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With jump in sale of some Xinjiang manufacturers, foreign brands’ boycott of Xinjiang cotton has stoked patriotic fervor among Chinese consumers. A report by the Global Times says, the boycott has led to local Xinjiang companies stepping up efforts to introduce new techniques to improve the quality of Xinjiang cotton, and developing it into a global brand.
Replacing American cotton with local produce
The industry’s vision to develop Xinjiang cotton into a global brand was also supported by industry players attending the 2021 China International Cotton Conference in Suzhou. A sales representative from Shenzhen-based brand Purcotton said, since last year his firm has been replacing American imports with Xinjiang cotton.
Other domestic brands such as Lining, Anta and Helian Homes too have followed suit, leading to huge gains in their sales figures. At the shopping festival
held on June 18, sales of Lining and Anta on e-commerce platform Suning jumped 29 and 25 per cent respectively.
Towards mechanized production
Besides local governments, textile companies are also preparing to defend themselves against the US crackdown and boost domestic sales. Operator of 3,000,000 mu of cotton farms in the region, Xinjiang Shuifa Agriculture Co has announced plans to take its entire cotton farming, purchase, processing and sales process to a big data platform which would allow it to control the quality of its cotton produced.
Industry experts also recommend technological up gradation of cotton fields to improve the quality of cotton seeds and make Xinjiang cotton suitable for a more high-end market. Currently, around 95 per cent of cotton production in northern Xinjiang is mechanized while 85 per cent of cotton production in Southern Xinjiang is mechanized.
Nike is one of the most popular sportswear brands in the world. The brand’s popularity can be gauged from the fact that it is a favorite not just amongst buyers of new products but also shoppers seeking second-hand apparels and accessories. A recent survey by SaveOnEnergy of resale sites such as Depop, eBay, ASOS, Marketplace with 1.6 million listings reveals, Nike is by far the most resold brand in the world
Titled ‘Most Resold Fashion Brands,’ the SaveOnEnergy report examines the resale status of 60 of the world's most popular resale brands. This report, with 502,510 listings says, UK-based ‘PrettyLittleThing’ is one of the most resold brands in the world alongwith Boohoo and Misguided.
Gucci emerges the most resold brand overall
As per a reports by New Fashion Law, with 3,45,109 total listings across different platforms, the SaveOnEnergy report ranks Gucci as the most resold
brand overall. Gucci is also one of the most listed brands on the luxury resale platform Vestiaire Collective. It has 1,63,810 listings on the platform. Louis Vuitton with 125,361 listings stands second, followed by Prada (112,471 items listed), Chanel (100,084), Burberry (73,786), Dolce & Gabbana (69,716), Dior (64,626), Hermès (62,159), Zara (54,219), and Valentino (51,562).
The SaveOnEnergy report considers the number of listings each brand has on the Etsy platform. The list on this platform is topped by Nike followed by Virgil Abloh’s brand Off-White, Champion, Jordan, adidas, Gucci, Supreme, Dior, Chanel, and Ralph Lauren, which respectively make up the top ten.
Chanel refuses to join Etsy’s counterfeit bandwagon
Though Etsy rankings highlight brands having the most number of listings, most of the products on this platform are infringed and target counterfeit sellers. A recent search of Off-White products by TFL revealed unauthorized use of the Off-White trademark on various products ranging from $30 T-shirts to duplicate and cheaper versions of Jitney bags and key chains. The Etsy rankings also include other counterfeit and/or trademark infringing products such as fake Gucci bags and Supreme T-shirts and duplicate bra tops and short sets from Dior.
However, a brand that does not sell counterfeits on Etsy is Chanel. It had recently filed a trademark infringement and dilution, and unfair competition lawsuit against jewelry maker Shiver + Duke for selling costume jewelry made from upcyled ‘Chanel’ buttons. The suit is currently underway in a New York federal court. Edith Anne Hunt, Founder, Shiver + Duke claim, through this suit, Chanel aims to negate the First Sale Doctrine by involving a small company into expensive litigation in a foreign state despite its efforts to differentiate the counterfeit Chanel buttons in its jewelry range.
