FW
China's exports of sewing machinery were up 9.26 per cent for the first eight months of 2014. Export of various sewing machines registered year-on-year growth, in which the export of industrial purpose automatic sewing machines, common household sewing machines and single-head embroidery machines registered high growth rates.
In the first eight months of this year, China’s export of spare parts for sewing machines was up 9.91 per cent and 18.02 per cent year-on-year. From January to August, China’s export of clothing machinery dropped moderately by 1.20 per cent in quantity terms but rose 16.22 per cent in value terms in which the export of ironing machine and pressing machine dropped significantly in terms of both quantity and value, while the export of stretching machine and cutting machine grew substantially.
In the fourth quarter of 2014, China’s export of sewing machinery will continue to face both opportunities and challenges. From the macro environment point of view, the situation of global trade will keep improving, and the steady growth of the domestic macro economy and the effect of policies will offer strong support to exports of the sewing machinery industry. However, there remain uncertainties in the recovery of global economy and the development of emerging economies will encounter more risks. Therefore, it is predicted that exports will remain steady in the fourth quarter but may be flat or drop slightly compared to the second and third quarters.
The eighth edition of Apparelsourcing Paris will commence from February 17 to 20, 2015. India, which is increasing its representation with more than 30 companies, experienced positive response at previous event held in September event. They were able to book orders and establish new contacts as buyers showed interest in more summer items in February. Indian manufacturers excel at the mid-range entry level with an offer which is becoming more and more varied, particularly in mixed casual wear, bottom pieces for men, women and children, sportswear and accessories such as scarves and bags in leather and re-embroidered fabrics, in which they are real craftsmen, targeting the top of the range.
The organisers expect year-on-year increase of 20 per cent in the number of exhibitors and 135 manufacturers are anticipated to display their products from the major manufacturing countries, including Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Turkey and the Mediterranean rim, represented by Tunisia.
At the fair, Apparelsourcing Paris will roll out a high-quality, multi-range offer, highlighting solutions for supporting the production of branded and designer collections. Launched in September 2012, Fashion on Display is another showcase made up of mannequins dressed in exhibitors’ pieces, selected from all the product ranges by the fair’s artistic directors. The selected exhibitors benefit from exposure to visitors who have made Fashion on Display part of their program, as pieces are displayed with all the relevant information.
www.apparelsourcing.messefrankfurt.com
Oeko-Tex has created a new certification for textiles that give priority to human ecology and that are additionally produced in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. The certificate is called Made in Green by Oeko-Tex. The Oeko-Tex association is based in Switzerland.
The Made in Green by Oeko-Tex label offers textile companies a tool for communicating to consumers about their commitment to sustainability directly on the product. Brand suppliers, manufacturers and retailers can have their production plants assessed, analysed and audited by Oeko-Tex institutes.
Using the given test number and a QR code, the textile and manufacturing process can be uniquely tracked. With the established Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and the latest range of Oeko-Tex services, the textile and garment industry now has at its disposal a complete up-to-date package which can specifically support companies on their path to improved product safety and sustainability.
The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is a globally uniform testing and certification system for textile raw materials, intermediate and end products at all stages of production. The certification covers multiple human-ecological attributes, including harmful substances which are prohibited or regulated by law, chemicals which are known to be harmful to health, but are not officially forbidden, and parameters which are included as a precautionary measure to safeguard health.
A tested textile product is allocated to one of the four Oeko-Tex product classes based on its intended use. The more intensively a product comes into contact with the skin, the stricter the human ecological requirements it must fulfill.
https://www.oeko-tex.com/
Invista has received an award for its outstanding achievement and constant pursuit of innovation and industry transformation. The Innovation Upgrade Award recognizes those companies that make outstanding contribution to corporate responsibility, environmental protection, sustainable development, and safe and reliable operations.
Invista is one of the world’s largest integrated producers of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibers. The company’s technologies for nylon, spandex and polyester are used to produce clothing, carpet, car parts and other products.
In March, the company broke new ground at its hexamethylene diamine (HMD) and nylon 6,6 polymer plants in China. Invista owns or licenses more than 1,000 patent families and has 75 years of expertise in nylon technologies in mainland China. In the past year, the company has also launched a carpet technology research and testing laboratory as well as an applied technology laboratory to support the automobile, performance apparel and home textile industries.
Invista has a plan to develop the Chinese nylon and polyurethane markets. The China Textile Research Center was established in 2012. The 2,15,000 ton HMD plant and the 1,50,000 ton polymer plant are expected to start in 2015 and 2016. Invista has manufacturing facilities in Qingpu and Foshan, and regional offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.
www.invista.com/en/index.html
Sympatex Technologies has won the Future Materials Award 2014. The winning product Sympatex Phaseable is especially suitable for high levels of physical effort during sports and outdoor activities. The laminate offers an intelligent climate regulation by using a dynamic thermal insulation.
The three-dimensional half-layer on the inside of the laminate only touches the skin punctually in the form of foam points. During the recovery phase of the athlete, an insulating air layer is created between the skin and the laminate. When physical activity is increased, moisture is produced, which lets the compact hydrophilic Sympatex membrane swell up. Thus, the foam points disappear, the distance to the skin is reduced, and the laminate gets closer to the skin. This offers a better moisture transport and breathability. In addition, the breathability increases during higher levels of physical activity due to the dynamic climate regulation.
