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Innovate Textile and Apparel (ITA) in Singapore scheduled for May 2020 has been called due to the Coronavirus. A virtual conference will be held instead. Delegates will have access to the scheduled presentations through internet-connected devices, allowing them to experience some of the show’s educational resources remotely. About 23 presentations will be recorded in advance and linked to presentation slides. There will also be an opportunity to pose questions to presenters during virtual networking events. The online event will give attendees the opportunity to access all presentations in one go. They can watch presentations at their own pace with no extra cost of travel or accommodation; the virtual format aims to provide all the functionality of the in-person event including the networking. The event’s programming will focus on emerging manufacturing technologies, material innovations and business models that are set to deliver the next wave of opportunity for the global textile and apparel manufacturing community.
Registrants will be able to stream presentations on topics including blockchain, supply chain efficiency, the digitally connected circular economy, 3D design and development and digital inspections. Those who are interested in the materials offerings can partake in presentations covering the future of smart textiles, e-textiles, product development processes for smart garments and more.
The denim jeans market worldwide is growing by 4.3 per cent. Within Europe, Germany will add to the region’s size and clout in the next five or six years. In Japan, denim jeans have a significant market size. As the world’s second largest economy, and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 6.8 per cent over the next couple of years.
The US market is growing 3.4 per cent. Denim brands in the US are figuring out how to appeal to Gen Z. These are consumers born since 1996. They account for 40 per cent of all US consumers. Shapeless T-shirts, sweatshirts, dresses and other low-key staples like denim appeal to Gen Z because they’re effortless and without pretense, which is exactly what they aspire to be. Most of consumers prefer their denim jeans be made of 100 per cent cotton or cotton blends. Vintage vibes delivered in lighter weights is just what the younger set prefers. Even though these young consumers spend the least on their denim, Gen Z shoppers say price isn’t the most important factor when they buy new jeans. Rather, they put a higher value on fit, comfort and quality.
National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) is a Washington, DC, USA based trade association that represents domestic textile manufacturers, including artificial and synthetic filament and fiber producers.
NCTO President and CEO, Kim Glas issued the following statement on the industry’s response to the coronavirus crisis.
The coronavirus has impacted Asian textile and apparel manufacturing productivity and output, and our concerns lie with the affected companies and workers during this terrible crisis.
The U.S. textile industry continues to be ready, able, and willing to help in any way possible. Our industries have been in touch with U.S. government officials to help identify key U.S. textile suppliers to provide surgical masks and other items to help contain the spread of the coronavirus. In addition, several companies have donated much-needed medical textile supplies and other sanitary items to help address this outbreak.
Given the uncertainty in the market as a result of the coronavirus, many textile and apparel sourcing executives are seeking alternatives outside of Asia. We stand ready to assist brands and retailers looking to shift sourcing during this uncertain time. The western hemisphere production platform established under our free trade agreements and trade preference programs provides a sound alternative as companies look to diversify their sourcing. The region has immediate capacity to meet worldwide demands with duty-free access through well-established supply chains.
Whether this terrible crisis lasts days, months, or longer – our member companies are ready and willing to help.
As the doors close on a successful AW20 season at Moda, the heart of UK fashion and the National Footwear Show, its organisers Hyve Group plc have committed to the show’s long-term future at the NEC Birmingham securing future dates which are aligned with all of its key sector buying calendars.
Adam Gough, Event Director at Moda said; “Following this season’s date clash with Micam and change of dates, we felt the industry needed a clear commitment from Moda to a long-term future that works effectively for the majority. Moda is one of the UK’s longest standing fashion trade shows, with a massive 59% of visitors attending the show for over 20 years, so we’re really pleased to return to our traditional date line from SS21. Despite local and global turbulence in the market, Moda plans to stand strong acting as a bridge between the UK, the EU, and the rest of the world. All of the team will continue to strive to provide the best possible platform for our exhibitors and experience for our visitors.”
Designed to bring the entire fashion community together, the new look Moda layout saw the show’s
Neighbourhoods brought to life. Moda Woman showcased the best of womenswear including occasionwear, ready-to-wear, and young fashion. Moda Accessories will be refreshed for SS21 with an exciting line-up of leading accessories, jewellery and lifestyle brands. Moda Boutique, the new premium edit was a big hit amongst buyers and will return for SS21. Moda Footwear saw the UK’s largest gathering of footwear brands with a comprehensive edit of contemporary, classic, sport, and fashion footwear. Little Soles launched this season and was a hit with children’s footwear buyers. For SS21, Moda Made will align the entire footwear supply chain bringing suppliers and manufacturers together with brands and buyers.