In April 2021, the number of orders received by VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies division increased 69 per cent in real terms compared to previous year. Orders from Germany increased 55 per cent and from abroad by as much as 80 per cent. In April, 158 per cent more orders came from the Euro countries, while non-Euro countries increased their orders by 22 per cent. Turnover also increased by 9.5 per cent compared to the previous year
In 2019, the Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies division exported machines worth €788 million, which was 9.5 per cent less than in 2019. Most of these machines were exported to Poland, followed by the US and France. Exports to Poland increased 69 per cent to €89 million in 2020, whereas exports to the United States decreased by 12 per cent to €77 million. Likewise, exports to France fell by 8 per cent to €68 million. Poland remained the most important export market in the first quarter of 2021, followed by France and the US. In particular, exports within the EU developed positively in the first quarter of 2021, increasing by 3 per cent to €90 million.
The VDMA has around 3,300 German and European mechanical engineering companies as its members. The association represents innovation, export orientation, medium-sized companies and employs around four million people in Europe, more than one million of them in Germany.
The Punjab government and stakeholders have announced an initiative to clean the Sutlej river. Launched by the Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) and The ReFashion Hub, the initiative involves promotion of wastewater reuse to address water contamination issue in the state.
This initiative is part of a nation-wide campaign launched along with the Alliance for Water Stewardship & YWater to raise awareness on wastewater reuse in the textile industry. CRB along with stakeholders and The Refashion Hub organized several consultations and meetings to gauge awareness on water reuse and wastewater treatment.
They found Ludhiana's textile industry consists of roughly 300 processing and dyeing units, which are in proximity to rivers and groundwater sources. The pollution of Sutlej river, especially from industrial and domestic sewage, has drawn much attention. Ludhiana is one of the key locations identified as the source of pollution. Of the 2,400 plus industrial units identified in Ludhiana, nearly 10 per cent belong to the dyeing units.
Denim brand Orta has launched a new collection that promotes bio-based modernity to close the loop in textile manufacturing. Known as the Scenic Route, the collection crafts each of its fabric with eco-consciousness. As per Sourcing Journal, the brand shares its handprint and traces the fibers journey from help farms to local waste cotton recycling partners, to promote transparency.
The Blu Narratives range in the collection is designed to evoke nostalgia with a modern-vintage character and ultimate eco-engineering. The fabrics and their names are inspired by cult classic cinema directors and their films that influenced the denim-clad subcultures and contemporary fashion of the time.
The Newtopia range explores the relationship between humans and nature, and embraces a new future with fabric names that echo the ‘Star Wars’ philosophy of ‘peace, wisdom and coming together for the greater good.’
Constructed with a new balance of indoor and outdoor worlds, Newtopia is a contrast of tough, durable fabrics that are still super-soft to touch. The “Rey” family of Zero-Max®, zero virgin cotton includes maximum shape retention capabilities designed to reinvent denim origins with a mix of Tencel™, Tencel Modal, pre-consumer recycled cotton and post-consumer recycled polyester.
Orta’s “Stay Colors” range is intense yet kind to the environment, with no color fading, less washing required and dynamic color depth retention. The ‘Obi Wan,’ ‘Padme,’ ‘Anakin’ and “Han” cashmere fabrics used in this collection offer eco-friendly mixed weaves aimed at amplifying everyday comfort and functionality with superlative retro-cool styles.
As per Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Pakistan’s textile group exports declined 20.45 per cent to $1.060 billion in May 2021compared to $1.332 billion during April 2021. On a yearly basis, Pakistan’s textile group exports increased by 41.14 percent on year-on-year basis to reach $1.060 billion in May 2021 compared to $751.124 million in May 2020.
The country’s textile group exports increased by 18.85 percent during the first 11 months (July-May) 2020-21 to reach $13.748 billion compared to $11.567 billion during the same period of last year. As per a Business Recorder reports, its raw cotton exports declined by 96.51 percent during the July-May 2020-21 period to $0.593 million compared to $17.002 million during the same period of last year.