There are also environmental benefits. As an ecological alternative among functional textile specialists, Sympatex doesn't use any solvents for its technology. The carbon footprint is also kept as low as possible.
Sympatex develops membranes, laminates and functional textiles as well as finished products. It is a pioneer for high-tech functional materials in clothing, footwear, accessories and technical fields of application.
www.sympatex.com/
Jeanologia has been continuously creating new technologies which help the industry in its eco sustainable initiative. One of the company’s latest developments is the light scraper. This is a new generation laser which creates effect on garments and designs patterns of the fabrics. The laser can create yarn effects on denim garment which seem to originate from the fabric structure.
For instance, if a normal OE denim fabric has been used to create a garment, then the light scraper can create different yarn patterns on the garment to give the looks like ring slub, cross hatch, multi count etc. So instead of just giving a washed look to the garment, the laser will also change the look of fabric structure, giving more options to manufacturers to design their garments and create value addition.
This is a new technology which can create hand sanding or a scraping look in the fabric. It is a complete revolution because from one fabric it is possible to have the look of several fabrics and for the first time the human hand can be eliminated completely.
Jeanologia has concentrated on five different kind of slub looks initially to be created on the garment.
www.jeanologia.com/
Vietnam's garment and textile export turnover is likely to increase 19 per cent over last year. This will be the largest increase in three years. The industry's efforts in the strategic direction of production, and increasing localisation, have helped increase competitiveness. To date, the sector has raised the localisation rate to more than 50 per cent.
The negotiation of free trade agreements has promoted the growth of the industry and is attracting orders from other countries. The next challenge for the sector will be the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which is expected to open up huge opportunities for Vietnam's garment and textile industry. However, companies will need to improve their productivity, quality, and competitiveness and invest in new technologies, machinery and innovation, in order to compete effectively.
Since the reunification of its northern and southern regions, Vietnam has become a strong player in the global textile market. The textile and apparel industry plays a major role in increasing the country's prosperity. The Vietnamese textile industry, with more than 3,800 companies, is leading the export sector. State-owned enterprises make up just 0.5 per cent of Vietnam's businesses and 75 per cent are joint stock or limited companies. The country ranks fifth worldwide in textile and apparel exports.
Bangladesh has set a target of reaching $50 billion in readymade garment exports by 2021. This is not unrealistic, given the potential and growth momentum of the sector over the years. But at the same time the setbacks triggered by the incidents of fire, factory collapse and labor unrest in recent years have cast an ominous shadow.
The situation prevailing now, reflects numerous difficulties and challenges that might have a multiplier negative effect on both production and exports. The readymade garment sector is the key contributor to the country's economy. Like other manufacturing sectors, it faces shortage of energy, skilled manpower and poor infrastructure, those that are equally challenging relate to wage and workplace safety constraints compounded by demands of labor unions and rights group activists.
Movement of cargo from factory sites to ports is extremely time-consuming. Producing goods for export has become expensive. Inspection of factories by Accord and Alliance, the EU and US-based retailer groups respectively, will require most factories to spend a lot to meet safety standards.
The sector needs a roadmap to negotiate ahead. Given that the basic infrastructure needs cannot be met overnight, efforts must be wholehearted to improve the situation as quickly as possible.
Kenya wants to make a mark in global textile segment. The government is trying to lure textile manufacturers with a new subsidy, this year slashing the cost of power. It’s believed the sector can create 3,00,000 jobs if given the push it needs to grab a larger slice of the global clothing market.
Global buyers are weighing Africa up against Bangladesh. The death of over 1,000 workers in a 2013 factory collapse in Bangladesh, are forcing them to re-evaluate their sourcing. Safety issues in a factory can damage a brand’s image. Africa on the other hand appears to offer a series of advantages – it has water, cotton, labor and green energy. Unlike Bangladesh, African countries also have duty-free access to the US apparel market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. (AGOA)
Ethiopia has set up functioning business parks for factories. Kenyans are expert clothes makers. The largest apparel factory in Kenya, Ashton Apparel, is growing and turns over a $100 million a year. The business produces denim for H&M, Walmart and others. However, Kenya’s apparel industry is still small, with an estimated 30,000 workers. The industry comprises only six per cent of the small manufacturing sector.
Gap is trying to create transparent working conditions in Asian garment factories. For this, it is partnering with an investment fund which hopes to raise a billion dollars and transform the Asian garment factories that make much of the world’s clothing. The fund’s pitch to factory owners is that its capital and ideas will help turn a decent facility into a high class one.
The fund intends to buy minority stakes in factories and then upgrade environmental standards, improve labor conditions, and install technology that can raise productivity and increase transparency. The goal is to cultivate factories that are the apparel industry’s most radically transparent and compliant.
For Gap, the agreement with the investment fund is essentially a cost-free opportunity to give the vendors who produce its goods the possibility of a value add in the form of expertise or funding for some of their new ventures. Another benefit of the agreement is that it will Gap reduce production lead times. The brand sees this as a way of connecting the factory worker to its consumers.
Gap is the parent company of Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy. In India, a Gap initiative provides education and life-skills training to women who sew Gap clothing in factories.
www.gap.com/
