FW
World Emblem, the leading emblem and patch manufacturer, introduces Flexbroidery, a new product offering a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to traditional embroidery.
Flexbroidery patches provide intricate detail and vibrant colors with a raised texture, applied easily in-house using low-melt heat seals. This innovation allows unlimited color options at no extra cost and enables customers to stock patches, eliminating garment shipping needs.
Flexbroidery’s heat pressing method provides an embroidered appearance without the use of threads or machinery. It is ideal for various applications, including corporate branding, personal projects, uniforms, accessories, and apparel, according to Randy Carr, President and CEO of World Emblem.
World Emblem leverages cutting-edge technology to produce customized, multi-textured emblems, including Flexbroidery, at their facilities in Georgia, Texas, California, and Mexico. World Emblem provides rapid production and delivery, setting a new standard for the industry.
Textile manufacturer Trident reported a 21 per cent decline in consolidated net profit during Q1, FY25 as company faced challenges in controlling costs amid rising cotton prices.
A supplier of goods to online retailers such as Flipkart and Myntra, as well as outlets like Shoppers Stop and DMart, Trident has been negatively impacted by over a year of increasing cotton prices, its primary raw material.
Trident’s consolidated net profit declined to Rs. 73.7 crore during the quarter ended June 30, 2024 compared to Rs. 93.4 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.
However, the company's operating revenue increased by 17 per cent to Rs. 17.43 billion during the quarter compared to corresponding quarter in the previous year. Its total expenses also increased by 20 per cent as raw materials costs rose by 18 per cent. Revenues from Trident’s main revenue contributor, the company’s core yarn segment, grew by 49 per cent during the quarter.
For the current season, Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) reported a significant decline in cotton production with output dropping by nearly half compared to the same period last year.
As per the association's report, as of July 15, supply of raw cotton, known as phutti, to ginning factories declined by 48.48 per cent to 442,000 bales as against 858,007 bales processed during the same time last year.
The report attributes this disappointing performance to climate change, though it also highlights deeper, systemic issues within the sector that need urgent attention. Without addressing these underlying problems, cotton industry, which plays a crucial role in employment, industrial production, and exports, will continue to struggle, it adds.
According to the report, the two major issues plaguing cotton cultivation in Pakistan include lack of mechanisation and use of substandard seeds. Absence of mechanised farming in the country results in lower quality cotton, impacting the export potential of the crop. This forces the textile industry to import higher quality raw cotton to maintain its international market share. Consequently, textile mills in the country have reduced their purchase of locally grown raw cotton this year.
Additionally, the genetically modified Bt cotton seeds commonly used in Pakistan have lost their pest-resistant qualities over time. Experts believe, Bt genes need to be continuously improved to maintain their effectiveness against pests. However, poor research and inadequate efforts to enhance seed quality in the country continue to compromise on the crop's yield and quality.
These issues are driving many farmers to switch to more profitable crops like sugarcane, which, although lucrative in the short term, has detrimental effects on the agriculture sector. The shift to sugarcane, a water-intensive crop, in a country already facing water scarcity, further exacerbates this situation.
To reverse this trend, the government needs to introduce policies promoting high-quality cotton through increased mechanisation and better seeds are essential, opines PCGA. The country also needs to boost investments in research and development to improve seed varieties and educate farmers on modern farming techniques is crucial, it adds
Ongoing energy crisis coupled with rising operating costs and shipment delays have led to a 25-40 per cent decline in orders for apparel exporters in Bangladesh. This is also resulting in factories operating well below their capacities.
Production costs in Bangladesh have risen by 20–33 per cent increase. Yet, manufacturers continue to decline export orders as international buyers are offering up to 20 per cent lower rates. This price disparity is prompting buyers to shift from Bangladesh to competitor nations like India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, where advantageous exchange rates and quicker shipping allow them to accept lower pricing.
The country’s largest export sector is bracing for a 7 per cent drop in sales during this year’s peak winter season in the West. This comes at a time when government incentives have been cut, and revised data has revealed that the last 10 months’ export figures were overstated by about $11 billion.
Mesbah Uddin Khan, Managing Director, Windy Group, notes, buyers are proposing prices 15–20 per cent below production costs. His group too could not secure 20 per cent of orders for August and September this year, with the time to secure orders for the Autumn Holiday season expiring, he adds.