Export of cotton yarn declined by.60 percent during July-May 2020-21to $896.034 million compared to $910.577 million during the same period of last year. During May 2021, cotton yarn exports declined by 29.84 percent to $72.084 million compared to $102.736 million during April 2021 and increased by 38.63 percent when compared to $51.997 million during the same month of last year.
Pakistan’s import of petroleum group products declined by 0.76 percent to reach $9.882 billion during July-May 2020-21 compared to $9.807 billion during the same period of last year. Its imports of petroleum group products increased by 262.46 percent to reach $1.184 billion in May 2021 compared to $326.75 million during May 2020.
Paris trade show Man/Woman has teamed up with Revolver Copenhagen International Fashion Trade Show, scheduled from August 11 to 13, 2021. As per a Spin Off report, both trade shows have partnered to host contemporary fashion designers and brands at a combined trade show in Copenhagen. In October 2020, the Man/Woman trade show had partnered Premiere Classe, Who’s Next and Impact in Paris due to the COVID-19 situation. It was earlier held as a stand-alone event at Place Vendôme in Paris and showcased about 300 brands.
Man/Woman trade shows are being held annually in Paris, New York & Tokyo since 2012. These trade shows are dedicated to building an arena of business for global apparel, accessories, and lifestyle brands to meet international buyers and press. Each event in these trade shows is unique as every city has its own energy creating a distinctive show, new relationships and new experiences every time. The upcoming edition is the 12th trade show that introduces brands to buyers ranging from large scale department stores to independent, off the beaten path boutiques.
With over 14,000 small and medium units, Ludhiana’s hosiery industry hopes for a revival with easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Punjab and other parts of the country. Punjab’s hosiery and textile sector has been facing huge losses since the last one and half months due to pandemic-induced lockdowns. However, with the reopening of economy and return of migrant workers, manufacturers expect the remaining three months to be good, says Sudershan Jain, President, Knitwear and Apparel Manufacturers Association of Ludhiana.
Ajay Nayyar, Owner, Silver Arc Mall, says, the extension of store timing till 8 pm will boost store traffic. Amit Thapar, Vice-Chairman, Punjab Chapter, CII, adds, the sector, which suffered nearly 30 per cent losses due to the lockdown is expected to recover soon.
In Q4 FY2020-21 ended March 31,2020, Welspun Enterprises posted a net profit of Rs 40.72 crore as against Rs 38.13 crore loss in the third quarter ended December 31, 2020.
The company reported total income of Rs.600.97 crores during the period ended March 31, 2021 as compared to Rs.465.09 crores during the period ended December 31, 2020. Its EPS grew to Rs.2.71 for the period ended March 31, 2021 as compared to Rs.2.54 for the period ended December 31, 2020.
On a year-on-year basis, Welspun posted a net profit of Rs 40.72 crore for the period ended March 31, 2021 as against a loss of Rs 88.59 during the period ended March 31, 2020. The company reported total income of Rs.600.97 crores during the period ended March 31, 2021 as compared to Rs.501.57 crores during the period ended March 31, 2020. Its EPS declined to Rs 2.71 for the period ended March 31, 2021 as compared to Rs.5.89 for the period ended March 31, 2020.
US Trade Representative’s (USTR) has ended a dispute over aircraft subsidies, suspending the five years retaliatory tariffs on clothes, shoes and fashion accessories imposed by the United States and the European Union (EU) as a result of that dispute.
This decision has been welcomed by the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) who has long argued that tariffs, especially those connected to unrelated disputes such as aircraft subsidies and digital services, are an ineffective tool in fostering resolution of trade frictions.
Apparel, footwear and travel goods, which are already some of the most heavily traded goods on the planet, have little ability to absorb additional tariff costs, especially in the face of skyrocketing logistics costs as we attempt to sustain a post-COVID recovery, AAFA said in a press release.
The United States and the EU on June 15 announced a cooperative framework to address the large civil aircraft disputes. The agreement moves away from past confrontation in pursuit of a cooperative future by suspending the tariffs related to this dispute for five years.
Both sides also agreed to clear principles, including their shared intent that any financing for the production or development of large civil aircraft on market terms.