Dedicated Speed Networking sessions over the three days saw over 2000 meetings and introductions between brands and buyers facilitating new relationships. An exciting new buyer initiative for the AW20 season included The Club which brought relevant buyers with strong buying power to the show.
Moda SS21 will take place on the 2nd – 4th August at the NEC Birmingham, offering the industry the ultimate environment for buying, networking, trends, and inspiration.
Featuring the innovative ISKO’s R-TWO program, the Reloved collection has a new take on sustainability: it relies on fabrics made of reused and recycled materials as well as an advanced design research for the development of a new, conscious style.
Sustainability through the use of highly responsible materials and the experimentation of fits: this is Reloved, the new collection developed by Haikure in partnership with leading denim ingredient brand ISKO. Presented with an exclusive preview during Milan Fashion Week, it is an act of love for the planet, the environment and the people. The project perfectly embodies all the values that made the longstanding partnership between the two brands possible – a responsible approach to innovation and the development of cutting-edge concepts.
Taking into account both materials and design, Reloved features the pioneering ISKO’s R-TWO program, which
relies on a blend of reused cotton and recycled polyester. During the processing of raw cotton into yarn, for every 100 kilos of cotton approximately 10% is lost. ISKO collects it and prevents it from becoming waste, adding it back into the spinning process obtaining cotton that is fully traced, documented and audited. This verification process has been invented by ISKO in partnership with its yarn supplier Sanko, offering full clarity into the traceability of reused cotton from field to fabric. It is also certified with the Content Claim Standard – or CCS – of the Textile Exchange.
Recycled polyester comes from clear plastic bottles or, alternatively, it can come from other certified waste: in either case the source material is collected, sorted, stripped of labels and caps, and cleaned to be ground into plastic pellets. These can then be re-spun into new fiber filaments. Depending on the content percentages, for the recycled polyester ISKO can provide either the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certifications, both of which track the recycled raw material through the supply chain from input to final product to verify its integrity. Designed to tackle over-sourcing, the platform improves the environmental performance impact of yarn-to-fabric production. As ISKO’s latest responsible evolution, ISKO’s latest responsible evolution has resulted also in the perfect solution to enhance the responsible character of the Reloved collection.
The collection’s fresh and innovative take on style combines unisex concepts and oversized fits, is available in one shade of color featuring a variety of prints and is crafted with the planet and its inhabitants in mind. To provide full clarity and traceability from field to shelf, materials and processes are kept under the control of Made By, an independent agency that controls the social and environmental conditions of all elements of the production process. “Haikure and ISKO have always shared the same values and approach to innovation,” explained Elena Faleschini, ISKO Global Field Marketing Manager. “Reloved is a testament to how fashion can be both innovative and responsible, without compromising on style.”
The Amae collection perfectly embodies the combination of high-end looks with a sustainable vision, delivering effortless and stylish garments. It celebrates women’s natural shape enhancing it with Haikure’s delicate designs and ISKO premium denim. Amae – the Italian brand’s latest collection and the latest chapter in the longstanding partnership between Haikure and ISKO – is inspired by the idea of “taking care”.
Aiming at promoting the value of Responsible Innovation, the collection delivers high-end contemporary looks resulting from the shared commitment to provide remarkable innovation while fostering a mindful approach in the fashion and denim industries.
ISKO, pioneer of responsibility and the first denim mill in the world awarded both the prestigious EU Ecolabel
and Nordic Swan Ecolabel, supported the project providing Amae with responsible ingredients to shape its neat looks.
Clean and minimal, the garments feature ISKO Pj Soft which, like a gentle embrace, grants the skin a silky touch and a soft feel. Responsibly produced according to ISKO’s holistic vision based on creativity, competence and citizenship, this light and soft fabric molds and moves with the wearer, providing an all-round flattering silhouette and comfortable fit that never feel restrictive.
As part of ISKO’s 25,000+ products, this textile concept also has a certified Environmental Product Declaration (EPDs) for its Life Cycle Assessment (LCAs), ensuring a full transparency about its environmental impact by providing the water usage and carbon footprint of 1 square meter of fabric.