Shovon Islam, Managing Director, Sparrow Group, echoes, declining demand in major markets and the low prices offered by buyers is causing a slowdown in order placements. Besides wage increases and rising of gas and power prices, Red Sea tensions are also increasing production costs. However, buyers fail to match these with their offers, making it difficult for most manufacturers to schedule orders based on their production capacity. Small and medium-sized manufacturers are struggling more than larger factories to book orders, emphasises Islam.
This is resulting in buyers moving to India and Sri Lanka, which offer stronger competitive advantages through better incentives and favorable exchange rates. Concerns over timely shipments are also leading to top buyers relocating their orders to Vietnam, India, and Sri Lanka, highlights Islam, also a director of the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
Siddiqur Rahman, Former President, BGMEA, points out, potential geopolitical instability due to wars could affect consumer confidence. Reduced monetary incentives amidst persistent gas and energy shortages is already causing delays in shipments and higher manufacturing costs, impacting exporters’ competitiveness. To help maintain their competitiveness in the global market, he urges the government to reinstate the cash incentive for exporters.
Marking the fifth season of their collaboration, Copenhagen Fashion Week (CFW) and Ukrainian Fashion Week (UFW) are once again teaming up for the Spring/Summer 2025 edition. The collaboration also highlights the ‘Support Ukrainian Fashion’ initiative.
Ukrainian fashion brands J’amemme, Katerina Kvit, Omelia, Plngns, And Sidletskiy will unveil their SS25 collections on August 6, 2024 at Ukraine House in Denmark. The installation will focus on one of the oldest biosphere reserves on the planet and the largest protected steppe area in Europe, Askania-Nova which currently suffers from the consequences of the Russian occupation.
With an aim to preserve culture, traditions, and creativity in the darkest times, UFW uses fashion to speak about the daily challenges faced by the industry including thousands of workers working under challenging conditions – despite rocket attacks and power outages. It also emphasises on the difficulties faced by Ukrainians in their daily lives, states Iryna Danylevska, Founder and CEO, Ukrainian Fashion Week.
Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO, CFW, adds, the SS25 season aims to recognise the tireless work of Ukrainian Fashion Week in the face of relentless struggle and invasion. The edition will include dedicated presentations by five designers at the Ukraine House in Copenhagen besides the TG Botanical as part of its official Event Schedule.
Organiser of Milan Fashion Week, Camera della Moda (CNMI) has increased the number of shows for this edition to 58 including three virtual presentations. CNMI has also extended the back-to-school catwalk program for the women's ready-to-wear collections for Spring/Summer 2025 by an additional day. Despite the absence of Giorgio Armani, Tom Ford, and MSGM this season, the event will welcome eight new designers, both returning and newcomers, compared to February's winter session.
Typically reserved for inauguration and a few other activities, the opening day on September 17will include four shows. The day will begin with a show by Fendi followed by other shows by Marni, Alberta Ferretti, and Iceberg, with the potential for another prestigious name to join the lineup.
This season, Giorgio Armani will organise a double show for his Emporio Armani range on September 19. Having parted ways with his creative director Peter Hawkings, Tom Ford will showcase his collection in a showroom.
One of the young designers to debut on the catwalk, Susan Fang will organise her show alongside Chiccomao, a brand founded by Chinese designer Mao Bao Bao, and Vietnamese designer Phan Dang Hoang. The event will also mark the return of Laura Biagiotti, who previously presented her collection in digital format, as well as young labels like Federico Cina, The Attico, and Andreadamo. The event will end with a digital show from Defaience by Nicola Bacchilega and Jacob Cohen on Sept 23, 2024
Some of the iconic Italian fashion houses to hold their shows at this year’s Milan Fashion Week include Roberto Cavalli and Etro on September 18, Max Mara, Prada, and Moschino on September 19, Tod's, Gucci, Missoni, and Versace on September 20, and Ferragamo, Dolce & Gabbana, and Bottega Veneta on September 21.
Six months after its acquisition of the German e-tailer Bergfreunde, Decathlon plans to acquire the Spanish e-tailer TradeInn.
Based near Girona in Spain, TradeInn sells sports equipment and clothing online through a dozen specialist sites, including Dive Inn for diving, Goal Inn for football, Bike Inn for cycling, and Runner Inn for running. The e-tailer boasts over 20 million customers worldwide.
As per Iberian media reports, investment company Suma Capital plans to sell its 30 per cent stake in TradeInn. The remaining shares are held by David Martin, founder and CEO along with investor Didac Lee.
Spanish media values TradeInn at over €1 billion. This substantial sum is backed by the company's sales rising by 15 per cent to over €500 million in 2023.
