and the lifting of the cotton boycott in 2022, aligning the industry with global standards. Uzbekistan’s participation in initiatives such as the Better Cotton Initiative and the Better Work program has further boosted its international export capabilities.
Government support has played a crucial role in attracting foreign investment in Uzbekistan. Kihak Sung, Chairman, Youngone Corporation, highlighted his company’s success in the country including a $55 million investment and the creation of over 5,000 jobs.
Taking note of Uzbekistan’s rising influence in the textile industry, Karim Shafei, International Partner, Gherzi Textil Organisation, emphasisedon the country’s potential to disrupt the global market. Mirmukhsin Sultanov, Acting Chairman, Uztextileprom, highlighted the country’s goal to reach $10 billion in textile exports by 2030 and its focus on technology, innovation, and sustainability.
A global trade association, the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) promotes collaboration and communication among textile manufacturers to support industry growth and sustainability. The International Apparel Federation (IAF) is the leading global association for the apparel industry, fostering international cooperation and dialogue to drive development.
Sohail Pasha has been unequivocally elected as the new Chairman of the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) while Mahmood Ahmad and Ameer Ahmed assumed their roles as the new Senior Vice Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively. The Executive Committee of PTEA elected twenty-four members for the upcoming two-year term.
Muhammad Idrees, Vice Chairman, PTEA, affirmed, working diligently, the new members would help enhance the association’s performance and advocate for the textile industry’s growth. The association needs to lobby for innovations solutions to maintain the viability of the textile sector in Pakistan, he emphasised.
With over 30 years of industry, Pasha is aProfessional Management Executive engaged with Riaz Enterprises. He is also an active contributor to various charitable, health, and educational institutions.
Acknowledging the challenges of leading the association during difficult times, Pasha emphasised on the urgent need to introduce remedial measures for addressing the high cost of doing business and regional production disadvantages. He urged both the sector and value-added associations to come together to overcome the economic challenges.
The newly elected team will officially assume their roles on Oct 01, 2024.
Glo-Djigbe Industrial Zone (GDIZ) has made its first export of ‘Made in Benin’ ready-to-wear clothing for the American brand US Polo Assn. The shipment, produced in partnership with Incom SPA, is destined for the European market, particularly Italy. US Polo Assn is a globally recognized brand offering a variety of apparel and accessories in over 130 countries.
This milestone marks a significant integration of GDIZ into global supply chains. The partnership with Incom S P A is expected to yield over a million pieces of clothing in the coming years. The initial shipment includes hooded sweatshirts, polos, and T-shirts, all crafted to US Polo Assn's stringent quality standards.
GDIZ has already supplied major international brands like The Children’s Place and KIABI, reinforcing its status as a growing textile hub in Africa.
Letondji Beheton, Managing Director of Societed' Investissementet de Promotion de l' Industrie (SIPI-Benin), called the export a proud moment for GDIZ and Benin, showcasing the country’s ability to produce world-class textiles. Francesco Gozzini, Production Director of Incom Italy, praised the partnership, highlighting the craftsmanship and attention to detail present in Benin’s textile industry, which aligns with Incom’s commitment to quality.
This export emphasizes GDIZ’s expanding role in the global ready-to-wear industry.
The fashion industry's environmental impact is undeniable, with tons of textile waste ending up in landfills each year. For example, the global fashion industry produces an estimated 92 million tons of textile waste annually. Less than 1 per cent of clothing is recycled into new clothing, highlighting the vast untapped potential for textile recycling. Recycling textiles can save significant amounts of water, energy, and resources compared to producing new garments. To combat the growing problem, governments and organizations worldwide are implementing innovative regulations to shift the industry towards a circular model, where garments are recycled instead of discarded.
EU leads the way
The EU has emerged as a frontrunner in textile recycling regulations, with its Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles aiming to make textile products more durable, repairable, reusable, and recyclable. By 2025, the EU will require separate collection of textile waste, paving the way for increased recycling rates. The strategy also encourages eco-design practices and aims to curb the release of microplastics from textiles. France has already implemented its Anti-Waste Law for a Circular Economy, which includes Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles. Under EPR, producers are financially responsible for the end-of-life management of their products, incentivizing them to design for recyclability.
US taking action
In the US, legislation on textile recycling is gaining momentum. Several states have introduced bills aimed at reducing textile waste and promoting circularity. California, known for its environmental leadership, passed the Textile Recovery Act of 2023. This law establishes an EPR program for textiles, requiring producers to finance and manage the collection and recycling of their products. It also sets targets for increasing textile recycling rates, with the aim of diverting 75 per cent of textile waste from landfills by 2030.
New York is also taking steps to address textile waste. The Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act, introduced in 2022, aims to hold large fashion companies accountable for their environmental and social impact. It requires them to disclose their supply chain and set targets for reducing their carbon footprint, water use, and waste generation.
Other countries in the lead
Sweden: Offers tax breaks for clothing repairs and incentivizes reuse and recycling through its EPR system for textiles.
Japan: Promotes textile recycling through its Act on the Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging, which includes provisions for textile waste management.
Australia: The National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme aims to establish a nationwide EPR system for clothing and textiles, promoting recycling and responsible waste management.
Impact on industry
The impact of these new laws and regulations is already being felt. In France, the ban on destroying unsold textiles has led to a 40 per cent increase in textile recycling in just one year. In California, the Textile Recovery Act is expected to create thousands of new jobs in the recycling sector and divert millions of tons of textiles from landfills.
Companies too are also responding to the changing regulatory landscape. Several major fashion brands have launched take-back programs, allowing customers to return old clothes for recycling. Some companies are even experimenting with innovative recycling technologies, such as chemical recycling, which can break down textiles into their original building blocks for reuse. For example, Patagonia's Worn Wear program encourages customers to repair, trade in, or recycle their old garments. The Renewal Workshop partners with brands to renew and resell damaged or returned items, extending their lifecycle. These initiatives showcase the potential for circular business models within the fashion industry.
Indeed, while regulations are essential, the textile recycling industry faces challenges, including the complexity of textile blends, the need for advanced recycling technologies, and the lack of consumer awareness. However, the growing momentum for sustainable practices and the increasing pressure on the fashion industry to reduce its environmental impact suggest a promising future for textile recycling. As more countries and companies embrace circular models, we can expect to see a significant shift toward a more sustainable and responsible fashion industry.
Allied Feather + Down and Nemo equipment have joined forces to create a more sustainable future for down insulation. Allied, a global leader in ethically sourced and recycled down, is supplying it’s down to Nemo'sendless promise sleeping bag collection, which recently won the Good Design sustainability award.
The Disco and Riff down sleeping bags are designed to be fully recyclable. At the end of their lifespan, they can be returned to Allied, where the down insulation will be removed, cleaned, and recycled into Renu:Trace. This innovative program is the world's first and only fully traceable recycled down offering.
Allied's partnership with Nemo is a major step towards creating a circular economy for down. Daniel Uretsky, Allied's President, stated that down is one of the most sustainable insulations because it is recyclable and biodegradable. He also emphasized that Renu:Trace guarantees that recycled down is fully traceable and ethically sourced.
Allied's commitment to ethical sourcing and traceability is unwavering. Every down feather is traced back to its region of origin, guaranteeing that it comes from ethical sources. The Renu:Trace program is a game-changer, as it allows brands to focus on both post-consumer recycled material and ethically treated animals. While Nemo is the first to participate, the program is open to all of Allied's partner brands.