As signatory member of ZDHC Foundation, ISKO also avoids harmful substances and hazardous chemicals in its entire production chain, resulting in safer denim that are good for both people and the planet. Presenting three different washes – regular and stone wash, as well as dyed, this fashionable and responsible collection will be available in Italy, Spain and Germany.
The outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID 19) in China will undoubtedly weaken demand for imported yarn. At present, weavers in various regions are slowly returning to work, especially large-scaled ones, but the small and medium-sized are still shut down. Although spinners in various regions have announced plans to resume work, there are still restrictions on transportation and delivery delays. Downstream weavers have not yet fully resumed work. The stagnation of logistics has led to the accumulation of goods by traders. In addition, the market demand is uncertain. Trading will be thin for some time. Domestic traders plan to quote up after the holidays. At the same time, with reference to international cotton and cotton yarn prices and exchange rates, imported yarn prices may continue to be weak.
The increase in forward imported yarn prices before the holidays was much larger than that in cotton prices, mainly due to China’s regular replenishment from Vietnam and Pakistan. Traders in Bangladesh and Egypt continued to purchase Indian yarn. Carded, combed and open-end yarn prices were weak this week. The profit of Vietnamese yarn mills fell after the holidays, and now it fluctuates near the breakeven level. For forward yarn suppliers, China’s stagnant procurement has been a problem.
Apparel sales in the US have been the slowest since March 2009 despite markdowns and promotions. Clothing stores sales dropped 3.1 per cent in January. One reason is that millennials are spending less on clothing. Another is that the heavy discounting that was done during the Christmas period caused lower interest in apparel in January. Fourth quarter sales are disappointing and earnings results are poor.
Retailers in the US have turned to secondhand clothing. They delight in selling secondhand clothes, denim, and markdowns. Macy’s now has 40 units with secondhand apparel, JC Penney has 30 secondhand shops, and Madewell has six shops with secondhand apparel.
Nordstrom’s resale shop is stocked with merchandise that has been returned by its customers. Each item is cleaned, refurbished, and sold at about half its original price. Gap will give gift certificates to customers who return goods for resale.
Stores promote a color by having all mannequins in the same fashion color. They back up the color with different styles and create interest among fashion conscious customers. So spring may have beautiful florals, in the fall earthy tones. Some of the ideas came from the leather shoes industry – some sneakers have graphics on them.
The EU has decided to withdraw one-fifth of the Everything But Arms (EBA) for Cambodia covering Cambodia’s exports of garment and footwear products, travel goods, and sugar. Without EBA, Cambodia will find it difficult to continue the necessary transformation of the textile industry. It will negatively impact future investments, as well as predictability and trust, two crucially important elements of a well-functioning industry. It will also make it difficult for Cambodia to create a modern and competitive industry, with a skilled workforce, and where labor rights are fully respected. With EBA gone, Cambodian products will be less competitive. Due to the tax which will be applied, Cambodian products in the EU market will cost more than those from other countries that still have EBA. Consumers will naturally opt for the cheaper product. In addition the economy will be hit by global challenges, including Covid-19, world security and external trade wars.
In response Cambodia is planning steps like creating jobs for those who may lose their jobs and encourage them to look for overseas jobs depending on their capacity; improving infrastructure and reducing unnecessary expenses for the private sector; and organising the budget so it can be spent effectively and efficiently.
Shima Seiki is developing a prototype weft knitting machine capable of multi¬axial insertion. Fabrics produced on the prototype machine use the inlay technique for the production of hybrid textiles that combine the stretch characteristics of knitted fabrics with the stability of woven textiles, suited to various technical applications. Warp insertion further expands the capability of the machine to produce 3D¬shaped carbon fiber and composite preforms directly on the machine. Shima Seiki’s own yarn unwinding technology is also used for optimum yarn feed and tension for use with technical yarns that are otherwise difficult to knit. Shima Seiki is a Japanese textile solution provider. The company’s fast, efficient and reliable P¬CAM series computerized cutting machines are known for their innovative functions and boast the largest market share in Japan. Strong, robust components permit quicker response times for knife movement and more accurate cutting of composites and other industrial materials.
The new SDS¬ONE Apex4 design system is the fourth generation of its series and the most powerful, most efficient Apex to date. Processing speeds for programming and simulation are improved by up to 600 per cent compared to the previous generation SDS¬ONE Apex3 for quicker response especially in virtual sampling.