Since Suma Capital acquired a stake in TradeInn at the end of 2015, the company has grown significantly. It currently employs over 500 people, operates a 30,000-square-meter automated warehouse, and serves more than 20 million customers worldwide.
A pioneer in biological technologies for plastic and textile recycling, Carbios has signed an MoU with French textile company Nouvelles Fibers Textiles to supply polyester textiles to the world’s first PET biorecycling plant under construction in Longlaville, France.
The plant will use Carbios' enzymatic depolymerisation technology to recycle 5,000 tons of used textiles annually from 2026 over an initial five-year period. This initiative demonstrates a commitment to textile circularity for a more sustainable industry.
Nouvelles Fibers Textiles, along with partners Andritz Laroche, Pellenc ST, Synergie TLC, and the Tissages de Charlieu group, opened a semi-industrial site in November 2023 with an annual capacity of 1,000 tons. This site, a research center for textile recycling, aims to expand to a 20,000-30,000-ton capacity by 2026. The unit transforms used textiles into high-quality raw materials for various industries by automatically sorting them by composition and eliminating hard points like buttons and zippers.
The biorecycling technology by Carbios breaks down polyester fibers into basic components, which are then used to produce high-quality recycled PET materials, such as fibers for the textile industry. This ‘fiber-to-fiber’ solution aims to make polyester a truly circular fiber on a large scale.
Emmanuel Ladent, CEO, Carbios, states, the collaboration with Nouvelles Fibres Textiles will develop large-scale polyester recycling solutions to catalyse the structuring of collection and preparation infrastructures. Together, both the companies will develop a comprehensive value chain from collection to recycling.
Eric Boël and Etienne Wiroth, Co-Directors, Nouvelles Fibers Textiles, add, as new technologies, such as Carbios' enzymatic depolymerisation and automated sorting, are overcoming deployment obstacles, this collaboration exemplifies an industry that benefits both people and the planet.
German knitwear manufacturer Knit Core plans to launch its first seamless 3D knitwear collection for Autumn-Winter 2024. Founded in 2023 by Luigi Schillaci, the Gomaringen-based company will introduce a range of high-quality, sustainable knitwear pieces produced entirely in Germany.
To be created in partnership with the Nonnenmacher knitting mill in Pliezhausen, the collection combines top-tier materials, creative design, and the seamless 3D knitting expertise of both companies. A standout feature of this collection is its on-demand production model, which prevents overproduction and promotes sustainability.
Besides its own collections, Knit-Core offers a wide array of services, including customised flat knitting training, comprehensive consulting, sample and small batch production, and creative in-house developments in fashion and technical textiles. The company is equipped with eight state-of-the-art Stoll flat knitting machines and two Universal machines, ensuring flexibility and efficiency in meeting diverse customer needs.
With over 20 years of experience in flat knitting, having worked as an application engineer and technical manager for a leading manufacturer of flat knitting machines in both Germany and the USA, Schillaci brings a wealth of expertise to Knit-Core, promising innovative and high-quality solutions.
Beyond knitwear, Knit-Core also designs, develops, and manufactures technical textiles for various applications. The company recently won two awards at the national textile accelerator ;Stoff im Kopf,’ organised by the Center for Entrepreneurship at Reutlingen University, for its modular Made in Germany 3D knitted room dividers. These dividers offer aesthetic solutions for interior design and practical functions like sound absorption, mood lighting, and additional storage space with knitted-in pockets and greenery options.
India's textile sector is set for substantial growth with a 28 per cent budget increase for fiscal year 2024-25. This significant boost underscores the government's commitment to enhancing innovation, productivity, and opportunities within the industry, which is crucial to the nation's economy.
Sanjay Garg, President of the Northern India Textiles Mills Association (NITMA), highlighted that the Union Budget focuses on employment, skilling, and MSMEs. Key measures include the Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs, offering term loans for machinery and equipment without collateral up to Rs 100 crores. This is expected to stimulate investment and growth in the sector.
Increased allocations for cotton procurement, the Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme, the National Technical Textiles Mission, and PM Mitra will further bolster the industry. The enhanced funding for RoDTEP and RoSCTL is timely, aiming to reverse the decline in textile exports.
The budget also introduces a Rs 3,000 monthly incentive per worker for skill development and reduces the duty on raw spandex yarn from 7.5 per cent to 5 per cent, improving the international competitiveness of textile manufacturers.
Overall, these measures are designed to propel the Indian textile sector to new heights. The actual impact will depend on effective implementation and the industry's ability to capitalize on these opportunities.
